Reviews

an ode to love in all its highs and lows

As another review suggested, this gave a very similar feel to the film One Day, though the themes that surrounded Us and Them felt a little different in contrast.

Us and Them offers a very realistic, everyday outlook to a couple living in Beijing. They're unlucky financially and do anything they can to make it, with the usual daydreams and goals of becoming successful in their dreams and rich enough to make the other happy. The eventual development of their romantic love towards one another, although couldn't be expressed in the proper 'slow burn' that they clearly wanted to portray (for the sake of screentime, understandably), their close friendship beforehand felt like I was simply watching a pair of best friends living their lives together. And even in the happiest moments of their relationship to the eventual separation, they were real people with real reactions, thought processes and gestures.

Their corresponding personalities were never outright displayed or expressed in a way to make the audience have an idea of what they are directly - instead we are left to assume through small hints and expressions of personality throughout the film, just like what we would achieve from meeting strangers.

This also contributes to the amazing leading cast. Having this be one of my first Chinese films, I was delighted in how amazing the two main leads were in their respective roles. The cinematography made very interesting choices that contributed to how I absorbed the story. The scene when they share their first kiss (and more) where it pans out to reveal how the rest of their 'neighborhood' is spending their New Years was one of my favorites. It really pushes how their story is one of many.

Overall, this is the story of two people who seem to consider each other their 'greatest love.' And even when that love is over and done with, and life has already moved on for them, their fates always seemed to be intertwined just for that perfect closure. The questions that always arise between us, as the audience, and even between our leads as we watch the story come to a close - the What Ifs and the If Onlys that would prompt their happy ending. We tend to forget that the real happy ending doesn't need to involve the both of them together.

Because for Xiao-xiao and Jian-ping, with a love that allowed them to survive even the hardest parts of their lives, they are reminded of the sacrifices and the effort they made for one another and how none of that went to waste. They pay homage to the good times and the bad times of their journey together, and the permanent impact they placed on each other's lives. And I find such a message so, SO important for those who are undergoing heartbreak or tough breakups after separating with someone you once believed would be your 'endgame'.

The end credits with real people sending messages to perhaps their lost Ian/Kelly truly brought tears to my eyes. As if the story of Us and Them has happened to so many people in this world, of any age, gender or race. It was a good touch that I appreciate.

To find our own 'greatest love', and the uncertainty of whether that love will be with you forever. That's what this film promises and delivers in such a bittersweet yet hopeful tone. Although it definitely had its imperfections, and while the story itself was far from original, the expression of such a plot was perfectly done. I definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a realistic love story.

Read More

Neither teachers nor students can blame from the college enterance examination passing marks but the system did.
he power struggles by its organization,categorized among the full timer&temporary teacher,power abuse,seniority -superiority&bribery. Students might be the lead of performance in this situation but people forget behind the curtain there is people tied by system and management

We as a perfomances in here (students) doesnt know the world behind curtain (teachers and organization) this drama teach us how to be more grateful to teacher and respect them. Also it reminds society, "The world isn't just made up of people like Yoora and Jaehyun." people like them will be guaranteed success in life either.

Read More

One of the best K-drama's you will ever come across in the non-romantic genre!
And the sad part is that it is totally underrated!
Romantic, flowery K-dramas are what we mostly look for and would like to watch. But this is a MUST watch even if you think crime solving K-dramas are not something you will enjoy. The story is out of the world! there are soooo many twist and turns in the drama yet you will never find yourself confused or bored. Kudos to the writer for such a brilliant script that is totally one of a kind. Acting on point! Editing perfect!
And the high point of this drama was the ending...it is an open ending...but for the first time i loved that they kept the ending open cause once you watch the drama you will understand that it was a very smart thing to do by the writers....that way they kept the feel of the drama and also the viewers can eagerly wait for a sequel...and MAN there should be a sequel!!!
Special mention to the OST~~~~Its worth playing in loop!

Read More

A fun story executed very poorly

I was honestly skeptical of people's comments saying how weird this drama was. I mean, how weird can it be?? Turns out, VERY WEIRD.

