Reviews

Waking up in the bed of a handsome man after a drunken night. A Cute and endearing story.

Story: Mao was secretly dating someone at work. However, when she found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her with a co-worker, she impulsively went to a bar and got drunk. The next day, she woke up to find a handsome man who had also been at the bar next to her! She also learn that she is now his wife.

This drama was just beautiful and endearing. I loved all the characters with all their shortcomings. And I was very pleased to wait to watch each episode of this drama weekly.

I was pissed at some and happy about others. And we did not have those crazy "ready for anything to get the Male Lead" kind of Second Female Lead. What a relief !!! I was tired of those lately, after watching several J-dramas. I was happy the woman figure wasn't tarnished in this show.

I loved the secret romance and rooted for the leads.
I found this drama also very realistic. Nothing out of this world happened. No coincidental encounters that serve the plot. That kind of shortcut. However, the last character to appear was very useful, I must say.

And we have to speak about Male Lead. He is extraordinary as a husband, commited, protective, patient .... No Wonder Female Lead fell for him. She is also very cute and I loved her growth, her bestie and the way she handles things. even if I was not ok with some of her methods.

The side stories were cute as well.

The OST is also very beautiful. Her is the official music video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tff7KtXbJA

So I recommend this drama.

Pros :
- Acting.
- Story was great and the pacing was also good. Because the plot was logical.
- Character development. This gives big value to the show because even the antagonists are redeemable.
- Good chemistry.
- No trashy Second Female Lead.

Cons :
- Plot logical so sometimes predictible. But even if I have a hint about the destination, I still love to see the landscape.
- Stupid break up.
- Misunderstandings.
- The second arc is understandable but it made me pass through fictitious despair and I don't know if the characters needed such dire situation.


Overall :
I liked this drama very much. It features some super cute moments and the setting of the story sparked my interest.
So, if you like light hearted romcom with endearing characters and no trashy gold digger SFL, this drama is for you.

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The Ultimate Beer Comercial!

This Kdrama is like your favorite beer! You know why you love it, ergo you know what you're gonna get, and in that, so you won't be disappointed!

It's not extraordinary or special, but it was a fun! It's not a surprise that Kim Sejeong carried the whole show, but the side-characters were good, too!

My biggest problem is that we only get 12 episodes, and we had too many storylines, like the one with the soldier boy. That could've been so much better, and honestly, it deserves its own show, but we only got like 1 episode worth of story overall, and they moved on from it pretty fast.

Not to mention the plot with our main guy and the life-saving incident. They didn't do anything with it. I'm not talking about the obvious and typical Kdrama trope, I'm talking about the reason he had to be saved. They completely ignored that!

The usual stuff, like the romance and the main plot is predictable, but if you expect something else, this isn't for you. If you watched one show like this, you know them all, but that doesn't mean you're not gonna enjoy it.

Overall, it was fun, but nothing more!

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Movies are built on “what ifs”

Devastating, cruel, heartaching, bleak like a domino effect of misfortune
Just like Saw and The Mist, everything would’ve been better if they worked together
But in this black cold interpretation, one bad choice, one act of unkindness, led to another bigger deeper hole

In ways no one was to blame, he was scammed and he lost everything and then some when the earthquake hit and took his family so all he had left was that empty shell of apartment
They had to kick the intruders cuz they almost killed a person
And with that power came dark responsibilities
He took his anger at the supermarket guy and I think that should’ve been the line
But that was just a spark that made the “outsiders” fear and despise the apartment ppl
For me, the most heartbreaking thing that really made me burst out crying was the “kidney” guy that hid the kids and mom, lose it and killed himself after he saw how the apartment ppl made the others who hid outsiders apologize so cruelly 😭
Then it got darker when the “outsiders” attacked and 902 was just really trying to survive and fit the narrative of the apartment ppl, they were the ones who suggested the kicking, he just wanted to grasp and survive
But dang dude went crazy when he threw the kid in the never ending hole but the way he still tried to help the rest and threw the bomb… things were just so grey…
Now minsung and myunghwa should’ve stayed cuz 902 had time to go back to the ninth floor, yet another sad symbolic way of his desperation to grasp at the last thing he “owned”, but in ways minsung was already over his limit when he didn’t help out the ppl cuz he to was just desperate to survive with his wife
And myunghwa needed to go out and show the ironic and simple way ppl beside the “cockroaches” lives, a simple act of coliving and helping each other out
Tho another plot hole was how eventho they always went out to look for food, they rarely met other ppl and never found other survivors in such a big scale
Tho the news about the crazy apartment ppl would surely make ppl try hard not to show themselves

That was honestly beautifully acted tho, every emotion, every devastation was perfectly executed

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This is a special so I'll be brief. I loved the drama itself, I cried even and the only regret I had on it was its ending.

