Reviews

A fun mini cooking class and intro to military life, with a star-studded cast, UNHINGED

The actors in this drama had a blast, it was visible they really enjoyed horsing around, as most of them usually played villains and here they were good guys having fun with food.
It was nice to see their comraderie
it was nice to see positive messages about trusting yourself and doing your best, honestly
and... the drama was a miniature cooking class lmao

It also showed something really important - military as a place for broken/poor people to receive training, gain work skills and perhaps even life calling, and a community.
ML was a depressed grieving young person and this cooking job in the military gave him something to do and led him to discover his life calling. That has always been one of the major draws of joining the military and ... still is :)

The drama pushed 5-star cooking too much as if that food is to be expected in the military but ... after all.. why not? That will prevent any wars and keep peace. Everyone will be happy staying in their barracks and living a good life, eating well and having fun. Why not. I think we found the solution to world peace :)

The military corruption was showed only on the low level, and resolved in a ... rosey way ... but ... why not. The drama did not attempt to bite more than it could chew. The problems were appropriate for the situation - a new military cook in a far outpost.

Personally, imo there was too much cooking scenes, so I had to fast forward although I am a passionate cook. I am not really interested to LOOK at food. But there was some useful stuff that will help me cook :) I am interested in a cookbook with recipes from the drama. The last dish was awesome.

and yeah -
Ah finally someone puts French cooking where it belongs - in France.
Korean food is amazing, so nutritious and healthy and yummy, produces lean and healthy ppl, and I am glad the drama got to celebrate it.
Imo the real French cooking is the French village cooking. and that ... resembles Korean food in so many ways... all kinds of stews and soups, lots of veggies.... and that is the kind of stuff good to eat.... and is NOT served in French restaurants bc it is "too plain" lmao . The French restaurant stuff shown in this drama is for the show lmao Those pastries look like they are gonna clog your intestines in an instant. That's why French eat so little of that "French cooking"

I got tired of kdramas peddling foreign stuff. it is ironic that both in kdramas and cdramas the military had to step in to remind ppl of their roots :) But someone had to stop some French restaurant or fried chicken, sandwich or whiskey shop etc sponsoring a product placement ... (in cdamas, the military reminded ppl that men shouldnt wear too much makeup i.e. look like anorexic teenage girls with tons of makeup on. Right on, Chinese military!)

So the proper salute to Korean food and the fact we learned to cook rice properly and to assemble a Korean dish is enough to make me feel satisfied, pun intended.

KSJ got his lady - and he was a lot more ... suave and experienced than real KSJ should have been lmao
The commander finally stepped out...
and it all ended well, with an entry to Season 2. Yay.

But I think the next step is to have that KANGLIN COOKBOOK with recipes in digital form with all the scenes from the drama. This drama was a miniature cooking class. I am interested only in the Korean recipes :)

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The drama was an advertisement for joining the military, but it was realistic and showed military faults that everyone knows about - corruption, rank dominance, bullying, red tape, etc.

It also kinda showed the military as a place for gourmet meals, as if the military were a vacation with 5-star food service, and all the high ranking officials being gourmets lmao eating gourmet every day in the officer's cafeteria..... So if they go to war... what will they eat? lmao

As for the soldiers who are there bc they have to be there, imo it is ok they eat gourmet stuff and get fat, since they are not really going to any war any time soon - well we hope, since there was like ... 200,000? Korean troups in Vietnam war. Korea had most soldiers there after the USA.

But sure, this might be a solution to world peace - all military globally should be eating luxury gourment 5-star food and being fat and happy, and refusing to go to wars etc bc they couldnt eat such nice food. I am all for this plan. Start now!

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The character of the commander portrayed by Lee Sang Yi was
a perfect "spice ingredient", without him the drama would not be it. Each drama needs AMAZING support roles or else it doesnt work. So he is that in this drama. He is portraying a super complex character with total mastery and conviction. The plus is his "beautiful" well kept sleek-urban baby face, which adds to totally convey the absurdity of that character. HE IS PERFECT IN THIS ROLE.

