Reviews

Blatant plagiarism. and be warned, light spoilers in my review

See now the concept, the concept is interesting and i would love to see more dramas being family centered. Why i saw its blatant plagiarism is because script/dialogue, flow, structure, and character designs were a copy paste of wetv's "the love you give me". They just change a heart condition to asthma, add in a few action and kidnaping scenes and change the character designs of some of the other characters. For something that isnt categorized as remake i was really surprised when i watched this and saw the lack of creativity in the writing. Shows are similar all the time but never have i watched two shows and had them have word for word dialogue in certain scenes.

The story: 3.5. it can only be described as an attempt.
Things jumped around, certain scenes made no sense on how we arrived there. They tried to sandwich kidnapping attempted murder, betrayal, wholesome family, gosh i feel like I'm describing a thai drama. except thai dramas might actually do it better. I dont know when or how they suddenly got back together, this man attempted to SA her on multiple occasions and was incredibly mean to her. the flip just switched and it showed fl blushing all of a sudden after pretending to be with someone else to get away from him

Acting:4.0- its a short drama so lower your expectations.
.zero chemistry, i genuinely felt nothing lol. ive watched short dramas that sizzled. the chemistry was so hot my computer was overeating. this drama...the only description i can give is that i was hungry and tried t eat but the food was bland. Not gonna lie to you...i really hated the fl's acting in moments of crisis. Her expressions made me cringe so bad but at least she tried. ML was just a log, if the goal was cold mean CEO i guess he ate, although scenes with the kid were cute though i must say.

music: 1.5- i think its just random classical, i dont even remember what it was or if it was even there

Would i rewatch? absolute hell to no. I had to go reconnect my chakras by going to watch the love you give me. it truly made me feel so much better that i wondered why i decided to watch this one. if you want his but done 10x better acting wise, story wise, chemistry wise, budget wise, ost wise (im literally obsessed with the intro), comedy wise, go check out the love you give me. the leads are a recasted pair with one previous drama so yk their chemistry was fire

Leia Mais

They're actual people!

I am probably rom-com's no. 1 hater, especially as I only like two dramas within the genre: this one and Lovestruck in the City, and I'm actually unsure if the latter qualifies as a rom-com. The reason for my distaste is that the characters are never real people and the only thing driving the story are ridiculous plot points getting increasingly more unlikely as the story unfolds. Jung Hae-in is usually really good at picking dramas that don't have those issues, which is the only reason I decided to watch this, and he made a good pick once again (at least in my opinion).


The good:
The characters are real people. While not hyper-realistic, they have flaws, development and actual things hindering their development. The leads are definitely your stereotypical rom-com leads, but they're more realistic and have their own unique charm. Take Tae-ha for example, Jung Hae-in's character, he's your standard "I will protect my love with my life, because that's who I am, and I have obviously never been in love with anyone else before either" but that motto is supported by actual characteristics. He has a horrible memory of people he doesn't really care about, simply can't remember their names; he was forced to give up his life for someone once, which in turn makes it easier to do it again, and also solidifies certain beliefs or thoughts he might've had before, like that he's happy as long as his loved once are; as a result he also struggles to communicate his needs and wishes. And he's very quiet, often communicating with only expressions or nods, which I don't think I've seen in a rom-com before. As for Eun-sae, Ha Young's character, she wants her own way and will let nothing stop her. This never changes about her, even though she has the largest character development between them. We see this characteristic of hers pop up constantly — it drives the plot. I feel like in a lot of characters, they have a certain trait, but then once the situation demands it, they no longer have that trait. The trait is only there in the first episode to prove that they have a personality, and then they're a blank page except the words "I'm in love" throughout the rest of the drama. I'm a sucker for good character design, about the only thing I truly care about, so that is probably why so many people disagree with me in these reviews.

Another thing I really liked, is that whenever typical rom-com stuff I hate with all my being happened, it lasted for a very short period of time (except from the oppa-thing, my god, was basically torturing him). I usually have to stop watching a drama for a little while when something really embarrassing happens, but I only had to stop watching this twice for that reason (which is very impressive, it's usually an immeasurable amount of times).

