Reviews

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**Disclaimer: This is just my opinion, please don't take anything I say personally. We don't have to agree and I'm not here to argue with anyone.***

"Destined With You" is one of those dramas that you have to stick with until it gets better. I’m not going to lie it was so hard finding motivation to keep watching but after episode 7 it started to pick up and I have to say I started enjoying the plot twists, mystery and thriller aspect of it. It is seriously so interesting. I especially loved the backstory of Mu Jin and Aeng Cho. Though their love was ill-fated from the start you can see he killed her to ensure they would not dismember her and that she would live on through the curse. The fact that Mu Jin said in another life let them be happy… and this life they want to be happy but were unable to because of the curse and that crazy psychopath of a man (Na Jung-Beom) was so frustrating and unfair.

Rowoon looks so gorgeous in this drama… that was enough to keep me watching haha 😭 Idk but something about him with the slick back hair as the serious / brooding lawyer is. He also was giving a buzz and then when its all combed down he looks like a cute puppy / golden retriever. AHHH I love how he’s giving us rangeeee and I can’t wait to see him in his next projects.

Bo Ah is such a good actress the way she conveys what she’s feeling through her eyes alone is literally a talent.

For once I actually prefer the latter half of a drama rather than the usual trend of the drama falling off / being disappointing the end.

Let’s talk about Rowoon and Bo Ah's chemistry in episodes 13-15, 15 especially – it was off the charts! I'm talking about that kiss, whew! — I can see why shaman lady (Eun Wol) called the next morning and was like Shin Yu and Hong Jo would be conceiving a girl. I mean, I got pregnant just watching that scene haha. Jokes aside, I'm not sure why people were doubting their incredible chemistry, but you know, there will always be haters or people who don't receive media in the same way and have no appreciation for the effort / artistry that goes into it. I think the writers did a good job of neatly wrapping up the ending. Obviously they would have needed more episodes to really delve into the magic and the lore of Hong Jo’s shaman powers / lineage etc… but so far they did well with the little they were able to keep / use.

I also liked the various side characters stories especially between Mr. Gong and Ms. Ma. They were kind of on / and off all the time but I'm happy they worked out their differences and got married in the end. At first I did not like Hong Jo's workers but I warmed to them because they are very funny / silly. I also liked the side story about Shin Yu's mother and father... it seemed like they were always playing cat and mouse with each other, and you thought they were going to divorce - but in the end, they're going to have a baby. To say I was surprised is an understatement. To be honest, I thought the mom was starting to like Shin Yu's lawyer friend and that they'd end up together, but the drama didn't go in that direction at all.

I didn't particularly like Mr. Kwon / Jae Gyeong, but I'm glad he remained a good guy until the end. Life is all about timing, and he completely missed his with Hong Jo, so he can only blame himself. I thought it was a little cheeky of him to tell her that if she doesn't marry Shin Yu within the next six months, she should call him, but whatever - at least it ended amicably.

One aspect of the show that I dislike is their inability to finish the shamanism/curse storyline. They expect me to believe that the curse has been magically broken and Shin Yu is completely healed? Honestly, I was wondering if there was something missing or if there was more to it because the final scene shows Mu Jin, of the past ,walking away with a spell book of the heavens or something? I'm also curious if Hong Jo's near-death experience, which included almost being poisoned and then being resuscitated... is what broke the curse in the end? Little details like this being forgotten / not being explained is what kind of irritated me about the drama and made me take off points.

In my opinion, the ending was very touching and adorable... I was smiling the entire time and was relieved that it didn't end on a sad / bittersweet note with the main characters suffering. Spoiler alert: Hong Jo is not pregnant, but they will get married and live happily ever after. It took them 300 years to get here, but they did it!

The OST they chose is just so beautiful and heartfelt. The songs perfectly complement the story and will stay with you long after you finish watching the drama.

I for one am impressed and proud of myself for not dropping this drama and I guess I would rewatch it for the vibes and cute moments.

If you enjoy light fantasy, mystery, and reincarnation dramas, you should give this one a shot. Hopefully, you will not be disappointed.

With that, I give this drama a resounding 8/10.

Thanks for reading & happy watching!

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

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Pro's and Con's (because many reviews take mostly one side)

The concept of I-Land can be understood without having seen all the episodes. In this review I would like to describe both 'good' and 'bad' aspects of the show, so that I don't tell anyone directly that they should or shouldn't watch the show. There are no major spoilers in this review, just small facts.

Pro's:
- their experience definitely helps the trainees of Bighit (the 23 participants)
- once a trainee has been selected to leave the show, he knows what his goal must be to have his debut later on
- they make close friends with different age groups (1998-2006)
- they improve their ability to work in a team
- they broaden their horizons with the help of their team members
- they learn that compatibility is very important ➡️ a dispute MUST be solved with talking to each other, you can't just hope that it will be over sometime without doing anything➡️ they get to know each other better, understand others more, become more selfless / cooperative / supportive to each other
- they learn how much responsibility a leader and the person with the most singing/dancing parts have ("the team is as strong as the weakest member")
- they learn that it can be either harder or easier to reach the goal as a team
- all participants are from different countries (South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Australia etc.)
- the songs are sooooo good!!
- the participants are absolutely good looking... Stunning! !! (just to mention that too)