His role is that theoretician, that sofa general without common sense and skills, that someone who wants to get promoted no matter what happens to soldiers, that suave as# kisser, that someone who pretends to stick to the books yet does NOTHING and then takes all the credit, that someone who hides behind the "rules" to do nothing and throw soldiers under the bus.
He is portraying it *perfectly*.

****** His role is calculated, greedy, ambitious, cruel nasty SLIMY henchman and indirect-villain on one hand, and on the other hand, a naive little good boy***** Someone willing to do anything to benefit himself, and delulu enough to convince himself it is ok bc the superior said so; someone who HAS some compassion for his comrades but does not move a finger to help the situation. Someone who puts HIMSELF FIRST regardless of the post and soldiers, while not being a truly bad guy.

This is a complex role. And Lee Sang Yi is so good at it!!! it is fun to watch him! he portrays so many layers of this role.

His role is not just a comedic element. The commander is a satire on such military... ppl who went to military school but have no aptitude for it, and enlisted ppl who try to climb higher. Why did that soldier decide to become a commander, is a good question. He is certainly a fish out of water - however, he is there, chasing some fame honors and ranks, and the soldiers are stuck with him.

The drama is clearly portraying some core issues with the military - the corruption of stealing food supplies, the pecking order, the bullying by rank etc, lack of women, etc etc and Lee Sang Yi's sofa general character is one of chronic military problems.
The sofa general problem is a huge problem for military bc a sofa general is TOTALLY incapable of solving anything and only causes problems.
In this case, he let soldiers starve under the previous chef, he had no idea about bad food supply, in the mock battle he was useless, in a real battle he would cause deaths of millions of people. He is ... a clumzy naive dumb greedy guy in a wrong job.

Plus they let Lee Sang Yi keep his sleek urban look. So... the commander's manicured perfect baby face is a visual of what he stands for :) His face is like the visual signal from the drama as to who this character is :)
In the same way they picked the ML actor bc he looks so young, feeble, frail and vulnerable, a skinny tiny guy
Also, Lee Sang Yi's character face provides a stark contrast to the other guy in charge of the barracks, the big fat guy with the round wrinkled face who always plays villains and here plays the typical "rat" soldier who goes against the rules, keeps eating everywhere, and keeps cutting corners, while maintaining alliances with people he needs to be friendly with to continue going. In this drama, he turned out to also be someone who actually cares to do something to help when the times are rough. The visual for that soldier, the actor's face and body, are also picked to visually signal what kind of character he is.

The complexity in Lee Sang Yi's character - and thus the MASTERY of the actor in portraying many layers of it and thus the FUN of watching him in the role - is that he is not a bad evil guy, like the guy above him who is the master mind of stealing food supplies and who used that other soldier - The Inspector - for his purposes.
He is a naive genuinely decent honest guy but a COMPLACENT guy and also a GREEDY guy, SO HE ACTS LIKE THOSE 3 MONKEYS - no see, no say, no hear -
a pion who feels kinda helpless and also super ambitious. So, he deludes himself that everything is all right as long as it comes from the top. So he deludes himself that the lower level guys are justly scorned.
--> So he actually cares about the female Platoon Leader, but on the other hand, keeps shutting her up and going behind her back and doing things that harm the soldiers... He is concerned that the food is bad but he says nothing and even scolds ppl who bring it up .... he does NOTHING ever to help anyone, although he sees them suffering and even feels some concern - but it does not matter to him - bc HE WANTS TO GET PROMOTED.

He is too dumb to think about what he is seeing and to think ahead
and he is smart enough to see what he needs to do to get ahead
and he is slimey enough and ah so eager to please so that he gets promoted, so he is totally willing to ENTHUSIASTICALLY act as an umbrella and fit into the as@ of his commander and then open inside and never come out... He keeps bowing down and obeying blindly and ENTHUSIASTICALLY, no matter what
He is naive enough to believe his superior
He is evil enough to just throw the soldiers under the bus so that he can get promoted
He is slimy enough to delude himself that everything is ok bc the superior said so

And he is good enough and smart enough to remember what happened to Major Lim and to feel bad about it, and native enough to ask questions and dumb and naive enough to believe the answers

So he is like a babe in the woods, like a Little Red Riding Hood meeting the Big Bad Wolf - but the complexity is, he is also Little Red Riding Hood who willingly jumped into the wolf's mouth and willingly burned grandma's house bc the Wolf said so

And so this commander is a PERFECT example of what really exists esp in the military - a similar type is common to every hierarchy/red tape organization and big corporation, but in the military bc of ranks and order to blindly listen to superiors it is even worse.

