Reviews

Don't waste your time

It may take less than 3 hours to get through this, but it's really REALLY not worth it. While it didn't me as angry as my other lowly ranked dramas, I truly have nothing nice to say about it except that the cast is all pretty and that one pink office set was cute. Even the subs on the FOD Short app were noticeably worse than the other works I've seen.

I probably shouldn't have expected much from a vertical drama exploring such a complex topic as DID, but it still managed to surprise me with how blatantly it was used to have a "Three Hot Men for the Price of One" harem situation instead of making it an actual character trait. The plot is dumb and boring and the characters are all empty voids. I honestly hesitate to even call this a drama - run far far away, even if you're just looking for more Arai Keishi content like I was!!

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Shell-ebration of life and keeping the oceans clean!

Leave the Door Open is a short film by director Lee Ok Seop. This was ostensibly a Samsung commercial or at least funded by them. At six minutes long, there’s not much to review, especially since the English subtitles were not working in the version I watched, but I’ll give it a try.

Kim Hyang Gi is traveling home with her new refrigerator in the back of a pickup truck when it comes to a screeching halt due to a scallop in the road. She has pity on the shell and takes it to the ocean only to see the waves bringing in copious amounts of trash. Instead of abandoning the scallop she takes it home and refrigerator magic happens bringing more than just whimsy into her life!

This was cute, surreal, and also had a message about cleaning the oceans even if you had to drag Neptune out himself! Worth 6 minutes just to watch the short story of a girl and her shell living their best lives.

18 August 2026

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Such a great start ... but then sank at the end!

This series grabbed me instantly. That first episode put out the entire drama, first loves, lost dreams, regrets & demons of the past. Not only all of that, but there was instant chemistry from In Youp & Hye Ri. So you sit back and watch this great great beginning unfold. We're not sure on why one protagonist is mad at the other, but the story is explained slowly from the past. We keep getting flashbacks that start to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle.
I think early on, the one complaint I would have is the writing for I Jae. She's made to look childish and kind of stupid at times. You have to just get used to it, because it kind of sticks with her for many episodes. Thankfully that does change for the better for her character.
By episode 6, with extra sub plots finally taking shape, this really turns into an even better series than early on. The rest of the cast blends everything together along side the two leads. At times, the supporting cast seems like the main protagonists, with such good side stories to follow.
Ok ... I got that all out of me ... SO WHAT HAPPENED??? Oh those final two episodes really were an iceberg to this smooth sailing ship. I can't even pinpoint why everything sank. Those final two hours just didn't have anything the earlier episodes had. Nothing seemed to click toward the end. The direction the story takes, I kept hearing myself ask Why? Why are you doing that? I can't believe it! It really was disappointing.
In the end, they do manage to salvage the conclusion to a good finish, but it was a bumpy road to get there.
So much potential ... just lost!!

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wasted potential but not that bad

oh i really really wanted this to work😭 it reminded me of our beloved summer (one of my fav dramas) but it disappointed me really bad

the biggest issue was definitely the last episodes. it made me furious.. first the ML and then the FL? she wanted to be “independent” but be honest, she could be “independent” because of the opportunities the ML gave her.. i support her studying about decision but..


spoiler-
the breakup? she broke up just for the drama cause she couldn’t even find a good reason other than that he’s just a mindful boyfriend. studying abroad would’ve avoided the “he’s helping me” situation, he couldn’t do anything work related on a distance. he would be there emotionally, but she cut him off??

end spoiler—

i LOVED the second couple sooo much they deserved more screen time, we got nothing the last episodes..

the family drama was interesting to watch, i liked the second chance trope too! i always support the “follow your dreams” motto in dramas, we all need hope for our dreams.
it’s just that some topics were rushed and never addressed.

for the girlies who’re looking for some eye candy’s, you will enjoy your time. all three male lead were looking soo fine😮‍💨😮‍💨

it’s just really frustrated me to the point i cannot rank really high. it wasn’t the worst, but romances are really bad this year. this was lowkey one of the best, you will still enjoy the first 10ish episodes. i hope kromances can finally get a grip. i dont mind cliches but dont make me furious please… 😭

i will give it a 6.5 for the sake of the second couple.

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Fun Comedy Drama Romance

I enjoyed this rom com drama that had a good balance of things going on around this couple who were navigating through office politics and each other. The surrounding characters from office colleagues, friends to family added a colorful mix to the story. The two leading actors, seasoned professionals, obviously at the top of their craft, were a good match and had powerful chemistry which kept things interesting to see how these two very opposite characters were going to manage.
This was a well crafted production from writing, directing, producing, cinematography and the other talents involved who brought us this fun series.

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That Summer, a story about fantasy but reality

While I came to watch this with less expectations, I spent a pleasant time with Lava, Wave and the blue beauty of Southern Thailand.