Con's:
- the show did some of them dirty
- 'uninteresting' members are rarely or not at all shown, which can lead to them getting fewer votes in global voting
- the drama is always shown (there are mainly good moments to be seen, but of course in the middle of it scenes are shown where a participant behaves stupidly and then no good moment is shown by him ➡️ which can lead to less votes)
- it focuses mainly on dancing (they have to sing and rap well when performing, but it doesn't seem as important as dancing and facial expressions
- They have to choose each other out and into the team
- they have to distribute their parts in songs with each other ➡️ they went through all the parts of the song and one of them wanted every part (because he didn't get the last part) every time but never got the part (he probably got the feeling that he is not good enough)
- because of the scoring points (0-100) they get the feeling that they have never given a perfect performance
- they all make friends with each other, but they don't all make their debut together at the end (only 7/23)
- you automatically have a favourite, but you have to hope every episode that he gets further
- they have to solve tasks as a team, but are valued against each other in the evaluation

I think bighit should have done the kind of survival show that Straykids did (a fixed group being tested to see if they have the potential to make their debut). Still, the show contains many beautiful moments that make the audience love the participants.
I hope my review is helpful and my english isn't too bad :)

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Before any of you die-hard BoF fans rage at me for the ratings, please not that this is my own *personal* opinion, ergo you don't have to read it if you don't like it. II'm not trying to be mean or rude, I'm just saying that everyone has an opinion and you have to accept that.
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"Boys Over Flowers" might have been my first drama ever, but I can't really remember. I do remember that this was the first drama I watched I finished. At the time, I really had no idea what to expect, but seeing how much the friend who introduced it to me loved this drama, I figured it had to be pretty good. So I watched it and wondered how exactly a mess like this got such high ratings.
Story: Speaking from an objective standpoint, BoF is a hot mess. The fans must have been really forgiving to fall in love with characters who drove kids to suicide, and a story that had the main couple breaking up and getting together pretty much every other episode. I like romance and watching the OTP get through conflicts victorious, but I also like having another overlying story arc to keep me interested. In here, was there even something beyond Jan Di's and Jun Pyo's romance? I didn't even ship them.
Acting: Lee Min Ho, despite his mane of shame, is a good actor. I haven't really seen him anywhere else, but he's good here. Kim Bum is outstanding and his chemistry with Kim So Eun was pretty much the only reason I kept watching this. Kim Joon didn't really have that many scenes, but he was good and I'm fairly certain the only reason Kim Hyun Joong is here is because they needed another "flower boy" and were running short. He's really not that great of an actor, but pretty moves mountains. I'm not a hater, since I'm a huge fan of his music, but maybe he can brush up on his acting. Ko Hye Sun, frankly speaking, annoyed me to no end. Not just her character, but her in general. I don't think I'll ever watch a drama with her ever again. She's not a bad actor, but I don't feel like she's particularly good either. Plus, her chemistry with Lee Min Ho felt a bit forced.
Music: I'm still not sure if it was meant to be so funny. "Almost Paradise" killed me no matter what scene it showed up in. The director was really unwieldy in using the music wisely and spacing out the songs, so most of the other music grated on my nerves by episode 15.
Rewatch Value: Ha. No. Never. You would have to pay me to get me to sit through it. This drama may have been other people's favorite, but to me it was tedious and long. The plot spun in circles and the angst shot through the roof and there was still no plot beyond Jan Di and Jun Pyo.
Overall: This drama was so popular for a reason, I guess. Pretty is such a powerful force its nearly sentient. Another reason? If you were sincerely rooting for the main couple and honestly really liked them together, you would watch just for them and for the gratification that came with seeing them together. If you really did not care about the main couple, you would probably throw your computer out a window.

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good drama, terrible message

Let's be clear. I watched the drama and liked it, but I'm pretty freaked out by the amount of people giving it 10.
As a drama watcher I could give it a high score, but not as a woman.

The moral to take away from this as a woman is that we better meet a brilliant man and be his shadow. No matter how brilliant you are, be content to sacrifice yourself for him and everything will be fine.

There is a particular moment, where they are given an award for a project where the FL has been the leader, but he is the one who gives the speech and gets the credit. Because what's going to make you happier than seeing your man succeed!

The same goes for Xu Li Na. The egg scene is extremely disturbing. Her husband is clearly an abuser, but she still stays with him, because it's our responsibility as women to make men better through our love.

No, thanks. I've had enough of this. The better the drama is, the more it pisses me off that it has such a toxic message.

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Left Underwhelmed

I was excited to watch this movie after seeing its praise and hype continuously pop up in my news feed, as well as in light of the many prestigious awards it's won. However, having finished it, I must say that I am firmly rooted in the camp that's left a little underwhelmed. I found the movie entertaining and remained interested until the end, but for reasons stated below, I couldn't bring myself to rate it as highly as others have.

Perhaps the best thing about this film are the actors. Each one was amazing, performing incredibly well in his or her role. That said, the characters fell flat for me. All of them were stock characters: one-dimensional creations that lacked depth and complexity. The plot left me feeling like little was accomplished, and story lines felt under-developed and rushed. Certain scenes seemed to be added only for the sake of shock value; they added little (if anything) to the story and didn't, in my opinion, serve much meaningful purpose. The theme of class warfare, which has been highly praised as one of the film's accomplishments, was superficial and shallow, relying on stereotypes to portray a message that could have been explored more deeply had more time been spent on it.

