The situations are mature, the friendships are genuine and the love story is refreshingly real and sweet. The writing of this was very smart and truer to life than most dramas. The 11 episodes went by fairly quickly.
I really enjoyed the premise of five friends coming together by meeting through Twitter. It was such an original take on how people meet, grow to care for each other and become an extended family.
This is a slice of life piece about a particular time and stage in a person's life. It is off the beaten path from the usual standard drama fare. I loved it for that. The serious situations were handled in a realistic way that had me walking away feeling bittersweet but much more on the sweet side.
All of the characters were believable; the actors true and natural. My one small nitpick is that while I like JaeJoong and he improved in Protect the Boss, his acting in this felt a little green and new. But I did like "Doctor" and it wasn't so bad as to be distracting.
This drama really is a very nice piece of work. Sunao Ni Narenakute is an enjoyable watch, even with the angst and troubles that naturally come with the previously mentioned growing pains. This drama is about being true to yourself, learning to be brave in life and love. It is done with humor, some very stark realism and a lot of warmth.
The soundtrack was great! There wasn’t a song out of place. They were a mix of pop and alternative that fit perfectly with the age group portrayed in the drama. The songs were also memorable and this is one of those rare times I wish I owned the OST. (I liken the quality to Soulmate and Coffee Prince)
I am giving the re-watch a 10 because I know I will go back to this drama again.
I recommend this drama very highly. It is smart, fun, touching, and romantic. A WIN in my book.
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The first 10 episodes were amazingly well developed and I loved watching the character development and the initial friendship between Yu Xi (Lorene's character) and Zhan Cheng (Kingone's character) when he was blind. As their friendship developed into love, they became a super compatible couple. Their kissing scenes were also very cute. I think they're a great OTP for sure. Another reason why I liked this drama so much was because of the department store rivalry scenes/element. Unlike other romance dramas where the male lead is a CEO and they don't talk much about it other than the fact that he looks great wearing suits and has a lot of money, this drama plays out the rivalry scenes. They continue with the department scene rivalry side story throughout the drama and I really enjoyed these scenes because they were intense and nerve wracking to watch and they added to character development of Zhan Cheng. It wove seamlessly into the main plot and didn't distract from the romance.
Kingone really carries this drama. His portrayal of a blind man was seriously amazing. His acting was flawless and I couldn't see any flaws in his portrayal. I wasn't initially a fan of him because I usually like idol drama actors (read my other reviews) , but his character is really the ultimate perfect boyfriend. I actually liked Lorene's acting. Although her acting seemed a little fake in the beginning, her acting got a lot better. Like I said, Kingone carried the drama and he guided her through the romantic scenes well. Many think her crying scenes were fake, but I thought it was realistic because realistic crying isn't pretty. In terms of the supporting actors, I loved William's camaraderie with Zhan Cheng, and Yu Xi's relationship with her family. The supporting couples between Zhan Cheng's sister and Yu Xi's brother was adorable, as well as William's relationship with Yu Xi's best friend. Lorene was good at her dual roles as well.
The music is so heartwarming and emotionally provoking. I think this is one of the best soundtracks as a whole for a drama. Bii did most of the soundtrack, and I liked his songs a lot. They perfectly match the tone of the drama and the scenes.
For those of you who are unsure if you want to watch it because you're not sure if you can handle the various tragedies of this drama from the summary you just read, trust me, it is worth watching. It took me 2 weeks to finally decide to watch this because I selectively pick dramas to watch since I don't like dropping dramas; I feel the need to finish a drama once I start it. I'm glad I watched this drama; after all, it has now become one of my favorite dramas. Re-watch value is definitely high. In fact, I'm re-watching it right now! If your taste is anything like mine (read my other reviews for T-dramas), you will definitely love this drama. Give it a try. You won't regret it.
***edit*** As I said earlier, I'm watching it for the second time and after watching it for the second time I came to appreciate the beautiful cinematography of this drama even more. The BTS videos were also very entertaining and showed the chemistry between the leads. I recommend watching the BTS if you fall in love with the characters like me! I'm starting to like all the characters after watching it for the second time because I can start to understand some of their actions even though some of them were unforgivable. This might sound crazy, but I think I might watch it for the third time in the future. I really hope Kingone and Lorene collaborate on a drama again! (10/9)
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Woo Do-Hwan never fails!
Woo Do-Hwan never fails to please!My two top Korean actors right now are Woo Do Hwan and Lee Do-Hyun.
I first saw WDH in Save Me and my favourite ones out of his dramas would have to be:
My Country and Bloodhounds.
With Mr Plankton I really enjoyed it for the first 7 episodes and then I'm not sure where it quite started turning for me, but it did.