This is not the funniest drama I have watched, but the humour isn't boring or bad, it's actually pretty good. I also think the chemistry is on point, though I know some people disagree. The action scenes are also some of the best ones I've seen in a rom-com. You see the characters having to prioritise in the fight; he can't fight three at a time, so he pushes the first into a wall, and punches the two others in the face, and then try to deal with the first one, but sometimes the first opponent is quicker and attacks from behind. It makes it feel like the fight is first of all harder to win than we maybe think, and secondly that there's some give and take, some reward and consequence. So while not realistic, at least rooted in reality.

The villain is 100% one of the best villain characters I think I have ever seen. And I mean that. I don't view characters as the antagonists in The Glory or Vincenzo, for example, as "villains", because they're as real and fleshed out as our protagonist. And in D.P. or Extracurricular for example, the antagonists aren't "villains" because is it even their fault? The antagonist in Our Sticky Love is definitely a villain though. But his character design is legitimately good. His reasoning is explained from his own perspective, which forces you to interpret it in your own way. He has depth and feels real even as inhumane as he is — realistic to the story.


The bad:
Keep in mind that my criticisms are mostly due to my distaste for the genre, if you like it then you might like these things.

The plot is unrealistic and ridiculous. Why not pretend to be her brother? Seems way easier and less like a crime. If you think for just a second about what he is actually doing to her, it's honestly quite horrific, I mean he is kidnapping someone and convincing them they're in love with him. There's a lot of hatred towards gangs in the characters, but very little is done to make the audience feel the same way. I also feel like the drama is mentioning "film-noir" a lot to make us associate the drama with the genre — a short-cut to what I just mentioned — but it doesn't work, and the whole gang-plot feels disconnected to the story. I think it would also be natural for Tae-ha to feel more guilt and struggle with self-esteem if he really has just been working in a gang like a machine, which would also help connect the plots. A lot of the gang-activities, the plot-twist and special effects are all quite unrealistic. It doesn't take me out of the story, but could've been better for sure.

I mentioned earlier that I liked that it was quick and went from one thing to the next, and I stand by that. I think I would've struggled had they made it slower or longer, however if they had prioritised differently and focused more on the characters and their relations and cut some of the plot points, I think the drama would've been much more memorable. You would've ended up with something more similar to Prison Playbook, 2521 or Vincenzo, but with a rom-com vibe stronger than in 2521. Or even if they had just lingered a little longer on the moments in which they connect, or if they had just one more episode towards the beginning. But that's mainly my own personal preference for memorable plots and characters speaking — I am aware that a lot of people probably like these dramas that are just a fun ride.


Overall:
I'm glad I've finally found a true rom-com I could like, but I'll probably forget most of the plot in a little while. I'd say you should watch this if you have had some of the same problems I've had with rom-coms, or are just looking for a light and quick watch. I don't have a lot of experience with this genre, so if you're an avid lover, then I don't know if you would like it to be different from the normal or not.

Leia Mais

If defeat was a person

Characters are okay
Acting is ok
Music is ok
Storyline ok too

I got to say never in my life have a got a study in peaches like I did in this drama..I kinda enjoyed the education though lol wats the white substance on the peach EY...ehhh

The show is not bad just not wat I expected,I thought they wld focus more on the film part and how it affects them ,guess I'm toooo focused on the nc like Po(dude likes 🍆 too much, that part I actually liked ,best acting ever)
I did feel the emotions,tried to fully understand though gotta say Po shld have been more psychotic BCA'z of his dad plus the lust ,that wld have made the drama dramatic

Anyway watch if u want too

Leia Mais

Is Family Register a Refreshing Change?

Family Register has been such a refreshing drama to watch. What I appreciate most is the relative lack of the usual exhausting, negative drama. So far, there’s no mustache-twirling villain wreaking havoc every five minutes, and honestly, I’m grateful for it!

After six months of watching First Man and Cruella Hwa-Young create chaos and wreck everyone’s lives in practically every episode, it is wonderful to watch a drama that doesn’t leave me feeling like I need to recover emotionally after every episode.