Overall, it's a decent movie, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. For as many awards as it won, I wouldn't say that this is the best Korea has to offer (which is what I'd expect given the number of accolades). It's not that I don't understand what the writer and director were trying to accomplish and portray; it's that the message got lost in one-dimensional, stereotypical characters and situations, as well as scenes that added little to the story beyond gratuity and cheap thrills.

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Best opening scene in the Bl history, Tanrak finally opened the door, Can love take us to HIM?

Let's dive into A Beautiful & Devastating Masterpiece starring Geminifourth .
Opening scene of TICKET TO HEAVEN might be one of the best openings in the Bl history
S queer story beginning with marriage equality isn't just romance; it's a triumph of love and justice. . Tell me huh what's better ??

Main Highlight : The Boundaries of Faith and Love
The story between a deeply devout student preparing for priesthood. He clings tightly to his faith as a promise that he will eventually reunite with his deceased parents in heaven. And a charming but emotionally fragile new transfer student burdened by a broken family and a painful past.

~~~~ ***DETAILED REVIEW*** ~~~~
( inner thoughts and emotions shared , philosophies shared )
sorry if it's too long but it's worth reading, I guarantee 😆


I got emotionally attached to itt, it felt so reall to me . Almighty God pls bless themm ..
It's the pillar of the whole series, the emotional build up between the characters and Both are enduring pain .
I know they will salve each other's wounds.

There is a hidden, beautiful logic to how the main characters are named and the meaning behind the names adds a beautiful layer to the story 🤌🏻
•Tanrak is a combination of two affectionate thai words : Tan ( แทน ) means ‘to substitute’ or ‘to represent’ and Rak ( ร็ก ) means ‘love’ when combined means “the representative of love” or “symbol of love”
•Barth is the shortened version of Bartholomew, a saint , one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus.
And philosophy says :
The name serves as a powerful thematic metaphor within the show. Much like his namesake, Barth is a tortured, fragile soul who has suffered greatly in life (having lost his mother to the justice system and facing rejection). Throughout the series, he and Tanrak become martyrs of love, caught between the rigid moral dictates of their 1990s Catholic seminary school and their deep, forbidden feelings for one another.

The painting TICKET TO HEAVEN itself has thousand meanings it's not just a painting but it's emotion , it's not just a man taking the stairs to heaven, but sufferings and sacrifices behind itt.

I felt the weight of that statement, experienced a stinging sensation . “ I realised that God never helped me at all. ”
This phrase illustrates the unbearable anguish that broke Barth's trust in a divine power. That hurts .

We finally got this after a long wait. The trailer alone is amazing; I can’t imagine how good the actual drama will be. God I'm in heaven it's already airing , This whole year-long wait was absolutely worth it.
A Stunning CINEMATOGRAPHY .
The atmosphere is top-notch, with a setting in a Catholic seminary makes it unique .

You're gonna find me here every Saturday I'm never giving up on this drama or I'll get cursed , I don't dare to leave this onee at all ♡
Heyyy pls don't mind, but I'm more interested cuz it's Geminifourth, their chemistry is as electric as anticipated, and the acting skills ofcourse..
I’m already obsessed with Barth’s facial expressions and his incredible aura. Despite being just the premiere episode, brewing chemistry between the leads is already undeniable.
I can tell it'll leave an indelible mark on everyone's heart even if it's going to be sorrowful.

I’m incredibly excited for the new episodes, but I’m almost afraid to watch them because I don't want it to end! Why are there only six episodes? I have no idea how I’m going to cope when it’s finally over.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the entire team for their exceptional work on this project, they've have created something truly remarkable.

It's strongly recommended from my side , Guys you gotta watch thiss .

Suddenly the opening scene clicked in my mind and now it's making scene, What was I thinking, what wrong with me??
Is there a satisfying, closed ending, or are they leaving it open?
Now I know, the most problematic part is the first scene of first episode
That’s a terrifying 30-year jump from 1996 to 2026 .

I am absolutely terrified that Ticket to Heaven is going to be just like Your Name Engraved Herein. I really cannot handle another heartbreaking ending like that!
After waiting a year, I refuse to be traumatized by a sad ending.
I’m really hoping for a definitive ending, not a cliffhanger.
That first scene makes it clear we are in for an emotional rollercoaster. I really hope the plot doesn't separate them for years, bring Barth back just for Tanrak's ordination, and then leave us hanging with an unresolved ending!
Noo man I can't even think of ittt .

After watching episode 2, I was right—this confirms my theory about Tanrak's name. Literally how beautiful.
I never expected such an unexpected twist in the second episode—Taarak's intense obsession and desperate craving for Barth was truly shocking.
Despite his best efforts to flee from temptation, he cannot stop his heart from loving. If love is a God-given emotion, why is it branded a sin to love whom we choose?


Every time Barth teases Tanrak or secretly looks at him, it is obvious he is developing feelings. Watching their chemistry makes me blush every single time. The way he stares hits different.

Not just Barth,
It is completely obvious that Tanrak feels an intense sexual tension toward Barth. The way he constantly stares at Barth's lips, obsessively replays their physical encounters in his mind, he got hard and later masturbates clearly shows his deep desire. I can't breathe . I'm screaming !!!
But the expression on Tanrak’s face the moment he realizes he loves Barth is devastating. He looks consumed by guilt, perfectly capturing the agony of realizing you've fallen into a love that is a sin—the kind of sin that locks you out of heaven.

Will he escape the snare of his desires, or allow them to take over?
Tanrak is torn between his spiritual path and his feelings for Barth.
This spectacular episode beautifully highlighted the deepening, heartfelt connection between the characters and perfectly captured the characters growing attachment to one another.