Military has to take in essentially everyone healthy enough to qualify, bc they need meat in numbers, so then they are stuck with so many ppl being below par, and so the whole situation is quite tricky... and this ineffective sofa general commander realistically exists in that environment bc SOMEONE has to watch over the post and a few soldiers. That is why military is ok with losing ppl here and there .... as it is impossible to ensure quality everywhere.... and so ppl are just numbers.... This is a sad and realitic quagmire of military... Companies lose money but military loses lives... . So it is in their interest to somehow ensure that proper people are commanders - but ... as you can see in this drama, it does NOT always happen...
and esp when some evil dude realizes how much space there is for personal benefiting and then starts exploiting the system... e.g. the Pentagon's $14,000 for individual 3D-printed toilet seat lids and $1,280 for single utility cups... the higher commander here who steals money on food supplies... and a lot lot more a lot bigger amounts..... This drama is only about essentially petty stealing...

Lee Sang Yi is a perfect example of such a sofa general commander, he really brought it to life, made it real.
So, imo, without Lee Sang Yi, the drama would have been so bland. He spices it up ah so well.

And the ending is actually quite a fantasy low probability event, but heck, this is a drama, why not :)

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I absolutely loved this drama. Yes, it is emotional, but it carries a warmth that makes your heart flutter and leaves you with a comforting, happy feeling despite all the sadness it explores.
From the very beginning, the drama stands out because of its unique setting. We have a male lead who works as a funeral makeup artist and a female lead who lives with a prosthetic leg. Through them, the drama explores death, grief, healing, and relationships in an incredibly mature and sensitive manner. We see different people dealing with loss and sorrow in their own ways, and every story is presented with remarkable care and humanity.
I was especially impressed by the direction. There are many conversations throughout the drama, and while some viewers may find them slow, they are essential to understanding the characters' psychology, particularly the female lead's. This is not a drama that rushes through emotions; it takes its time. Because of that, it requires patience, but the payoff is absolutely worth it.
I loved how the flashbacks were woven into the story, gradually revealing the history between the leads and making their relationship feel even more meaningful. Even their arguments were handled realistically and maturely.
The chemistry between the leads felt incredibly natural. There were moments when I genuinely wondered whether I was watching a scripted scene or a behind-the-scenes clip. One of my favorite examples is the under-bridge scene, where they casually hug, tease, and joke with each other. It felt so effortless and real.
I am completely in love with the prosthetic-leg storyline, especially the scenes spread across two episodes—before and after the female lead's confession about her amputated leg. The male lead's respect for her privacy, boundaries, and insecurities was portrayed so beautifully that I was left speechless. This drama somehow manages to ache your heart and heal it at the same time. The prosthetic-leg scene remains one of the most memorable moments I have seen in a drama. When the female lead admits how uncomfortable and self-conscious she feels about showing her amputated leg to anyone, and the male lead gently helps dress her prosthetic while saying that this is "like a breeze" compared to the work he does every day, it completely overwhelmed me. I had tears in my eyes. The emotional journey from the moment she broke the statue, to their heated arguments, to her fear and vulnerability during intimacy, and finally to her opening up about her insecurities while he responds with understanding and acceptance, it was simply perfect.
This drama is a beautifully written and directed drama about love, grief, acceptance, and healing. It is not a fast-paced watch, but if you are willing to give it the patience and attention it deserves, it rewards you with one of the most mature, heartfelt, and emotionally resonant romances in recent Chinese dramas.
A must-watch for anyone looking for a realistic and deeply moving love story.❤️🌸

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smoothly delicious drama

A funny, emotional, delicious, inspiring drama. I liked so much, no boring moments. I love the connections, the friendship, the inspiring and support moments and also the courage to speak about corruption, and wrongly using the power . Cant wait for the second season. The food is the love language, is the family emotional connection.

