Reviews

Unusual Comedy

This series, based on a webtoon, lasted for at least three seasons and a few movies. I sampled a few episodes of the webtoon and while the webtoon version is much more explicit the TV version seems to follow the basic story.

The main character is a young woman (nicknamed Yankumi by her students) who is the granddaughter of the head of a major Yakuza family. Instead of inheriting her grandfather's leadership role her heart is set on becoming a high school teacher. Of course, if the school management were to officially learn of her true background she would be terminated.

She isn't just any normal young woman. For reasons that are never explained she has superhuman strength and fighting ability. The viewer is reminded every other episode or so of her unusual strength often when she accidentally knocks someone or something over. She is socially awkward and naive in developing relationships with men.

Her students are the bottom 10 or 20% or so of the senior class and thus less than studious. Her students often commit mistakes and one sin or another, but a frequent story line is one or more being unjustly accused of some crime they did not do but they've attracted blame. Yankumi has to struggle to correct the false accusation and protect her students from unjust punishment.

In pretty much every episode one or more students is getting beaten up and Yankumi runs to the rescue. She shows up and proclaims she's their teacher, lectures about nonviolence and other assorted virtues and then beats the crap out of the current episode's bad guy. There's a seasonal arc. The same pattern pretty much every episode is repeated as is the season arc over three seasons. The creators adapted from the Webtoon, found a formula that worked and repeat that formula with dedication.

In the second and third seasons the Yakuza grandfather becomes a source of wise advice in Yankumi overcoming the current episode's hurdle.

The show leans on comedy and as expected the darker side of the Yakuza is not dwelt upon. Once in the series late in the first season when Yankumi is thinking of quitting her teaching job she remarks that she will assist with the cash collections, i.e. the collection of protection money, but that's it.

In the webtoon version things are more explicit. For one example, the sexually charismatic teacher tells Yankumi that she's going to start a boys' choir club. In her prior job teaching middle school the boys were too young (and she got into trouble), but now that she's teaching high school seniors things are different (she expects to get away with it). She gives Yankumi (and each teacher) a list of three or four boys she regards as cute from Yankumi's class and wants her to ensure they volunteer, and she doesn't care if they can sing or not. Nothing like that appears in the TV version.

I recommend watching a few episodes which will tell you everything you need to decide whether to continue.

Read More

When Love and Revenge Intertwine.........

Damn! How can I move on from one series to another? This one is also impossible to ignore. :(

I’m starting to get familiar with this theme now. I thought Ming (from My Stand-In) was already the most evil partner in BL history, but the things Fan Xiao did to You Shu Lang are on a level of evilness I couldn't even imagine coming from someone who supposedly loves you.

Remember my review for My Stand-In? I said, "Even if I loved someone deeply, I could never forgive them for doing that, not even if I came back to life a hundred times"

I don't even know what to say about this series. You Shu Lang is so much stronger than Joe, even though there are a million ways he could have taken revenge on Fan Xiao, the way he played his part in this toxic relationship is exactly what made me fall in love with the show.

Another thing I loved about this series was the way they wrapped up the entire season. It was so simple, that I didn't even want an after-story or another season to see their relationship continue.

Read More

Procrastinated Watching For A Reason

I procrastinated watching this show for a very long time. I visited Korea and was shocked by seeing Byun Woo Seok on every cafe, product, and store sign. I even got his photocard as a freebie way before knowing his name. It really hyped the show up for me and I knew it would end with me being disappointed. Boy was I entirely correct.

I want to start by saying that I already have a hard time with shows about idols/singers/celebrities (Record of Youth was fine at this, but most are not great) AND with shows about time travel. Twinkling Watermelon is the only drama I’ve ever seen be able to combine two of my least favorite genres/tropes and make something amazing.

Despite all of these issues, I tried to go into Lovely Runner with an open mind. It clearly had to go viral and get amazing ratings for a reason, right? I like Byun Woo Seok as an actor, I loved being on a swim team as a kid, and mostly I really needed something to watch.

My efforts to enjoy the show were in vain.

