Reviews

MY COMFORT K-DRAMA! SWAGGG!!

I'm not a person who rewatches kdramas no matter how I loved a series, but THIS? I've rewatched a kdrama for the FIRST TIME and I didn't skip a single second in rewatching it! I find it hard to find good kdramas to watch nowadays so I thought why not rewatch some of my favorite ones? And I did! I really loved their OST ever since I was young when I first watched it until now. I remember my favorite moments of the main characters and it still hit me as it did watching it again. I really love their trope, such a healthy relationship of a couple. The ML had outright communicated with the FL immediately when he couldn't understand on why she was angry at him, which is something I don't see often in kdramas that a couple does. I really loved that, no wonder why in my future relationships I'd really want to have that kind of comfort and communication with my future partner! Both actors were dating that time no wonder why the acting felt more natural and it was definitely NAM JOO HYUK's prime era kdrama. This wasn't like other kdrama's I've watched, the story isn't common. I really loved how chaotic and funny they were together even before they got together. I'd love to have a relationship like them one day, I just love how CHALANT Nam Joo Hyuk is towards Lee Sung Kyung in that kdrama. I can rewatch it a million times and would never get bored as long as I see my comfort kdrama couple on screen! The sports academy really shows the life of an athlete like a swimmer, gymnast, and a weightlifter. I was so glad that Si-ho weren't those typical ex girlfriend's who wanted to get back with the ML even though they're already with the FL. I like her. I didn't like what she did to Bok-joo, but she definitely had some kind of character development at the end. Maybe on my sad days I'd rewatch this for some sweet rom-com moments and if I'd really need a good laugh! This will always have a special place in my heart. 🫶🏻

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A beautiful love story wrapped in layers upon layers of deception, sacrifice & soul-crushing angst.

Veil of Shadows delivers far more than just a typical romance or fantasy drama. Like many of the same genre, at its heart, it’s both a love story and save-the-world story, but what truly sets it apart for me is the constant uncertainty. For much of the journey, you’re left questioning everyone: Who is truly the hero, and who is the villain? Are the supposed heroes secretly manipulating everything from the shadows, or are the antagonists simply misunderstood? That constant uncertainty made the story incredibly engaging because I never fully knew who to trust or root for.

The romance is one of the strongest parts of the story. Here, love is defined by sacrifice, and characters are willing to defy fate, the world, and even their own inner struggles to protect the one they cherish. It’s tragic, but also deeply moving.

The characters are another major strength. With two deceptive nine-tailed foxes (Lu WuYi and Wu Wang Yan), a demon hunter who may actually be a demon or even a dragon deity (Wu Shi Guang), Ji Ling whose identity keeps changing throughout the story, and Li Jie, a demon hunter with mysterious and questionable past, there is always something new to question. Their identities and motivations are layered, and I loved constantly guessing and second-guessing who they really were. Despite all the deception, their relationships with each other are touching, and some of the best moments are when they come together and work as a team.

The acting was also impressive. TJR and JJY especially stood out to me as Lu Wuyi and Ji Ling. The way they portrayed yearning, heartbreak, loneliness, and every emotion in between was absolutely beautiful to watch. They brought so much depth and feeling to their characters that it was impossible not to be moved by them. A lot of the cast also had the challenge of playing multiple roles, especially TJR and Yan An, and they handled it incredibly well. What I loved most was how clearly distinct each version of their characters felt. Through their expressions, body language, and overall energy, you could immediately tell who they were portraying at any given moment. Each role felt like a completely different person, which made the performances even more impressive. Overall, the entire cast did a fantastic job.

Visually, this drama is absolutely s t u n n i n g. Like other GJM works, it's full of beautiful costumes, gorgeous cinematography, attractive and beautiful actors, and high production value. Every scene feels carefully made, and it’s truly a feast for the eyes.

The music is also amazing. Emotional, beautiful, and perfectly matched to the story, it adds so much depth to every important moment, heightening every heartbreaking, suspenseful, and triumphant sequence.

