Exceptional
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God aka Goblin is exceptional in all aspects. Be it writing, directing, atmosphere, acting, ambiance, and even wardrobe. Nothing was left to chance and with a story this fantastical and emotional, it could easily have careened into fluff and cliche; however, the actors all brought their A-game which made every second captivating and beautiful.Special shout out to Gong Yoo who gave a brilliant performance; likewise, the wardrobe director who made his character stunningly gorgeous. Similarly, his hair did some heavy lifting and deserves an award.
If you're looking for an emotional and heartrending series then do not miss this. I absolutely recommend it to those looking for a mature and beautiful story.
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This review may contain spoilers
The story of a boy who can read people and objects by touching them. A sprinkling of romance. A secret from the past. The effects of corruption. The warmth of human relationships. The issue of moral ambiguity. The need for redemption and the difficulty of forgiveness. Plot twists that make you sit up and pay attention, then leave you rattled.Is this show able to keep your interest and make you come back for the next episode? Yes.
Do you become invested in the characters? Yes.
Does the story try to give an unexpected spin to otherwise predictable clichés? Yes.
Does the combination of cinematography, acting, pacing, music, and plot work? Yes.
Is it worth your time? Yes. Uhm… well… probably.
Is it worth rewatching? No.
It’s a type of show that is enjoyable to follow while on-air. Some of the gaps may become more visible when binge-watching.
He Is Psychometric is destined to suffer from the M. Night Shyamalan syndrome: the main draw is a Big Reveal gimmick; once the central mystery is resolved, the other components of the narrative don’t compel you to revisit it any time in the future. And unfortunately, to add to the viewer’s dissatisfaction, the show doesn’t successfully address one central point of the mystery: why was the coming together of the main couple—especially as trainer/trainee—so insistently and deliberately orchestrated? The reasons are implied, but not spelled out: a defect frequently found in Korean dramas which repeatedly state what is non-essential and obvious, but fail to clarify a core issue, leaving it diffuse or glossed over.
[NOTE: spoilers beyond this paragraph!]
As a viewer I found myself almost resenting the feeling that I could practically see the wheels turning in the screen writer’s head. If put into a monologue, it would go something like this: “Let’s see now… we need a spin on the childhood connection trope… Ah, Healer had this trio of the younger male and female leads, plus an older second male lead… And he was ambiguous most of the time, we couldn’t figure out whether he was a good guy or a bad guy… Let’s add this…Great… Now, what about the shared trauma and its potential to destroy the newly-formed couple? Hey, speaking of Ji Chang Wook projects, Suspicious Partner had this apartment fire thing… and the guy discovering that the girl’s dad is the one he blames for his parents’ death… but the dad is wrongfully accused… Awesome, this will work, let’s throw it in there in the exact same sequence, no need to mess with a working formula… Can’t make the parallels too transparent, though… How about a little twist here: the scale of the fire is a result of cutting corners because the big construction company is corrupt. Super! (Good call, BTW.) OK… So… what we need is a stark contrast between the puppy-cute young couple and a dark world of obsession and crime… Kind of like Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, but darn, we are not doing mixed genre parody here… hmmm… still, I like the creepiness of confining a woman to a lightless basement… alright, let’s do it! Major benefit: can link the backstory to the crime organization that appears at one point, then reinforce the arc on police cover-ups. (Another good call.) Well… we need to up the ante here… Let’s sacrifice a main character. Good, it’s unexpected! What else, what else… How about defy expectations and make the non-monster an actual monster? Oh, yeah, they won’t see THAT coming! [Pat on the back for being original]”
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this line of thinking. It could have been successful, too.
However, in order to create a really good story as opposed to a merely intriguing one, the focus needs to be more on the characters’ development in reaction to the events, not so much on the events bending and spinning the characters.
Lee Ahn and Kang Sung More, the two male protagonists, highlight this point.
Park Jin Young as Lee Ahn does a decent job, the character grows on the viewer with every episode. It’s a pitty that his presence in the story has so many underwhelming aspects. There should have been more coherence when presenting his psychometric abilities: how come he sees in 3D, outside of his own POV or the POV of the object he touches? If psychometry is draining for him, why isn’t this consistent or tied to specific contexts? How did he evolve, provided that he actually did improve? A lot of emphasis was put on his training and the unreliability of how to interpret what he was seeing, then it all dissolved into a non-issue. Ah, writing for K-dramas: rarely the paragon of logic and congruity.
