Reviews

Not really a review - just "the constant repetition of the foot scene" issue...

... ok, so we do not sumble over this more than necessary.

... "who isn’t particularly a fan of foot play" ... i do not think it was a reference to footplay really, i think it was more like this: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-prison-holy-thursday-lord-s-supper.html
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/04/13/pope-washes-feet-12-prison-inmates-holy-thursday-mass/ ... What it means: A sign of being a servant to others, not a master.

What makes me believe it was not as shallow as a footplay? Level of intelligence of this story. Am I correct? IDK - go ask the creators. But I believe I am.

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Good potential but missed the mark...

I felt like the story had potential, but it was held back by several reasons. Overall the acting was average. The writing felt a little lazy. There were a lot of chance encounters that conveniently happened, and the same goes for misunderstandings, especially the one in episode 4 which felt unrealistic and manufactured just to create a misunderstanding to stretch out the story. My biggest disappointment was touching of the lips and calling it kissing. It was barely acceptable back in 2022... But it's 2026 and there have been a lot of Korean BLs that have had real kissing scenes. If an actor is going to act in a BL series then he needs to commit to the kissing scenes. It should be viewed the same way as playing a heterosexual relationship role. It's Korea, so heavy, passionate kissing isn't the norm even in mainstream shows, but barely touching the lips together isn't acceptable anymore.

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One of the Few Dramas That Truly Deserved My 10/10✨❤️

The First Frost is genuinely one of those dramas where I don't even know how to explain why it hit me this hard. This wasn't some cute, fluffy romance for me at all. It was brutally realistic, painfully quiet and deeply human. The pace, the silence, the pauses, the things left unsaid, the glances that say more than dialogue, the desperation and the raw connection between Sang Yan and Wen Yifan all felt incredibly real. I became completely emotionally invested in these two people, especially Wen Yifan and everything she had been silently carrying for years. Her past was genuinely painful to watch, and Sang Yan's love for her, his patience, his understanding and the way he kept loving her without forcing her to become someone else... that agape for Wen Yifan absolutely destroyed me. The drama understands that sometimes love isn't about grand words; sometimes it's simply staying, understanding and quietly giving someone a reason to believe they can be loved.

The storytelling became even more powerful as the layers of Wen Yifan's past were revealed. Episodes 24–26 were the turning point for me. That entire stretch was so unexpected and emotionally brutal that I genuinely almost cried out of desperation and empathy for her. I was no longer just watching her story, I was feeling her helplessness. And what I loved most is that the drama didn't try to make everything cute or romanticize pain. It showed how deeply past trauma can affect someone's ability to trust, communicate, accept love and even understand their own feelings. Sang Yan and Wen Yifan's relationship therefore felt earned rather than manufactured. Their connection lives in the silence, the hesitation, the tiny gestures and all those conversations they couldn't have at the right time. The dual perspectives also made their misunderstandings and longing hit much harder because we could see what neither of them was saying.

And the production itself is beautiful. The cinematography, lighting, atmosphere and OST are top tier, and they aren't merely there to make the drama look pretty. They actually carry the emotional tone of the story. There were so many moments where the music, silence and framing together said more than an entire conversation could. By the end, I wasn't just thinking "this was a great romance." I was genuinely sitting there feeling empty, emotional and grateful that I watched it. For me, The First Frost is a 10/10 masterpiece. Not because it's literally flawless in every technical detail, but because it reached that rare level where the acting, writing, atmosphere, characters, music and emotional impact all came together and made the drama feel irreplaceable to me. After watching around a hundred East Asian dramas, only a very few have earned my perfect rating, and The First Frost absolutely deserves to stand beside My Mister and Twenty-Five Twenty-One. Beautiful, painful, realistic, unforgettable. 10/10. ✨❄️
Agape love for Wan Yifan by Sang Yan is pure ✨🤧

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Sometimes the Person Who Changes Your Life Is the One You Never Expected

*Romance of a Twin Flower* isn't simply a romance. At its heart, it's a story about transformation—how love, trust, forgiveness, and companionship can change people.