Fourth is a phenomenal actor—he communicated the entire depth of the scene without uttering a single word. Huge round of applause for him!

“Does every kind of love leads us closer to HIM ? ”
I just know from where should I start after watching 3rd episode, the things I felt during the whole time is so different, The emotional journey felt so intense, culminating in a beautiful, long-awaited kiss where Tanrak finally took a leap toward Barth. Strangely, I found myself crying uncontrollably through the entire sequence
I couldn't stop my heart from racing since the bathing scene and they stared into each other's eyes, exchanging unspoken messages in a deep, private dialogue.
Even without words, the heavy lingering glances between them communicated everything they were holding back what I could feel.
The tension peaks during a silent, highly charged bathing scene and culminates in a passionate, extended kiss between Tanrak and Barth. I cried I don't know whyy, I felt completely overwhelmed, I couldn't stop myself from crying, it's like I was holding on to something and I released it all through my tears .
Still now I remember the whole thing clearly from them bathing till the kiss.
Tanrak finally decided to be himself and opened the door of love and desire.
The emotion that he kept hidden he decided to let it come out, all the jealousy that was burning his soul from inside he decided to cool it downn.
Throughout the whole episode we can see Tanrak burning himself into the flame of jealously, bearing the emotions that kills him from inside, except the last part which brought absolute joy to himm.
Tanrak suppresses his identity, fearful that his desires conflict with his duty to be "God’s favourite son."
Barth’s honest confession acts as a catalyst. It allows Tanrak to step through the door of self-acceptance, proving that his love is a source of strength rather than a sin.
Tanrak already took a long step towards Barth, throughout this ordeal, he must not falter, but carve a path toward Barth.
A big hand to Geminifourth I can observe they improved a lot.

Without a doubt it's the best kiss scene I have ever watched. The transition was incredibly smooth, and the sheer passion between them was unmatched. The way they locked lips and just kept going made it such a beautifully long, breathtaking moment. It officially takes the number one spot on my all-time best onscreen kisses list.

I gave this drama a 9.5 before but after this episode I just can't stuck on 9.5, I'm surely moving forward along with Tanrak.

“Will God still wait for us to come home if we got lost?”

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It's been a while since a drama annoyed me this much. I'm not even sure why I watched every episode of "Lovestruck in the City", but I definitely could have skipped this one. This drama tries to be different by being more self-aware and mimicking a reality TV format. The main characters confess to the camera throughout the show, which got old for me fast, and then we see slices of their lives in reality, how they all connect, and how reality contradicts what they tell the audience. If I'm honest there is only one reason I kept watching... Ji Chang Wook. Sadly, the last drama I saw him in was equally awful "Melting Me Softly", but he is always so charming that I'm willing to watch a terrible drama just to watch him smile and be in love. If this drama had a less appealing actor in his role I would have dropped this after episode one.

So how was the rest of the cast? They were good, but it was hard to separate characters who were badly written from the actor. Kim Ji Won is a perfect example. There was nothing wrong with her performance but her character irritated me for the majority of the drama. She had pretty good chemistry with Chang Wook, but I honestly didn't understand what made him so obsessed with her. The chemistry wasn't enough to carry the weak storyline.

The other main characters did a good enough job of being distinctive but bad writing made their stories pretty dull. I won't spoil how the stories connect but I guess the point was to explore different kinds of relationships (the good and bad) between men and women... friendships, crushes, long-time commitments, encounters with exes, casual relationships, and summer flings are represented. For the entire drama the only character who didn't annoy me at all was Kang Gun, but I was honestly bored by all the other interactions. The women characters is particular are often irrational and make frustrating decisions. I think I was waiting to relate to the characters as I got to know them but that never happened. I was just constantly waiting for the "story" to start. Sadly once it started it turned into one repetitive episode after another.

If I could describe the plot in one word I'd say it felt pointless. If you like the idea of non-sequitur relationship snippets then maybe you will like this more than I did. To me, it felt like filler interrupting the main plot which didn't have enough substance to fill all 16+ episodes. Then there's a weird resolution at the end that feels thrown together, that's interrupted by another random story with random minor characters. I think I would have liked it better, maybe, if there was a different story each week because this just felt like I was watching an unscripted mess. That didn't make it feel more authentic to me either, in fact, it felt more fake, especially with the awkward product placement moments.

Would I watch this again? Hard Pass! Not even for Ji Chang Wook's smile.

Also, the random old school rock "theme" song with the unnecessary music video was equally irritating.

Overall, this drama felt like a concept without a plan. I guess I can piece together moments that I liked enough that it kept me watching, but there were far more frustrating moments that made me wonder why I didn't drop it after every single episode. More than anything I didn't care at all about who stayed together and who didn't, which is bad for a romance-themed drama. There are intimate confessions that seem out of place, especially since the characters seem to have no idea who is listening and responding. Do you enjoy watching people act irrationally in relationships, and drag out misunderstandings, or drive people they care about crazy with their unresolved issues... then enjoy. I can't imagine sitting through this for another season myself, although I can see there being a possible setup for one. Since there were many times I was literally rooting for the main couple to never deal with each other again, I can't recommend this drama. Yes, eventually there are reasons and amends but the frustration to get there made it very anticlimactic. I definitely wasn't lovestruck with this drama. It almost makes "forever alone" seem like the better option.

