Completed
Forever and Ever
106 people found this review helpful
Sep 24, 2021
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 43
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Remember us and all we used to be.

After One and Only stabbed me in the heart, I needed justice, I needed closure and most of all I needed to hear Shi Yi say  "Zhousheng Chen, remember us and all we used to be." Theirs was such a splendid, intense love with so much passion and yearning that could not run its natural course. Sadly, after being restrained for ~5000 years, all that is unleashed are faint echoes of the past. Thus, my final impression is that what was, is never again.

What this is, is a very sweet, very ordinary, reasonably touching but hardly memorable love story that is markedly lacking in intensity. It falls down hard in its failure to connect the characters of the past with the present. Aside from appearance, both Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi could be entirely different people and this an entirely different drama. Of course in the present, they will be different but there must be that je ne sais quoi, that certain aura that lingers. Even the essence of their relationship changes, in fact it regresses. Shiyi and Zhousheng Chen of the past were of one heart and mind - she gifts part of her dowry to pacify Nanxiao and accepts her marriage hoping to reassure Zixing of her Prince Nanchen's loyalty. Shi Yi of the present asks no questions, she just trusts Zhousheng Chen absolutely without understanding his family's background or his plans. And he tries to protect her without telling her anything - it is the one thing about him that bugged me in the novel and it is the one thing they should have but did not change! As such, the sense of them being soulmates that are connected on a level beyond words is not there.

Ren Jialun and Bai Lu are both very solid actors with good enough chemistry that I genuinely enjoyed the good (pink moped), bad (lame kiss) and ugly (I am ready) of their moments together. Overall I enjoyed Ren Jialun's endearing portrayal of the shy, awkward and introverted professor whose world goes from revolving around uninhabitable planets to revolving around Shi Yi. That said, there were some truly cringe moments and he often came across as having no fire in his belly, likely due to his heavy sighing and lethargic, monotonous line delivery. I must praise how even though it took awhile, they fell into a much more natural rhythm as a couple in the last quarter of the drama and I was moved by how they grieved together and consoled one another. So despite some initial hiccups, there is genuine relationship development and that aspect finishes strongly.

The main issue with this drama that it lacks both plot and engaging and complex supporting characters. Everything really revolves around the two main leads and their romance, which moves too slowly and uneventfully to really anchor the drama. Besides Uncle Lin and possibly Mei Xing, none of the supporting characters are that likeable or empathetic. Zhousheng Chen's stepmother is the only truly complex and interesting secondary character, everybody else including the villains are rather two dimensional and the two cloddish servants are downright annoying. The plot is for the most part suspended in favour of the romance before it rushes through to the end. It is also rife with somewhat melodramatic rich family tropes from greed and envy to infidelity.

If One and Only is slow burn, Forever and Ever is like watching paint dry by comparison because there is no burn. I had to entertain myself by speculating on who got reincarnated into who and looking for hidden clues and traces of the past while mourning the fact that I was not going to see Zhousheng Chen reborn as a present day sexy beast. Which begs the question: considering how tortuous One and Only was, should Forever and Ever be watched as a standalone romance? Well, without the backstory, this is just about how an absolutely gorgeous but likely slightly delusional voice dubber falls head over heels in love with a fictional ancient drama character Prince Nanchen. She throws herself at a complete stranger; a nutty, loner of a professor with the same name who is a bit slow on the uptake but eventually realises he just got very, very lucky and thus the story unfolds. If that works for you, then by all means, skip the heartache that is One and Only.

I only watched this because I was looking for Prince Nanchen and Eleven. Sadly the future is but a mere shadow of the past. But still this is a sweet, well acted love story so I am not throwing rocks at it or at the actors. Nonetheless, this sequel did not live up to its potential so I can only rate it a 7.5. I would give both dramas together a 8.0-8.5.

Postscript:
For those of you who still need closure, there is a very well fan made alternate ending ending for One and Only produced by industry professionals. I have fan subbed it and hidden it as a spoiler in the comment section of my One and Only review.

