This review may contain spoilers
An intense, powerful and emotional thriller.
„If you’d have all the money and power in the world, what would you want next? To live forever.”I didn’t expect much when I started this drama. Sure, I finished the first episode and thought „ugh, another 16 hour show about serial killers.” I was so glad I was wrong. Oh boy, It is MUCH deeper than that.
To be honest, it is extremely hard to express how dark and emotional this drama really is. As we arrive to the second half of the show we realize that our beloved ML is not only fighting against the antagonists, but also his own darkness.
The cinematography and music was on point. The combination of the dark atmosphere and the sometimes suspenseful, other times overly emotional music just came together perfectly, making a drama that feels like a punch in the gut – in the best way possible.
While some characters could have been a little bit more interesting, and some things did feel a tiiiny bit convenient and exaggerated, I have to say: everything connects BEAUTIFULLY. The writing is actually so good that even when you see a twist coming, you're still going to feel the things you’re supposed to.
That is a word I would use to describe this drama: FEELINGS. All kinds of feelings and maybe too much of them, because I swear to GOD it ripped my soul apart.
The plot is really well done and there are many twists throughout it, constantly keeping us on the edge of our seat and eager to see what happens next or just simply feeling hopeless.
The three main leads are phenomenal and the side characters are great. The old man was my favourite. The acting is incredible. Seol Hyun's acting was just too good. At times I could feel what her character was feeling. I wanted to cry with her.
I could go on for hours about how good the fight scenes were and how explosive the chemistry between the leads was, but I’m just going to tell you to watch it. It’s something everyone needs to experience. Go watch it.
So what is Awaken really like?
Addictive. Unforgettable. Emotional. Brilliant.
Also it's great to see more dramas get more than one season, but why not do the same with this one? There is so much potential here for a second season.
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Acting/Cast: It is no secret that I enjoy watching Wallace act in historical dramas. Acting-wise, he's a veteran. Tang Yan is also another seasoned actress. Both Wallace and Tang Yan managed to pull off a believable chemistry. I mean.... who could resist Wallace's mysterious and sexy stare... you know, the kind that makes you wonder what he's thinking but feel as if he is devouring you whole! With that kind of look, it is not too hard to pull off a chemistry that can melt the hearts of females everywhere! The rest of the cast are all good as well. No complains in the acting department. The costumes are colourful and excellent (though I doubt ppl of that time actually wear such fashionable clothes)!
Music: The ending theme song is my favourite. It has a rather sad tone to it and the lyrics are meaningful. It's stuck in my head and I suspect it will be there for a while unti I find another new song to replace it. Some might find the light OST by Della Ding and Wallace Huo something they might like but me being me... I like the darker melodies over the light-hearted ones. It's all personal preference.
Rewatch value: There are 45 episodes and unless you have lots of time at hand, you might not be wanting to re-watch this anytime soon. That said... there are many scenes in this drama; mostly those involving the main couple, that you would like to forward to.
Overall: This is a worth-while entertainment. True to Tong Hua's (the author of the novel where this drama gets its storyline from) style of writing, the main story focuses on the romance between the two main characters. There are some palace conflict going on but that part of the story did not overwhelm the main love story between the leads. So, if you are a romantic at heart, you might want to check this historical romance out.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Dramas with a moderately dark, controversial, and intense plots addicts me to it a LOT. And, 'Sachi-iro no One Room' is such a drama. The plot is pretty controversial, as you can see how it romanticized a case of kidnapping. But, if you check out the drama, you'd realize that it isn't exactly a case of kidnapping, as the supposedly stalker male-lead simply saved the female-lead from committing suicide and only asked if she wanted to live with him. She agreed, as she had given up on life. It was nothing serious for her to live with a stalker after getting abused by parents, bullied by classmates, and sexually harassed by her teacher. If you simply look into the drama, you'll find out how the story is interesting and how it would pull you into it- and the doubtful thought you had after seeing the summary would go away from your mind.
The actors are pretty good too and the simple-yet-so-satisfying cinematography would surely make you enjoy this short drama as much as I did. Plus, the OST is absolutely amazing. Recommended indeed!