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Lovestruck in the City is simply not for everybody who only loves watching KDRAMA.

You have to be open-minded on how the writers wrote those (flawed) characters and scenarios because if you’re not, it’ll much harder for you to understand how the story built. And if you know Park Shin Woo as a director, he is not someone to please viewers.

It’s actually weird to see that half of the internet world(twitter), people hyping this up but on the other side(mydramalist & tumblr), dropping this. Ha!

If you review this drama based on the storyline and characters, please state your age and who resonates with you most. If you review this based on mockumentary type and how it delivers the story, please watch until episode 8.

Let me say this again, THIS DRAMA IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY, it’s for the people out there who know what love can do on and for them.

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2nd Underrated Gem of 2025

I put this on my watchlist because I wanted to see SWL in a modern drama and he did very well as did pretty much everyone else sans one villain. This was a series which had all the goodies of creepiness; contortionists, resurrection, evil relics, so on and so forth. This really was the second underrated gem of a drama that I've watched this year.

Pros: The Phoenix entire squad. Even Chubby, though he didn't contribute much other than talking nonstop, was an integral part of this team. I'm glad we finally got a chance to meet the supernatural chicken and it was fun to have. I really loved every single arc until the second to last one. I will speak about that in the cons. Every single thing was connected, obviously laid by a plan, created by the ultimate antagonist. But no matter what happened once the squad was formed they always had each other's backs and if they were in separate locations, they would always be in contact. Misunderstandings would get resolved very quickly. I love how the show kept us guessing with the multiple personalities of MD or the FL we didn't know for a while that she even had two personalities, but it was interesting to see the difference between her and the other one and a half I guess you could say I nicknamed the other personalities as Faith, which was dark MD and Robo Barbie, which was stoned MD. Even though this series didn't have any promotion, I think a lot of things were pretty well done especially CGI and the storytelling in general.

Other than our squad and the supernatural chicken, other favorite characters were MD's family, ML's family as well as his last surviving friend and actually the people from every single case good or bad they delivered on their performances. Also, the fight scenes were awesome. I mean gravity defying stunts and all of that I love very much. I also have to give props to the real antagonist of this show. He turned up in episode 1 and we sporadically saw him until his final arc in episode 31.

The OSTs, production, more or less in general, sets, even though a lot was CGI, but thankfully, it didn't look like they used anything fake like the desert or the village or the mountains. Comedy also hit as it was supposed to. Thankfully, no slapstick humor here.

Cons: This show got a whole point taken off for several reasons; for starters the incredibly choppy editing I have to say that that probably had something to do with cutting the amount of episodes down so production either didn't want to or didn't have time to edit scenes properly because you jump from one scenario to the next and you have no idea how you got there in a lot of the episodes. Also, a lot of times there were cliffhangers that seemed to just not be shown the following episode or they would just be explained in the way that wouldn't make sense. Also, there were a lot of loose ends, not tied. Like the relics are now in their bodies. What happens next? Are they sealed for good? What happens when the characters grow old and die; do the relics come back to life? There's a lot that was not explained in regarding to the relics. I think they should've done a deeper dive as novel readers pointed out. Also, what happened to Mr. creepy antagonist? Is he dead for good or until another 280 years passes and he resurrects like the creature from Jeepers Creepers?

The ending was rushed because the main antagonist was only given two episodes if that to put everything together and do his whole evil shtick. Meanwhile, the crazy creepy cackle Halloween store witch leopard lady was given something like six episodes but she killed that entire arc. Every single time she opened her mouth. I wanted to hit her with a bat. I hated her character not because she was bad but because she was so annoying. They completely miscast the actress or they should have dubbed her over with a Fluently Mandarin speaking actress. But even her acting was over the top; she twirled, and she pointed her fingers with fake nails and acted like a plum fool. You would never think of her as being this ruthless, horrible person that we saw in ML's flashbacks. Honestly, she was basically the equivalent of what a leather wearing, valley girl would be the best way to describe her and she knew neither English nor Mandarin fluently. When she spoke on top of it, her lips did not match the sound that was coming from her voice so obviously she dubbed herself and it was really poorly done and no one corrected anything. I legitimately got through all of her main scenes by fast forwarding her I couldn't even watch her.

Would I recommend it? I totally would, despite the choppy editing and one crappy antagonist. The show was great and sadly not promoted, but it deserves a watch, especially if you are into creepy type shows with a supernatural aspect.

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A minority of one here

