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The Full-Time Wife Escapist: New Year's Special
14 people found this review helpful
A Delightful Pregnancy/New Parent Story
This is a follow-up special to the excellent 2016 J-Drama Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu and if you enjoyed that series, then this special is absolutely a must-see. The film is a tad didactic about pregnancy and new parenthood, but I think that even people who have not seen the original series can enjoy it as a standalone movie.The special continues roughly three years after the end of the series. Mikuri and HIramasu are now happily and genuinely (if not legally) married, and working hard at their jobs. Mukuri's Aunt Yuri has broken up with Ryota, and facing her prospects as a successful business woman with no life partner.
The story largely focusses on Mikuri and Hiramasu as they discover that a child is on its way, and have to deal with the usual issues of first-time parents in Japan which are complicated by the birth occurring immediately before the first Covid lockdown in Japan. The show deftly addresses the systemic resistance to the legally mandated parental leave by Japanese businesses, and places the two on the front lines of trying to change the work culture to reasonably accommodate pregnancy.
Most of the side characters return for the special, and the series continues to be unusually LGBTQ+ positive in comparison to most J-dramas. Hiramasu's gay previous boss Numata is now living with the guy he met in the final episode and there are a couple of other good solid moments of inclusion as well.
All in all, this special is a happy story about a young couple facing the challenges of pregnancy and new parenthood. It is a test for their relationship, but it is one that they work together to face, and in the end they have a loving, growing family in the new normals of life in Covid times and the acceptance of LGBTQ+ relationships.
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1How to make a noona romance work for 2 sweet and caring individuals
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75This is a simple Jdrama with a very common plot. If you like older women/younger men and fake relationships, then this is a decent watch. The plot is really nothing special but it’s comforting if you like certain tropes.
The leads have pretty good chemistry and the acting is decent. I would have liked to see Mizuki’s cold personality last a little longer before he falls so in love with Yukino. Afterall, the English title of this drama is “Aoshima-Kun is a Bully!” Well, he wasn’t really a bully and even if he was, it didn’t last long.
The drama focuses on two kind and considerate individuals at different stages of their lives. When they get together, their approaches to romance and relationships are quite different. There’s a lot of back-and-forth guessing each other’s feelings and getting stuck in their own thoughts, instead of communicating. I would not say there are many misunderstandings, and they do talk eventually and resolve conflicts quickly.
What I like about Yukino (FL) is that she is a regular, working woman. She dresses appropriately for work and also at home in her casual wear and PJs. I act just like her when I am lounging at home! LOL Her reservations of love given her past experiences, are totally understandable and age-appropriate. What’s not age-appropriate is the typical shy and somewhat coy behaviors for an experienced 35-year old who had multiple relationships in the past. She might take the initiative to reach out for a kiss or two, but for the most part, she appears inexperienced in PDA.
My biggest complaint is probably the side plot about the family member introduced in the last couple episodes. I don’t think that storyline is needed and it was not well-written.
This is a quick and OK watch. I enjoy the fake relationship trope (though it’s not really a big focus) and seeing how two sweet and caring people try to make the relationship work.
Completed: 9/21/2024 - Review #487
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First impression: stands out more for its ambition than for consistently polished execution
In its opening episodes, Sammy’s Children’s Day presents itself as an ambitious entry within the BL genre, leaning less on the comfort of idealized romance and more on a narrative shaped by contrast. Setting the story in the 1980s Kowloon Walled City is not just an aesthetic choice, as it defines the entire viewing experience. The environment is chaotic, violent, and unpredictable, and that energy carries directly into the tone, which blends crime, humor, and melodrama in ways that aren’t always perfectly balanced, but are almost always engaging.The narrative structure stands out for its relatively brisk pacing. Unlike many slow burns that take their time laying the groundwork, the first episodes here quickly introduce conflicts, relationships, and even major turning points. This creates a double-edged effect: on one hand, it keeps the viewer engaged and avoids any sense of stagnation; on the other, it weakens the emotional impact of certain developments, which arrive before the audience has fully connected with the characters. Even so, there’s a clear intention to develop the central relationship gradually, building a steady tension that keeps the story compelling.