Kim Kwon in the role of Kang Sung Mo is very, very good. He is nothing less than magnetic in the last episodes, his portrayal more heartbreaking than chilling. The writer’s decision that this character get the short end of the stick is unfortunate. He was humanized only to be dehumanized in the end. Why? His arc of atonement could have been served equally well—or even better—by emphasizing the amygdala difference, and making him act more out of panic rather than calculation. The pre-fire murders could have easily been presented as a knee-jerk reaction to the nosy building manager walking in at the inappropriate moment and seeing the contents of the suitcase.
To put so much effort to transcend genes, conditioning, physiology and life experiences, to develop ties of genuine affection, to become sympathetic through the need for human contact and love turns out to be futile for this character. What was the writer trying to say? A bad seed is a bad seed, no way around it? Very disappointing. It could have been so much better if the message was that trying to be better is worth it, that redemption is possible.
A major problem with this show is the fuzzy focus on what the story is actually about, apart from the suspense elements.
Is it about the struggle between Nature vs. Nurture? Is it presenting a negativistic, “evil is relentless, effort is futile, endeavor is meaningless” worldview? Or is the sudden flip in favor of biological determinism simply a ploy to make the viewer uncomfortable, just because?
Or is the story about the difficulty of possessing, gauging and effectively using abilities that are considered paranormal? Is it about reality and interpretation, and the limitations of perception, no matter how augmented? Is it about the value of knowledge and training – or the irrelevance of either?
Is the show introducing violence in order to talk about repentance and forgiveness? Their possibility? Their impossibility? Which one, exactly? Even if the main point is the inherent ambiguity of notions such as love, hate, good, evil, this should be made clear. Annoyingly, core ideas are left undefined.
It doesn’t seem that the writer put any significant effort to conceptualize the big-picture story. It hurts both the value and longevity of the show, which in hindsight remains fairly pointless.
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1Fun Rivals-to-Lovers with Great leads chemistry and no fish kisses
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25“Fake Fact Lips” is such a fun and easy binge! I really enjoyed the first 7 (of 9) episodes. This is a really cute rivals-to-lovers drama. For a Japanese drama and an adaptation of a manga, the acting is surprisingly ‘normal’ and not over-the-top.
The leads have excellent chemistry. I enjoyed their banter over the silliest things to the final challenge that changes the course of their friendship. The drama doesn’t try hard to hide the fact that one of them has fallen in love a long time ago. Therefore, it’s fun to see how he uses this challenge to try to get the other half to fall in love. I appreciate that this is a story of two working adults, and not little kids. They don’t act like virgins who don’t know how to express themselves. Of course, they have pretty different personalities, but when it comes to expressing their feelings, even if one can’t speak it out loud, he doesn’t hesitate to go for a kiss (or more). For once, the kisses are pretty good and not dead fish kisses. The sexy scenes are done in a tasteful way, but I wanted a little less slow-motion and a little more realistic action.
The use of flashbacks effectively tells us their background story. Their friendships went deeper than just two high school students trying to be the top of the class. They talked, supported and cared for each other. It must be very difficult for them to be away from each other during their college days. But one would assume they should have kept in touch, and knew they might work for the same company. Losing touch completely seems unrealistic. But I guess that’s how the reunion can be more surprising.
My main criticism comes to the last few episodes. The introduction of a third rival made me feel uncomfortable. This character is really annoying. It would have been better if this person had a different personality. I do understand the need to test this relationship,newly transitioned from rivals to lovers. I am glad that it shows maintaining a relationship can be challenging and for the characters to finally open up and be honest with themselves and each other. I just wish it was done without that annoying character.
Overall, I had a good time binge-watching this. I definitely would recommend it if you are fans of rivals-to-lovers, and a pretty fun J-BL.
