Completed
Tiger and Crane
34 people found this review helpful
by kyangg
Oct 16, 2023
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers
Overall, I like this drama. I don't understand why many people drop this drama or why they are giving it a bad review. I believe that this drama doesn't deserve such a low rating. The actors and actresses all did a wonderful job and the plot is pretty solid. The ending of the drama was definitely a twist, but it brings the story to a full circle.

It explains the true events of 500 years ago. It also explains the truth behind the Qi family curse. With the truth coming to light, we can see the reasoning behind Yi Mei's actions and Qi Yanran's actions. I'm not making excuses for them since I hated them throughout the entire drama, but it gave me a clear understanding of why they did what they did, especially Qi Yanran. I understand that they explained the twin theory earlier on, but after finding out the truth of the curse, it does explain why there is an "evil" twin and a "good" twin.

My rating of this drama is actually 8/10. I did took two points off for the fact that they killed off so many people towards the end of the drama. I should have expected this, since it is always almost the endings for majority of dramas with this kind of storyline, but I was hoping that they will keep everyone safe and sound. We already knew going in that the battle was long with unforseen dangers, but I was still hanging onto a tiny sliver of hope that everyone will make it alive -- injured, but alive. And yet, there were so many deaths at the end.

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Completed
Unforgettable
34 people found this review helpful
Apr 1, 2016
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 3.0
Just finished watching. It has been a long time since I cried my eyes out because of a movie. It feels good to let it all out. Do you know what is awesome with this movie ? It's that you know exactly what is going to happen but you can still feel it deeply because it is beautifully made. This is a real piece of art.

Well, the story is pretty much very predictable once you read the synopsis and after a few minute in the movie, I personally had figured out what was going to happen. Also, be prepared, the beginning is quite slow but this kind of pace matches this kind of movie. The story isn't particularly new. You will probably get a feeling of deja-vue. The story alone I would rate 3-4/10.

But what bring the grade up are the characters. I loved them, completely. They were so real, so 3d, so youthful and refreshing. I could see bit of myself in them. That's is why I rated the story 7/10. Because even if this kind of story have been done millions of times, the characters were actually interesting. They weren't those 2d (even 1d at time), stereotyped characters that we see everywhere nowadays. The friendship was beautifully portrayed. At the beginning, I was afraid that the little bit of romance would ruin it all, as it's often the case, but don't worry the romance is well balanced in this one. About the ending, I have heard people say that it was disappointing and selfish. But, I think that the ending is the strongest part of this story. Any other ending would have been disappointing. It's a very realistic ending.

Acting/Cast 10/10, Awesome, perfect !

The music. So perfectly on point. Honestly I generally don't pay much attention to music as long as it is not bothersome. But, I remember every single song of this movie because every single song went perfectly with the flow.

Rewatch Value : This the kind of movie that is actually pretty boring to rewatch, so I don't see the need. But I guess, if in a distant future, I feel the need for a tear-jerking movie, this one would be an option

Overall, It's not the movie of the year that's for sure. The plot has been overused, that's definitely true. But, if you want to see real art, if you are ready to let yourself be immersed, if you are disposed to open your heart, I promise you that you can have a wonderful experience with this movie. If you have time, give it a try.

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Completed
My Amazing Boyfriend
34 people found this review helpful
Jul 30, 2016
28 of 28 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I don't know what is wrong with me. This is totally not my type of drama, but I was hooked from episode 1. I watched this every chance I got in exclusion to any other drama. It is so fun and quirky with suspense and angst and tons of totally cute romance. The plot and the flow of the story is well written and directed. Although, I did guess who was the bad guy way early in the drama, I don't think it is the writers fault. It is just intuition. The extra characters that usually get on my nerves were needed for the actual story line and I enjoyed their interactions with the main characters. I appreciated the irony of them talking about second female lead as the girls' occupation were actresses. It was quite amusing. Also, it was interesting that the fantasy part of the drama felt ridiculously plausible. I even liked the ending. :-)

I don't know much about Chinese actors. Janice Wu was excellent as quirky, naive and somewhat silly Tian Jing Zhi. I didn't feel like she was stupid as some people felt. She seemed to pick up on things quite quickly once she had all the facts. She felt real to me and even through all the silliness. Kim Tae Hwan doesn't seem like much of an actor, but I cut him some slack since this is his first drama and he is model cute. He wasn't horrible as Xue Ling Qiao, but sometimes a little expressionless. The other actors were good too.