It’s in the dynamic between He ChuSan and Xia LiuYi that the series finds its strongest footing. Their contrast isn’t treated as a simple trope, but as a driving force of the narrative, exploring differences in personality, social standing, and worldview. Their chemistry works from the start, largely supported by performances that balance intensity with lightness. Even within a violent setting, the series allows space for humor and more spontaneous interactions, which humanize the characters and keep the story from becoming overly heavy.
From a technical standpoint, Sammy’s Children’s Day shows above-average care in certain areas. The cinematography and production design play a key role in immersion, with framing that enhances both action and quieter, more intimate moments. In contrast, the fight scenes reveal clear limitations, whether in the lack of polish in the choreography or in editing choices that disrupt the flow. The dubbing can also be distracting at times, creating a disconnect between dialogue and performance that undercuts some of the more emotionally charged scenes.
Overall, the opening episodes build a series that stands out more for its ambition than for consistently polished execution. There’s a strong identity taking shape, supported by a striking setting and characters with real dramatic potential. At the same time, issues with pacing, tonal balance, and technical finish suggest a production still searching for its footing. If it manages to better align these elements as the season progresses, Sammy’s Children’s Day has all the potential to move beyond a strong first impression and establish itself as one of the more interesting entries in the genre.
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In all forms of art, "The Art of Negotiation" is my new favorite!
Yoon Jun Ho, the face of a man who shows no fear, has nothing to lose.The storyline was full of wonders and intricacy that kept me on my toes with all the political intrigues and calculated machinations by Yoon Jun Ho. The way the M&A team side-stepped attempts at their goals and thwarted their potential ruination was exciting to watch.
I have noticed that except for Yoon Jun Ho, all the M&A members ask questions a lot! Mr. lawyer, Sun Yeong, explained judicial terms and conditions and the financial advisor, Min Jeong, let the intern, Jin Su, know about the financial terms, problems and awareness in a way that you can't help but listen and try to understand every bit of it.
That intern was not there for no reason. He was there in every situation as a representative of the audience. Just like the viewers, he was also a newbie in this industry and learning things. So, whenever he questioned terms, he also questioned for normal people like us, and naturally, that's how we got our answers out of curiosity without wasting time in storyline.
They didn't do wish-whoosh-wash extravagant camera angles, stunt work and over-the-top pop bgm but they slowly but steadily built the plot with intricate details of how the corporate world works. This was a drama of great mindwork. Fighting with people not with fists but with knife-sharp brain skills.
The twists and turns had me open-mouthed and several times I found myself gasping in frustration and disbelief. Every time I thought "there's no way out of this situation", they proved me wrong in every episode, leaving me in awe of the characters as well as the plotline and how well it was written. I couldn't even imagine how it would end till the end of the episode. They made sure episodic problems were solved and characters from there were well-used when needed; what an intelligent move!
Just the way I like brainless shit comedies, I also like smart, clever, intriguing plots like this. Loved how the camera and storyline span from one character to another character seamlessly. The little, unnoticeable details they put in and made a bigger purpose out of it was brilliant!
Last but not least, the choice of soundtracks was also intriguing. They retained a suspenseful tension throughout the series.
When the mood got tense, the lyrics-
"The world is a deep, dark ocean
Of greed, loss, and betrayal
Hang onto your sweet emotions
'Cause money takes the heart
Money takes the heart"
-filled the air with utter satisfaction!
Overall, if you are looking for a fast-paced business drama, it's definitely not for you, but if you're looking for an out-of-the-box thrilling ride of how negotiation in the business world works, then you're welcome to the world of betrayal, greed and revenge of "The Art of Negotiation".
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This review may contain spoilers
I just finished the drama and i was somehow disappointed with all the hate comments i have been reading even before i see the ending.I cannot say that the drama was perfect but it was not bad afterall. I am a psychology major student and i guess it was the main reason why i enjoyed the drama.(doesn't mean that the symptoms or cases of DID shown are possible because it was just fictional )
Hyun Bin was Hyun Bin. He was a great actor that could make us cry a river with his crying scenes. Until the end i still see seo jin and robin as different person and he did a well in portraying both characters. On the other hand, han ji min who was highly bashed for her acting skills in this drama was reasobable. there are maybe some parts she lacks emotions but not until the last episodes (with robin ) that made me cry like a baby.
