1Overpowered Oppa with 768 IQ and ninja skills saves the day once again! I am surprised.
Listen to me. I really wanted to like this drama. I wanted to like this drama so bad that I watched it to the very end just so it could prove me wrong. I was crossing my fingers to the last minute, almost praying for it to get better. I ADORE Lee Je Hoon and Esom and I love the crime/thriller genre so there really was no reason for me to not like this except that... this is just bad. There, I said it. Now, let's get to the list of reasons why:▪︎Writing▪︎
See, the fact that this drama is based on true cases was something that was like catnip for my True Crime loving heart. It started out strong as well with a few really jarring cases but soon it gave way to sheer monotony. The cases are so dramatized and they all follow the same black and white format: extremely evil villains get caught by a bunch of street smart folks out for vigilante justice.
That's ok, I mean. That's what you expect from an episodic drama what's not okay is the sheer amount of stupidity in literally every episode. The way these cases are solved is just mindnumbingly dumb. They hinge on convenient plot devices, pure luck on the good guys's side and Lee Je Hoon's ultra acting skills. Yes, you can let the ridiculousness slide once but not again and again.
▪︎ Just an example: ▪︎
Our ML wants to teach this criminal lady (who voice phishes people out of money) a lesson. He wants to play the biggest uno reverse card in k drama history and instead rob her out of all her wealth. So, what does he do? He romances her ofcourse. That's okay. Then, he goes along with her to the bank and leaves his duffel bag that is CONVENIENTLY fitted with a microscopic camera and asks her to take care of it. And what do you know, this lady who literally runs a whole voice phishing ring and bosses around quite a few dimwits CONVENIENTLY places that duffel bag on the freaking table where her atm pin machine is and she also CONVENIENTLY angles the bag towards the pin machine so the camera can CONVENIENTLY record her pin and the good guys can then CONVENIENTLY use that to rob her out of her money as revenge.
I mean, come on. Who even puts a gigantic ass duffel bag on the table and not the floor in the first place? And even if they do, how can the good guys know for sure that they will. It's just them counting their blessings instead of using actual smarts.
See, this is just one example because every single episode is filled with ridiculous stuff like this that requires a lot of suspension of belief.
Moreover, the way the Taxi Gang operates is akin to flashing a bright neon sign that says 'Look at us! We exist' so the entire secretive, batman hiding in broad daylight saving the world plotline falls flat hilariously.
There are also a lot of flashbacks, scene repetitions and just lazy writing with the way conflicts are written for the main leads.
▪︎Characters▪︎
This is your typical squad of self righteous goody two shoes united by their shared tragic pasts. The male lead is so over powered. He can fight, is smart, is hot, is basically a wonder boy all around. You know your typical oppa in every run of the mill k drama.
These guys never lose. Everything is just a small hiccup for them. Never mind the people they are trying to catch are seasoned murderers/criminals and have been successfully evading the authorities. No, because this gang of average joes can take them down EASILY.
I mean yes it helps that one is a hacker, one is an engineer, one is a CEO- but really these job descriptions are all just for the sake of moving the plot. These are one dimensional characters you've seen in so many dramas before and while there is definitely camaraderie and warmth between them, there's not enough focus on thorough character development both individually and in terms of the group dynamic for us to truly form a connection.
The serious problems they do face in the last couple of episodes are so tropey, badly written and resultant of their own stupidity complimented with pointless death baiting and trucks of doom that it's hard to sympathize.
The antagonists are screechy and definitely not the smartest bunch themselves so the entire drama is just a bunch of goldfishes fighting against each other.
▪︎Female Lead▪︎
Now this just made me mad. Prosecutor Kang Ha Na has to be one of the worst female leads I have ever seen on screen. Now, I know a lot of people didn't like the fact that she was out to get the group but I didn't have a problem with that. My entire issue was how useless she was. Her contribution to the plot was zero and she was just terrible at her job. I wanted her to have like 10 minutes of relevance and I would have been pacified but no throughout the show she wears these badass business casual suits and power walks to... literally nowhere.
She's the last to arrive at the scene, she solves nothing, saves nobody and basically is just a walking talking product placement there to create this fake and hollow opposition for the Taxi Gang and to justify or question their system of justice.
Cause after a while, even you start thinking that if the Prosecutor with so many resources at her disposal can't even decipher the most basic of clues, it's better to just let this rag tag group do their thing.
The only action the poor girl gets is this random gun firing in the air for like five seconds where she badly tries to assert her barely there authority. It's sad, really.
▪︎Plot Development▪︎
The ending episodes just makes the drama look like it's floundering for direction. For like 12 episodes, it has different cases, then suddenly it just focuses on this one villain and then phew that gets solved and what do we know, they pull out an entire plot line from thin air and just throw it in your face. There's no structure at all to the show and it feels like the writer brainstormed all these ideas and just splattered them all on screen without any elegance whatsoever.
▪︎Acting▪︎
Now, here's why watching this drama really hurt me. The cast is phenomenal. Lee Je Hoon is a chameleon. He is great at completely embodying every role he does. Esom is so charismatic on screen. The rest of the cast is great as well but the plot execution and script is so bad that despite the talented cast, it's just 16 episodes of wasted potential.
▪︎What I Did Like▪︎
The only saving grace for me was the comedic moments in the show cause they made me smile and Lee Je Hoon in his various roles was a delight to watch. There was also a lot of potential love/hate bickering chemistry between Kang Ha Na and Kim Do Ki that was left untapped.
The action sequences while enjoyable are nearly not as sophisticated as some other productions. Some fights look obviously fake and visibly "acted". You see the punch, hear the punch but it's like it never really landed lmao. Still, action with hype music playing in the back is always good.
I also loved Esom's Prosecutor boss but he has a total screentime of like 30 minutes in the entire show so that's awkward.
▪︎Ending thoughts▪︎
In my opinion, this drama is a time waste and massively undeserving of the hype. Better examples of episodics with a gang of underdogs fighting crime with crime can probably be found in Bad Guys and Mad Dog.
So, even though I know that you guys are readying yourself for hate comments and downvotes right now, this drama still gets a solid NO for me. Sorry.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Story was not bad, but lack of couple chemistry I guess?
