1This drama feels very real and scary at times. There are no silly cartoon characters or fill in empty stretches. Don't let 24 episodes deter you. I didn't want it to end. Also, the loyalty between childhood friends, which extends into teen years and adulthood, is very heartwarming.
Most people just watch new shows, so All In no longer gets attention. But it was a big scale production in 2003 with breathtaking scenes from Jeju Island all the way to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. It was extremely well done and is not dated at all. If you are a fan of Lee Byung Hun, you will find his acting, karate skills, and lovemaking exceptional here. All In has it all!
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I usually agree with Japanese ratings because they’re generally objective and I frequently disagree with international ratings because they’re often biased. This time around, I disagree with both of them; this drama doesn’t deserve the low ratings at all.
Kurokouchi isn’t your typical detective drama with an investigation hero or some genius scientist in it. How is it different? For starters, this is not an episodic drama where each episode they solve a case then move to the other one; Kurokouchi takes the 45 year-old 300 Million-Yen robbery case from a different angle. It’s notable to mention that the 300 Million-Yen case is a real robbery that took place in Japan back in 1968 and remains unsolved until today. The storyline is the writer (the mangaka’s Koji Kono and Takashi Nagasaki)’s hypothesis about what actually happened.
This drama is more of a crime mystery thriller than a detective drama; there are too many dark moments going on that differentiate Kurokouchi from any other detective drama. Of course, this remains as an investigation plot with a police department and detectives but there’s more than that to the storyline. It goes into depth of thrilling events with unexpected turns that make you eager to know what will happen next. The variety of developments and side stories that are always connected to the main robbery are a major strength point that counts for this drama.
The acting was pretty good. The performance by Nagase and Watabe Atsuro were quite remarkable; it’s been a long time since I haven’t seen them in anything that I forget how great they can be at portraying their characters. As for Gouriki, I will leave it at “Passable”; I think the main problem that people are finding with Ayame is her repetitive appearance on TV dramas and her lack of roles’ diversity. I didn’t hate her acting but I despised her character, she was a waste a space and a typical prey of “female dumb police partner” personality who knows nothing but asking stupid questions and lurking around for nothing. I wish that Japanese would change some of their female detectives’ characters. It’s about time that we get some strong, hardcore female investigators in the police department.
As for the male lead; this drama displays an anti-hero, a police officer who’s nothing like any other detective you saw before. He’s someone who affiliates with corrupted politicians, someone that you can never predict what he will do next. Kurokouchi always manages to surprise us with his choices and unexpected revelations. What also makes the character quite fascinating is its dark humor; it’s quite likeable even if it sounds hateful. On the other hand, there’s Sawatari: a manipulative silent character who always smiles no matter what. I happen to like those types of characters so I grew an ultimate liking to his way of thinking and it didn’t even matter that he was an evil figure in the drama.
Other characters were pretty well written to suit the diversity of crime stories and side events that always occurred in this drama. However, some of them weren't quite good and I still can't get over the sudden disappearance of a certain character.
In a line, the music suited the drama’s detective theme in a good way.
As usual, the rewatch value is always low for suspense twisty dramas that lose their factor of surprise once rewatched.
Watch this if:
-You enjoy non-episodic detective dramas.
-You like real stories but remember that this is only based on a hypothesis.
-You’re in the mood for a Japanese Crime/Thriller.
-You happen to like Nagase Tomoya.
Do not watch if:
-You’re not interested in detective dramas.
-You dislike Nagase Tomoya.
Kurkouchi ‘s definitely one of the best produced Detective dramas this year even if it’s underrated both nationally and internationally.
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This season had much more events than the 1st one but the 1st season's music was better than this season's. However, if we speak about the general concept everything was nicely done; The actors showed more skills and proved their great talent : I fell for that strong acting.
Domyouji remain as my favorite character in this drama, there were new cast beside the old one wich made the drama more interesting.
Basically, if you watched the 1st season you won't feel it's finished without watching this one.
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A Hidden Gem!
TLDR: Insomnia was a breath of fresh air, consistent with its storyline and gripping for all 13 eps. I can't exactly put into words how absorbed I was into the story.❛ Story ❜
I love plot above all and the plot of this drama is indeed quite amazing, everything is foreshadowed well and it stays interesting till the very end. When I started it, I wasn't expecting it to be THAT good and even managing to grab my attention with just the first episode.
