Reviews

set up to be spicy but then not spicy (watch suggestions)

Overall: something didn't quite work for me, but I'd love to see the actors in a new series. This is based on a manga which I read though I tried to review it on its own merits (the manga has a lot of NSFW scenes). 8 episodes about 24 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4647/cosmetic-playlover-2024

Content Warnings: (there were a few, check this review's comments for them)

Watch Suggestions (removes work drama, love triangles)
- watch episode 1
- watch episode 2 beginning to 8 minutes and then 21:30-the end
- skip episode 3
- watch all of episode 4 or 4-5:10, 7:40-10:40, 15:20-the end
- watch episode 5 beginning to 4:17 and then 17:20-the end
- stop episode 6 at 20:45
- watch episode 7 11:50-13:25, 20:15 to the end
- watch episode 8 beginning to 5 minutes and then 18:15 to the end

What I Liked
- a character was honest in episode 1
- clear premise
- several characters introduced but I wasn't confused
- sweet moments
- supportive family & coworker
- had some good communication

Room For Improvement
- a tsundere character tells the other guy to "prepare himself" and then basically does nothing, they eat spaghetti, there's a hug, the intensity is missing in their relationship and then we have a blushing virgin trope
- work drama was uninteresting
- why did multiple characters find another character so irresistible?
- episode 5 was too late to give the other character's perspective/explain his motivation
- the voice overs
- that Natsume trusted a total stranger over his boyfriend and repeatedly ignored boundaries
- that stupid contest in episode 8 with a no physical affection clause
- I ended up being worried about Natsume's low self esteem and didn't have faith that they would stay together

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Be Passionately in Love was a drama with a good core storyline but ruined by lazy writing, poor dialogues and disconnected screenplay.. Even the dubbing was bad.. The one redeeming factor was Wang An Yu..

The first half was very disappointing.. It just didn’t connect with me.. Once again the issue was lazy writing.. This drama could have been salvaged easily if the writer had simply done his job with a bit more effort.. The no kiss issue only added to the drama’s problems.. I heard Liu Hao Cun had a no kiss clause in her contract.. But there is no official confirmation yet.. If that’s true she honestly shouldn’t have been cast in this role.. What is she doing in a drama literally titled Be Passionately in Love if she can’t kiss?? It just felt inauthentic. It’s true that passion doesn’t necessarily require kissing or intimate scenes.. But this drama was already lacking and abrubtly cutting those moments didn’t help its case at all..

The second half was definitely stronger than the first and the last few episodes were genuinely good..

All that said.. I still liked the drama.. Yes, it fails in execution.. But I appreciated it for what it tried to be.. A story about two teens dealing with realistic problems.. Family issues, uncertain futures and misunderstandings caused by a lack of maturity.. Another highlight for me was the absence of the usual annoying SMLs, Creepy characters hitting on people already in relationships, forced breakups and last minute patch ups.. It was clear they didn’t want to rely on the typical overused tropes and I genuinely appreciated that.. It even had strong, well written supporting characters..

“What I want might be a bit greedy..
It’s a passionate and unwavering love.. One of a kind.
It has to be just me.”

Wang Anyu really needs to consider changing his agency or start being more selective with scripts himself.. Because this isn’t the way to build a solid career.. His last few dramas haven’t been particularly impressive and that’s unfortunate given his potential.. Hopefully his upcoming roles will reflect the kind of actor he is capable of being..

Overall, Its a good drama if you can look past the shortcomings in the writing and screenplay.. Like I said earlier, the absence of the usual overused tropes was refreshing and that alone makes it worth a watch for those tired of overly familiar cliches..

P.S.. I totally respect her choice but I hope Liu Hao Cun stays away from dramas with romance as the main plot..

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A String of Fate, Unraveled: An Exploration of Ruin, Redemption, and Human Nature

“Protecting humans is my duty, but falling in love with you was instinct.”

Do not listen, read, or watch anything related to this drama aside from the trailer. If the provided material piques your interest, just watch it. I’ve seen a lot of hate circulating around this drama and honestly, it’s really not necessary. I’d encourage you all to take the baseless negativity with a grain of salt. If you want to watch this drama, just go for it!

I’ll rate this drama using my personal criteria, called ‘CASES’ that looks at the following: cinematography, acting, storyline, experience, and soundtrack. I’ll break down each one individually.

CINEMATOGRAPHY - 5/5
Lighting: 5/5
Camerawork: 5/5
Ambiance: 5/5

The CGI is immaculate, no flaws there whatsoever. I haven’t followed this drama since it’s early production, but based on the behind the scenes clips, you can tell that the entire crew poured their entire heart and soul into its creation. The visual, creative, and drama directors especially deserve a whole standing ovation for their devotion to the craft. The sets, cinematography, and worldbuilding for Xiao Yao are truly unlike anything I’ve seen before (at least in a Chinese drama production). It doesn’t take a seasoned drama viewer to tell that every shot, camera angle, lighting, and setting were made with intention. The directors like to challenge themselves, playing with various different shots, manipulating the elements within the shot, and just making use of every tool in their toolbox to craft a scene that’s not only visually-appealing, but one that evokes hidden meanings here and there. There is almost a hyperactive attention to detail, and it’s precisely this quality that sets Xiao Yao apart from other dramas. You’re not just watching moving pictures, you’re being pulled into that alternate universe. The soundtrack is god-tier, with each song being replayed over and over again until my YouTube crashes. You have those slow, melancholic tracks like ‘Parting in the Mortal Realm’; epic, high-fantasy ones like ‘Embers’, and light, upbeat ones like ‘Mirror’. The lyrics to all of the songs are meaningful, poignant, and befitting for the story. Through the dramas top-notch production and attention to detail, I truly felt like I was transported into the world of ‘Xiao Yao’ from the comfort of my own bed. It’s truly magical.

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ACTING - 5/5
Naturalness: 5/5
Characterization: 5/5
Chemistry: 5/5
Charisma: 5/5

Acting. God, where do I even start? I’ll toss it right out from the getgo: Seven Tan and Hou Minghao were an unexpected duo that somehow managed to sweep me off my feet. I’ll admit that I went into this drama without much expectations. I’ve never seen any of Seven Tan’s works. HMH is one of my favorite actors and is the one who sets the BAR for what acting SHOULD be. In the past, I’ve never really found anyone who could ‘match’ his level of skill, but Seven Tan completely changed my perspective. When you’re watching dramas, there is always one actor who’s delivering more than the other. Sometimes, you can see the discrepancy between their level of skill (it may be subtle or obvious), but I didn’t see that here at all. Seven Tan’s performance was natural. She is one of the few actresses who can act cute without giving the audience second hand embarassment. She breathed Xiao Yao’s bubbly, likeable character to life; HMH gave an impeccable performance that was able to capture Hong Ye’s gentleness and compelxity. Their chemistry is ‘fluctuant’ in the sense that they have good chemistry as friends off-screen, and ones as lovers when the lights turn back on. Their chemistry is not overt, but subtle and filled with tension. The drama itself is a slow-burn, probably almost pain-stakingly so for some people. However, this is precisely what allows their romance to progress naturally. Let me tell you. When I realized that this was taking that slow-burn route, I rejoiced: “Yes!! They’ll know eachother’s names when they kiss! They’ll know eachother’s names, everybody!” Both actors excel at micro expressions, and this is especially useful for slow-burn romances where you’re able to pick up on these subtle changes as the story progresses— how that initial, cold gaze belonging to a demon who has fortified his walls crumbles in the face of his destined one. I didn’t see the chemistry or vision at first, but over time, I got converted. I am now a member of the Seven Tan cult (and a long-standing member of the HMH one), and I can only thank Xiao Yao for pairing them up and allowing these two actors to showcase their abilities!