The whole vibe of the story is a bit like vampire/dracula as the main character travels fast, strong and have some sort of power. But I really fancy this kind of story so it is definitely a go-go for me no matter what the rating was.To summarise what I like and dislike about the show for people who are contemplating whether you should go ahead watching!
Things I liked about the drama:
- Handsome male leads with charming characteristics, I meant both Lee Dong Wook and Kim Beom! (Extremely hopeless 2nd lead syndrome here, Kim Beom SO COOL AND CUTE HERE!!!!)
- Unusual warm-hearted brotherhood
- Exciting fighting scenes with effects (More in the first half of the drama)
- Genre (if you enjoyed fantasy you will like this drama)
- Cute second fox couple too (I prefer them than the main ones)
Things I disliked about the drama:
- Female lead (Honestly she had a pretty good acting but I don't know why I felt she is not so suitable for this role)
- Chemistry between the couple (LDW had a pretty good chemistry with Yoo Inna in previous show but not this one), I don't feel the love between the two hence unable to feel the sadness when they broke apart, which it is actually a huge part in this show.
- Although it is a HE, but some parts of the ending are quite speechless and not well explained. Personally I think they should have just cut short the lovey dovey scenes for the couple and do more explanations on the ending (Please don't read below if you do not want spoiler)
***SPOILER***
I don't understand why they made it so deliberately to kill the 2nd male lead just to save the male lead (when all the bad things have already settled down and back to a peaceful life, yet adding in such scene just because 2nd lead is alive). I understand how they wanted to bring out the brotherhood between the two but it was so unfair that they can sacrifice 2nd male lead life but not the male lead ones, duh. So who is the hero here anyway? Also, no explanation on how male lead return, what happened to him and why he became a fox etc.
Lastly, one word to conclude my review: Overall a nice piece and good story that is worth watching but I don't enjoy the couple that much!
Was this review helpful to you?
Lot's of people said they didn't like it and there are those who did like it.
I can understand both.
If you like romance genre, then try it WITHOUT expectations. You can enjoy the main couple's lovey-dovey, the two immortals' fight with each other( a childish one and a repenter one), the childish one's more and more immature acts to get her 'loved' one and beautiful views of places.
If you don't really like anyone in the cast or if you are picky about dramas, then FORGET it. Believe in your hunch! Don't believe in the teasers! (I did and regret it now...)
If you have time then listen to OSTs of it. They are likable.
Rewatching it? NO, I would never do that. NEVER.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Thrilling Descent into Chaos
Hellbound 2 wastes no time plunging us back into its dark, morally complex universe, where divine judgment and human corruption remain tightly intertwined. The stakes feel immediately higher this time, with the narrative digging deeper into the mystery of resurrection while widening its focus to include more volatile, layered character dynamics that are as shocking as they are compelling.The return of Jinsu is one of the season’s most striking developments. His visions and eventual transformation into one of the very creatures that once inspired fear reinforce the show’s core idea: no one stands above judgment, not even those elevated to near-messianic status. It’s a chilling arc that blurs the line between prophet and victim, power and punishment.
At the same time, Kim Jeongchil’s political maneuvering becomes a central driving force. His alliance with the government and his calculated use of Park Jungja as a pawn add a sharp edge of manipulation and desperation to the story. Through him, the series leans harder into the idea that institutions built on belief can quickly become tools of control when fear is weaponized.
Thematically, the season continues to interrogate blind faith and the corruption that follows unchecked power. The New Truth’s “Resurrected One” plan begins as an ambitious attempt to solidify authority, but gradually reveals itself as a symbol of their unraveling grip. Meanwhile, the demonic entities remain an unpredictable, looming presence, constantly reminding both characters and viewers that whatever force governs this world cannot be controlled, only feared.
Hyejin once again anchors the chaos as the show’s moral compass. Her determination to protect Park Jungja and reunite her with her son provides one of the season’s most emotionally grounded arcs. In a world spiraling into fanaticism and violence, her resolve feels almost defiant. That reunion scene, quiet yet powerful, offers a rare moment of humanity amid the relentless tension.
Director Yeon Sang-ho maintains a careful balance between horror, action, and character-driven storytelling, allowing the narrative to build a sense of unease that never quite lets go. The introduction of figures like Senior Secretary Lee adds another layer of political intrigue, reinforcing the idea that power struggles operate just as dangerously behind closed doors as they do in the open.
While Season 2 does offer some answers, particularly around the mechanics of resurrection, it deliberately avoids full clarity. Instead, it leaves lingering questions about the true nature of divine judgment and who, or what, is really in control. The ending reflects that ambiguity, keeping the door wide open for future developments.
Overall, Hellbound Season 2 sharpens its exploration of morality, faith, and authority, delivering a season that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally intense. It leans fully into its unsettling premise, crafting a narrative that feels as thought-provoking as it is haunting, and solidifies its place as one of the more daring entries in psychological and religious horror.
___________________________________________________________
MY THEORIES:
While Jin-su taunts Se-hyeong for wasting his last chance by trusting Jin-su, it is ultimately proven to be Jin-su who wastes his resurrection. He spends his second chance the same way he did most of his first life: selfishly, seeking a salve for his emotional pain without care for the pain he knowingly inflicts on others. Jung-ja’s declaration is its own kind of decree, as Jin-su realizes they are not the same.
Jae-hyeon may have a latent power, just as Jung-ja does.
What we do in this life, and how we care for each other, does matter. Even when Jin-su came back from hell, he feared he might still be in it. We create our own hell, individually and collectively, and even when there is a supernatural power also getting in on the game.
