I have never seen Shim Eun Kyeong in anything else, but I couldn't picture anyone better for this role. She was totally adorable as quirky, naive and genious Na Il. I know not everyone is a Joo won fan, but I love him. He has played a variety of roles and doesn't disappoint as Yoo Jin. It seemed real as he fumbled around learning to have friends and care for people. The other actors are good also. Go Gyeong Pyo is good as Il Rak.
The music is outstanding. It is worth watching this drama for that alone.
I will probably rewatch this at some point.
No matter what genre you enjoy, I recommend this drama. It is a comfortable and easy watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
What a roller coaster of a ride!
I’ve been waiting for this movie since I saw the trailer when it came out and I had high expectations for it. The movie didn’t disappoint AT ALL. Just a warning though, this movie is NOT for the faint hearted and may trigger viewers.Acting:
I want to seriously give a big salute to the actors in this movie. All of them did an amazing job. Their acting was so breathtaking and they captured all the emotions of their respective characters beautifully. Uhm Tae Goo deep voice really suites this movie so much.
Production:
The cinematography was mind-blowing. They really showed Jeju Island nature very nicely. Moreover, the director really knows how to capture their viewers. They have us sitting on the edge of our seats just waiting to see what happens.
Rewatch value 10/10!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It’s literally 5am and I have a 8am class sOON BUT I FINISHED ALL 24 EPS :0 tbh I was confused at first because the drama made it seem like Ye Lin was the ML but LMAO JOKES ON ME ITS YE MIAO not complaining tho;) For an honest review, I really enjoyed the plot it wasn’t cliché but tbh it was like the typical Chinese youth drama. Everything goes well and is light and fluffy up until the last few eps so don’t get shocked when you start crying and cursing at a fEW MFS for making you this emotional *trust me I did it* What makes this drama really special are the scenes of the main leads exploring the art of ancient painting and how because of this, formed unexpected friendships (& love interests HEHEHE) In the end I really wished that this drama was a few eps longer because the ending felt very rushed and all over the place idk I’m not a Calculus ho but shit didn’t add up and kinda left me hanging:// If this drama gets a season 2 then I hope they focus solely on Ye Miao And Ruining’s relationship! LOLL anyways I really enjoyed this drama and since I sacrificed my college studying time for this yOU SHOULD TOO jk but it was good guys!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It’s good but something is missing
I liked this drama. I really did. But something was missing for me. Usually horror stories bring a sort of dopamine rush which was not there for this drama. The story was interesting and several plot lines were only revealed at the end. The pacing of the drama was good too and none of the episodes felt draggy or boring.The acting of the characters whilst great, I could not be completely engaged. I think this was a stylistic choice by the author who decided to write a plot driven story not a a character driven story. This is why many characters save for the female lead felt very one note for example the mom was supper annoying that’s it, the grandmother was super evil that’s it. The back story of the ghost was tragic but somehow when it was being played out the scene did not land.
Having said that there was a fairy talesque vibe to the story. The folk practices were sometimes fun to watch and the cinematography was awesome. We usually don’t talk enough about the technical aspects of drama making, but to me the most fabulous job was done by the camera/ cinematography crew. There was a very solid technical team behind it. And I wish more people realised how great the people behind the camera could be.
Was this review helpful to you?
2This review may contain spoilers
This is the most chaotic series I’ve ever seen! What I thought was going to be a good way to pass time, turned out to be a beautiful story about friendship, love and the bond you create with the people around you.THE STORY:
The series follows the story of an apartment complex where only men are allowed to be tenants. The story also has several callbacks to Why R U the series and you will see why soon. From here on out, the story follows several couples, the most prominent being Nott and Pun, and their journey towards love.
THE ACTING:
The acting is seriously impressive! All the characters seem to be crazy and the actors channel the essence of their characters very well. A special shoutout has to be given to Poppy as Porpla, whom I just found out played Junior in Why R U the series! For actors who seem to be doing their first or second roles, they were amazing. I have to say that it’s been amazingly cast.
THE PRODUCTION:
This is the first time I’ve seen a sitcom format for a BL and I have to say I’m sold on this idea. The production team has done an excellent job with this series and I believe it’s going to get even better as it goes on. The series also breaks the fourth wall often to either give advice on love, or sometimes it’s just cause!
THE OST:
What a fun OST! The OST of this series is the same as Why R U’s OST and I love it. Most of the tracks of Why R U’s OST are reused for this series and I couldn’t love it more!
