Reviews

I was very, very excited for this drama ever since it was announced because it is Joo Won's first sageuk. And when I watched the first episode, I just knew that it would definitely not reach my personal expectations.

Overall this one is a lightweight sageuk residing in the comedy genre with a slice of sketchy corruption. That pretty much describes it all.

Tastes usually differ, especially with rom-coms and it always depends on what the viewers expect of it. Since this one also belongs to that genre, the drama delivered that part well enough if you want to enjoy something lighthearted (even though I myself didn't feel that much emotion between the leads because it felt rushed to me).

My complains about the story are that the corruption plot staggered alot in the middle and the story didn't seem to move forward at all - while the finale seemed very rushed again. The villains were shallow and only loosely defined. And I really wish that they had given the (current) queen more depth - I don't mean some excursion into the past that justifies her actions but more sides to her character in the present. She was so lopsided. I would have liked to see if she indeed genuinely cared for the prince, for example.

Other than that I enjoyed the side characters quite alot. They were essential for the comedy part and did a really good job. I also loved the costumes, the colors and the music in this. And they even had some really pretty and artistic scenes, especially in the beginning.

Despite my own divided impression on this, I would still recommend it to people who look for a lighthearted romance with a side plot that doesn't put them into much agony. If you still can't decide whether to watch it or not then try to imagine putting historical costumes on modern day people and throw them onto a sageuk stage. You have fancy cafés, a manicure salon and all the values people nowadays cherish.

(btw, I can't compare this to its original since I haven't seen that one)

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This movie showcases how a person can be connected to his feelings while doing a sexual act and how disconnected he can also be. What I like about this movie is the play on the emotions of the main character. He controls his feelings depending on the situation and he gets more involved as he matures and experience life.

As expected , this Japanese movie can be viewed as weird and it is not for normal audiences. However, I find the movie very engaging not only because of the “actions” of the main character but also the possible psychology of a prostitute.

It is a hard to talk about the world of prostitution but it explains why some people get into that act. I am not sure how close this movie to reality but it got into me in terms of how deep the main character thinks.

Some people might find this movie very disturbing but I hope they will focus on the message and human perspectives on sex and its connection to emotions.

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*drops this right in the list of the favourites*

To start honestly, I was not so sure I was going to watch this drama, as lately I was all for youth dramas and was avoiding watching dramas with adult (over 25) actors, that is why I didn't watch it while it was airing... You know what? I am glad I didn't watch it while it was airing, this is one of those dramas that need to be devoured, that put you in the mood of this drama. While I was watching it, I didn't want to watch anything else, I haven't watched the aired episodes of the dramas I am currently watching, I just DIDN'T CARE~! This drama deserves all the positive and wonderful reviews I have read and much more. I am honestly in love with this drama, with the cast, with the characters, with the story. It presented me with absolutely wonderful moments, with a lot of smiles and laughter out loud, with a lot of cringingly cute moments... and much more.

At first it may seem you are going to watch a drama about adults who are finding their ways to deal with their lives - you'll be quite wrong, this is a drama about men who are finding ways to become the adults mentally while their bodies are already adult, their mind is absolutely childish, they are spontaneous, sometimes hysterical, will give a man their business card to call them next time the man decides to touch their woman, by claiming the woman's all body parts belong to them, will hit the car before them (their beloved car, by the way) if they think the owner of the other car is talking to intimately with their beloved woman, they'll reject a woman they love if they think their friendship will be affected by the relationship, they will abandon the most important meeting and fly to their friend's help, they will cry with tears out loud if their friend is in shock and can't cry for himself, they'll shout 'Do you wanna die? I love you! Into my arms!', will propose every day with presents if the woman they love doesn't answer positively... they will make you absolutely adore them and their friendship~ how can they not?

The cast has done a brilliant job, and I wouldn't want to point them out separately. I am fascinated with every character that has been created in this drama, the most real, funny, humanly, childish and at the same time adult characters, I promise I'll be rewatching this one not once.

Absolutely recommended~!

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The Story is As Crazy As the Title!