It's really not what it may seem at first; what appears to be somewhat typical mystery drama about a mundane island in the beginning changes into something unexpected and dark. This is the first drama in which I couldn’t afford to fast forward any scenes because each episode of it kept me on edge of my seat and I loved every second of it.
To some, maybe the plot might be a bit predictable, but it doesn't lowers the enjoyment, it only proves that the plot-twists were believable enough for the viewers to catch and not get confused. Because plot-twists aren't supposed to be confusing, they're supposed to either caught you off-guard or make the story more interesting and complicated as new developments take place (at least that's what I believe, since I've watched my fair share of 'mystery' dramas that are a complete mystery for me to understand...)
❛ Characters ❜
The MC is the best thing about this drama. She's smart, strong, and capable without being unrealistically 'superior' (as in intelligence or other aspects) to other characters. She's exactly what we mean when we ask for a 'strong female lead' - someone who's not necessarily fearless or reckless, but brave enough to face her own fears and do the right thing.
As for others, they were great too! The side characters, whether they're likable or despicable, are really well-written and I love how they're written like actual characters rather than just some stepping stones for the MC. The whole cast also did a great job with their performances.
All in all, I'd really recommend everyone to give it a try! don't let the few amount of recognition it got discourage you because as I said before, it's a lot better than it might seem at a first glance.
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"First Impression is the Best Impression" - Proven False By Love Class 2
I agree with the people(in the comments) who stated that the first two episodes did not leave a good impression, also those two episodes are a bit confusing and make me lose interest in the drama. Hopefully I gave it a chance and I do not regret it. I don't know about others but I really really enjoyed it.I am not saying that it is completely flawless, that it is perfectly perfect. But I can just say that it is cute, lots of couples(literally not just 3...If you watch the drama you might just understand hehehe), a tiny little bit of mystery which I felt could have handled more wisely and mature. But kudos to the director, team and the leads the drama came out so well.
Talking about the characters and the actors, Lee Kwang Hee(Maru) is such a great actor.I fell in love with his character when he confides the cafe manager for minwoo...so cute and funny.I felt that nobody could have pulled that scene except for Lee Kwang Hee. I am already looking forward to his future projects. Also the dating class teacher is such a lovely person, I really liked her acting also her smile is so beautiful. The whole Kim An and Lee Hyun relationship felt so off for me, but the other two couples(maru x minwoo and joohyuk x sungmin) made it up for me. Also special mention to Sara(I don't this actress name) she nailed it and she is so beautiful.
I felt episode 10 is a bit draggy and totally irrelevant to the story and unnecessary as if they are forcing it to be the climax of the story. Other than that everything is great!!
Also, I did not watch the first season but the cameos of the first season's leads made this a season 2 for Love Class hahaha. So, no need to watch the first season, You will enjoy it for the story itself like I did.
P.S. - Great Support actors (especially Sara and dating class Teacher), Great Visuals, Good chemistry, Many couples, Short and sweet, Worth the Time.....So o watch it!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Quiet resistance becomes power—ordinary lives spark change in this gripping historical drama
South Korea, 1987: a country under the control of an authoritarian regime, where freedom of expression is suppressed and political activists are brutally persecuted. Amidst this repressive atmosphere unfolds the KMovie “1987: When the Day Comes”—a political thriller that not only illuminates the events surrounding the death of student activist Park Jong-chul, but also showcases the collective power of a society rising up against injustice.Director Jang Joon-hwan weaves a dense web of dramatic force, historical accuracy, and emotional depth—creating far more than just a political drama. He delivers a silent outcry for democracy, civic courage, and collective remembrance. The story is staged like a relay race: the narrative jumps between journalists, prosecutors, students, and prison guards, showing how many small steps ultimately lead to a great change. The film for me is not only a cinematic masterpiece but also an emotional appeal to conscience.
Rather than following a classic hero, the film presents a mosaic of individuals who make great change possible through small decisions. Camera work and editing are precise, almost documentary-like, yet never lose sight of emotional resonance. Especially impressive is how the screenplay transforms seemingly incidental encounters—such as between a prison guard and his niece—into milestones of a historic awakening.
Instead of drawing a clear moral line, the film presents ambivalence: journalists who walk a tightrope; a prison guard yielding to his conscience; a student who moves from cautious skepticism to resolute conviction; an official who refuses to look away at a decisive moment. Their actions are subtle, their words sometimes hesitant—and it is precisely this that creates a realism far beyond mere dramatic staging. It is the “little” people—the inconspicuous, sometimes nameless figures—who give the film its depth and authenticity.