I hesitated to watch this drama because I knew the fate of his character and didn't want to go through that all again like with My Country.
With Mr Plankton the ending was sad, but not as devastatingly sad for me like what happened in My Country for some reason.
Have seen others of his dramas in full like: Save Me, Tempted and Mad Dog which I really enjoyed as well.
As for Joseon Attorney (4-6 episodes) and King Eternal Monarch (half) and didn't mind these either except maybe Joseon Attorney would probably be the least liked one out of them all. Not because of him, but rather the story itself.
King Monarch I would probably finish only he isn't the male lead.
In regards to Mr Plankton, it is about the main character being diagnosed with a terminal disease (less than 3 months to live) so he goes on this personal journey to find his real father, only decides to kidnap his ex girlfriend at the start, just as she is about to get married with a gang on his tail out for revenge.
It has a great mix of humour, a solid story line, drama, action, a sad or bittersweet feel, romance and adventure.
The music is so so - nothing really stood out like Stay With Me (Goblin) or Butterflies (Wedding Impossible).
A major dislike for me would be the female in this as she got on my nerves with her crying - it is the worst, also, her hissy fits. I really wish I could have reached through the screen to slap her out of it. Really annoying!!! Far too many scenes for my liking and she grated me the wrong way as she sounded terrible. Couldn't stand it! Her other scenes were mostly fine - just the sobbing and hysterics were irritating. Terrible! She really did come across as being idiotic quite a bit of the time which was unfortunate - I'm not sure what he saw in her. Another minor peeve was the way she ran. Weird!
Wouldn't it be something to have a female that is mature even when annoyed yet sassy, full of spunk, charismatic and adorable even if not dropdead gorgeous. Just not a cry baby, nagger, whiner or screamer.
I need a female actor that can pull it off like WDH, who in my humble opinion, is one the BEST actors in the industry for crying, laughing and emoting expressions and feelings. His crying or sobbing scenes in My Country were believable, but especially that one scene inside the room with that silk item and his name embroidered on it probably due to the significance of what it meant.
Simply the BEST!!!
The gut wrenching moments in this drama definitely have momentum, but not as impactful as two specific scenes in My Country.
What else?
I really enjoyed the bond that was made on the road trip back to Seoul between the Heir and character played by WDH - the bromance was fantastic and seemed better than what was between WDH and the main female lead at times!
WDH has a beautiful laugh, way of chuckling and tantalising manner with particular words or expressions.
Him and only him!
Anyways, Mr Plankton is recommended for those that like a good mix of everything, but after episode 7 it doesn't seem as exciting and seems rushed or done so as not to leave any loose ends. But...done so without depth.
Maybe one loose end actually - I don't remember seeing anything about the test results of the 3rd candidate. 🧐
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Hoping for a season 2 :(
Just finished watching this drama and I can say, the storyline is really sad.. although in the beginning when she acted as a man, she did pulled it off, but was too dramatic. In my opinion though, she did the best job in acting as this 2 roles. Displayed her character well and really able to understand why was her character behaving in a certain manner.I think the production crew did a great job in making an effort to make the female lead pull off as a man/woman. Also, many people are saying that this drama has a bad ending but I don’t think so. It explains the title of this drama so much and how the female lead and the male lead can never be together.
I just feel a bit upset that they ended this drama in a rush. towards the last episode. The story starts to conclude everything with little explanation, and then with many people start dying... I really hope they continue a Season 2 soon and maybe tell us more into the story of the female lead and what might happen if the both leads ever meet again.
As seen in last episode, they both passed by each other and was so close to seeing each other again, but it ended just like that. Which is such a cliffhanger and leaving viewers wanting to know more...
But overall, this is a good drama! Almost dropped it in the middle, but the story starts to get interesting again! Hoping for a season 2!!
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On both sides of the mirror
Aksorn (Beck Pitchayutt Chatchawansombut) and Songjam (Parky Napavit Tewaphankul), in their respective first major roles in their acting credits, represent two young people who are fighting for the same cause: the pursuit of happiness and love, which is not only that of romantic love but also that of love for one's own identity.Adapted from the web novel 'Memories in Letters' (ท ร ง จำ ใ น อั ก ษ ร), by Hungrybird, the eponymous drama of six episodes of about 35 minutes each, is one of the most beautiful, emotional series and addictive Thai of recent years, and follows the love story of two young people in two different worlds and the miracles that come with it.
Playing on the series' title, Parky plays the character "Songjam," which means "Letter," while Beck plays "Aksorn," which translates to "Memories," a rebellious soul searching for love, understanding and happiness.