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I have actually read the novel and so far the first 5 episodes have been following the novel which is a good sign. The scriptwriter Au Koon Ying is a highly celebrated Hong Kong screenwriter renowned for writing iconic TVB workplace dramas, most notably the classic aviation series Triumph in the Skies.
Initial thoughts: fresh modern day aviation theme, ambitious FL, fast paced, Liu Xiening and Wei Zheming play off each other well, establishing a sharp chemistry. It is delivering exactly what it says: a high-flying, delightfully unhinged rom-com that leans beautifully into the classic "enemies-to-lovers" and "workplace misunderstanding" tropes. Excellent cinematography. Beautiful OST. Good main and supporting cast.
Some viewers are calling out what they perceive as "plot holes." However, looking closer at the writing, these narrative shifts are actual deliberate, character-driven mechanics rather than writing mistakes. They are actually intentional, layered narrative choices.
-The misunderstanding- As a powerful, wealthy, and highly disciplined corporate executive, Fu Mingyu is constantly surrounded by people trying to curry favor or use underhanded means to get close to him. As a vice president navigating a brutal corporate reform at Hengshi Airlines, he is constantly targeted by corporate spies. Because she approaches him outside of standard professional channels right during a period of corporate transition, his immediate bias is to view her as another opportunistic flight attendant trying to use her looks to seduce him for a promotion. Moreover did he not hear the crew gossiping before they boarded?
-Timing- It transpires that Ruan Sixian had already sent a dozen emails to him regarding the internal training program but had no response. She really had no choice but to hand-deliver the letter. Also, she did mention "Feiyang" while trying to explain on the plane. It's just that right when she said those words, they hit some turbulence and ended up in that awkward lap situation. Since Fu Mingyu was already misunderstanding things, when they met again in the yacht later that night, he just cut her off straight away.
-Viewers argue that Ruan Sixian going from a flight attendant to a top-tier commercial airline pilot in just three years is completely unrealistic. This timeline is actually well-aligned with intensive, closed-loop military and civilian cadet programs. Ruan Sixian didn't just study part-time, she went through an exhausting, hyper-focused immersion program at a dedicated flight academy. She was already deeply familiar with aviation operations, crew resource management, and in-flight dynamics from her years as a flight attendant. This transformation is not a magical shortcut, but a grueling, high-pressure crucible meant to highlight her resilience in a male-dominated field. More importantly, this rapid progression highlights her exceptional drive.
- Some argue it makes no sense for Fu Mingyu, a highly calculative corporate vice president, to abruptly drop his pride and personally recruit a woman he previously belittled and forced into resigning. This is a classic misinterpretation of professional pragmatism vs personal bias. Fu Mingyu's original cancellation of the internal training program wasn't a personal attack on Ruan Sixian, it was a corporate restructuring move for Hengshi Airlines.Their initial clash was fueled entirely by a professional misunderstanding. When he visits the academy three years later, he is introducing a brand-new fleet of advanced passenger aircraft. As a pragmatic businessman, he needs the best talent available to ensure the fleet’s safety and success. Finding out that the academy's top graduate is highly sought after by rival companies triggers his competitive drive and introduces a brilliant layer of corporate accountability. He actually doesn't recognise her instantly although he did have some Déjà vu moments haha
- Fu Mingyu's sudden shift from arrogant executive to someone captivated by Ruan Sixian isn't actually a sudden burst of love, but rather a complete shattering of his own ego and assumptions. While it might feel "too soon" on screen, his psychological shift is triggered by several key layers. Because his tongue was so "savage" during their initial meeting, his immediate instinct upon realizing the truth is to fix his mistake. Realizing he crushed a woman’s genuine career aspirations based on a petty misunderstanding delivers a massive blow to his ego, instantly turning his contempt into guilt.He didn't just get a detail wrong; he misjudged her entire character, drive, and capability. Another blow to someone who prides himself on logic, efficiency, and his ability to read people. Working
together in the extreme proximity of the aviation industry forces him to constantly watch her excellence. His sudden hyper-fixation on her is a mix of trying to right his past wrong, professional desperation, and a growing fascination with a woman who completely defies his expectations. Its a case of overcompensation as Defensiveness.