Here’s my review without spoilers:

1. Your initial thoughts would be “this looks cliché”, “the story starts slow”, “the main couple looks weird and crazy”, etc. You may feel like the drama starts off slow have no idea where the story is heading to.

2. But as the story progresses, you’ll see that the writer is playing with our hearts. This drama is full of twists, becoming anti-cliché with each episode, and giving us unexpected moves. Even the episodes that you think is “boring” actually have some important details.

3. Because of the crazy relationship & chemistry between the main couple, the dark mystery circling around the male lead and the misunderstandings that actually help with the plot progression, this drama gets more interesting with each episode. So rather than it getting more boring & bland, it’s actually getting more intriguing & engaging.

4. Although some of the plot seem ridiculous at first, but they’re actually needed for the plot. You’ll find them reasonable, realistic and relatable at some point.

5. The romance is not cringy like most romcom dramas. It’s very well executed in its own pace, not rushing or slowing down too much. The ML/FL don’t change overnight just because they start falling in love with each other.

NOTE: What I love the most is how mature their relationship is shown after they officially date. The transition from enemies-to-lovers, from them physically & mentally hurting each other, to understanding & supporting each other for better, for worse, in sickness and health, till death do them part - PERFECT!

6. The comedy doesn’t feel forced. Sometimes the comedy is dark, but it’s the kind of funny that doesn’t make you cringe. You’ll find yourself thinking “yes, this is how romcom is supposed to be”.

NOTE: The comedy may not “click” with you like some viewers, especially if you’re not used to “breaking the 4th wall narrative” and “dark humour”. But like some other viewers, maybe you’ll start finding the humour funny when you rewatch after you know the direction of the story. :)

7. Sometimes it gives us emotional damage, especially with the ML’s backstory. His life is so sad it makes us hope he’ll get the happy ending he deserves.

8. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST HERE. It’s like “character development” is the genre itself with this drama.

The ML’s character is not new in Kdrama world, but the difference is this drama writer really addressed his asshole-ness in details. ML characters in typical romcom dramas would change drastically after falling in love and after that, they act like they weren’t an asshole in the past. XD

Of course the FL plays a part in it, but the writer wants us to witness his realistic character development, the real and painful causes, impacts & process of it, not drastic solely because of love. And the FL becomes his biggest supporter for that. <3

That’s what I love about CL. The writer takes this matter seriously (EP14 is the peak), though the development is slow compared to usual romcom dramas.

9. “Underwhelming mystery/villain arc”? If you considered the fact that CL is originally a romcom so it needs to maintain its lightweight, then the underwhelming mystery/villain arc wouldn’t affect you that much to the point that you rate it low. It’s still one of a kind, a refreshing romcom drama that defies cliché tropes! ^^

10. This drama conveys messages around character development, healing process & and second chances. This story is not as dramatic as usual dramas, no black & white. “Human beings are prone to make mistakes”. It’s more mature & realistic. :’D

11. IMO, compared to most romcom Kdramas, Crazy Love has the best satisfying & unproblematic ending so far, after enough of unsatisfying endings in romcom Kdrama. You hear me? I’m not saying “one of the best”, but “the best” here! XD

NOTE: If you ever think that the ending is rushed, think again. Because the mystery arc was pretty much being hinted since EP1. The writer/director dropped bombs little by little in each episode, then the heaviest bomb was dropped in EP14-EP15. Just need us to pay more attention to details (I even rewatched it more than once to notice a lot of Easter Eggs that they left for viewers).

Along with the hints, the story focuses on the ML’s character development & the relationship dynamics between our main couple. In the end, everything was wrapped up in a nice way with many relatable lessons to learn.

12. All OSTs for this drama are absolute bliss to your ears. My top favourites are “Dive into You” by JayB & “Maybe” by DAVII.

13. The more I rewatch, the more I appreciate the drama, the brilliant writing & directing. I love how the writer had everything and every character planned & built well from the start. It makes me wanna check out other works from the scriptwriter. :)

14. CONCLUSION: “Crazy Love” is not a pure romcom, has a mixed of many genres (mystery, psychological). It’s not that light, but also not that heavy.