The two protagonists quickly fall in love and treat each other with love and care, which makes the loneliness, the absence of the mother and suffering the intolerance of the father in one of the worlds make Aksorn's life happier. On their respective sides of the mirror, feelings will begin to grow between the two young people towards each other, while they discover their sexual orientation and identity.
With an extraordinary ability to guide the viewer's imagination, the script, written by Nirattisai Ratphithak, presents us with an adventure that mixes reality and fiction, which explores the world of parallel universes. This is a supernatural story of romance and mystery with which any teenager and young person, and older ones too, will immediately identify.
The protagonist and main narrator, Aksorn, moves into a bedroom on the top floor of an old building after being kicked out of home by his authoritarian father, who does not accept that his son is a writer. After a meteor shower, accompanied by an earthquake, Aksorn discovers that a mirror left by the previous tenant in his room has become a portal to another universe, specifically to a bedroom inhabited by a young adventurer who is not afraid to defy the laws of physics.
As they deepen their relationship, Aksorn forges a mysterious connection with the boy who lives inside the mirror in his room. From the first exchanges, both young people feel emotionally and physically attracted to each other.
Jinthaphat Sakkaen's photography contributes to the effort to tell a story set in an extraordinary reality that defies all logic, following the romance between these two young people and the obstacles they will face to be together.
'Memories in Letters' takes place in a surprising and unique environment, divided into two different worlds located opposite each other. The distance that separates both sides barely exceeds the width of a thin crystal, but the natural and physical conditions of each of the worlds make accessibility from one place to another extremely difficult. The boys can see each other, but not touch each other.
Aksorn is a university student of Literature who has lied to his father about the course he is studying at the university and who likes to read the work of Oscar Wilde in one of the two worlds that are on both sides of the mirror. His passionate nature is responsible for fueling his dreams of being a great writer. For his part, Songjam is a happy and smiling young student who dreams of being a doctor and who likes to dance and listen to music recorded on vinyl records in the world opposite to Aksorn's.
One day, an online novel about two people from two different worlds who meet through a mirror becomes the fascination of readers. However, it turns out to be based on the life of Aksorn and his lover. Who wrote this story? How did the writer learn about the personal history of the two young people? Is Songjam the author? Who is Likit, the only clue that surrounds the mystery? What will the complex network of human relationships and time travel on which the story revolves have in store for us? Is there any way the two guys can meet in person? Will they be able to live their romance? Will love triumph?
While the novel may be the only key that breaks the wall between Aksorn and Songjam, the mirror, the only obstacle that separates them, remains at the same time the only thing that unites them.
Eager to be reunited with his loved one, during another meteor shower, Songjam manages to jump to the world of Aksorn through the mirror. However, while it is in the right area, it arrives 27 years early. Luckily, he meets a kind young woman, Likit (Nattatida Klinsuwan, Pear), and Pallop (Pattarapol Kantapoj, Dew), who will give him a roof over his head and help direct his steps.
The three of them living together in perfect harmony, as the years go by, Songjam grows closer to the young couple and finally confides in Likit the truth about him and his incredible story. It is a story that, after being heard, Likit begins to turn into a novel that he will leave unfinished, the same novel that Aksorn will find almost three decades later online, creating a complex web of relationships and time travel.
Years later, Songjam, now a prestigious doctor, changes his name to Kyo and reunites with Likit and Pallop in bittersweet circumstances, when these two, now married, arrive at the hospital after a car accident. Although Likit succumbs to post-traumatic injuries, Kyo is able to save the baby she is carrying. Pallop then reveals the name of the child he holds in his arms: Aksorn.
Playing with verisimilitude, realism and fantasy, the series seeks a coup d'état and achieves a surprising, but incredible, twist in the plot: Likit and Pallop are Aksorn's parents, and Songjam has always known this and has been present in their lives waiting for the child to be born, grow up and, as a man, in the future, be able to find him in another era through the mirror that he will intentionally leave in a bedroom on the top floor of an old building. Without a doubt, an unexpected and moving twist that adds depth to the narrative.
This romantic drama with a touch of fantasy is the first BL series from Studio Say-Yes.
As in every love triangle, in this story about coming of age, friendship, love, discovery and acceptance, a third character is missing, and this is Khiao, played by Atirut Kittipattana, the well-known actor, singer and presenter of Thai news, who plays a doctor with a secret identity that will cause an important twist in the story.
As the enigma adds new layers of suspense and intrigue to the already captivating story, the trio will travel together, on both sides of the mirror, and we will learn more about them and their past. But will it be a true and classic love triangle?
I am struck by how Beck's character offers an image of a gay teenager who, despite his youth and family trauma, has maturity when it comes to relating to others, and maintains a healthy relationship with those around him, something which is sometimes missing or failing in other series of the genre, as it is not written and represented as delicately and carefully as on this occasion.