Stories have power, and Hye-jin is giving Jae-hyeon a good and true one. It is the kind of story that Jin-su was never told when he was little and alone. The kind of story Secretary Lee, the New Truth Society, or the Arrowhead would never bother telling because it doesn’t feed the kind of fast, uncaring power they are looking to grow. The kind of story Detective Jin Kyung-hun (Yang Ik-june) tells his daughter, Hee-jung (Lee Re), as she dies from cancer in his arms. Hee-jung lived most of her life under the thrall of Jung Jin-su and his empty promises, but it’s a family picture, a story of love, that gives her comfort in her final moments.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A HEARTBREAKING YET BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED FILM
*Uprising* is a heartbreaking yet beautifully crafted film that takes us on an emotional journey through the friendship of Jong-Ryeo and Cheon-Yeong, set in a time of brutal class divisions in historical Korea. The plot centers on how the rigid social hierarchy affects their lives, particularly Cheon-Yeong, a slave who is forced to endure countless hardships in place of Jong-Ryeo.What starts as a cruel situation, Cheon-Yeong being beaten in Jong-Ryeo’s stead, evolves into a deep bond. Despite the fact that Cheon-Yeong isn’t born a slave, his family’s downfall forces him into this role, and it's his strength and refusal to accept the established hierarchy that makes him stand out. When he begins secretly teaching Jong-Ryeo how to fight, the dynamics between the two change, leading to a friendship that feels genuine despite the social disparity.
However, the film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of their world. Even after helping Jong-Ryeo win a prestigious sword-fighting competition, Cheon-Yeong is denied his freedom by Jong-Ryeo’s father, who breaks the promise of releasing him from slavery. This betrayal deeply scars Cheon-Yeong, though Jong-Ryeo still tries to protect him by sending him off to fight the Japanese invaders, hoping this will finally earn him his freedom. The film is filled with these moments of hope and crushing disappointment.
After years of fighting, Cheon-Yeong returns home only to find the world he left behind in ruins. Jong-Ryeo’s family home has been burned down by the people who suffered under the oppressive rule of his father. In one of the film’s most gut-wrenching moments, Cheon-Yeong tries to save Jong-Ryeo’s wife and son from the flames, but she refuses his help out of pride, seeing him as a slave rather than a person who might save her life. Her death serves as a stark reminder of how deeply ingrained social prejudice was, even to the point of self-destruction.
The climax of *Uprising* sees a tragic reunion between Jong-Ryeo and Cheon-Yeong after seven years of separation. Jong-Ryeo, unaware of the full story, initially believes Cheon-Yeong is responsible for his wife and son's deaths. Their final confrontation is tense, but as the truth is revealed, the film shifts focus from their conflict to a bittersweet reconciliation. Just when they finally resolve their long-standing misunderstanding, Jong-Ryeo is mortally wounded in battle against the Japanese. Cheon-Yeong kills the Japanese leader, Genshin, in a satisfying act of revenge, but it’s too late to save Jong-Ryeo.
In Jong-Ryeo’s final moments, he asks Cheon-Yeong if they’re still friends, referencing an earlier lighthearted exchange from their youth. It’s a poignant moment that captures both the tragedy and beauty of their relationship. Despite everything that has happened, the film shows that love and loyalty can persist, even in death. This scene is devastating, but it offers closure, showing that their bond was real despite the cruel world they lived in.
On a larger scale, *Uprising* also critiques the corruption of the ruling class, embodied by King Seonjo, whose greed and cowardice lead to the suffering of the common people. His alliance with the Japanese and subsequent desertion of his own throne during the invasion sparks the uprising that defines the film. The subplot involving Seonjo and the infamous Japanese leader Genshin, known as the “nose-snatcher,” adds layers of historical context and brutality to the narrative. In a symbolic twist, Seonjo’s greed is punished when the treasure he’s promised turns out to be boxes of human body parts, noses, to be precise, reflecting the horrors of war and the consequences of his betrayal.
In the end, Cheon-Yeong and a few of his fellow survivors form a new community, symbolically named “Beom Dong,” meaning “A world together.” It’s a hopeful note to close the film on, but *Uprising* doesn’t let the audience forget the price paid for such unity. The film leaves you with a lingering sense that although there’s hope for change, the struggle against social inequality is far from over.
*Uprising* masterfully balances personal and political themes, offering a powerful meditation on friendship, loyalty, and the fight for justice. It’s a tearjerker that hits hard, especially as it reveals the lasting impact of societal divisions, even as it tries to inspire hope for a better future.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Double Headache
Blood of Jesus, may this level of love never locate me! See nonsense! Naah, but this sh!t must be ragebait cuz aint nobody that effing in love. Lu Feng needs to go drink some water and chill the eff out with his toxic love. Yi Chen needs to stop looking like he’s living his whole damn life to a sad background song, Yi Chen’s brother needs--no, never mind, eff that dude, he sucks! And Qian Lang needs… actually, he needs nothing. Homeboy could have been replaced by a houseplant in the drama and it wouldn’t have made a damn difference to me. You know what, eff him too.Before I start this review, is it just me or, was this Yi Chen throughout the drama?
Random tiktoker: Hey, brother Yi Chen, choose one of these two options. Option #1, Lu Feng or op—
Yi Chen: *cutting him off* 2. Option 2.
Random tiktoker: But you didn’t even hear the–
Yi Chen: I don’t need to hear what it is. My answer is #2.
LMAO!! ^^That boy was allergic to choosing Lu Feng. Homeboy kept choosing everyone but him. Yikes. Well, he ran in the rain for a bit to make that stupid arse choice in episode 11… but yaayy love, am i rite?
Listen, yes, this is just a drama, yes, chill, still, imma rant cuz that was 12 episodes of annoyance, anger, pain, turmoil, and straight up rage baiting. Cuz, all the characters in this drama were insufferable! At one point I wanted to be Lu Feng just so I could slap myself in the throat! That dumpling scene… nothing vexed me past that hospital scene with the dumplings. Were we supposed to feel bad for him?
First off, I am not #TeamLuFeng or #TeamYiChen. I’m Swizerland, cuz I hate those two leads an equal amount. Perhaps 0,6% less on Xiao Chen (cuz he ghosted his brother that one time), but other than that, every one on this show equally sucked. And don’t get me started on that brother and his twin.. was it just me or did the two look… never mind, another rant for another day.
CHARACTERS:
And I repeat. LU FENG needs to drink some water and chill the eff out. I’ve seen so many people excusing his behavior all in the name of love. Peoples! Are we watching the same drama? No one on his show is a saint but Lu Feng sure as hell isn’t whatever some of y’all making him out to be. Out there talking about ‘he’s so broken because he loves so hard’. Pfft, if you don’t go sit somewhere with your nonsense.