15. What are you waiting for? Still sleeping on this drama? You’re missing out!

I hope these points will help you jump into watching Crazy Love! :)

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Somewhat boring love story between two really good looking people

I must be in the minority here because I didn't find this a very good drama. Yes it is watchable because the sets, the people, the clothes are all very beautiful, but the story itself is so boring. Nothing really happens in the plot that makes you want to stay up to watch the next episode. The acting is ok. Nothing too impressive but not bad either. Both leads suit their roles well and they do look really good together. Such a beautiful pairing but I personally didn't feel the chemistry was that strong with them. Dilraba seems to have better chemistry with Gao Wei Guang and Zhang Bin Bin. The aerospace and gaming plots didn't really catch my interest either.

If you're looking for a fluffy love story with two very good looking leads, or are into gaming then this might be for you!

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“You’re not weird at all, just a bit special.“

Moving is a big-budget Disney+ original series surrounding three high school students with genetic superhuman abilities living quietly with their retired parents. But their lives turn upside down when powerful organizations start to hunt them down one by one.

Moving is reportedly the most expensive Korean TV series to date and it really shows in the production. It has massive action sequences, and extensive fight scenes that get extremely graphic. The visual effects look fantastic and there’s this stunning flying scene at the end of episode 7 that looks straight out of a Hollywood superhero picture.

But the best thing about this series and why it works so much is because of the sublime casting. From the top acclaimed cast to the young leads, there's no weak link as everyone clearly delivers.

Also, despite the packed main characters with respective back stories, Moving’s seamless shifts between the past events and present timeline keeps the mystery and anticipation active. It also truly helps that the protagonists who are taking us through the story are endearing and charismatic. And although this centers around people with super powers, it still feels very much grounded and the in-depth relationship between the characters is still the main aspect of the story.

Moving brilliantly blends action, drama, romance, humor, and creates this high-class and exhilarating superhero drama full of heart that we rarely see in Asian TV. Let’s support quality content and stream Moving available worldwide on Hulu and Disney+.

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didn't work for me

Overall: the creators tried to be edgy, sexy, funny, sweet and mysterious but managed not to do any of those things well (I did laugh a few times but some of that was not supposed to make people laugh). 14 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired on GagaOOLala (note there is a very important scene after the initial end credits in episode 14). Later released on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/album/playboyy-the-series-season-1-2025-1okp2nvz0rp?lang=en_us The production company Copy A Bangkok has also produced: War of Y, Y Destiny, YYY and Make It Right

Watch Notes: I'm not even sure what to write here. There is an exposition dump at the beginning of episode 14 so you could watch that and then the final episode (through to the very end because there is a scene after the end credits), which won't make a ton of sense but neither did the series

Content Warnings: (pretty much all content warnings) murders, death, rape, sexual assault, abuse, suicide (it's complicated), grooming, manipulation, kidnapping, torture, coercion, blackmail, kink shaming, homophobia, drug addiction, non con video recording/sharing/outing, beaten up/violence

What I Liked
- a person can definitely be horny as a virgin and a person can be more comfortable giving pleasure rather than receiving it
- saying that wanting it rough was fine (though I didn't see any rough play until later...)
- a mystery
- appreciate that they tried something different from what we normally see (i.e. fluffy romcoms)
- that sports guy was upset about non con recording/sharing
- at least safe words were mentioned and after care was shown
- realistic friendship between the rich guys and the not rich guys