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Completed
The Tale of Nokdu
106 people found this review helpful
Nov 25, 2019
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This is the first time I finished watching a drama where everything just felt right and perfect, from start to finish. I've commented here before that I got a bit scared around episode 8-ish since the drama had a well-paced beginning and such dramas usually lose momentum towards the latter half. But this drama was all sorts of perfect to me. The storyline was great. I've been watching lots of kdramas (more than a decade now lol!) but everything felt so fresh, and time just fleets by whenever I watch the episodes. Most especially the finale. I found myself surprised when episode 31 just flew by. I thought it was just 10-15 mins, and the next ep footer showed and I'm like, what the heck, that was 28 minutes already?

And I couldn't deny that the best part of this drama was the acting of, and chemistry between, all the actors. Props to all cast members, including the director and staff with the beautiful sceneries and cinematography. But of course, I have to say this out loud: Jang Dongyoon and Kim Sohyun's chemistry was heckin exploding!!!! I just love them both!!!!! I was pretty much lukewarm with Kim Sohyun before, but I'm a fan now. And don't get me started with Jang Dongyoon—he's just too good to be true! Very much looking forward to their next projects, and I really really hope they do another project together. Maybe not in the near future, but hopefully someday, when they're a bit older. It's been a long time since I wanted to ship lead actors and wished for them to date in real life, but I just can't help it. These two look cute together and I am deluding myself into believing that they can't act like that if they didn't have real feelings..... or maybe they're just really good. Either way, I am fine with that! <3

OST and sound effects were great for me as well. I just wished they didn't use songs with repetitive English lines (but the "one of a kind girl" kinda grew on me eventually haha). I love the all-Korean songs, like Younha's Shine On You. I had it on repeat since it became available on Spotify. Became a feel good song for me since it reminded me of all the Nokdu-Dongjoo soft happy moments.

Rewatch value—definitely watching this again! Just until I get over my Jang Dongyoon-Kim Sohyun feels.

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Completed
Durian's Affair
45 people found this review helpful
Aug 13, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

RomCom, crime, historical drama, fantasy & Makjang make the dough for something standalone new

"Durian's Affair" is set among the wealthy - ´here´ (2023) and likewise ´there´ (long gone Joseon days). The time may have changed for Du Ri-an and her daughter-in-law, but the place has not. They are instantly catapulted from their Joseon days to recent today. Some of the wealthy family, who own the property today, have apparently reincarnated again in this family. They are especially well known to Du Ri-an. Now those involuntary time travelling ladies have to deal with the culture shock and the traumatic leap in time that actually seems as incredible as a dream, whereas in their own days they were actually in the midst of grieving over the loss of their beloved son/husband...

This bizarre, four-dimensional dramaturgical setting is providing a load of finely knitted entanglements and arising questions, yet unanswered. What had really happened back then? What's going on today in this family? Why the time jump? So what's next for the two Joseon-day ladies? How is everyone going to deal with this weird practical (and for some even emotional confusing) situation?

This production is full of zeitgeist of the 2020s, in which Anglicisms and Banmal (informal speech) are a matter of course, while in mass consciousness the curtain between different times and spaces has become extremely permeable. Yet, the icing on the cake: relationship dynamics in the fourth dimension. The people of that long gone time are not those of today. And yet... There are notions of their life back then, even if they cannot consciously remember it, as well as the option of making new decisions in their life today. Broken hearts, cupid's arrow, greed and passion, as well as a sense of responsibility or noblesse oblige... it's all mixed up through the perspective of the time-travelling ladies of days gone by. Situation comedy breaks through encrusted structures. The strangely insane is tossing and turning the minds of reincarnates and time travellers alike. Likewise, the strangely familiar is, too.