Ji Man is such a refreshing heroine. She's intelligent, capable, independent, practical, and resourceful, yet she has a warm and compassionate heart. I love that she never loses her independence even after falling in love. She doesn't try to win Ning Yuxuan over; she simply lives her life, and eventually, he falls for the person she truly is.

Ning Yuxuan's transformation is probably my favorite part. He begins as a guarded man carrying resentment, responsibility, and the pain of his past. Through Ji Man, he slowly discovers that happiness can be found in the simplest things.

The Liu Village arc was especially beautiful. Watching them repair the villagers' broken things, laugh and dance around the fire, and seeing Ji Man help Ning Yuxuan overcome his fear of fire was one of the most touching parts of the drama. Those moments showed that emotional support doesn't always come through grand gestures. Sometimes, simply having someone beside you can make life feel lighter.

Their relationship also has such a satisfying "push-and-pull dynamic". The woman who once pursued him becomes the woman who wants her independence, while the man who once wanted nothing to do with her gradually becomes terrified of losing her. And what makes it even better is that Ji Man isn't playing hard to get—she genuinely wants to build a life of her own. Ning Yuxuan has to learn that if he wants her love, he has to earn her trust.

And the emotional payoff was incredible. Ding Yuxi's acting deserves special praise. His breakdown when he thought he might lose Ji Man was heartbreaking. The intensity of his grief, helplessness, fear, and love felt so raw that I couldn't help but feel it with him. That scene alone showed how far Ning Yuxuan had come—from a man who once wanted nothing to do with her to a man who couldn't imagine losing her.

What makes the ending so satisfying is that their love doesn't merely bring two people together. It helps them break free from the hatred, pain, and burdens inherited from the previous generation**. They choose forgiveness and a future together instead of allowing the past to determine their lives.

There are certainly moments when the plot becomes complicated, and some side stories could have been developed better, but the emotional journey made it worthwhile for me.

In the end, this is a drama about learning to trust, learning to forgive, and discovering that happiness can sometimes be much simpler than we imagined.**

---

✦ XO's Take ✦

Sometimes love doesn't just change two hearts—it changes the story they inherited, turning hatred into forgiveness and pain into a reason to live happily again.

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If you have watched Kairos, You would love this too.

Here in 2026.
I don't know why OCN dramas never make it out. Most good dramas are just lying in that network.

I just finished this drama and it's so good!!
I have watched a lot of time travel action/thrillers [Signal, Kairos, Tale of the Nine Tailed...] and this is among the best.

When i saw this on mydramalist, i thought it was just a mere political show but this is a thriller from beginning to end.

The FL is the supporting actress from itaewon class, The one that acted as a boy. LOL
She delivered an absolute masterclass. I really enjoyed the show and its worth watching.

1000/10

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If you want to understand why this actress, Ha Young, is highly criticisized right now : watch this.
The way people talk about their past and their family matters. You can't have this extremely dark history and speak this casually about it. (by trying of deny it) It means that you don't care. Not only her but the all family should lose all the money they made on a pile of corpses and give it to their victims. Especially when they show how much they don't give a damn. It's not (just) a story of an actress victims of a smear campaign. (of course, some people will take advantage of this to indulge their misogyny. Of course.)

When she talks in interviews about her family's pride, about the four generations of doctors, while obviously avoiding the subject, she must have known that it would come back to haunt her and them. Her handwritten letter of apology can't make up for that. Because it's not a matter of sincerity. She isn't responsible for her family's past, no, but she's particularly proud of it. Growing up surrounded by criminals and pretending you didn't know ? ... Please. Stop it.

It's a story of : "Forget it, it's the past." It's only the past for those who benefited from it. The far right wants everyone to forget. Japan certainly doesn't want this to be an issue. Why have those guilty of crimes against humanity alongside the Japanese never been held accountable ? And why did they continue to kill "communists" (independence activists) ? Why did they continue to monopolize the economy today ? Because the U.S. kept them in their positions, and their grandchildren now come to boast about the honor of belonging to their illustrious family and star in cute and funny K-dramas.
This is unbearable for many people. We all can understrand that.