I understand that the hate and disappointment of all the other reviews rooted from their own expectations. they are asking more of the scenes they wanted like more seo jin and hana scenes. blaming han ji min for bad character when she was only portraying her role according to the script.
Unlike the majority, I loved this drama. One of the dramas that made me weep and flood my room.
Somewhat SPOILER:
For the bias part. . until the end i was hoping robin would overcome seojin and hana and him would be together, I liked robin more because i see him as another seojin not just a mere symptom of his illness. I see his pain and i love how he is able to give love and protect people beyond all their hate of his existence.
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Enemy to the heart, turns out the direction to become lovers isn't too far.
Since I have nothing better to do, why not make a whole review revamped about my favorite lakorn Jark Sadtroo Soo Hua Jai (English Translation: From Enemy to the Heart)Something to make clear: This is a slap kiss lakorn but sometimes people don't think so, imo definition in slap kiss there are forced kisses, forced seduction, and some sort of makjang, male chases female first. Don't turn back though, since you'll find yourself relaxed even if there are forced kisses, the slap kiss level on this is medium (more bolder than Kluen Cheevit, but less than Hua Jai Sila). So don't get warned with all of the slap kiss tags on there.
I'm deciding to make my review medium sized since it was a long one and I decided that making another review for my favorite lakorn is the best.
One word since I'll use this A LOT: Chemistry.
That's right chemistry makes it. The chemistry between Aum and Mik is burning hot that it burned my soul and body. They have the best chemistry in Channel 7 and though this is subjective, many people did love their chemistry and I might be the number one fan that loves the chemistry, of course again chemistry is subjective and people may have their picks.
If you somehow decide to torture yourself and miss out on this lakorn, by dropping it don't. Stay until at least episode 7 and if you don't feel the chemistry, your a tortured soul (Just Kidding, Am I? LOL).
Mik Thongraya as Jett I'll give 5 words since this is supposed to be a short review: Caring, Protective, Possessive, and madly in love with the female lead, oops I went over limit.
Aum Patcharapa as Sophita this time I will really give 5 words: Cold, Protective, Business Minded, Family Minded and oh a professional in rejecting Jett's feelings. (Just so you know there is a good 10 episodes where she decides that she likes the male lead, while he falls first in episode 5 or you think of it as 1 LOL).
Both of them have done the best, of course many Aum lakorns aren't subbed but she is the queen of lakorns in Thailand I don't know how well she acted in other lakorns but to this day I consider this as her best lakorn and Mik's as his best and my favorite, along with their best performance to date of what I saw with them. Mik thongraya is my second favorite actor in Thailand, and Aum is one of my favorite actresses due to this lakorn, that's how much chemistry lasts.
I don't think anyone could replace their chemistry and they are my top OTP in lakorn land and one of my top's in all of Asian drama land.
Supporting characters did what did they, gave us relief since there were many intense moments here. The villain's were stiff although I'd say Rawin did make a impact on me with his acting, and the twist to the villain is great. Rin did a great job as well.
Even after this airing in 2020, and now 2021 I still think this has a very unique plot, I LOVE IT! Hmu if you find something like this.
There were many sweet moments between the leads and I would say this did really focus on romance but with a touch of the action with the side. Jett imo, is a very twistable character so if you get annoyed or fearful of him at the start, understand that he is nothing compared with normal lakorn male leads, despite the forceful kisses and there isn't rape here although a uncomfortable almost willing.
The music is chef's kiss like the lakorn is, the title song represents the lakorn. The song by Nam Kula I had it on repeat, the first one just showed that Jett felt like he was in a one sided love waiting and waiting for the Sophita, and I outright loved it. The song by Lula shows Sophita's wavering in hate from love and I loved it.
This has a happy ending and I don't want to spoil more I already gave off plent.
Watch this give this a try, it's my favorite lakorn it can become yours too. There's nothing wrong with trying this, I mean I even made a review twice you can see my dedication into getting you to watch this, and usually Moonlight is the laziest person on earth.