No complaints for the rest of the cast. Acting is not something you will have to worry about when watching this drama. Here, we have a lineup of seasoned actors and actresses who know how to act through their eyes, breathing their characters to life and delivering a convincing performance throughout.

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STORYLINE - 4.4/5

Premise: 4/5
Plot holes - 4/5
Flow - 4/5
Pacing - 4/5
Ending - 5/5
Predictability - 4/5
Relationship development - 5/5
Character development: 5/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5

Let’s hop onto the meat of the review, shall we?

News flash: this drama tethers on two extremes. When it’s sweet, it’s tooth-decayingly sweet. When it’s sad, it’s a soul-crushing blow. This drama made me cry bitterly, but it also made me smile in front of my laptop like an idiot.

Xiao Yao is what I would conider an ‘escapism grounded in reality’. The narrative sheds light on human nature and it’s various facets, toys with your moral compass, makes you doubt your own principles, and ultimately raises the question “who is truly in the wrong?”.

The essence of this drama, I find, is contained in this quote: “In todays world, have humans and demons truly become indistinguishable?”

The whole theme of demons vs humans is nothing new to xianxia and has always been a ‘black and white’ sort of debate. You will typically see humans portrayed as the good ones and demons as the bad ones (or vice versa), but this is my first time seeing a drama that makes it so both sides are equally flawed. In Xiao Yao, every character (no matter human or demon) has a reason behind their actions, and oftentimes, that ‘reasoning’ is identical. The lines become blurred, and the moment that veil of prejudice is lifted, you realize that the demons and humans are actually cut from the same cloth; instintiguishable from eachother.

A Chinese idiom I find is the ‘foundation’ for Xiao Yao’s plot is 冤冤相報 (Yuān yuān xiāng bào), which directly translates to "grievance upon grievance, mutual retribution." The complicated entanglements between the leads, and just the entire story in general, is just a deep-dive into what’s right and wrong, what’s considered just and unjust, and who is truly worthy of sympathy.

That being said, it’s hard to hate any character in this drama. Even the villains have souls, with the overarching ‘villain’ being quite whimsical and cute, such as Hei Wu.

Hei Wu is a compelling villain because, despite lacking a backstory, his personality and comedic adlibs makes a ‘flat’ character like him just as lovable as the others.

The plot is truly a wild-card. Just when you think they’re going to recycle all of the common tropes already explored in xianxia, they do something completely different. Xiao Yao’s plot is complex, layered, and isn’t the typical ‘3 lives’ theme explored in dramas like TMOPB. It may seem that way at first, but as the story progresses and the revelation finally hits you, you realized that you’ve been bamboozled. In that regard, this drama scores a moderate in predictability. It starts off predictable at first, but as the story gradually unfolds, you’d find that your deductions were wrong and that it’s going to take a completely different approach than what you originally thought.

Pacing-wise, it’s definitely on the slower side. This may deter those who aren’t a fan of slow burn romances, but as someone who goes rabid for that trope, I found that Xiao Yao delivers quite well in this aspect. The storyline is a perfect balance between character and plot, so even when the romance is seemingly lacking, the plot grips you enough so that watching doesn’t feel like a chore. That being said, the ‘slow’ aspect of the plot is not just a stylistic choice; it’s calculated and intentional.

Characters are also layered and well-written. We have a plethora of seemingly ‘irredeemable’ villains with the purest of souls, and ‘innocent’ characters who are hateful go the core. There are many characters, but I’d like to expand on a select few who stood out to me the most.

Bing Zhu is a morally-upright character who cycles through a dramatic character arc. He starts off as a character unshakeable in his principles to a man who eventually loses sight of them. BZ is compelling in this regard because he represents the ever-changing nature of the human heart, showing how it’s the most testable thing in this world. His characterization delves into the question: In the face of countless setbacks, who’s heart can remain eternally pure?

Xiao Yao is truly a remarkable and mature female lead who was strong willed from beginning to end. Her character doesn’t change much throughout the story, but she is in no way two-dimensional. She’s layered, entertaining, witty, and surprisingly relatable. Overall, I’d consider her to be the ‘constant’ who drives the plot forward. She is someone who navigates using both her heart and mind, governing with reason while never truly losing sight of her own beliefs. Overall, a very well written FL.

Hong Ye is the most complex and intriguing character of them all. If Xiao Yao is the constant, he’s the variable that is ever-changing. He goes through a series of major character arcs in which he gets pushed to hell and back, building his character. You see him get ‘beat into shape’, basically. He’s not good, he’s not bad, he’s the demarcation between black and white. His origin story is probably one of the best I’ve ever seen, and HMH did a great job at breathing his role to life. His character will definitely have a special place in my heart, and his story is one that’ll leave an everlasting impact on me. I won’t forget about him, that’s for sure.

The relationship between Hong Ye and Xiao Yao is pure and healthy (despite what they’ve been through). For once, I feel like I’m watching a drama where the two leads are actual adults— not some 12 and 16 year old. Communication isn’t a barrier here, no no. We have a couple who actually knows how to use their mouths to talk to eachother. When things go wrong, both the male and female lead know how to take the initiative in order to smooth things over, handling conflicts in a patient manner. You’re also not getting love triangles here, so theres no hair-pulling miscommunication in that aspect. All in all, I’m incredibly pleased with the way their relationship is portrayed. Miscommunication is fun when it’s in moderation. Sometimes, a healthy cp who knows how to talk to eachother is very much needed!

Good things aside, I just have a few complaints about the plot that I’ll throw out here. The pacing was slow and calculated for the first half, but sped up considerably towards the end. At some point, it did seem a bit rushed, but fortunately it anchored itself on the last few episodes. In addition, there were also some aspects of the plot that could’ve been resolved. Not ‘plot holes’ necessarily— just characters who deserved a bit more closure towards the end because their story either felt incomplete or ended too abruptly. Just tying up those loose ends, that’s all!

