Reviews

This film was very obviously made with a shoestring budget. The most obvious is the audio quality. It seems they had issues with the original sound and had to dub most scenes later, and some of those dubs have a slight echo to them. Cuts between scenes are often hard and jarring, some supporting actors seem to have taken on the job just for the fun of it.

However, despite all of these technical issues, the film is worth a watch. Both main leads do a good job of portraying their characters -- I wish some of the newer BL productions had this high of acting quality -- and since this is a character driven story, that is the most important part for me.

Tum's story, who is the character we mostly follow in the beginning, is a classic coming-of-age story: He leaves the familiar shores of home and sets out into the wide world, where he meets people whose life is unusual for him, goes through rites of passage, falls in love, makes peace with his father, and finds what he wants in life.
Personally, I find Kim's story much more interesting -- he is a boy who is very lonely, who drifts over the island like a ghost. He is the one who embodies the feeling of "other" that makes us feel Not Seen. A supporting character puts it like this "มันคงจะดีนะ ถ้าใครสักคนเห็นเราอยู่ในสายตา" -- "It's probably good, right? When someone has us in their view." This desire to be seen, to be understood, is a very human trait, I think.

This could have been maybe made a little bit more obvious for the casual viewer; instead the writer tried to insert another metaphor into the story -- a metaphor which is related to wate: Pivotal scenes are often either in the rain or at the sea shore, and the girl who ties two storylines together is called น้ำ /náam/ "Water"), so I suppose this is intentional but I'm not sure what it means.
Together with the aspect that there were some scenes that didn't add much to the story, I think that the script could have been tightened slightly to make the theme clearer.

One last thing: The film is tagged with "BL", "gay", "young love" and "sexual awakening" on GagaOOLala, but it isn't, not really. In my view, it's less queer than "Confetti", and that one went over the head of many viewers, according to reactions on letterboxd. It's perfectly possible to view "Summer to Winter" as a film about a strong friendship between two young people.

As it is, it's a fine low-budget film, with some beautiful shots of Koh Tao, decent acting by the main leads, and a good, though not great, screenplay.


Was it good?
Overall, I think this was actually quite nice for an indie low-budget film.

Did I like it?
I would have liked it sightly better if the editing had been a bit gentler, but yes, I did.

Who would I recommend it to?
Not to people who only want to watch BLs. To those who love coming-of-age stories, and who like metaphors.

Read More

was it worth it? yes

I wasn’t interested in this drama for a long time. the graphics of the cast for the title picture said to me ‘this one isn’t my cup of tea’. BUT one day Itaewon Class OST #6 came up on my Apple Music feed and I fell in love with that song. I don’t speak Korean but without knowing the words, that song grabbed me like few other songs have. I sensed it wasn’t love song but couldn’t find the words anywhere because I don’t know the actual song’s title. this is what made me watch it, to find out if it was a love song or not.
I liked the first 2 episodes but the vibe didn’t grab me - just as I had suspected. I stopped watching around episode 11. A couple months later I decided to finish it and am glad I did.
PSJ as PSY was great.
I know this sounds silly, but the ML and FL hairstyles were a turnoff for me. I was okay with PSJ’s hair cut as a youth and early years out of prison, but I think it would have been more realistic if his character’s aging arc to 2020 included a change of hair style. I’ll just leave it at that.
I was touched throughout the drama by PSY’s sensitive but determined spirit. the chemistry between PSY and JYS was realistic to their characters. PSY had zero romantic skills and PSJ played that well.
the music was excellent, especially #6 which I found out is entitled Someday Boy / with great lyrics - and no, it is not a love song. the ‘boy’ is yearning for something better for his life. it seems he is pleading for time and hope. Kim Feel sings this song so beautifully, he is one my favorite Korean singers.
I probably will watch select scenes again but not the entire drama again.

Read More

misunderstandings and revenge

Overall, the drama was just… okay. The ML and FL are actually solid actors—you can tell they’ve got talent—but they were working with a weak script that didn’t do them any favors.

