Reviews

Disappointing

I love a good Joe Ma drama, but this one just had me going “what?” What do you get if you take the classic Justice Bao drama and try to modernise it in Hong Kong? If you were hoping for some awesome then this is not it. This drama was so bad I considered stopping it early if it wasn’t for Joe Ma being in it.

So Joe plays the role of the main prosecutor, and instead of being a judge like in the classic Justice Bao dramas, he is instead prosecuting evil doers and sending them to prison for their crimes. His bodyguard is now a cop played by Ricco Ng, and his clerk is played by a Winki Lai. Yes, Winki Lai is Miss Kung Suen instead of Mr Kung Suen.

We get some classic Justice Bao cases modernised for this drama like the bastard Chan Sei Mei story but turned into a k-pop star for this drama. These - for the most part - were okay. Identifying what cases they were remaking was at first novel and a lot of fun, but this quickly wore off as the drama pivoted towards Joe Ma’s backstory. The biggest issue I had was with what they did to the main characters.

Ricco Ng starts off in typical TVB fashion of cop undercover as triad but later is reinstated as a cop. He immediately becomes Joe Ma’s best friend and they solve crimes together. He isn’t too bad, but his love interest played by Kayan Yau was soo annoying. A career criminal, she falls in love with him - for some reason as we see hardly any romantic chemistry between them - and then spends most of the drama swooning over him like an idiot. This made her look so cheap.

Then we have Winki Lai. She works as Joe’s clerk and wants to become a prosecutor like Joe and practically worships the man. She is always serious and I mean she is ALWAYS serious, and there was one scene where she tried to dress sexy to use the honeytrap on someone. Man, no offence but her trying to act like a young sexy girl to trap someone just made me laugh. She’s okay but she is not super hot so I found it really offputting.

Joe Ma as a Bao is all good, I mean he looked sauve and sophisticated as a DOJ prosecutor, but the problem I had was how he solved crimes. He had a condition called Mirror-Touch Synesthesia - or MTS - that allowed him to feel what people were feeling such as pain or anger, to such an extent it would hospitalise him. He uses this super power to analyse guilty defendants and then get them judged guilty. On top of this, he also plays pictograms to help him think of a strategy, and coincidentally the pictograms always end up showing him a picture to provide a clue to solving the mystery. Why? It is so lazy and makes no sense. And to top it off, he also has this super power to look at a letter, which he needs to sign to close a case and if he does not see rainbow colours (wtf) he knows there is something missing and the case needs further investigation. Again, why does he have this power and wtf does it have to do with anything? They’re not related to his MTS condition at all!

We later find out that his sister-in-law played by Alice Chan really hates him, and we find out in flashbacks that they dated for a while but Joe’s older brother was in love with Alice as well. During one evening of drinking, Joe’s older brother blurts out that he was in love with Alice and hated that it was his younger brother who was with her. Because Joe had MTS, he felt his brother’s pain and so as a result - and I am not making this up - he broke up with Alice to not hurt his brother and went abroad to study. Alice, angry with what he had done, decided to marry Joe’s older brother out of spite. This had me going wtf so many times because that made nooo sense. Why would you let go of your love because someone else was in love with your partner, that was just epically stupid. I hated this subplot.

And to top it off, we later find out why Joe got MTS. His mother had Joe’s older brother first but unfortunately he was average intelligence and could not help her run her company. As a result, she contacted her ex-boyfriend, who happened to be a talented geneticist, to create a test tube baby with superior DNA traits so he would have high intelligence and be taller than average. This test tube baby was Joe Ma, and a side-effect of having superior genes was that he was afflicted with MTS. Joe’s mom spent most of the drama calling him a creature and a monster when she was the one who did this to him. This part also had me going wtf because it was simply too absurd.

The big bad ends up being Angel Chiang, a former student of Joe Ma. She started off as a nice person but suddenly turned evil at the end. This gave me whiplash so fast my neck still hurts.