Story: Great example of how uncleared misunderstandings can destroy relationships. I thought the conservative view of Koreans will prevail at the end, but sadly, it didn't. It's weird that I loved the epilogue but hated the ending.

Acting/Cast: I came across the drama because of Yin Ji Han, and was surprised Hong So Hyun is also casted, whom I also liked so I gave it a go. I loved both of them, and really, I cried because they did a good job on their roles.

Music: I don't remember any standout song or music.

Rewatch Value: It was heartbreaking for me so, no.

Overall: With all these hints, I think you get what to expect at the drama. I'm not too fond of heartbreaking romances that's why I didn't gave it a high score but it is worth watching if you have free have time to spend and of course you want a moment to fangirl over Jin Yi Han. :D

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Amazing and Talented Young Cast, but the Storytelling couldn't keep up with them.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

In the early episodes of “Taste”, it reminded me of another K-drama, “Celebrity”. Set in high school, teenager Bambi has always wanted to be popular and famous. But no matter how much makeup she puts on or tries to distinguish herself, nothing is working for her.

This is until she becomes the Princess of Trash, and with this viral fame befriended a group of rich and popular kids. You know the drill, her eyes are really open now into a world she’s not familiar with. She wants to not only stay there but climb to the top.

I binged through the first 4 episodes of “Taste” easily. We are slowly introduced to the dynamics and the background of the teenagers. We also follow the initial steps Bambi took to distinguish herself. You may not agree with her ways, but you can’t deny her courage and persistence in achieving her dreams. However, the second half of the drama falters. It became too melodramatic and lost the initial fun. The pacing also slows down. It’s already a very short drama, yet these 8 episodes feel very long. “Taste” was unable to find the balance in the latter half when it dived into the consequences of actions. The tone shifts understandably as it should be, but the execution is where I have trouble with. Of course, it also could be because I was very tired after work, and I just couldn’t focus more on the serious stories.

I actually like all the characters, though not all are saints. They are grey and interesting. I wish the drama would be longer so that it can develop the relationships and friendships between them better. At times, things seem to move really fast, and at times, it has no development but harps on the same tune. I want to know more about the friendship between Pure and Namkhang instead of just a couple flashbacks. I want to know more about Tokyo and his boyfriend. I want to know more about Bambi and Mhong, similarly I want more than just flashbacks. I want a little more development between Diesel and Dream when they were gaming, since after they met in-person, all things happened too fast. So much is being glossed over with a couple flashbacks here and there.

On the other hand, I think the major strength of this drama is the incredible and talented young actors and actresses. I have to say, I am incredibly impressed. Before watching “Taste”, I think I only recognized Phuwin and Charlette (I might have seen the rest in other roles that I don’t remember). I’ve seen Phuwin in a few dramas before and was very surprised to see that he can really act. I’ve seen Charlette in “Bangkok Blossom” and already knew she could act. But I have to say, she was more amazing in “Bangkok Blossom” due to her character, but she’s good in “Taste” as well. Mabelz as our female lead was amazing. Her big eyes are mesmerizing. I have to say she was a big surprise because as I went through her drama list, this is only her second drama and first main role. Oh and I discovered the cute patootie, Tony Anthony. He’s the sweetest guy in the whole drama, and he’s just so adorable. LOL. The rest of the supporting cast is awesome as well and they are all very charismatic. What a talented cast!

This is not a cheap production. You can see there’s some money poured into the drama with beautiful costumes, hair and makeup, lighting and sets. I guess they make good use of the money they get from all the advertisements. Unfortunately, I was unable to find good English subs for this drama. I watched the second half with very poor AI-translation and that’s not helping when I already was having a hard time enjoying the last few episodes

“Taste” has the potential to be a much better drama especially with such a talented cast. It has the ingredients of very interesting characters but does not have enough time to develop them all. This could easily be a 12 to 14-episode drama with better developed stories and pacing. I am disappointed to not rate this higher because I did have a hard time watching the last few episodes. It’s not a bad drama, but the first few episodes raised my expectations and I was disappointed. I was debating a 7.5 or 8.0 rating for a long time. I am going to settle with 7.75 (rounding up to 8.0) because I like the cast so much.