What makes this story especially enjoyable is watching the two women confront their past mistakes, heal from them, and grow together. Their relationship feels much more meaningful because their development isn’t driven by endless misunderstandings and manufactured conflict. Instead, we get to see people learning, changing, and becoming better versions of themselves.

I’m really enjoying the warmth of this drama and the fact that it allows its characters to grow without constantly throwing another disaster at them. It’s nice to be able to relax and actually enjoy the story instead of sitting on the edge of my seat wondering who is about to ruin everyone’s day.

And, of course, there’s still plenty of time for someone to turn into Cruella Hwa-Young 2.0, so I’m cautiously optimistic. 😂
But for now, Family Register is a welcome breath of fresh air.

Leia Mais

A Love Story Wrapped in Family, Friendship, and Healing

Love Next Door is one of those dramas that feels less like watching a complicated story unfold and more like spending time in a neighborhood you somehow already know. It is warm, messy, funny, emotional, and very familiar. Nothing about the plot is particularly complicated, and you never really have to overthink what is happening, but that simplicity is part of its charm. It is the kind of drama that makes you feel good while watching it and leaves you with that comfortable, slightly nostalgic feeling afterward.

What pulled me in the most was how natural the relationships felt. The childhood-friends-to-lovers dynamic between Seok Ryu and Seung Hyo worked for me because their relationship was never built purely around romance. They had years of history, friendship, irritation, affection, and familiarity behind them. Their banter felt effortless, and I loved how easily they could annoy each other one minute and understand each other completely the next. There was something very comforting about watching two people who already knew each other's habits, weaknesses, and personalities slowly realize that what they have might be more than friendship.

I especially loved how they communicated once they finally started acknowledging their feelings. Their relationship wasn't constantly driven by unnecessary misunderstandings, jealousy, or one person refusing to say what they were thinking for twenty episodes. They actually talked, listened, and tried to understand each other. That made their romance feel much more mature and believable to me. Even when they disagreed, it didn't feel like the drama was creating conflict just because it needed another obstacle.

Seung Hyo was probably the character who kept me watching even when some parts of the story started to drag. I mean, this man was everywhere on my feed after I watched the drama, and honestly, I understand why. 😂 Jung Hae In did such a good job with him. Seung Hyo looks like the perfect son on paper: successful, talented, handsome, kind, and running his own company. But underneath that polished image, he has plenty of flaws. He can be stubborn, selfish, idealistic, and sometimes too attached to the life he thinks he should have rather than the one he actually wants.

What I particularly loved was seeing that he wasn't simply the perfect male lead who existed to rescue the heroine. He had his own emotional baggage and his own complicated relationship with his parents. His feelings for Seok Ryu had also been there for years, which made some of his emotional scenes hit particularly hard. The scene where he discovers what Seok Ryu had been hiding about her health was especially painful. Imagine finding out that the girl you have loved for years, who is also your childhood best friend, went through something that serious without telling you. Jung Hae In's reaction in that moment was one of the performances that really stayed with me.

And then there is Seok Ryu, who I honestly found much more complicated than she initially appears. She can be loud, cheerful, stubborn, feisty, and seemingly capable of brushing off anything her mother throws at her. But that confidence is often a mask. The more we learn about what she experienced in the US, her struggles, her relationship, her career, and the pressure she placed on herself, the more understandable her behavior becomes.

What I appreciated most about Seok Ryu is how relatable her struggle feels, especially within an Asian family. She is the eldest daughter who is expected to succeed, to be responsible, to make her parents proud, and to never really have the luxury of failing. From the outside, she looks like someone who has everything together. Inside, she is exhausted from constantly trying to live up to everyone else's idea of what her life should be.

Her relationship with her mother was probably one of the most emotionally interesting parts of the drama for me. It isn't simply a case of having a terrible mother and an innocent daughter. Her mother genuinely loves her, but that love is mixed with expectations, fear, pressure, and a very rigid idea of what success should look like. Seok Ryu has spent years swallowing those feelings, pretending that the criticism doesn't affect her until eventually she can't keep doing it anymore.