This was supposed to be Joe Ma’s final drama before he retires, and I am sad he had to end on this note. The earlier cases were okay to watch but his plotline and the revelations of his past had me asking what the producers were smoking. If it wasn’t for Joe Ma’s star power I wouldn’t have even bothered finishing this drama.

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Girlboss spills the tea on the final third

In my view, this is not, by any means, one of those "more pros that cons" type of drama. It is quite the opposite, but I'll start with the good.

PROS
High production value and great visuals. One of the things I love about cdramas is how they let us peer into cultures and the many interesting trades. Whether it is Chinese Traditional Medicine (in 2025's "The Best Thing"), Bai culture in rural China ("Meet Yourself"), or aerospace engineering ("You Are my Glory"), I love series where I also learn more about the world that anchors the characters' lives. It reminds me of Western shows like CSI (forensics) or House (medical diagnosis) that are now few and far in between amidst the glop of detective-cop shows and courtroom dramas. Glory, on the the hand, delves into the world of tea farming and the care that must be taken to produce excellent crops.

Other good points about this drama are the costume sets and cinematography. The casting and acting throughout is solid, although I feel the ice queen vibe of the FL was a bit too much.

**** The next paragraphs contain a few spoilers. There are not that many, but there are indeed a several ****

CONS
Note that I am offering my perspective as a male viewer and that I fast-forwarded through many scenes, specially in the final third out of sheer boredom at the decline in quality. As you may already know, the drama centers around Rong Shang Bao, the headstrong lead of her powerful tea-farming, all women-leading, clan. The clan lives in in Lijin while the ML hails from the capital. In the last episode, around the 30-minute mark, Shang Bao speaks with another woman from the capital. She tells Shang Bao that "not everyone has the luck to be born in the Rong family. Also, not everyone has the freedom to live as they please." This conversation encapsulates the drama for me, coming across as the main point the authors wanted to drive home.

Yet it also defines what is so frustrating about this drama.

Lucky to be born in the Rong family? Are you kidding me? The FL expressed some platitudes about equality and mutual respect between men and women. However, throughout the series the Rong family never ceased to represent a turbo-charged reverse harem at its worst. The family essentially disregards men as mere laborers and replaceable pawns who have no room for leadership. At one point Shang Bao tells the ML, Jiang Lai, that throughout generations the Rong women only looked for meek, pliable men and that Jian Lai was anything but, hence why he is not a good fit for her. Even after the end of series I didn't feel that she changed her standpoint at all.

At first, I thought that the Rong would ultimately be depicted as a clear warning about the perils of an unbalanced harmony between the sexes where one side holds all the levels of power. It would ridicule the times when men trampled over women and deprived them of opportunities to vote, go to college and seek leadership positions. But no, this drama did not venture into any significant criticism of Rong's practices outside of showcasing the family matriarch as a stubborn elder bent only accepting men of high social status. In the end, the Rong sisters, FL included, had their differences against the matriarch but did not step away from all these family principles. The Rong clan makes Wonder Woman's Amazonian island look tame by comparison. I know dramaland caters to its audience, but this is one of those dramas where they lay it down too thick.

To add salt to the wound, Jian Lai changes from a levelheaded, witty ML that could go toe to toe against the FL (what I felt was the best part of the series), to a simp who is always after her despite her cold shoulders, which happened too many times, especially during the final third of the drama. She is pushing him away and he runs after her like a puppy begging to be back together. At one point, Shang Bao was to offer an explanation for keeping her distance but then never does until the Jian Lai comes to her for an explanation, which in the end didn't feel heartfelt.

There was also one scene where Jian Lai was bawling and shaken telling her about his family trauma. But through it all, Shang Bao kept her ice queen persona, just way too collected and didn't offer him a hug. Only when he rested his head on her shoulder in anguish did she put a hand over his shoulder. I know that she's supposed to be a battle-hardened, steely ice queen but it felt overdone and did not register to me that she deeply loved him. No wonder men don't want to make themselves vulnerable. It's even dangerous to do so in fiction.