The initial premise was what piqued my interest, but the more I watched, the more I realized that the story was one of the weakest points of this show. 6 episodes did not do this drama justice. There were multiple times where the characters' interactions together happened off-screen, characters appeared then were written off for no apparent reason, and many more problems. There wasn't any time for the story to delve into the side characters backstories and even the main characters. Maybe it was done intentionally to make the viewers even more confused, but I didn't like how that was implemented. Just because it's supposed to be a trippy drama doesn't mean that character development and explanations should be thrown out the window.

I love dramas with some sort of mystery that is explained at the end, or at least an open ending that ends with me theorizing. That's only if clues are hinted at throughout the episodes. In this drama, there are basically no clues whatsoever. I really dislike dramas where the writer(s) deliberately and intentionally hide stuff from the viewers. To me, it's like a cheap gimmick to surprise the viewers. Good writing can make an ending shocking while still having numerous hints sprinkled throughout its runtime.

The acting is by far one of the best parts. Jung Yu Mi does well in the role of a zany, wacky, and tbh a bit creepy school nurse. Nam Joo Hyuk nailed his role as a down-to-earth, normal teacher. I also enjoyed the students' acting, for the most part. They were able to make a number of scenes convincingly unsettling. However, in other scenes, they come across as cringey lol. They're a double-edged sword, I guess.

Eun Young and In Pyo are an unlikely pair, but they mesh together really well. An eccentric person who wants to be normal, and a normal person who wants to be eccentric. Their subtle hand-holding shows their bond. They were, without a doubt, the best part of the show.

At first, I didn't like how the jellies were cartoon-ish. But considering how bizarre this series is, I later realized how good this decision was. The whole cinematography (lighting, camera angles, location, etc.) were of normal quality. I liked the composition of some scenes, for example, when Eun Young talked to someone, the next angle showed her talking to the air, indicating she was talking to a ghost/jelly. I thought those parts were really clever.

The music wasn't anything outstanding.

I enjoyed the strangeness of it all. It's distinct from any other drama.  However, the execution was abhorrent. I might watch if there is a second season, but only if the drama has more episodes. As I previously stated, 6 episodes was totally inadequate for this sort of narrative.

aight byeee~

Read More

Came here for Sugino, Stayed for Kurokawa Morio!

This is one of the most beautiful, wholesome romance dramas that I have come across! Below is my personal narration - of what made this drama exciting and memorable for time to come. Not a typical pro vs con review - but please do read below and I hope I can share the joy I felt watching this drama through my words:

Koi-Desu had been on PTW for very long as reading the premise I thought it could be a tale of heart/gut-wrenching sad tale with a lot of waterworks. I mean after Japanese dramas like Your Lie in April, 1 Liter of Tears - can you blame me? But I am glad I gave it a try, because now this is one of my highest rated dramas and one that I am going to frequently recommend for those who like this genre.

Regarding the title - well, I was currently on my run for watching all dramas/movies of Sugino Yosuke. I have seen his other works where he is generally type casted as cute/prince charming kind of male lead or is in a support role. But I have known for a very long time that he is definitely super talented (swoon-worthy handsomeness aside) and therefore, I wanted to see his work where he deviates from his usual roles, and therefore, picked this long waiting drama. And I could not be more proud of my choice - because the man delivered and how! Let me share it below:

Since the first few episodes itself (I think around 3-4), this drama instantly became a 10/10 for me. And I am strict with my ratings (10 means flawless, and if over the course of the drama if things go not well then I deduct like 0.5 or 1 depending from case to case). The current rating 9/10 only changed cause of the "twist" at end of Ep 9 and overall Ep 10. I will not give the spoilers but just know that like most romance dramas - when things are going smoothly, they just had to drop a twist to make it more dramatic. It is not bad (I kind of expect is as a regular drama-addict), but as always, it was unnecessary and hence the 1 mark deduction in rating.