These figures serve as moral compasses in a system that punishes any deviation. Their choices are not loud heroic deeds, but quiet acts of resistance that pave the way for change. While the great battles move the audience, it is these moments that linger—because they show how democracy begins in everyday life: through the courage to embrace humanity.
In this, “1987” achieves something rare: the film not only celebrates the victors of history, but honors those who stood in the shadows—without whose actions no light would have illuminated the dark corridors of the past.
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SIDENOTE:
THE FRAGILE SEEDLING OF ‘DEMOCRACY’ and SOUTH KOREA IN 1987
South Korea in 1987 stood at a crossroads: The military leadership under Chun Doo-hwan clung to power, while the populace—above all, students and intellectuals—had been rising up with growing courage for years. The brutal torture and murder of student Park Jong-chul became a turning point. The subsequent response, the June Uprising, initiated the transition to democracy.
South Korea's path to democracy is remarkable for its dynamism and symbolic power – especially in the pivotal role played by ordinary people. While other countries liberalized slowly, the Korean people fought for their freedoms against a heavily armed and determined regime. The role of students, church networks, and the media was central—an example of how civil society can become the driving force for change.
The film does not depict these developments as a triumphant victory march, but as a difficult, fragile path on which many risked their safety, freedom, and even their lives. This realism makes the story tangible—and relevant.
What makes “1987” so explosive, too, is its current relevance. The film is not a nostalgic project—it flickers as a warning signal in times when democracies around the world are under pressure. Even today, we witness how the erosion of democratic institutions often happens gradually: through indifference, disinformation, and complacency.
How easily we forget that democracy is not a given—that it must be actively lived and defended. “1987” reminds us that you don’t need a “big moment” to take a stand—it is everyday courage that counts.
“1987: When the Day Comes” thus for me is more than a moving film—it is an invitation not only to discover South Korea’s past, but also to question our own present. What are we doing today?
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Underwhelming Female Lead Outshined by 2nd Female Lead
I finally decided to watch this old drama since there's nothing new worth watching right now. The biggest issue this series had was that the 2nd lead couple stole the entire series from the main lead couple. The main couple was so bland.The Good:
- ML (Leo Wu): although his acting was still pretty stiff in this series, I do enjoy watching him. He's grown to be a better actor in his more recent work (Love Amidst in a Snowstorm, Love Like the Galaxy).
- 2nd FL (Zhao Lu Si) did an amazing job. She really portrayed the character development very well from a young, helpless, naive cry baby to a compassionate, determined and capable princess.
- 2nd Lead Couple (Princess Le Le Yuan and the guard Hao Du) were way more interesting than the main couple. Both actors showed believable character development and had great chemistry. I rooted for them from the start.
- The emperor Li Shi Min was very likeable and delivered a solid performance.
The Bad:
- FL (Dilralba) was a disappointing. This actress is better suited for support roles. She's beautiful, but her acting is mediocre. Her posture in this series was terrible, like a turtle with its neck stretched out. It was so distracting. Her portrayal of such a lofty character like Li Chang Ge was underwhelming. She failed to evoke any emotion from me.
- Main Lead Couple: zero chemistry between Ashile Sun and Li Chang Ge. They felt more like an older sister/brother relationship.
- Storyline: overall it was a solid storyline with some plot holes that made no sense. Li Chang Ge character was over emphasized too much that it became ridiculous at times. She's supposed to be a young teenage girl but somehow has convinced experienced generals, royal officials and tribe leaders to follow her lead in major warfare? She was supposed to be a skilled martial artist but couldn't beat royal guards and was always getting captured. She was constantly being saved by Ashile Sun.
- The slave girl (Mimi): how does a slave girl get to roam around at free will everywhere, be arrogant and demanding to people, etc. It just made no sense at all. She was a very annoying character.
OST: It was edgy and fits this type of storyline/series but it wasn't my favorite.
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Miyazawa Hio is GORGEOUS XD sigh. Now then. Sometimes you just need a soft baby girl to remind you, that the things that 'sound ugly ' or 'strange' are just in our heads. When people look at gay people as though they're 'ugly' its just their own ugliness they reveal.And how the biggest problem we all have is that when we lie to others, we're really just lying to ourselves. I'm not gay. I dont love you. Every time we do this, we're just making things worse. Because no lie stays hidden forever and no closet is comfortable enough to hide your gay ass for the rest of your life.