Completed: 7/18/2025 Review #604

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I was prepared for a very angsty drama. The plot is about a young mother, Yui, whose son was kidnapped when he was 3 years old. 9 years later, she is told that his son is in an institution. Turns out, he was found a short while after being kidnapped, by Asako, who raised him like she was her real mother. So this is the story of the woman who gave him birth, the woman who raised him, and how he comes back to his real family.

The first couple of episodes were painful to watch, since THAT letter was too cruel. I hated Asako, and I didn't like the boy. Actually, till the end, I couldn't figure this boy out. But on the other hand, I felt too sorry for Asako, in spite of all her many mistakes. While Yui was suffering for almost a decade for the lost of her baby boy, Asako's intentions of being a mother were mostly selfish. She wanted a son because of social pressure, because of loneliness... But still, what does being a mother mean? Doesn't it mean to love and raise the child to be someone, to be there for the child, to give him everything the child needs in order to become a better person?

While there were many painful scenes, and scenes that make you upset (like when Asako was telling Yui SHE was the one who raised Kou, SHE was the one who knew him better... thank Heavens for that slap!), there were also many light scenes, heartwarming scenes. This dorama is mostly about family, not only blood-related, but also people who are always there for support and interventions and good and bad moments.

I love the cast, specially the women. I think Sawajiri Erika may be too young to be a mother of a teenage boy, but she was dressed very homely in order to look more mature, with baggy clothes and light-to-zero make-up. Her friend, interpreted by Itaya Yuka, was excellent. She always plays the sweetest and kindest friend to perfection. I think it is her smile. But the one who deserved all awards was, for me, Koike Eiko. Her role, as the woman who raised the boy, was meant to be hateful. But her tears... oh gawd, her tears made ME tearful. For about 8 episodes I had a love-hate feelings for her, but by the end, I pitied her enormously. Poor woman, in spite of everything!

The husbands were good as well, nice sidekicks. But what impressed me the most was Nakajima Yuto. This guy has everything to play a romantic MC; he is tall, young, handsome and can act, and here again we have him, as a serious worker who should be played by someone older. WHYYYY...

The kids were ok, obviously with the least experience and you can tell, especially since the older cast is so good. Still, the boy who played Kou was adorable.

I love the OST! Very moving, and I love the EP, "Just you and I", by Amuro Namie. I am currently listening to it. The lyrics are very meaningful.

The ending was satisfying. I think this is one of those doramas that will be liked by anyone, specially those who like family genre.

The other cover is much better and meaningful that the one here on MDL.

Mini-reunions: "1 Liter of Tears", "Hotaru no Hikari", "Kounodori", "Date".

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Since I started to watch dramas, In Time With You has been one of my favourites dramas. I remember the first time I watched the T-drama version and how I felt about this story. It's not a perfect story, there is some flaws, but at the same time it's so poetry and has so deep meaning that I still think this story is very underrated by people who watch dramas. I think this story is the best when we talk about this kind of this situation "friends to love".
The fact is, some people misunderstand the meaning of what this story want to tell us. It's not about love or dating, but it's about friendship and how firendship is more important than love. We see that in our main characters. It's not about a guy who wants to be more than a friend. It's about a guy who likes a girl, but loves her friendship. I think the drama gives us a messange that may be hard, but we need to accept. I think others dramas that talks about this kind situation failed in develop this messange and that's why I like so much this drama.
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But talking about this version. I think is more developed than the others one, but unfortunatelly the end was not so good as the T-drama. I also think there is more good songs in the first one than in this one. And I also think Bo-lin did a better job in some scenes. But besides that, I don´t have anything more to complain. They clearly transmited what the story mean and I also think they showed us more interactions between our main leads. In this version we have a Yo less selfish and more independent. I really liked the fact that they didn´t change her work. I also like the fact that in this version they showed us more her love for Ren.
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Overall, this drama is also more mature than the others one and its also more closer than the korean one. It was my first time seeing the actor who plays Ren, but he is really good and now I'm hoping I can see more dramas with him.