Room For Improvement
- the two false statements right at the beginning annoyed me
1. not everyone enjoys sex and that is totally okay
2. research does not prove that people think about sex 388 times a day https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140617-how-often-do-men-think-about-sex (the average for a college-aged man was 19 times a day which was less than thinking about food and sleep) and that study suffered from the "white bear problem" ie telling someone not to think about something makes them want to think about it
- negative and stereotypical portrayal of sex workers
- the NSFW scenes were at times tossed in (especially in the beginning) and definitely felt they were there for a shock factor rather than an integral part of the story
- NSFW were painful to watch because they felt simulated, everyone was always wearing underwear and they didn't use clever camera angles to leave the viewers' minds to fill in the rest, overall the scenes didn't make me feel anything at all, perhaps because I hadn't connected with the characters yet which leads into...
- there were a bunch of characters and I didn't get a good sense of who they were/didn't connect with them, I finally figured a few out and they tossed in more characters
- there was some nonsense stuff that veered into camp and I think it was intentional but it wasn't enough so just felt awkward
- the Japanese voice overs (think ended after ep 2) and randomly speaking in English which made an unfortunate comeback at the end
- exposition dumps in episode 2, 11 and 14
- super disappointed about talking about a safe word but then forgetting it
- cliche poor communication and not clearing it up right away also "let me explain" and doesn't explain
- styling
- characters shared 1 brain cell, characters just believed someone because they said something
- characters had poorly done redemption arcs/personality transplants
- not clearly explaining a very confusing plot and hinting at a season 2 to explain things

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Overrated

I feel compelled to write a review for Goblin because I'm finding all the perfect 10s to be misleading and, if I can be honest, completely confounding. Let me first say the best thing about Goblin is the acting. The cast is fantastic. The worst is the age gap. I know most people talk about the age of the actors; however, the issue to those of us that have a problem with the age isn't the actors, it's the characters. The lead female character is a 19 year old girl. The lead male (taking out the fantasy of his living 938 years) is a grown man who appears almost 40. Personally, I find that the Korean's have been dancing too close to the line in the young girls with adult men in dramas for at least a year now and I'm not a fan. They're more daddy issue characters.

There are many times when the relationship between the 2 leads are most like Father & daughter. She speaks to him like a father figure. And he speaks to her as a child. It's off putting when it becomes clear that he has fallen for this high school girl. Part of me believes the part of Kim Shin (the Goblin) was written for a younger man. Considering the life expectancy of the period and his postion, in his late 30s he should have had a wife (and concubines I would guess) and children. I think the character should have been at least 10 years younger (again the 900 years undead aside). The romance of the leads just did not work for me on any level. Conversely, the romance between the supports is a completely different story. It was endearing and very moving. I rooted for them.

The writing was inconsistent. It was great in some parts and just passable in others. Toward the end it almost turned into melodramatic schlock. Goblin works best as a bromance. The scenes between Goblin, Reaper(s), and the male humans were precious golden nuggets to hold onto until the next time 2 or 3 of them were in a scene together. Had the writers held on to that chemistry and nourished it, Goblin would have been much better.

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When karma slaps back.

Blossom (九重紫) stands out in a year where too many highly anticipated period costume dramas implode and self destruct pass the mid-point. This is short drama director Zheng Jingjie's debut long form drama where he once again compels with his brand of immersive storytelling. This drama avoids naming the dynasty as the narrative takes liberties with history and is quite critical of the emperor but it should be loosely set in mid-Ming dynasty, during the reign of the Chenghua emperor. The rebirth premise is straightforward and the business and palace conspiracy plot arcs while often done, are transformed by innovative takes on tired themes, a masterful build up in tension, suspense and relief and brisk pacing overall. There is nothing really that special about the plot or the acting, it is once again mostly about this director's captivating camera language and narrative panache that turned multiple low budget short dramas into memorable mini hits that punch above their production values. His foray into long form dramas should hopefully shake up the complacent and lazy storytelling characteristic of the well established long form directors.

Dou Zhao is the capable, long suffering wife of Wei Tingyu, the profligate Marquis of Jining. She chooses the cold and snowy night that vengeful butcher general Song Mo helps Prince Qing depose the crown prince and seize the throne, to dump her husband's sloppy ass. As she flees the capital, she is rescued by an injured Song Mo and they take refuge at the temple of a mysterious monk Yuantong. Cornered and betrayed, they fall into an abyss through time and space, inextricably bound through Yuantong's cryptic book of divination. Dou Zhao wakes up as if from a dream, as a young girl again, clutching the prophetic book like a lifeline. She is immediately thrust into one of the turning points in her life, where she painfully learns that forewarned is not necessarily forearmed. Nonetheless, she determinedly sets out to get it right this time around; to make herself financially independent and to avoid her past disastrous marriage. One of the story's strengths is that when karma slaps back, jeopardy is at play and Dou Zhao's book of riddles is far from a roadmap of the future. As the ripple effects of the changes she makes snowball, her world increasingly deviates from the past and the path ahead is murky and no less treacherous.