The plot was not new but the way the storyline goes was nice. I do not much to say here because they picked a very simple plot, crafted it to be a better drama and story telling with good acting. Though I wish we got to see a little more of Prince Davin's family and what happened back in Arantha while the time he was gone. The ending didn't fully satisfy me, leaving me craving for more. But over all, even with a simple, slightly cliche plot they brought us a drama with characters that felt closer. The show also tackled few sensitive topic such a LGBTQ+ right, city cleanliness etc. too.

I loved how harmonious the drama is through out. To match the scenic beauty of ocean they did a color grading which made the a hundred times better and their outfits matched the color grading and outfit to the character. I absolutely loved the abundance of blue color everywhere. One good thing about Jojo is he will bring a whole exotic vibe to it. The cast put a lot of effort to travel back and forth between Bangok and the island and had to shot multiple scenes under water. The way of direction is also little different as it made it feel like I was being a part of Lava and Wave's life. It was definitely pleasant to the eyes.

Lava was definitely Winn's best role so far. He truly captured every emotion the Director was conveying to him. Satang is such a versatile actor. The subtle changes of behavior as Prince and Wave was portrayed beautifully. I am so glad Mond got a partner. Ryu along with Mond makes a great pair. Seeing NeoMint on screen made me feel giddy. And lastly Namtan was meant for the princess role. The cast didn't just defined the characters for the screen.

It truly felt like I was brought back to That Summer.

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It’s a NO from me

I wanted to love this drama because it started with so much potential — an interesting female lead, a compelling culinary journey and a male lead with a refreshing, less-polished look. Unfortunately, as the story progressed, the sheer number of problematic characters and the constant cruelty became exhausting. There was always another betrayal, manipulation or terrible decision, to the point where the drama stopped feeling enjoyable and started feeling frustrating.

What bothered me most was the lack of meaningful accountability. Characters do genuinely terrible things, yet the story leans heavily toward forgiveness and redemption rather than consequences. I also found the relationship between the leads increasingly concerning. His treatment of her crosses the line from “strict mentor” into behaviour that feels emotionally abusive. Being someone’s mentor, or going through your own struggles, does not give you the right to demean or repeatedly bulldoze over another person.

I made it through 32 of 40 episodes (80%), and that was enough for me. I appreciated Ke-song’s growth and there were moments of genuine potential, but ultimately there wasn’t enough good to balance the bad and the ugly. I no longer felt invested in the characters or their relationships, and I simply couldn’t justify continuing. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.I’m

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Rebuilding the Family She Once Broke

OVERALL IMPRESSION🌟
An addictive, fast-moving mixture of rebirth, family healing, financial revenge, and romantic reconciliation. Despite running for over three hours, it remained surprisingly easy to binge.

STORY & PACING📖
Shen Nian An does far more than chase her husband. She uses her stock-market intelligence against Fang Yu, protects her children, and works to repair the family’s emotional wounds.
The constant plot twists kept me absorbed, although I occasionally had to rewind to understand everything!

FAMILY & EMOTIONS👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
The daughter’s unwavering belief in her mother helps bring the family together, while the son’s concern for his deeply wounded father is equally touching.
Huo Jin Chuan’s reluctance to trust Nian An feels understandable after everything he and the children endured.

ROMANCE & CHEMISTRY💕
Nian An’s playful husband-chasing methods add humour without diminishing the seriousness of the damage she must repair.
Ye Ting and Meng Lu are well matched and handle the emotional push-and-pull between the remorseful wife and wounded husband convincingly.

WHAT I LIKED💖
The lively dialogue balances the heavier family drama.
The financial revenge and intelligent FL make this more interesting than a standard CEO romance.

WHAT I DISLIKED⚠️
Cheng Shuang’s motives and deterioration are not developed enough.
The shift towards assassins, kidnapping, and criminal organisations becomes overly melodramatic.
Several revelations, punishments, and the reconciliation feel rushed, while the ending needed more peaceful family scenes.

FINAL THOUGHTS💭
This was emotional, suspenseful, and highly entertaining. Despite the rushed final section, I remained hooked and would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys family healing, revenge, romance, and one plot twist after another!

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Mr. Butterfly was a melodramatic film set in 1980 after the assassination of President Park. Two lovers with matching butterfly tattoos are separated, reunited, and torn apart once more. Despite nefarious forces at work they seek to reunite again.

Min Jae leaves his rural town for Seoul promising Eun Ji he will return in a year when the snow falls again. But Min Jae forgets all about Eun Ji and joins a gang. When that doesn’t pan out he takes on work as a gigolo. Five years later he runs into Eun Ji scarcely recognizing her. When she brushes him off, he tracks her down and discovers she is the mistress of an evil colonel. The two decide to flee together but Colonel Cho has other plans for Min Jae.