Finally, some people say that the drama ended off weak, but I would honestly say the opposite. It started off strong and ended just as strong. Sure, it was a bit rocky towards the end in terms of pacing, but I personally liked the ending a lot and found it to be incredibly thought-provoking. The ending is like: “If I could start from the very beginning, even if it meant overcoming those obstacles, I’d be willing to stake it all in one throw just to see you again” or “I am a protector of all beings, someone who is meant to be selfless— but for you, I am willing to be selfish for once.”

It’s been a while since I initially felt so conflicted with the ending, but after staring at the ceiling for a good hour after the final episode, I was like: “damn.. that was a good ending.”

Mind you, when i completed that final episode, I was pacing around my house with the occasional urge to say: “Damn! That ending was GOOD!” A part of me sees it as a combination of OE, BE, and HE. Ultimately, it depends on your perspective, but I just love reading other people’s narrative interpretations of the ending. There is a lot of food for thought.

It’s just.. this drama is one of those films that has such a unique storyline that it manages to stick with you for a long, long time (despite its flaws). It maps out a love so profound that it transcends time and space, as well as countless lifetimes.

Overall, I’d say the ending was closed and ‘perfect’ in my book— though it may not seem that way to others!

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EXPERIENCE: 5/5

God, I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve been this absorbed in a xianxia romance. Been in a bit of a drama slump, you see. Xiao Yao unexpectedly pulled me out of that rut. I revived my IQIYI membership to get a ‘taste’ of what this drama would entail, not knowing I’d sink into it completely. For the first time in a long time, I waited in anticipation for the episodes to release everyday, feasting on bite-sized content on 小红书 to curb my hunger in the meantime like Squidward begging for spare change on the sidewalk. That being said, no dull cliffhangers here. Every episode grips you and you’re left wanting more.

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SOUNDTRACK: 5/5
Variety: 5/5
How good it is: 4/5
How fitting it is: 5/5

I’m lost in the music. In fact, I’m throwing it back to ‘燃烬’ as we speak. What can I say? I’m just obsessed. The songs were properly placed, addictive as hell, and had me screaming ‘HONG YEEEEEEEE MY BABYYY HUHUHHHHHU’ at the top of my lungs— is that telling enough?

All in all, Xiao Yao is great if you’re looking to indulge in a high-fantasy drama with impeccable worldbuilding and emotional acting; a tight script that takes a ‘spin’ on a common romance trope; an ensemble of well-written, impressionable characters; all weaved into a thought-provoking narrative that will have you questioning your morals, principles, and existence in general.

Was it a masterpiece? Debatable, but Xiao Yao is one of the most memorable dramas of 2025-2026 for me and is one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for some food for thought.

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Sing when you can not dance.

Uncertainties of life that should help us come out of our shells, often end up holding us back, and what life demands us to do is, put some efforts and liberate ourselves out of the incertitudes. After all, we do not notice that we are chained until and unless we move. What we are repeatedly reminded throughout our difficulties is that, real liberation is not achieved by burnishing and covering the painful memories, rather by experiencing it to the entirety. The drama is a reflection of numerous paths of liberating yourself, on your way to eternity and fulfilment.

Jointly produced by 'Studio Phoenix', 'Chorokbaem Media' and SLL, "My Liberation Notes (나의 해방일지) [2022]" is a 8 billion won budgeted slice-of-life Kdrama. Reuniting writer Park Hae Young and director Kim Seok Yoon after 11 years, the show was broadcasted on JTBC and internationally distributed by Netflix.

The show takes place between the contrasting vistas of a quiet countryside, namely Sanpo of South Korea's South Gyeongsang Province and busy metropolis of Seoul. The show follows the life of three 'Yeom' siblings who are enervated of the sameness of adult life and their mysterious neighbour 'Gu' who is always by himself. As life happens to these people and the ones surrounding them, they set out on a prolonged and endless road, seeking liberation and eternity.

Yeom Gi Jung (Lee El), the oldest of the siblings, is huffy & short-tempered who always complains about everything, making silly judgements; yet wishes to find love and fulfill her life. Yeom Chang Hee (Kim Min Ki), the middle sibling, is awfully outspoken who despite of his crave for better life doesn't really have a goal and spends his leisure meaninglessly. Yeom Mi Jung (Kim Ji Won), the youngest, is faint-hearted and introverted who feels unfulfilled in her boring life, coveting to escape from all her worries. Mr. Gu (Son Suk Ku) is the closest next-door ahjussi who has recently moved to the neighbourhood and a drunkard who talks less and prefers to remain by himself.

Chun Ho Jin (Yeom Jae Ho) is the siblings' father while Lee Kyung Sung plays their mother Kwak Hye Suk. Ji Hyeon Ah (Jun Hye Jin), Oh Du Hwan (Hang Sang Jo) and Suk Jung Hoon (Jo Min Kook) are closest neighbourhood as well as childhood besties of the siblings. Cho Tae Hun (Lee Ki Woo) and Park Soo You (Park Sang Min) are Mi Jung's colleagues. Other familiar faces in the supporting roles are: Choi Hee Jin, Yang So Min, Kim Ro Sa, Jung Soo Young, Kang Joo Ha, Choi Min Chul and Kim Min Song.

Plot development is not a thing when you talk about slice-of-life genre and the show had the same case, for it doesn't indicate a particular direction or destination, that the characters must reach in order to imply an ending. Well, MLN is not feature obvious, with a gripping conflict or larger-than-life charactes. But them, their everyday desires, their disappointments, their emotions and their actions & reactions to what's (not) happening around them has been beautiful sketched and well developed. The show is quite for most of it's parts but still interesting, engaging and most importantly eternally healing, which makes it worth the time invested. The major characters go through a slow burn process, i.e. they don't change over the course of time, some, nor by the end of the show, but it affects us, the viewers, and that's the miracle of MLN as well as other slice-of-life shows.

There are times, when the conversations are very deep; people in duo or group talk about things that is deep-rooted in their souls, affecting their lives in ways that they didn't expect it to, and then the next moment, it turns into a talk about utter bullsh*t, about some stranger narcissistically screaming on the street or some chocolate teapot or a sack full of hammers (metaphorical). To put in simple words, sometimes it moves your heart but the next moment it's stupid and doesn't make sense. But all of these boils down to the very fact that you enjoy, relate and relive it and don't you think that's only "life" ? About the ending, it's pretty sorted and greatly satisfactory. Letting aside my personal feelings and rationalizing have the same results. I can't call it an open ending since it's a slice-of-life show and the ending of such always implies that our lives are continuous and life goes on even when the show comes to an end. You can pretty much draw your own conclusion, very easily.