No, but this was Mr.-I-bought-your-favourite-dumplings-and orange-juice-for-you-so-eat-while-you're-in-a-coma 98% of the drama:
Lu Feng: Manipulated, kidnapped, tormented, abused, humiliated and completely shattered Yi Chen.
Lu Feng supporters: OMG, he did all of that cuz he loved Xiao Chen so much. He gave up everything for him and Yi Chen didn’t choose him, so he is entitled to being a scum of a human. He’s so misunderstood and pitiable, cuz he did all of that for love.
ME: May thunder fire you and your family’s goat!
Cuz why? LOVE? Ha! Make this kind nonsense love come disturb my backyard, na slap someone’s son go chop! Some of y’all can’t be serious. LOVE? Yi Chen got shot and couldn’t eat dumplings. Ain’t nobody that in love. Naah, miss me with that sh!t! I’d rather be that one cat lady.
Look, I get it. Lu Feng loves so deep, rare and wholehearted, it even made him sick. When it comes to love, he literally has nothing else in his heart than his love for Xiao Chen, and he’d gladly give up everything for it. Kudos to him, he’s a forever simp, yappiee. So of course he’s gonna be obsessive and do everything to protect it. But, and SO WHAT?
And the rage baiting arguments I’ve seen, like:
# Lu Feng said no to his FATHER and left his family for Yi Chen!... Well no sh!t! Lu Feng’s father was an abusive prick! He was literally beating him, and he was in a family situation where he was clearly not happy, (he's sister seemed like the only partial sane one, bless her heart). So of course, he was gonna protect the one happiness he found, which was Xiao Chen. It was no brainer for him to protect that happiness and choose Yi Chen in that situation.
In contrast, Yi Chen was from a happy (before he met Lu Feng) family that loved him. Two parents and a brother, all they were missing was a dog to be the perfect poster for ‘family’. Then, the father died and the 3 made it work. Sure, his parents wanted him to be ‘normal’ marry a female homosapien, but he saw it as the family that loves him, not wanting him to have a hard life, so of course, he had a hard time letting them go for Lu Feng.
Seriously, what was Yi Chen supposed to do in that situation when everything crumbled? There was his mother who just made new year’s food for them. They were all happy, then bam! She's super sick and at death’s door, but she’s been hiding it so as to not worry her children. Then here comes Mr. Lu Feng with his one track nonsense, selfish love. Like dude, read the effing room, you are the elephant!
Seriously though, was Lu Feng’s brilliant idea that moment to add more fuel to fire? Dude wanted all the credit for angering all their parents to death. Someone’s mom is dying, any little thing will set them off, and dude wants his boyfriend to use that moment to tell his dying mother who he loves to eff off with her homophobic arse and crook already! Like??? And of course Yi Chen said no, so Lu Feng decided the best thing in his situation was to tie Yi Chen up by force, shove his brother down the stairs to disable him, then confront the dying mother.
Dude!! Are you not tired, Sharon? Seriously, that whole episode, I kept screaming: ‘Nah fam, yous is hungry, go home and eat and sleep, cuz you’re doing too much right now!’ Aint no effing way his arse thought he was helping. No, seriously, what was he expecting would happen? Yi Chen told him to go home, give him space, but no, Mr. I’m in love, choose me, had to keep piling on the pressure.
Yes, I get his frustration. I supposed, his whole world felt like it was ending, so he reacted the best way his obsessive arse could. Still, Yi Chen calling the police on Lu Feng’s crazy arse was too lenient, my arse would have added a punch, like calm the eff down, Susan. And yes, I got where Lu Feng was coming from. He gave everything up when he was in the same situation, but Xiao Chen isn’t from a broken home. That decision wasn’t an easy one to make for him. He had a mother he loved (who sucked btw) and a brother he loved (eff him) and a boyfriend who was inherently making things more complicated than they needed to be in a hospital and escalating stuff. Dafug was that bagel supposed to do? Not call the police? Nah, I would have called the national guard, evacuate him from the goddamn country while you are at it! Don’t wanna even run into someone who knows him.
*another excuse* is people going: Lu Feng went psycho and did all of that to Yi Chen cuz he was hurt, heartbroken, and wanted him to feel the pain he felt when he chose his family over him. —- Huh? Is you crazy? That’s not an excuse, that was SELFISH! Dude said he was in love and would do anything, yet, he wanted that love returned (sure, who doesn’t) but he expected the same unconditional love, regardless of circumstances. Also, why they put Yi Chen in that outfit during the kidnapping/house arrest? LMAO it was so on the nose.
Lu Feng was out there crying and talking about: ‘please wake up, if you wake up i’ll never leave you alone again’. and my arse vexed and rolling my eyes like ’now, why is you threatening that poor boy? Like, all he wanna do is get away from you, why the eff he wanna wake up?’ Yi Chen a better person than me, cuz just to spite him, imma be in that coma forever, let us both be miserable, heck even if I woke, imma go back to sleep.
And when he gave him the ring and said he’d wait, I was looking around all confused like… ‘Wait.. hold on. Are we serious? Mfker why you threatening that poor boy in these streets? Dude is traumatized and you wanna put a ring on it?’ Nah, shame, does he even have it?
Listen, before I start on YI CHEN, let me just say, I’m not gonna waste my breath defending that passive human. Dude doesn’t want to be saved, his reason, ‘he’s in love’ Hahahaha see nonsense. Somebody's son don leave his brain for ein mother's womb before he comet from there. Cuz, after all that, dude put on that ring and ran back and even was the one to ask him out again. After all that abuse, emotional pain, the parade of std’s walking around his face and bullying him, while having Lu Feng tongue down their throats, plus the gunshot, mfker went back. Sure, the alternative was his brother (eff that dude) and that one guy, still… he went back, all in the name of love. God forbid! May this kind love never locate me!