That cheating double life will destroy you and everyone around you.
And I just love how fresh that little girl's perspective was, it was like fudge, why didn't I think of that lol I missed her when the movie ended.
But so why not a full ten stars?
Here's the reason.
There was just way too much of courtroom drama, it just didn't suit the tone of the movie that they set. I would have been fine if it was just a few scenes, instead of being the entire second half of the film! It kills the closeness they were showing in the first half, I don't know it just felt wrong. Felt like that lack of bonding in the second half just didn't work.
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4 Cs in a suit - Cringe Confusing Cute Casual
Almost dropped it because I thought it was another series taking toxicity too easily, but I was wrong. It´s just a bit cringe. :DGlad I gave the dropping a second thought because even though there might be better LGBTQI+ Series out there, The Tuxedo still deserves some acknowledgement with the budget and behind the scenes work considered.
Production / Music 7.0 >> 6.5
This series has some awesome shots and moments, which, like the music, fit the overall mood and vibes of Tuxedo - that already makes me feel like it´s worth watching because they kind of make the rather casual plot more exciting. The music (+BGM) was well chosen and composed but still had a rather low impact on me/ was not that memorable.
Plot / Story 7.5 >> 6.5 >> 6.0
This is where it gets tricky and where the opinions divide the most. I agree that the story is kind of predictable and has a low pull-in effect on the viewer, however, the cliché overload and all the cringe scenes are still cute to me. Normally I´d heavily judge those stories if they were JUST based on certain clichés and I don´t think that this is the case here.
Acting/ Cast 8.5 >> 7.5
This is something that truly surprised me, Chap´s (Nawee) acting got so much better towards the end! His eyes started to become in charge of the mood-setting and even though he is not a perfect S tier actor, he still nailed the improvement, and I am here to acknowledge it, giving them the highest rating on this one. Green´s (Aiaoon) acting stayed solid and so did the rest of the cast.
Rewatch Value 6.0 >> 5.5 >> 4.5
I am glad for the effort of this series, but I am still a picky "rewatcher". HOWEVER, I´d still recommend it for a comfy series marathon during which you can cringe a lot. ((:
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Before watching this, I totally thought it would just be a high school fluffy drama but the story here is presented so well.
Everybody lived their part well, Keigo & Sora both possess a beautiful heart & Manaha is strong & cheerful.
Unlike other high school drama, I loved the fact that both ML are beautiful inside and out, no one is aggressive & pushy but they consider FL's feelings as a priority.
There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" Indeed.
I'm glad, I watched "Black Cinderella".
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Immersive experience that makes you part of the plot.
Incantation is a 2022 found footage horror movie directed by Kevin Ko, loosely inspired by a real life case that happened in Kaohsiung in 2005. That said, the real events give more of a framework for the plot, and nothing that actually happened in the movie was related to real events. Apparently, it’s not easy to find any truly reliable info about it in English.Incantation might have one of the best opening sequences of any horror I have ever seen. By directly addressing the viewer, presenting the optical illusions in the context of the power of will and personal framing, and by asking the viewers for help - it’s hard not to feel the immediate immersion. Breaking of the 4th wall is an aspect that comes back quite a number of times during the movie, which made me far more engaged than I initially thought I would be.
What about the plot? We are presented with two different timelines - present time of Ronan trying to gain the custody of her daughter and the bond with her, and the past timeline explaining the fear and ritual she was a part of a few years ago. As much as it’s a horror, it’s also a drama - showcasing the variety of emotions a parent can feel in relation to their child, and the actions they are willing to take to help them.
Are the scares actually scary? Truth to be told, the few jump scares I’ve got were a bit disappointing? The core value of the show is the eerie atmosphere, which was built in a perfect way. From the start we know, the plot is leading to some awful events, so even the happy and warm moments between the mother and daughter feel bitter.
Incantation is a movie that obviously cares about the details of world building. The Buddha-Mother, hand gestures associated with it, chant, symbols and rituals were well designed and planned - created a cohesive picture of that fictional spiritual belief. That’s why, even though I knew it’s not real, it was impossible not to feel affected by what's happening on screen - especially during the “directly addressing the audience” moments. The minor detail I was especially impressed by, was the use of the after-image closer to the end of the movie. Small, clever trick that felt like the last nail in the coffin for me.