THE NEGATIVE:
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I cannot think of one negative thing about this series.
THE ENDING:
WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT ENDING! Seriously what was that ending? They rode off on a Spaceship and THE END!! Then that one year time jump? I really hope that was a season 2 announcement.
All kidding aside though,
What I thought was a series that depended solely on it’s hilarity, delivered a surprisingly poignant and heart touching finale. That conversation between Porpla and Pun about unfulfilled first love was something else. Poppy was just ‘Chef’s Kiss’. I never would have thought that my favourite character at the end would be Porpla and the relationship I would be most invested in would be that of Pun and Porpla. That Spaceship though! I guess they got together, but that ending has got to be an announcement for season 2!
This series does not have as high as a rating as other series’ do, but trust me, it’s worth your time. If you’re having a bad day and just want to laugh , this series is perfect for you. Its a surprisingly insightful series about life, if you just look past those quirks. I hope this review helped you with your decision to watch this series. Thank You!
Was this review helpful to you?
This show goes down light and easy in the first few episodes, and you'll be hooked before you know it. Then it will totally wreck your feelings! This show went above and beyond any expectations I had for it. Although, there are a few minor plot points that I deducted a point from the story for, overall I had no major criticisms for it.
Chae Soo Bin and Yoo Seung Ho did an exceptional job as the main leads. They did well in both the comedic scenes and in the emotional scenes. I have nothing but praises for them in this drama. The supporting cast were enjoyable also.
Some will say that this is only light and fluffy, but I found deeper meaning in the story as well.
This was a surprise hit for me! I went in expecting a 7-7.5 show and instead was happily given much more! If you're on this fence about this one, hop off and just give it a chance. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
LIFE
This drama is completely different from typical modern dramas. We are presented with characters who have real life problems and are dealing with them. We are given a broken family and the daily dealings of those in it. Moral of the story: life isn’t always how we plan it!We make plans to graduate school, get into a univer of our liking, graduate and join the workforce, meet someone we want to spend the rest of our lives with, marry them, advance in our careers, have children, etc… But tomorrow was never a guarantee.
For Lin Tuo his diagnosis was a sudden and inevitable change to those plans, but as the fate would have it also for the people around him.
I will be honest I didn’t want to give this drama a shot. I like to use C-Drama Land as an escape from reality, and this drama did just the opposite, however I am a huge Lin Yi fan and after only getting one drama from him last year I chose to give Angels Fall Down Sometimes a shot in between watching Everyone Loves Me which was simultaneously airing and also had Lin Yi in it. To say the least, it quickly became the other way around as ELM became my ray of sunshine after the many deep emotions AFDS made me feel. I cried in most episodes and related one too many times with at least one of the characters. It truly is a blessing to have people who love us and chose to stick by our side through the thick of it.
My takings from this drama, live the life you will be proud of every single day, because tomorrow is uncertain and also be the friend/ family member that sticks it out despite the storm raging on.
Was this review helpful to you?
12 beautifully pulled shots of coffee
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee? is a KakaoTV production spanning 12 episodes, each being 25-30 mins long. Highlighting the ordinary and simpler things life has to offer, it is a heartwarming story of people, and of course-coffee!The drama starts off with one of our lead characters, Kang Go Bi, seen exiting an exam hall after having failed to clear the civil service examination for what appears to be, not his first attempt at it. Struggling to find the right words, he texts his mom about it and is met with an encouraging and supportive response. The conversation ends with him deciding to get himself a cup of coffee and start preparing for the exam once again. It is for this cup of coffee that he stumbles upon 2nd Generation Coffee House and we get introduced to the owner and other lead, Park Seok. This cup of coffee that he gets served at the café is what awakens and confirms his passion for coffee, giving him a dream for his future and the determination to pursue the world of coffee.
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee is all about the microcosm of the coffee house and its atmosphere, and it pretty much excels at it. You don't have to be a coffee connoisseur yourself to be able to understand the emotion that goes into a job well done, or the passion behind the pursuit of perfection. There is nothing quite dramatic or exciting in the course of this series and its beauty lies in the fact that it is a story as ordinary as one can get.
The main characters, Park Seok and Go Bi complement each other rather beautifully, and it's their mentor-mentee relationship that makes this drama what it is. The other characters, either recurring or not, are sketched out sparsely, and are mostly used as tools to get a message across to the viewers.