Now to the good parts - which was most of this drama (technically 90%):

All the characters of this drama are very well written but the main leads definitely are the highlight. They live their characters and hence you believe in them and hence the portrayal of their highs and lows of life becomes more relatable. The focus also remains on the difficulties faced by the visually impaired and it implores one to think that we might be taking somethings for granted in our daily lives, which can seem like an Herculean task to others, who are specially-abled. But they do not want to pitied or sympathized, rather they want you to treat them as equal and be kind. The message is clear: There is no their world or ours, they are not different than us - we are all looking to live an ordinary normal life, given our respective challenges.

Focusing on the leads - the romance works like magic, because it is not your over-the-top kind of romance where the ML brings the world at the feet of the FL. No, rather it shows how the boy is smitten with another girl, realizes that she has some inhibitions given her challenges, so he makes it a point to be on the same level by trying to understand her and the things around her. And in doing so, he also widens his own vision and world, and grows as a person.

While told as a tale of a visually impaired-and non-visually impaired pairing, isn't that something we all wish for? And equal standing in any relationship, where we are supportive of each other and motivate the other to be a better version of ourselves and together?

Also the fact that the lead pair is not immediately supported by all people around them - there are challenges. But everyone one - the lead pair as well as the people around them make it a point to understand their relationship, the challenges that will be there for all of them and try to find a way through it all. I loved this cause usually, drama tends to put this under either a rosy shade - where one side is totally rooting for the main couple while one side tries to bring them down. Here, I felt this was dealt more realistically, their close friends/family members pointed out the difficult aspects - in their romance, work and overall course of life, while also working with them to find a solution that helps all.

In conclusion,
If you want to watch a show with genuinely cute romance, where two innocent people fall in love, and how the people around them are unsure/support this union, then do give this show a try! A very healthy relationship portrayed through comedic reliefs, cute-fluffy moments and even the serious topic of plights of the visually impaired is delivered in a style that will make you think but not cry or feel pity. And of course, there is a cameo by a visually impaired comedian in it as well to explain the stuff that many might not understand. So when that comes - Remember to laugh first, even if you don't understand it!

Watch it For:
- Cute, Healthy Rom-Com where two very different people bonded
- Sugino Yosuke
- Supportive friends and family
- Great Message, which all of us can takeback in our own lives

Read More

SO MUCH FUN

A definite BROMANCE storyline. A small BL side story, but this is really about 2 straight guys becoming friends. And it is so freaking adorable. The comedy is absolutely great. I laughed in every episode. The acting is way over the top, to play up the ridiculous comedy elements, but all the actors perform so well that it feels perfectly done. Playing off and playing up all the BL tropes, this makes you laugh at other BL series for taking themselves so seriously. Direction is equally strong, with tongue in cheek throughout. So well done. And it's very short, so you can rewatch the whole thing in one sitting (this was my 2nd viewing). Jang Ki Yong is so cute. And Choi Woo Shik is adorable and a terrific comic actor. I love this one.

Read More

OTP with CLEAR COMMUNICATION + fantastic writing/dialogue + swoonworthy romance = A++++ Cdrama!

I can't believe I've been sleeping on this drama until now!!!
Not only was this the first drama I slowed down to actually 1x speed (I usually watch them in 1.25-2x speed), but it made me want to bump down my scores for other contemporary dramas. THIS is the gold standard I've been looking for in cdramaland, with characters that are logical and reasonable, dialogue that's open and consistent, and a VERY WELL-BALANCED romance that was naturally cultivated.
To be honest, I only picked this drama up because of the body-swapping plot. I'm a big fan of stories where the couple swaps bodies (Secret Garden, It's a Boy Girl Thing), and I was only expecting the funny comedy bits. BUT what I actually got was a story with well-developed characters and clever dialogue. Color me impressed!!! I've become a fan of this writer's work and I've seen amazing reviews for his other dramas too.