And of course, angst! Endless, delicious, devastating angst. If emotional suffering, yearning, sacrifice, and heartbreak are your thing, this story absolutely delivers!!!

The ending was satisfying; happy enough, yet touched with a bittersweet note that made the sacrifices feel meaningful.

My main criticism lies with the villain. While the heroes and morally gray characters are fascinatingly complex, the primary antagonist feels comparatively one dimensional. I tend to prefer villains shaped by circumstance or tragedy, but here the central evil is more of a mythological force driven simply by destruction, despair, and misery. While effective as a threat, it lacks the emotional nuance that makes antagonists truly unforgettable.

Overall, this is a visually stunning, emotionally devastating fantasy romance that thrives on deception, layered identities, and sacrificial love. It keeps you emotionally invested from beginning to end, and if you enjoy complex and ambiguous characters and stories full of mystery and angst, this is definitely worth watching.

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Too Much Gore, Not Enough Story

This story seemed kind of intriguing at the beginning. I love a good horror series. It seemed to have a blend of shamanism with a touch of "The Ring" horror movie blended together. A count down of 24 hours instead of seven days ....
However, there was real difficulty for me getting pulled into this story. At times it was a bit confusing and a little mixed up with the direction of the plot. It seemed to be focused on blood and gore. I mean, I get it, it's a horror theme, so naturally you need the blood and cutting flesh and all the good stuff that goes with it ... but it just seemed to be excessive, showing the same scenes over and over again.
It wasn't until episode 5 that the series started to redeem itself. I'm kind of glad I was able to stick it out that long, because there were a few times I just about gave up on it. From episode 5 through the final episode, it was a much more enjoyable watch. The characters become more in focus, as does the story, too ... all except the ending.
Not exactly sure what the ending is trying to suggest or hint at maybe a sequel?? but it really didn't work for me.
Overall, not a bad series, but could have been so much better!!!!!

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Cute and dedicated , just enjoy

To me, i love the dedication the ML and FL has from the beginning .

They started as siblings but right from the start they already had feelings and butterflies for each other. Yes they are young but its consenting anyways. There was a little impulsive actions or maybe slight non consent or not direct asking for consent

but its obvious that they have mutual feelings.

With the way the FL was so soft spoken and so hesitant to everything , without the impulse i think the plot will not move.

Tho i dislike the fact that FL made it clear to love rivals that she only like the ML but they still persisted but i guess that comes from their determination to try , i mean they are in the competitive entertainment industry. Its a personality trait to succeed.

I love how the love rivals are still professional and seperate feelings tho . Like there isnt endless sabotaging or the typical make the FL leave them because they are idols.

And the love rivals all chase in their own way instead of petty despicable acts. Tho i would disagree with the forceful push down n corner n hickey cause those were obviously the FL not able to push away and has absolutely 0 feelings to them. She didnt give them any hope .

I feel the message conveying that idols are humans were done well.

Would still rewatch for the fluff but dont overthink the details like wheres the parents , would the parents approve , the manager being there at the party where they all confessed. In the real world or other idols shows, the manager would be the first to detect these feelings and immediately stop it and definitely seperate them out.

In the first ep they already wanted the sister brothers to be a secret. But obviously didnt last long haha

Overall i still love the good parts about it , their dedication to fans, the hardcore practices, their priorities ,them thinking about each other ,the loyalty to each other and the cute interactions

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Ghost Queen & Flirty Young General = Magic

Love Beyond the Grave is a Chinese series that feels completely different from anything I've watched before. The storyline is truly unique, featuring a ghost queen as the female lead and a young general as the male lead. Dilraba's aura in this drama is absolutely outstanding — she completely owns the role. Chen Feiyu looks incredibly cool and charismatic as the general, and his acting is full of intensity. When he’s trying to pursue and flirt with the female lead, he’s unbelievably adorable. Their chemistry is fantastic, and the overall story feels perfectly balanced and satisfying. I’m completely hooked and obsessed with it!

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After watching La Casa de Papel, I was really excited to check out the Korean version. Here's my honest opinion:

The Story:
Nothing too complicated it's about people who are struggling financially and get offered a big heist.