"Durian's Affair" is one of those KDramas that wants to break with established genres. The South Korean, but also the international market is currently being flooded with excessive KDrama productions. Thus there is increasingly space opening up for experiments... and that's what “Durian´s Affair” is, too. This KDrama is no RomCom, no crime thriller, no historical drama, no fantasy and also no classical Makjang. However, elements of each are richly included. Together they create something independently new. Anyone who is open to such an experiment should sit back, relax, shake off the usual expectations and get involved with the KDrama. It's entertaining. With some open questions that keep the suspension throughout all 16 episodes. There are also love interests. (Yes, plural.) All multi-layeredly entangled across time and space. Additionally, “Durian´s Affair” is even exuding a pleasant scent of humanness.

Be prepared for deliberate Sostenuto! The pacing is characteristic, since the production sticks consistently with the two outdated ladies from Joseon days. And in my opinion, those ladies are the ones who make the show as remarkable as it is. Regarding Du Ri-an and her daughter-in-law, all characters in the show as well as the audience alike can work themselves off. Nice!








----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIDENOTE: --- A reckoning with the lost virtues of a conservative South Korean society ---


“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” -Confucius

In my opinion, "Durian's Affair" is kind of a reckoning with pseudo-virtues of a conservative South Korean society. Du Ri-an and her daughter-in-law are catapulted into Seoul 2023 and show the elite clan around the Dan family what true Confucian virtue actually means. At the same time, they are caricatures as those virtues come along as an almost unattainable ideal. The two ladies from back then embody i.e. propriety, righteousness, integrity, benevolence, wisdom and trustworthiness in such an uncompromisingly consistent way that one cannot help but be amazed. Confucian virtues are inextricably linked to patriarchy. But the lesson in this idealistic self-image of a dignified, respectful life is given to us by two women! Adaptably creative, intuitive, respectful and well grounded. Timelessly human, righteous, wise and trustworthy.

Du Ri-an and her daughter-in-law embody the Confucian virtues, but more than that, they have transcended them without realizing it and found an answer for what these (and every other virtue, too,) are actually intended for: A source of self-confidence as a human being and dignity, from which a person can draw strength and grounding - even in the most adverse situations! In general, this as a prerequisite for any human, compassionate, authentic encounters. Those virtues had to be (necessarily, involuntarily) adapted by those ladies into a completely foreign century. (And they prove themselves again and again in every one of the three different households of the Dan family.) So it is actually about the core essence of any virtue: providing a human being with dignity and inner values as a compass – reaching out with the power of respect and thus transcending boundaries of specified classes, too.

The two time travelers come across as idealized caricatures of the bygone Joseon period, that is generally considered virtuous. As foreign ladies in Seoul 2023, they embody rather unreal, almost exaggerated ideals of virtues that are still upheld and (as it turns out) actually largely lost. And yet, the two ladies prove it: true, authentic dignity can grow from the upright embodiment of these virtues. This dignity matches its dramaturgical equivalent in the overall deliberate Sostenuto pacing of the K-drama.

The timelessness of the old values stands in apparent contrast to the growing western internationalized coolness and the elitist arrogant version of the new nobility, which however seems to have lost any grounding unless it is for money. It is rather obvious: a bit more humanness, morality, integrity, wisdom and trustworthiness would be nice here and there. What is offered above all is a shiny facade cushioned by the bank account. More or less covered underneath you find any human topic irrespective of class or wealth: longing to be loved, self-doubt, jealousy, gender issues, fear of aging, love in old age, temptation...

In "Durian's Affair" the head of the family clan may be a (actually surprisingly liberal) woman. Homosexual love can become a topic here, too. And then there are a few more time-sensitive issues in play. Yet, authenticity and sincerity are primarily triggered by the two noble, upstanding Joseon ladies... They may remind one or the other just by their attitude towards life, that human dignity is deeply rooted inside - even though one may have lost or forgotten about it along the way.