Oh Yi Chen. Yi fucking Chen. Dude woke up after all that and the first name he called out is Lu Feng? And the worse part. He made him RAMEN! You know how much you gotta love someone to make them raman?? Nah, eff him, he’s just as bad. Dude vex me pass Lu Feng self. It wasn’t like this dude didn’t know how obsessive and crazy Lu Feng was, but somehow he kept acting like he was waiting for him to become something he wasn’t. Dude literally smoked a cigarette shop outside your gate the first time, grape you the second time, and mfker got a divorce and went straight to look for him, glasses off and everything!
FAM? Like, if you are going to let him go, let him go! What’s with all the half arse break ups? And look back out the car window every time? And knowing how Lu Feng is, Yi Chen promised to love him, stay with him, and then the moment his life gets upset, he chooses every one and their mother but Lu Feng, of course the mfker would go crazy, cuz what’s your love really worth if you can’t stay with him through the tough times?
Like, he knew Lu Feng was going to give up his family, riches, and MONEY for him. Yet, he chose the mother who wants him to give up his happiness so she can die in peace and sacrifice for his brother (gawd I hate that air-breather!) Like, who won’t go crazy in that situation? The woman was two seconds away from kicking the bucket and Xiao Chen, not sure if it was due to his filial piety or love, decided to sacrifice Lu Feng to make her die in peace. Like, you is dying anyway, dafug is it to you if your son out there kissing a psycho dude who is about to be broke? Nah, I too would have shoved people down the stairs.
I hate self-sacrificing idiots. I am pretty sure he thought he was doing the right thing. Making his dying mother happy, sacrificing so his brother didn’t have to give up his love. But why do you have to be a good son and brother at the expense of Lu Feng’s love and heart? Xiao Chen’s love felt too conditioned, too clean. Sure, that first time, he was broken and waited and waited, and couldn’t move on, but when it really mattered he did nothing. Yes, yes, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Still, after the mother died, he basically erased his life and stayed married to his beard!
He gave up on everything and decided to ghost everyone. Dude was like ‘lmao, y’all thought I was gonna stay. Nope, imma go fill the Zhou family with negative energy and waste 5 years of my life cuz my dead mother told me to marry a female and make her and my brother happy. I believe he’s crippled now, but I told his boyfriend he’s his problem now, and also I don’t wanna see him be happy while I’m miserable so good luck to him, his sadness for his mother dying, his brother ghosting him, and his broken legs. I’m out. #peace
Speaking of, my fellow females and males, dafug is with fighting for a man who doesn’t want you? Sister knew brother Xiao Chen didn’t want her, and she still married him. Some love is truly nonsense when all is said and done. Then of course, after disturbing us with her nonsense, she went and re-marry.
THEN after all that! All that! Yi Chen went and take a bullet for Lu Feng! Hahahhaha, Child! Is you alright, Bob? Lu Feng messed him up so much, I’m convinced he developed Stockholm syndrome. And then Lu Feng… hahahha were we supposed to feel bad for him at the hospital scene with the dumplings, cuz my arse was chewing my popcorn and goin ‘my friend, my friend, give it a rest, I am tired.’ I kept waiting for the police to show up and haul his arse away. Also why wasn’t anyone arrested or even charged in that?
And when he woke up and said his name and light appeared in the room. Ew, I wanted to throw up my popcorn, cuz aint no effing way the Lu Feng of that time was the light in anyone’s life. I won’t even say he was a candle, mfker was a flickering, dying firefly at best, couldn’t light shit.
The parents: Eff them both. At least the father had the decency to die in anger. The mother ruined lives and said ‘I’m sorry’ like that would fix anything.
The Second couple: Was the brother dude in love with Lu Feng at some point or another? His love for his brother was as cheap as my auntie’s church wig. Like, what the eff was he trying to achieve with telling the boy he was in love with to date his heartbroken brother… who is completely broken because he deleted a message that might have spared him some pain?
Who was that supposed to help, ho? And that houseplant, he said yes, knowing full well he didn’t like Yi Chen. Sure, he was doing it for someone he loves, but why would you hurt someone like that? Yes, I disliked that brother, still, he was there for Yi Chen, so I guess... he cares and like, his shoulders are nice... still.
And were those stairs not long enough or what? Hmph! Can’t even trust stairs anymore. ‘Hey, Lu Feng, next time try the wall of China.’ Those stairs would have done the job. At first I was like, Damn Yi Chen really exorcized his brother out of his life, but then I was like, I too would have deleted my life from his existence, cuz he was obnoxious when he wasn’t rolling down the stairs, now, he’d be insufferable.
FINALE
I'll be honest, not sure what to feel about the finale. On one hand, sure sad, on the other, they built those bridges themselves and now have to live with the circumstances. Like, Lu Feng went and got himself a titled illness and everything. Then he needed curing, so cue the sad montage. Then, afterwards, he was walking around all brooding, looking depressed, and like he's seconds away from calling it quits. The life in him was just gone. And for Yi Chen, trying to save him borrowed money from his brother (where he got it?) to get house. Sure, but what was the point, Lu Feng was in rehab, and couldn't use the house anyway.
Either way, they both ended up, both broken, healing, and finding a space in between to be happy. I guess, that worked for them, not me though, would have left back in the beginning episode when that dude who shoved me in the school yard started making googly eyes at me.
I wasn’t heartless enough not to feel bad for Lu Feng, but I was heartless enough to go. This is what you get for being in love. Next time, die and come back and be that in love again. Fool!
Any who, all in all, good watch, raised my blood pressure, but that's what these dramas are about, to get us talking. Recommend for anyone interested in black flags. Dude might just be in the same family as Hua Yong and Xiao Fan. Looking forward to more for the actors, their chemistry and acting was very good.
And just for this drama, if I ever meet someone and they go: ‘Long time no see’ imma throw salt over my shoulders and at them… those words started all this, and my arse don’t want none of that. God forbid!
Was this review helpful to you?
It started out as a promising drama. The first episodes were great, you had the various stories set out, and I was ready for a cute drama about friendship, life and romance.
But not even the great acting, lovely secondary characters, and much-anticipated cameos from the R1997 cast could light this drama up.
It's all about the husband scavenger hunt, at least a 90%. It was so focused on that, that two of the characters involved in the love triangle did not have any story other than that. And that's bad, because it means that two of our leads were empty as heck.