I've rewatched this about 30 times so far and yes I'm crazy, I feel shy admitting this, I need wine now. The rewatch value is high for me and the chemistry doesn't die down EVER, oh and this has steamy kisses in lakorn world where we get half as**d kisses.
Have a glass of vodka because the starting is very hyped up and enjoy watching!
(Wait this got too long, OH SORRYZ (it was supposed to be short at first T-T)
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Cheng lei did so good in comedy !
The story is good for me since it’s romance and the storyline is good I loved that they let the excitement and mystery till the end which make the viewer watch till the end.
The chemistry is so good I felt everything with them they did great.
The side characters are well written And the actors did the best !
I gave it 10 coz It’s the only drama that made me excited and waited for every episode since the beginning !
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This is one of those dramas that is truly flawless.
Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru (aka Cursed in Love) is a drama based on the manga of the same name. It tells the story of a girl named Nao, who enters Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop, under a false identity in order to investigate her mother’s death and prove her innocence.Honestly, I was initially reluctant to give this drama a chance, as I’m generally not a big fan of J-dramas. Plus, I wasn’t sure how the story would unfold or if it would be worth my time. But I finally gave in, and once I started watching, I just couldn’t stop. This drama was so addictive that I watched seven episodes in one sitting, which was a first for me.
What I especially liked about this drama is that it offers a little bit of everything—romance, murder mystery, a strong female lead, interesting side characters, and an evil matron. On some levels, it feels like a typical soap opera, but what makes it truly stand out is the way it was executed. The plot, the cast, their chemistry, and the overall pacing were all just perfect. Plus, if you're into kimonos and Japanese cuisine, you’ll enjoy this show even more. Kudos to the entire cast, crew, and writers of Cursed in Love for creating such an amazing drama.
Finally, this drama is probably one of the BEST Japanese dramas out there, and I can definitely see myself rewatching it in the future. To anyone contemplating whether to watch or not—definitely check it out. I'm sure you won't regret it.
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Off-kilter visuals, clever dialogue and ingenious music choices provide plenty of humor (don't miss the little bonus scenes tacked on at the end of each episode), but they’re in the service of serious themes. Without ever becoming overly didactic, the show notes the fragility of life and the importance of embracing the here and now. The protagonists may long for extraordinary riches (in this case, tons of hidden gold), but their everyday interactions are where true value lies. For the viewer, though, the biggest prize is getting to savor this underrated gem of a show. Like all treasures, it may be hard to find, but you’ll be well rewarded if you seek it out.
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This review may contain spoilers
JiaLun As A Masked Man, NICE!! Handsome, & Gorgeous!! But Pissed Off, Because His Voice Is Not HIS!!
Happen To Come Accross The 1st Episode When I Turned On My T.V. And Checked If All The Episodes Were Available, Only 20 Were... I Was Excited To See JiaLun As A Masked Man... Very Handsome, And Mysterious, But When He Talked It Wasn't His Own Voice!!! Very Pissed, And Angry That It Isn't His Voice!!! I LOVE HIS VOICE!!! I HATE IT WHEN THEY DON'T USE THE REAL ACTORS VOICE!!! Anyways I Started Watching This On September 25, 2024 And Finnish The 1st Episode At 9:38 A.M. Probably Will Finnish All 20 Episode Today... 😂🤣😂 Yes, I Bing Watch!!!So My Thing Only Went Up To Episode #10, Finnish All 10 Episode By 7:00 P.M. Now I Have To Wait Like Everyone Else For The Rest Of The Episode... 😭☹😭
So Far My ONLY BEEF IS JIALUN VOICE IS NOT HIS, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS... CONFUSING!!! Another Thing Is JiaLun's Character Being So Mean, And Cruel To The Female Leads Character.
In Episode 10, He Gets To Be A Little Softer, Because He Loses Alot Of People He Cares About. He Is Obviously Growing Feelings For Her Too...
I Have To Say So Far I Am Really Liking This Drama... I Like The Story Line, And Everything About This Drama. What Crazy, And Intresting At The Same Time 2 Different Men Work For The King, Both Plotting Against Each Other, But Helping Each Other At The Same Time...