Don’t get me wrong. I'm not standing here for Confucian virtues. And neither does the KDrama. But it holds a nicely presented mirror to South Korean society, which to this day may hide behind the 'old, time-honoured' values. For better or for worse. If so, then it might be crucial to fill these virtues with life. Message: The present is far from that. Fascination? Yes. Attraction? Perhaps. But embodied? No. Two ladies from the past must be landing in 2023. (And actually they had to carry their baggage at home back then - a baggage whose weight was characterized by a questionable virtue (also) of the people of that distant time.)

“Durian´s Affair” rejects any kind of idealization. How nice, indeed! Yet it upholds authenticity (as a new and needed virtue?), basic for any respectful human-to-human encounter. As a value! As the true virtue! And with that - against this background - "Durian's Affair" becomes quite a progressive KDrama production. What a delightful surprise!





PS:
And then, the ending. It is open for all you can imagine. Any direction. You choose, where to go next. Drama just like the human condition (la condition humaine.) Like the wheel of existence, fueled by Karma! It goes on and on... A never ending story of birth and rebirth...

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Completed
My Sweet Dear
45 people found this review helpful
Nov 11, 2021
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 6.0

TOO SHORT!

Its not short and sweet, it is too short! I need more!

I love watching short series because netflix trained me to binge and its a torture to wait episodes weekly. However, the fact that i am wishing there were more episodes or at least longer ones is a testament that i fell in love with these characters and i would have love to see more, and to know more about their issue and characters.

Things i love:
1. Pacing
2. No mention of the word gay or homosexual or whatever their preference is.
3. No unnecessary dragging of the conflict. They were both adult enough to discuss and solve it.
4. Just the right amount of intimacy, and nooky nooky.
5. And lets not kid ourselves, Jang Eui Soo is so sexy even his hair deserves its own series.


Like i said, i want more. Maybe they can release an extended version. Will i recommend? Definitely!

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Completed
Blue Birthday
45 people found this review helpful
by Enny
Sep 11, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 7
Overall 8.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

I just want to live, with you around….

Time Travel Done Right !!

Ever happened, even when all the pieces of the jigsaw are in place ...you feel that it still doesn't fit...that's the case with most time travel stories ...even when everything falls in place there's still this sense of perfect fit that I have always felt missing …
and after being disappointed so many times ...you just want to give up on your expectations and start believing that you would never find a show that will give you a sense of perfect fit and maybe what you are looking for is something that doesn’t exist...
I wanted to give up too ...but I just can't, I still have my hopes up every time I start a time travel drama....but to my surprise this time I want to yell loudly …
"I am not disappointed .... !!”

what was all this not so necessary plot build for ...??
(just to make you realize how much I liked this drama ....)

The drama revolves around Oh Ha Rin and her best friend for 10 yrs or shall I call the love of her life Ji Seo Jun who died on her 18th birthday and even after 10 yrs, regret's still holding her tight. One day she comes into possession of some mysterious photos that her first love left behind...with painful memories relighted she decides to burn the pictures....and to much surprise (okay, not for us) finds herself in the past ...maybe now she has a chance to create a future she wished for....but you know in drama land and in reality too, things can never be that simple right.....

For every time you change the past, the future will change too ....she gets few attempts of traveling back in time ...and obviously, in all those, she tries to create a perfect future by saving her love and friendship...protecting the people she cares for...but you got to pay for what you get ...every action has a consequence...and so does trying to change the past …
What happens next is what you are supposed to see the show for ...lol

Similar in premise and tone to other stories that deal with time travel ...this drama holds it better than most hyped ones with a rookie cast that'll gradually adapt perfection (in their upcomming dramas in next few years-hopefully ...lol) and a storyline that's "simply amazing".....(it doesn't mean every second was perfect, and trust me it need not be...)

The overall quality and technical aspects, including the visual effects, background music are unquestionably well-executed within a relatively shorter duration of 20 mins and 16 eps, the storytelling is compact with explanation for almost everything that happens and without the intrusion of unnecessary fillers....it makes you involuntarily press the next ep button.

