Reviews

Maybe it’s bc I prepared myself in advance…

But I actually ended up really enjoying this drama. I read through the reviews and was hesitant to watch this drama. But I was just in the mood for something easy to watch and lighthearted. So I told myself if the rest of the drama went to crap… it is what it is. But honestly, I was thoroughly surprised. The first couple episodes were so good and I saw why everyone had such high hopes. But then as I kept watching, waiting for the other shoe to drop, it never really did. It had me smiling, kicking my feet, and staying up way too late, reminiscent of those cheesy Kdramas I grew up watching and missed so dearly. So yeah, is this the best, most thought provoking drama with absolutely no plot holes? Absolutely not. But if you know what we’re getting into and you just go along for a cute, fluffy, lighthearted ride, then you’re good. Yeah, it’s full of cliches, some of them more annoying than others, but I didn’t care. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this drama and really, that’s all I could ask for.

Read More

Mini BL (4 x 10") with a very low budget but cleverly done

PLOT: A psychology researcher brings back a rebellious high school student he used to tutor for an experiment.

+++ Good actors (even if everyone has poker faces)
+++ Flawless direction, no dead time, no plot holes, quite realistic. A complete story told with only 4 actors and 2 sets.

=> Here, I especially admire the directing and editing. Kudos!
**********************************************************
Mini BL (4 X 10") avec tout petit budget mais intelligente
PLOT : 1 chercheur en psychologie fait revenir pour une expérience, un lycéen rebelle dont il a été le tuteur.

+++ Bons acteurs (mm si tt le monde est poker-face)
+++ Réalis° sans défaut, sans tps mort, sans plot holes, assez réaliste. Story complète racontée avec 4 acteurs et 2 décors.

=> Ici, j'admire surtt le travail de réalis° et de montage. Kudos !

Read More

Didn’t Want It To End

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one. Going in, the synopsis is somewhat questionable but over time it’s easy to forget. The main cast, particularly He Yu and Esther Yu had incredible chemistry that their relationship felt real. Each of them also delivered layered performances and had me tearing up many times. I haven’t seen either of them before (I mostly watch K Dramas) so I’m not familiar with their usual acting styles, but the amount of emotions they conveyed with just their eyes (especially He Yu) was insane.

The plot was interesting, though the pacing felt off in some places. The editing could be odd too, but I’ve found that to be the case for a lot of C Dramas I’ve seen. That being said, I was hooked and it all ended too fast! This story and this couple left me wanting more. I heard certain plot points/scenes were left out of the final cut, but it would’ve been nice to see even more of their relationship.

Visually, this show was stunning (both the camera work/lighting and actors). It set a perfect tone. The music was also really good and used well. I would definitely stream the full OST.

I’ll definitely have to come back to this again sometime; I can’t seem to let go of these characters! Just a beautiful story of yearning, devotion, heartbreak, and destiny.

Read More

A Pleasant Tragedy

This drama was unexpectedly pleasant. When you start a show knowing that it is a k-trauma, you unconsciously prepare yourself for all the tears. You expect at least 3-4 major emotional breakdowns from the leads, coupled with multiple crying montages. Our movie didn’t give us any of that. Although the premise warns of immense sadness, the story is told in a way that the pain is more of an afterthought. Instead of bawling my eyes out, I was overwhelmed by a deep feeling of warmth. Our Movie tells a tragic story in a way that makes all the beautiful moments that much more precious. It is slow-paced and requires undivided attention to understand fully, BUT once you get to the core of their message, you won’t want to leave. This is one of those dramas where, if you are patient enough, the emotional payoff at the end is much deeper than a cliché rom-com. I may be a bit biased, given that I don’t watch a lot of melodramas, but this one was definitely worth my time.

Read More

Really enjoyed this one it’s really under rated

The series thoughtfully challenges the audience to reflect on what truly constitutes justifiable defense and whether the law can ever be absolute or “almighty.” It suggests that final verdicts and legal conclusions are inevitably shaped by personal beliefs and biases—highlighting an inherent vulnerability in the legal system, which is, after all, a human construct. There is a scene where prosecutor explains to LI mufeng that after he was sent to jail , the crime rate and bullying in schools reduced significantly, and li mufeng responds “ what about me ?” I understand proportionality in cases like these , but what was he to do ? Walk away?

What truly elevates this drama is its excellent plot—tightly constructed, engaging, and consistently thought-provoking without relying on unnecessary shock value. It is, in many ways, a seriously underrated drama that deserves far more recognition than it has received.

The writing is strong, complemented by solid direction and a cast of compelling, multi-dimensional characters. The series excels in portraying psychological depth, allowing viewers to connect with the characters beyond surface-level storytelling.

Bai Jingting delivers a particularly standout performance, bringing nuance and authenticity to his role. His portrayal adds significant emotional weight to the narrative and is one of the highlights of the series

Read More

A gift that’s nicely wrapped but empty inside

I'm disappointed, which is why I'm writing this review. The story falls into my favorite genre, so I watched it all the way through to the end. But what a drag. The main plot could easily fit into a single episode, but it's stretched out over 12 (and thank goodness it wasn't 16). Everything in between the plot twists of the main story is boring, predictable, and at times irrelevant. FL has an over-the-top acting style that doesn’t fit here at all. ML seems like Ken—flat and empty. There’s no chemistry between the two. The production is high quality, but honestly, they could have spent more on the writing instead of creating a gift that’s nicely wrapped but empty inside.