What I Didn't Like:
It's a shame there aren't more preparation scenes for the robbery like in the original Casa de Papel. We jump straight into the heist itself, and we barely see the characters planning and preparing for the "heist of the century." I would’ve loved more of that clever, strategic buildup.

What I Liked:
The characters are solid. Everyone acts really well even the supporting roles and the Professor. No one delivers a bad performance. The plot stays engaging. Even if you know the Spanish version, you still can’t predict exactly how things will unfold here. There are no boring filler scenes just to stretch out an episode. Everything feels well-paced. I still remember how hyped I was when Netflix dropped only Part 1.

Overall, it’s a really strong Part 1!!!!

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In a restaurant, we see photos of Vivian Maier. That made me happy.

It's interesting to show how hellish it can be to be a public figure. You can't disappoint, you always have to react correctly, you can't have a bad day in front of your fans. The series focuses on the life of the singer, his lawyer and, to a lesser extent, the prosecutor. Ultimately, the murder investigation is just an excuse to discover these characters and how they deal with their situation. The revelation of the culprit comes in the penultimate episode, clumsily, very clumsily. In any case, we don't really care.

The strong point is that it doesn't try to absolve people of their responsibilities. On the other hand, seeing a fan and her idol end up together is not very healthy ! I didn't know that being a solicitor involved housing, driving and feeding your client.

Ep5 : the kdrama disease of having a serious accident at the end of an episode and waking up in hospital in perfect health at the beginning of the next. How many times are we going to be subjected to this before the great Revolution ? Anger is brewing among the crowds.

(I may have skipped parts of episodes, no one will ever know.)

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Simple, elegant staging in natural settings and historical costumes that aren't necessarily very exciting. Some beautiful, aesthetic shots, but too few and far between. The music remains rough and stripped down, even discreet. Except when it emphasises the humour of a scene, which, in my opinion, detracts from the overall tone of the series. Many K-dramas brilliantly mix registers, but not this one. What remains is a narrative that takes the time necessary to advance its pawns in this game of massacre.

Alas ! It is difficult to feel concerned by these stories, as the protagonists, including the hero himself, are so unsympathetic. The latter shows disgust at the way his fellow workers are treated and does nothing about it. He could. He has the ability to change things, we know that perfectly well, and he chooses to suffer for a long time. He sides with the bastard who mistreated him and his comrades before. He doesn't try to help them ; he supports one tyrant against another. Since the power struggles are never questioned, and the ending celebrates sovereign individualism, these script choices leave a bitter taste.

At first, we think that morality means : when you exploit people, have the decency to pay them. Personally, I would prefer that no one be exploited. If your thing is loading rice onto boats and making a profit from it, then load it yourself, you bloody exploiter.
In the same vein, one character protests that bandits collect taxes, but that's how regimes worked at the time. Soldiers in wartime, bandits in peacetime, they are the same people. Aristocrats earn their titles of nobility in bloodbaths ; they have no innate nobility. There is no difference between a nobleman and a godfather of the underworld, between the state and the mafia. That was my awkward anarchist, or Christian, take. (delete as appropriate)

Shin Ye-eun is underemployed. Scandalously underemployed ! An actress of this calibre and a character with so much potential should not be relegated to the background. What a waste, seriously.

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Citizen Kim by Or Son-Wel

"Is a fake that seems perfectly real really fake ?"

Shin Hye-sun, best actress. End of sentence. That's all.
A thrilling series, with a new twist in every episode. I really liked how effective it was. Just the right length, even if it does drag a little in the middle. The themes are well explored and really gripping. It's quite clever !

"I felt deprived of something that had never belonged to me."

All these luxury bags, all these luxury items, it's high time to put an end to it. These people clearly don't pay enough tax and feel far too secure to walk around with them in public. "When did it all go wrong ?" It's amusing to talk about Ponzi schemes, but capitalism is based on them. The whole system is a huge scam based on debt. "My mistake was wanting to become rich. You don't become rich, you're born rich."