Drama Completed: 6/19/2026 Review #696
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A voice for the voiceless
An engrossing political thriller that manages a fine balance between human drama and suspense. Reflecting our world where it often seems as though corruption and misinformation are the order of the day, Shinbun Kisha lays out a David and Goliath tale of ordinary citizens standing against government corruption. While the inciting incident might seem small, that’s exactly what the drama tries to highlight; if society remains apathetic to the “small” corruptions, what will the powers that be try to get away with next? It also hits back against the pervasive thought that one person couldn’t possibly make a difference when it comes to political change. After all, we never know what our actions might inspire in others.Some may find early episodes slow, although I felt they did a good job establishing the broad strokes of the story and characters. In later episodes, however, there were some places where the story struggled to keep pace or stumbled over minutiae; the overall quality of the episodes was undiminished, but I sometimes wondered if a scene wouldn’t have been better placed elsewhere or even cut entirely. This was often the case with scenes that included Mayu, who could feel superfluous despite her early involvement in the development of another character.
That said, I found it difficult not to binge Shinbun Kisha. Since it often seems to mirror real life, the plot somehow appeals to the audience’s sense of justice. The characters are relatable for the same reason and win sympathy easily. Like any good story, Shinbun Kisha made me want to know more—but even beyond that, I needed to know if justice would actually be served. It was difficult not to get invested.
The camera is unobtrusive, yet still impactful. For example, during the press conferences where Yonekura Ryoko’s Matsuda is the only one brave enough to drill the administration for answers, she’s literally seated alone with a block of empty chairs surrounding her. Sickly greens and yellows are employed in sequences when corrupt dealings are underway, and chilly blues overlay rooms in which a character has been driven into a corner or frozen out.
Yonekura Ryoko and Go Ayano, perhaps unsurprisingly, are clear standouts in terms of performance. However, Yokohama Ryusei turns in a solid performance as an indifferent youth who slowly begins to understand the power that young people have in shaping the future of a country.
Recommended overall, especially if you like this genre. I'd love to see more like this from Netflix.
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Cute Rom Com With Great Chemistery!
If you are familiar with me, you may be aware that I frequently blog about the D/s element in various shows. However, I desired a break from that. I desired something that was cute, romantic, and amusing, which would serve as a distraction from the intense content that I am currently observing. This fit the bill perfectly, and I'm glad I gave it a shot despite the reviews. The fun parts made me giggle, and the romantic ones made me sigh. If you enjoy Rom Coms, then you will adore this hidden gem.Please refrain from paying attention to other reviews on here that are comparing this show to other shows that aren't Rom Coms and making disparaging remarks. You're comparing it to genres it's not in, it's like comparing a horror movie to a dance show. It's a Rom Com! Maybe don't watch Rom Coms if you don't like them!
I found the chemistry in both pairs to be excellent, the acting felt comfortable and there was never a point in which it felt fake or forced. I didn't have moments where I was thrown out of the series, but in fact was immersed in it. Not only that, but I stayed up far too late to finish it. As far as the story line? I, personally, enjoyed it, it was realistic in a way and there was smooth delivery. Plus, the character communication was chief's kiss. Seriously, ignore these other people and listen to me! It's cute! It might not be Semantic Error cute, but it fits with My Love Mix Up cute.
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This review may contain spoilers
Complacent writing ruins the ending to a show that had a great potential!
I was intrigued by the 2gether series because it had a great start and avoided the common trope of pairing a very "flower boy" uke and "macho and strong" seme. I also liked the pace that the drama was maintaining with the leads quickly recognizing their feelings for each other. There wasn't much of the usual struggle to come to terms with their sexuality that most BL's grind to the bone.But it all started going downhill quickly -halfway through, the pace just goes all wrong. The writers can't blame having only 13 episodes to show a meaningful progression in Tine and Sarawat's relationship. I've seen shorter BLs (Because of You) that were not constrained by the available screening time.
Sarawat and Tine moved in together almost immediately after starting their relationship, and that's so farfetched to me. Not only they didn't show a decent "dating" period but the leads started acting like an old couple that's been living together for 20 years or so. But they certainly don't have the maturity that comes with such a long-term relationship.
Contrived arcs to "separate" and put obstacles in the lead's relationship, zero trust in each other and abysmal communication skills leads them to the mandatory trope of breaking up just before the finale. But not to worry, they still their HEA within half an episode with not much explanation as to how they resolved their problems. -_-
I'm seeing a trend where most BLs are just taking the viewers for granted - casting good-looking leads and writing arcs with so many plotholes and tropes that they just churn out one BL after another expecting that the "fujoshi" audience will consume whatever they throw out either ways.
Writers, please have a little more respect for your audience and don't just focus on the aesthetics.