Just finished the last episode and want to go to celebrate with a good ribs Korean dish.

I think that military is so hard, and has a bad mental and emotional influence for most of men, and the food, the camaraderie, the integrity, the true friendships and support is the luxury for most of them.

Love it, I can easily watch 100 episode. Maybe also I will learn to cook. :D

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A drama that speaks the true!!!

Each episode leaves you hooked to want to watch move.. it talks heavy on bullying and how threatening it can be for someones life. These stories are not just fiction they reflect on real life stories on teachers who actually passed on. The point of this is to show the bullies the outcome of what their actions impact on someones life. Its a heartwarming, gut wrenching series that talls about the corruption on justice and how some high school bullies dont get the consequences because they are minors. There are heavy quotes throughout the film to leave people questioning and show how parents do everything for their children rather then facing the truth. Honestly one of the best kdramas packed with action, reality and makes you feel good when karma gets back to the bullies. There are also some tears but its so worth crying too. Bullying doesnt just take place in one country buts its everywhere and peoppe are suffering due to it. We've lost many children/teenagers due to bullying and selfishness and those who are still alone. Please readh out even if you think no one else is listening someone is 💙💙

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Only 4 Episodes In and This Drama Has Me Emotionally Trapped

I went into Never Ending Summer expecting a cute summer youth romance. What I did not expect was to become emotionally invested in two teenagers history of falling in love in the first 4 eps. Yet here we are.

The biggest surprise so far is how natural everything feels. There isn't a dramatic meet-cute or some over-the-top misunderstanding forcing the leads together. Instead, Zhou Wan and Lu Xixiao slowly drift into each other's orbit, and that's exactly why their relationship works. Every conversation feels meaningful because the show takes time to let them become important to one another. By Episode 4, you can already tell they've become a source of comfort for each other, even if neither of them is ready to admit it out loud. And can we talk about Lu Xixiao for a second? This boy has mastered the art of pretending not to care while caring about absolutely everything. Every time Zhou Wan is in trouble, he's somehow nearby. Every time she's upset, he notices before anyone else does. He keeps acting like helping her is an inconvenience, but at this point he's fooling nobody except himself. Watching him slowly lower his guard has been one of the best parts of the first four episodes.
Zhou Wan is equally easy to root for. What I like most is that she's not written as a flawless sunshine heroine. She's smart, determined, and trying her best, but she's also carrying insecurities and pressures that make her feel very real. The drama does a great job showing why Lu Xixiao is drawn to her beyond simple attraction. He genuinely respects her, and that emotional foundation is what will make the romance feel stronger than your average school drama.

The real MVP of the show, though, is the tension. Not romantic tension in the usual "will they kiss?" sense. It's the tension of knowing these two people are creating memories they'll carry for years. There's a nostalgic feeling hanging over everything that is going happen with this two, and it gives even the happiest scenes a tiny bit of sadness.

Episode 4 completely sold me on the drama. It feels like the moment when friendship starts quietly becoming something more. Nothing huge happens. No dramatic confession. No grand gesture. Just a series of small moments that somehow say everything. Those are my favorite kinds of romance scenes because they're the ones that stay with you long after the episode ends.

My only complaint? Four episodes are not enough. The writers have successfully trapped me in an emotional prison and then walked away. Now I'm stuck waiting for more episodes while overanalyzing every glance, every smile, and every piece of foreshadowing.

After four episodes, Never Ending Summer feels less like a typical youth romance and more like a story about first love, timing, and the memories that shape who we become. If the drama can maintain this level of chemistry and emotional sincerity, I'm going to be in serious trouble by the time the heartbreak arc arrives.

Current status: obsessed, emotionally compromised, and already dreading the inevitable separation storyline.

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A Recipe for Laughter, Healing, and Unexpected Feels

Before I start, you should know that this drama isn’t for everyone. The main focus of the show is food, and I don’t just mean eating it. If you enjoy food and have an appreciation for cooking, you’ll probably love this drama even more.

Now, onto the review!