Definitely not a show for watchers that struggle with cringe humor/secondhand embarrassment. Reminds me of classic Kdramas in the worst ways. Characters doing embarrassing things all the time, misunderstanding each other, and even potty humor….it just ends up being hard to watch and not funny at all. If this show came out a decade ago I’d give some of the writing a pass, but it’s really not what I want to see.

SPOILERS

Over half of the story makes no sense, and I’m not talking about the fact that time travel exists. It feels like the writers forgot about certain things that happened/were set up and forced their way back in later.

FLs choices don’t make any sense, even considering she’s sacrificing herself for the ML, half the time she didn’t have to. Only time I felt connected to her emotionally was realizing she had to watch the guy she loves die 3 times and never got to mourn him. Watching her get out of bed after he got stabbed, and immediately having to take care of a baby broke my heart.

The entire plot line of the kidnapping is unnecessary to the story and only resurfaces when convenient. She gets kidnapped multiple times, her legs get paralyzed for 15 years, and multiple people die, but the only way it impacts her emotionally (post stanning eclipse) is the next few times she crosses the road she has to take some deep breaths?? Plus she nearly stepped into traffic from not paying attention every single one of those times. Just look at the road babe. After a couple of times that’s entirely forgotten too.

ML getting stabbed could have been the perfect set up for him finally getting a chance at time travel and them making things work together, but no somehow the FL just gets extra bonus tries??? Like the 3 she got at the start meant nothing. Not to mention, she doesn’t go back again after that.

Not a fan of the way the FL only got a chance at happiness because she saved herself from becoming disabled. I really would have loved to see her become happy and in love in the wheelchair. I understand that was a point of frustration and limiting for her but it sends the message that disabled people can’t be happy/fall in love. They also don’t do anything else with the MLs anxiety/depression after the first death. It’s very lightly hinted at in the second (?) timeline but again it’s like the time travel cured him instead of him going to therapy, doing anything else to get better. I guess as long as you have a girlfriend you can’t be depressed??? Not great.

Side characters were impossible to watch. I liked the trope of best friend’s brother but every scene with them was so over the top cringe. And toilet humor? Juvenile.

The second male lead definitely grew on me after a couple of episodes, but I also feel like they could have done more with him. I liked that he was fine with her “multiple personalities” and that he became a cop later on. That was pretty cool. However, I would have loved to see him get memories of the past timelines back as he solved the case. I think that could have been a cool addition. Also I swear in the beginning they mention he’s in eclipse (inhyuk knows him somehow) but he never was. Could have just been another thing that didn’t make any sense to me.

I do want to say Byun Woo Seok doesn’t deserve all the hate he’s getting right now for his acting. He was the only thing I liked about the drama. Even without his visuals his acting was well done.

This is the longest review I’ve ever written and it’s because of just how frustrated I was watching it. Maybe if I watched it when it came out or if it was my first kdrama then I’d have enjoyed it more. I’m happy other people like it.

Read More

Dropped at ep. 5 but 10/10 stars??

Mr. Plankton was the oldest “plan to watch” on my list. It had been sitting at the bottom for a year, simply because I knew it would bring about tears on top of tears. I dropped this show 5 episodes in but I rated it a perfect score. I simply could not bring myself to witness these tragic soulmates lose each other. I know, I’m a big huge coward that’s going to miss out on all the beauty this show has to offer. I KNOW…but I cannot do it🤣. I officially called it quits upon the understanding they are selfish soulmates who deeply love each other but destiny will nerf the absolute hell out of them. They understand each others sadness in a way nobody else will. Unlucky lovers, destined for a sad sad sad ending. I hate that he dragged her with him to suffer the loss of himself, but I understood him. I hated that her absolute sweety baby fiancé ran around the country for her, but I understood her choices every step of the way, too. I just couldn’t bring myself to get dragged with them…that being said, cast was absolutely amazing, soundtrack absolutely amazing, plot absolutely amazing. I wish I wasn’t a scaredy cat. Call me a cliche but I would’ve loved a universe where he healed and she had a miraculous baby and everyone lived happily ever after. (Bonus points we can all agree with: Woo Do-Hwan IS A HOT HOT HOTTIE. The shirtless scenes??? Please sir just one more before your brains pops…don’t cancel me for that one guys I’m sorry)

Read More

A very good and touching story, but not emotional enough to make me cry.