The actors playing the main leads have done a great job and are convincingly passionate about coffee...it was wonderful to see how they gradually got comfortable with each other over a shared interest, as the drama progressed.
The cinematography and direction are worth mentioning, for each frame, each scene of this drama is aesthetically pleasing, subtle and artistic. The sort of sepia tone used in capturing this series is rather perfect and really sets the mood for it.
The format of this drama is like a potpourri of different types of people and themes, that leave lingering messages for the viewer to mull over. And just like a cup of coffee, it isn't a drama that should be gulped down in one go but something that should be savoured, enjoying one sip at a time. The episodes almost always provide a sense of closure to the viewer, yet leave it open to interpretation, and the balance struck in maintaining the two is seamless!
This drama doesn't have elements that would give it a mass appeal, but rather caters to a fewer number of people, all of whom would whole-heartedly enjoy this sweet, nuanced, slice-of-life story.
Was this review helpful to you?
The actors mostly shine, the director shows talent, and there is sex appeal for a while, but...
Yes, Bad Buddy is good. Let's put that out there before I get attacked for not giving it straight 10s.With that said, there are also some huge holes in its story, unneeded or unexplained awkward gaps in time, some poorly executed moments, and enough drawn-out product placement to question if it's an infomercial or a television show.
Sold and packaged as a Romeo and Juliet story, Bad Buddy, in-the-end, shares very little in common with the over-taught, and over idolized, tale. Yes the two main leads, Pat (A sexy and charismatic Ohm Pawat Chittsawangdee) and Pran ( A Soft, cooing, emotional Nanon Korapat Kirdpan) come from warring families and friends that just refuse to get along. However, everything else in this series is its own and does not use anything more than this basic plot device to create the age old trope of enemies to friends. For a while you may be trying to decide who is who with all the side characters in play and maybe MOST importantly who is Romeo and who is Juliet, but the story never lends itself to those rigid character constructs (For our male/male leads this is a good thing and recognizes the differences in homosexual relationships) and the tale never allows any of these side characters, or main characters, story arcs to play out in any meaningful way, Thus, in the end it will be a fruitless endeavor with time better spent on not trying to match these characters up but to just toss the Shakespeare play you know away and watch the series as simply an Enemies to Friends story. (To be fair it IS adapted from a novel and not the age old play so this fits)
Our two main leads spend the first couple episodes lost in the chaos the story is trying to design around them and create a base of why these two just can't like each other or be together. Yes, you will get their introductions and a helping of some backstory (that stays muddled so future episodes can put it more into clear focus), but you will not really spend time with the leads in any truly meaningful way while this is happening. These beginning episodes are repetitive, long winded, and obnoxious with only some golden nuggets of moments for the audience to cling and see that their may be something worth staying for here. It was enough that the MDL rating dipped almost out of the 8's into the humdrum 7's at the time, and the director took to media to tell everyone to just sit tight and stay tuned that the show was about to leap forward.
So it was a rough start that mainly only the attractiveness of the stars and the rabid fan base kept afloat, not to mention the BL industry being so disrupted by Covid that most 2021 projects found themselves delayed or canceled and such Bad Buddy came along in an anorexic marketplace. Also, the music in these episodes is by far the best. Not only the theme song and the introduction to Nanon's single (Which I will say I liked) but the score of these episodes is a fun techno crunch of leftover 90's and early 2000's synth kits that are energetic and fun to hear. I missed them in the latter half of the series.
Trying to steer clear of spoilers, in broad strokes the center of the series, or middle episodes, explode into some great story telling, exceptional acting, truly emotional moments, and amazingly choreographed scenes that possibly may be considered meteoric and will be ensconced in the "Greatest Ever Moments" annals of BL fandom. Or ya know, maybe they won't. But, it is, in all honesty, this portion of the series that awards Bad Buddy with a rating in the 8s. What comes before it is very average 5-6 area. And what comes in the later episodes is much more 7-8 range. Meaning that if the middle hadn't been so incredibly strong this would probably only be a level 7 rated series at best.