That's not all. Before Shang Bao goes to marry another man, she seduces Jian Lai and sleeps with him. Only to then lock him up to make sure he doesn't ruin the wedding. Later we learn that she was suspicious of the man she was about to marry, but she was still going through the nuptials while her investigation on the guy was ongoing. By that point, she might have taken from Jian Lai what he might have been saving for another woman. Even if Jian Lai wasn't a virgin, to go from intimacy to locking him up before she goes to marry some other dude is as cold-veined and as asymmetrical of a relationship as it gets. Jian Lai deceived her at first too, but he wasn't a character that would have done all the things that she did to him.

Part of the reason I like cdramas is because Western media unabashedly rams the girl-boss archetypes down everyone's throat. This drama sadly brought the same negative repulsion I was escaping from. There is a scene where the subtitles stumbles through a translation using a very obscure or highbrow word. I always chuckle when I see them, and in this case it was the word impudent. How many people are going around calling others impudent?

In the finale, in front of several people, Jian Lai romantically lifts Shang Rong to take her to her boat. At first embarrassed at this PDA, she says "when we reach Lijin (Rong's headquarters) I won't allow you to be so impudent again." His response? Like a cute lap dog, he beams "then I'll listen to you, Lady Shanbao!" I mean, really? Might as well just throw a stick and ask him to fetch. And I'm sure Shang Bao she wasn't joking. If by impudent, she meant Jian Lai could no longer be bold or assertive, the drama as a whole made a good point that this is seriously what she expects from him. After all, she did say, that Rong women prefer mild mannered, obedient males.

To be honest, there was one sister that somewhat bucked the trend and finally decided to be with a man of lower status. She even had a daughter with him. However, this "reconciliation" scene was so rushed and abrupt that it carried very little emotional weight for me. Besides, she didn't explicitly say she wanted to marry him, only that she wanted him to live in the Rong estate.

Honestly, the guy was so meek, spineless, and submissive that they looked like a gross mismatch. I don't see what a strong Rong woman would see in him in the first place, and the drama made no effort to explain. It was the chemistry of an iceberg. If there was one plot line that should've been explored further, it was this one. They would have been great as a secondary couple, but in the end, it was a wasted opportunity.

As if this wasn't enough, the same woman who said she wasn't lucky to be born a Rong, also said this: "I don't have the Founding Emperor's jade seal. Nor do I have a powerful natal family, willing to support me. I don't even have a husband worth relying on. In this world, there isn't a single person who truly loves me. But I must love myself. I must protect myself. And above all, I must protect my children."

I'm sure this is one of the character's the embodies the author's voice and I have to disagree to an extent. Not having a capable man by your side is tragic. But I don't think anyone can say that there is a single person who truly loves them. If not a parent, there is a relative. If no relative, there are a lot of charitable men and women out there. So love yourself? Yes. Protect your children? Why sure. But one does not need some jade seal or Rong family to be blessed.

I wouldn't one to be associated with a Rong family for the reasons I explained above. Also, that Jade seal that she mentions worked well as an indestructible (and overused) plot armor, but it is what it is . A work of fiction. To me the real jade are those people who, though imperfect, truly care as well as the spouse who is, or can grow to be, that capable partner in life we all would be blessed to have at our side.

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Got me out of my loong kdrama slump.