I think we guys need to watch this drama, but thinking about the meaning of the title. There is a reason why the T-drama is named In time With You. And there is a reason why the japaneses prefer to translate as I don´t love you yet. Try to understand the name, before talk bad about the plot.

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I had seen all the popular J romance dramas and I wanted to take a break from Korean dramas for a day so I started browsing for a J drama to watch. I didn’t think I’d like this very much because it is an older drama but I read a positive review and decided to give it a chance…

Story- I absolutely loved it! It was so romantic and angsty. It has everything I look for in a good romance drama. I liked that you don’t have to wait for the main couple to start a relationship cause they start from like episode 3. There is a lot of conflict having to do with life choices though that separates them for a couple of episodes. Each episode gives a little cliff hanger which makes you want to see the next episode. The ending was awesome for the main couple but I like that all the supporting characters find their happy ending as well.

Acting/Cast- The 4 leads did a great job. They made their characters very believable. I loved Fujiki Naohito in this because it’s so different from his Hotaru no Hikari character. The main female actress that played his partner didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. I did appreciate that she had really good chemistry with Fujiki.

Music- There is a lot of music played but I didn’t care for it.

Rewatch- I would definitely watch this again in the future when I'm in the mood for a J romance.

Overall Love Revolution is a romance drama for a more mature audience that I definitely would recommend.

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Really cute, original story in the fairy tale genre. The initial idea is good.

A charming and fresh take on the fairy tale genre, this story is truly delightful and has an intriguing premise that instantly captures your attention.

Stellar Performances Shine Bright
Chae Jong Hyeop deserves endless praise for his portrayal. His ability to convey profound emotions for the female lead (FL) makes the romance feel incredibly real and intense. His natural warmth, bright smile, and expressive acting breathe life into the character, making it impossible not to root for him. Not to mention, his cooking skills on-screen, especially with traditional Korean dishes, add an endearing layer to his character.

Having followed his work, I’ve also enjoyed his role in The Castaway Diva, a stunning musical drama, and his memorable appearance as Na-bi's chef friend in Nevertheless. His versatility continues to impress with every project.

A Unique Blend of Cultures
The fusion of Korean and Japanese cultures in this series adds a special charm. Hearing the mix of both languages was refreshing, giving the story a unique identity that sets it apart. This cross-cultural collaboration enriched the overall viewing experience.

A Mixed Approach to the Female Lead
While Mizuki Yamashita performed her role with sincerity, her character’s excessive shyness often felt at odds with her age and professional responsibilities. At times, her reserved demeanor was frustrating and made it harder to connect with her.

It’s evident that the actress herself has a vibrant and outgoing personality, as reflected in her polished appearance, stylish outfits, and well-maintained nails. A more confident, modern portrayal would have elevated her character and complemented the storyline better.

This portrayal of overly timid women seems to be a recurring trope in Japanese dramas, which may resonate culturally but feels outdated and less appealing to broader audiences. Hopefully, future seasons can address this by giving female characters stronger, more assertive roles.

Supporting Cast and Future Prospects
Taishi Nakagawa also stood out with his solid performance, and the cast as a whole brought depth to the story. While the series is enjoyable as is, there’s definite room for improvement. A second season with more dynamic character arcs and a well-thought-out progression would elevate it to even greater heights.

Overall, this drama offers a unique mix of romance, cultural flavors, and heartfelt performances, with Chae Jong Hyeop as the undeniable highlight. It’s worth watching for the warmth and chemistry between the leads, even if the storyline could benefit from a more modern perspective.

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'Beyond the Clouds' is definitely one of the smartest melodramas ever made. It's a shame that it is so underrated and went unnoticed by so many. I really think it is really worth a watch. My weekly dose of watching this drama shall definitely be missed.

What is great about this drama is how even though it has a lot of cliches in it, it still somehow manages to stand out in the melodrama genre. Surprisingly- this drama has a real plot and as I started watching it, it sucked me in completely. This is one of those dramas that is better enjoyed if marathoned through. Week after week, the curiosity about how things would unfold kind of waned. I am really not good with patience and this drama required too much of it.