What about the show, though ? It premieres a few days before Korea's Independence Day celebration. But the show itself ? It's really nonsensical and unhealthy. The guy lies, but since he's so handsome, it's ok, it doesn't matter. I dropped it very quickly. (second episode) All this amnesia stuff is starting to get old.

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One word. Masterpiece

A series that is SO hard to let go.

Multiple weeks of watching you, my love. 16 episodes of pure magic and awe. If you could marry a TV show, I would definitely marry you. There wasn't a single dull episode that I can remember. Not one.

A lot of people may not understand you, and honestly, I don't even know how I would explain to them what they're missing. A masterpiece. A work of art. I don't even know what else to call you anymore. Zelia, you have all of our respect. 🥹

If you're looking for beautiful cinematography, breathtaking shooting locations, incredible casting, and an OST that feels like magic, here it is. I'm serving this masterpiece to you.

This is not your normal series. You'll fall in love with the depth of the love they show. The kind of love that is pure, but not innocent. Is that even possible? Because somehow, this series made it possible.

Green-forest characters? YES. Angst? Absolutely. Romance? Deeper than I expected. And do you know how many times I cried, smiled, laughed, and just completely got lost in space while watching this?

And somehow, beneath all the magic, this series also feels like a subtle documentary about what really happens in the entertainment industry behind the cameras. The reality it carries, especially in China, where queer media has so many limitations, makes this story hit even harder.

The script was beautifully written. It may feel magical, but somehow, it still serves you reality. Lines filled with meaning that just slap you right in the heart.

And NC? Honestly, it's optional at this point. Most of their intimate scenes are just kissing, but damn, I'm NOT complaining. It fits them. It's enough. Sometimes, a kiss can say everything.

While watching, you might find yourself wondering, "What is happening?" You might even think some scenes are random.

But NO.

Everything is calculated. Everything has its place. Every detail eventually makes sense. Everything feels cinematic, yet somehow realistic.

What else can I even say?

This might be my first 10/10 series. And I'm putting it straight to my #1.

Zelia, you created something I don't think I'll be able to let go of anytime soon. ❤️

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A Birth (탄생, 2022) — A Powerful Story of Faith, Courage, and Sacrifice

A Birth tells the remarkable story of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea’s first Catholic priest, and the difficult journey of the early Korean Catholic community during the 19th century.

What makes this film particularly moving is that it doesn't portray faith as something easy. Andrew Kim and the other Korean Catholics had to face persecution, separation from their families, dangerous journeys, and ultimately the possibility of death simply because of their faith. The film gives viewers a sense of how much courage it took for the early Korean Catholics to preserve and spread Christianity in Joseon Korea.

I especially appreciated the historical setting and the way the movie introduces important figures and events surrounding the early Korean Church. It also shows Andrew Kim not simply as a religious figure, but as a young man who had to make difficult decisions and take enormous risks.

The movie may feel slow at times, especially for viewers unfamiliar with Korean Catholic history, and there are many names, places, and historical events to keep track of. But for anyone interested in the history of Christianity in Korea, the Korean martyrs, or Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, this film is well worth watching.

One of the most powerful aspects of the story is knowing that these events ultimately led to the canonization of Andrew Kim Taegon and the other Korean martyrs by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

A Birth is not merely a movie about the birth of a priest. It is a story about the birth of a Christian community in Korea, built through faith, sacrifice, and the courage of ordinary people willing to risk everything for what they believed.

Highly recommended for Catholics and anyone interested in Korean history and the history of Christianity in Asia.

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So Much Potential, So Little Execution

This drama had been on my watchlist for a while, mainly because I really liked the cast. I went into it with pretty high expectations, especially after seeing the premise and the chemistry in the promotional content. The idea of two people who once shared a dream of making movies reuniting years later to finally bring that dream to life sounded like something I would absolutely enjoy. And honestly, the drama did start well. The high school scenes had that innocent first-love feeling, the movie-making theme was interesting, and there was enough emotional baggage between the main leads to make me curious about how their relationship would develop.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the drama completely lost focus.