At The Same Time This Poor Girl Kind Of Gets Dragged Into The 2 Male Leads Drama, And All She Was Trying To Do Was See A Certain Person, And Just Enjoy Some Wine... JiaLun's Character Already Tried KILLING HER 3 TIMES. JiaLun, And The Male Lead At 1st, And Probably Still Are Using Her To There Advantage.
ONE THING I TURELY LOVE IS THAT JIALUN'S CHARACTER WEARS A FACE MASK THAT COVERS HIS NOSE, AND MOUTH... I Ain't Going To Lie... It Makes Him Look So Handsome, Gorgeous And Mysterious All At The Same Time. (Ever Since I Saw Him In The Blue Whisper, 3rd Chinese Drama I Ever Watched. I Have Always Thought He Was So Handsome, And Gorgeous.)
Will Write More When Other Episodes Come Out. 7:37 P.M.
January 3, 2025 @ 4:38 A.M. I Could Not Find A Way To Get Back To This Review To Update It Until Today. 😂🤣😂
Even Though Jiang Ci Was All About Her Teacher, And Wanting To Leave JiaLun's Character To Go Meet With Her Teacher, She Always Seem To Make Her Way Back To Him Some Way Or Another, Because Of Him, Or Her Teacher. DESTINED TO BE TOGETHER, In A Way I Guess. It Was Fate, He Tried To Kill Her 3 Time, And She Started Falling For Him... 😂🤣😂 HaHaHa, That So Funny, And Depressing All At The Same Time.
I Will Say This Though All The Hard Ship, And Pain Jiang Ci, And JiaLun's Character Wei Zhou Had, They Should Have Been Able To Be Together... JiaLuns Character Even Though Mean, And Kind Of Evil To Jiang Ci In The Beginning Did Show, And Prove His Love For Her At The Very End. Jiang Ci Also Showed Her Love For Him, And Supported Him Though All The Dangers To Her Abilities.
As JiaLun Starts Revealing He Is Xiao WuXia, His Old Town Called YueLuo That His Father Was A Leader Of Turns On Him, Because His Family Was Framed For Murdering A Qi Prince, Which Turns Out To Be Jiang Ci's Father. While His Father, And Mother Were Murdered Too... Mean While A General That Wants To Take Things Into His Own Hands Wants To Kill All Of The People Of YueLuo. This General Wanted The Towns People To Open Door To The City, Or He Would Kill There Children That He Had As Hostages, But The Young Leader Of The Town Would Not Dare Say Anything, So JiaLun's Character Had To Threaten His Life In Order To The Gates Closed. The General Had One By One Killed, Some Even Committing Suicide, And Telling There Parents They Weren't Scared, And For YueLuo They Were Willing To Die. EVIL GENERAL, EVEN THOUGH THE WERE ALL DEAD, HE HAD HIS ARM SHOT ARROW'S INTO THE DEAD BODYS.
In The Night All By Himself Risking His Life As Xiao WuXia He Went, And Got All Of The Dead Bodies All By Himself, Because All The Towns People Wanted Them Back.
Again They Blamed JiaLun's Character, And He Said He Was Sorry, And That He Wasn't A Good Leader, But If He Allowed Them To Open The Doors More People Would Have Died. They Threw Rocks At Him.
Eventually The Towns People Did Start To Like Him, I Guess A Little Bit, Because When The Now Wei Zhao Was Being Attacked, And Almost On The Brink Of Being Killed Jiang Ci Went To The Town Of YeoLuo To Ask Them For Help To Save Him, They Didn't Hesitate To Go, And Save Him.
There Is Way To Much To Write, I Literally Could Write A Book... But The Thing That Makes Me The Most Angry, And The Most Upset, Even More Then JiaLun's Voice Could, And Might Not Be His Own... I Get Wanting To Protect Jiang Ci From The King. (By The Way, The King Is WAY TO Evil Too... He Convinced Or Forced The Qi Prince To Kill Himself, Then Framed Xiao WuXia's Family For It. Jiang Ci Is His Daughter, And We Only Find This Out, Because, The General Some How Brakes The Little Clay Cat She Has With Her. The Qi Prince Wrote A Letter To Her, And Stuck It In The Clay Cat.)