-Potential turbulence ahead!- Mutual tension?? Sparks? Romance??, well, she isn't going to give in easily! If they have followed the novel, the road for Fu Mingyu is long and bumpy!
-The plot is already foreshadowing severe corporate pushback, rumors, and strict flight assessments.
And yes we see all of the above! The turbulence of the early episodes sets the perfect trajectory for the sparkling momentum in the middle episodes.
The second half:
Career: Ruan Sixian faces grueling, hyper-strict workplace assessments and unexpected inflight incidents that briefly result in her being grounded. She successfully clears the elite F7 aviation exam, officially earning her four stripes to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming an airline captain.
Fu Mingyu faces heavy pushback from traditional board members and internal corporate politics. He leads massive, high-risk strategic reforms and orchestrates the complex integration of a brand-new passenger aircraft fleet into the airline. Rather than abusing his position as CEO to simply shelter Sixian, he shifts his corporate strategy to ensure a strictly fair, unbiased environment. This allows her to earn her promotions legitimately, which simultaneously silences his board critics and validates his internal reforms.
Romance- second half softens them up. Miles Wei continues to deliver his classic dreamy-yet-comical male lead charm deeply in love with Ruan Sixian, and his chemistry with her remains a highlight. They share a healthy, mature, wholesome dynamic.
Family reconciliation- Ruan Sixian making peace with her mother feels like a standard checklist item to pass broadcasting guidelines
Late-stage breakup- The writers introduce a frustrating, last-minute breakup trope. The female lead's motivations are somewhat justifiable, but the sudden narrative timing feels jarring
Unlike many romance dramas that lose momentum towards the end, this series becomes more emotional and philosophical. The final stretch slows down to deeply explore human growth, resilience, and the true cost of ambition.
Grand finale- The final episode see Ruan Sixian progress to a captain and Fu Mingyu to CEO of Hengshi. With their professional goals achieved and romance stabilising into a mature partnership, the series wraps up with a beautiful and unique aviation theme wedding giving viewers the sweet, stable ending they hoped for.
The series balances its professional and philosophical themes with its central romance by using the characters' career ambitions as the foundation for their relationship. While it is inspiring and uplifting in many ways, it also offers a low stress, light, funny, and incredibly fast-moving comfort watch!
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Sweet Home ended me
Sweet Home ending is insane. The special effects, plot, cast and production is well planned. The ending was way different from the webtoon and there is now more room for season 2. Every single monsters is so detailed and so insane. I loved how they didn't show many things which the webtoon had, now they show it in the season 2. Amazing acting from Song Kang, Lee Shi Young, Lee Do Hyun and everyone. Everything single scene was a slay. One of the best Korean drama of 2020. Must watch! They way I panicked in every episode is very scary.Was this review helpful to you?
Seriously though, I'm re-watching this show for the 3rd time now and enjoying it immensely! Even though I know what's going to happen I still have nail biting moments and I've noticed very small details that I believe I missed the first two times. It speaks of the universal search for your person or people. The ones who when they're around you, no matter where you are it becomes home. If you watch it you won't regret it.
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First the things that I liked... I really enjoyed the relationships that developed between all of the main characters and the staff at The Most (yes, THE Most). Ha Ri and Hye Jin are adorable together. While Ha Ri does have some demons I really do feel like the girls authentic friendship was delightful and not something I see in many dramas. The main couple were cute together but SIWON WAS AMAZING. If it were up to me, his character would be the lead of a spin off show. Also shout out to Shin Dong Mi as the Fashion Director. It was a minor role but she brought a lot of heart to it and was one of the main reasons that I loved The Most staff.
Okay, now despite all of that... the story was pretty superficial and a bit of a mess. We had these beautiful characters but their stories didn't really come together to tell anything meaningful. Hye Jin as a young girl and Hye Jin as a young woman have a lot of similar interests but virtually no personality traits in common with each other. One is elegant, the other goofy and the story never explains how just because she ran into hard times a person could change so much. This is just one example of MANY where the plot details are thrown in but never really integrated into the story. The Management Team, Sung Joon's weird eating/zombie habits, Hye Jin's sister, Ha Ri's bizarre relationship with her parents and step-parents, (which had oddly both too much and too little detail)...and don't get me started about the CEO's son mystery. In the end all of these things just felt like red herrings thrown in to fill time around the central love quadrangle.