The biggest problem was that the drama tried to do far too much in only 12 episodes. We had three couples, multiple family storylines, parental trauma, abusive relationships, a secret parent storyline, illness, the film production, an ex-boyfriend, and even a reality dating show subplot. It genuinely felt like the writers were trying to fit the material of a 16-episode drama into 12 episodes and miserably failed to give most of these stories a proper conclusion. The drama constantly introduced something that seemed interesting, only to barely explore it before moving on to the next subplot. Build-ups often led to nothing, while other conflicts suddenly exploded without enough development.

The main couple was probably my biggest disappointment. I liked their high school story but even in that phase they felt like friends instead of lovers, and Soo Bin's original separation made sense to me. He was young, dealing with an abusive father, and wanted to escape the life he was trapped in. His father essentially pushed him into making that choice, so while I wish he had communicated better, I could understand why he left. However, when they reunited as adults, I expected much more emotional tension and yearning. Instead, they went from semi-antagonists and awkward former first loves to kissing and getting back together very quickly. There was barely any time spent showing them getting to know each other again after years apart. For most of the drama, they honestly felt more like friends working together than a couple with a decade-long love story behind them.

Their chemistry was also weaker than I expected. There were a few good kissing scenes, and yes, that scene where they slept together definitely had more chemistry than most of their relationship. But overall, I never fully felt the depth of their love. It often seemed like Soo Bin loved Yi Jae more intensely, while her feelings came across more like companionship, gratitude, and a second chance. I could understand them as childhood friends and former first loves, but I never completely believed that their adult relationship was strong enough to survive everything the drama claimed it had.

And then came the final episode breakup, which absolutely sank the ending for me. I genuinely do not understand why K-dramas are still so obsessed with forced separations. Yi Jae wanted to go to Canada to learn more about filmmaking and pursue her dream, which I completely supported. What I actually liked was that she was honest enough to tell Soo Bin that he was being selfish when he initially wanted her to stay with him. I loved that moment because not enough female leads are allowed to call out the male lead when he is being unreasonable. But the drama then took it too far. There was absolutely no need for them to break up just because she wanted to study abroad.

They could have talked, argued, compromised, and tried a long-distance relationship. Instead, the drama gave us the usual last-minute breakup, time skip, and then had her return after two years as if nothing had happened. After all that drama, they simply continued their relationship without properly addressing anything. It felt completely unnecessary and existed only to make the ending more dramatic. The writers could have given them one final conflict about balancing love and individual dreams without forcing a cliché separation into the last episode.

What frustrated me even more was how inconsistent Soo Bin's character became near the end. For most of the drama, his character was built around his connection to Yi Jae and the dream they once shared. Suddenly, the drama had him behave as though he would not support her pursuing filmmaking, only for him to become understanding and supportive shortly afterwards. It felt less like natural character development and more like the writers needed him to behave badly for a few scenes so they could create a reason for the breakup. By episode 12, the writing was clearly forcing the characters into decisions they normally would not have made.

The second couple was easily my favourite part of the drama. They were cute, had much better chemistry, and, most importantly, actually had individual personalities and visible character development. I genuinely developed second-couple syndrome with them. Their relationship was not perfect, and some of the family storylines they were given were also unnecessarily dramatic, but I was much more interested in watching their relationship grow. Their different experiences in the acting industry gave them a more interesting dynamic, and I enjoyed watching Oh Ha Na develop with Yu Geon by her side. I just wish the writers had given them more time and a better conclusion because, once again, the drama introduced interesting ideas and then failed to fully explore them.

The third couple, however, was the complete opposite. I actually liked their dynamic at first and thought they had potential, but I still have to ask why they were even in this drama. Their connection to the main story was so weak that there were moments when I genuinely forgot how they were connected to everyone else. Then there was the whole reality dating show storyline, which felt completely random and added almost nothing to the overall plot. Their relationship was rushed from the beginning, barely developed afterwards, and then left with an open and unsatisfying conclusion. Considering how little time the drama had, I honestly think the third couple should have been removed entirely and that screen time should have been given to the main and second couples.

The family storylines were another example of the drama touching on interesting themes without properly dealing with them. The drama tried to explore different types of parental relationships, abuse, family pressure, loneliness, and how parents can shape their children's lives. On paper, I liked the idea of showing these different family dynamics. But in execution, it mostly just felt like the writers kept adding trauma to make characters more sympathetic.