Park Hae Young PDnim is one of the most respected names, who, with her relatively less created pieces, have been able to win hearts through her skills of storytelling in slice-of-life vignette. MLN has been a transporting story, with the ability of transcending into both beauty and disaster at the same time. Utilizing realism, jakkanim has attempted to examine small & ordinary yet powerful narratives of daily life. Mr. Gu's part of sure is a bit wilder for such genre, but you know, what? There is no such rule that a devil and it's tale can't be a part of a coming-of-age story (He ain't an evil man, if you're guessing so from the statement. It's generalized.). In an overall sense, jakkanim brings out the best possible characters, with their compelling environments or spaces they tend to, by drawing scenarios that allows us to relate the pieces with our very own experience.

Director Kim Suk Yoon PDnim with the fair share of experience of working in both thriller and softcore genres, including MLN, have been able to evince his skills through various dramas over the last 'half the decade'. The primary motto of the drama, i. e. the emphasis on the very moment, with the intent of focusing the audience on that moment rather than using that moment as part of a narrative, has been accurately executed, with lots of sense. The incorporation of touchy monologue notes and the flashbacks of foregone days, are of great interest with their ability to stir up both joy and misery, at the same time. The screenplay attempts to triumph over emotions by means of creating a still, tranquil and taciturn mood, and I must mention that this makes the show unique.

The framework of the drama is not set up in a colourful and fascinating setting yet something about the characters' environment will make you feel riveting & compelling throughout, hence proving once again, how it's a perfect example of living upto it's genre's essence. The pieces & elements of the drama offer insight into the small, common moments that might go unnoticed in bigger stories. Indeed, it has many conversations, actions and reactions that might feel unavailing, but it's a matter of time, you realize that you're living the moment, seeing yourself in the characters and have been a part of such discussions. The contrasting features of Seoul and Sanpo will often change thd vibes it radiate, while allowing you to capture the beauty of different realms.

The cinematography is beyond pleasing, I can't be lying. The art of storytelling through stills and visuals of this kind is definitely not new in Kdramas, however, MLN chalks up to recreating a narrative of idiosyncratic judgements. The makers attempt to enable the audience to live the essence and the way the presentation is drafted through vehemence is praiseworthy. Witnessing characters through refractive lenses (of the audience) by fetching and fluctuating camera angles, often from one's face, to a nearby glass frame were both palliating and allaying. The obliquely focusing camera, often alters into unorthodox minds of ingenious thoughts.

The two words the drama emphasizes on are: liberation (해방: haebang) and worship (추앙: chuang). Mi Jung's greatest force for personal liberation was her decision to widen her periphery of compassion as well as leniency, moving from focus on service to focus on self, which might seem contrary to what life demands, however, self-care has been of greatest value over years and we should be admiring the way she disenthrals herself throughout. Her portrayal constantly reminded me words from Paulo Coelho, "The beauty of truth: whether it is bad or good, it is liberating." Humble heart is the true contribution to worship, and to worship someone is powerful device that is able to dismantle every shackle and its able to breakdown every wall, of own and of the one you put at centre of your heart. Mr. Gu proved himself to be a good worshiper by enabling Mi Jung's life to be found settling within his soul. Robert Webber rightfully quotes, "Worship is an it-is-well-with-my-soul experience.”

Yeom Chang Hee and his life hacks; his agressive and loudmouth talks which can come off as rude and annoyance, is always contextualized, no matter where you see him. This guy, that guy, the talkative guy who always tries to shove knowledge into others, ends up making them realize that he actually makes sense. His facial expressions always imply that he's good intentions and that he really means what he's saying. Even with these, the way he strives do better in his job is commendable. His failures to achieve something might have let him down, but he immediately finding relief in little & meaningless things, have comforted me each time. Coping up with results in way that brightens your spirit, is what you must learn from him.

Yeom Gi Jung and her love interest; the one who might be picky and hasn't been able to find anyone to be able to love despite her age, ends up crying at the end of the day for being so miserable. With the guilt of committing wordily mistakes, she constantly tiptoes around people. To her surprise, when she falls in love with someone unexpected, she finds herself in a complicated situation where she has no path to chose, but remain at the same point. However, the way her life takes a turn, bringing immense happiness to her feet, it is alleviating to witness her tears of joy. Sticking to your persona and being patient can result in fruitfulness is what you can take home from her.

Yeom Mi Jung and her misplaced emotions; not like she hasn't tried, but then, not like everyone succeeds even after multiple and constant attempts. Time doesn't heal all wounds. In a family where emotions are not transparent, in a workplace that doesn't appreciate and in a friend circle that doesn't understand, she must have feel suffocated and wronged. So, it's actually coherent & lucid, why she wishes to break free from everything and run away as far as the road takes her. The constant urge to become liberated from all her worries has made him into a cold-hearted woman. Consistency, straightforwardness, know-how and maturity are what you should be able to receive from her.

Mr. Gu and his mysteries; aahhh! What a personality and what a development. The way he walks, carelessly and as if it's tiresome to even move, the way he stretches his entire body & neck in order to avoid what's happening around him, and staring up the sky aimlessly, and his facial expressions, that includes reactions to what he's told; I am mesmerized how all of these transcend into a feeling of admiration and respect to this character. He was indeed full of mystery; talking less, remaining by himself and drinking all the day, it was crystal clear that he bears something heavy in his heart. Yet, stupefyingly, he inspires others, makes others think mighty of him and uses no effort in allowing everyone fall for his aura. Take as much as he offers. And on that note, Mr. Gu is the new crush of millions" including myself; I had seen him before, but the difference persona and his character are what aroused my heart.

"My Liberation Notes" in many ways establishes and emphasizes various forms of friendship. The very fact that we vibe differently with different people at the same time, even within the same group, has been beautifully demonstrated. ''The things we share with our friend A, we can't spill that to friend B' " sorta feelings. From neighborhood buddies to workplace collegues and from school classmates to long lost acquaintances, MLN throws light upon both the importance and complications of each.

One of the many silliest means of liberating yourself, that has been portrayed through the acts of the characters, throughout the drama is "moving your feet"; be it a tiresome walk or a simple strolling or a breathless running. As you walk/run and think at the same time, the worries and burdens might evaporate away little by little, if not entirely, and that actually helps. As you watch the drama, you will realize that there are actually plenty of scenes where the characters are only moving forward with monologue notes accompanying them, and those were actually gratifying and alleviating, or in the words of the writer, "liberating".

Chang Hee's admiration for Mr. Gu, the way he looked upto him, him calling 'hyung' and was able to extract out inspiration from Gu's life, was quite an intrigue. Even with no definite bromance, MLN showcased a meaningful non-romantic bonding between two men, who despite of their personal conflicts, were able to unbar the ways to relief & salvation. I can go on about how I felt looking at Chang Hee's eyes & emotions for Gu-shi multiple times.

Composed by Kim Tae Sung PDnim, there are 12 OSTs in total, including one which has both male & female versions. Most of the songs are soothing and assuaging, which depicts the slowburn theme and realistic essence of the show. I can't say the entire album is my favourite but sure, I like all of them.