I enjoyed the music.

I might rewatch this someday..

If you enjoy fun, fantasy romance, then I recommend this drama.

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Completed
Pinocchio
34 people found this review helpful
Sep 11, 2017
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
With over 90 reviews on this 3 year old drama, I'm sure that mine will be lost at the bottom, but I want to take the time anyway to do this. Pinocchio was a drama that I put off for a LONG time. I thought that the plot just sounded kind of "meh". Then I learned a little about Park Shin Hye, who apparently drama fans either adore and think rainbows shine out of her rear end or they hate her and think she is the worst actress ever and avoid her like the plague. I am one of those rare drama fans that was just neutral, didn't see what the big deal over her was, but was somewhat reluctant to watch her. I am happy to report that she did a really nice job in this show. However, if you hate her, you are probably always going to hate her. I actually really enjoyed her, and think this might be one of the best shows I've watched her in. If this had been my first PSH show, I may have become a fan. Who knows? This was my first Lee Jong Suk drama though. He did a great job in this also.

But the story in Pinocchio was very intelligent and was not boring at all. I was worried about halfway through, wondering how they would pull 20 episodes of story out of this plot, but somehow they not only managed to do so, but did so very well. There were lots of thought provoking decisions and choices made by the characters and the show is set up around a topic that is very relevant today, especially in the era of accusations of "fake news" and misleading headlines- truth in media and how news stories are presented to the public.

I enjoyed all the characters and was consistently surprised at the decisions that Choi Dal Po/ Gi Ha Myeong made. The side characters were all utilized well, and were interesting. I most loved both Yoon Yoo Rae and Seo Beom Jo. Yoo Rae was adorable and funny. I look forward to seeing more of the actress, Lee Yoo Bi. Kim Young Kwang is always a favorite and did not disappoint! His character really surprised me several times as well. The YGN Cap, Hwang Gyo Dong, played by Lee Pil Mo, was another favorite. In fact, there was not one badly done character in the show. I'd feel a little silly listing all the characters and what I loved about each one, so I will stop there. :)

I don't really re-watch many shows, but I think this show has a decent rewatch value. The story would hold up well to repeated viewing.

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Completed
My Love Eun Dong
34 people found this review helpful
Sep 8, 2015
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
I just realized I hadn't written a review on it so here we go- My Love Eun Dong is one of the best dramas I have seen in 2015. I was a bit skeptical about starting it but the soundtrack sounded nice and the cast was good so I gave it a try. Once I started it I could not stop watching it. In fact, it's been months since I marathoned a drama like I did with this one. However, I somehow think this will go on to be one of the lesser popular dramas irrespective of how good it was. I think it's definitely underrated and sadly it will not everyone's cup of tea.

What I liked about the story was how it incorporated all K-drama cliches from years before and presented a nice, smooth story. The FEELS the drama gave me was immense. The main guy Ji Eun Ho has one of the purest loves ever in a kdrama. I loved how dedicated he was towards her and literally never thought of anyone apart from her, neither did he give up on their love.

This is one of those dramas where you won't be sure whether it will be a happy end or a sad end. The story is kind of sad throughout and when I imagined a sad ending, I really thought it would be hell depressing. But the fun part here is you won't be sure how the leads will EVER manage to have a romance or a proper relationship with each other. Plus, there are a few mysteries which keep the story interesting.

The drama is very much an old school kdrama with star-crossed lovers and a whole lot of scheming and manipulations. It was seriously so entertaining. The splendid chemistry between the leads only increased my awe for it and not lessen it in any way. The soundtrack is pretty good too.

Like all kdramas ever, the last four episodes are sort of a drag and you might find yourself skipping some scenes. I liked the ending a lot. It fit in nicely with the story. I think I made a good decision watching it but I am not sure if I'll rewatch since I hardly ever do. Highly recommended if you like melodramas and pure love stories.

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Completed
Made in Korea
34 people found this review helpful
Jan 15, 2026
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Made in Korea felt like a high‑gloss promise that ultimately left me puzzled.