As for the characters ..they give off realistic vibes with their actions and decisions most of the time...and the overall friendship and all the happy moments they share make the whole show warming and beautiful as is ...a must-watch if you ask me …!!
I give a special mention to the photo studio owner ...I don’t know why but he made it so difficult for me to not appreciate his guest appearance.

As for re-watch value ...even when I know what happens ...I can still watch it (even tho I won't cuz I never rewatch) ...but yaa that’s how much I have come to like this show …!!

As always the column for my fav quotes and dialogues :
“We can draw lessons from the past but we can not live in it”
“I don't think about the past, the only thing that matters is the endless present.”
“All I want is nothing special ...talking to you, holding your hand, spending an ordinary day with you are all precious to me.”
“When you touch the past carelessly there will be big trouble and misfortune.”
"There aren't right answers. But what we confirm is that the least regretful choice ...would nearly be the most correct one."
“Finally your standstill time begins to flow, at last, it flows to me.”

In essence, if you are looking for a time travel with almost no plot holes, fast pacing, and well-written story ...then stop looking here and there ...go watch blue birthday!

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Completed
Once Upon a Time... in My Heart
45 people found this review helpful
by serap
Sep 18, 2016
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
I loved this lakorn so much. Thank you to the people who subbed it. One of the few ones where I didn't fast-forward at all. Acting was on point... so much chemistry. Plot had me on the edge of my seat. If you are looking for a light melodrama with a lot of romance, I would strongly recommend this one.
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Completed
Flight to You
45 people found this review helpful
by Zogitt
Jan 12, 2023
39 of 39 episodes seen
Completed 6
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Fasten your seatbelts. Turbulence ahead.

The pairing of the leads got me interested in this drama and the setting within the Chinese aviation industry hooked me.
The meet-cute is fairly tropey. Ice king boss meets sassy female pilot. Totally works for me. :)

What is more challenging is the work environment. It is next level misogynistic. Initially, I thought it must be overstated for dramatic reasons then I found out that there are less than 1000 female pilots in China! There is definitely a glass ceiling.
To add to her woes, the main antagonist wants to drive her out of the company. She did well with the support of her mentor (ML aka GnT) and overcomes obstacle after obstacle. Her steady career progress is mirrored on the romantic front as well. The ML was initially cool and distanced, but he soon grew fond of the FL. The FL is definitely in the driver seat in this relationship. She made some bold moves in pursuing GnT. The Show is heading in the right direction and it looks to be a worthy contender for the top shows of 2023. Then episode 24 happened.

For reasons unknown, the writer decided to forego all the gains thus far and make the second half full on melodrama. So much angst . . so much. The ML ended up behaving irrationally when he is the most rational character in the show. He was a Noble Idiot and managed to hurt everyone close to him for zero gain.

If that trope is not enough, the Show added a poorly constructed mid-air medical drama to push the plot along.
When you consider international aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the world with many cross checks and rules, the use of this subplot is baffling. There are so many holes and discrepancies, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The show then doubles down on the perturbation by bringing FL's onerous mum into the fray. This unruly mess drags on for several episodes (too long) which adds to my growing dismay. Why Dear Writer? Is it to pad out the length or is it some kind of script crib sheet?

The Show finally starts to reverse course at the EP.35 mark. Everyone gets a redemption, Oprah Winfrey style.
Even though things are looking up, GnT still suffers from a bad case of confession-itis. The air is filled with expectations but nada on the action front. It is exhausting to watch the “will he, won’t he” line plays out once again.

We finally get the true confession in ep.37 but it was done in a weird setting. It made sense to him (and to the writer) so who are we to judge? My opinion of the Show is yo-yoing all over the place by now. It is hard to ignore the shambolic mess dropped on our laps between ep.24-36. We are given plenty of positive hints that things will get better but the spectre of the last few episodes haunts me.

Ep.38 is all about fan service. Hallelujah! However, I can’t help but feel like I'm watching a To-do list being ticked off. We have a bunch of unrelated clips tying up loose ends then a random time skip to the next event. It ticked all the boxes but a weak narrative, nevertheless. BTW, the skinship quotient went from 0 to 100 in one scene but fades quickly as well. The progress of the 2CP is on steroids and feels kooky.