this literally got me back into watching k-dramas . after the beginning of 2025 I lost the interest that I had in k-dramas and mostly just rewatched some of my favorites but then I just stopped. it was kind of annoying to see all of the cliches and basically the same type of acting and/or stories. even though there were some interesting k-dramas coming out I felt like very few couples had the perfect mix of chemistry/good acting /interesting plot.
So after 7 months i decided to give it a try with this one and honestly i don't know if it's because it's been so long, but this literally got me hooked from the first episode all the way to the last one.
The choice of the actors was so perfect and nothing can change my mind, the scenes were BEAUTIFUL in such a cinematic way, the story was so interesting, so simple and so complex,the amount of characters and their stories were so well written that i almost felt like part of their world, the main character were acting like real ADULTS, it could be argued tho that the MFL was "too persistent" on persuing the man, but I think it was a perfect amount of yearning over someone that has seen hidden parts of you, that obviously cares about you but still doesn't wanna show it, maybe because he's scared or because he's not over someone (unfortunately we cannot choose who we fall for! and I personally, being 21, know it very well).
I like it how it's not the usual nonchalant guy that never talks and the awkward and shy girl that looks away and talks quietly.
I already loved both the actors separately,but together they were was such an unexpectedly amazing combo.
I would've preferred some scenes to be without music, because in my opinion sometimes silence is louder and deeper than any other thing.
It was such an insight in mental health,mental illnesses and unresolved traumatic events and i feel like that explains at 360° the main female lead and her personality.
I love these "realistic" type of stories when they're so well done and honestly i cannot wait for time to pass so i can rewatch it. I don't usually rewatch shows that i feel like i liked just because of the plot, that's because knowing how something goes/ends makes everything else boring, but when they're acted so beautifully, the scenes are so well written and it really feels like a COMPLETE STORY I just can't wait to rewatch their performance.

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Better than I expected

I started this series mainly because of the big hype around it, and I didn’t really know what to expect. Unlike most dramas, the first two episodes bored me a bit and I watched them without much focus, but later the show really picked up. The FL was played well, the ML even better. Aside from one overly dramatic scene with the ML crying etc., I think it’s a very good series. Despite the seemingly trivial topic, it presents an interesting story about searching for a soulmate, loneliness, and maybe even an attempt to portray modern society—not just Korean, but more generally how we set expectations for a future partner. In a way, it also touches on the topic of AI, which is becoming more and more present in our everyday lives. I was very pleasantly surprised by the comedic elements—the writer lady’s dating experience was AMAZING, just a pity those parts were so short. Similarly, the subplot with the main character’s friend was great.

I’d even say it shows relationships quite realistically for a k-drama, meaning actual kisses and visible affection. The ML did a great job portraying indifference and awkwardness. Lastly, I’m really happy to see Yoo-in Na in another drama—I like this actress a lot.

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THE BEST DRAMA YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.

my all-time favourite drama. Even to this day, just thinking about it makes me cry bro. This is the drama that is the closest to reality and reflects the sad truth of the passage of time and getting older. If you take just a short time to reflect after finishing, you will be able to see the future or current state of your own life.
Another thing I dont see being talked enough here is that Reply 1988 also perfectly shows you the true value of life, which isnt money or materialism. Its human connection. Because take Deok-Suns family as example. They didnt have much, but they were happy. Even though they were struggling daily, they were able to enjoy their lives to the fullest. And I think thats beautiful and just adds to the overall theme of this story.
That being said, enjoy each moment right now.
GODDAMN WHY DID I WATCH THIS IM NEVER GETTING OVER IT NOR WILL I WATCH A BETTER KDRAMA.

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More seasons or we riot!!!

Biggest selling point - bratty older shou X soft younger gong (even though they switch in the novel) Definition of grumpy x sunshine.
New C-bls have officially redeemed themselves. More of this please.
Technical wise, it is good- cinematography, lighting, set design, colour grading & everything looks nice. The time period is supposed to be the 80's & the styling is spot on. The making is very stylized & light and dreamy, it adds spectacularly to the romantic interaction scenes of the leads. Mostly follows the novel & that works in favour. The ending was okay as a season finale but if there is no more seasons, it was abrupt and unsatisfying. The is a lot of plot holes left that can only be completed by the rest of the story.

The ML is the definition of tall, dark & handsome. I like that the makeup department kept it like that. Also the injuries look mostly authentic & not like smeared red paint. The MC is an absolute green flag. I love them both as characters& the actor's chemistry is off the charts. They are both down badism final bosses & we only got to see a glimpse of that. I really hope there is more because them as a couple was an absolute joy to read.
And my favourite; Lu GuangMing- the professional rage baiter. The second couple also have great dynamics.