I can understand the praise which all the other reviewers shower on various aspects of this series. The cinematography. The acting. The writing. The music. From a thoroughly dispassionate standpoint, I am able to give "good" ratings to some of those dimensions too. Anyhow, I leave it to The Shipper's many enthusiastic fans to praise it to the skies, as they do. But I found the series so intensely disagreeable that my feelings of shock and unease will probably stay with me a long time whenever I think of The Shipper. In brief, it gives us a very weird message about life and death, and a bitterly homophobic account of human love. The one and only love story here is a heterosexual love story about a girl trapped in a male body. This might lead to an interesting exploration of trans identity, or an attempt to look at a non-binary self-understanding. But no. She's in a male body, that's all, and the nature of the relationship is utterly conventional heterosexual girl/boy romance. As for the same-sex possibility here (no point even referring to the concept of "BL"), it is literally killed off, stone dead. There is no chance of love between males, the storyline seems to say - it's doomed. Fatal. Something which has to be terminated, erased. As happens here. The only way love could exist between two seemingly male persons, the series tells us, is when one of them in reality is a woman - meaning it's not really any sort of "m/m" relationship at all. It's a hideous and cruel message and it's what this whole series is based on. Hence my low rating. Yes, I should have abandoned it long, long ago. And I did. But I came back to see how it ended. I'm sorry I did.

Footnote: I realise I am not in a minority of one. Fortunately. There are a couple of other discerning viewers who were equally alert to, and dismayed by, the crude homophobic message conveyed by The Shipper. Meanwhile, however, I've read the other reviews here, and I'll say that I'm - well, intrigued. One could say they exhibit a ... striking unity. First of all, there are a great many of them. A huge number of reviews. All for The Shipper. OK, very well. This suggests that it was an exceptionally popular series, watched by a very high number of viewers. Was it? I'm not sure I got that impression ... Next: many, if not most, of the reviews are rather close to identical. They seem to follow a set formula. Read along, and you'll quickly get the picture. The reviewer immediately announces that the series isn't "BL" - and always finds space to make some dismissive comment about BL fans. Then we're told that The Shipper is a vastly superior product - with more than a few reviewers going out of their way to pour scorn on BL, yaoi, m/m romance, LGBT material etc. Next, they tell you that this series is an edifying moral lesson, or a series of inspiring moral messages. Finally, they award it a series of 9s and 10s.

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A fun, light-hearted watch for the rom-com lovers

As a die-hard fan of the webtoon, I was over the moon to see the drama adaption finally coming out!

It's the contract dating / marriage trope that fakes it till you make it once again. Cliché and exaggerated at times, but still extremely entertaining. In fact, rather than being pure cringey, I love how the screenwriters just absorb the clichés like a sponge and turn them into A+ grade comedy. It's a fluffy rom-com that hit all the right spots, making you laugh and swoon like there's no tomorrow. And the editing is just spot on with the fun and comic-like transitions.

We have an interesting cast here. It's a little scary how much Ahn Hyo Seop fits right into the ML's role with that side-parted hair and dashing suit, like he just steps out of a webtoon. The way he slicks his hair back gives me major What's Wrong With Secretary Kim vibes (I can almost hear Park Se Joon yelling "Aura" in the background). I like Kim Se Jeong's singing but I have yet to see her in a drama. Oh my goodness, she got me doubling over from laughing so hard when she called Ahn Hyo Seop an Archaeopteryx. And don't even get me started on who's Samantha and Rachel. Their blind dates are absurdly hilarious and you'll wheeze in laughter before you know it. It's a bit different from how I envisioned Shin Ha Ri would be, but definitely a refreshing twist for the webtoon fans.

On the other hand, Kim Min Gue is the ideal secretary sidekick for the ML. This is the bromance I was most excited about, snarky but sweet. Seol In Ah plays the free-spirited bestie for the FL, one that you always wish for yet never have. Together, they make up one of the most iconic second couples I've ever seen. They're so scandalously cute in their own way. It's great that not only each couple has its own arch but we also have so much bromance and sismance energy here. The grandfather is so loveable with his outrageous marriage "project", a quest to find blind dates for his workaholic grandson. It's a bit hard to believe this was also the mad king we saw in The Red Sleeve. And that makjang he's watching really hits home for me, it's like they're watching their own drama unfolding.

The OSTs are also overwhelmingly sweet, almost to a diabetes level. My absolute favourites would be Love Maybe by MeloMance, You Are Mine by VICTON and Spring Breeze by New (The Boyz). All in all, it was an extremely witty script with as many unexpected turns as there are clichés. If you're a fluffy rom-com lover and don't mind a bit of silliness to de-stress, then here's the perfect pick for you!

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City Hunter is the bastard child of Healer and The K2; less developed than the former and more developed than the latter but unfortunately far less entertaining than both of them. It's one of those shows that start out with a bang and you expect them to incinerate everything in their vicinity with utmost badassery but regrettably, they choose to fizzle out into helpless ash instead.

I've never really understood the allure of Lee Min Ho before and admittedly, I sought great enlightenment in that regard with City Hunter, however, 20 episodes in and I'm still lost. It's safe to say that he is the namesake of Korean Entertainment Industry, internationally famous and even No#1 on the most popular list on our beloved MDL but for all that hype, there isn't much basis. To put it bluntly, he really isn't a very good actor. Sure, he's plenty cute but sadly his gorgeous looks can't save his acting from being plagued by redundancy and lack of versatility.

Lee Min Ho is like a bar of undiluted highly sweetened chocolate; eat one and you'll thoroughly enjoy the delectable sugar high but eat too many and it will turn from delicious to downright nauseous real quick. In other words, he's not the type of actor whose shows one can binge-watch because doing so will be akin to subjecting yourself to the monotony of a recycling machine.

For being an almost perfect hero with no flaws, his character "Lee Yoon Sung" is surprisingly not the sharpest knife in the cutlery and even though the writers created him to be very likeable, he is straight up annoying at times. The biggest example of that is probably when somebody close to him gets shot or severely injured in front of him. Instead of calling the ambulance like a normal person would, he absolutely has to act out the whole 15-minute-long over-emotional dramatic scene filled to the brim with hysterics where he clutches the dying person to his chest, looks deep into their eyes, cries tears of heartache and assures them that they will indeed not die, all the while sufficiently increasing their chances of said death.