As for Song Mo, he has the hero halo and is the total package as far as physical appearances go but that is about it. As it turns out, his impressive muscles extend all the way up between his ears. This is an all bravado, all heart, kind of character that allows his rage and impulses to dictate his actions. As Ji Yong mockingly points out over and over again, he is a mantis with little insight or awareness even of who is moving the chess pieces around him and is easily manipulated into being someone else's pawn. His reckless, selfish and misguided quest for justice for one person, puts the wrong person on the throne and upsets the order of the universe, resulting in injustice for many people. So much so that 閻王/Yanwang the King of Hell himself must have rejected him and sent him back for a reboot. He does not get smarter, he is simply Dou Zhao's pawn the second time around and not the chess player. She is the inner voice of caution he does not possess that saves him time and again from his worst instincts. Dou Zhao's mature styling gives her gravitas as a business woman but it also makes her look visibly older than Song Mo. Leaving a few grey streaks in his hair may have negated this impression somewhat. Needless to say, even though I enjoyed the plot, I am lukewarm about this kind of CP and was not bowled over by their romance or chemistry. In fact, I find Dou Zhao has better chemistry with Ji Yong, who is her intellectual equal and her soul mate and confidante. But yeah, I get it, I'd probably also pick the hot general over the chess grandmaster. Being shallow is so much more fun!

The cast in this drama are all up and coming actors whose acting skills are still works in progress. Nonetheless, this director is accustomed to working with C-grade actors and adroitly papers over all their flaws with his brilliant visual narrative style. The best decision this production made was to invest in good voice actors that were able to give definition to all the roles that mattered. This is a case study for how in some cases, it is better not to rely on original voice. While I always like the storytelling approach of making certain supporting roles main characters of their own arcs, this was hit or miss in terms of execution. I enjoyed Wei Tingyu and Dou Ming's sub-plot best, but both characters did not get an ending they deserved. This was so that a tropey villain like Wei Xingyue got her own super unoriginal and overly melodramatic arc. It was a race to the bottom with the completely ridiculous and boring Song Han and Miao Ansu arc, which highlights the two most atrociously bad actors in the cast. There are more interesting character stories played by more charismatic actors including Chen Jia and Zhao Zhangru, Gu Yu and Wu Shan that they could be better explored. I really enjoyed Gu Yu and hope to see more of this very humorous and charming young actor Fu Weilun. Unlike Dou Zhao who has Ji Yong, Song Mo doesn't have a really good sidekick and Gu Yu could have been better utilised in this capacity. While there is no shortage of petty and not so original villain archetypes, this story lacks a really good villain with a compelling motive. The only ones that had real mastermind potential got whitewashed in the finale to deliver one twist too many.

Despite a few arcs that could have been better, a few missed opportunities, some sloppy logic and messy edits, the story finishes strongly at the plot climax and ends in a satisfying way. It is a very solid production that made the best of its limited resources. It got noticed and won well deserved praises not only because it is truly quite good but because so many other dramas with superior resources ended up bombing out so badly in 2024. As someone who was long ago bored with the romance genre, I enjoyed this enough to rate it 8.5/10.0

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Brilliant drama, absolutely a gold medal winning series of 2017! It captured my heart right from the beginning and held the strong feelings inside right until the very last episode!

It's one of those dramas that is filled with emotion. Showing the real and quite awful education system in South Korea, the realness factor was why I became interested in watching. Of course, I have to mention the other "School" series but unfortunately, I can't compare any them to this drama, since this is my first "School" series that I've watched. Nevertheless, the actors really put on a great show! As far as I know, the majority of them are amateurs in acting, I just have to give them cool points. Furthermore, the characters were relatable, totally "best friend" and "best couple" goals! After each and every episode, I had to tell my friends what kind of a great drama this is. Not only does it make you feel kinda cool, brave and happy after watching it, but also concerned and shocked about some of the school related things. To add, the music made a hugely positive impact. The OST is very fitting and there are a couple songs that piqued my interest.