That first hour of this film was agonizing. The acting was awful and the story was patchworked together. The director must have decided that rain and snow were powerful emotional indicators, so one or the other was nearly always falling. A comedic side story was included with two warring men volunteering to be on the bus to the Samchung Revival Camp. Of course, Min Jae ended up on the bus involuntarily. The camp was renowned for its brutal treatment of prisoners being “re-educated” so it was not surprising that Min Jae was constantly being tortured.

The biggest problem I had with Mr. Butterfly was not even the overly dramatic acting, music and story. Min Jae hadn’t given Eun Ji a thought for five years and suddenly he was ready to die for her. Both he and Eun Ji made stupid, disastrous decisions. Not unlike the Butterfly Lovers or Romeo and Juliet, you just want to tell the characters, “Hey, guys, why don’t you stop and think things through first.” But that wouldn’t have resulted in dire situation after dire situation with all the accompanying emotional crises. If you enjoy melodramatic tragedy interlaced with slapstick comedy and dated acting, this might be one to try, otherwise better to make like a butterfly and flutter away from it.

18 August 2026
Trigger warnings: Physical abuse, sexual abuse, torture, smoking.

Butterfly note: The prisoners commented on butterflies being a weak species. I beg to differ with them. The Monarch butterflies migrate over 2000mi/3200km each year, braving weather, predators, cars, food scarcity, and all manner of danger. Sounds pretty badass to me!

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Baixa expectativa, mas grande decepção

O interesse por este K-Drama foi imediato, impulsionado pela presença de Lee Hye-ri no cartaz. Após acompanhar trabalhos anteriores da atriz, a expectativa era reencontrar a mesma entrega e apelo dramático. Contudo, bastou o primeiro episódio para que essa projeção ruísse. Embora a aura doce e gentil da atriz permaneça intacta, a narrativa se mostra confusa logo na largada, sufocada por diálogos incoerentes e uma dependência excessiva de recursos batidos (clichês).

A fragilidade da obra se evidencia na construção dos protagonistas. Embora ambos carreguem traumas do passado, a dor da protagonista feminina carece de substância. Sem uma base convincente, suas atitudes soam forçadas e seu ressentimento pelo par romântico beira o absurdo. O fato de ela ter sofrido um acidente a caminho de um reencontro não transfere a responsabilidade a ele — nem a ninguém —, tornando sua aversão um pretexto narrativo frágil, que só se sustenta para forçar um atrito inicial.

O triângulo amoroso, por sua vez, é introduzido de maneira desajeitada e quase desrespeitosa. Na cena em que o casal acorda junto, a protagonista acerta o rosto do parceiro e justifica o gesto dizendo que "não está mais acostumada a dormir com alguém". A insinuação leviana desperta um ciúme imediato, logo alimentado pela entrada de um ex-namorado no set de filmagens. Ainda que o passado dos personagens seja legítimo, a forma como ele é esfregado na cara do protagonista masculino soa como uma manipulação emocional vil por parte do roteiro.

Textualmente, a série padece de uma inconsistência crônica: diálogos frequentemente se contradizem de uma frase para a outra. O relacionamento do casal principal vive em um "vai e vem" artificial, alternando impulsos de paixão e beijos sem consentimento claro e depois com afastamentos abruptos e sem qualquer justificativa. Fica evidente a mão do autor forçando obstáculos desnecessários apenas para esticar o tempo de tela.

Na reta final, o roteiro abraça sem pudor o manual dos clichês. Separações injustificadas, traumas ressurgidos e barreiras "insuperáveis" entre o relacionamento do casal surgem de forma atropelada, quebrando o ritmo já instável da história. Para piorar, todos esses conflitos são resolvidos por passes de mágica, desfazendo em minutos o peso do que havia sido construído.

Falta à produção o charme e o esmero narrativo fundamentais para engajar o público. Incapaz de entregar uma trama bem amarrada ou um romance singelo e puro, o título se perde no próprio roteiro e deixa transparecer apenas o desperdício do seu elenco.

Nem mesmo o carisma de Lee Hye-ri não salvou a trama.

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Title: Nan Feng Bu Shi Jiu Shi Ren (2025) aka " South Wind Does Not Recognize the People of the Past (2025)"is a romance miniseries with ML: Wang Nan (as Meng Li Chuan) and FL: Guo Yu Xin (as Nan Xi) in the leading couple's roles. The cast did a good job bringing their characters to life even though a few o the supporting actors had difficulty with their facial expressions. Liking this drama or not depends on people's preferences. SPOILER ALERT: Th romance is marked by emotional suffering, insecurities, misunderstanding, and retaliation; which all came about because of fears and poor communication. Overall, even with a good ending, the drama might leave the viewer with a bittersweet feeling.
In the meantime, you can watch the drama on YouTube under the caption: " He Returned to Find His Love Married His Best Friend！Now He Keeps Her Caged，Kisses HerLikePunishment" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByjlY1TzKyY&t=3s) or (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwDQnC1pIJE)

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