PROS
❀ I HAVE to start with the main leads, which were perfectly carried out by Steven Zhang and Liang Jie | Liang Jie played the exuberant entertainment reporter Sheng Sheng who's looking for an exclusive interview with Steven Zhang's character, Jiang Yi. The first episode starts off pretty slow, not going to lie, but the moment their body swaps (at the beginning of ep 2), hijinks ensue.
Both actors did a GREAT job in depicting masculine/feminine traits! I have to say though, Steven Zhang was HILARIOUS when he was acting as Sheng Sheng - his facial expressions turn from slightly indifferent to lively and his body language was also perfect. He's definitely made a fan out of me in this drama. Jiang Lie was also great, although acting out the colder Jiang Yi doesn't ask for much since he's pretty withdrawn to begin with. Either way, both characters had laugh out loud moments that had me cackling in bed.
Not everything is happy, though. We get into Jiang Yi's lonely childhood and how he grew up in a broken household. It was wonderful to follow his journey of reconciling with his past and learning to forgive - especially when it came to his relationship with his mom. While Sheng Sheng was there to support him and add her own thoughts to the situation as an outsider, serving as a catalyst, he decides to be pro-active and take the first step of leaving the past. It would have been easy to keep him as a cold idol that has a traumatic past, but the show goes in-depth by making him emotionally complex and more than just a caricature of an idol.
While Sheng Sheng grew up in a loving family (love her parents!!!), she deals with a nice high school friend who has feelings with her. I appreciated the mature way of dealing with him though: give him a chance, see where it goes, make a firm decision at the end of the day. Again, because of body swapping, Jiang Yi is there to support almost every step of the way. While I'm not the biggest fan of the leads dating other people during a drama, this show handled it very maturely as Sheng Sheng is honest about her feelings (or, lack of) from step 1 to 100. So it's not really a love triangle/hurdle.
❀ The individual characters were awesome, but put the couple together and they're FIRE | This couple is by far one of my favorite couples in the cdramas I've watched. They display a perfect balance of a healthy and passionate relationship. Usually for cdramas, it's either one or the other. In this case, we got awesome chemistry between the leads (+1 for steamy kisses) as well as the best dialogue and communication (+1 for almost no misunderstandings). When the characters act out of emotion, they take a step back to sincerely apologize to one another. They handle situations like adults, and even cliche plot points like evil paparazzi weren't drawn out because of the maturity of the characters. They act their age, look their age, and enter relationships befitting people their age. We stan!!
As for the relationship itself, it goes from mild inconvenience/annoyance -> supportive friendship -> endearing love. Body swapping is an amazing trope that makes it so the leads have to spend a LOT of time together to figure out what's happening. That is to say, there's not much plot otherwise. The whole story surrounds the couple, their relationship, and the body-swap issue. So don't go in thinking there's some big baddie that comes into play. Instead, we see loads of screen time with our two main characters and their hilarities, as well as their developing relationship.
❀ This drama isn't afraid to poke fun at its own tropes and surprise watchers | The way the dialogue points out classic drama tropes that it utilizes is super cute - there's a scene where the ML's like "thinking about this situation/script... shouldn't *I* be the ML?" when referencing the minor love triangle between the FL's high school friend and the CP. Some tropes that surprised me:
- Really nice 2ML: they actually delved into his character and past history with the FL (they were high school buds and he's the student of her mom), which adds a level of depth to their relationship. You can really tell the FL's emotions are pure platonic and the lines are clearly drawn. He respects those boundaries.
- Evil 2FL: show said "psyche!!" While I was wary of her at first, the show actually goes into her character and highlights her struggles as well, making her empathetic and three-dimensional. The fact that the writer gave some screentime to a female character that COULD'VE gone down the wayward path (see: evil 2FLs that are illogically obsessed over the ML) is super commendable and sadly not done enough in cdramas. (Are my standards too low? Maybe, maybe not.)
- Cold ML that treats FL badly when they first meet before reluctantly getting along: Nah, that doesn't happen. The ML is wary and apathetic at first meet, maybe, but he's not mean. There's a scene in the first couple eps where she calls him out for not keeping the elevator open for her (typical behavior for mean MLs) but right afterwards the elevator opens up again - lol! Homeboy actually kept the elevator open for her. After their body switch in ep 2, this trope kind of goes down the drain.
- Secondary couples: nada. There is a *tiny* hint of one but otherwise, the show is 100% occupied by the main couple, which was refreshing.
❀ The FL actress sang the opening song and the ML actor sang the ending song | The talent??? Maybe this is a psychological thing, but I always view a show better when I hear the main actors singing an OST. In this case, the soundtrack was already catchy (the songs, while limited, are sweet/melodic without being too sad and ballad-like, which I appreciated), but knowing that the main leads sang really elevates the soundtracks.
❀ PERFECT LENGTH | No drag; tight writing; every second is enjoyable. It's rare for me to find a drama where I won't skip/fast forward a few seconds, but this one fit the bill. In general my stamina is pretty low when it comes to episode count (ex: I couldn't finish Love O2O or You Are My Glory, classic contemporaries, bc they stall around the 20 ep mark, and had to force myself to push through You Are My Hero after ep 30), so this 26 episode show was the sweet spot *chefs kiss*.