Unfortunately, the creators cannot keep this momentum or strong storytelling going, and it all collapses into the heinous episode 7 which is set to restart the story in an ACT II design. Yes, it covers, or hides, the very poor writing under heaps of sexiness and flirtatious moments that had the fandom reeling and social media in overtime with edits and clips of these scintillating moments. But, these distractions were layered over an illogical time jump that makes the "game" the leads are playing seem to last for months of time off screen, while changing nothing of the actual story except to bring Pat's younger sister Pa into the University for a side plot. This jump comes out of nowhere and is awkward to watch and swallow. The fact that at least a1/4th of the episodes runtime (or one whole section since the episodes are delivered in 4 part installments) is taken up with product placements is shameful and cheapens the overall feel of the show. It is, by far, the largest disappointment the series comes to offer and its juxtaposed in an episode that highlights some of the great chemistry the main leads have with each other, which makes it one hell of a frustrating watch.
The ending of the series will finally follow the story lines built in the beginning episodes. One of the friends of one of our leads will do an unforgivable act. Long rivalries will be discovered but left unhealed or left in their toxic states. Pa, Pat's sister, (Played motherly and humble by Love Pattranite Limpatiyakorn) comes to cement herself in the series as one of the MVP's along with (Head strong and kind Milk Pansa Vosbein) as a mutual friend to all in her wining role of Ink.
The final episode is, like many I have watched, both satisfying and disappointing. Overall, the series has always put their strongest moments and best parts of every episode mostly in the part 4/4, or end of each episode to get you to come back the following week. That is, for the most part, the beginning of each episode is throw-away that eventually grows into something of more importance by the end. In fact, it could almost be said that you could watch Bad Buddy as a series of part 4s and have a very strong almost level 10 viewing experience. That rings true even up through the final episode which starts off very awkwardly, again with a time jump that is mostly not needed plot-wise, but ends very winningly.
I will give this show the benefit of having some excellent chemistry, acting, and directing choices. While the end starts to feel more perfunctory, and as some have stated, Bromancy (With sexual acts inferred and talked about playfully, but never attempted to be shown in even a G-Rated way and kissing moves more to cheek territory, and you just start to feel like you are watching best friends play around with each other) at one time it was palpable and exhilarating with some truly strong moments. Nanon and Ohm show they are a head of the pack in their acting chops and capabilities than most Thai BL's casts while Jimmy Jitaraphol Potiwihok as Wei gives a star making performance (Already with a new show for 2022 announced). Bad Buddy brings a lot of goods. But it only hints and has moments of Greatness, its own story the weakest part of production and dragging it down. But boy how moments of greatness can elevate an otherwise average encounter into something noteworthy. Bad Buddy could be a case study.
8.0 = B+, 4-Stars. A solid all around entry that will likely not disappoint.
Was this review helpful to you?
Promising start, total chaotic letdown.
The first two episodes gave us an entirely different character and story than what would unravel in the last ten. We could have had a badass female lead who has skills, resources, and support. Instead it’s a story about a really evil greedy villain having to deal with a messy bunch of opponents who keep foiling her plans, but not because they’re clever, just because that’s how the story drags on. I really wanted it to turn around which is why I tuned in every single week. And every single week I just got more frustrated with the characters and the writers.Was this review helpful to you?
"Most people are shallow for they only see beautiful facial features but not good bone structure."
If you're still hesitating whether to watch One and Only first, I would highly recommend it as the prequel would give you a deeper understanding into the characters of Forever and Ever. Not only that, you'll be able to appreciate the historical references and beautiful antique aesthetics much more given how they're also interwoven with One and Only. Technically, Forever and Ever is a continuation of One and Only so it would only be logical to watch the first half before the second half. Plus, it's a shame to miss out on a masterpiece like One and Only!PLOT & SETTINGS:
Beware of One and Only spoilers (skip to next section if needed)...
Even if I have yet to read the novel, I'm still very much engrossed by the poetic soul of this series. I guess it's an advantage of having the novel's author as the screenwriter. I'm captivated by how Shi Yi is able to recognise Zhou Sheng Chen's "beautiful bones" (inner beauty) and falls in love with him all over again after having "reincarnated" from One and Only. While the reincarnations are not explicitly stated in this sequel due to censorship, the reason why the series is split into 2 parts with almost different sets of actors to begin with, they're hinted throughout the show in a subtle and intricate way yet prominent enough for viewers to make the connections. This can be seen where Shi Yi becomes the dubbing actress for the drama One and Only. It is cleverly inferred that Shi Yi can recall the "memories" of their past lives and romantic attachments where she would cry while dubbing Zhou Sheng Chen's demise or look longingly at the city wall where the past Shi Yi has presumably fallen to her death to follow her love so that he can "come to marry" her. Similarly, Shi Yi is also shown to prefer the turquoise dress because it reminds her of the dress she wore when she first met Zhou Sheng Chen in their past lives but dislike red dresses and has a fear of height as they evoke memories of her own death from One and Only.