# "A Kind of Confession" is my most favourite track which has both female and male versions, sung by HEN & Kwak Jineon respectively. It reflects a realistic love that is unpredictable and full of uncertainties.
# "I Think I Know" by Isaac Hong accompanied Gi Jung's love story as an appreciation to souls that heal each other.
# "Here We Are" by Kim Feel is a song about the wary of life delineating melancholy and I believe it was dedicated to Mr. Gu.
# "Deeply" by HEN, as it's title says, is about deep assessments of the events of our life.
# "To be together" by Lee Jung Hyung reflects the warmness from the embrace of love. The prelude theme of the track is used as the intro of the show.
# "Laggard" by Shin You Me is a track meant for Mi Jung and her introverted spirit that urge to come out of the shell.
# "That Day" by The Orchad is a mildly jolly song about the brightful days of expressing and experiencing love. It was for Gi Jung.
# "Be My Birthday" by Ha Hyunsang was a soulful rendition about all the first time that you get to live after falling for someone.
# "We Sink" by SWAY is an upbeat composition about the thick & thins of life, that bring forward variable opportunities, which in ways, emphasizes on Chang Hee.
# "My Spring" by Lee Soo Hyun is a softcore track about the feelings of times spent with your soulmate.
# "Diamond" by 9duck is another jolly track which radiates admiration for the one you love.

One of the many moving elements in the drama was Mi Jung's desire to be able to reminisce about past where she herself is be-seated by her younger self's side, enjoying the views she really loved and Mr. Gu suggests her to remember the very moment and remind it when she turns old, because by then, the present time would be her younger version. Similarly, I would like to mention few of short yet relatable and favourite dialogues which aren't actually spoilers...

# "I feel scared of being honest."
# "Suddenly, I feel lovable."
# "You should know who you are."
# "Now we can say, we have watched stars together."

Before I sign off, I would have loved to talk about "my liberation diary" and the "haebang (liberation) club", the most motivating idea of the drama that puts Mi Jung at the centre, but I truly want all of you, reading this, to witness and experience it by your own.

Final Remarks... Ahhhh! That's how you express yourself with drama that could imply to a plentitude range of emotions and thoughts, throughout. Coming to the last part of my review, I am not sure whether or not I was worthy of writing this piece, for it is so beautifully contented which not only took the characters in the journey of liberation, but also helped the viewrs learn how to liberate themselves. With great production values, fascinating script, fabulous execution and beautiful outcomes, this is one of the best slice-of-life Kdramas ever produced even so it didn't have a noteworthy viewership record as it aired. I wish it could reach a lot more people but I also believe, good things always find their ways to those who deserve. With this, I must not forget to express my gratitude to the cast and crew and everyone plus everything that's involved in bringing out "My Liberation Notes" to me. Thank you, so very much!

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Let The Last Thing I Forget Be You

Story:
The pacing for the story was perfect. It did a great job developing the leads relationship and had them gradually get to know one another. It wasn't a "love at first sight" moment or a childhood crush but just 2 normal individuals, with completely opposite personalities, that just slowly got to know one another. The chemistry between Gu Wei & LZX was so natural it made you question if it was a literal drama or us stealing a glance into someone's relationship. They made you laugh, cry, and get fully invested into them making you want to take sides when an argument ensued and caused you to question who you believed was right or wrong. But, in the end, it felt balanced with the right amount of humor, romance, and a bit of slice of life. My only issue really was with the side characters who I felt didn’t have much to do with anything and caused more issues than not. The main issue being SanSan and probably the only one. Even though there were other characters that liked the leads I felt they had character development and were able to change after realizing it wasn’t meant to be. The only one that just couldn’t get things to click was SanSan - the friend that you wished never got involved in your troubles. Overall, I felt the storyline was beautiful and had a great ending that felt it wasn’t rushed but gave all the answers to the questions you may have had. There was even an incredible wedding which invited all the characters and just felt like one big joyous moment. The entire last 2 episodes were just extraordinarily done and really tugged at the heart strings.

Acting:
The acting overall was incredible. The main leads Xiao Zhan & Yang Zi did an amazing job portraying their characters and had great chemistry. The way Xiao Zhan would just glance at LZX and added elements of the nose rub and his line delivery were just perfect and cute. When he was going through his traumatic experience, he did a great job portraying each one of those details. Yang Zi and her relationship with her in-drama father was perfection and made me feel the sorrow that a family member would have in those moments. But I do want to mention the actor that played LZX’s father – in the last 2 episodes – did a remarkable job and really added a lot to the story and just made the entire last 2 episodes just completely beautiful.

Music:
The OST’s for this drama were fantastic. Xiao Zhan & Yang Zi did a great job and the moments they added the musical pieces really added more to the story. Even the instrumentals they had for the violin & cello were just beautiful – I still hope I can find the song when they played at the restaurant.

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ITSAY = PERFECTION

ITSAY is that precious feeling that no one can ever steal from you. Never ever. I'm writing it to you.

This drama, which has stirred all our emotions, is what you call EXCELLENT. The vibes it gives off are so deep & beautiful that it makes you feel nostalgic. The kind of storytelling done in the series is something that leaves no heart unprevailed. It is indeed the rarest of the rare Thai BL drama you'll ever witness.

Fabulous direction & screenplay, heart-warming dialogues, stimulating plot devices, awesome acting by the cast and most importantly, 'astounding' cinematography, oof.
Another fact that makes it unique is how incredibly they've introduced props like hibiscus, coconut, etc and utilized them well.

SPECIAL mentions to Bilkin and PP for offering their natural, simple and outstanding acting skills to this already precious story. Their dialogue delivery, accurate expressions, smiles, cries and everything made us smile & cry as if we were a part of their beautiful love story. Thank you so much you two. You guys have won over our heart and you along with the series will always be in our thoughts and dreams.

I really really hope THAI writers continue writing such beautiful stories and then the makers adapt them into series. How amazing that will be than watching the same cliché highschool/uni stories with romance and intimacy!

I swear "I TOLD SUNSET ABOUT YOU" is such a delightful thing to witness, I feel blessed. My life somehow feels complete. Eagerly waiting for I PROMISE YOU THE MOON- IPYTM (ITSAY part2).

THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE!

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This show is love. This show is life. This show is everything.
The first 2 episodes were like meh i wont be too excited for this drama next week. I might even skip it. Who the hell is that ahjussi and Uee is too young for him thats just a mood ruiner. And its like the drama told me *hold up son, we are the real deal* and it hit me from episode 3 to 16. The drama started killing people with its perfection, cute and beautiful moments that arent forced ( its not cheesy its bittersweet ) .
I see people talk about chemistry between acting couples. Here it wasnt chemistry it was lioe rocket science. Beauty overload and the mood of the show was just like old kdramas with the musoc and clothing and just how they value the family and love and emotions.
Best drama i finished this year. ( yes i like it more than the epic ones )
This will be my first review on this site and probably the last because my feels are all over the place.
"Promise that you'll meet me in paradise inevitably
No matter what, I'll keep your love forever with me"

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Why seek therapy and help when you can just fall in love with your best friend!