CONS - will have spoilers!! (But tbh this section is mostly pros as well)
✕ Misunderstanding level: 1/10 | Aight, I put a point because the most MINOR misunderstanding happens near the beginning that leads to Sheng Sheng trying out dates with the 2ML Po Qing. BUT the leads quickly recognize the miscommunication AND this whole shebang is neatly straightened out when SS indeed confirms her non-feelings for 2ML. Her intentions are clear cut (we stan FLs that get straight to the point!!) and nothing is overly dragged out. Other than that, like I said, the leads' communication is A+++.
The break-up that happens near the end (tbh a surprising trope that I didn't think this show would use), is VERY well-explained and reasonable. It's not a break-up for the sake of breaking up, but due to an external, legitimate concern that both leads had. The separation period is only a year and the resolution is, while quickly explained, not a bad one. Usually I'm annoyed at these last-minute break-ups (y'all this is why I can't with wuxias where the leads are always breaking up/getting back together...), but this one was necessary as part of wrapping up the story.

--SPOILER W/MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ENDING (I also vaguely talk about other shows' endings lmao)--
It's one that's used in cdramas quite often (for censorship reasons, is my guess) and featured in many well-loved dramas. If you've seen The Romance of Tiger and Rose or General's Lady, it's exactly that kind of energy. But unlike those dramas where the indirect narrative is a small twist that's not even addressed (TROTAR) or acted as an impetus for the leads meeting each other (GL), the way The Day of Becoming You writes it in emphasizes the message of the entire story: to truly understand someone, you should put yourselves in their shoes. You never know what other people are going through, so try to look at the situation from their perspective - by doing so, you can strengthen your relationship. I thought the way this twist was written in was clever and holistic, bringing the drama to a full wrap and tying things together. The big picture is that it fit the overall narrative, which to me is rare in cdramas.

OVERALL
Wow, I can't gush enough about The Day of Becoming You. I feel like when it comes to Chinese dramas, I tend to get annoyed at common cliches that are overutilized and find them conservative. Not in the sense of wanting more raunchy scenes (LOL which sometimes I lowkey want but an Asian drama's charms are its rare skinship moments that make you appreciate it more), but in the sense that storylines like to play it safe and keep the plots rather traditional. No one will bat an eye at a cold CEO ML that's toeing the line of misogyny because he's good-looking and fits Asian drama convention. But a ML that learns to recognize his worth through meaningful conversations with the FL in a non-hyperdependent way? Hard to come by.
The Day of Becoming You's luring point is a playful body-swap premise that'll make you laugh out loud, but I ended up staying for the three dimensional characters and superb writing. I've never given a rewatch value over 5 (because to me, 5 is like maybe and straight in the middle), but this drama inherently deserves a rewatch from me. Highly recommended!

Read More

Second season that's actually better than first season

This is a very nice mini-show and a really good season 2. The storyline builds upon the storyline in season 1 and connects to that seamlessly. Not all season 2 does that.
Character wise this show gives us two new versions of the main couple from season 1. FL is on a new assignment and ML is her new target of interest after getting a divorse from her husband who abandoned her 5 years earlier - and has returned with a new woman he wants to marry. Neither ML or FL remembers their love story from season 1 but love isn’t that easily suppressed.
Acting wise this is better than the previous season. The chemistry between the leads is great and they actually have steamy kisses (I can’t stand those pecks on the lips we often get instead of real kisses).
Anyway, if you like a good mini-show with a great love story, this is definitely well worth watching.