In summary, I really, really enjoyed parts of this show but, despite the show being about the importance of what's below the surface, as a cohesive drama She was pretty lacked a lot of depth. Watch it for the cute fluff but don't expect much more.
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This review may contain spoilers
Have you ever asked yourself what's more important in a drama? Plot or acting? Can a good performance turn a mediocre plot into something unique? Fated to Love You answers this question with a decisive Yes.
Let's have a look at this plot. Aside from it being a remake of a popular Taiwanese drama, this is a collection of old clichés: doormat girl meets obnoxious rich guy, an incident of some sort occurs and compels them to live under the same roof, meddling – and maddening – relatives, random humour, misunderstandings, birth secrets, the 'other girl' and the 'other guy', all spiced up with a lot of noble idiocy (although this might be one of the few cases when the noble act is frustrating but comprehensible). It's not hard to see why I treaded on this very makjang field on tiptoe.
Therefore, my overall 9 has to be ascribed entirely to the impeccable acting and one of the best thought of OST of songs I've come across. Try out the first 10 minutes of this show, and you'll have no doubts the whole thing is going to be played on style, rather than plot substance. The performance of the whole cast is brilliant, but the two leads manage to outshine everything and everyone.
What could have resulted in two trite, annoying characters in lesser hands, becomes one of the best matched couple in melo/romantic comedy. Even when their plot-line drags – and it does, here and there – they are both able to sustain the silence and make it resound.
Jang Hyuk… wow, the man can act. Yes, I suppose this is a very superfluous statement for the many of you who know him, but this is my first time and I was enchanted. The character he creates here has no grey areas: Gun is so over the line he goes from hysterically funny to heartbreaking in the space of a few minutes. At times the two aspects are interwoven, and the viewer gets glimpses of his pain through his laughter. But his best trait in my opinion is that he doesn't give a dry fig about what people think of him: he goes on doing what he believes is right in the craziest of manners.
It doesn't hurt that the actor is seriously hot. Seriously. When he cuts his hair – this is not considered a spoiler, is it? - I was so distracted here and there I forgot to watch the drama and just watched him.
This said, Jang Na Ra is downright brilliant. For the first time in my drama addicted life, I loved a 'weak' heroine. There's a special quality about the rendition of her character that turns her weakness into strength, and her compliance into endearing sweetness. One can see why Gun falls in love with her, because the viewer experiences the same. Possibly, we all know from the start that Kim Mi Young will eventually change, and yet she keeps her true, generous nature intact. With her beautiful, huge eyes she speaks volumes and her chemistry with Jang Hyuk on screen is tangible.
Notable mention for Song Ok Sook, aka Mi Young's mother. I enjoyed every minute of her antics and rejoiced in her relationship with both her daughter and her son in law.
I already mentioned the music. As a rule, I only like instrumental pieces in dramas. I'm making an exception here not only because the songs are beautiful, but because each piece is chosen with the utmost care, emphasising in turn the fun, the suffering, the romance, the absurd. Isn't this what an Ost should do? Perfect score from me.
Because I believe the plot to be absolutely secondary in this drama, I'm sure it lends itself very well to future re-watching.
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Every episode of Hotel del Luna is amusing, captivating, intriguing, stirring, and thrilling due to the perfect balancing of humour, fantasy, myth-making, drama, romance, and horror further enhanced by the gorgeous costumery of the female lead, visually-dazzling production, heartstrings-tugging soundtrack music, cameo roles, and socially-relevant sub-plots that tackled: molka epidemic; prevailing patriarchal assumptions; and toxic netizen culture.
Two of the most popular young actors today, Lee Ji-eun or better known as IU and Yeo Jin-goo exude palpable chemistry in their memorable lead performances as Jang Man-wol and Gu Chan-seong, respectively. The accursed millenium-old Man-wol is the alluring, chic, ethereal, luxurious, and petulant chatelaine of the mystical and marvellous Hotel of the Moon while the dashing, dutiful, empathetic, and courageous Harvard graduate Gu Chan-seung serves as the hotel's 99th or current human manager.