The first 20 minutes had me a little confused. I kept wondering, “What exactly is going on here?” But around the 35 minute mark, I found myself getting attached to the characters. By the end of the very first episode, I was completely hooked. It does require a little patience at the beginning, but trust me it’s worth it.

The camaraderie and friendships completely won me over and became the heart of the show for me.

Seong Jae’s innocence and naivety fit his character perfectly. He’s such a simple, genuine guy which makes him incredibly easy to root for. His family struggles makes you feel for him, so you can’t help but want him to succeed.

One of my favorite parts of the drama was watching his cooking journey. Watching him slowly go from someone who relied on game instructions for everything to someone who actually understood cooking was surprisingly satisfying. Every small win felt earned, and it was so much fun seeing him become more confident in the kitchen.

However, the character who unexpectedly stole the show for me was Dong Hyeon. Seriously, this guy is comedy gold. His reactions were so ridiculously funny that I found myself laughing even in scenes that weren’t supposed to be comedic. Every time he appeared on screen, I knew I was about to be entertained. I’d honestly watch an entire drama centered around him.

And can we talk about the soldiers' reactions to food? Absolute comedy. Their excitement over a decent meal was so over-the-top that I laughed out loud every single time. I was constantly waiting to see what dramatic reaction they’d come up with next.

What I loved most was how effortlessly the drama mixed comedy with heartfelt moments. One minute you're laughing at the chaos, and the next you're getting hit with emotions.This drama is such a breath of fresh air.

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Found my next comfort drama!

Yet another to be added to my 'comfort drama' list! Yet another masterpiece by Zhu Yi. The moment this drama started, I knew it couldn't go below 8 or 8.5. It did not disappoint me at all. Can't wait to read the book!

Ok, let's be honest - Sang Yan is way too good to belong to this world. He makes this drama so..comforting. It's the feeling of security as a viewer that no matter what truth, what twist comes up or whatever anybody says about Wen Yifan, his image of her would never change. If it did, it just gets better, never worse. And that keeps us grounded. He keeps Wen Yifan and all of us anchored. Making him feel that she isn't the best person he has ever met is as hard as making the Sun rise from the west, period. And realistically speaking, that makes him way more otherworldly than earthly 😂 And I know you're going to say it's the most basic way treating a girl - your girl - but let's be real. To indefinitely wait for someone for all these years and revolving your whole life around a single person takes a lot more than you think. And the vast majority of us can neither be it nor experience it. But I feel that's what makes stories like these divine. It's paradise. Loved that human, Sang Yan. I have officially become a Bai Jingting fan!

Wen Yifan, one of the bravest characters I've seen. Not in a 'warrior of the ancient times' sense but the real world version without an armour or sword. They called Sang Yan the knight and her the princess. But honestly, she is the knight herself. I usually don't like the idea of running away or escaping, leaving everything and everyone behind (as much as I wish I could myself ㅠㅠ). Maybe because it's not always possible. But she made me realise that maybe, running off isn't cowardice. It's a way of survival. And anything you do for survival is valid. She could have given up on her life entirely. But she didn't. That makes her a really brave person. She deserves every happiness in the world. Even at the end, their wedding wishes were filled with 'Sang Yan take care of her', 'Sang Yan protect her' as if it wasn't his wedding too. But it didn't feel out of place or overly highlighting Wen Yifan. It just FELT right! Again Zhang Ruonan fan here! The night when the incident happened was so well done by her, I was crying.

The two of them? One of the best onscreen couple. They look like real life couples tbh. Their acting was phenomenal! So natural; tears fell like it was happening to them, smiles came as if they had waited for this moment in real life. All the while making us feel the myriad of emotions. The way he called her name - Wen Shuangjiang..uhh! I was lovestruck 😫😫😭😭😭

Also liked Qiaoqiao and Haoan. They made a very cute couple. Love Zhang Miaoyi from WIFTY. It took me sometime to adjust to her new character 😫😂 I didn't realise Edward Chen is the one from 'Your Name engraved herein'. That movie's been on my watchlist for a long time. Have to watch that now for sure! Another notable character was Wen Yifan's mother. One of the most ridiculous people I've seen. EVER! Just cannot justify her in any way. Uh!