Soo Bin's father was the worst example of this. He was genuinely abusive and caused so much damage, yet the drama never gave that storyline a satisfying resolution. I kept waiting for actual consequences, especially because the drama made his abuse such an important part of Soo Bin's life. But instead of properly addressing it, the story seemed to expect me to move on. Meanwhile, the drama kept piling on more family drama, including the secret parent trope and illness, until it became melodramatic for the sake of being melodramatic. I was especially annoyed by how some terrible characters were forgiven far too easily, while other storylines were simply dropped without proper consequences.


The film production storyline also had a lot of potential that was wasted. I loved the costumes from the movie they were making, the locations were beautiful, the music was good, and I really enjoyed the scenes where the finished film was shown to the townspeople. But for a drama supposedly centred around two people reuniting to finally make this movie, the actual movie itself felt surprisingly unimportant. The drama could have explored how the film reflected their own lives and how working together helped them heal their old wounds, but instead, the production often felt like a background for random relationship drama.

There were also so many moments where the drama seemed to want to address something deeper but only touched the surface. It introduced ideas about abusive relationships, parental trauma, following your dreams, loneliness, complicated family bonds, and the entertainment industry, but rarely spent enough time exploring any of them properly. Some characters were obsessed, some needed serious therapy, and some honestly should have faced much stronger consequences for their actions. The drama kept playing the blame game without really committing to who needed accountability and why.

There were so many other storylines that had potential but went nowhere. The ex-boyfriend showing up to act in their movie felt like such a lazy and overused way to create conflict. He wasn't a genuine threat to the relationship and barely added anything meaningful to the story. The illness storyline was also barely explored. The movie itself, which should have been one of the most important parts of the drama, often felt strangely unimportant.

That said, I do not regret watching it. This is one of those dramas where I cannot say that there is one thing I absolutely loved, yet I still enjoyed enough of the journey to finish it. The first half was genuinely better. The atmosphere was nice, the cinematography was beautiful, the cast was good, and there was even a plot twist in the middle that I thought worked well. But somewhere in the second half, especially the last four episodes, the drama started losing its direction. By the finale, it felt like the writers had forgotten what the main plot was and were just rushing to conclude everything.

Ultimately, Dream to You had the cast, premise, and potential to be much better than it was. If they had removed the unnecessary third couple, the reality dating show, the random ex-boyfriend, some of the excessive family melodrama, and focused more on the main couple slowly reconnecting while making their film, I think this could have been a much stronger drama. The second couple also deserved more development because they were genuinely one of the best parts.

Instead, we got an ambitious drama that tried to tell too many stories and did not give enough time to any of them. The main romance lacked the emotional progression I wanted, the final breakup was completely unnecessary, several interesting storylines went nowhere, and the ending felt rushed and unearned.

I would not highly recommend it, but if you love the cast and have some time, I don't think it is a bad drama to try. There are enjoyable moments, some good characters, beautiful visuals, and a genuinely cute second couple. Just do not go in expecting the drama to fully deliver on its promising premise. For me, this was a huge missed opportunity and, so far, my lowest-rated drama of 2026. I would give it a generous 7/10, although honestly, it feels closer to a 6–6.5 for me.

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The Earth and her Sun

while I understand that 23.5 was a pivotal GL at the time and people may have given it higher ratings to show support for GL shows, I think enough time has passed that I can be a little more harsh with my review.

but first, let's focus on the things I liked:
- the chemistry between all the ships was top tier. I have a special spot in my heart for Nida and Bambam. their scenes had me kicking my feet and giggling. I also really like how they provided guidance to the students (especially that one scene with Aylin). a lot of school romances have a weird absence of adult figures and having teachers who are 1) supportive and 2) actually doing their job is a breath of fresh air
- I loved the focus on astronomy and all the names being related to space. cheesy lines such as "the Earth revolves around her Sun" were cute
- the scenes were Sun and Ongsa were "texting" but they were in that abstract garden in space???? it felt ethereal and was a unique way of showing them talking
- Ongsa never stops wearing her glasses, even after her "glow up." any show that allows the MC to keep wearing their glasses makes my heart whole
- special shout out to View for nailing her character as Aylin