That is why I liked the drama's message about success. It doesn't treat failure as the end of someone's life. Seok Ryu was once on a very successful path, but things happened that forced her to stop and reconsider everything. The drama asks whether a person is really a failure simply because they couldn't continue along the path everyone expected them to take.

As someone from an Asian culture, I particularly connected with the idea of shame and saving face. There is often so much pressure to appear successful, even when you are struggling privately. Your achievements become the easiest way for people to measure your worth, while nobody sees how difficult it was to get there or what it cost you emotionally. Love Next Door understands that contradiction quite well.

I also loved the contrast between the two families. They represent two completely different kinds of dysfunction.

Seok Ryu's family is loud, affectionate, chaotic, and constantly involved in each other's lives. They eat together, argue together, interfere in each other's decisions, and somehow always end up back together. Seung Hyo's family, meanwhile, looks much more successful and polished from the outside, but there is a huge emotional distance between them. They don't communicate properly, they don't spend enough time together, and everyone carries their own feelings quietly.

Neither family is presented as perfect. One family communicates too much and turns everything into an argument, while the other barely communicates at all and creates misunderstandings because everyone keeps pretending everything is fine. I really enjoyed that contrast because it showed that having a family isn't automatically the same as having emotional closeness.

The parents' relationship was another surprisingly entertaining part. Honestly, watching the two fathers get drunk and reveal how jealous they were of each other's lives was hilarious but also strangely meaningful. They were living completely different lives, yet each one looked at the other and thought he had it better. It was a nice reminder that people usually see the achievements of others without seeing the struggles behind them.

And I have to mention the four mothers because they were such a delight. I really enjoyed watching their friendship evolve over the years. They had their own personalities, arguments, insecurities, and ways of supporting each other, but their bond felt genuine. Their friendship added so much warmth to the neighborhood atmosphere.

The drama also handled Seok Ryu's past relationship better than I expected. I appreciated that her ex-fiancé, Hyeon Jun, wasn't suddenly turned into a cheating, abusive villain just to make the main romance easier to support. Their relationship ended for understandable reasons, and they were eventually able to move forward without turning each other into enemies. The same goes for the other past relationship in the story. Not every relationship needs to end because someone was evil. Sometimes two people simply aren't right for each other anymore, and I liked that the drama allowed that possibility.

The supporting cast generally added to the warmth of the story, although I do wish some of them had received more development. Mo Eum, Dan Ho, Dong Jin, and Na Yun were enjoyable to watch, but there were moments when I felt the drama could have given their individual stories more attention. The same applies to some of the secondary relationships. I enjoyed them, but sometimes the main story took so much space that the supporting characters were left with less room to grow.

One of my favorite things about Love Next Door is the overall atmosphere. Watching it sometimes felt like returning to an old neighborhood where everyone knows everyone. The mothers gossiping, the fathers drinking, siblings arguing, childhood friends meeting outside, neighbors knowing too much about each other's lives, and everyone being involved in everyone else's business created a very familiar feeling.

It is almost like visiting a place that hasn't changed even though you have changed.

That feeling fits Seok Ryu particularly well. Coming back to Korea means returning to the place where she grew up, but she isn't the same person anymore. The neighborhood is familiar and comforting, yet she has to figure out who she is now and what kind of life she actually wants. Her journey isn't simply about getting back together with Seung Hyo. It is about learning that she doesn't have to continue living according to the version of herself that everyone else created.

I also appreciated the way the drama portrayed friendship. Seok Ryu and Mo Eum immediately falling back into their old rhythm after being apart was refreshing. There wasn't some unnecessarily stretched-out conflict about why they didn't call each other or why one person had abandoned the other. They simply found their way back to each other. That kind of friendship felt much more genuine.

The biggest weakness for me was definitely the pacing and focus. The first half worked better for me because the neighborhood atmosphere, the banter, the childhood history, and the gradual uncovering of Seok Ryu's struggles were so enjoyable. Later, some of the emotional arcs became heavier and the drama occasionally felt like it was trying to handle too many things at once.

There were also moments when I wished the drama had trusted its main couple more and given them more space instead of constantly shifting attention toward other issues. Some of the supporting stories were interesting, but I came away wanting even more of Seok Ryu and Seung Hyo simply being together and figuring out their relationship.