Through a modern fairy tale, 'Memories in Letters' demonstrates the interest in making homosexuality visible during the adolescent-youth stage approached from everyday life, that is, without the characters experiencing it with drama or histrionics, as traditionally happened.
Homosexuality as a theme is inserted not only in fictions aimed at a youth target or audience, but also in audiovisual content intended for adults, offering greater understanding to those who deal with adolescents, that is, family members, friends and those people in their school environment who participate in their personal and psychological development.
The musical themes "Crossing Paths", performed by Atirut Kittipattana and Parky Napavit Tewaphankul, and "Definition of Love", by Soravit Thitipawat, reinforce the action on the screen to tell this amazing story of love that overcomes all barriers and limits of its realities going beyond science and its properties, and that, in addition, demonstrates that with a low budget you can also work on the genre when there is passion and creativity for the story you want to tell.
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Lovely chemistry and excellent production but extremely weak story.
I feel kind of bad rating this so low considering the elements I do love about it, but it's just so disappointing in the end that I can't rate it any higher...Positives:
-Chemistry and acting. Sam and Yu really carry this entire series tbh- without them and their chemistry, I would have rated this maybe a 3-4. They are both incredible actors and their chemistry is insane. Sam in particular is just incredible- especially in the drunk scene. Their angsty, intimate scenes are the best thing to come out of this season (don't lie you replayed the sh*t out of them too). You can just feel the passion and emotion in those scenes. If you were on the fence about watching this and loved the first season- I'd recommend just watching the first 3 eps to see all tension and eventual makeup between the two. I was waiting with baited breath for every scene they had alone in those eps. But I was surprised that their arc is pretty much tied up in ep 3. The first 3 eps are pretty decent, but get progressively weaker after that.
-Production Quality - it's filmed beautifully and is very aesthetically pleasing (although I find some of the environments a bit cold and sterile this season- but I loved the waterfront restaurant!). The outfit design, styling and overall production quality is great!
Negatives:
-Story. What story? The plot was weak and disjointed. I think a lot of us were worried after the previews for the season that the reason that Shu Yi and Shi De split up for 5 years would be an extremely stupid, unconvincing and contrived gimmick... and it was... I'm so sick of the same weak and plain old lazy miscommunication tropes in BL. It's just lazy writing with zero creativity. Like at least add some flair to why they "had to" act like babies and not talk for 5 years smh. (I'll admit that although I hated the whole setup- it did allow for those incredible angsty scenes filled with fire sexual tension though lol- which I can see was the whole point).
-The scenes showing the blonde woman with the baby that were never discussed again? I thought this would be an angsty plot point as why would you show it otherwise- but nothing is ever done with it?
-The pacing, nothing happens. I saw a lot of comments excusing the bad story by saying they only had 6 episodes, what could they do with such limited air time? There's only so much they can include blah blah. But that's untrue as there are so many movies and short series that convey an interesting and fleshed out storyline in similar or shorter timespans. And we have the direct comparison of the first season being the same length but having a good story so? Honestly in this season I found myself bored in a lot of scenes waiting for an ep to finish.
-The whole software/code being stolen plotline- legitimately NO ONE CARES. This was downright filler bullshit where air time was limited and could have been used on actual/plot character development??? Worse it was boring af to watch and if you've ever worked in a corporate or IT environment (like me)- it is done laughably bad.
-The second couple of Shou Yi and Zhen Xuan. Wtf. Honestly for the first half of the show, I was one of the rare people in the comments who was actually intrigued and keen to see more of this couple. But by the end I was completely turned off by them. They are given so few scenes and then that random "explanation" at the end about Shou Yi having a dissociative disorder- and that's why he's a cold prick the entire season? Um. Ok. Don't get me wrong here- I actually liked that they were including a couple with chars with different conditions. But they handled the whole thing sooo badly and messily. They implied the whole season that Zhen Xuan had some kind of attachment disorder and that Shou Yi was distancing himself thinking it was the right thing to do. Then they randomly do a one eighty and suddenly Shou Yi is the one with a disorder and that's why he distances himself????? What. Then in the last ep after Zhen Xuan's monologue basically saying goodbye- the next scene with them they are acting fine and all chill with each other? WTF?
-Also this is a minor thing but why is Shou yi now running a bar/restaurant instead of being a doctor anymore? This is the kind of thing it would make sense to include as a plot point or at least comment on since this is a character driven drama.
-3rd couple who? I found it really strange that the third couple that has barely a couple of scenes in the entire season gets to take the spotlight of the final scene with the random marriage proposal? I found myself thinking wtf I don't care- can we actually finish with a scene of the main couple? Or you know, touching on how the second couple pretty much just had their emotional, goodbye monologue scene and now are randomly all good again? WTF is this? I know it says "their story is not over" at the end- but this whole setup was just messy af.