and here are some of my criticisms:
- although I loved each couple, there were too many. I think the story would have flowed better if you had your two main couples, Ongsa & Sun and Luna & Aylin, followed by one of the following: Nida & Bambam, Tinh & Mawin, or Ton & Charoen (if you count them). I think having three side couples led to their stories/scenes being half-baked. I feel like I didn't get enough screen-time of any of them, which is unfortunate because as I said earlier, the chemistry was cooking
- the anti-climatic revelation of Ongsa being Earth. although I am a conflict avoidant person by nature, I feel Sun forgave Ongsa a little too easily. part of that I think is because the conflict was centered on Ongsa's fear that Sun won't accept her for being a girl, instead of the actual catfishing. personally, would have loved the argument to be "no, I don't mind you're girl, I mind that you're my friend and you deceived me". I also think this lack of fighting caused the show to feel a bit slow and boring at times
- but I guess it doesn't matter that Ongsa faces no repercussions for her actions, because Sun doesn't either. other reviews have pointed this out (and will say it more eloquently than me) but the fact that Sun outs Ongsa (and Aylin) to her parents then is hurt/confused about why Ongsa would lie ???? girl where are your critical thinking skills? It really triggered me that Ongsa is the one who has to apologize when the fault lies with Sun. she takes zero accountability in the situation, which unfortunately leaves a sour ending to an otherwise fluffy story. up until this point, I would have given the show a 7/7.5 rating

to summarize, the show is decent at best but tolerable at worst, so if you have free time and it's on your watch list, give it a go and you might like it.

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Are you strong enough to brave the storm?

I won't be writing any disclaimers, matter of fact I don't think I have it in me to write one because no matter how hard I try to be subjective in this little review, my true thoughts will find their way into it one way or the other, I wish I could say I'm remorseful for yet another one of my short commentaries, but I really am not.

Edit: yes this edit is going on top, sue me, but I feel like I really should include this trigger warning ⚠️ since it's not outright mentioned much, this show deals with some really heavy topics, especially in the last 5 episodes or so, I would advise anyone going in to be mindful of their mental health as this series contains suicide, death, homophobia, obsessive fan culture, portrayal of the dark side of the entertainment industry and so on, so please watch at your own discretion.

This is the first drama in probably years that has truly earned and deserved a 10/10 from me, not for its lack of imperfections, but because it's flawed and imperfect in such perfect ways, so full of love and pain in ways I can only describe as purely human, it is the embodiment of humanity at its best and worst.
the genius of ZELIA is that not only did they bring this masterpiece into existence, they also made sure to pour every last bit of their human existence into it, be it the music or the cinematography, every little detail of this work felt alive in a way nothing has ever felt to me in years, the actors, the scores, the little bits of sunshine and fog filtering through every crevice, the whispered love in whichever way it choses to take from in, the grief and loss and all the inevitable sadness that comes with being alive, all of the chaos of it tangled together to create the best picture of life, and to mirror its beauty in death.
See I don't necessarily believe in things like true love or the afterlife, but this series and all its perfect imperfections makes me wish I could believe in the fantasy of it all, it honestly spoke to the romantic in me that hadn't seen the light of day in years, I truly don't have words to describe how I feel right now, I might have said this a million times over, but this is truly the first time where I really meant it when I said I don't think anything can top this masterpiece, no piece of fiction or entertainment could hold up to this work and I honestly don't know how I'll ever recover from this.
If you see my review and hope to find any constructive feedback or thoughts on this, I'm sorry to disappoint you there won't be any, and even if I wanted to actually review it, I fear I wouldn't even have the words required to put my emotions into coherent thoughts and sentences, just note that in all my years of consuming media, nothing has ever come this close to actual perfection in my very humble opinion.
If anyone is looking for more subjective insights on this drama then I'm sure you'll find the other reviewers' opinions more helpful, I apologise in advance for not offering deeper thoughts on it, but I would very highly recommend everyone to check it out, hope that everyone's time watching is joyful.
Have a nice day/afternoon/evening 🤍

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