Still, what ultimately makes Love Next Door work for me is that it feels human.

Nobody is completely right. Nobody is completely wrong. People make choices based on the information they have, hurt each other without intending to, misunderstand one another, and sometimes simply realize that the life they planned isn't the life they actually want.

It is a story about family, friendship, failure, expectations, healing, and choosing your own definition of happiness. The romance is important, but it isn't the only thing holding the drama together. The relationships between parents and children, friends, neighbors, and former lovers are just as important.

And honestly, sometimes that is exactly the kind of drama I want.

I don't always need complicated political schemes, shocking twists, revenge plots, or characters constantly trying to outsmart each other. Sometimes I just want a drama that makes me laugh, makes me cry a little, gives me characters I genuinely care about, and leaves me feeling warm when the credits roll.

Love Next Door isn't perfect, and it isn't trying to reinvent the genre. But it is comforting, funny, emotional, and full of characters who feel imperfectly human. For me, that was more than enough to make it a really enjoyable watch.

Leia Mais

Contrary to what the poster suggests, it's not about domestic violence, and none of that is actually depicted. I don't understand why they chose this illustration. (which makes me uncomfortable, I admit)

A series about the insidious power dynamics in South Korea. This surgeon should be at the top of the social ladder, yet finds himself crushed by his stepfather, the police (yet another bunch of useless idiots, as is so often the case in K-dramas), and a kidnapper. He is brought back down to his social origins : his fatherless childhood and his education on a scholarship.
In the end, who were the real villains of the story ? Those doctors who were so full of themselves. I'd say: realistic.

The plot unfolds smoothly throughout the first two-thirds of the series. There’s a twist in every episode. We can overlook the somewhat inconsistent acting. However, the ending drags on unnecessarily; we already know all the details, yet they keep rehashing them.

In this kind of story, you need a great antagonist. And at first, he certainly is one, odious and incredibly annoying. It works really well because we know nothing about him, and his motivations seem absurd. His wife, who's involved in the scheme (and whom we'd figured out long in advance), is just as despicable. And the series should have stuck with that instead of turning everything upside down the way it does. What a huge waste ! and it creates a major plot hole. In the end, they just abandon their entire backstory ; it doesn't make sense for even a second. Which brings me to my final point : "Some scenes were generated by AI."

No way. Isn't this nonsense going to end soon ? I don't want to see this. This year, it's a party at AIgen. Don't you know how to film anymore ? Don't you have a production crew anymore ? No actors left ? Where's your damn dignity ? This has to stop. Don't spit in our faces like that. Stop ruining everything with your death machines.

I suspect that at least part of the script was generated by these chatbots. Between the inconsistencies that ruin the series towards the end, and episode 8 throwing in flashbacks of scenes we've just seen… Strange. Very strange. Or is it just that awful opening sequence ? We're not sure anymore, but we're fed up with it, that's for sure !

Lee Seol delivers a particularly intense performance. And this AIgen nonsense insults her involvement as a performer.

Leia Mais

Beautiful cinematography, not very good execution

The thing i loved most about this BL was their friendship dynamic, it was so beautiful, like so beautiful i preferred it more than the actual relationships. As a whole ,together, they really shined, like actual teenage boys (honestly i was shocked to find that Justin is actually 15).

Now, in their own individual couples i really feel like they lacked in their acting skills. When it came to the romantic element literally everyone looked a little awkward! i know thats kinda harsh!!! Contrary to that, the emotional scenes were absolutely on point!! Props to progress for really embodying the character of P'Ko!!

The cinematography was absolutely perfect, i love the colour scheme of this entire drama it reminds me of nostalgia and how beautiful the high school days actually was! 10/10 to the director i will be sure to follow his works too!
Another thing i loved was the writing of the story (although the execution lacked) i found myself really relating to P'Ko!!!

Overall im quite happy i watched this show, i wouldnt regret it at all, very very beautiful and meaningful at least to me !!!
Even though i mightve shat on it a little bit, i truly love this BL so bad u dont understand literally every single flaw can be overwritten, thats how muhc i feel for it, 10/10 watch it now! i love my koko

Leia Mais

Addictive and lovely

Imma watch it again!!!

