Reviews

While skimming Netflix for something to pass the time, I noticed this war piece starred both Shin Ha Kyun and Go Soo. This pushed me, along with an interest in the subject, to give Gojijeon a try. I'm glad I did, because I spent the next two hours entertained despite some minor issues.

Probably the strongest point of the movie is the cinematography. Battle scenes are tasteful but tremendous; the scenes done on the infamous hill were especially eye-catching and must have been difficult to film. Some of the scenery ended up being quite beautiful as well, which is sad considering so much fighting went on in those areas.

Go Soo and Shin Ha Kyun definitely carried the performance aspect of Gojijeon between them. Shin is always a pleasure to watch and brings any character to life with ease, but Go Soo was shockingly compelling. He played Soo Hyuk with intense complexity, often making me question how I felt about his character: was he right or wrong? Also, the interaction between the two felt natural...which is great since a good chunk of the story rides on their characters and their involvement with one another. I have to say the rest of the cast was somewhat forgettable just because their characters weren't as necessary or developed. There were several familiar faces if you often watch Korean drama, though.

My only real gripe with this film is that occasionally it would feel preachy. This is definitely an anti-war film, and you can really feel the atmosphere of futility the conflict had. Usually the subject was handled with grace, but on the instances it was not, I felt as though I'd been pulled out of the story briefly. Other than that, though it's been done before in other films, it's always nice to see a non-American focus on the Korean war during this time period.

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You have to love the craxy

So I would recommend this if you like short dramas and all the dumpster fire craziness that they bring. It is a complete guilty pleasure but I do love this kind of drama. It's short, it's crazy and most importantly fun and entertaining. The chemistry between the leads was on fire. I wish I knew who directed it because I would totally look up the next one they did, it was beautifully shot. And lastly I wish that long dramas would take some cues from this kind of format because watching leads kiss - all that money and it's like watching someone kiss a dead fish. You certainly don't have that issue with this kind of drama. Also they're not related to each other and that's all I'm going to say about that. Definitely will rewatch when I want something fun and slightly wrong.

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A stunning representation of what it is like to be aroace

The only time I've ever gotten aroace representation in the past is from books and generally the stories I've read involve teenagers discovering they are aroace, struggling with it and finally accepting it. Generally, the book ends on a nice, hopeful note about the future. I love those stories, I love that they exist and I believe they are colossally important. But Koisenu Futari gave me something those books didn't - it showed me what a future could look like for an aroace person like me. The show is the story of being an adult and navigating the world AFTER identifying as aroace, and that is something I have never seen before in any medium ever.

As someone who only really accepted my aroace identity in my 20's, to see a character around the same age as me going through the emotions and conflicts I have been through myself was just... incredible. I've been burned a lot in the past, and I cannot deny that throughout the show a part of me was panicking, worried to death that they would shoe-horn a romance in there. But now that the show is over I can safely say that this is one of the most beautiful, incredibly important shows I've ever seen. It handled aromanticism and asexuality in such a realistic, sensitive and wonderful way and made me cry about five times with the way it touched on various issues. Every thing from the ups and the downs were so real and so raw, and as someone who has experienced so much of what they have experienced, this show touched me in a way that's hard to explain.

I honestly never thought I'd see a show any time soon with an aroace protagonist, let alone TWO such different ones. I could go on and on about the show, but for the sake of keeping this review short, I just want to say that this is a fantastic show, an important show and a thoroughly well researched show and I'm so grateful that it was made ❤

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The thing I appreciate the most about Japanese shows in general, is that they can tell a good story without much of an eventful plot to build it upon. They play with narrative style and they excel in delicacy.

I'm not implying Saikou no Jinsei has got no plot, but it's not the kind one would run to watch and sit through with bathed breath. This is the story of a family, of their little and big trials. But most of all it tells of what it means to shoulder responsibility for the people we care for.
I may just as well confess that I started this because I wanted to stare at Yamapi. He's a pleasure for the eye in general, but there's a tangible improvement in his acting skill too. I grew very fond of him and all the main characters. I like it when details and hints are rationed slowly, because that's what happens in real life too: we are presented with a family picture, and bit by bit we are offered glimpses of who they are and where they are going.