It started off strong and pulled you in, but by around episode 10, it began to drag. The story fell into a frustrating cycle: him treating her poorly, her quietly planning her escape, and neither of them actually communicating. The entire plot leans heavily on misunderstandings and revenge, and after a while, it feels more exhausting than engaging.

That said, I’ll give credit where it’s due—the last two episodes finally delivered. It’s rare to see a drama wrap things up in a way that feels somewhat complete, and those final moments gave the story the closure it had been missing all along.

Read More

Short review

I love this season more than the previous one. It is more intense and has amazing boxing choreography. However, I do not like the dialogue. It feels awkward and overused, and some of the crying scenes feel unnecessary.

To be honest, I really do not like that they brought Kang In Beom back. I think it would have been better to introduce a new villain. Also, putting Lee Du Yeong’s character at the end felt kind of pointless. While the others use boxing, he uses weapons, which feels unnecessary and does not fit well.

I thought in the last episode Gun Woo’s friend or team would fight the villain team in a chaotic battle, but it ended up being just a fight in the ring between the four of them.

The post credit scene left me speechless. Oh my God. Hopefully, there will be a season 3.

Read More

captivated by captivating the king

i am currently addicted to Korean Period Drama's, .... and Captivating the king...is fantastic..... i can not praise it enough, from the lavish costumes, sceanery, serttings .... and mostly the emotional roller coaster we travel as the story unfolds ... the leading roll , jo jung suk, who plays the king .... his portrayol of his emotions is just sublime.... i have watched it several times and never cease to be moved... i am hypnotised by his character, simply because you believe what he is going through.... all the actors are wonderful ... i can not believe that this has not been given the credit it was and is truly due.
i am from the UK, and these period dramas have enlightened me to Koreas history, and beauty. I wish i had been ... enlightened .... sooner... i will have to purchase the dvd, as i am sure it will nor stay on netflix forever,.
When i read negative comments, i get anoyed, as they are truely not reflective of the series at all.....
well done, superb directing, producing and delivery. i have never enjoyed something so much in a long time.
I am extremely greatful.

Read More

A shamble of good and the not so good

The only reason to watch this is for the lore and light entertainment. The actors do a decent job and there are plenty of likeable characters but the plot is all over the place. The pacing is incredibly slow at times and I most sped through it all. The story itself is high-level interesting but has too many huge plot holes, unnecessary deaths, and love obsessions. It also has a tendency to build up a moment for that moment's sake and then it just dissipates with pretty much no impact to the overarching main story. Some of the actions scenes were pretty good but there's not much of it across a 40-episode series. The lore itself is pretty entertaining but they don't explain it much either other than to just indicate that its just part of the demon world. So with this, even the "rules" of the demon world contradicts with different events.

Nevertheless, it's a good time-consumer if you are in the mood for this type of setting. It's also one where you can walk away from the screen and do some chores while listening, and still get the gist of what's happening. And at least it does have its sweet moments and funny moments to make up for its many flaw.

Read More

Misunderstanding

The Ultimate Vow, Unknown to You is one of those short Chinese dramas that pulls you in fast and doesn’t let go. With only short episodes, it wastes no time diving straight into heartbreak, revenge, and the kind of love that hurts before it heals.

What makes this drama stand out is the emotional push and pull between the leads. Their relationship is not soft or easy—it’s sharp, filled with suspicion, sacrifice, and unspoken truth. You can feel the tension in every scene, like a storm that refuses to break until the very end.

The pacing is quick, as expected from a short drama, but it still manages to deliver heavy emotional moments. Some scenes feel rushed, but the intensity makes up for it. The male lead carries that quiet, restrained pain, while the female lead brings a strong but wounded presence—together, they create a story that feels both tragic and beautiful.

If there’s one thing this drama does well, it’s showing how love can exist even in the middle of betrayal and misunderstanding. And when the truth finally comes out… it hits hard.

⭐ Final Thoughts:

This isn’t a light, sweet romance. It’s a story about love born from revenge, tested by sacrifice, and revealed too late. If you enjoy dramas where emotions run deep and the characters suffer before finding peace, this one is worth the watch.