The acting was perfect. While all the adults did an amazing job, with Ina Tsai portraying the conflicted emotions, fear, desperation and hope in a clear and realistic manner, the one that surprised me the most was the little girl Huang Sin-ting who played Dodo. Not only was her performance great, it was amazing to see a child act like a child in a horror movie. Why they always try to present the kids as demons incarnated with cold and detached behavior is beyond me.
Any flaws? I do believe the movie was slightly too long. Keeping it around 90 minutes instead of 110 would be preferable for the pacing to feel more tight. While I understand it was important to present the relationship between Ruo Nan and Dodo in great detail, the moments diluted the tension quite a few times. Personally, I could do without a few jump scares, especially the “cheaper” looking ones - the movie just did not need them.
Best to watch for scares: alone, evening/night, headphones on, no distractions.
Best to watch for the analysis: buddy watch, talking about the symbolism as the movie progresses, trying to predict the outcome.
Trigger warning; trypophobia, child neglect/child harm, body horror, gore.
The movie has some rather… gross moments. Also, might be too much for people who strongly believe in the supernatural - I can see it messing up with someone a bit.
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i didn't want to watch at first because the main lead is old and i didn't really like ethan. but after watching the first episode i couldn't stop watching it. the story is not boring at all and focuses not just on the happenings but also on the people's feelings. i can finally enjoy watching the main role - as a reporter - trying to get the truth from famous people and confront them - as a strong-willed and fair woman. ethan is just like her back-up and i really liked it. the characters flew with the story instead of the story going with the characters. i hate it when a drama contains a actually nice plot but it ended up focusing on the characters and not on the interesting story anymore. i laughed, smiled and cried while watching the whole drama.
and the OST is jus perfect.
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At first i wasn't really sure if i should watch it cause the title ''Let's Eat'' wasn't very appealing to me to be honest. But i was hooked by the first episode! Lee So Kyung is soo loveable. There was nobody on the show that i disliked. Everyone was so adorable! It's a really light drama but not boring at all! I really liked the romance too. So much chemestry! *__* I'm really gonna miss all the characters.... :(
the ending was just perfect... it even made me tear up a little :')
What i learned from this drama ?
If worrying could make worrying go away, then we would have no worries... so let's eat :)
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And once again she did an amazing job in portraying the character of a tormented soul and a girl with many scars who commit some crime and in a facility for juveniles she then meets a warden and simply fall in love. Well, who wouldn't fall for the brilliant Mikami Hiroshi?, who was equally incredible in portraying the character of a unrecognized artist with secrets and who also slowly, through many conversations fall in love with her. It was so delightful to watch the two of them , how they talk, how they always use imagination and metaphor for their topics and how they gradually started to develop feeling for each other. I was honestly so hypnotized by the uniqueness of the scenario and the story, I liked very much how they in almost every episode mentioned some famous writer, painter, artist who was important for society, I liked how she had so vividly strong imagination and talked about difference between LOVE and ETERNITY, I remembered this sentence:" You have two buses. One is for Love and everybody is inside, talking, holding hands and smiling, but in some next stop they had to get off, the bus moves on. Everyone can see that bus. The other one is for Eternity, it's empty and the bus doesn't stop. Do you see it? Eternity is more important then love, it gives you freedom. "- something like that, maybe I didn't wrote exactly the same, but the point is there. Whole scenario was simply beautiful, I don't know which episode I liked more and which sentence was more perfectly said. With their chemistry which was so patiently built they made it to pull you in and become fascinated by them. So for the acting I give a ten. Not to mention Kubozuka Yosuke who is a pure genius and of the most outstanding actors ever, I adore him in every role, whether it's a drama or a movie. And in this one he was of course amazing, so twisted, dark and one truly lonely soul, he was a great addition to the whole drama.
Music was appealing quite fine, intro song was really good. As for the rewatching, I thiink that I could watch it again in some distant future because it's a really good drama.
Definitely one thing is sure and that is that NO DOUBT J-dramas from the '90s are the best from every angle and that more people should be aware of that and make time to watch more of these kind of dramas, it's such a pity for them not to be seen and to be forgotten by the rest of the people. I can easily say that I always enjoy more in watching older dramas because of their emotional, mature, deep, natural and realistic content unlike now days shows. This one will for sure stay in your mind.
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