Actors beautiful
The storyline perfect
Emotions on point
Music superb
Acting really crispy with a touch of extra spice

Overall I loved this show....its filled with laughter,,,the Ohhh noo moments,wtf moments,did it really happen moments,Ohhh cute moments...
Like u get everything in just one show ,Nd u don't ask ur self y or how shld it end ,it's really nice.
Wld it be selfish of me to ask for an extra episode,like special wedding what what or myb how they were at school or maybe a behind the scenes... I would love it if they act together in another show.

Leia Mais

Don’t miss this drama

I started watching this series for Wu Jinyan. Having really admired her performance in *The Double*, she certainly didn't disappoint here. Some people have criticized the classic "older female lead/younger male lead" dynamic, but I disagree, as this is a common trope in many Chinese dramas; besides, the pairing doesn't feel awkward at all. I really enjoyed their acting. It was a particular surprise to see the actor who played the villainous Shen Yurong in *The Double* appearing as a good character here. Furthermore, Chen Zheyuan is a striking actor, and I believe his chemistry with Wu Jinyan will only grow stronger as the character Meng Tinghui advances in her career. All in all, while the series might not quite reach the same level of impact as *The Double* or *Story of Yanxi Palace*, I can say that I enjoyed it.

Leia Mais

Awesome

Wow this drama had it all,

The general was totally hot and fight scenes were absolutely fantastic. Xiao was definitely amazing and it started with a forced marriage and a domineering proposal that left puzzled but kept me intrigued as well.

The deception and lies and then plot turnaround was really what kept us hooked. Jiayu was clever and kept her wit which was really cute. Mao was difficult to read, but j am totally glad he turned out to be a good guy.

The romance was slow but you could see the attraction through trust and loyalty.

Overall it's a good drama and a political or romance its a mystery that keeps unfolding and guessing. The pace is good and there was no unnecessary filler.

Leia Mais

✨''Gossip Girl'' and ''Revenge'' Had a Baby and Raised It on Wine✨

The title and poster are SUCH a misdirect, bro, because tell me why I expected this to be some kind of anthology where a bunch of mysterious cases pop up and the leads solve them. But NOOOO. Turns out this is basically what happens when Gossip Girl and ABC’s Revenge have an illegitimate child, throw it into a blender, add three glasses of wine, and then let the FL go full Count of Monte Cristo on everybody. I’m crying 😭

Honestly, I feel like this drama should be watched with a cocktail and a slim cigarette while cackling at the screen, because HELL, everybody is drinking wine in this anyway. Maybe the crew was drinking too, because the mess was MESSY, y’all. Everybody is shady, rotten, dramatic and deeply unserious. Even the characters themselves kept commenting on how dramatic everyone was.

Despite the limited budget (and oh, you could TELL), the director clearly had a vision. The aesthetics and styling weirdly reminded me of the kdramas It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and Hotel Del Luna, and the ML was giving extremely K-drama-coded visuals. I could be hallucinating, but those were absolutely the vibes I was getting.

I loved the FL, though. THIS is how revenge should be served. She came in with a mission and did not spend half the drama pretending to be morally superior about it. She wanted revenge, she got revenge, and she left that family looking like a natural disaster had personally beefed with them. I’m proud. 😭 I’m here for her because I loved her in LITC and wanted to see more of her.

That being said, her character unfortunately started going a little downhill around ep.16. She seemed to snap out of whatever the hell was happening by ep.17, so I'm hoping we're back on track, but this is still an ongoing watch for me, so final judgment is pending.

The villain SFL was also GREAT. Loved her in TFJ despite that deeply unnecessary and personally offensive killing-off situation, and she absolutely rocked this role too. Give this woman more morally questionable characters immediately.

The ML, however... 💀

This man felt like a third wheel in his own drama between these two women. He was basically a decorative accessory for most of it, and a complicated one at that because WHY WAS HE WEARING THAT WIG???

Bro.

THE WIG.