Read More

THAT PERSON YOU'LL DIE FOR...

I have a very hard time reviewing movies because I'm a "series " girlie.
I like to explore a story, see characters development over time, so movies are a bit ostic to judge.

plot:
a boy and a girl , who met as kid, see each other again once adult. they fall in love but destiny is not always in our hands..or is it?

the plot is very simple and not that deep which means there isn't that much to talk about.

why do these candles work they they do? I don't know.
does it have something to do with his mother? we don't know.

that's what is good and bad about movies... you have to take everything at face value because there is no time to explore anything.

we speed run through their love story which is basically done in 2 minutes. I didn't feel a particular connection to them but overall we can still feel the love they have for each other.

there is no time to get attached to them as people so I just focused on something universal: the pain of losing your loved one.

you enjoy the movie not because of what is happening TO THEM but because of WHAT is happening to them.

you still feel the fear, the urgency , the worry and the pain even though, unlike other reviewers , I didn't end up crying.

I didn't quite like that the FL tried to contact the ml after her wish because that would basically break the pact you made with destiny.

I think it would have added more pathos If she just stopped looking for him.

the ending is happy because it seems that fate is letting them finally rekindle.

the acting was good overall, the tone of the movie felt right.

definitely an easy watch but don't expect nothing devastating.

Read More

Just really well written and acted - watch it!

I don't want do burden you with a long review, but I just wanted to note that this series is really, really good. The story is good and keeps your interest. What, for me, makes this shine so much is the casting and acting. They just nailed it! Everyone was great and if it weren't for the stellar acting I think the mood of the series could have made it drag. The fact that the slow evolution of the love of the leads pulled you in was a testimony to the writing and acting and directing.

Chen Zhe-Yuan was great. Tender yet emotive. His concerns for the FL felt so genioune and never creepy (due to the age gap).

Zhao Lu-Si was absolutely fantastic. She is a genius - able to portray the emotions of a first crush, from high school through college, in a very believable way. I can't imagine anyone doing a better job than she did.

Truly one of the best CDramas I've watched.

Read More

An Easy Watch with Some Flaws

The story was fairly decent and had an interesting concept, but it didn’t fully live up to its potential. Many of the cases felt too easily resolved, mainly because the investigative elements lacked depth and detail. This made the overall narrative feel somewhat rushed and less immersive than it could have been.

In terms of characters, there wasn’t much room for growth or exploration. The limited development made it hard to become truly invested in their journeys. The female lead’s revenge arc, which seemed like a central driving force of the story, ended up feeling less impactful than expected. This was likely due to the short runtime, which didn’t allow enough space to build emotional intensity or properly flesh out her motivations.

That said, it’s still an enjoyable watch if you’re looking for something quick and easy to get through. While it may not be particularly memorable or deeply engaging, it has enough appeal to keep you entertained for a short time. 😊📺

Read More

Jang Man Wol and Ryu Seon Jae are back in a ROYAL SETUP!✨

Finally a worthy Kdrama to watch! Honestly I've been quenching my thirst for good stories with Cdramas and a drama like this drops and it feels like Kdrama industry finally back in groove!!!😇

IU did it again! The QUEEN's back!!! I just love her in sassy queen roles! After Hotel Del Luna finally I see her in another sassy role and I love every bit of it!!!🥰😎❤️ IU as Seong Hui Ju and Byeon Woo Seok as Grand Prince Yi An are just perfect!!! Honestly I wasn't sure how good the story would be when the trailer was out given how grand scale of a production it has and two my favorite actors were in it, but it did not disappoint at all! I love every bit of it! I love how we see the background of both the characters and what makes them the way they are...