The fact that she loses all her memories every time she falls asleep is really interesting. The scene on the bus where she dozes off, wakes up, and doesn’t remember him at all is still very memorable.

Then there’s him learning about her illness and doing everything he can to make her happy. The moment that surprised me the most was when he suddenly dies. I really didn’t see it coming. I liked the story overall, but it happened so abruptly. In the moment you’re like “wow,” and right after you’re left thinking “why?”

I feel like his character and his heart condition weren’t given enough development. Ending the story so suddenly like that feels quite abrupt and probably won’t please everyone.

Read More

Amazing!

I didn’t think Bloodhounds could come back harder than it did the first time, but somehow season 2 proves me wrong. This feels bigger, darker, and way more intense without losing what made the first season so good in the first place.

The story picks up with Gun-woo and Woo-jin getting dragged into an underground boxing world that’s way more dangerous than the loan shark mess from before. Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi still have that same chemistry that carries the whole show it’s honestly one of the best friendships in any K-drama right now. You believe every punch they throw is for each other.

And the action? Brutal. Not flashy for the sake of it, but raw and exhausting in a way that actually makes you feel it. The fight scenes are longer, heavier, and hit harder this time around, which makes sense since the stakes are way higher with the whole underground league angle.

What really surprised me though was the villain. Jung Ji-hoon (Rain) plays someone you genuinely can’t predict calm one second, terrifying the next. He doesn’t just feel like an obstacle; he actually shifts the tone of the whole season.

If I had to nitpick, there are moments where it leans a little too hard into escalation like everything has to be bigger than before which slightly takes away from the grounded feel that made season 1 so emotional. But honestly, that’s a small complaint.

Overall, this is one of those rare sequels that doesn’t just repeat itself. It expands the world, deepens the characters, and somehow makes the emotional hits land just as hard as the physical ones.

If you liked season 1, this is absolutely worth it and if anything, it hits even harder the second time around.

Read More

Yearning, Chemistry, and Healthy Love—Yes Please!

Shine On Me is one of those dramas with a simple, low-drama story that’s super easy to watch, but still manages to hook you from the very first episode thanks to its lovable characters. I honestly loved this drama so much. Sometimes you just crave something light, full of soft, heartwarming moments—and this delivered exactly that for me. (ﾉ^^)ﾉ

As a big fan of slow-burn romances, this drama is such a perfect example of how to build a relationship in a healthy and realistic way. The chemistry between the leads is just chef’s kiss. Their relationship gives you that “I want what they have” kind of feeling because it’s so well developed. It’s built on mutual respect, unconditional support, and communication that—while not always immediate—never turns into frustrating or unnecessary misunderstandings.

And don’t even get me started on the yearning… because OMG. (/ω＼) Yearning is always my endgame, and the male lead delivers so hard. He’s a total green flag—I love how completely gone he is for the female lead, the way he takes care of her, respects her, values her, and genuinely cares about her well-being. And the female lead? She’s independent, confident, beautiful—it’s impossible not to love her. I was literally swooning during all their scenes together. The eye contact, the subtle glances, the tension, the flirting… it was insane in the best way. Zhao Jin Mai and Song Wei Long really brought their characters to life and made the relationship feel so real and natural.

Now, even though I loved this drama, there were a couple of things that didn’t fully convince me (which is why it’s not a perfect 10). The CGI… yeah, not its strongest point—let’s just say it could’ve been way better, lol. Also, the second-to-last episode had quite a few time jumps, and that part felt a bit rushed. I really wish those moments had been explored more, especially since everything else was developed so beautifully. (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

Overall, this is a well-rounded, emotionally satisfying, and beautifully executed drama. It gives you a mature romance, layered characters, a great message about teamwork, and a love story built on patience and respect. I would 100% recommend it without hesitation.

Read More

An incredible drama. The way they managed to seamlessly blend the scenes with the actress playing two different characters in the same frame, with perfect reactions as if they were really talking to each other, is absolutely mind-blowing. I had never seen a series or movie pull off a single actress playing two roles in the same scene so flawlessly, without any visible cuts or mistakes.