The whole cast did a brilliant job, and I found myself with moisture in my eyes more than once. I was impressed by Yamashita's ability to convey his feelings here, and I was entertained by his relationship with both his family and Yuki-chan. It also amazes me that I managed to laugh a lot more often than what is expected by the general atmosphere.

I didn't like the music at all. Not only it isn't my cup of tea, I also thought it was very unfitting now and then. Luckily though, it does not overpower the dialogues or the scenes, and it can therefore be overlooked.

Rewatch value is not too high, but if you like family dramas and touching plots, you may give this one a try.

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Put your analytic mind to rest, relax and enjoy the show.

Good watch. Funny and lighthearted drama. Went in without any expectations and had a great time binging it, laughing all the way.

I know some find the FL annoying, but I like her very much. She and her best friend are such a refreshing change from other drama. Yes, she is loud and animated, not all females are soft spoken and docile. The best friend although dresses and act like a man, everyone else acknowledge that she is a female. No illogic masquerading or hiding her identity that she is a tomboy.
The ML is such a eye candy. The flowy hairstyle and costume suits him well. He did a good job carrying the character too. From the cool (cold) aloof at the beginning to warm and gentle at the end. Such a cute pair and the 2nd couple are a hoot too. All the bickering (laugh) and eye gazing (swooning) are just what you need on a stressful day.

Apart from the 2 couples (plus the grandma - which is my favourite) the rest is just there for support, ignorable.

One more thing I like about this drama is there are many meaningful quotes in the drama and some are down right hilarious. Some of my favourite are " Living your life too clearly will make you unhappy, sometimes ignorance is bliss" and "Every family have a strict father, a gentle mother, siblings who cover your back and a grandmother who dotes the young".

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To My Shore is not your typical "sweet" romance.

To My Shore is not your typical "sweet" romance. It is a heavy, psychological drama that explores how two very different men, broken by their pasts, collide in a way that is devastating yet deeply moving. It is a complex, emotionally draining journey that explores the thin line between love and obsession.

First, there is You Shu Lang, a character who truly defines "resilience." After a traumatic childhood, he carries a crushing weight of guilt. He becomes a provider (to his ungrateful adoptive) and he acts more as a caretaker than a partner to his younger boyfriend. In my opinion, Shu Lang is a man who is "good" in the purest sense, but his goodness leaves him profoundly lonely. He is looking for a "shore" to land on someone to finally share his burdens with. Hao Yi Ran’s acting perfectly captures his transition from a weary caretaker to a man pushed to the brink of a breakdown.

Then there is Fan Xiao. His backstory is equally tragic and his trauma twisted his worldview. Unlike Shu Lang, who chose kindness, Fan Xiao chose manipulation, believing that nothing is truly good. When he meets Shu Lang, he assumes these "good" qualities are fake. He sets out to prove that Shu Lang is just as selfish and greedy as everyone else. However, when he realizes he is wrong and that Shu Lang is a genuinely caring person who wants him to be happy, he falls deeply in love to the point of obsession.

The most controversial part of the story for me is the length Fan Xiao goes to "own" Shu Lang. His systematic isolation of Shu Lang is chilling: he removes everyone from Shu Lang’s life—his family, his boyfriend, and (controles) his career, so that Shu Lang has no choice but to depend on him.

When Fan Xiao finally realizes his obsession has nearly broken the only good thing in his life, he shifts from destruction to self-sacrifice. By handing Shu Lang the evidence to destroy the Xiao family, he finally gives Shu Lang the power he had previously stripped away. (And when Shu Lang is too kind to use it, Fan Xiao takes the lead and sends it himself.)