The drama runs on the premise of the childhood friends x lovers trope. And when I see this trope, the first thing that comes to my mind is slow-burning romance where two people who grew up together with embarrassing memories and inside jokes, slowly come to the realisation that they are in love with each other all along. The yearning...the pinning.... the subtle hints...The holy grail of slow burn romance.

But what I got was anything but that. Instead of character development, gradual tension and those push-and-pull monologues, what I got was fast-forward confessions with abrupt mood swings and no subtlety.
There was barely any tension or emotional build up. Just a series of "Oh, I guess I love you now" in a very reckless way.

Character Descriptions-

Han Tuo: In the BL world, we are familiar with a lead having a tragic past or a childhood trauma. A'Tuo was no different. This man didn't need a relationship, but a therapist. Despite having a backstory, none of it translates into actual depth. His internal conflicts existed but briefly and for name's sake. I wanted to sympathise with him, considering how emotionally distant his mother was and his abandonment issues by his mother, but somehow how it was portrayed and how he dealt with it as a character annoyed me.

His way out was to trauma dump Junxi with an invisible PowerPoint presentation with two slides - "I am sad" and "I love you". With his backstory came possessiveness on another level. If we remove the romance angle, it is controlling and manipulative. And let's not forget his communication skills, or lack thereof.

At best, he was an overgrown child desperately trying to prove that he is the centre of Jun Xi's universe and that being together is the ultimate solution to all his problems.

Lu Junxi: He was a third wheel in his own relationship and not in a cute way. He was always reactive to A'Tuo's mood swings and possessiveness, and somehow I wondered if he even liked him, or was it just the pressure and the anxiety that came with not having your childhood friend around that you mistake it for love. He makes all his decisions with the legendary stone, paper, scissors game and loses more often than you think.

Romance between them wasn't healthy, but if I remove the problematic lens, it was cute in fragments. It thrived on the notion that one partner constantly crosses boundaries because "that is how they show love", while the other passively accepts as if that's what love is supposed to be like.

There were many aww factors, especially when they were being absolutely sweet and domestic to each other. The way they bickered over the smallest things with silly arguments and small acts of care did entertain me, and I did enjoy their boyfriend era.
They had decent chemistry overall with some good kissing scenes, but honestly, the red flags were raised so high that there is no way to sugar coat them.

Lin Xiao Yang: She was such a breath of fresh air. She was understanding, supportive and out of the trio, the most sensible. I have many issues with how characters are written in the drama, but I am glad writers didn't turn her into the cliche female lead in a BL drama that we usually see, who only causes chaos and is irrationally protective. I wish they had explored her character more or in general, her friendship with the duo.

The other side character, He You Mei, was a hit and a miss for me. I liked her for her quirkiness, but sometimes her behaviour was abrupt. The emotional scene of hers came out of nowhere, and with much context.

I liked Junxi's parents for not being the stereotypical asian parent we see. Them being supportive and treating A'Tuo with so much love was heartwarming to see!

Acting-wise, I found both the leads passable. I mean, the emotional scenes could have been way better, but it wasn't unwatchable. The rest of the cast also did decently based on what the script had to offer, but nothing outstanding.

Writing & Production: I think writing was the weakest link here. The character arcs were painfully uneven. I kept expecting meaningful emotional growth both for the individuals and their relationship, but it rarely appeared. At times, we seemed on the brink of progress, only for the story to backtrack and reset us near square one. On top of that, there were far too many flashbacks to their teenage years, most of which didn’t add much to the present-day story. It felt unnecessarily redundant. Production seemed decent as well. The sets were clean, and the locations felt believable. (The college had students and everything).

Overall, this isn't a masterpiece by any stretch, but it's oddly entertaining in its own way. I reviewed it very critically but if I keep my brain aside, it has a weird charm to its flaws.

Will I recommend it? Maybe, but with a giant asterisk. If you are in the mood for some low-stakes entertainment but a clumsy attempt at romance and a hint of sweetness... then yes. Also, their height difference was really cute.
But if you are here for a deep, healthy relationship with a well-developed character arc, please look elsewhere.

Thank you for reading my review! I hope you have a good day! <3

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this show isn’t blooming

The first episode of this drama is point blank amazing. It sets up a really good story with a strong female lead. I expected this show to stay that way, to stay just as engaging as the first... but it didn't

Our Blooming Youth leans more towards a political mystery than an action. I expected a lot more fighting from the female lead since she was really good at it in the first episode. Her character is just weird to me, she is supposed to be really good at solving mysteries but the way the audience knows that is pretty dull. They just say she did it with her father and was good at it, there barely is any flashbacks to her life with her family. That is an issue.

Min Jae Yi wants to find the culprit behind her fathers murder. For some reason that is intertwined with the crown prince because of a letter she got. The letter tells her to protect the crown prince and her father does as well as she's dying. She has to disguise herself as a male to not get caught and to investigate. So that was what I can tell after the first few episodes, and now onto episode 14 it is the same thing. She is still disguised and the progress is really slow. The more I watched the more annoyed I became of her character. She does a lot of talking where it sounds like complaining or whining… at the beginning she wielded a sword and was super cool- what now? Where did that go? She just talked and confronts people.. from an outside perspective she clearly would be annoying.. it hurts because she CAN fight. But there is little to no action here and it comes in abrupt spurts.

Of course this is all my opinion. But come on now, I can't help but compare. Shows with. a mystery driven plot can do well, and they are able to be engaging. The whole disguise and mystery aren't working because the build up was so poor. They don't have any flashbacks of Min Jae Yi being young and showing how she cares for her family, there is no threat to her because in the end I know she is a main character and there will be no harm. The steaks for their mission to find the culprit is so low and lost. A lot of this drama is filler scenes with the main gang hanging out... crown prince, Min Jae, her maid friend, her maid friend teacher.

It was ok at first, but it slowly made me become so bored. I am not stupid and I can understand what is going on. I watched 50 episodes of the Untamed and knew all the characters names, convictions, why they did what they did, the mystery. The Untamed just did it right. It engaged me because it took a careful setup to show why these characters are doing what they are doing without telling you. I wish Min Jae's character took time to reflect on the deaths of her family, they could have developed them as characters rather than them being dead. That way I would want to find out just as much as she did, I would have a reason to care. Right now it is just the plot. Her family is dead and she loves them just because. I mean of course they are her family but they could show that bond between them and show how much it pains her to have it cut off rather than having the audience make it up for themselves.

Straight up some characters don't need as much time and time is wasted on them. The teacher friend guy in the pink outfit is a comic relief and at this point the maid is to. The interesting characters like the crown prince really take a back seat. It is such a shame, the crown prince before him died- I mean they could have him feel guilt and shame. He does.. a little.. but the story goes and cuts to any other place but his.