Read More

Hellbound? You tried

'A delusion held by one person is a mental illness, held by a few is a cult, held by many is a religion.' -Robert Todd Carroll

I spend the whole last Night watching this, because someone in the House I life in told me they looked forward to it after Squid Game. I didn't go in for any Actor, I really don't think I knew anyone who is on the Cast before this. But I watched other Movies Yeon Sang Ho so I should be used to his style, at least that's what I thought.

But oh boy, I was wrong. From the beginning everything seemed kind of, fished out of the Nose?

Human fear, what they can't kill or understand, and this is a big part of this Drama, I think. The problem is, tho, I can just assume and think what this is all about. Next to the facts you see and kind of understand fast yourself, there is nothing, even in the smallest, explained in this.

I think if they choose just 1 direction they wanted to go in, and not 2 or 3, this could have been a really nice watch, or if it would be a standard 10 Episode Drama, that we are usually used to from Netflix.

The Music is, okay at best? All I remember was the Intro, that I skipped after the first Time watching it, and the sounds that usually came when something bad happens. Nothing new.

Would I rewatch it personally? Not really, there are better Dramas out there that at least does not make me vomit on my desk at 1 am in the morning. (Thank you, episode 3). But if they ever bring out a 2nd Season, I will force myself to watch it in hopes they explain more in it.

Read More

It was light hearted and entertaining. The storyline was interesting with twists of childhood connection between the main characters. I was little confused until I was happy to receive answers later. The chemistry between two leads was adorable. I don't find it boring and it was not complicated since I was satisfied with this story. The main opening song was good.

Park Min Young as Sung Duk Mi was acting well. I love her fangirling moments lol. I think her acting in What's Wrong With Secretary Kim is better . Kim Jae Wook was not bad at acting but need to work on expression a bit. Ahn Bo Hyun and Park Jin Joo have a good job at controlling emotions.

Oh, I agree about sasaeng fans are scary!

Read More

The best thing you will watch in your entire life!!!

Well, if you haven't watched this yet.. STOP READING FURTHER AND JUST GO FOR IT....

.
This is obviously not your typical BL.. but of course it has a very simple story line. What made the series beautiful was the execution, the excellent performance of the actors and the way how the whole series was directed. TBH, watching the series while it was airing was more fun , although we had to wait for a whole week the wait was fun itself cause we got the whole week to emphasize each episode. The genre is said to be a ROM-COM and of course it was proven throughout the series. More than any other drama I have watched, I felt a countless number of emotions. This show proved that love is very easy as long as your dedicated to it. Neither did I know much about the actors nor the plot before watching, youtube just recommended BBS and as I saw the thumbnail I just clicked and that's how I ended up watching. It was ohm and nannon who brought the plot to life and made it an amazing show

.
I loved how the music was loud when the scene was brought to its climax and suddenly it was all silent.. making the viewers drawn into the situation with no any other disturbance.. and of course the little details in each and every episode, the more you re watch, the more the small details you see.. The only disappointing thing about this show was that it was short :( other than that there was not a slightest thing I disliked :)
.
SPOILER

.
.
Loved how this show did not have any breakups , pat and pran fought for themselves , for them breaking up was never an option.. My all time favorite episode was ep 11 , It was drastically beautiful .. i was pretty sure that they were gonna breakup but we were fooled like I literally wanted my tears back!! that episode contained all the elements which an episode needed to have ..that whole episode could be made into a marvelous movie. kudos to ohm and nannon like they need not to speak , just looking at each other was enough to know what was going on AND obviously ohm and nannon will be my all time favorite actors , as a veteran kdrama fan I was very impressed by their performance and how they outdid many in the field. SO finally i want to thank the whole bad buddy crew for creating such a masterpiece and whether you are a BL fan or not YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS!! Its finally the time to say goodbye to BBS "lets go home" , "good luck , buddy "