Although the plot is slow and not overly dramatic as some other dramas, it has an addictive vibe to it. I think this drama was perfectly paced upto episode 8-9. The middle was kind of boring and dragging for me but the last two episodes were solid. They totally redeemed the drama in my eyes because I had been worried about how things would turn out.

The main characters in this drama seem interesting at first, but ironically the lead pair fades in comparison to the second leads. My favourite character in this drama was Kang Jae. He was a bad guy with a conscience, an anti-hero, a guy in need of love and a great hyung. I loved the complexity of his character and Jo Jin Woong did an excellent job of playing him. As for Yoon Kye Sang even though I liked his acting, it went over the top at times. Han Ji Hye was pretty but had no variation in her expressions- she always had the same, sad, "damsel in distress" face. Her character was written well but too bad she could hardly do justice to her role.

There are a lot of touching moments in this drama. It teaches you a lot about life, love and family. It raises a lot of questions about morals and shows how greed can destroy people's lives. I think that was a pretty interesting take on the whole story. It also makes you think of loyalty and human psychology which was rather cool!

There is murder, romance, deceit, revenge, lies, betrayal and friendship- all in this drama. It has enough of everything to keep one entertained. If you like romance, there is enough of that too. Maybe not as overwhelming as in some other dramas but I was quite satisfied with it. :)

I have to give props to the OST of this drama. It's brilliant and I've been listening to some songs every day now and still don't get bored. Every single song is memorable. I think this drama has one of the best OSTs ever.

I think it's a good drama to watch if you're looking for something different. :)

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I totally agree with everyone giving this a perfect 10 rating because this is PERFECTION! Good thing I have never seen the original version which will make me give an unbiased review for this one.

The story is so simple that it looks so cliche but the writing is so direct,straight forward and just sticking to the plot which is just a simple lovestory of two opposite individuals! No angst of third party / mother in law /noble idiocy / misunderstanding. The tone and mode of being light, funny, sweet and romantic is consistent through and through! There are no dull episodes, everything just fall in complete heart rendering moments, true to its premise and promise of a pure rom-com!

The character development of two leads is way perfect! You dont feel any rush or force scene in the loveline, the progression just happen so naturally! The leads are explosive, their chemistry is off chart that you cannot really distinguish if they are just acting or the feelings are real! The actors just played their characters excellently and brilliantly! They are so believable and relatable! Bravo for the 2 actors!

The music is perfect I love it! It makes me fall in love more with the characters and the story! It gives a loving vibes to a lovely and endearing drama already! Feel good music perfect for a feel good drama!

I will surely love rewatching this again and again! This will probably my most rewatched drama after Healer!

I have never crossed a very fun, amazing, light hearted drama recently! IF you are a romcom hooker, you should not miss this once in a blue-moon kind of experience in drama watching -- it will simply delight you!

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Wooow.. I decided to pick this title because I interested with the synopsis and I like the casts, didn't know that this story would be so damn great! How many dramas could be so heart wrenching even since the first episode?!
I rarely shed tears when watching dramas, but I already sink on the 1st ep. ;(
The story itself is quite tragic, yet the drama leads us to something more touching rather than sad.. The characters are very strong, including the supporting roles.
This is more of a slice of life drama, following the story of the murderer, the victim, and how the incident affects the people around them..
Romance between the victim's brother and the murderer's sister makes the story beautiful. Eita is a very great actor, portrayed an introvert guy drench in guilt, and how he changed from a useless guy with non-attractive appearance to a clean-cut man, haha.. This is the first time I watch the female lead's acting, and I'm quite impressed with how she can easily shed tears in every moment :)
Overall this is a must-watched drama for them who likes drama about life and about moving on from a tragic past.. Excellent story!

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Very disappointing build up

When i started this drama, i had high expectations and somehow in the middle the plot line became boring, draggy and completely flat. And then towards the end the suspense suddenly picked up from nowhere and once again had me at the edge of my seat. It could have well ended with 16 episodes to be very honest but somehow the draggy scenes just kept coming. The story line was good and what kept me going was to figure out who actually pushed the FL's dad to suicide and what was the backstory behind ML's amputated leg.
The romance for me felt flat. The kissing scenes between the ML and FL was terrible in the begin and somehow it got a bit better at the end. Their chemistry was off too. By the end i just wanted to fast forward and wrap it up, and that is exactly what i did.

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