He is involved with the mystery and is supposed to have a curse on him. I think the writers forgot about the curse after a few episodes. His arm works, he is just paranoid. It is fine but he is one dimensional, slowly being flattened by the writing. His relationship is supposed to be a blooming romance with Min Jae Yi, and they apparently were childhood friends? That whole plot thread serves no purpose whatsoever. It is just a cheap way to have a connection between them because there is no chemistry or spark.

Min Jae Yi liked who she was betrothed to (which is another interesting character I wish they would actually spend time on). They spend time on characters, but its all talking.. its so boring and is all over the place. I could know these characters names but I don't. It's not my fault and I am capable, but I shouldn't have to look things up and write things down when watching a drama. I don't hate the drama, I just am so disappointed.
Min Jae Yi kind of gets annoying because she isn't even doing what she wanted to in the first place. Half of the time its her looking worried and remembering and failing to remember, I don't really see her do anything.........

Park Hyung Sik's drama Happiness that I watched before this served him much better. Just watch that if you like him. He is cute and not cold, not saying he is bad at acting here. I just do not like his character. The crown prince is bipolar I swear, like he flips on a dime and has people he trusts and then doesn't trust. The only reason why is because he's paranoid.

Don't even get me started on the villain. The villain I do not even know the name of. He just wants power I think? He sucks as a character and a villain and a threat, he has done nothing other than probably killing Jae Yi's family and other people. But I don't care anymore.

I have to finish this drama because I'm almost done. Maybe its a slow burn. Then again a slow burn should be engaging. So I recommend to people that like political dramas and that's it? It's just boring and not doing what it is supposed to do. This is completely unbiased, maybe it's not my style. Still I have watched similar things... Iljimae is older but a much better revenge plot mystery drama, watch that instead. This show is so bland.

Now by the end of it I become so .. bored? I don’t know honestly. It felt like a satire and a disservice to the actors at the last episode. I’m talking about the twin brother plot line. That was so cheap because they didn’t show how this kid existed, that he was his brothers shadow. Like he was there as a plot device rather than a character and I could write a whole essay on why he is and how it could’ve been done better. They crammed so much but it still was watered down and I didn’t care. Now that’s just me. But this drama honestly isn’t all that it was cracked up to be. Maybe it’s because I expected more tension overall, romance wise, plot wise, it was just standard and compared to older historical dramas I’ve seen it didn’t have a lot of heart. It’s too bad honestly.

In the end good guy wins bad guy looses. Why are they good and bad though? You don’t get that- it’s just your main characters. That is all, no backstories further than what you knew at episode 2. The main group of characters don’t get developed and neither does the bad guy. That is how I sum this up. What about the curse? It’s not real. What about the family that was murdered? It’s just the bad guy that did it? Why? I don’t know because he’s bad … I’m sorry I’m trying my best here.

The reason why I am so harsh is because of the potential. There are parts where this show is good, but at the end I lost all interest that I don’t care. It’s a shame to me.

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aggressive pursuer/reluctant pursuee

Overall: although the writers tried to make the aggressive pursuer/reluctant pursuee a comedy, it did not work for me.. Aired 2 episodes per week on GagaOOLala and Viki. Same production company as Our Dating Sim and My Sweet Dear (you can see a poster of the series in the office).

Content Warnings: harassment, non con picture taking, kick, non con touching, punch, manhandling

What I Liked
- laughed a few times ("my love for you isn't unconditional, I care about your looks" great line/writing!)
- there are tropes but they are done well
- sweet moments
- the last restaurant scene in episode 8
- some good kissing/actual mouth movement
- turning bedroom lights on and off at appropriate times
- Lee Jun was able to separate his work life from his personal feelings
- Lee Jun did end up having some agency instead of just an object others fight over

Room For Improvement
- dislike this type of dynamic where someone won't take no for an answer, the harassment lasted way too long and was too much
- this couple's relationship is doomed, where is the trust, where is the communication, where is the respect?
- never any explanation for why Ha Ram was so aggressive/smitten
- a scene was during the day and then suddenly it was night time
- the ignoring thing was stupid
- what Ha Ram told to their coworker in episode 7 without first consulting Lee Jun
- I don't mind people who are just looking for the short term but that should be clearly stated before going on a date (that guy needs a spin off series)
- voiceovers

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Resident Playbook is Like a Dazzling Sunset!

If Hospital Playlist is like a warm blanket on a cold night, then Resident Playbook is like a dazzling sunset on a warm summer night. This fantastic spin-off series beautifully captures many elements of the previous series that have captivated millions. Hospital Playlist is one of my all-time favorite series. I have most of the songs on my iPod, and while I still feel that Hospital Playlist is a better series, make no mistake - Resident Playbook is simply delightful. It’s also different in many respects.

Resident Playbook follows four first-year residents in the OBGYN department. You’ll note that Hospital Playlist’s protagonists were four men and one woman. Here, we have three women and one man. One difference is that the characters from Hospital Playlist knew each other for years, and it was apparent from the chemistry they all had. Here, four first-year residents are pooled together, with only two of them knowing each other as former classmates.

Oi Young is the reluctant young woman who started the resident program previously but quit. She’s also in serious debt and living with her sister, her sister’s husband, and the husband’s brother, Koo Do Won, whom Oi Young has a crush on. Koo Do Won is a charming and delightful upper resident of the OBGYN department. Oi Young doesn’t realize that she has great, natural ability, but she’s always a bit hesitant and unsure of herself. She’s easily the most unhappy of the four, always trying to find a way out of her predicament rather than finding the joy in her work. Of course, as time moves on, she slowly begins to realize her gift.

Pyo Nam Gyeong is the drama queen of the group. That isn’t a knock against her. She actually brings a lot of charm for someone who loves to shop and read the latest horoscopes. She has an even bigger heart than she realizes, and she forms a quick attachment to a patient who appears to be too demanding. Pyo Nam Gyeong wears her heart on her sleeve.

Um Jae Il is the “energizer bunny” of the group! This guy’s got a full tank and then some in reserve. He’s very eager to learn but even more eager to help the patients as much as possible. He’s a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to making sure he does things right, which drives the second-year residents crazy! He’s a bit too cautious sometimes and struggles to learn how to be confident in his decision-making. He’s not shy about losing sleep if it means being there for a patient.

Finally, we come to my personal favorite, Kim Sa Bi. Nicknamed “the android” due to her intellectual prowess and really not caught up in feelings, she tends to drive people crazy with how much she knows. However, even Kim Sa Bi has to learn the difference between book knowledge and experience. She can come across as a bit arrogant, and she doesn’t like it if someone appears to know more than she does, which got her into a brief spat with Oi Young. She even speaks in an almost robotic-clipped manner, which, frankly, I found endearing. She rarely smiles, but when she does, she lights up the room. However, even Kim Sa Bi can’t hide her admiration for the previous all-boy band member, Um Jae Il! Their dance sequence is easily one of the highlights of the series! Her struggles are about trying to be more empathetic and caring toward her patients.