Furthermore, the modern Shi Yi's family name is "Shi" instead of "Cui" to reflect how she has asked to be taken out of the family tree towards the end of One and Only in order to just be Zhou Sheng Chen's beloved "Eleven [Shi Yi]" as well as to save her clan from the repercussions of her actions. The modern Zhou's family house is also designed to follow the traditional Chinese style with a similar layout to the Zhou Manor in One and Only, from its iconic gate to the lotus pond and library where the past Shi Yi shared memorable moments with her Master. So in this case, the censorship may actually be a blessing in disguise as it encourages viewers to actively engage with the plot and draw comparisons between the 2 parallel narratives.
CHARACTERS:
Personally, I love how the modern Zhou Sheng Chen is portrayed as intelligent and caring (at least towards those he's close to) but also rather aloof and not very well versed in human relationships due to his lonely and harsh upbringing. This then gives the audience an opportunity to witness how he is able to endure the pain of hardships and grow as a character, where he would gradually learn how to stand up to the opposing forces in his family and protect Shi Yi from their schemes despite all of his shortcomings. I find that raw and imperfect side of Zhou Sheng Chen very touching and humane as it shows that his heart is indeed made of gold, or should I say his "beautiful bones" are made of gold.
While Forever and Ever tends to focus a bit more on Zhou Sheng Chen's struggles, like how One and Only did with Shi Yi's, our female lead is still very much in the limelight. I think there's really no singular way of creating a strong female lead. And in this sequel, it's Shi Yi who is able to draw Zhou Sheng Chen out of his shell, give him the strength and courage to deal with the power conflict that is rotting through the core of his own family. Given her memories of their star-crossed past lives, she took the initiative to approach him and patiently get to know him. In spite of Zhou Sheng Chen's inexperience and insecurities, Shi Yi gives him her unconditional trust and love to make their relationship works. From the perspectives of those around her, their progress might appear to be too rushed and almost reckless. But I guess for those of us who have suffered the waterworks from One and Only, their second chance love could not have been fast enough.
I must admit I enjoy Zhou Sheng Chen's awkwardness when he's around Shi Yi way too much. Like a true science man, he is very methodical in his romantic "research" and prefers to do things by the book. He doesn't have a single romantic bone in him but willingly let himself be led by Shi Yi's spontaneity and free spirit. Whatever he lacks in romance, Zhou Sheng Chen makes up for it with his own sincerity and loyalty. Together, they're such an adorkable and charming couple that would make you giggle in one minute and swoon in the next. While their relationship doesn't exactly restart from zero, they're still taking the time to get to know each other little by little until they form a strong enough bond that can withstand any adversity.
Aside from the main couple, my favourite character got to be Uncle Lin who is Zhou Sheng Chen's driver but also his father figure and love counsellor. Growing up in such an austere family after having lost his birth parents, Zhou Sheng Chen only has Uncle Lin and his "grandmother" who know him best and actually care for him. I love how Uncle Lin is there to witness the couple right from the beginning, whether it be accompanying Zhou Sheng Chen on his ridiculous 8-hour night trips just to meet Shi Yi or being the unfortunate "third wheel" that interrupt their romantic moments.
CAST:
I absolutely love love love Bai Lu and Allen Ren together! Did I forget to mention how much I love them? It's hard to find 2 actors who not only have that much chemistry with each other but also excel in both the modern and historical genres. I've only seen Allen Ren in historical dramas and I know that he can play a dashing general very well from Under the Power. But this is my first for a modern drama and Allen surely doesn't disappoint. Suddenly, the serious and restrained face from One and Only is replaced with those shy smiles and cute baffled expressions that totally fit the socially awkward personality of the modern Zhou Sheng Chen. On the other hand, we all know from Love is Sweet that Bai Lu is classy and elegant enough to pull off any modern looks. She looks extremely beautiful those trench coats and tailored dresses, especially the traditional qipao.