Sarah Kim, who no longer knows who she is because she keeps taking on new roles and doing what is expected of her... welcome to the world of autistic people. It's exhausting, isn't it ? I know. And it goes well with the big twist (which we see coming, anyway). A clash with oneself, with one's fellow human beings, alienated by money, obsessed with commodity fetishism...

"I'm not sorry, and I apologise for that." Great line.

_And Jung Da-bin finally starring in a good series ! Well done to her. I never doubted her. Or maybe just a little.
_"Splendid melancholy", why get that tattooed on yourself ? Joyful depression, obscure clarity, excellent Nolan. These oxymorons are so bizarre.
_I loved the moment when she turns around and says her real name : "Rosebud". Now that's cinema, the real thing.

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why ?????

Honestly, Season 1 of Love Alarm was good. The whole app concept was good, the tension between Jojo, Sun-oh, and Hye-yeong was on point, and the vibe was both cute and a little unsettling. for Season 2 after that insane cliffhanger… and man, what a disappointment.

TWO YEARS FOR THIS, and they gave us just six short episodes that start with a really weird time jump. They completely ignore the final scene from Season 1 like it never happened. From the very first episodes, I could feel the pace was way too slow. Not much actually happens we just go in circles with Jojo’s doubts, her family traumas, and her quest to remove her shield. It’s more mature, sure, but it quickly becomes heavy and repetitive.
My biggest issue is Jojo. She’s so indecisive, passive, and sometimes selfish that I ended up finding her really annoying. Her choices don’t always make sense, and it feels like she’s hurting everyone without really owning up to it. Sun-oh (Song Kang) is still likable even though he gets a bit toxic at times, but the real gut punch is the ending: Jojo’s final choice. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say most Sun-oh fans (including me) were pretty disgusted. The chemistry with Hye-yeong isn’t bad, but it never comes close to what she had with Sun-oh in Season 1. Hye-yeong is way too “perfect,” almost bland.

On top of that, the message about the app is inconsistent between the two seasons: is Love Alarm good or bad? They flip-flop on it and you can totally tell. There are plot holes, underused side characters (Gul-mi seriously got on my nerves), and overall, the magic from Season 1 is completely gone. We went from a fresh, addictive drama to something melodramatic and depressing without the same emotion.In the end, I don’t totally regret watching it because I needed some closure, but I’d clearly recommend stopping at Season 1 if you don’t want to ruin the good memories. Season 2 is slow, frustrating, and the finale leaves a bitter taste for a lot of people.

annoying asf for me !

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"Alone, I can't do anything. I can't redeem myself. I can't comfort anyone or be comforted myself. The only thing I can do on my own, it is feeling lonely."

One touching aspect of this series is the attention paid to how the characters look at each other. People like to see others happy. The series deals with sad topics, such as grief, but it also has some sweet, funny and tender scenes. (The story with the young girl in the convenience store is very touching.) It's terrible to feel guilty if you start to feel better after losing someone. This cult of suffering in our societies, truly poisonous. And these people struggle to get out of it.

A series I watched, taking breaks. Quite long breaks, to be honest. Its pace, its subjects, its slowness, all these elements make it challenging despite its great qualities. Two episodes in, and it starts to feel heavy. I cry far too much. It has to be said, some of the characters can become downright unpleasant, behaving badly or hurting others, wallowing complacently in their own misfortune. They are whole, complex, real, and don't always know what to say or even how to feel. It requires a heavy investment on our part.

The brother, for example, I didn't want to follow his story. He becomes interesting when he interacts with his father or sister, but the rest of the time he's unbearable. And I really wonder how he ended up with his dancer girlfriend. What does she see in him ? It's a mystery. This kind of relationship is best avoided. Everyone ends up hurting each other...
On the contrary, we see the brother's childhood friend doing all the emotional work for him, even mourning his mother's death in his place. She invests herself in their friendship, almost like a second mother ! And I would have preferred them to remain friends. Friendship is beautiful too, isn't it ? He remains incapable of saying I love you to the one he loves. It exhausted me to follow all this. I'm sick of seeing guys who make no effort and live like parasites off their girlfriends.