His years of "protecting from the shadows" show a genuine change in character, but for me, it is hard to forget the toxicity. I found myself deeply conflicted. I wanted Shu Lang to find peace, and I wanted Fan Xiao to become a better person, but his actions were incredibly toxic and emotionally abusive. Even though he spent years atoning, the "scars" are deep. The ending gives them a "healthy" last chance, but it leaves me wondering if a relationship born from such manipulation can ever truly be happy. MAybe I feel that way because the "atonement" happens in the last 2 to 3 episodes, it feels like only weeks have passed rather than years. This makes the redemption feel a bit rushed and makes it hard for me to actually see the "atonement" and reasoning for Shu Lang (other than an unhealthy reason) to go back to Fun Xiao.

If you enjoy stories about complex trauma and the messy, dark side of human connection, To My Shore is a must-watch... just be prepared for a moral rollercoaster.

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Need a second season

The story is nothing extraordinary, but well executed. The actors have done a very good job. The male leads have really good chemistry that is shot through the roof in the last episodes.
The female leads/ supports have actual contribution in the story and not annoying characters who only bates their eyes and create nothing but trouble. They are kind of badasses too. There are hints of romance but nothing that derails the feel and flow of the story.
As the series progresses, it goes on becoming more interesting. There are scenes in a few episodes that I fast forwarded and missed nothing, but overall, it is engaging. Even with a cliche mystery, it actually have a good ending.
And the series actually gives hint of a following season at the end of the last episode and I hope they make it soon.

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Bad Buddy related thoughts and sort of a review

When I first heard that Bad Buddy would be created, I was both excited and sceptical. Excited to see 'enemies to lovers' trope finally being played out and finally seeing Nanon in a BL series. Sceptical because I didn't know how much skinship with Nanon there would be and how it would be produced. Would we be only queerbaited into a bromance-style of a show? Should we lower our expectations?

And the first two episodes were like that. They were nicely done (GMM can produce quality shows like they're off the conveyor belt), but nothing too groundbreaking on how this would all play out.

All the way to the episode 4 when Pran's feelings were almost laid bare and Nanon's acting just peaked. And then we're getting the most ground breaking, emotionally investing, absolutely incredibly acted episode 5, which I've watched on repeat for 2 weeks straight. Which of background music I played when I was falling asleep. Which of I didn't need any translation of the dialogue because I knew that by heart. It just speaks volumes of the way "The Legendary Rooftop Scene" was played, how amazing actors Ohm and Nanon are. Later on we'd read that there were only 2 takes (crying and no crying) and that it was incredibly investing for the actors as well. Their hard work shows, because finishing this show, I still think of that rooftop scene and feel like we're all riding high from that and everything that was posted after it, was just a bonus.

This is a really simple story, as old as time, of lovers from two families that hate each other. You get this type of story IN EVERY SINGLE CULTURE. So does it stand out? Does it bring something extra to for example, world of BL?

It does. Even if you get this simple story with a bit predictable plot, the director P'Aof is not afraid of breaking the stereotypes and having important conversations about sexuality and prejudice that we really shouldn't be having anymore, that yet still perpetuate in other LGBT dramas. And I'm thankful for that.

And what he really does is to let his two stars, Ohm and Nanon shine and show off their acting skills. As we'd wait for the new episode, we'd read comments saying 'this scene was improvised by the actors', 'I just let them vibe in this scene and work it out by themselves' etc etc. At certain point it felt like 90% of PatPran scenes were improvised. And the chemistry between the two leads is incredible.

It feels that BB should be put in a manual on how to make a good BL series.

Story 8/10 (you've seen this before and you're gonna watch more of this again)
Acting 20/10 (opening OhmNanon temple)
Production 9/10 (few hiccups with editing and translation)
Music 10/10 (headphones are not enough, I want to inhale and exhale the music, I want to BE the rooftop music)
Rewatch value 10/10 (I've already rewatched it around 30 altogether, gonna rewatch some more just to feel something)
Overall 10/10 (because legally I can't give a higher score on this website)

And a shoutout to the BB comments section on MDL, especially D Rey, CyreneB, kru, hanabii, Mermaid, TheGORJUSMARSH and BenedictTan - thank you for your thoughts, support, replies etc. You made the experience of watching BB even better!!