I really wanted to love this series. Everything about "Made in Korea" — the cast, the production design, the cool prestige look — suggested that this would be the next big thing. But while watching, I slowly got that familiar feeling I sometimes have with shows that seem a little too confident in their own importance. The series aims for “masterpiece” status, but never quite pulls me in on a narrative level.

For me, the six episodes felt like a structural dead end. They were too short to truly explore the characters as human beings trapped in a system, with all their contradictions and moral struggles. At the same time, they were too long to work as a lean, uncompromising espionage thriller. The show wants to be both — and ends up losing me somewhere in between.

What disappointed me most was how much is hinted at rather than actually told. Friendships feel more like setup than lived relationships, the Vietnam reference remains a decorative biographical backdrop, and the sibling dynamic feels like a dramatic premise rather than an emotionally grounded conflict. Many characters came across as symbols for power and betrayal rather than people I could really connect with. Everything feels like narrative furniture — present, but not truly inhabited.

My personal anchor was the prosecutor. Amid all the polished surfaces, he felt like the exception, and that’s exactly why he stood out to me. He didn’t feel like a plot device, but like someone who thinks, doubts, and hesitates. That some viewers felt he didn’t quite fit actually says more about the show than about the character. To me, he represented a version of Made in Korea that takes moral gray zones seriously — a glimpse of what the series could have been.

Hyun Bin and Jung Woo‑sung carry the show with their presence, but even they (and production design and camera and music) can’t make up for the lack of narrative depth. Especially Jung Woo‑sung often felt like he was acting in a much bigger, more complex project that never fully made it to the screen. Without the star power, I probably wouldn’t have finished the series.

In the end, Made in Korea feels like a “budget version of a blockbuster”: huge effort, but limited storytelling payoff. As a film, it might have been sharper. As a longer series, it could have allowed its themes to breathe.
As it is, it left me with the sense of a project that knows its own potential — and quietly avoids fully committing to it.

Not quite one thing or the other. For me a sort of aesthetic, but ultimately empty space.

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Completed
Accidentally in Love
34 people found this review helpful
Sep 15, 2018
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
I gotta tell...It is the most exciting Chinese Youth Drama I have ever seen in 2018!

The Story is so cute,funny and romantic. Ill recommend this drama to put it in your watchlist especially young MDL users.The story is so Good and very well organize,well it has flaws but only a little bit if you notice it.
'
This is story is about love and friendship. The story is getting better on and on. It makes you to watch more episode because it does not leave you hangging


Gou Fiction did a job well done of building his character and its improving episode by episode.
Sun Yi Ning also did a great job for acting as a two characters base on hiding her identity.
The other Actors and Actresses did great too to support the plot really well.

The OST's are very nice especially the "STAR" by Gou JunChen because of it's lyrics that I can feel the feelings in it. The OST "To be Your Love" is really cute. The OST's are motivating you to watch another episode. I have download all the OST's in this drama, you better download it too ;)

I have put this as the 1st in Favorite Youth Drama list.

What are you waiting for watch it now!


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Completed
Misbehavior
34 people found this review helpful
Mar 6, 2018
Completed 2
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
Dark. Twisted. Messy.

This movie was like watching a car crash in slow motion. You know it’s going to be bad, and yet you can’t seem to look away. It was one of those stories that there are no characters to route for, as everyone is horrible and severely flawed in their own way. Throughout, you keep hoping that someone will grow and develop but that never really happens. In the end you are left watching the credit screen think, “What the heck did I just watch?!?!?”

However, throughout, I must commend all the actors’ performances, which were extremely well done especially given such dark material. In addition, the soundtrack was fitting and enhanced the mood without detracting from the subtle and slow melodramatic pace and way of storytelling.

Overall, worth a watch if you want a more mature, VERY twisted melodrama. Or to see Lee Won Keun’s butt. Whichever.

Happy Drama Watching.

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Completed
Guardian
34 people found this review helpful
Aug 8, 2018
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

A Flawed Adaptation Saved by Incredible Chemistry

*Guardian* is probably the first Chinese drama that made me force my Mandarin-fluent friend to read the original novel, watch all forty episodes, and then summarize everything for me. And mind you, he wasn't even a fan of BL novels.