Read More

See a different side of Takeuchi Ryoma after he shook his hips sexily in "10 Dance"

Takeuchi Ryoma is definitely the main reason I am checking out “Then You Try Making It”. After watching him so sexily shook his hips in “10 Dance”, it is quite eye-opening to see him in a completely different role here. Playing the role of the egoistic, chauvinistic Katsuo, Ryoma is really showing his diverse acting skills. It’s really hard not to want to punch Katsuo in the face in the first episode. His words and actions make my blood boil. Luckily, Ryoma is so adorable and good-looking, that makes his initial introduction somewhat tolerable. Of course, knowing the fact that this drama is about his and the female lead’s character growth helps as well.

Ryoma really is great here, even if I take away how good-looking he is. Katsuo can be so insufferable, yet cluelessly adorable. He’s not mean, but actually quite sweet and adorable. Seeing Katsuo slowly realize his embarrassing actions, accepting his faults and wanting to change is the best part of the show.

Kaho plays the female lead Ayumi. I think she has a slightly tougher and more subtle character growth than Katsuo. But it’s no less important and amazing to witness her growing from a girlfriend who wants to be chosen and perfect, to someone who finally is able to express herself and finds out who she really is, and gains the independence that she wants.

Other areas that make “Then You Try Making It" enjoyable are all the cooking of delicious food, and the group of really supportive and amazing friends and co-workers. There are no bad and irritating antagonists in this drama. It’s a slice-of-life of two individuals' character development, supported by really great people who help and cheer them on along the way.

This drama is adapted from a manga, so I was initially concerned about the comedy and possibility of overdramatic acting. Luckily, I worry for no reason. There are so many funny bits - the older TV show, dating reality tv, Ryoma dancing samba as if his hips couldn’t move, etc. Some comedic moments are sarcastically funny and subtle, others are just plain making fun of themselves.

Despite these glowing reviews, there are areas I’m not quite sure of. I think 10 episodes for this drama is a little too long, and I lose steam in the last few episodes. 8 episodes might be enough. Nothing much really happens, since it’s quite slice-of-life. If you are looking for romance, then you might be disappointed. There’s slight romance, but not really any romantic, fluffy, angsty or cute moments, kisses or skinship. Additionally, the acting of the cast isn’t bad, but I wouldn’t call them excellent or fantastic. I think Ryoma just shines so brightly and others pale in comparison.

I did have a decent time watching “Then You Try Making It” and I definitely cannot try making it! 🤣 LOL. I like the ending and think it's realistic. I wouldn’t say the plot is revolutionary and you’ve probably seen many similar dramas. But if you are a fan of Takeuchi Ryoma, you should definitely check it out.



Completed: 3/20/2026 Review #674

Read More

Great Storyline.... not so great FL

Let’s give the writers a standing ovation—this is storytelling with teeth.

A man hollowed out by loss, living only for revenge after the death of the woman he loved and the child they never got to meet.
A woman who sacrifices everything, taking the fall for a crime that was never hers—only to be repaid with silence and betrayal.

And then comes the cruelest twist…
Behind prison walls, she discovers she’s carrying his child—alone, abandoned, and left to carry the weight of a love that broke her.

Two lives bound by tragedy—one fueled by revenge, the other by endurance.
And somewhere in between… the truth waits.

Now, I’ll say this—the male lead completely delivered. I first saw him in Kill Me, Heal Me, and he’s the kind of actor who can wear a dozen faces and make you believe every single one. That range? Rare. And that smile? Dangerous—it’ll melt you before you even realize it.

But the female lead… that’s where things didn’t quite land for me. The performance leaned too heavily into fragility—too much repetition, too much “I’m sorry” and “thank you” until it started to lose its meaning. Instead of depth, it felt forced at times.

And if I’m being honest, she’s never quite stood out to me—her roles tend to follow a familiar pattern, especially when cast alongside her real-life father. It makes it harder to fully separate the character from the casting choice.

Still… despite that, the story itself carries enough weight to pull you in and keep you there.

Read More

Sh**ting Stars: 1/08/2026 ~ 3/19/2026

First I would like say that this is me watching the show and I actually have no idea of the dates when I first started.for that reason even though I love the show it took me longer to finish cause I was also watching other shows. Anyways this show is literally so cliche but I love it. Like yes give me a really predictable plot but who cares cause it just so cute. I love the interactions between all the characters and honestly just love the show. It was one of my first drams so I’m really biased as it will forever hold special place in my heart. Everything about it will always be amazing to me. I also just love famous x regular persons storylines. Like they have the funniest scene I think also have the cutest romance, especially when the famous person is the down bad person cause it just makes things so funny.

Read More

Great Story… But Let Them Kiss Already

This is my fifth Japanese drama, and I’ve started to notice a pattern—many of them are based on manga or anime. Honestly, that’s not a bad thing at all. Back in the early 2000s, I was deeply into both. You could say I was a full-on otaku—reading, watching, collecting, even getting into cosplay. So stepping into this drama felt a little like coming home.

The storyline was beautifully written, and every character played their role with a natural ease and professionalism that made it all feel real. Both the male lead (ML) and female lead (FL) delivered strong performances—I genuinely enjoyed watching their characters grow and change over time.

What I appreciated most was that the ML didn’t fall in love at first sight. Instead, it was something deeper. He saw something in her—something that stirred him, something that began to pull him out of the quiet, confined life he was living in the temple. He loved the temple, yes… but he wasn’t truly living. In my opinion, the FL gave him that missing piece. What started as simple interest slowly grew into love, shaped by everything she showed him and everything she brought into his world.

Now, if I had one complaint—it’s this: every single time they were about to kiss, something or someone interrupted them. Every. Time. 😅 It got a little frustrating, not going to lie.

The music throughout each episode was well done—light, upbeat, and always fitting the mood of the scene. It added a nice layer without overpowering the story.

Overall, this was a heartfelt drama centered on love, growth, and understanding. The kind that stays with you a little after it ends.

Read More