A wonderful drama for back to school or to reminisce the good old high school days. This drama will take you on a diverse emotion trip and leave you feeling chilled! Definitely re-watching it after I complete the other "School" series!

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Yangyang Shines in The Immortal Ascension

okay, well, i'm sorry before-hand, but i only know and here for YANGYANG in this drama, so this review is gonna be me simping over him throughout cause he is just fantastic in the drama. Firstly, Yangyang delivers a captivating performance in the ongoing C-drama *The Immortal Ascension*, effortlessly embodying the complex duality of strength and vulnerability in his character. His on-screen presence is magnetic, blending stoic elegance with emotional depth, making every scene he’s in unforgettable. I am especially praising his intense fight sequences and the nuanced way he portrays his character’s internal struggle with destiny and morality. With each episode, Yangyang proves he’s not just a visual standout but a truly versatile actor carrying the emotional weight of this xianxia epic.
Overall, As The Immortal Ascension continues to unfold, Yangyang's performance remains a highlight, drawing me and everyone watching or gonna watch deeper into the mystical world of cultivation and sacrifice. With his compelling portrayal and undeniable charisma, he’s not just winning battles on screen—he’s winning hearts off screen too. I can’t wait to see where his journey takes him next. I LOVE YOU YANGYANG

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The Beauty Trap: She Came, He Saw, and She Conquered

Prisoner of Beauty is an enemies-to-lovers romance set in a fictional world loosely inspired by the Three Kingdoms period. Despite a misleadingly serious start, this is best enjoyed as a romantic comedy—and a playful parody of both the era and The Beauty Trap (Měirén Jì 美人计) from the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

Yanzhou is in crisis. Fourteen years ago, to save themselves the Qiaos betrayed their alliance with the Weis with devastating losses for the Wei clan. Now the fierce young warlord Wei Shou has come of age —and he’s out for blood. Facing certain annihilation, the cunning (and cowardly) Qiaos do what anyone would do: they sacrificed a virgin. But not just any virgin—a jaw-droppingly beautiful one! Which couldn't work better when the male lead is Liu Yuning, who is a natural at jaw dropping. In short, she came, he saw and she conquered.

Jokes aside, romance fans will find plenty to gush about. Song Zu'er inhabits her character Manman; wrapping Wei Shao around her fingers while she quietly manipulates events in her clan's favor. Liu Yuning and Song Zu'er share a magnetic chemistry and their slow burn romance builds their tension into swoon-worthy passionate moments. Wei Shao is smitten at first sight and poses no real threat yet Manman treads carefully, speaking softly while wielding a hidden stick . Her presence divides his household: the women resent her and a close brother covets her. Wei Shao is quickly reduced to a love-struck fool.

Unfortunately, this is where the story stumbles. Wei Shao’s guard drops too fast, leaving him out of sync with Manman, who remains focused on her political mission. Their relationship is tested by petty domestic squabbles rather than high-stakes conflicts, and the political intrigue promised early on fizzles into comedic detours. The narrative meanders through farcical subplots—some amusing, some recycled (Deng Ke outright plagiarizes himself with a routine from My Heroic Husband)—before abruptly rushing toward a bloody, uneven finale.

Still, the drama shines in its character arcs. Manman and Daqiao are opposite characters in terms of world views. Their confrontation is one of the most thought-provoking scenes in the series. Wei Yan (Liu Duanduan’s best role to date) is a fascinating, tormented wildcard, impossible to predict. He compelled to me to root for him and I was repeatedly gripped with dread that he would do the wrong thing. While Liu Yuning delivers a charismatic performance, I wish like Wei Yan, Wei Shao had been written with more skepticism and depth especially with respect to the evolution of his feelings for Manman. The excellent supporting cast elevates the material, particularly Wu Haochen’s hilariously nuanced Wei Qu and Wei Zixin’s dryly witty Gongsun Yang.