The screenplay could use some work, the first episode was a little boring, but it picks up the pace after. The acting is good. The dubbing is off, which makes it look weird. Nevertheless this show is a must watch.

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Life's too short...

This one's not for me. Let me give you the low-lights. In episode one, the ML, who's a doctor, keeps sneaking furtive glances at the FL. She wonders what he looks like without his surgical mask. Other people comment on her beauty and his good looks. She brings a friend to her next appointment, so the friend can evaluate Dr. McDreamy. But he isn't there. Instead there's an older doctor substituting for the younger guy. Horrors! A betrayal. She sees McDreamy on the street and lashes out at him for "standing her up!" As if the whole medical thing is some kind of a dating service. He seems to buy into it. (Oh, and why does she care anyway? She already has a boyfriend--supposedly.)

It's true that a lot of series don't catch fire until the second or third episodes. But I'm just not curious about either of these people. I need something more substantial to keep me watching-the hint of a mystery, some depth of character, an intriguing plot device.

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Twin Trouble but Make It Hot and Slightly Unhinged

Alright let’s be real. Gemini starts off like it’s about to ruin your peace. You’re sitting there thinking wait… are they siblings… is this allowed… should I call someone. Then the show calmly says relax, not blood related. Crisis averted, snacks resume. 😌

Once you survive that opening confusion, this drama turns into pure chaos in the best way. Revenge, rebirth, identity swaps, people plotting like their life depends on it. No time to breathe, just vibes and violence.

The female lead carries this show on her back like it’s a light handbag. Soft when needed, deadly when required. She switches personalities like she’s changing outfits and makes it look easy. Proper smart, calculated, and not here to cry in corners. Respect. 💅

The male lead… hmm. This man is not stable. But also very loyal, very in love, and slightly feral. The kind that will burn the world down but also look at her like she hung the moon. Doesn’t feel pain, fights like a madman, loves like it’s his full time job. Problematic? Maybe. Entertaining? Absolutely. 🐺

Their chemistry? Strong. Not shy, not awkward, not playing games. Once they lock in, they stay locked in. No silly misunderstandings dragging for 10 episodes. He tells her the truth, she stands beside him, and together they handle business. Power couple energy done right.

Now the story. It starts strong, dips a little in the middle when romance takes over and logic takes a tea break, then picks itself back up with twists and drama. Some plot holes? Yes. Some things make you pause and go hmm… that makes no sense. Also whoever approved that magically preserved document after 20 years… bold move. I laughed. 😂

Villains were actually interesting for once. Not just evil for decoration. You almost feel bad for them… almost.

Visually though? Beautiful. Costumes, colours, cinematography all doing their job. This mini drama had money and it showed.

And surprisingly, the ending didn’t betray us. No unnecessary heartbreak, no last minute nonsense. Just a proper satisfying close that lets you breathe.

So overall, Gemini is messy, dramatic, slightly questionable at times, but very entertaining. Strong female lead, obsessed male lead, fast moving plot, and just enough chaos to keep you hooked.

Verdict - This one knows it’s a little unhinged and leans into it. Worth the ride.

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Another Joong & Dunk drama. Of course here I come… quite excited for this actually…

The story centers on a series of mysterious and gruesome deaths that follow a sinister game of "Truth or Dare."

A student named Puifai dies unexpectedly after a night of partying with her close-knit group of friends. While it initially looks like an accident or overdose, the investigation reveals a much darker reality.

Two law enforcement officers with clashing personalities are forced to work together: Captain Jade; A sharp, slightly cynical officer. And Inspector Kamin; A newly transferred, highly principled inspector who often butts heads with Jade's methods.

The Deadly Game: As Jade and Kamin dig deeper, they realize Puifai's death was just the beginning. The victims' "friends"—who call themselves "The Avengers"—are being targeted one by one. Each death is preceded by a "Truth or Dare" challenge that forces the targets to either reveal a shameful secret or face a fatal "dare.”