Overall, the women in this series... I feel sorry for them, so sorry. The last episode is hard to watch. They deserve better. They have to put up with everything, plan everything, manage everything, and (unfortunately) it's very realistic. The series has a happy ending (what a relief !), but it's still primarily to the benefit of the men and at the expense of the women's work. Emotional work, particularly.

"Without you, I'm a total disaster."

Seo Hyun-jin/Joon-Kyung is more or less the main character. All her life, she has made so many efforts without success, yet she does not realise how far she has come. But she is terribly lonely and unhappy. She leaves her mother feeling angry, even furious with her, and doesn't immediately realise that it's over, gone, and that one day a wall of silence will hit her head-on : her mother is no longer there. She is left alone, carrying their memories. But this triggers a realisation that she has the right to be happy. It's a complex and mixed set of emotions, enough to make you sick.
This character's journey is very beautiful. She makes mistakes, she overcomes them, she finds love. This strength has always been within her. She just needed to find a way to open the door wide.

Her partner confides in her, explains how he feels, suggests activities, cares about her. Incredible. A rare gem. It's so good to see men like that! I don't know if we realise how rare this kind of representation is ? (Well, the story with his ex was tough) This K-drama presents quite different types of men in heterosexual relationships. That's one of its strengths, its subtlety, its raw complexity.

"Just because we are a family does not mean we are supposed to know everything, understand everything, endure everything and persevere."

However, we need to have a conversation here. People in this series do not know how to respect other's privacy. You don't just invite yourself into someone's home without warning ! What's more, with their strange doors, everyone knows each other's codes and can just walk in unannounced. That's not right at all.

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A series that would have been better off as a film. In terms of its legal-crime style, it's well made, to be honest. The plot elements are just well enough developed to maintain tension despite a very thin premise : we are asked to believe in an incredible cure. But the filler is noticeable (episode 6 and its restaurant scenes where we are just reminded of elements we already know), accompanied by excessively weak cliffhangers. You shouldn't do that. No, because then we want the plot to be resolved, even though we know we'll be disappointed.

I don't know why, but for some obscure reason, a lot of people in this series go from whispering to screaming in a fraction of a second. In a nutshell : annoying and ridiculous.

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A K-drama about a chosen family, in a way ? A whole group of merry pranksters, united in adversity and divided in the gold rush. The entire building refuses to give way to a despicable company.

It's so zany and grotesque at times, it's like The Fiery Priest but with lawyers this time. It goes way over the top in terms of silliness. That said, I suspect the trials aren't very accurate in terms of how the Korean judicial system works. And, sure, the series is funny, but damn, it's about some really serious stuff ! Killing your employees is not okay. It's not reasonable. Babel, the most evil company in the world. The mafia seems almost more likeable in comparison. (Between us, I think that's the point here, to show us that they're equally bad... except Vincenzo Cassano)

Everyone loves Vincenzo. That heartbreaker. Even pigeons. Nice pigeon, by the way, Vincenzo, congratulations. Not all heroes wear capes, sometimes they're just pigeons. And Vincenzo knows how to make good police officers : force them to resign. An example to follow.
Anyway. But Jeon Yeo-been has class, she's an impeccable actress, I need to see more of her performances. Ms Incognito was really good, even if it didn't get a very good reception, it seems.

So ! I solemnly declare that if I hear that cover of Bach's chaconne in D minor for violin again, I'll go berserk, ok ? I'll smash tiny objects while screaming. My strength doesn't allow me to express my anger any more furiously than that.
Also : those adverts for instant coffee and chocolate squares wrapped in plastic ? Embarrassing. No one buys that rubbish, wake up.
And at some point, we need to take two minutes to think about xenophobia towards Chinese people. They are always portrayed negatively in almost all Korean productions. One character has a caricatured name, "Wang Shaolin", then we hear about "Chinese hackers from the North Dragon gang". It's getting a bit much.

_"This idiot's brain is a black hole." A teacher must have written that in one of my school reports.
_"You're a subhuman, unworthy of being human, you don't deserve to live." It all reminds me of my father.

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