Veteran thespian Seo Yi-sook leads the trio of superb supporting cast as the mysterious deity with several identical manifestations. She is joined by Shin Jung-geun who plays the 500 y/o untimely-killed Joseon top scholar-turned-hotel bartender and by Bae Hae-sun, the 200 y/o grudgeful murdered daughter-in-law of a privileged clan who is the hotel's meticulously efficient room service supervisor. Also starring are promising actors Lee Do-hyun and Lee Tae-sun; idols P.O and Mina; and Cho Hyun-cheul and Park Yoo-na. Jung Dong-hwan as ex-Manager Noh and Kang Ho-seok as Grim Reaper are also endearing in the portrayal of their special characters.
Hotel del Luna, although a fantastical drama, is actually a foray into the reality of life. It teaches among other things: that like flowers from the moon tree, life is beautiful yet fleeting - and so, we must make the most out of it; that humans are endowed with the ability to make choices and are consequently tasked to bear responsibility for the choices they made; that life is not always easy or fair - as such, we must learn to play the hand we're dealt with much courage and grace; that if the past is a source of suffering or ill-feelings, we must learn to let go and make peace with it and with ourselves if there's nothing anymore that can be done about it; that our way of thinking and feeling can have a powerful outcome or influence; that revenge is sweet for it provides an outlet for pent-up aggression and wounded feelings, but, at the same time, it is also burdensome and masochistically painful for it recoils and does not diminish with time, thus inflicting endless pain on the person who exacted vengeance; that forgiveness has a rending and liberating power; that love has a transmogrifying power which can contour our character - either for the worse or for the better; and as Gu Chan-seung has perfectly shown us - that true love is self-abnegating or it makes you forget yourself and seek the welfare of your beloved.
Unfailingly riveting until the end, Hotel del Luna will for sure hold a place in the hearts of many of us. A big kudos to the writers, director, actors, and production crew for making this drama an enjoyable and worthwhile watch.
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Drama hangover
Like many reviews here, if you’re looking for something funny and light hearted. This is it. The plot is not too complicated. The romance between the leads is through the roof. And the actors were simply awesome.Personally, I really like YBY. I’ve watched Listening Snow Tower, Love and Redemption. I can say I’ve seen her improved with each drama. And in My Sassy Princess, she has exceeded my expectations and I’m so proud of her. Every glance, small smile, smirk, raised eyebrow, tear was on point. She captured Liu Ling’s emotions really well.
I’ve not watched many of ZYC’s shows but in this drama he is cute, so cute. The action scenes were really entertaining and smooth. I enjoyed every second of it. And his chemistry with YBY is very sweet. I’m all smiles whenever their scenes come up.
The downside was how some scenes were edited. It felt quite rushed and some parts didn’t make much sense. But this did not take the joy away of watching this drama.
And I just love how this drama can make me cry and laugh at the same time. All in all, a very entertaining piece. Looking forward to the actors future dramas!
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First problem, and I think many who have watched it will agree, that Wild Romance seemed to have lacked a little in the romance department let alone anything "wild". I WISH WISH WISH, there was more romance between the main characters, because I absolutely adored them! Lee Dong Wook and Li Si Young did an AWESOME job in their roles and I have become a fan of both of them because of this drama! :D This is actually rare for me to say but...I WANTED MORE LOVEY DOVEY SCENES BETWEEN THEM! Haha. But I did enjoy the few cute scenes they did share. LDW and LSY are what drove me to finish this drama and they never failed to make me laugh with their silliness. :DDD
Second problem, and I think I will gain a few haters by saying this, but the amount of air-time they gave Jessica (from SNSD) was just...too much. I mean c'mon... side characters are just...SIDE CHARACTERS! It really frustrated me on how much of the drama was focused on her. I have nothing against Jessica of course...I think she's a very cute girl. But like I said, it was just too much for me. But to those of you who are huge Jessica fans, BY ALL MEANS this is the drama for you! :P
As for the story, I thought it was exciting,suspenseful and mysterious and the plot was very good for a such a short drama and I did enjoy some of the songs in it as well.