I thought Bai Lu and Allen Ren couldn't fit any better than they did in One and Only but Forever and Ever just hit us with a totally different kind of charm. Even though they're supposed to play the awkward couple at first, their chemistry is already off the roof. It's kind of hard to believe that they've this much chemistry in Forever and Ever despite it being filmed before One and Only. Plus, their behind-the-scenes never fail to make me laugh. Who knows that the awkward couple is such a hilarious comedy duo in real life!
SOUNDTRACKS:
I thought that the production team tried very hard to not get flagged by censorship for "reincarnation", but I guess they couldn't be more blatant with the soundtracks, not that I'm complaining. Forever and Ever literally uses the same opening No Worries (无虞) by Mimi Lee and Jing Long from One and Only, showing that they're both the same show. Not only that, the theme song Continued Writing (续写) by Shang Yichun also poignantly expresses how long Shi Yi has waited to be together with Zhou Sheng Chen and the beauty of their transcendent love...
"In the memory, the snow-covered city tower... When your name rings out, finally blooming again like a flower of the soul, the dreams that have accompanied me through the light years."
"The poem I'll continue to write, with your name in each line. If started all over again, I'd still remember our love. It took hundreds of centuries for our love to begin, there's no way it'd end."
"Those familiar eyes, lost the past when we shed tears. It won't change, our fate of encounter."
"When our story became history, in another world, there is another pair of longing eyes [that] have been waiting for that everlasting romance."
I personally love Time Froze (定格) by Yan Ren Zhong as it really highlights the sweetness of those shy and awkward moments between Shi Yi and Zhou Sheng Chen. And like Zhou Sheng Chen in One and Only, Bai Lu also blesses us with her own OST, Heartbeat (心动), that's just pure candy for the ear.
OVERALL:
I think you really need to have watched One and Only to really empathise and fall in love with Forever Ever. Even with the censorship, this is not supposed to be an ordinary modern romance where it ends as soon as the couple gets together. It's about two people who have withstood the test of time just to be together and would do anything to protect their newfound happiness. I love how, despite the drama and conflict surrounding Zhou Sheng Chen and Shi Yi, their love for each other is pure and uncomplicated. I don't care how many tears I have to shed because I wouldn't miss this series for the world!
FAVOURITE QUOTES:
“Even the most beautiful face will have to age. You are the best in my mind. I can see the bones of beauty inside you… People’s faces are shaped by their hearts. If they’re kind at heart, they look kind in their face. One has to have dignity before having the bones of beauty.” Shi Yi
"Things in this world are no more than dramas. People on this earth don't have to be serious. You bear too much [in the heart]. I only ask for a small part. But it has to be all of your romantic love." Shi Yi
"Since there's nothing sure in our life, then don't hesitate. All you need to do from now on is to study the Venus you like. Leave the rest to me." Shi Yi
“Within the limited amount of time I have left to spend with him, I don’t have any time to think about using such tricks or applying pressure. I need to size every single minute to be with him.” Shi Yi
"The research area itself can't be right or wrong. Only the method of experimentation can be wrong. If the experimental method is wrong, we can change the method. But the research area itself will not change. For example, the fact that we're together is not going to change. If something goes wrong, we can change the way we get along." Zhou Sheng Chen
"Maybe I'm not very sensitive about [romantic] things. Nevertheless, I like that our love for each other is growing over time. In other words, it makes a relationship stronger." Zhou Sheng Chen
"From the moment we decided to be together, we would not leave each other forever. I don't want her to be treated unfairly. I can't live without her." Zhou Sheng Chen
"I had thought that I could handle the human relationship separately, rightly... But I find that I can’t easily handle things related to Shi Yi." Zhou Sheng Chen
“I am only an ordinary guy, that happens to meet a woman exceeding my expectation at the right age. If I didn’t marry her, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.” Zhou Sheng Chen
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A cute love story with no drama
Jitenshaya-san no Takahashi-kun is a soft romance drama that you could watch it to relax. The drama is rather small, approximately 25 minutes per episode, and someone could watch it in just one sitting.... like me. What we learn in the drama is that you can't judge a book by it's cover.CHARACTERS / PLOT
In the series we follow the life of Ryohei and Tomoko which seem to be total opposites, and we understand how they develop their relationship. In one hand, we have Ryohei who is working at a bicycle repair shop. His rough looks, piercings, tattoos, dyed hair, and the fact that he always speaks his mind, make people around him to think that he is a scary person but in reality he is a rather soft hearted that pays attention and cares for the people around him. On the other hand, we have Tomoko, a 30 year old woman who is working in a toxic environment with an a**hole boss. She is shy and rarely turns other people down; and due to that, she gets to do things that she doesn't want to do.