I would still eagerly watch a 3rd season if they make one- but this season largely felt like a waste of time that was mostly filler. Overall it was pretty with some excellent tension filled scenes between Sam and Yu- but aside from that the season was a general disappointment.
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So here's my review on this drama...many people said that it was nice at first but at last episodes it's become something which they can't understand and trust me because of this type of reviews I thought I'll not watch this drama but I am glad I watched this cause I really like it somehow I understand the writer's feelings and if you watch this drama carefully you'll automatically relate the ending from the starting episodes..I know that childhood trauma is now becoming common in kdramas but I still recommend this drama to watch cause it's worth watching..I really loved the cast acting and the script also..I loved this drama..:))
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A drama that exceeds your expectation
I started to watch this drama with no expectation, but in the end I got so invested in it. I've never been so invested in a drama like this for a long time.This is the only drama I looked forward each week. I love the pace, all characters, and the story. Each character shows their growth in this drama as the story goes. And though the premise might seem simple, there's always a beautiful message that is delivered in this drama.
This drama has a very positive and heartwarming atmosphere. The main character Asuka, is my favorite. She is a very supportive character. She is the one that continuously driving 8LOOM to be better and better, to be aware of their positive sides. I dare to say: no Asuka, no 8LOOM. But it's also 8LOOM that helps Asuka to grow into a better self. I think this kind of connection is the charm of this drama.
I love how each 8LOOM's song is really connected to the storyline. I will gladly give 11 out of 10 for the music if I can. Not to mention they have amazing dance choreography too!
Please pay attention to the opening of each episode too, since it somehow gives a hint about what story will be told in that episode. The last episode has no opening, but you will understand why if you watch it until the end.
There's always a room to improve for the acting for some actors. But for me, each actor delivers the story so well. And that's the most important thing.
The chemistry between the casts is undeniably so good. Asuka and Dan always look so good together on screen. 8LOOM members are getting along so well, seems like they found another family in this drama. And you can also feel how Asuka really cares about them. I think the production team casted the perfect actor for each role.
My only concern is there's not much romantic interaction between the main couple, Asuka and Dan, despite it has romcom genre. That's why I reduce 0.5 point from the full score 10 for the story. I love the ending though, it's so typical Asuka and Dan ^_^
And since I rewatch each episode at least twice, of course I give full score for rewatch value.
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Nakashima Tatsuya is a genius Japanese director. His “Confessions” and “Memories of Matsuko” are living evidences of his brilliance. The downside is that he doesn’t come out much but when he does, it will be through a thought-provoking wild picture like The World of Kanako.
Being a serious fan of Nakashima filmmaking, I was eagerly anticipating this. But I wasn’t ready for this darker tone and pitch black atmosphere. Needless to say, I was pleased in a very good way. The picture was a clear depiction of an ill society with lots of vacancy within.
The storyline was based on several flashbacks to draw Kanako’s life. The multitude of switching between the past and the present was an intelligent procedure to keep the suspense until the end. Of course, the overuse might turn out confusing especially by the end but it was a definite win for the film’s two hours’ longitude.
The plot’s successively coherent events helped expressing the characters’ nightmarish adventures. But it was the excessive violence that pinpointed the severity of what actually happened. Of course brutal beatings and cuttings can come out extremely discomforting but it’s their gruesome nature that grabs the memory and highlights the nasty reality Nakashima was trying to illustrate: Nothing is what it seems. There’s always a hidden reality underneath.
Beside Nakashima’s explosive style in picturing a chaos in stunning colours, there were his brilliant main leads. They’re what strengthened my wish to see this picture in the first place; the veteran Yakusho Koji (he was on a whole different level), the brilliant Tsumabuki Satoshi, the charismatic Odagiri Joe, the much imposing Nakatani and even the impressive younger talents Hashimoto, Komatsu and especially Shimizu. The film’s loaded cast helped bringing few of the craziest characters ever.
There’s zero hero in this film. All of its characters are some sort of anti-heroes, psychos, sadists, violent pricks and even demons. It was the intense characterisation that made me glued to the screen the whole time. They make one hell of an entertaining bunch. They were perfectly entwined in a messy havoc. They even get crazier as the film goes on and on unravelling their traits one by one. Some characters didn’t get proper explanations as they popped on the screen but it all went well for the final blow.
Maybe Nakashima went abroad with the repeated violence, brutality, rape, drug use and all the ugly side of REALITY but it was especially genius how he has wrapped his characters in a surrealist cover of apparent fantasy. It does take a big director to convince his audience about the line between reality and fiction without getting caught in his own scenario. Hats off to you oji-san!