The biggest flaw? There’s no real plot. After a strong start, the story devolves into comedy and one increasingly absurd sub-plot after another. There are powerful villains but none of them are cunning enough to pose a credible threat in this story (the best one dies by slow slicing in Episode 1). After that, all we get are repetitive scheming by uninteresting, cartoonish villains who seek power for the sake of being powerful. Our "brilliant" lead repeatedly allows the main antagonist, a vain and shallow creature to escape to force the completely unnecessary ending bloodbath. The ending, while packed with smoking hot romantic fan service, feels rushed and littered with plot holes.

Yet, thanks to its stellar cast and addictive romance, Prisoner of Beauty earns a 8.0/10. It’s a flawed but entertaining parody of Three Kingdoms tropes—perfect for viewers who enjoy romance and comedy over complex political plots. Just expect more Romance than Three Kingdoms with few stratagems beyond The Beauty Trap.

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Entertaining Plot, Annoying Leads

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I decided to watch this because people seemed to really like it and it stars Woo Do Hwan (우도환). I want to like him, but I haven’t liked him in anything I’ve seen him in so far. Maybe this drama will be the one that changes my mind.

Acting/Cast: Many familiar faces in this drama. That was nice. I can say Woo Do Hwan’s acting was better in this drama, but unfortunately his character wasn’t likable. The female lead started off alright, but she became increasingly annoying over the course of the drama. The second male lead was a decent character though. 4.5/10

Writing: I’m just not into the red flag male leads at this age. I want more green flags and healthy relationships. The constant fighting between the leads, the constant psychological abuse (the female lead is an orphan and, knowing this, the male lead repeatedly abandons her)…it was just…not cute at all. And after all the torment the male lead puts her through, she is the one that needs to repeatedly prove her love for him. By the end of the drama, I was thoroughly irritated by the whole thing and I was completely okay with the idea of the male lead dying. I wasn’t buying their chemistry as a couple. I actually thought her chemistry with the second male lead was better, although I couldn’t support their relationship either. There are also questionable things in this drama that was difficult for me to even want to watch…relationships with large age gaps…even grooming?? The humor is also very cringey to me. Instead of laughing, I’d be saying ‘wtf??’ or ‘ew…’ (for instance, the second male lead had a habit of exposing himself in public as an act of protest, as well as having scenes that insinuated that he might whip it out randomly and sexually assault someone.) The male lead’s character didn’t feel realistic. He would be a broody asshole one moment and then suddenly be super goofy and happy the next. The female lead’s character also didn’t feel authentic. After all the psychological abuse she’s endured, there’s no way she would be that cheerful. The message of the drama was lame as hell. There’s two storylines happening and both are all about the importance of bloodlines. By the end, the two leads and the second lead and his mom (all with their own issues regarding their own bloodlines) finally realize that blood isn’t what makes people family or makes people happy. Well yeah, no shit...welcome to the 21st century. So, nothing revolutionary here at all. The basic plot of the drama is actually entertaining – a guy kidnaps his ex from her wedding to have her go on a quest with him to find his biological dad before he dies, while getting chased by gangs and falling in love again – but this bloodline obsession stuff is just weak. This drama was fun when it wasn’t taking itself too seriously. 1.5/10

Direction/SFX/Music: I didn’t have much complaints in this area. It’s definitely a well-produced drama, which is a big reason why it held my attention despite all the issues I had with the writing. The music is ok, but there's something that bothers me about it. They used an American song called California Dreamin'...maybe that's why? It doesn't fit? 6/10

Entertainment Value: The plot is pretty exciting, especially for the first half. The characters weren’t likeable enough for me to really care about them by the end of the drama though. Their toxic behavior becomes repetitive and annoying. The overall message was too basic to have any lasting impact on me. The toxic relationships left me feeling weird about the whole thing (especially the grooming…wtf?). 4.5/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 4/10. This was tough to rate. It was entertaining, well-produced, and well-acted. But there were so many things in the writing that just didn’t work for me personally and I felt like it was a waste. I can’t recommend this drama, especially to those who have been in abusive relationships (I feel this drama normalizes psychological abuse in relationships and even romanticizes it). However, it is a quick watch (only 10 episodes) and easy to binge.

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