.
(this was my very first time writing a review HEHE)

Read More

Yes, I am a Ha Ji Won stan due to the fact that she constantly reinvents herself. She accepted dramas that have had low ratings but the fact that she plays characters which are different every drama brings me joy. When I first heard of HJW and Kang Min Hyuk teaming up together, I was honestly worried. Not really worried about KMH since he was my bias in CNBLUE but because they had an age gap. I'm worried how will they pull of these two outstanding doctor characters perfectly without me realizing that Minhyukkie was way younger than eonnie. But when I started watching this drama I was wrong. Boy, I was wrong. I've actually seen this drama 4 times, the first 2 because I couldn't get over and the succeeding was because it became one of my comfort dramas. So here I am trying to review this. I know people were disappointed but I really loved the story and the characters of this drama.

Song Eun Jae is one tough talented top surgeon at a popular hospital in Seoul who got cast out of work in the big city on to the Hospital Ship because she questioned her superior's mishap. Kwak Hyun is an internal doctor who chose to work in the ship while battling his inner demons and family burden. The Hospital Ship's objective is to provide healthcare for elderly people living in the islands that could not afford the right medical care. Each character in the crew of the hospital ship brought weight to the show. I loved the fact that it also centered around the stories of ordinary people they were helping and not just on the lives of the crew. What I hated are two things: Yeong Eun's arrival (Kwak Hyun's former gf) to add spice into the story and Eun Jae's illness. I think the illness part was out of place but I appreciate the fact we see how Kwak Hyun cares for her.

Let me just say this again: Min Hyuk as Kwak Hyun was a surprise. He did pull off the character and I don't know if it is a thing with Ha Ji Won and her male leads but damn, they had chemistry here. (I also found out that they share the same birthday in real life).

The OST: so good. One of those dramas where I loved every song of the OST that I even bought the physical copy.

Read More

It's rare to come across a drama that is as cute as this one without there being some sort of downside, but this show is just all around adorable. The story is well done, the actor/actresses all do a good job and it gives you a decent picture of young love without making it too sweet or too angsty. It feels very natural.

Though there are a few side characters that I would have been happy to have seen a bit less of, every character added to the show in their own way and created a world that is both familiar and new.

I love this show and was especially impressed with the Male Lead. I think this is his first lead role and he absolutely nailed the character. He carried the entire series as if he'd done it many times.

I highly recommend this drama if you are looking for something light and cute with a sweet romance.

Read More

I love everything about this drama. The people, the intrigue, the mystery...and the food. If ever I saw a drama that made me hungry almost instantly, it's this one. All of it just looks so good...it's like you can almost smell it through the screen. Is that a little weird? Maybe, but it's the only way I can think of to describe what it feels like to watch this show.
Speaking of feelings, if you are looking for a show that really has the potential to tug at your heartstrings (as awfully cringey and cliche as that sounds), this is definitely that. It's a very calming and sentimental show to sit down and watch. It feels like I should be snuggled up in a blanket with a cup of tea at the end of the day watching this. (Now, I say that, but there are some episodes that made me cry...I don't cry at movies...take that for what you will.)
When all is said and done, though, the episodic bite-sized nature of this drama is part of what really made it enjoyable for me. I didn't have to commit to a bigger story every time I wanted to watch it. I could just watch an episode (though, let's be real...I never could stop after one) and get an encapsulated story within that half-hour (there is one exception...the only two-parter that falls around the halfway point...that one WILL make you cry).
Long story short, I will definitely be watching this one again. The first time I saw it, I honestly didn't want it to end, which doesn't usually happen for me. This is the first time I ever saw a drama and legitimately wished it was real...that the restaurant was a real place that I could go and get some amazing kimchi spare ribs and talk to the man that never judges you, always welcomes you with open arms, and is always a shoulder to cry on should you need it. Now, if you'll excuse me...I'm off to book a trip to South Korea.

Read More