The World of Kanako is a fascinating take about the ugliness in society (more particularly Japanese). It’s an intriguing view about people’s masks and their crazy reactions when someone pushes the wrong button. It’s basically a gripping watch centring on wild characters being pushed to the edge.
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The best historical Cdramas so far for me
If you want a show with the perfect balance between romance, soft comedy and political plot : you should totally go for it.I've seen some people talk about the romance of The Prisoner of Beauty, but I feel like the political plot is really underrated by most people. I'm really hard to please in historical dramas because I love politic plots but I also need very-well written characters and relationships (not necessarily romance, but romantic relationships are the most common). Most historical dramas I've watched always had the same problems to me : either they had an interesting romance but not enough politics, or there were enough politics, but the romance and/or characters were not well written.
Well, let me tell you : the prisoner of beauty is the exception! I found it was very, very well balanced. I saw some people saying it was more romance than politics but I found the politic plot almost always there. The power struggles between the families, and even the "enemy bond" the Qiao and Wei have is politic. Every plot around the canals in the cities is political. There were some parts more romance-focused and some more family-centered, but I wouldn't say the drama was mostly romance. I felt like it was the perfect 50-50 between politicals struggles, and romance/familial struggles.
I absolutely loved Wei Shao's and Xiao Qiao's bond. How they distrust each other at first, and Xiao Qiao manipulates him, how he separates her from the other Qiaos from the start, how he protects her in front of his family but does not trust her at all, into how they slowly discover what is hidden between each other's mask and struggle between their feelings and their filial duties. The chemistry was amazing, and some dialogues struck me as peak enemies-to-lovers dialogues. One, specifically : when Xiao Qiao is accused of cooking the grains to fool the people, and Wei Shao defend her by saying "I would trust you if you told me she tried to poison my whole family, but I would never trust you if you told me she tried to harm the people." This was such a powerful dialogue to me; he was willing to defend a woman he thought capable of killing his family.
However, what I loved more than anything else was the flawless characters' writing. I am a sucker for complex and coherent characters, and I definitely did not expect this drama to serve this. Romance dramas, and especially enemies-to-lovers one, tend to give big character developpments to their character, sometimes too big to be realistic. By that, I mean cold and cruel characters becoming too kind and soft; or characters changing too much or too suddenly just to serve a plot device. Which is okay, as long as it's enjoyable.
But this drama does not do that. Like, ever. Every character's writing is so deep and coherent I was surprised.
I am going to start with the most obvious one : Wei Shao. He doesn't have that switch male leads often have in romance dramas, from "cruel and cold" to "silly and lovestruck". He keeps the same qualities and defaults from the beggining to the end, but some are developed while some are tamed. His hatred is slowly tamed, and his kindness, noticeable since the beggining with how he did not want Xiao Qiao to struggle too much in his family even when he disliked her and didn't trust her, takes more and more place and makes him warmer. But those traits did not appear suddenly, they were there since the beggining. Wei Shao has always cared most about the people, and he stays this way until the end. Even when he has to chose between defending Panyin or Yunjun, he stays loyal to his values. He choses to defend the people instead of his family. That is a very coherent and well-written decision, especially when you notice the parallel between Xiao Qiao's grandfather who had to go through the same dilemma. Having to chose between his family and the people made him understood why the Qiao betrayed his family 15 years ago. That was a beautiful way to end this arc.
Liu Yan and Yu Lou are very good exemple of how coherent and deep the writing was. If you think about it, they repeat the same errors again and again until it kills them, and I find that to be a very realistic writing. As Wei Shao told her, Yu Lou fails to notice other people's love for her right until the end. Even when she is warned about it, she doesn't notice and change, because humans don't change that easily. Liu Yan, on the other hand, only knows how to be obsessive. His "love" for Xiao Qiao was an obsession, and that almost killed him in the beggining. Did he learn his lesson? No, he reproduced the same kind of obsession for Yu Lou and died because of that in the end. I found his character development very interesting because I did not expect him to become the biggest villain of the show. Him killing his parents and little brother shocked me to the core, but then, when you think about it : that, too, was there since the beggining. As Xiao Qiao told him in the beggining : I know you treat me as a jewel, but the problem is you don't care about other people. And that's how he acts for the whole drama. He's blinded by what he wants (first Xiao Qiao, then power, then Yu Lou), and never cares about anyone or anything else. His unability to change is what kills him in the end.