My main concern was Najung, the female lead. I think she was the only reason why I did not ship anyone with her in this mess of a drama. Whatever happened to her story? Whenever she appeared onscreen, it was either about her undying love for Trash (the childish part of the love triangle), or something that had to do with her friends (only 10% of the time it was about this, sadly).
And the endgame couple... quite boring, too. This pairing... I won't say much, but unless you shipped it, I'm not sure how satisfied you could be. For me, there was just no spark. Maybe due to the fact that I disliked Najung, or maybe because the writers probably switched their endgame couple toward the middle, throwing away the flow this drama could've had.
This also made the dumped second lead, not saying who, seem like an empty plot point. What exactly was he doing in the show? He started out with a hint of the story, but then he was down-leveled to an empty character, a bit fuller than Najung, but still empty. As I mentioned, he was just there to keep the drama more "interesting", nothing to gain out of his presence, sadly.
To wrap things up, this drama was a disappointment. Maybe because I began watching it with too high expectations thanks to everybody's comments, or maybe because it truly was a bad drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL
What i want to understand is how you can go from being practically the best unexpected K drama of 2025 to one of the worst in a matter of 7 episodes????This show had the strongest first half I've seen in a korean drama for a very long time it had the old school vibes with ur cliche characters who had charm. So how the hell did it manage to go wrong? THE WRITERS THATS WHY
Here are a couple of rewrites that would have made the drama better
First of all there was absolutely no reason for the both male leads to like Go da rim ,Writers need to understand we are comfortable in a world and situation where all the men don't love our female lead i mean it practically made no sense u had 20 years but u didn’t confess until she found someone else HELLLLLLLL TO THE NO, the 2nd male lead should have liked the 2nd female lead and both begin a relationship while still trying to keep Go da rims secret
second of all the whole misunderstanding arc i understand is the basline of the drama but was dragged on too thoughtlessly only for a rather unclimatic reveal, instead the writers should have revealed it during the time he thought the 2nd ml and the 2nd fl we're having an affair. They all should have told him in a funny way they were a couple and him and Da rim would be free to date privately the show would have been 100 percent better if it followed the 4 couples hiding their relationships each pretending to be with the others parthner in public
Third of all
The sister and the chairman and the very uncessary practically useless to the plot brother in law, why were any of these characters given half the screen time??? the completely ruined any potential of character depth with the sister when that BIL was introduced,she truly would have made a perfect addition to his mom and him group to take down the chairman and he would have given her the company without issues???? And honestly that slap the chairman gave Go da rim was completely disgusting and off-putting literally no reason to do that its FKING ASSAULT
Last of all
the whole 2 last episode needed to be thrown out because why are we adding every kind of random uncessary drama cliches known to mankind? i was so baffled i even expected them to add a they met when they were children trope to wrap the huge Christmas present up since they were so keen of destroying any kind of sensible thought process i mean LEAVING THE CITY , YOUR HANDSOME BOYFRIEND WORKS TO WOO YOU BACK,CAR ACCIDENT, AMNESIA they should have made her pregnant instead of her co worker if they knew they wanted to endorse such nonsense
To sum it up
I am truly disappointed in this drama i was in a very big depressing slump this year and the first half of this show really changed that for me it hurts when a drama you know has so much potential just crumbles down due to Lazy writing i mean gather 5 k drama watchers on this app and they could think of a better Second half than this show i know my ideas are probably not the best but in my opinion they are 90 percent better than what we watched on screen it felt like a complete time waste to even invest in such a drama when it all comes burning down. But still kudos to the actors they did an amazing job and kudos to the First episodes writers. I guess we are ending the year with another When the phone rings kind of failure IYKYK.
Merry Christmas people and Happy new fking year
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
a dark and gripping historical thriller
Fair warning, this drama is not suitable for the light hearted. Gyeongseong Creature is one of the darkest and most unsettling dramas I have seen so far. It explores the darkest side of human nature during horrifying times and some scenes may be hard to stomach.That being said, this drama is an unforgettable and compelling narrative of the brutality of Japanese war crimes during World War 2. It is a terrifying yet gripping experience, as we witness the cruel and inhumane conditions of war fueled by the evil and greed of humans. The standout elements of this drama includes the cinematography, an outstanding cast and the high production value, as we have come to expect of high budget Netflix productions. Props to the production team who did an amazing job with the gorgeous set and costume design, both of which helped capture the mid 1900s era in South Korea during Japanese occupation. Additionally the cgi was good, maybe a step down from Stranger Things but solid nonetheless. As for the story, I found the writing to be intricate yet accessible, ensuring that even those not familiar with the history can follow the storyline with ease. The plot was well written and brought to life with strong performances, especially from Han So Hee, Claudia Kim and Park Seo Joon. However I will note that the romance seemed unnecessary and a little forced, but personally it did not bother me too much. In conclusion, Gyeongseong Creature stands out as a thrilling blend of historical drama, supernatural horror, and emotional depth. The series offers a unique exploration of trauma, survival, and the human spirit, while keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with intense action and suspense. The strong performances, especially from the lead characters, and the clever intertwining of mystery and supernatural elements make this show a captivating watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Keep calm and drink on!
While modern affairs says Moonshine is a brand of corn whisky, according to medieval literature, it means high-proof liquor that is produced illegally and the name was derived from a tradition of creating the alcohol during the nighttime, thereby avoiding detection. The drama, in fact, is based on the same concept and truly depicts and justifies throughout.Literally titled "When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon (꽃 피면 달 생각하고)", the show is created by KBS Drama Division & 2 other companies and distributed by KBS. This drama is a debut for the writer Kim Joo Hee and directed by the exclusively KBS PD Hwang In Hyuk.
A period of 10 years ban on alcohol leads to the formation of hidden Moonshine organizations who secretly produce alcohol to do business and to take advantage of the ban by earning plenty. Sequence of events lead to the discovery of stash of such alcohol and while unveiling the forces behind everything, even bigger truths are disclosed which seem to be involving the main leads as well.