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A fantastic, really done well, hilarious drama.

Story: It's a story about office workers, their office as well as personal life. The story is presented in a very hilarious way that will make your stomach ace because of laughter.

Characters:
SS: The ML, he is very innocent, hardworking, really clumsy and will definately screw up any task given to him. But overall he is really nice guy who is loyal and likes to help others.
NR: The FL, she is the senior of the ML, she is strict to him and is really hilarious. She always gets in fight with SS because he screw ups. She is a hardworking, straightforward (most of the time), funny and beautiful woman.
MT: He is a son of chairman of rival company, he went to the current company to learn and make something of himself. He tries to learn and adapt to the "normal" way of living.
KM:A normal office worker who is really strong and can't hold her liquor. She and MT are a duo where she teaches him about what normal is for an average person in really hilarious ways.
Other office workers: They all are really hilarious and very likable people. Everything they do is funny, even a "serious moment" would turn into a funny one because of them.
Aziz: He is a South Asian guy who is SS's roommate and like to refer himself in third person. Is a really funny guy with really funny catch phrases.

Acting:
Every single actor here has done an amazing job, their timing of comedy is on point. They will make you laugh with their dialogues as well as with their physical acting. There are some serious moments too which are acted really well by these people.

Likes:
The bromance between SS and MT is really hilarious to watch.
SS and NR's enemies to lovers is really funny and beautiful. They are really good together and give viewers a lot of funny as well as romantic stuffs.
MT and KM, initially they are creditor and debtor who later became student and teacher. They are really funny, especially MT being a rich boy who always misinterprete what "normal is.
MT and KSN, KSN looking out for MT thinking that MT is a poor and delusional guy is really funny
WHB, a gamer who does funny things in his office four walls.
CWW,SHM and KMH, all three are funny where CWW and KMH express themselves too much and SHM rarely shows any expressions.
There are also many hilarious parody scenes or dialogues of many popular dramas and movies. They exaggerated so many things and is a really funny manner.

Dislikes: There are zero things to dislike.

Overall: If you want to laugh, then this is definately a drama for you.

Rating as a casual viewer: 10
Rating as Critique: 10

Note: First two episodes have some references which a person from South Korea can understand. But later and other things in those two episodes are understandable by anyone.

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As fleeting, sweet, and explosive as pop rocks

|Fleeting|
Hold on My Lady is the type of costume romcom drama that you get if you remove the filler episodes and the irritating villain scenes from most costume dramas. Most costume dramas now have 24 episodes at around 35mins runtime but HOML only has 12 eps 15mins or 4eps 50mins episodes which is just the perfect length. I hope more production crews follow this format so they’re not forced to lengthen the script with filler scenes.

|Sweet|
The relationship between the whole cast and the characters are so sweet. We have non-toxic supporting characters and they also have great chemistry and backstory.

I love the progressive General Dad, the supportive sister-in-law, the ice cold turned loving brother-in-law, the protective man/lady-in-waiting, and the good natured merchant friends. I also liked the side plot for the sister and brother-in-law where they learned to be more vocal about their feelings which is kind of funny because the brothers are advising each other how to fix each others love life and the sister-in-laws are doing the same. The drama definitely gave a sweet family drama on the side specially with how the general dad is so nice to the fl and he doesn’t judge her and her origins.

And seriously this is the only drama where the dad of the conniving villainess is not deluded by his spoiled daughter and actually encouraged her to face the truth.

|Explosive|
You have the sweetness between the leads, which I think have perfect chemistry and they really complement each other look and character wise. Typically I prefer the pixie like actress like Seven Tan or Jung Jiyi but somehow the female lead worked well with the male lead and I actually felt shy and giddy in their romantic/kiss scenes.

I also like that even though their characters are written as polar opposites, when it came to love they are both as innocent so we get to enjoy how they discovered their feelings for each other.