Wei Yan's writing also surprised me. I thought I would despise him; he turned out to be the most lovable character of the show (to me). While he is described as a shameless man, he actually respects boundaries. He has never tried anything toward Xiao Qiao, and is even willing to leave his grandmother just to not bring shame to his cousin and cousin-in-law. Watching him yearning for a home and family and recognition was so interesting. He could have made the "wrong" choices so many times but never did. I saw people say that his love for Xiao Qiao was some misplaced lust; I disagree on that. I think he said it himself to her when he's suspected to have an affair with the Yu girl. While his grandmother and Wei Shao suspected him to have done something wrong but were still willing to protect him, she was the first to not assume he did something wrong. Which was new for him. He said it later to Wei Shao : he doesn't want his family to forgive him for his wrongdoings, and he resented them for that. Instead of doing that, Xiao Qiao has always assumed the best of him and tried to prove he was not guilty. I understand why he would fall for her after that.
Xiao Qiao's writing was also very coherent, though I don't have much to say about it because I feel like the show has said enough. This quote sums it up : "Water only flaws gently when the path is smooth. Block it with wind or earth, and all you'll do is stir up towering waves". One thing I loved is how her pretending to be all-weak-and-gentle at the beggining while scheming for her family in secret actually blew up against her in the end. She had to apologize for that and I think that was fair. Wei Shao was not perfect but he, at least, never tried to deceive her. She had no choice but to do so, but she could've come clean later and still didn't. I liked that the writers didn't brush it off easily.
I could go on and on about each character, because every single one of them was written with care. Qiao Fan and Bi Zhi, for exemple, are also very coherent in their decisions and actions. Wei Shao's mother, too; she changes, but stays a quite selfish character till the end (the only reason she didn't flee Yunjun at the end is because she wanted to be appreciated by Lady Xu).
At the end of the day, I feel like a drama that stays true to their characters writing all along and ends its plot with a beautiful parallel (Wei Shao having to choose between people dear to him and the people, like the Qiaos 15 years before) deserves a 10/10. I know it's very different from the novel, but I feel like every change only made the drama better.
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This review may contain spoilers
RIABB is a drama perfectly fitted for the period when the winter has been going on for too long, you want to something to warm you up and you are tired of tea and soup. It has a lot going for it – nice characters, great chemistry, interesting themes – but ends up only slightly above average.At first, the drama is defined by Kang Dan-i and you root for her since the beginning. Joining back the job market after a break is a worldwide theme and when you are confronted with the heartbreaking truth of what was really going on with her, you cannot help it but be on her side. One thing this drama does so well is showing the unspoken in relationships, the things that hurt so much yet belong behind closed doors and women are often told, that that’s just how things are. I found myself crying over one of the stories of the side characters that got also divorced - her situation was so ordinary yet touching in a profound way. And the writers not only showed these things but presented us with strengths for these characters in friendships rooted in understanding and patience. There is plenty of good female friendships and bromances as well.
The core of the drama slowly shifts toward the relationship between Dan-I and Eun-ho and it’s a delight. What I loved the most was that it was shown through the everyday life, built on strong foundation, acceptance, nurture and care. The other romantic relationships formed in the drama felt also really nice and natural.
The workplace is a major part of RIABB and it’s a dream to work in. I also felt like the actors themselves had such a good time filming the drama that it showed through. There was also one mystery which I felt was a bit extra but tied into the story comprehensively. It’s a character driven drama which makes the tempo quite slow and it makes you feel the length of some of the episodes.
Overall though, I liked it and looked forward to every weekend to watch it, thanks to Netflix and the quick upload with subtitles. But I don’t think that there were those memorable moments worth coming back to that soon.
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Bestest of the best drama of all time!
Woah!! I am so in love with this drama where I have endearing feelings for all the cast members.Moreover, I also feel these soft-subtle-healing vibes this drama gives me where I don't need to skip any moments or watch it in 2x speed like few other dramas which are rather a little bit draggy or a bit hasty without any character development.
I love how it soothes my soul and makes me happy! Every character has their own sufferings, past and personality.
In addition to it, all of them are just so adorable.
Definitely this drama will be ranked on the topmost place in my Xuanhuan side of drama heart.
YangZi is just so good at portraying different layers of her past experiences. So commendable! Her acting is superior. ❤️
XL and TJ are just so cute with those hearty eyes for the FL. Something I definitely didn't expect so soon for our Nine-headed Demon Serpent the Great Xiang Liu! ?
Up until now CX just gives me sibling-like chemistry with FL.
I wanted 4thML Chi Shui Feng Long to gear up a little bit to get into XY's heart as the only thing do is to be completely whipped for XY and nothing else. ?
I definitely recommend you this title. <3
Yang Zi/ Xiao Yao:
She's definitely our common FL who was given a lot of love by her family and the consistency of her character is portrayed really well. Generally, FLs from different drama make few decisions which are questionable but our XY is very different from theirs. I love her character in this drama the most. Everyone knows about her tragic past and how she tried her best to live her life despite of various troubles. Her being totally calm and having pure hearted demeanor is just so rare.