Inspector Nam Young (Yoo Seung Ho), appointed at the Prohibition Office (Sheonbu) is a law-abiding officer who craves for justice and truly carry out the ban as ordered by the King. Kang Ro Seo (Lee Hye Ri) is a poor noblewoman who got no skill but to make excellent quality liquor. To live a normal life by making money, she dares to disobey the laws but got a pure conscience and uprightly morale. Byun Woo Suk plays the naive yet calculative Crown Prince Lee Pyo and Kang Mi Na plays Han Yae Jin, a noble lady who is easy peasy and believes in being honest.
In supporting cast, there are many familiar faces like Choi Won Young, Jang Gwang, Jung Young Joo, Moon Kou Kang, Park Ah In, Kim Gi Bang, Im Won Hee, Seo Ye Hwa, Hong Yeon Pyo etc. The acting department was full of decent actors and the performance was overally very good except for Byuk Woo Suk. He didn't show any improvement from his previous dramas and him playing a main character wasn't a good impression though his screentime was significantly reduced in the later half.
Most of the major characters are likable, especially, the ones played by Seungho, Hyeri and Mina; I liked their roles and their characters. The one with the least experience is Mina and I was actually happy seeing her doing good in here.
Plot development is more than just good. It's not a brainy intriguing watch with lots of angst or even heart-fluttering moments. Plus, unlike most of the Korean sageuks, where the central plot gets diverted to plenty of political conspiracies and somehow becomes romance-centric with the goal of uniting the ML & FL in the end, this truly sticks to its main plotline for most of it's parts. The first 2 introductory episodes were able create some impression regarding the moonshine businesses and the progression throughout remained up to snuff and satisfactory.
It obviously has several peak moments as expected but not that stupefying in general; I think that's the speciality about this drama. The ending sequence however got a bit repetitive but it was okay. There's not really much to discuss about the development honestly and it was a good watch throughout. In addition, the pacing remains constant plus up to par and it didn't demand me to skip anything or even fast-forward it at all. I think the biggest plus point for this was the fact that it never ran out of substance involving the main theme, despite an average storyline.
Hwang In Hyuk PD-nim is a familiar face in KBS Drama Division with more than a couple of hugely acclaimed dramas in his resume and the decades of experience seems to have been reflected despite the drama being not a masterpiece of some sort. The screenplay management, premise settings, the scenario conduction and the cinematography have been well taken care of. The overall screen editing is nice, and despite the least amount of emphasis on colour pallettes, the vibe organization using appropriate hue, is brilliantly done. The pacing is good as well; which at few places (for instance ep 9 & 11) felt like becoming slow, but glad they picked up the acceleration shortly.
Writers making a decent delivery in their debut is not new, however, this was indeed a beyond decent one from Kim Joo Hee, and I believe, she should be paid her due credit. The overal value of the script is way more than average though I can't deny the flaws, but I feel those were manageable and I'm sure many of the viewers wouldn't notice. The plot development is simple, steady and entertaining. Some plot elements could be predictive for avid watchers but that clearly doesn't decrease the quality; I must mention, it's a light and decent sageuk. Unlike 90% of recent sageuks, the screenplay doesn't have any fillers and complementary side plots just to complete the 16 episode quota.
In fact, the amount of romance is very less and equally balanced with the bromance line. The development of bonding between different characters including the love relationships, is simple, good and not exaggerated. The patriarchal dominance is almost nonexistent and to my delight, this has so many feminist female, and not to lie, male characters. Using a contrary approach, the female lead here is the saviour of the male lead and in way, anything misogynistic has been included either.
Composed by Park Se Joon, the OST album ha a total of 9 songs and all of them are likable. My most favourite is "Even Though" by Monday Kiz which has beautifully written lyrics that render your heart. "Love Me Again" by Sojung (Ladie's Code) has the old K sageuk vibes. "Who You Are" by Ha Sung Woon is a song with is a soulful romantic track. "Missing You" by Minseo is a heart-rendering song with great vocal values. "Once In A Minute" by Seo Eun Kwang (BTOB) is a jolly track. Other tracks are:
# "Fly High" by LUCY
# "Moonshine" by JAIME
# "Someday" by Miyeon
# "Love Your Everything" by Golden Child
What I liked...
# The feminist female characters.
# The plot transition
# The character arcss and their growths
# The unique conspiracy plot
# The balance between different factors like: romance, bromance, family aspect, royal affairs, conspiracies, comedy, fighting & stunts, etc.
Final Remarks... Overally, "Moonshine" was a good watch in my opinion. It was likable, engaging and not time-wasting. It could have been a very good thing given the concept and storyline but the fact that it is one of those dramas with least amount of noticeable flaws, makes it an average and decent piece. I won't say it's a must watch but please do it in case you're not looking for a simple sageuks with typical yet balanced elements.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It simply doesn't make a lot of sense
My rating might be a bit harsh but this was honestly difficult for me to sit through. I watched A Tale of a Thousand Stars when it aired and got used to curling up on a Friday evening and just enjoying the episodes as they aired each week. To be honest my entire reason for watching this series, along with the fact that I liked the trailer, was that its airtime was the same and, although I doubted I would enjoy it as much as AToaTS, I kind of wanted to keep the routine.But, well, it was a struggle.
Let's start with the story. It's not good. At first I liked the story of an insecure, unpopular kid who doesn't trust easily being liked by a popular guy who also happens to be his crush's best friend. I liked that there wasn't a love triangle but Pi believed there was. I really did like the set-up of Mork liking Pi when Pi didn't like himself and assumed this was a universal reality, no one would ever like him. But why does Mork like Pi? Like why? I enjoyed their online friendship for a while until I realised that Pi is just depending on Mork, it is not two-sided. Ultimately throughout the whole series Pi is never there for Mork really and Mork is constantly there for Pi. It is an unequal relationship, not because of appearance or popularity, but because Mork is in love with an insecure and (more to the point) extremely selfish character. It doesn't make sense. Everything in their development happens suddenly and coincidentally. There is no evolution, neither character comes to realisations about themselves or each other that would make their relationship reasonable. Mork never shows any vulnerability to Pi, Pi shows too much and relies too heavily on Mork without good reason. It is not a believable relationship progression and their attraction is not developed in the script. Why? Do? They? Like? Each? Other? It does not make sense.