I first discovered the drama through a trailer recommended by YouTube, and I'm glad I clicked on it. The very first episode captured my attention, especially the moment Shen Wei (Zhu Yi Long) saw Zhao Yun Lan (Bai Yu) at the university. One look was enough to tell me there was a deeper history between them. Even without knowing the full story, that scene carried an emotional weight that immediately drew me in.

Fans of the novel know that the source material is a BL story. However, due to censorship regulations, the drama had to tone down the relationship and present the pair more as soul brothers than soulmates. Despite those restrictions, Zhu Yi Long and Bai Yu managed to convey the essence of their relationship through subtle expressions, body language, and the way they looked at each other. Sometimes a glance said more than a page of dialogue ever could.

The plot itself is present, but the drama's limited budget often shows. Some storylines and visual effects feel underdeveloped, and there are moments where the editing makes scenes feel incomplete, as though important material was cut out. If you're someone who gets frustrated by inconsistencies or small production flaws, you'll find plenty to criticize here. Just pay attention to Zhao Yun Lan's lollipop. One moment it's in his mouth, the next it's in his hand, and suddenly it's back in his mouth again.

What truly saved *Guardian* from falling apart were its two leads. Zhu Yi Long and Bai Yu carried the series on their shoulders. It's hard to imagine anyone else bringing these characters to life the way they did. Interestingly, Bai Yu once mentioned that he was initially uncomfortable taking the role after reading the novel. Personally, I don't think that had anything to do with the BL elements. Zhao Yun Lan in the novel is much more flirtatious and mischievous, almost reminding me of Sun Wukong at times.

The supporting cast deserves recognition as well. The entire SID team felt as though they had stepped directly out of the novel, albeit with some adjustments to satisfy censorship requirements. Even several secondary characters left a strong impression, particularly the actor who portrayed the new king and the character with fire-based abilities.

One thing I absolutely loved was the opening theme. It sounded epic and promised a grand fantasy adventure, even if the production itself couldn't always deliver on that scale. It was also unusual because the opening song was in English. While English songs occasionally appear as insert tracks in Chinese dramas, it's much rarer to hear one used as the official opening theme.

As for rewatch value? Absolutely. Though if I'm being honest, I'd probably skip some of the weaker plotlines and focus mainly on the scenes involving the two leads. In fact, someone should edit all forty episodes into a single movie centered entirely on Shen Wei and Zhao Yun Lan.

Overall, *Guardian* was my favorite Chinese drama of 2018. It isn't perfect. The budget limitations, editing issues, and occasional plot inconsistencies are impossible to ignore. But if you're looking for logic and flawless storytelling, this may not be the drama for you. Watch it for Zhu Yi Long, Bai Yu, and the unforgettable chemistry they brought to their characters.

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Completed
Ice Fantasy
34 people found this review helpful
Apr 18, 2017
62 of 62 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 5.5
Ok, where do I start with this one...
Positive:
First of all I have to say that I never go over 25 episodes per drama, cause I get bored, however I saw the whole 62 episodes. If you love fantasy story lines this drama is for you, cause it has all kinds of fantastic creatures. The music was awesome, how they recreate the costumes is awesome, the guy that created the lord of the rings environmental houses and all is here so everything to the last plate is pretty and the colors of the drama are awesome. I have to say I like the first 45 episodes of the drama a lot..later well...then we go to the negatives.
Many love stories
Many fight scenes! I love fight scenes.
All the cast is amazingly pretty/handsome (shallow I know but very nice to see lol)

Neutral: some people say the effects look very fake, but if you grew up in the eighties like me, u will be just fine, I personally don't care for the effects if the rest is good, so in this aspect I have no good or bad reviews.

Negatives:
How can I say tell you the negatives without spoiling the drama...let me think. I will just say that this:
Don't get too attached to any of the characters or to any love story line. If you are going to watch it just because you wanna see your ships sailing, this is not the drama for you. It has romance, yes , a lot, but again don't get attached to any of them or the "couples".
I think for me is a negative thing that the drama followed the original book so well,because I didn't like the end.

Overall: I have a love-hate feelings about this drama, I love what I said in the positives and my numeric rating is base only in the positives because overall I think is a good drama if you love fantasy, fight scenes, kingdoms, pretty costumes elf looking and very, very pretty characters. But my hate feelings come when what I expected didn't happen and because of the end, that's all I can say without spoiling anything.