Moreover, we have Koki who is working at the same company as Tomoko and at first he courts her and asks her out. Koki has a bright personality, is the same age as Tomoko and both him and Tomoko come from Tokyo - which Koki uses as an excuse to get closer with her. Moreover, in the same company we have Sato, who is Tomoko's best friend and always has her back when they have to deal with their toxic boss. Furthermore, we see Masaya and Teruyuki who are friends of Ryohei.
The storyline is rather simple with no major drama in it. At first I was afraid that they would follow the following story path: Tomoko and Ryohei get together --> people are saying that Tomoko should break up with Ryohei because he is a deliquent --> Tomoko breaks up with Ryohei --> crying --> they back together.
Thankfully I was wrong. They showed us how the protagonist got in a relationship - and if I may add, I want to say healthy relationship (because Ryohei didn't pressure Tomoko on having s*x for the first time) - and we follow their lives around their relationship. We see how both of them grow in their own way and how they overcome their problems.
ACTING
I enjoyed everyone's acting in the series. In the past I have watched other drama with Suzuki Nobuyuki (Ryohei) and Uchida Rio (Tomoko) and I have to admit that they keep up the good work and deliver their roles in a splendid way. Moreover, the support actors didn't have anything to lose from the main actors. Everyone in the series did a very good job and the overall outcome was amazing.
MY OPINION
Maybe something that bothered me, was the fact that we didn't get closure on some topics. For instance, why did Ryohei have such a love-hate relationship with the old man (which I assume is his granddad)? Even though we saw Ryohei's father I am not sure if they ever resolved their problems. If not, why didn't they invest more in their relationship? I would have liked it better if they also provided us some further background information for these stuff. Because in the series we see Ryohei expressing himself towards these two people in a rather aggressive behaviour but I am not so sure why.
This is a spoiler, but what I really liked is that by the end of the series Koki admits to his grandmother that he might be gay and after the grandmother said something old fashioned ("I know a good doctor that can cure you"), we see that Koki explains to his grandmother what he truly feels and that he maybe cannot fulfil her wish to see great-grandchildren. I really liked this part because Koki in the end decided to be true to himself and to his grandmother and he came out of the closet and in the end his grandmother understood.
As I said before, it is a rather small drama that could be watched in one day. If you ever have the need to watch something fluffy and no complex this is a good drama to do so :)
Was this review helpful to you?
Imposter
Qin Wan, the Qin family’s Ninth Lady, returns to Jingzhou after years in the Valley of the Medicine King—now a gifted healer with a most unladylike interest in forensics. The Qins greet her with frosty disdain, but Qin Wan has more important things on her mind to be fazed by it. For she is an imposter and not the kind that is trying to live someone else's best life. Her true mission? Reopening the Prince Jin case that destroyed her real father’s name. A macabre headless bride case throws her into the orbit of Yan Chi, the emperor’s shrewd nephew. He’s fascinated by her forensic brilliance but suspects she’s hiding more than corpses. Still, her skills prove too useful to ignore, and soon they’re entangled in high-profile cases—and a shared agenda to expose a conspiracy at the heart of imperial power.Make no mistake, this is a romance first, elevated by Li Landi and Ao Ruipeng’s electric chemistry. Yan Chi’s unwavering support and smoldering gazes melt Qin Wan’s defenses with delicious speed, forging a partnership that’s refreshingly free of miscommunication or love triangles. Their connection simmers in glances and quiet gestures—mature, supportive, and almost too perfectly harmonious. The lack of real obstacles or tests to their bond leaves it feeling more like a fairytale than a romance mystery drama.
Between swoons, Qin Wan tackles eight suspenseful cases (including the finale’s melodramatic conspiracy). The whodunits are predictable, but the why delivers poignant social critique—exposing how women are crushed by inequity, corruption, and imperial privilege. The how, though? Pure forensic fantasy. Qin Wan’s deductions often defy logic, leaning on exaggerated techniques and leaps in reasoning. Yet Li Landi sells it with such poised conviction that my skepticism crumbles every time. Still, mystery purists will groan at the plot holes, coincidences, and Qin Wan’s Teflon-grade plot armor—Yan Chi always arrives just in time to save her from any real consequence for her actions.