The OSTs grow on you. I liked 任性(Willful), 倔强(Stubborn) and 看着我(Look at me). But my favorites would be 像晴天像雨天 (Like sunny days, like rainy days) by Silence Wang and 雨滴中有你 (There is you amidst raindrops) by Crispy Band. Loved those!

This drama is not without problems though. First and foremost, Sang Yan's character as person was a bit far fetched. I mean, we're talking about a 16, 17 year old flying or taking train whatever so many times and his parents don't seem to care. Where did he get all the money from? Why aren't his parents the least concerned? Again, the level of freedom he had was a bit too much for an Asian family 😂 And if he didn't have a heart of gold, I swear he's one of the brattiest people I've seen 😂 Sang Zhi is right, he is very proud and arrogant 😶 So the green flag is for 'the way he treats her' than him as an individual. Then the storyline of the second couple felt a bit incomplete. I wish there was more. More interaction, more lovely moments and a more decisive ending. It felt loose. And the grandparents story as well. It felt like there wasn't a need for it. They were on track in the beginning, the entire memory loss and all. But they didn't use the room they had. All of a sudden it just wrapped up and became background stuff. Also, I thought there'll be more bits that parallelled with Hidden Love timeline but that disappointed me too. Finally, somewhere in the middle I did feel the drama dragged a bit. Not in a way that makes you want to fast forward the episode. But in a way that doesn't give you the urge to watch the next episode soon after, ya.

So the conclusion? This drama shows you what it is like to be loved unconditionally without any strings attached. What it is like to have someone to rely on- quoting "Trusting you in weakness, chosen by you firmly". This drama is not for binge watching over the weekend. It exists for you to watch an episode per day over an entire month! ❄️🍃

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LOVE can make you SICK

What a roller coaster of emotions this series has been. Double Helix is easily one of the strongest BL dramas aired this year, delivering an extraordinary level of emotional intensity that keeps viewers fully invested from start to finish. I absolutely loved Ayden and Si Tong’s top-tier acting and undeniable chemistry. Their portrayal of Lu Feng and Yi Chen was remarkable, and I was constantly in awe of their performances, along with the rest of the cast. Ayden perfectly embodied Lu Feng’s masculine presence, while Si Tong was effortlessly adorable as Yi Chen.

Lu Feng and Yi Chen are far from the typical BL couple. They are complicated, intense, and at times completely insane. The love they have for each other never truly vanished, but the consequences of their actions constantly follow them. Their first breakup, caused by the scandal of their relationship being exposed throughout the university, was already devastating. The involvement of their homophobic parents only made the situation even worse.

Thankfully, the series gave us plenty of sweet moments before the storm hit. I super adored how the video camera was used to capture their most sincere and lovey-dovey memories. It was one of the fluffiest and most heartwarming elements of the show. I loved the editing choices and how the recordings continued to play an important role until the finale. The wedding vows they made after witnessing a marriage ceremony and the couple's rings they exchanged were especially memorable. Those rings, in particular, became a powerful symbol throughout the series as they were repeatedly worn, removed, and reclaimed across several episodes.

The yearning between them never lasted very long because they kept reuniting, breaking up, and finding their way back to each other over and over again. However, I completely lost my affection for Lu Feng when he kidnapped Yi Chen and subjected him to emotional torment. Bringing different men into his place every day and forcing Yi Chen to witness inappropriate intimate scenarios was unforgivable. Lu Feng crossed every possible boundary. He was a walking black flag, a severe example of toxic behavior that should never be romanticized or tolerated in real life. Thankfully, this remains a work of fiction.

Remaining as a couple in the finale was predictable, and part of me believes that a more realistic ending would have been for Lu Feng and Yi Chen not to end up together. Given everything that happened between them, it would have made sense. Still, the series clearly aimed to provide the happy ending that many fans wanted. Lu Feng’s illness and subsequent healing accelerated his redemption arc considerably, perhaps more than it should have. As the saying goes, people must face the consequences of their own choices. At the same time, Yi Chen’s inability to let go of Lu Feng proved that the obsession was not one-sided. Lu Feng was not the only one unable to move forward without the other one; the same was true for Yi Chen.