SPOILER'S AHEAD -

Hui Ju is the literal definition BEAUTY WITH BRAINS! She is a QUEEN in all ways just limited by her title and family background...While Yi An is from a royal background and hence suffers from the heaviness of it...They are shown to be acquainted via the same royal school...Where HJ is shown to be extremely competitive and excels at everything she does but still gets judged and looked down upon for lack of title...But she fights through it all and goes on to become a CEO of her own beauty company and makes her own name but is still being looked down upon due to her lack of title and noble family connection which she decides to fulfil by marrying Grand Prince Yi An cause why not, a QUEEN deserves a KING!!👑✨She being the confident sassy girl she is proposes to Yi An about a contract marriage to which he initially refuses a lot of times but our persistent QUEEN keeps showing up and tries to convince him countless times...Until he eventually agrees and now we'll see how it will proceed!

I love the contrast they have shown in the way both have similar backgrounds in that they are both born and considered illegitimate but while she has fiercely and bravely faced it he has put up walls and shows less of himself and hides his true side...We all see the contrast in their dressing where he chooses mostly black or muted colors while she chooses bold and colorful palette for her dresses like RED which shows her BOLD and FIERCE personality!😎🔥

Honestly I love the chemistry between the two all levels I see hints of their previous works here like IU's Hotel Del Luna and Byeon Woo Seok's Lovely Runner! The first meet between Yi An and Hui Ju just looks so beautiful! Her in that beautiful RED DRESS 👠 like RED is so her color! And we also see hints of Yi An having a crush on her as he admires her from afar! Honestly I initially thought only he liked her from 1st ep but now that I've seen the 2nd,3rd,4th ep it shows some of her caring sides for him too like her looking at his taste in paintings and identifying that he seems to like cats and then later when he gets sick she is the one who calls a doctor for him and also tells the doctor not tell anyone that he came to treat the prince and that take it as he came to treat her and she later also got sandwiches for the his assistant...Like we get to see that she can also be caring and affectionate when needed but she saves it for only those who truly deserve it! She even saves the "Honor Flowers" from their archery competition! 🌸

So given all that I've seen till now I'm honestly excited and looking forward to what more this show could offer and hope it doesn't disappoint!✨

Read More

Dark Themes, Strong Acting, Weak Emotional Core

This drama is intense, twist-filled, and heavily character-driven, with turns happening almost every few minutes. The story focuses on the idea of “the little people” being discarded by those in power, alongside women trying to claim their own strength and place in society. While the romance is present, it clearly takes a back seat to the political intrigue and power struggles.

The main lead, Jian Qui is determined, caring, and just. He is not a flawless hero; he carries his own inner demons, much like the female lead and even the antagonist. The female lead’s journey is rooted in rebirth and trauma, where she swears to save her loved ones from death after suffering horrific past experiences. However, her attempts often fall short, becoming a recurring theme of the story. Despite her determination, she frequently relies on the male lead to resolve critical situations, which weakens her agency at times.

The villainous characters are not purely evil; each of them is given a perspective and motivation, which makes them more layered and interesting. Even the so-called villainess has a complex backstory, though it is somewhat simplified in execution, especially with her predictable emotional dependency on the male lead.

The emperor stands out as the only truly irredeemable character, while most others receive some form of resolution or consequence by the end. The narrative explores dark themes such as abuse of power, exploitation, and emotional trauma, including disturbing elements like coercion, manipulation, and violence.

The romance, however, feels lukewarm and at times lacks sincerity. Some viewers may find the romantic scenes underwhelming or even cringeworthy, as emotional depth between the leads is not always convincingly portrayed.
Despite these flaws, the production quality is strong. The cast is visually appealing and delivers solid performances, and the costumes and sets are beautifully designed. The overall aesthetic of the drama is polished and high quality, making it feel like a well-funded production.

However, the writing does not always match the production value. What could have been a gripping psychological and political drama about smart characters outmaneuvering each other often gets simplified by predictable twists and underdeveloped execution. Each time an interesting turn appears, it quickly resolves in a more generic direction, which reduces its overall impact.

In the end, this is a drama with strong ideas, good acting, and high production value, but inconsistent writing. It had the potential to be remarkable, especially with its themes of power, survival, and human weakness, but doesn’t fully reach that level.

Read More