As for the second-lead couple the progression was better. They grew on each other and it made sense that they were getting to know each other and were feeling attraction or crushes or whatever. But god it was juevenile. It was trying so hard to be funny with them, especially Duean. I don't know if this is just a cultural difference but I have seen a lot of Thai content and while some of the humour goes over my head sometimes this is just a lot to take. Although the majority of the age demographic of BL fans may be young, the character himself was in his twenties and he was behaving like a pre-teen which was so annoying. The characters themselves matched okay I guess, I have some complaints but whatever. But it was so juevenile which did get seriously irritating.
The acting was variable. Because I didn't like most of the script I will say the acting may have been better with a better script but here we go. Pond (Mork) and Louis (Meen) had believable acting. Their acting was fine. They did a good enough job with characters that were written to be pretty one dimensional. Phuwin (Pi) is not made for acting insecure in my opinion tbh. He kept overacting the insecurities and shyness. Now, I am a naturally shy person and was incredibly insecure as a teen so there was some relatability for me honestly. But when you are shy and insecure, you hide. You try to take up as little space as possible. He sort of had the shy persona down sometimes but other times it was just overdone. I could tell he was acting. And in some intimate scenes between Mork and Pi both actors were awkward which added to the already mediocre script in terms of being unbelievable. As for Neo (Duean) it was overacting 101. I don't know if this was due to his acting, the script, the directing or whatever but it was too much. Just way too much. It was a character you would never meet in real life. So yeah.
I don't love that a makeover happened, but I do like the fact that Mork liked Pi before. Wasn't like he had some dumb realisation later or anything.
I wish I enjoyed this. It really could have been good. But it was too nonsensical to be funny and too soulless to be romantic. The characters were largely too one dimensional to be believable and everything fell apart after that really. The plot wasn't character driven it just sort of happened because someone said it should, which is not good writing.
One other (relatively small) pet peeve is the fact that three brothers from one family are all gay. Like, why? C'mon now people. Not saying it's impossible but it's just a little hard to believe. Especially when added to the fact that the two younger brothers both have love interests who are themselves brothers with each other. Okay, whatever.
The fans were annoying and overacted. They were not funny. They were toxic but there was no analysis of why they are being toxic and there was no arc where that behaviour changes (which it should and would have been satisfying to watch).
At the end of the day I would not recommend this series to be very frank. There are far better series out there. This one is an acceptable idea with poor execution.
Was this review helpful to you?
The thriller aspect with kidnapper storyline just becomes tiresome halfway through, with the usual moronic police investigation/constant mistakes in capturing the uninspired villain.
I found the comedy scenes totally unfunny and embarrassing.
The romance was ruined for me by the coy and overly cutesy acting by Park Bo Young. I am not a fan of ayego.
My biggest problem with this drama was the main female lead Do Bong Soon. I disliked her thoroughly and cannot understand how others found her likable and described her as an admirable strong woman. For me she is nothing but a two-faced, passive aggressive bully. She casually assaults people and then acts all sweet and innocent as if butter wouldn't melt. I found her hypocrisy a total turn off. She is smug and rude to her superiors at work. She bullied and assaulted people everywhere she went, if it had been a man doing these things everyone would have been up in arms . By the end of the drama I started to dislike the actress as well - as it is her portrayal not just the writing that i found so unpleasant.
Other things I did not like:-
- the contrived love triangle which went nowhere and made me question why it was introduced it in the first place.
- the way DBS mother treated her husband was totally unacceptable. If I were him I would have divorced that useless harridan in an instant.
- the main male lead's besotted act went rapidly from cute to cringe.
- the cliched depiction of the gay character.
All in all an utter disappointment I had looked forward to this drama as the 3 main leads were all on my like list but after this debacle I will have to rethink my stance.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It doesn't matter if some people hate me. And let me be alone here - but I enjoyed it. A series to have a good evening. I was really looking forward to the end of this series so I could watch it later. And I was not disappointed. I really liked it. JoongDunk acting has improved. And this is noticeable in many episodes. For example, in the episode where Zo and Joke have their first time/first night. I really liked this scene. Zo's embarrassment, hesitation, awkwardness - how well Dunk portrayed it. You watch it and you rejoice that the writers added conversations and such a scene. In most of the series I've watched, the main characters are so experienced and active in their first time/first night. So this Zo and Joke scene appealed to me.
I also liked the scenes with aggressive Zo. It's probably funny, but it is. I think Dunk manages to portray aggression excellently.
The plot itself is filled with tenderness. It really seemed that way to me. Yes, the plot is not genius, but it's not as bad as many people write here. But I liked the idea of the writers about the plot. And I won't even mention the chemistry between the main characters. It's just unbelievable. The looks, the tenderness, the kisses. Haha
Again, I don't understand some people who obsess over these debates. What's the big deal with it? I don't understand comments like "I forgot that Zo is part of the debate club", "the plot is not consistent, I forgot about the debates". I am not in any way condemning these people. I know that everyone has different tastes. But some of them remain incomprehensible to me. The series' plot doesn't revolve around debates. Imagine if they talked about debates every 5 minutes for 12 episodes. People wouldn't have liked it, they would have said that apart from debates, there is no plot. It's the same thing.
I liked how they tried to show the problems between parents and children here, about unhappy first love. Especially in the 9th episode, they managed to show that relationships are not always perfect, any misunderstandings or attempts to hide the truth can have consequences. Zo and Joke showed us that. And yes, I understand that the reason for their fight may seem trivial/stupid to some. But as I already said, it's about relationships, where any small misunderstanding can have consequences. Furthermore, I can understand why Zo reacted that way. He had an unsuccessful experience with his first love. Moreover, I like such scenes in series, they are a kind of resemblance to real life, and about situations that can happen in real life.
Overall, I liked it. Yes, the plot may be banal, but I liked it. And honestly, I can't understand why everyone doesn't like Dunk's acting? Maybe it's because I liked the series, and I liked the main actors, and I just don't notice it. But after watching the series "Sky and Stars," I still don't understand what's wrong with Dunk's acting. I personally really like it. Especially his smile.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