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This review may contain spoilers
Messy, stupid story... as usual...
Thankfully some people are cutting together 55 episodes of 90 seconds clips making it a movie, so we can watch it in one go. While production quality is not bad, the story is. Also the vertical format does not help and the so called "action" scenes are a bad joke.The chemistry is just ok, but nothing amazing and the acting leaves a lot of room for improvement. This series is mildy entertaining but also boring most of the time even when it only runs for around 95 minutes.
I can't even say I was disappointed because I did not expect anything. When you are behind in your watching schedule, you should watch something else because it's not worth your time. I have no clue why the actors do such bad series, but I assume they have contractional obligations and they need food on the table.
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Based on real events that occurred in some villages during the Korean War, this movie touches aspects like political idealisms, morality, ethics and relationships without forgetting to add laugh-out-loud comedy and heart wrenching moments that keep reminding you this actually happened.
Regarding the cast, every character plays an important role in the movie, from the villagers with their simple ways of living to the North Korean troops who strongly believe in their mission to “liberate” the oppressed people.
At the end, the real message this movie leaves its viewers with is that life can take you anywhere, but you decide how to live it.
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The thing that makes this drama so special besides the amazing writing, which seemed fully formed and not a slapdash patch job every week, was acting done by the cast of quirky characters we got to know during the last 16 episodes. Each had their own distinct personality and each character had a steady growth and relevance to the main story line. The interactions of friends and family whether tied by blood or tied by choice were so lovely and funny. Eun Bi and all her Flower Boys made this drama so fun. I've read some people don't like Eun Bi...But I loved her. She was silly, serious, not always sure of herself but...she always stuck up for herself and I could definitely relate to her for those qualities. ♥
Another thing that made this drama great was the tongue in cheek handling of the typical drama tropes you see in every Kdrama ever. There was makjang! But FBRS dared to ask the viewer, “Is this really makjang? Or is it purity?” There was a typical chaebol falling for a plucky average heroine but this drama dared to ask the question, “Who really needs saving here?” and “Is it really better to only eat caviar and steak instead of experiencing all the wonderful flavors of ramyun you could be missing?”
Every episode was delightful and didn’t drag the show down. The technical aspects of lighting, cinematography and most especially the directing were excellently done. The editing was particularly creative, with almost every episode having a scene that would partially play out but then we would go back and revisit to see full conversations or replaying a scene to explain someone’s actions. Stellar!
Jung Il Woo as Cha Chi Soo…or was it Dog Chi Soo? Or rather, Dong chi Soo? Anyway, Jung Il Woo stole every scene. I have to admit, for me , he rivals Hyun Bin’s Joo Won for messed up crazy chaebol with his performance of Chi Soo. I think because Chi Soo was so delightfully pampered and sheltered he had no filter and absolutely no self awareness other than his outward appearance. Watching him fall for Eun Bi was by turns completely hilarious and also very heart tugging.
This drama has so many little moments, little details that make it exceptional. If you are looking for a good drama to marathon, to savor, to make you want to eat some yummy Ramyun while you laugh and cry and sigh…Flower Boy Ramyun Shop is the drama for you! Don’t miss it!
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The characters in this drama are very believable and well-done, they are realistic and have their good and bad sides.
I like how important friendship is for the story, much more important than the romance or violence.
The acting was really good, especially in the dramatic and fighting scenes. The actors looked like they were really in character and I never thought someone looked awkward, when they weren't supposed to.
The music wasn't outstanding, but it was there. I didn't pay much attention to it and felt like it wasn't really important.
The story itself was great, interesting and full of emotions. I never thought an episode was dragging, though there were some that confused me in the beginning.
You do notice that the drama is a few years old, though, but I don't think it's a bad thing.
I recommend everyone to watch this and give it a try because I thought it was great.
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Arrogant
The audacity of the director to ask why the writer is pwaised but not him. You ruined this perfect making it a shitshow. This story jas no depth in it. Everyone is the story is selfish and ruthless killer. It was not properly stated how this story started and how will the protagonist save the world. What a pathetic protagonist!! The actors acting was trash. Even a kid can act better. This movie was meant to sponsor the actors through the name of the most popular novel. They thought novel fans will support them no matter how the adaption turns out. How arrogant!!!Was this review helpful to you?