Before ending this review, I have to acknowledge the real MVP of the story: Qin Lang. Without question, he is the most lovable character in the entire series. Kind, supportive, sincere, and endlessly devoted. Qin Lang consistently showed what genuine love and care look like. His patience with the spoiled and stubborn little Yi Chen highlighted just how gentle, mature, and authentic he truly was.

The soundtrack deserves praise as well. Every song carried a strong emotional weight and perfectly complemented the sorrow, longing, and intensity of the story. Having twelve full-length episodes without being restricted to the short runtimes that many BL dramas suffer from was a blessing. Double Helix deserves the hype it has received. Although the story took some shocking turns toward the last few episodes, it never lost its strong execution, emotional impact, and impressive production quality.

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I was not as blown away as I expected

I originally wanted to give this a 9/10, but looking at my ratings in the different categories, that would be unfaithful to the movie. It had a similar vibe to Parasite and Monster, both of which throw you around with new revelations, so that was what I expected, but I wasn't thrown around nearly as much as I thought. I was only startled at the turning point between part 1 and part 2, the rest wasn't as revolutionary (tho learning what "reading" meant was certainly unsettling and shocking, but not in the way I'm talking about here). So I think my disappointment was affecting how I wanted to rate it.

- Taboo topics
I love the exploration of taboo topics, especially how it's done so casually. Or, casually in the sense that it's not portrayed as something wrong or extraordinary, it's just presented to you, there's no one on-screen who can't understand it or are prejudiced, and you are just left to make up your own mind about it. It's not casual in how the movie deals with it, it's delved quite thoroughly into lol.

- Cinematography
I love the house, and I love the camera work, costumes, frames, weather – everything; the visuals are impeccable. I also love comparing part 1 and part 2 in style and cinematography, which is also why I think the rewatch value should be so high.
And, while not cinematography, the audio and sensory part need a mention. Whenever the characters experience something mainly sensory, the audio is amplified and the camera focuses, giving you little else to look at. It's sort of eerie, but also drags you into the movie. The movie somehow retains its sense of class and dignity despite some of these scenes being borderline gross.

- Characters
I'm a sucker for fleshed out characters, and this is lovely. I especially love how the uncle is exactly the same in the end as in the beginning. Everything he does is so predictable to his character and a perfect embodiment of his values. Like how he rejects his Korean heritage, and insists on being as Japanese or British as he can. Everything he does can be traced back to that or the other major thing I won't spoil.
The lady Hideko is also a character I love, especially how the actress, scriptwriter and director all cooperate to make her as baby-like as possible. Especially in the bath the resemblance is striking.
All the characters are caricatures of their biggest flaws, yet still refuse to see their own shortcomings, and no one brings them to their attention. I love it.

- Humour
The humour here seems so effortless, that I sometimes wondered if it was even intended to be funny or if I'm just weird. It also feels so out of place, which makes anything 10x funnier. Kim Tae-ri is of course also naturally funny lol, she was a great casting choice.

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I went into Double Helix knowing very little and was pleasantly surprised

First of all, when i found out it’s a Chinese BL I expected heavy censorship, but the series surprised me in a good way. The story is engaging, and it deliberately avoids portraying a healthy, realistic relationship — you could even call the central romance toxic. I enjoy that kind of darker, psychologically complex storytelling, though it’s important not to normalize the behavior shown; the series is unrealistic and shouldn’t be seen as a model for real-life relationships.

Liking a story with toxic elements isn’t the same as endorsing them, and I disagree with people who dismiss the series solely because of that. There’s a lot more to appreciate: for a 12-episode run, the characters are written relatively well and feel distinct. I liked the main couple — their dynamic is intense and compelling. By contrast, the secondary couple didn’t do much for me; their subplot felt unnecessary and underdeveloped.

One useful point the show raises is that labeling a partner’s harmful actions as “mental illness” doesn’t fix anything. The series suggests that poor communication and a lack of cooperation can lead to major misunderstandings and relationship damage, which I found thoughtfully handled. Overall, despite flaws and uncomfortable elements, I enjoyed the review and found the series worth watching for viewers who appreciate more serious, psychologically driven BL.

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