Beyond that, the story is deeply touching. It follows a sister who is unemployed and constantly criticized by her mother, while the mom puts all her hopes into her other daughter who is actually suffering from severe depression and is on the verge of suicide because of her job. Then comes the scene where she tries to jump out the window, but in the end both sisters fall… and then they switch lives.

I found it really funny how they jumped into each other’s lives without knowing anything about them. It created a lot of chaos, but it also gave us some amazing scenes the romance moments, the grandmother figuring out they had switched while the mother noticed nothing… and the scene where they finally confess the truth. I loved it so much.

I highly recommend it!

Read More

Quality Beyond Compare

Simply put, its everything and more. Its a well written, fast paced plot full of twists and turns. There is always something unexpected to keep you on your toes and yet it manages an emotional connect. The characters are real, multi dimensional and conflicted. The performances by the main and supporting cast are great enough to convey these beautifully. Every frame is beautiful- kudos to the camera and cinematography team. The music is all original ans captures the mood perfectly.
Last but not the least Faye Peraya delivers. Be it the production, story or acting. The quality, effort and attention to detail says a lot for the calibre of the woman. She is talented. The soft emotional scenes, the action, struggle and sauve cool stuff. The actress delivers and leaves you enthralled.

Read More

A TRUE MASTERPIECE!!

I am absolutely in love with Broken of Love! What makes this series stand out is that it breaks the stereotype. It’s not your typical GL series filled with unnecessary love scenes; instead, it focuses heavily on a deep, complex story that actually makes your brain work.
The plot is brilliant and so unpredictable—just when you think you know what’s going to happen, it surprises you! It’s the kind of show that makes you count down the days, eagerly waiting for Saturday to come just to watch the next episode.
Every single detail is crafted to perfection. From the superb acting, the stunning cinematography, to the high-quality production—you can really see the effort and artistry put into it. And speaking of brilliance, Faye Peraya is simply the best! And her portrayal? It is outstanding and truly captivating.
If you haven't watched it yet, what are you waiting for? This is a MUST-WATCH series. 10/10 recommended!

Read More

Very Good Kdrama Zombies

As a big fan of zombie series and a K-drama lover, what more could I ask for?

This is a series that gives you so many emotions.

I think the virus infection was really well introduced. A father who conducted an experiment on his own son that went wrong, then a student gets infected by one of the experiments he left at school. The way he had to lock her up, which led to his arrest, and then the second infection when the student bites the nurse… and all the chaos that follows. I’m really satisfied with how the story begins. A lot of shows/movies in this genre don’t put this much effort into the setup, so bravo!

Let’s talk about the characters:

Nam-ra – The smart girl who gets infected but manages to resist. The scenes where she uses her superhuman strength thanks to the infection are so cool!

Gwi-nam – Pure evil. Honestly, nothing to say, he’s perfect in the role of the Season 1 villain. I’m sad he’s not in Season 2 because of his real-life military service.

Cheong-san – The shy, kind-hearted guy who’s in love with his childhood friend. He’s super likable. Personally, I don’t think he died at the end of Season 1 I believe he’s still alive.

On-jo – She’s not the smartest but she’s very endearing. The scenes where she deals with the loss of her friends are really touching, especially the one with Cheong-san.

Suhyeok – The Swiss Army knife of the group. He makes decisions, he’s smart, and he has strong character. One of my favorite characters!

Dae-su – The guy who makes jokes and funny comments all the time. He brings smiles and made me laugh a lot. I love him.

Na-yeon – She plays the “hateable” girl so well. Honestly, she nailed it. Great actress.

In short, I strongly recommend this series. It’s incredible and I can’t wait for Season 2!

Read More

sharing the pain and joy

Overall: a slice of life that touched on several real world issues. For some reason it didn't hook me the same way other slice of life series have. Based on a manga which I haven't read and am reviewing the series based on its own merits. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6550/life-in-smokey-blue-2026-e01 (not in Taiwan, Japan or Korea) as well as FOD and TVer (Japan)

Content Warning: drugging, mental health struggles, death, grief

What I Liked
- characters who weren't in high school or college
- that 1 character went for it in the present
- the caring moments that were shown
- production value

Room For Improvement
- I couldn't get behind the romance due to multiple dead fish lip presses and one character seemingly disinterested/less interested until the end of episode 9

Read More