She is so committed to her loved ones that she tries her best to assist them mostly XL by giving her own blood all the time to cure him and protecting CX everytime. She is so admirable.?
On weibo, it shows that XY is a scorpion and since I am her fellow water sign buddy, I kind of understand her insecurities rooted from her past loses and traumas.
She needs security in her relationships where she should be sure that the other person will not abandon her at any cost and she can believe that person with her fragile heart. She is in such situation where she can not suffer anymore heart breaks.
That's why she took her time accepting her own identity of being a princess before her all security issues gets taken care of and believing that her father didn't really wanted to abandon her because of some rumours.
I myself and XY wants to be this kind of healing relationship that its better to torture physically than being abandoned from time to time by those for whom she had at least an ounce amount of faith and those who were being nice with her.
That's why she has basically closed her heart from upcoming vulnerable emotions and feelings strangers bring to her.
Zhang Wan Yi/ Cang Xuan:
Even though I'm not a big fan of CX character's life decision but I kinda understand why he took those decisions in his life as he needed to live while constantly fearing of his 5th and 7th uncle plotting all the way down the hill!
He had bunch full of people trying to assassinate him including people from Chenrong army because of his identity.
He said to XY in yesterday's ep that he no longer can be willfull after his mother's death. I'm sobbing for him 'cause every character in this drama has depth and weight in their heart can be felt so easily namely in XY, XL and CX's characters especially.
CX literally poisoning and losing his control over himself just to move out of Xiyan city is just so cruel to himself! He claiming in front of XY that he needs to remember today's suffering in order to remember it in the long course of time to stay strong for his goal is so commendable.
Hats off to ZWY's acting even his pupils work so hard to portray the feel of mad man who was addicted to those poisonous drugs which he needed to take just to make people around him think that he is depressed and can't do anything so that he won't be a danger to his uncles for the throne!
He tried to puch Chenrong XinYue off his body but at end wasn't able to resist her since she was the sister of his biggest benefactor.... He can't even have someone he loves dearly! So tragic all the way.
I haven't read the novel so I don't know what tragic things he will do to XY that she eventually wanted to kill CX after watching yesterday's ep where she tried her best to control CX when he lost himself to the drug! Poor them... CX please at any cost don't betray and break heart of XY....
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Ends with Frustration Beyond Measure.
I let the episodes stack up as the hype was going and was expecting that it'll be worthwhile. Well it kinda did atleast till Ep 15 and then all hell break loose & we're left with this hot piping mess of ending.I haven't read the novel but the thing I like in these kinds of drama where MC is wronged and get second chance is that they come back as badass and Op and that is the whole allure of these kind of drama but if in end you'll see the man you have been cheering for and always expect to come out at top not getting what he deserves it hurts and frustrates you.
Conclusion: If you're here for some great time pass and engaging drama and okay with a not satisfactory ending this one's for you. But if you cannot handle frustration of things not getting your way, better let it pass.
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2Imposter
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.
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This review may contain spoilers
A very fun and likable romantic comedy. Jun Ji Hyun is an absolute delight. Funny, fun, sexy, and just a great actress. Kim Soo Hyun is fantastic too as the very serious opposite to her, and their chemistry is so great. Without a doubt one of the best couples in kdrama. Great supporting cast too. I like how it gives Park Hae Jin a serious subplot for his character, instead of in most kdramas where the secondary male lead is just there to wallow in his own self pity of how he can't end up with the lead female. Though don't worry, he does a bit of that too XD.This drama did some cool things with it's production value. How it used it's cameras for special effects of stopping time and the other powers. I thought it was well done. The only part that really disappoints me is (minor spoiler, skip ahead to next paragraph if needed) that in one episode she falls from the stunt cable as it breaks. It is filmed and planned out so dis-believably and just terrible. Even with the height, she falls on a pad and caught by a guy and both end up in small comas? WTF.
Other than that I don't have any big complaints with this drama. Though I do have mixed feelings with the ending. (Spoiler, skip ahead again if you haven't watched)
The ending is perfect in many ways. If it ended up being too happy and easy with everything resolved, then it would have been a bit too much fanservice and unrealistic (ha! I say that about a drama that is about an alien lol), it's just that it leaves unanswered questions. And the biggest one is how long can they really be happy together when we know the issue of her aging while he doesn't is still up in the air? I know not everything can end perfect, but it kind of makes it a bit sad doesn't it?
Anyways, overall a great drama with some great actors. Be prepared to cry. I cried so much at the end of the second to last episode and at the beginning of the last episode, that I couldn't even produce any more XD. But that's what makes it good, right?
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