Anyways I Get Wanting To Protect Jiang Ci, And Keep Her Safe, Even After The Marriage Ceremony He Did While She Was Sleeping, And It Representing He Is Now Her Husband, But Come On They Went Though So Much Together. Him Dying, Because Of A Building Colapsing On Him, Just Doesn't Work For Me. The King Tried To Have Wei Zhao Killed By Blowing Up A Shrine To Pray To Family, But Instead Wei Zhou Knew, And Kept The King There, And The King Died, But Wei Zhao Was Stuck In The Collapsed Building While Jiang Ci Was Trying To Dig Him Out Which Was Of No Use.
Before It Collapsed Wei Zhao Had Told Jiang Ci He Had Done Something At The House For Her, And He Left Something There For Her. The White Jade Hair Pin.
She Leaves The Town, And Everyone Behind, Only To Come Back 5 Years Later With A Little Boy To There House And The 1st Thing You See Are The Plants, And Flowers Are All Alive, And Well, And Thriving.Then You See JiaLun's Character In His White Outfit Kind Of Smiling And That Is The End. Not Sure If Wei Zhao Was Really There Or Not. 😭😭😭 Which Makes Me Really Sad For Jiang Ci, And Her 5 Years Old Son, Because He Never Got To See How Tallented, And Wonderfully Good His Father Was A Fighter. His Father Could Fight Off 100-200 People, But Couldn't Fight Off A Collapsing Building. It Is Actually Really Sad If Ask Me. Xiao WuXia His Son. Either.
Finnish This Review On January 3, 2025 At 6:48 A.M.
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Awful! Awful! Awful!
I Really wanted to give this show straight zero's, my rating is being kind.I think someone with a good idea wrote a horrible script and maybe they had money to throw away so they produced it, or had ties with someone in the industry, I don't know.
I did watch the whole thing, all though I watched other shows in between, but I really wanted to leave a review and I won't do that unless I watch it all.
It really is a convoluted mess. It's not really what I would call a BL since there wasn't really any romance, unless you want to count a couple of flashbacks that were pg rated.
I can't recommend this, but I know some of you will watch it out of curiosity, which is ok, as long as you understand it's all confusing, a bit creepy in places and the ending is as disappointing as the entire series.
This definitely goes to the bottom of my list - I certainly won't watch it again. In one review someone mentioned they hoped for a second season so they could get some answers???? There are no answers - and the only question I have - is WHY was this even produced?
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Give it a try and all you'll be saying after watching it is wow, what an exceptionally good movie this is.
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A Satisfying Journey
Story: 49 Days is one of those dramas where the story is really interesting even if it was just the first episode. That is what dramas should be. Dramas should pull you in right at the start. The story was unique and very engaging right from the get go. The characters were also written with a lot of interesting shades so that no character looks dull and uninteresting. This isn't a fast moving drama but I thought that the pace was actually really nice. The flow of the story was just enough. I really liked how it gradually showed the story.Acting/Cast: The acting didn't start out as strong as I would have liked it to be. It did improve a lot as the drama progressed. Some of the acting wasn't as good as the others but overall, everyone did a nice job of portraying their characters. The chemistry between the actors were really good.
Music: It surely doesn't have the best OST or music but there were some nice musical choices that helped the drama especially in some scenes. Some musical choices were a little jarring at first but it gets better as the drama progressed.
Overall: For me, 49 Days is one of the dramas that I will never forget. It is one of the best dramas that I watched because it actually has a really great storyline. It wasn't interesting just because of the actors unlike other dramas. It was interesting because it showed a really unique story.
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I was just going to watch it to pass time. BOY, that was one of the most dangerous decisions ever. After the 2nd episode, I stuffed my homework in a corner and started racing through this show like crazy. I couldn't stop.Whenever I stopped I thought bout this day in day out! I marathonned this show till I couldn't remember where I stopped, and though I told my mum I would watch it with her, I hehe didn't. (though i still rewathced it with her after that). Okay, all these aside. i think you get my drift, this drama was hands-down AMAZING.
Plot: It's the typical rich-guy-poor-girl drama, but I happen to love those dramas a lot! It absolutely doesn't hurt that the leads have an AMAZING CHEMISTRY THERE
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