I mean, how Kim Na Na survives after being shot is still an enigma to me because our dear Yoon Sung did try his level best to cause murder due to excessive blood loss because wallowing in misery and repeatedly asking your girlfriend why she'd take a bullet for him is oh so important than taking her to the nearest hospital. (Of course, he donates blood to her later and saves the day because we can't let our watchers forget who the true hero is, now can we?)

Park Min Young is a cute actress and Kim Na Na is essentially someone that I would really root for. Which is why, obviously, the creators had to abuse her character to the maximum. I mean if you're going to sell me the fact that a woman who can fight off eight thugs when her man is in trouble, walk right into the heart of danger without an ounce of fear, is an excellent shooter, a level four in Judo and just a badass in general can just as easily be kidnapped, drugged, taken hostage without so much as a mewl in defense by a single man, I'm sorry, but I'm just not going to buy that bullshit. The only thing that I despise more than spineless damsels in distress (without just cause) is a spineless damsel in distress disguised as a strong and highly intelligent heroine.
Na Na did not deserve to be used as a tool to highlight Yoon Sung's character just so he could appear to be the perfect knight in shining black mask, rather, she should've been an independent and resilient woman in her own right who could effectively save herself, but alas chivalry trumps all.

If that isn't enough, City Hunter gives a new meaning to the term "bad romance". It introduces two people who don't deserve to be together in any possible realm and force them to fall in love. As it happens with forceful collision, the result is destruction of both entities. Their affection for each other is completely unbelievable. No matter the martyr syndrome, noble causes and tortured hero bullshit- simply nobody should have to deal with Yoon Sung's horribly immature and selfish attitude. He's constantly pushing and pulling at her, switching gears and being cruel for no reason and Na Na's highly self-sacrificing, outrageously understanding, Mother Theresa level righteousness is frankly, pitiful. Add zero chemistry into the mix and you get a perfectly stiff romance that is difficult to swallow no matter how many justifications you provide to wash it down with.

To top it all off, both the actors have a very short emotional range and their crying scenes made me feel like the awkward back-patter who has to fake sympathy in order to not look like a douche-bag. Furthermore, you got to love how every single dirty politician is exposed with video recordings because it's absolutely 100% inevitable that sooner or later all corrupt criminals will announce the entirety of their sins word by word in thin air. You just have to conveniently be at the right place at the right time with a recording device at hand and you got yourself a wonderfully detailed confession. How exotic.

However, get depressed not, because the show does admittedly has its moments. The best thing about it is the fact that the few things it chooses to well develop are indeed, excellently executed. The injuries are very realistic and if our protagonists get hurt they actually suffer for a lengthy period of time instead of possessing magical healing powers. (Ahem, K2, ahem)

Kim Sang Joong is simply the star of the show. I mean, talk about charismatic villains. Not only is he extremely handsome for an ahjussi, he's also a brilliant actor and I think his cold-hearted glares ultimately made this show worth watching. Lee Jin Piyo is a ruthless mastermind, too cruel and extremely focused on his single-minded revenge. Anything that comes in his way is collateral and messing with him is synonymous for signing a death warrant. I'm not going to lie, I seriously shipped his and Yoon Sung's father-son relationship (as lacking and unhealthy as it may be) and one of the best moments of the show was their showdown in the last episode.

Prosecutor Kim with his holier than thou attitude, fierce determination and power walk (despite the fact that he in reality accomplishes nothing as a prosecutor and loses every time to the City Hunter) really grew on me over-time which was why it was really heartbreaking what the show did to him. I mean, if they were going for emotional impact they got it because honestly, I got very teary-eyed in that particular instance.

There's no denying that the story of City Hunter is very well thought out, the suspense element is nicely done and the interaction between the main characters and some of the supporting one's (Yoon Sung's mom, Bae Man Deok, Sung Chang Hoon and Jung Joon) were really touching to see. The music is good and even though City Hunter's strategies aren't exactly Sherlock-esque, I thoroughly enjoyed all of his exposés. There is a tiny idealist that resides in my heart that secretly loves the whole sentiment behind a masked hero saving the people in times of need and despite all of his flaws I was still sincerely rooting for Yoon Sung.

So, in conclusion I'm going to say that City Hunter is over-all a pleasurable drama, it makes you stick to it till the end and anticipate the incoming episodes with a fervor but when you sit back and ponder upon questions like; "What scene would I like to rewatch and put on replay?" "Which event was unforgettable?" "Which part got my heart racing?", nothing comes to mind. It is surely a good time-pass but not something that'll get you invested.

P.S: I hope all the Lee Min Hoes and City Hunter fanatics out there don't have a Cerci-mode walk of shame leading to execution-style murder in mind for me. Y'all are gorgeous human beings so please go easy on pelting the "This review ain't helpful" button.

Teehee ^~^

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I didn’t think I’d like this, but I really did

I’ve watched so many college BLs. And just when I thought I couldn’t possibly be satisfied by yet another 2 young and dumb boys … I SOMEHOW LOVE THIS!

The story of Kluen and Daonuea is a classic tale of meeting your high school crush after entering college and falling in love with them (all over again). Variations of this plot have been done to death – recall 2moons, 2gether and Bad Buddy? OK, so the plot isn’t terribly original, but so what?