Overall I think this drama is very underrated and deserves much more praise than it seems to be getting. :)))
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Total run-time: 2 hours 34 minutes over 8 episodes, so each episode is around 20 minutes long. Get this, the intro is 1m 45s, and the credits are 2m 30s! Each episode has more than 4 minutes of bloated credits! Cut that out and the whole show is probably only 2 hours long!
ACTING/CAST: The cast are all very attractive, and play their parts well. I totally loved the part played by the doctor.
MUSIC: Standard drama music. Nothing stood out for me.
REWATCH VALUE: Yes, this is a neat series. Gonna watch with a friend.
OVERALL: Fun series, with cute guys and it's also short. Binge on!
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I enjoy this drama so much, always keeps me excited for the weekends.
i laugh hard and i cry even harder till my head and eyes hurt, in almost every episode.
So much feels when I watched this drama, and so much life lesson learned.
Makes you think of future life, what will i be when i get older later and cherish our time even more.
Every time i finished watching each episode, i miss my mom and feel like calling her.
I can say that this drama has taken a special place in my heart.
This drama is beautifully made, i can feel that there's so much heart has been put into it.
Hats off to all senior actors. Everybody did a great job, I can't even find any flaws to be complained about.
Oh so much things to say but i can't put those into words..
I'll be re-watching this soon while waiting for writer Noh's next drama for sure :)
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A Masterpiece of 2021
You are my hero is a well-written C-drama complemented with amazing casts. It is such a sweet and heart-warming drama. It was not boring at all. It has no unnecessary love triangles at all because it has 3 couples. I first started to watch this drama for Bai Jing Ting. I knew and become his fan in variety shows. I didn't really watch his dramas or movies before. I'm so impressed with his acting talents. He is like someone who is good at everything he does.For the main characters, Bai Jing Ting's character, Xing Ke Lei is the captain in special police team. I'm sure everyone will fall in love with Xing Ke Lei and also Bai Jing Ting in this drama. He is so dreamy, handsome and charismatic captain who is also shy when it comes to girls.
Sandra Ma's character, Mi Ka is a doctor who dreams to become a surgeon. She is mentally strong and independent woman with a kind soul.
I love how the writers know and plan all romantic and career elements in the first place because everything was on point. This drama shows two very different career perspectives which are special police and doctor. Each job has its own responsibility and hardships.
The casts are EXCEPTIONAL. The chemistry between Bai Jing Ting and Sandra Ma in this drama is so amazing. I knew they already appeared in some variety shows together before. So, their chemistry is off the charts.
Second couple and third couple are also given the same setting of the story, but the important ones had their time to rightfully shine and have their own stories and character developments. Casting Team did a great job in choosing the actors.
Directing, music and setting are also very good in this drama. OST are wonderful too. Even the ending was perfect.
I haven't gushed over C-drama in a while. You are my hero is definitely going to be one of my favorites. Honestly this drama gave me beautiful feels.
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both main characters were so smart, levelheaded, understanding, sweet, vulnerable, and yet they were so confident and they never put the other's needs before themselves.. love is great, but self love is important? love doesn't mean "devote your whole existence to the other party"?
I'm worried I'll never watch another "similar" romcom again ;) this is not "original", but it's literally the only acceptable way to deal with cliches... a character driven story...
I'll just describe the characters a little more.... ryan... he's confident, maybe even arrogant and cold, but I love that he shows duk mi his "vulnerable" side.. and he doesn't "push her around".. he asks, he doesn't demand.. he apologizes when he's wrong, and he's not "above making a mistake"... and you can tell that he still wonders "am I asking too much", but she doesn't say no because he isn't asking for something grand, and she's just so precious and I LOVE a confident female lead... strong doesn't equal to mean or a bully, and sweet doesn't equal to a pushover who cries while apologizing for nothing...
also, his goofy playful side... I LOVE that side~ unlike dominic, he only wants "duk mi" to see that side ;)
ps, my rewatch value is just a 1 or a 10, so for this, I'll definitely rewatch it one day. just not the last 2 eps ;)
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