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Completed
Love Alarm
34 people found this review helpful
by mimo
Nov 30, 2019
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 3.5
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 4.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers
I have a major bone to pick with this drama.

The idea for this drama was eye-catching. An app that tells who who's in love with you if they're in a 10m radius? Sounds kind of sci-fi and would definitely be interesting in a high school setting. I'm a sucker for high school dramas so I thought this would be something new to try. Boy I could NOT have been more wrong...

First of all, the motives for Sunoh's actions were creepy; Jojo should NOT have followed him into an alley, and literally WHAT was up with him going to kiss her IMMEDIATELY after he realized Hyeyeong, his best friend, was in love with her?? Can you have a heart?? I understand you were raised differently and don't know how to act in those kinds of situations but god damn, LAY OFF. Sunoh acted like a baby throwing a tantrum through this whole show, it was downright IRRITATING.

Jojo was only mildly more bearable, but I didn't understand why Sunoh fell in love with her in the first place: there was nothing inherently special about her character because her entire character was based around her trauma; there was no other traits about her that were played up. Imagine only liking someone for their tragic backstory. I know she was like "oh I'm trying to be cheerful despite all that's happened" bitch WHERE you look MISERABLE ALL THE TIME. I became increasingly tired of her towards the end when it's very apparent she could have solved all of her problems just by telling Sunoh and Hyeyoung about the shield. I know there's going to be a season 2, but many of these issues could have already been solved if she had just come clean about her feelings in the first place, saving both her and Sunoh a world of pain.

Hyeyoung... this poor boy was really just trying his best but god damn... grow a backbone PLEASE. You KNOW you have a shitty best friend but you are not obligated to stand by him all the time because you are your own person with your own opinions and feelings. When we finally got that at the end when he was being honest with Jojo, it was like [gordan ramsay meme but it says"finally some good fucking CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT"]. Honest to god, FUCK JEONG SUN OH. It was more than right for him to leave the guy after standing by him even after he went after the girl he clearly loved. The moment he left that robot behind was the only fucking good character development.

Also a moment of silence for Hyeyoung's mom. She ain't dead, we just appreciate her for being a nice and kind mom.

Other than that, the casting was good despite the acting being sub par. Overall, would not give this drama another look. This is eight hours of my life I will not get back, but I guess it was good to see Jojo and Hyeyoung grow towards the end.

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Completed
Big
119 people found this review helpful
Jul 25, 2012
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 5.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This drama started off so well. The cast was good and Gong Yoo was great at trying to act like a 18/19 year old while in a 30 year old body.
But after a while the drama started to drag on. I dealt with it because it wasn't as bad as other dramas and continued to watch. And after a few episodes the cliffhangers started to repeat themselves and were very predictable.

The ending...oh god i don't know where to begin. This drama had the potential of having a very good ending, but obviously the Hong sisters didn't know what they were doing and I have never seen an ending so bad. i had big hopes for this drama and was let down big time.

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Completed
Sh**ting Stars
119 people found this review helpful
Jun 11, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 17
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Appreciable attempt...

The literal translation might be "shooting stars" but I still wanna call it "shitting stars" for 2 reasons: firstly, it has 똥:tong (poop) in its original title and the very fact that they've used asterisks (**) for the international title. So, even though many people say it's shooting, the intentions of the makers is very clear, huh!

Produced by "Mays Entertainment" and created by "Studio Dragon", "Sh**ting Stars (별똥별)" is a romcom plus idol-life drama. Written by Choi Young Woo and directed by Lee Soo Hyun, the show was originally broadcasted on tvN while iQIYI took charge of international distribution.

The show could be a romcom drama having the main couple at the center, surrounded by many other lovelines, but deep down, it portrays the life at Entertainment agencies, as personal managers of celebrities and members of a a PR team, all of whom are indulged in cleaning up the mess created by the stars, hence justifying the intended title.