Except this wasn't your average k-drama. It's called a sitcom, but that isn't giving it nearly enough credit. It's also called a romantic comedy, and while it has romance and comedy, that's not a nuanced enough classification. And, while almost 100% of Korean dramas follow the 16-20 episode format with such uniformity that predicting which episode the big confession will happen in is almost an exact science, this one turns linear storytelling into a loose guideline rather than the strict rule. Also, the fact that it was entirely preshot without the stresses of the live-shoot system really shines through; it is confident and the different plots dovetail and interweave with efficiency and steadiness.
The writers were particularly successful in creating deceptively sharp characters. On the surface, they appear to be stock and silly. Most of them WERE stock and silly. But, taken as different, embodied responses to the "do soulmates exist?" question, they become luminous in their own right. And, of course, I would be remiss to forget to mention the wonderful cast especially Shin Dong-wook (effortlessly charming and insouciant) and Lee Soo-kyung (hilarious in her permanent exasperation).
The one thing I really liked about this drama, the aspect that vaulted it directly into my list of permanent favorites, was its way of handling life's little intersections, the minor butterfly effects. How we're a lot closer to others (and by extension, different types of happiness) than we think. The format is a direct manifestation of this and also gives a physical motion to the very cerebral process of emotional maturity. To say more would be to ruin the pleasure for first time viewers, but there IS this one scene that involves rain and Lasse Lindh's gorgeous song "C'mon Through".....
Most importantly, the writers found that perfect sweet spot between the opposing poles of the big question. The tone was neither idealistic nor cynical; skeptical, perhaps, is the right word although it implies more negativity than actually existed. Maybe it is most accurate to say that there was a thoughtful melancholy to it, one that removed it from the realm of throwaway slapstick and placed it firmly on a higher plane. This is Soulmate's strength: It has the singular ability to turn what might have been utter, lowbrow farce into something intelligent and bittersweet.
Tl;dr? This has my definite endorsement. Watch it for something different with a lot of laughs and a lot of heart.
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Star and Sky in my Mind
Honestly, I was excited to watch this to support JoongDunk .. Mainly Jooong as I have followed him since 2m2 and I was NOT disappointed. I loved this series and I think I am in the minority but I don't care. Joong played his character with so much feeling and expertise I adored the character - Joong and Dunk have undeniable chemistry and I would love to see them in another series. I like how reserved Khabkluen was and the one-sided love of Daonuea was genuinely heartbreaking to watch - Once all barriers were down and Khabkluen allowed his feelings to come forth I literally screamed .. I am so proud of Joong as he has been through hell and back and I for one support him and cannot wait to see all he will accomplish n the future !! JoongDunk I got you !!!Was this review helpful to you?
The story is laid out very good and to the full. No illogical or irrational twists that bother me so much in many k-dramas. And some phrases said by the main characters make you really think deeply about importance of simple trust and small everyday things, that are often tend to be overlooked, forgotten.
Music is a perfect background for every scene, and silence as well. It becomes overwhelming in private scenes, making you concentrate on your own feelings, making you tremble with emotions, because you live them out together with the characters. The last song was an absolutely perfect choice for the last scene. And the tears do tend to stream down your face as the culmination of all calamities you've been through with the heroes.
Cast is absolutely gorgeous to my taste. I fell in love with Kim Go Eun since whatching the "Cheese in the trap". She perfectly portrays her character and you can't doubt here sincerety even once. Hae In always acts very emotionally and sincere. So together they form a perfect romantic and emotional alliance. The director did a great job, because everything looks so atmospheric, so warm, and scneces are though out to the tiniest details, shade of light, glance or move. Definitely worth your time!
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So hi...
Moving was a drama with amazing cast, acting and storyline. I watched it all, but for me it didn't deserve that 10. Don't hate me for that - taste shouldn't be discussed!!! I only stayed for the kids storyline, the parents' one didn't captivate me. Call me boring, sorry. So my opinions are mostly based on the kids storyline.Acting was amazing. They were extremely cute and Heesoo and Bongseok were such a pleasure to watch. Show stealer KangHoon ( Kim DoHoon) showed me once again why he is one of my favs.
I am honestly sorry I couldn't like this show as much as the people on tiktok and so. The hype was mindblowing tbh. Everyone was and still is so obsessed with it - it wasn't like that for me ... sadly.
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