Li Landi shines with her radiant and hypnotic portrayal of quiet competence, though her roles in The Starry Love and Love of Nirvana offered more nuance. Ao Ruipeng nails the green-flag hero archetype, but Yan Chi’s righteousness lacks layers. Thankfully, side characters—Yan Li, Yue Ning, and Yan Chi’s formidable grandmothers (the Grand Princess and Empress Dowager)—inject needed complexity and humour. Yan Chi’s relationship with his father Prince Rui is undercooked and should have been better explored.
The final arcs pivot to palace intrigue, trading forensic puzzles for murderous princes, scheming women and a dog's blood stab-happy finale. The end twist is clever but collapses under scrutiny—riddled with contrivances and a villain who is aided and abetted by all of the women’s inexplicable silence. This dulls the story’s initial feminist edge into a parade of bloodthirsty and wicked harpies, betraying its own ethos. And Qin Wan’s victory rings hollow: she solves her father’s case but fails to truly clear his name. If the message was “No man is above the law, and no one below it,” it lands with a thud.
Verdict? A bingeable, romance-driven romp with enough charm to gloss over its flaws. 8.0/10.0—generous, but deserved for sheer entertainment.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Romcom done write
Before starting I just want to add no "childhood connection" and romance that is built on "conversation" is an automatic ++++ for meRomcoms don't mean they're "brainless". Sometimes I nag about the crazy jerk ML or the naive doormat FL and people say "it's just a romcom" but that's not an excuse and this drama shows that
The ML was crazy and rude enough that I'd totally punch a person like him but this drama not only gave him a solid backstory, a great slow growth but also kinda showed how to him he wasn't unreasonable
Being vulnerable was his weakness so he put a wall to hide his nativity and it became normal to him
But it only worked out because of the FL. She didn't fix him but he saw his wrongdoings and how he can fix it because of her.
Now the FL is also the complete opposite of romcom FLs. She had enough bs so she took action. Whenever she saw injustice or unreasonable behavior she pointed it out. At 1st she needed the strength of her life being too short to realize literally life is too short for bs
This drama moved in steps. Amnesia, cohabitation, fake relationship, evil past girlfriend, revenge, misunderstandings, ML trying to control the FL, FL having her own dreams, revelation and redemption with a final touch of sweetness♡
Another usual move romcoms do is gloss over things too fast, the past is revealed and they get married but this dissected both and gave enough ingredients for the revenge to be turned into redemption and conclusion and marriage wasn't the end but the beginning of their love and I found that sweet
Actually the best part of this was the ML apologizing and realizing all of his wrong doings. Protectiveness and wanting the best for the FL never means control.
And the FL once she realized her worth knew how to choose her own path.
That's something I always hate in romcoms. The ML says I don't want you to leave my side and the FL gives up her dream and follows his orders.. ML forces a kiss but it's ok cuz secretly the FL wanted it..
But not here, they even showed the depths of their "villains" without an easy whoops they're ok now
Another thing I hate about romcoms is the past connection. 99% of the time it's just an excuse for writers to not build a step by step relationship.
But sometimes a fake relationship also is used for that reason. To casually show the vulnerable side they couldn't see before, and this was used well here
Overall as a romcom it's one of the best
Was this review helpful to you?
The story line itself is unique as it is based on the web-toon, but I think the writers and staff did a great job turning it into a drama. The story itself had the love story romance and a little comedy, but the twist of a lot of the character's personalities also made it a thriller. I also thought the acting by all the cast was just so realistic and professional. I haven't heard of many of these actors and actresses before, but they are now people that I am going to look out for in future dramas.
The music behind the story also fit in so well. It's not the typical high note, out of this world vocal with an intense orchestra playing in the background, but it's arguably the opposite. It's soothing, calm vocals accompanied with the acoustic piano and guitar. You can also get the comedy feel of the quirkiness of the background music as well. The music was one of the things that set this drama apart from others and also a factor into why I love this drama.
When the drama first came out, I re-watched the first 4 episodes over and over again because I couldn't wait to see the next episode a week later. It was that good to me. This is a drama that I will definitely re-watch and recommend to everyone.
I would also suggest reading the web-toon, which isn't finished yet. I think you can understand the characters more through the web-toon. You can especially learn more about Yoo Jung's character specifically. It's always good to read the original.
Cheese in the Trap, Fighting! ^.^
Was this review helpful to you?