I think Joong and Dunk have created a pretty solid product together with their chemistry. It’s always the chemistry that makes or breaks a typical plot or trope.

The entire show is a string of misunderstandings that could have been averted if they were brave enough to speak plainly from the start. But as the web gradually untangles and their feelings for each other are uncovered, this frustrating rollercoaster ride turns out to be quite lovely and rewarding after all.

Yes, this is yet another college BL. And one day, maybe this high school sweetheart plot will well and truly go extinct. But not this time. And until then, please take it from me: Go watch Star In My Mind.

My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/05/27/star-in-my-mind-bl-review/

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Warning BL CLICKBAIT, played more like a Bromance

I was in total disbelief when i saw Tine crying before the end of the penultimate episode. WHY WOULD HE cry like that? Way to go from being Mr Chic to becoming a confused little sissy.

The problem is I see this a lot in Thai dramas - the one main lead gets jealous of the other main lead when he sees him kissing or hugging another guy (or girl). There will be no talking, just the couple breaking up. It is just lazy writing, cant they think of other ways to create drama for their series?

I blame the show's weakness on the story, the script and the directing. This one started out strong - 2 alpha males fake dating and falling inlove. Although Tine was a typical Thai BL character of a 'straight boy' loving a guy, I liked the fact that Sarawat was always a guy who likes a guy and never pretended to like a girl.

What happened in the later episodes were somewhat of a mess - after they became 2gether and lived in the same flat, the editing and jumping from one scene to next just happened way too fast in an attempt to give us more story from the source material. There was also lack of real conflict to further develop and create a mature story. There was also obviously a conscious effort not show a lot of couple emotions and activities. Its like watching 2 bros living together. What i think the series needed is 2 to 3 more episodes to better tell the story.

However, despite all the flaws, cliches and shortcomings, I still immensely enjoyed it.

First, the cast. Win and Bright - definite eye candies however may need a bit of acting workshop. I love Frank and Drake and i think they have relegated them to a very minor supporting role- i keep wishing they used them more, Mike and Toptap, Gun, and even the friends did a good job. Without The 4 main lead i would have dropped this series midway.

Second, the music - this is probably the Thai series with the best choice for music, i loved the opening and end songs, and i loved the songs they used within the show.

Would i rewatch it, i would initially say yes, but after careful considerations i think ill just move on to the extension series. If you are new to the BL genre, this may be a fun watch, just keep in mind that it is definitely not the best drama.

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This is a nice, quirky fantasy/romantic comedy. It features an excellent cast, and a lot of charming and interesting characters. It has quite a few twists, and is really cute and interesting. The main character is a kind but naive fairy, who has lived on Earth for several hundred years. The main love interests are a professor and his young assistant (they also live together). The two characters are like night and day, the assistant being sweet and willing to believe the fairy, and the professor being cautious and skeptical. One of the two love interests is the fairy's reincarnated husband who died suddenly several hundred years ago.

What likely makes this show a hit or miss for several people: the show is a bit on the weird side and does not go as expected. A love triangle is also a big player for the plot here. Typically when you watch a drama, you can point out who the female lead will end up within the first couple of minutes of the first episode, even if there's a love triangle. This drama gives you a bit of a guessing game, and the answer...is not what a lot of people were expecting.

As someone that dabbles in story writing, when a storyline isn't super predictable, I like it a lot more. I also enjoy finding clues to upcoming plot twists within the dialogue and events of the show. This was the case for "Mama Fairy."

This is a drama where you have to pay close attention (especially in the flashbacks) in order for everything happening to make complete sense. It had me hooked from the start, so I was never confused. I was extremely happy with who the female lead ended up with, but this was not the case for quite a few people. But when watching, it was clear that the drama pointed in that character's direction, via other characters' opinions of the love interests, the flashbacks, and the female lead's feelings toward the guy she ended up with. It's subtle, but the hints were there.

Romance aside, the main characters are each interesting in their own individual ways. It was interesting how each of the reincarnated love interests shared traits with the people/creatures they were in their past lives. Learning more about them through the flashbacks was a highlight of each episode. One of the main characters had a very tragic back story, and his story developed into a great one of friendship and redemption in the end. It ended up being the highlight of the end of the series.

That said, this show isn't perfect. Even as someone who loved and enjoyed it, I disliked a trio of supporting cast members at first. I eventually grew to like them a little bit as they started playing a part in the main storyline, but that took a few episodes. The other issue I have is the CGI. At some points I can see where it was necessary, but practically every animal that appears (even if it's a random cat running by) is CG. It's very fake and cartoonish looking, so it took a bit to get used to.

I adored this show, it's a new favorite of mine honestly. However, if you're off-put by eccentricity, love-triangles, and/or quite a few plot twists you might not like it. Even though it's a romcom, there's a complex story behind it, and that's one of the main reasons I enjoyed it so much. This series is best approached with an open-mind, and a willingness to accept that not all is as it appears to be.

I gave it a 9.5/10 as I was interested throughout, and fell in love with the story and characters.

(I also rate heavily based on personal enjoyment)

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