The Show had a last go at an angsty subplot at the start of ep.39, but a HEA ending was never in doubt. To be honest, the ending is fluffy and innocuous but that's about it.

Two parting thoughts; I thought macular degeneration is incurable but I'm too tired to argue. The whole D191 (a thinly disguised C919) storyline is the biggest PPL I have ever seen! It was jingoistic and flag waving but you have to give them credit for trying. ;)

Acting from the leads are good. The FL is certainly given the more challenging role. The ML is handsome and a seasoned actor. He definitely has a workout on his stoic poses. The support cast are mostly one dimensional. There is “growth”, but it is fairly predictable and a means to an end.

I did enjoy most of the show. It has its moments, and the first half is certainly engaging and eye-opening. If it has stuck to the original aviation focused plot and office romance all the way through, it would be on a winner. Instead, it took us down a long and tortuous path which adds little to the proceedings. The fan service in the end might placid some viewers who just want to ship the CP’s and swoon at their belated sweet moments. To me, that’s a sneaky way to paper over the disappointing melodramas that came before.

It could and should have been better. Peace out.

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Completed
Tra Barb See Chompoo
45 people found this review helpful
Jan 2, 2019
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers
First off: I rarely watch revenge lakorns, mostly because no self-respecting man or woman should put up with that kind of abuse, let alone FALL IN LOVE with their abuser. I watched this one because it's the same director who did Full House, and I ADORED Full House.
WARNING: RANT AHEAD

THINGS I LIKED: Directing is exemplary (as usual). I especially like how this director humanizes the nang rai; Chaya really wasn't evil for the sake of being evil. They portray Chaya as someone who is so desperate for love that she will do anything for it. Childish, but mostly realistic.
The music was good, mostly. The dramatic music was definitely overused, though.
Peat and Kiew's chemistry was AMAZING.
Peat is SUPER HOT.
The romance between Kiew's friend and the bar owner guy was SO CUTE and serious relationship goals.
Those few episodes where Peat and Kiew were happy together made me so happy, though they were fleeting.
I was glad they showed how hurt Peat was. Instead of being just an angry guy up to his eyeballs in revenge, they showed us that underneath all that, he was deeply hurt (not that that justifies anything). In short, I loved the emotional depth of the characters.
I liked Kriss a lot until I realized in ep 9 he was probably evil.
The story is mostly unique; it followed a few stereotypes, but everything else felt very original.

Now for THINGS I DISLIKED (here comes the rant):
The overused dramatic music.
Peat was WAY TOO CRUEL. I desperately wanted Kiew to find somebody, anybody, better than him so she could stop suffering. I couldn't even be happy they ended up together at the end because Peat was so abusive.
Pest and Kiew's dad. I HATED the BS of "use your love to thaw Peat's heart because he still loves you." How DARE he ask Kiew to endure more abuse based on the TINY possibility Peat actually loves her! It doesn't matter if Peat still loves her, when he is abusive to her, he deserves JAIL. Period.
Chaya and Kriss. Honestly I would've shipped it if Kriss hadn't tried to ASSAULT her that one time. Messed up.
Peat's repentance came too quickly. It should've been a slow process of him learning from his mistakes, not one sudden revelation that made him good again.
Kriss. Oh, Kriss. His repentance scene is downright cringey. Not that I don't believe in repentance, but the guy TRIED TO KILL THEM AND RUIN ALL THEIR LIVES. NOT cool. Again, it's a slow process, not "Wow you just shot me but I forgive you cuz you said sorry haha lol BFFs 4ever!!" *facepalm*

Strangely, I still enjoyed the drama pretty well. I guess it's the same with all revenge lakorns: it's just a guilty pleasure. I've seen too many even more frustrating dramas to say this one was horrible, though I will say it could've been a lot horrible. If you like great chemistry in a guilty-pleasure lakorn, this one hits the mark.