Oh Han Byeol (Lee Sung Kyung) is the PR team Head at Starforce Ent. and a long-time close buddy to the topmost actor in Korea, Gong Tae Song (Kim Young Dae); both of them are like sworn enemies and the story mainly follows their story, as they develop feelings for each other. Kang Yu Sung (Yoon Jong Hoon) and Park Ho Young (Kim Yoon Hye) are two managers at the same agency, while Choi Ji Hoon (Ha Do Gwon) is the director. Cho Ki Ppeum (Park So Jin) works as an ent. reporter whereas Do Soo Hyuk (Lee Jung Shin) is the legal advisor to StarForce.

Other familiar faces in major roles are: Lee Seung Hyub (N. Flying), Jang Hee Ryung, Kim Dae Gon, JunQ (MyName), So Hee Jung, Choi Ji Woo and Jin Ho Eun. There are many rookie actors who did deliver well. Also, you'll see many guest roles including Kim Dong Wook, Lee Sang Yeob, Jang Ki Young, Song Ji Hyo, Moon Ga Young, Chae Jong Hyeop, Lee Ki Woo, Kang Gi Doong, Lee Sang Woo, Park Jung Min, Seo Yi Suk and Lee Joo Woon.

Plot development is average yet decent and likable. The pilot episodes and the follow-up didn't create any impression, ngl. But it suddenly became interesting from the 4th episode, idk why. The furtherance is smooth, with so many up & downs and several peak moments, accompanied by twists and revelations. Except for the first few episodes, I didn't really see it going down or dragged or exaggerated. Imo, the 13th & 14th were the ones where the show was at peak throughout, and everything is put to rest by the end, opening a smooth path for the finale week. Thr ending sequence and the finale ended in a grand way. So overally, it might not be very good in sum development, but it was nice and decent with minimum flaw and damage.

The show as an usual romcom, that too in 2022 did not require immense talent to create, however, maintaining the decent quality throughout is what should matter the most. In my opinion, the writers have been able to achieve so to a great extent, if not entirely. And provided that the writers are both debutants, they should be appreciated and encouraged for this was able to be acknowledged by a huge number of audience. It was a wise choice in their part to make it more about the "behind the scenes" workers than the stars, and also giving sufficient share to each of the couple development, adding the character goals to it.

Lee Soo Hyun PDnim who has debuted only 2 years back, has been able to create about 4 moderately acclaimed pieces and I believe this drama also belongs to the same category. His previous experiences surely has helped though this was his first romcom, unusual of his genre. The decent job in case of screenplay, screen-editing, sound editing, sequencing, etc. should be appreciated. Setup in modern urban vistas, there was no need of visual excellence, and everything has been kept simple. The extraordinary failure of cinematographic work in Africa should deduct a point from overall though.

There are 5 OSTs in total and all likable, perfectly blending to the drama and properly utilised throughout. "Shooting Star" by Nam Woo Hyun is alluring track with tranquil music describing how it feels to be in love. "How I Feel" with Kim Jae Hwan's captivating vocals has a jolly rhythm and a piece of confession. "My secret, My everything" by Sondia and Vincent Blue brings back the vibes of old K-romcom OSTs, I cry every time I listen; their harmony is everything. "Departure from a Country" by SuJu Kyuhyun is a melancholic yet alleviating song with stimulating lyrics. "Won't give up" by Choi Yuree is is a softcore track about assuring one about staying by their side and comforting for ever.

What I liked...

# Chemistry development between Tae Sung and Han Byeol was very fond, sweet and likable. Even though they get together sooner than expected, the follow-up journey was nice as well.

# The second couple (won't say who) were the cutest, I'll cry. I wish they had more screentime as couples or their prior development but I'm actually very happy that the couple existed. Let me cry again. The same goes for the third lead couple as well. Let me informq that there are 6 couples in total and each of them are uniquely heart-winning. Look forward to them.

# Park Ho Young, as a person was sweet and her acting is so adorable no matter the situation. The cheerful character she played, surely will remain in my memory.

# Kang Yu Sung, as a responsible and handsome manager did give me flutters throughout. The man is so charming, I will literally pluck stars for him. The character was well written.

# My Lee Jung Shin did shine in the show as well. Him in formal is paradise. The couple chemistry might have come very late but it was nice.

# The PR team, Manager team and the entire organization have been an amazing experience. I don't think such importance was given before? The office scenes were mixed bags of emotions, depicting various situations.

# Emphasizing mental health issues in idol dramas is common but this show did a good job in exposing variable sides of it and also throwing light upon the "behind-the-scene" efforts from the companies, which might not be entirely real.