Resident Playbook is a series that gets off to a somewhat slow start. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as there are many new characters to get to know within the span of the first few episodes. However, once it gets going, it keeps going until you can’t wait to see the next episode. After only 12 episodes, I was a bit sorry that the series didn’t extend to the usual 16. I wanted more.

Performances are fantastic, and seeing yet another collective group of performers do so well that you like all of them says a lot about the depth and quality of the characters. Of course, anyone who has seen Hospital Playlist will gasp and cry out with joy when you see all five of them make cameo appearances throughout this series. They also got together to contribute more songs!

Resident Playbook is a different type of series in which we see the struggles of four new residents trying to learn and stick it out in a very stressful department. One can only imagine the number of hours and amount of dedication it takes for someone to endure all of the trials and tribulations that go with it. One can’t help but be impressed.

Much like its parent show, Resident Playbook has a number of heartfelt moments as well as inspirational ones that will touch your heart and soul. There are also quite a few moments to tickle your funny bone too.

Resident Playbook is simply a terrific feel-good series that has the viewer wishing that there was still more to come!

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fun to watch and strong start

The first episode was really fun to watch. The comedy wasn’t overdone, and the storyline was easy to follow, making it an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

TayNew’s chemistry is always top-tier, and they delivered every scene naturally and smoothly. Toto is such a free-spirited character with a great sense of humor, and Tay absolutely nailed the role. Knowing Tay’s real personality, Toto feels quite different from him, which makes his performance even more impressive. He brought Toto to life on screen so well that the character feels authentic and lovable.

As for Kanit, he is a classy, sassy, and elite flight attendant, and Newwiee portrayed him perfectly. His annoyed expressions, witty remarks, and sassy attitude were all on point, making Kanit a very entertaining character to watch.

The supporting cast also did a great job portraying their characters. Each character feels unique and adds something interesting to the story. I already find myself attached to the whole cast and am excited to learn more about their individual stories as the series progresses.

Overall, Episode 1 was a strong and entertaining start. It introduced the characters well, balanced comedy and storytelling nicely, and left me looking forward to the next episode.

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Beyond the Bar might not win any awards for originality but it still stands out as one of the better KDramas of 2025 and a solid addition to the legal drama list.. This could easily be called one of the most fine dramas to be made.. The acting and storytelling are fine.. The directing, cinematography, editing and music are all fine.. The drama maintains a smooth, steady pace right up until the end.. While Beyond the Bar doesn’t pack a lot of surprises, it’s still an enjoyable and heartwarming legal drama.. The cases themselves provide a solid structure that elevates the overall quality of the show..

Before anything else, I have to talk about the main leads.. Yun Seok Hun and Kang Hyo Min are among the most rational and level headed characters I have seen in a drama.. Yes the ML lost it a couple of times, but it was obviously justified.. What stood out to me most was how restrained their romance was.. They were never going to share the kind of romantic moments the other couples had because that’s not who they are.. They are reserved, introspective people carrying painful pasts.. In the final moments of the drama, they reflected on what love truly means but never reached a clear answer.. Much like their own relationship.. That’s exactly why I appreciated the ending.. It felt like they were quietly considering the possibility of a romance without facing the full personal and professional implications... They started as unhappy individuals but finished the story side by side, having resolved most of their struggles..

I read people say the FL can’t be shipped with ML, but did they miss the slow burn?? Their bond began with admiration, grew through mutual respect and deepened as they spent time truly understanding each other.. It wasn’t loud or flashy but it was mature and undeniable.. Even their eye contact carried more weight than what many romance dramas manage to deliver..

Apart from the leads, my favorite character was Heo Min Jeong.. One of my favorite moments in the drama was when she stood up to her ex-in laws without backing down.. She was really cool. Her chemistry with Lee Jin U was good, though they didn’t get enough screen time.. I also liked the FL’s two friends and their dynamic, but honestly they didn’t add much to the overall story.. Loved the Yullim Litigation Squad, I first thought one of them might be a malicious individual, but so glad that was not the case.. They were all so good to each other..

Bit curious about the bar scene in ep 6.. A stranger touches the FL and her friends go all “awww”.. But it made me wonder, if he hadn’t been a rich, handsome man but instead someone poor, plain or not so good looking, would they still have reacted the same way??

I liked all the cases that were presented in the drama.. They didn’t go overboard but kept things simple and engaging.. My favorite was the Doctor’s case.. I liked how the drama didn't portray prosecutors as power hungry individuals always at odds with lawyers.. That episode really highlighted the goodness in people, helping one another not out of obligation or familiarity or for recognition, but simply because it was the right thing to do..

Three things that irked me.. First, the last divorce case.. I think it was just absurd.. The only case where I wanted them to lose and I was glad the verdict went the way it did.. Nowadays people really seem to be making a mockery of marriage.. Second, I don’t understand why every opposing legal team is always Lee and Seo and why it’s always her ex.. I mean, aren’t there any other law firms or lawyers?? Third, the ads.. Way too many of them.. Seriously, tone it down a bit..

Overall, I genuinely liked Beyond the Bar.. I enjoyed it from start to finish.. Even though it didn’t provide a fully wrapped up ending for the main leads story, I feel it's the beginning of their love story.. I think the drama may have lost a little, perhaps 0.3 points in ratings because of viewers who were just upset with the ML and another 0.1 from those bothered by the open ending.. I would say an 8.6–8.7 rating feels about right for this drama.. There is positive talks ongoing about another season and I hope it happens.. I would love to see how their romance develops and how it affects both their professional and personal lives.. There’s clearly more to explore in this story.. And also, what happens to Hash??

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A Funny and Entertaining Watch

If you are looking for a light rom-com after a long tiring day, this is for you. It is filled with funny, feel-good yet full of the usual K-drama trope and cheesy lines but I am not complaining.

The chemistry of the ML and FL are amazing, but I found myself loving the scenes of the SML and SFL Sunghoon and Young-seo. There are still areas to improve on the main leads acting, most esp their lovemaking scene in EP11, which I find a bit cringey and awkward. I felt that the actors were really holding back or shy, at least the viewers like me felt it. It felt forced and unnatural. How did Tae Moo miraculously carried Hari to make love after breaking his arm when he couldn’t even put on a cardigan back at the hospital? The second lead couple did their lovey scenes better in my opinion.

The ending I must say is flat and underwhelming. The grandpa’s sickness came in late and was wrapped up hastily through a year time jump. I wish a wedding or even a double wedding was shown. Even the chef friend seemed like a forgotten part of the story.

The OST was also good. I like Victon’s “You Are Mine”. It was upbeat and perfect for the drama.

Overall, I give this show 8/10. It is a nice watch but not worthy of more than that since it didn’t bring anything new to the Kdrama world, or be called classic. It is entertaining enough though to see.

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