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Completed
Hit the Spot
45 people found this review helpful
Jan 13, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Spice Up Your Life

Now THIS is one drama that will either turn you into an ahjumma saying "omo, omo, omo!!“ every five seconds OR you‘ll save it for lonely nights and giggle yourself to sleep. ;D

Its steaming hot and rated 18+ for a reason, however don’t be too shocked by the very beginning ~ it’s not like that all the way through.
There is actually a story and I really loved the chemistry. The kisses were hands down the best I‘ve ever seen in a kdrama.

The spicy back and forth of the relationship(s) hit a sweet spot for me ~
I‘m not talking about misunderstandings but rather the "we both know we'll do it eventually but now for let’s flirt“ energy.
Also the writer was such a sweet guy!
I want one for myself ~ thanks! :D

There is room for season two and it would definitely improve my rating of this season to a 9.0/10 if it will be continued but it does end positively, so it’s fine this way too.

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Completed
Cheese in the Trap
45 people found this review helpful
Mar 3, 2016
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
Ok, I'm giving this a 10, despite the backlash on this drama. Yes, there were 2 episodes that had me feeling disappointed, and there were things I wish they had included in the drama. But those couple of things, cannot turn me away from how much I love this drama. I think it could be my favorite or at least second favorite drama. First, can I say that the acting in this drama is phenomenal. Love this cast! When it comes to the story, it is so much more than a drama about romance. We see the story mostly from Seol's perspective. At first I thought the story was mostly about Jung and he was my favorite character, but then I realized it wasn't only just about it him, but it was about everyone. Everyone has their story, complexities, baggage and hurt. I love how this drama deals with psychological issues, and the study of different personalities, and how people effect one another (whether through love or pain). I have never been so tied into a drama before. It made me smile,laugh, cry, and get giddy. If you watch this drama only for the romance aspect than you might be disappointed. But if you go into it with an open-mind, knowing that this is not your typical cliche Korean drama, than you might possibly enjoy it. I know I did!

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Completed
Eclipse
45 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2017
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
Really excellent, both as a mystery thriller of high school boys becoming involved in the lurid criminal underworld and in the unfolding of the characters of the protagonists. It's also a classic tale of how an innocent acting for good motives (helping his mother) gets caught up in crime. I also feel the BL theme is absolutely central to this movie. All the events that happened would simply not have developed the way they did but for the initial attraction between Se Joon and Yoon Jae. It's brought out when the pair meet at the end when the truth seems clear even if still unspoken. There's also the irony that the "strong" character Se Joon is revealed as vulnerable exactly where his deepest feelings lie - if he'd been strong enough to express his feelings to Yoon Jae I'm sure the triangle between him, Yoon Jae and Eun Yeong would have been shown as unreal and events would not have ended up as they did. I get the feeling Se Joon realised his attraction but could not express it, whereas Yoon Jae was too innocent and suppressed his feelings but may have finally realised the truth too late. Depends how you interpret the ending. I felt sorry for poor Eun Yeong - well played by the lovely Moon Ga Young - who was really caught in the middle between two boys unable to fully express their love for each other. The treatment of her character's part was for me the most objectionable aspect of the movie - if maybe justified by the plot. The ending was also very well thought out and acted, even if - for those of us with a romantic outlook - a real bummer. Re-watch value high because even when you know the story, it's a pleasure to appreciate the finer details of how the characters develop and the plot is acted out.

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Completed
Emergency Couple
45 people found this review helpful
Apr 6, 2014
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
Oh where to begin with this drama.
I feel the plot is kind of a cliche but written well, it can be great. And I honestly loved this drama. The actors were great, the progress was good, and overall probably one of my favorite Korean dramas.