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers. Now what I like and don't.

What I like:
+ Joong & Dunk chemistry is never a miss. I'm glad they keep their partnership
+ Interesting story, but unfortunately very poor implementation. A little crazy, but I quite like the surprise of the real culprit.

What I don't like:
- Stupid plot. They really forget the first rule of investigation. Police can't investigate people close to them, to avoid tampering with the investigation. And it's clearly Jade's brother who is one of the suspects, and yet he is still very much involved with the case.
- The story of how Jade & Khanin become together seems planned. We know they will be together, but the way to that ending just feels planned. If we don't know the ending, it will not be obvious.

Overall just watch this for your fav actor/ess….

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The life and times of Romy

I loved the first season and survived the second. It's not bad, just boring. It's not Toma and Natsume. They hadn't changed which was beautiful. It's the story itself.

What to watch: Episodes 1-3 and 8-10.
What not to watch: 4-7
Reason: Cosmetic Playlover turned into a recruitment and training ad for Romy. Either skip or use it lull you to sleep at night.

The addition of Toma's family perked what was turning out to be a flat and unadventurous script. The hyped up emergencies that clearly anybody could solve was so not necessary. While I do understand Japanese culture, the parade of perfect smiles became tiresome. I was grateful everytime Toma was on, at least his seriousness helped balance it off a bit. They succeeded in making Atsushi even more irritating. There was a time we saw more screen time of Toma and him than Toma and Natsume. As I said Toma and Natsume were solid. The 'proposal' brought out the water works a little. The ending was nice. Personally, this should have been six episodes tops and would have been way more enjoyable or do an hour special.

It's had it's moments.

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Bonus episode?

I didn't know this existed, but that God MDL exists, thought I couldn't find the episode with english subtitles and still watched it. I just love to see the main leads so 😅 Also this episode was kinda needed as I wanted to know about the colleague's relationship status as we saw that the FL saw the bf hanging out with a girl, FL went behind them but at last decided not to involve herself, I didn't like that, but I guess that's my pov. It was a good closing episode with allm the main characters meeting each other. Though I would have loved if they showed the sister and her current love interest's story as well.

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I think we got played

One of my favorite J-BLs is finally back! That was my immediate reaction when the sequel was announced. Since the prequel was such a success, I was genuinely happy to see Natsume and Toma again. However, the outcome turned out to be somewhat disappointing.

At first, I was completely drawn in by their domestic, almost sophisticated life together. The kisses and cuddles were absolutely to die for. But as the episodes went on, it started to feel like the focus drifted too far toward the side characters rather than the main couple.

I understand that this season places Toma’s dream at the center of the story. But if I’m being honest, the addition of the new male BA as a rookie in Mamiya’s store felt unnecessarily prolonged. It dragged on to the point of being quite dull. I get that a new character was needed to help Mamiya grow into a stronger leader, highlighting his firmness despite his overwhelming kindness. But the pacing of this arc was simply too slow. Because of this, the sequel doesn’t come close to the level of the first season, and saying that genuinely saddens me as a fan of the prequel.

Thankfully, the onsen date felt like a turning point, as if the story was finally shifting its attention back to the main couple. It was such a breath of fresh air. Natsume was incredibly cute and endearing, as always. Then we get Tenma again, still the handsome and protective brother of Toma, somehow even more charming this season. And the introduction of Sahashi’s dad was a delight. He added a bit more spice to the dynamics of the main couple.

The selfies at the bridge looked so kawaii and genuinely beautiful. Toma stepping out of his comfort zone to pursue his dream was an interesting direction for the story. However, the drama seemed more focused on heightening emotional tension than on showcasing the couple’s chemistry. And that’s where it falls short. We wanted more romantic moments from Mamiya and Toma; that’s arguably the very reason a sequel exists in the first place.

Nevertheless, I still found moments to enjoy in this sequel. It just wasn’t enough to make me scream with happiness the way I did during the previous season.

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