Finally, the chemistry they provided in this web drama is even more than what other long format costume dramas have. **IACOHO I’m talking about you. XD

PS. We also have to commend the screenwriter Cai Bi Hong because it’s his original script and he did make a good short format costume drama.

So if you have the time, do watch this drama because it’s really worth your time. You can even watch it in 1.5x speed if the 4 eps is too long for you.

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Drama extensions are often cited as chancy. When planned for early and well, additional episodes hold the promise of potential. Time constraints are lessened and allow further opportunities to strengthen story and characters. Yet when mishandled (as they typically are), an extension might lead instead to the ruin of an otherwise pleasant watch. Which category does Love Around fall into then? The second, sad to say, though it isn't a total loss.

At first (and for most of its duration), Love Around is pleasant and simple. It never attempts to be more than a light-hearted romp centered on relationships. Some bubbles of conflict surface along the way; these are either dealt with swiftly or swept so far to the side as to be partially forgotten. Early episodes are relatively strong, with the warm dynamic between leads generating bright interest. How refreshing to see honest friendship predate romance, rather than the staple: bickering hatred! Though loveline development is slow, it is also remarkably sweet and natural. And the "comedy" paired with "romantic" in the genre tag? This aspect works well enough, with the usual stumbles here and there.

Major problems emerge around episode 15, coinciding with the first extension. Shift in tone swings so wildly toward melodrama as to be startling. Cliche suddenly invades in force, chomping away at most everything previously fun and original. Once the main conflict is remembered and brought to the forefront, it is milked dry quickly. Worst of all, passable pacing ultimately gives way to scenes as tiring as they are repetitive. These extra portions often center on unabashed filler plots and characters, some of which are wholly new. Once the second extension ends the series, one will find the conclusion rushed though rewarding. Admittedly, some of the sweetness comes from the entire experience finally ending.

The cast remains consistently likable despite late-game overcrowding. George Hu plays gentle melancholy beyond expectation, lending much-needed variety to a genre overpopulated by arrogant princes. His chemistry with Annie Chen is unquestionable; they complement each other just as well as everyone says. Her Xiao Shu stands rather sympathetic until the extension removes her spine and pluck, carried onward mostly by her innate affability. The second leads are a mixed bag, with Jack Lee depicting dull Gao Zhe Xuan without much flair of his own. Idol singer Elleya Tao fares much better, molding the spoiled brat archetype into lovable rather than annoying. Her scenes eventually became an unlooked for pleasure (and a bright spot in the extension doldrums).

Heard of singer Bii? If not, Love Around will introduce you. His songs are heavily promoted throughout the drama, from the catchy theme ("Come Back To Me") to inserts ("Nothing To Do With Happiness," "I'll Be By Your Side," a duet with Miu Chu). One of the only non-Bii tracks belongs to none other than Elleya Tao: "I Love You," an infectious upbeat number.

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This drama is a hard-watch. It's great at some aspects and terrible at others. The kind of drama you can't drop but you feel frustrated watching it. The writer had an idea. That idea was great. But she messed up when she involved the over dramatic love story especially with a really bad-written and acted female lead. The sub-plots were so interesting. But at the same time the troubles the characters went through were exaggerated much. The comic scenes were amusing and hilarious. But the supposed touching scenes were cheesy and superficial. The music, songs and performances were magic. Nothing I've seen before in a drama. The drama showed all the issues happening in the behind scenes of entertainment business. That was cool. But the way they were presented made me feel like I was watching a makjang rather than a musical drama.

Themes like Brotherhood vs. Love, misunderstandings ruining lives, being human means making mistakes, mistrust, rivalry and suspicion were presented and again in a dramatic way. At moments -especially when they were singing or the supporting characters were on screen- I would gape at the screen mindblown. And at other moments I would be gritting my teeth fighting the urge to vomit.

For the music and the supporting actors, the drama is totally worth it. But at the same time there are the other issues. So..

I will and I am re-watching the songs and performances. I even wrote the titles of the songs down to keep them. As for the female lead, I'll try to avoid dramas she's in when I can.
I'll try to avoid the writer as well.

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