# Dae Soo calling Yuna-yaaaa was so funny yet so pleasant, I swear. I will miss that for a while, hahahaha.

# There are more than one bromance in different forms though none of them is greatly emphasized, starting from co-stars to managers then between stars & manager and then stars and staffs, and what not. Each of them were fluffy.

# I love the very way the OSTs has been utilized in the show; not only they're good on their own, the appropriate use during the melodrama is actually well-handled. I don't usually see this as a specific point but this drama made me realize so.

What I didn't like...
# Kim Young Dae's acting was a bit off imo. Outstanding performance should be expected from a lead but I guess he was still not prepared to takeover the ML role. It wasn't bad actually, the thing is he needs more training and polishing, and definitely has the potential to become a good factor.

# Unnecessary crossovers did irritate me. The "Find Me In Your Memory" appearance was fine and relatable but the "Penthouse" one was annoyingly cringey and wasn't necessary. Def felt like a filler.

# The cinematography in 1st ep was disgusting, infact, very much overdone. No, seriously, Africa doesn't look like that irl.

# The less of the 2nd couple came to me as disappointing when I realized that even with the seemingly lees screentime, they outshined the lead couple.

Final Remarks... The pros definitely outweigh the cons: in simple, it was a good show to look forward to. Unlike a lot of people, I think it a fairly average drama with very few flaw, which makes it a decent one time watch, yet something that everyone should watch, provided that these days, old-styled romcom dramas with good production values. Go ahead.

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Completed
Coffee Melody
25 people found this review helpful
Sep 20, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 2.5

Very sweet, but too slow.

So, I loved the fact that couples were not messed with or manipulated by jealous, bitchy females. I hate that trope and it's far too common these days.

This show is cute, sweet and fluffy but excessively slow. There are issues, but they resolve quickly. Most of the issues wouldn't even be blips on the radar of other characters in other shows, which just proves how desperate they were to keep this very soft.

There is minimal character development, growth or change but at least they are good at sharing emotions and hopefully the audience looks at their own lives to find happiness like the characters did.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I did really enjoy certain parts and then was quite bored with others. It was a give and take in that regard. However, if you're looking for a fast, easy watch with little investment then this is perfect.

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Completed
Padiwaradda
25 people found this review helpful
Mar 28, 2016
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
As a fan of James, I had to watch this. This had a Neung Nai Suang 2015 feel at first mainly due to the time setting and, of course, the fact that James was also the male protagonist. I'd say, though, that's where the similarities stop. Differently from Neung Nai Suang 2015, where the main character's love relationship is extremely childish and lacking in communication, Padiwarada delivers a very mature perspective of love and that was intensely refreshing for me. The concept that love is something you build over years of understanding and caring for the other is rarely explored in dramaland and in my opinion, was well presented in this drama.

Rin was a good female protagonist, had great sense and presence. From beginning to end I admired her and, to be sincere, if I ever come to marry I hope I'll be able to be at least 30% of the wife she was. Even when the female rival plotted against her and Saran's wedding, she always acted accordingly with elegance. It's hard to find a main character like her in dramaland in general, so I was really surprised to find one in a lakorn of all things.

I think some of that also applies to Saran. From the moment he started opening up to Rin (what happened really early, another good surprise) he was really sweet. The only thing about him that made me a little mad was that he was too gentle for his own good at times. His first love didn't deserve 1% of his consideration towards her... That bitch really irritated me.

Now, besides the usual bitch character that is always present in any romance drama there is, the only other thing that I must complain about was the "White Tiger" and his magic thing. For me, that part of the lakorn was totally unnecessary and what would cause me distress if I ever were to recommend this to someone who isn't really into dramas and lakorns in special. Watching that part made me extremely silly, I wasn't even believing what I was watching at times and every time someone would enter my room I would simply stop watching out of embarrassment. I mean, really... Magic powers and all that in that kind of setting was horrible. This wasn't supposed to be a fantasy drama!!

The OST didn't really stand out to me. I would rewatch this only to see Saran's and Rin's beautiful relationship develop again. I just wish there were more kisses on the mouth instead of kisses on the forehead (which was seriously over used... I mean, there was this one episode where I counted at least five of them!!!)

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