I'll admit I only started watching this because of Song Ji Hyo. I haven't seen too much of her work and I'll also admit at times I did see "Running Man's Ace Mong Ji" from time to time during the drama. I feel it just can't be helped though.
I adored the chemistry between Song Ji Hyo and Choi Jin Hyuk. They fit together so perfectly in my opinion. Their cute scenes, fighting scenes, funny scenes etc were great to watch.

The supporting cast was great too. I can't remember all the names but I felt all the family members, interns, doctors and nurses were great. They had enough screen time to move the plot along and were just as important as the main leads. And can I just say the emotional scenes got me wiping the tears away. And that baby. He was so adorable!

One thing I do have to say is that I feel this drama could've been maybe a couple episodes shorter. Some things dragged just a little and I'm glad they didn't make it more than 21 episodes. Compared to others though, the plot being dragged on isn't as bad. Episodes moved by quickly so it honestly didn't feel like I watched 21 episodes.

Music was okay. Same background music and whatnot. Oh, I loved the sound effects that were always used. It just made things even funnier.

This is also one of the few times where I was happy with the ending. When the flashbacks of the drama and bloopers started playing, I sat in front of my laptop feeling satisfied. Wish there could be a special or something later on.

I would definitely watch this drama again and recommend it to anyone. It's a good drama to watch during down time.

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Completed
Peach of Time
45 people found this review helpful
Sep 27, 2021
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I can’t find the right words to tell. I think this crossover Thai x Korea is so amazing!!! I think this drama, shows a amazing side of this country’s and their culture, I’m happy that the language was not a problem. The whole story of peach is interesting, I really enjoy to watch this show. I get emotional, I smile a lot, the soundtrack is good, the actors does a perfect job, I’m looking forward for more story, more series like this, the plot was good too. I miss some points but in the end everything was good, the drama is amazing.
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Completed
The Treacherous
45 people found this review helpful
Dec 22, 2016
Completed 4
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Yes there are sex scenes and you know what? They're really well done--sometimes sensual, sometimes raunchy, other times like a work of art. It honestly adds to the experience of the movie. If you're bothered by sex then don't watch?

I've watched The Treacherous twice now and I loved it even more the second time. The cinematography is really great and the acting is really well done too. If you're into saeguk dramas, you'll love certain aspects of this like the inclusion of pansori by the narrator as well as some of the character, the traditional sword dancing, and of course the ever present court politics.

The King was the most interesting character, mostly because this is based off true history. My understanding and knowledge of Korean history is mainly from what I've watched in dramas (lol) so I'm not sure how much artistic license they took with the portrayal of this tryant king, but MAN was he out of his goddamn mind! It was insane! But that's what makes this movie so wild and enjoyable--there are almost no limits to the insanity...its raunchy and violent at times, but that's supposed to be the point. The film explores greed, power, lust, revenge all very dark and entrancing themes that really draw you in. The camera work really helps to add!

Honestly, the rating is probably so low because you have viewers who are used to watched sappy, romcom movies and dramas and this is definitely no where near that sort of story. If you're looking for something gritty, explicit, exciting, sexy, and just insane you will not regret watching!

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Completed
Longing for You
45 people found this review helpful
Sep 7, 2023
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

A fancy, unusual treat for crime thriller fans

"Longing for You" offers crime and more at its best. Nice to have along the way: a bit of salt in the fresh air of the coastal town where two of the protagonists grew up in.

The public prosecutor's office and the police form a special investigation unit in the case of a serial killer. Solving the case is one thing - an that is overrun by further victims. The internal dynamics within the team as well as emotional complications between further characters are another. Both crime case and complex personal dynamics being jointly combined within a splendidly explosive mixture make “Longing for You” a fancy, unusual treat for crime thriller fans.

We abruptly stumble into an opaque spider's web. The KDrama thrives on its bizarre, strangely interwoven relationships. Abyssal. A bit chilly at times. Mostly harsh and brusque. But sensitive and touching in well-placed spots, too. Suspenseful until the end. Whenever you think you have a clue, the story takes a new, unexpected turn. As I said, a fancy, unusual treat for crime thriller fans.

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