The filter was working overtime, bless its soul, but there were several sequences where they clearly lost the battle, and the first time I noticed it properly I almost spit out my metaphorical wine. 😭 I have never been so personally distracted by a hairpiece in my life.

And somehow the FL's accomplice had an even more traumatizing wig. I was actually rooting for her to end up with him, only for his real colors to start showing later on. Duh. Shocker. Apparently nobody in this drama can simply exist without eventually revealing themselves to be a walking red flag.

The ML does become more prominent in the second half, but somehow I STILL never really warmed up to him. Man was fighting for screen time, relevance AND wig credibility simultaneously.

Also, I still can't get over the fact that NOBODY RECOGNIZED THE FL because girl, you literally didn't even change your face 😭😭😭 just a different styling and suddenly everyone has amnesia. I’m sorry but WHAT.

But honestly? I am having an absolute blast with the sheer absurdity of this drama. Logic has left the building, scandal and outrage have been turned up to approximately 174%, everyone is making terrible decisions, and I am sitting here with my imaginary wine glass enjoying the carnage.
My only real complaint is the length. Some episodes were watched at 2x speed and I STILL somehow knew exactly what was happening, which tells you everything you need to know. 😂

I still have 5 episodes left, so the final verdict is pending, but so far this has been one deliciously unhinged ride.

Now excuse me while I pour another imaginary glass of wine and investigate that wig situation. 🍷

Leia Mais

For once, a Korean take on school bullying that makes sense.

Second Sister is not a great artistic achievement by any means, but it gets extra points from me for its thoughtful and humane exploration of a theme Korean entertainment is perennially fixated on but so rarely gets right: school bullying.

For the first half of the movie, I thought it would hit all the obligatory story beats of a typical Korean revenge drama; a bullying victim's bereaved family member investigates her past, figures out how her evil classmates tormented her, and torments them back from the shadows, thus restoring a sense of justice and order to other powerless bullying victims who might be watching. The problem with this kind of story is that it doesn't denounce bullying, much less analyse or critique its societal causes, but merely marshals its violence against more deserving victims. The underlying message of so many recent classics of Korean TV and cinema on this topic is that it's okay for good people to do bad things to bad people (who are bad because they do bad things—and if that's too confusing for you, you should stop overthinking and just enjoy the show).

Well, Second Sister doesn't go there. It makes you think it's going to go there, but just as the protagonist, Soeun, is about to carry out her revenge, she has a moment of moral clarity and realizes that her younger sister's bully was a victim too; that her younger sister, Jieun, was a bit of a bully herself; that she should have paid more attention to Jieun's emotional needs while the latter was alive and her thirst for revenge now is a belated attempt to make up for her own shortcomings as her sister's guardian; and that Jieun was immersed in a voyeuristic culture of surveillance and judgment in which teenagers bond and gain status through participation in cyber lynchings, which makes it almost impossible to remain innocent without becoming a victim yourself. As these truth nukes hit Soeun one after another, the movie is no longer just about Jieun; it paints a picture of Korean adolescence in the 21st century, and perhaps of Korean society itself. Most impressively, it calls out the cultural preoccupation with revenge explicitly through the tech-savvy private investigator Jungyeong, who points out to Soeun that she never asked him to help her find out what actually happened to her sister because she was too busy looking for someone to blame.

Again, I love and appreciate this perspective because it is almost entirely absent from the school bullying genre. I believe it's a necessary corrective on the reactionary, even fascistic premises of mindless power fantasies like Teach You a Lesson, Weak Hero, Brave Citizen, etc. (although I enjoyed Weak Hero and Brave Citizen).

BUT... it's just too explicit, man. The movie's position, however smart and correct it may be, is spelled out so directly that the final 30 minutes feel like a lecture from one character (Jungyeong) to another (Soeun). The didactic purpose of the movie ends up taking over the world of the story, which was already feeling bland and unreal to begin with. The tight plotting and editing others have praised leave no room for scene-setting or characterization, so when Jungyeong starts explaining Soeun's own feelings to her in the climactic scene of the movie, it completely destroys any lingering impression I might have had of them as people embedded in a story I'm following and turns them into, like, podcast co-hosts or something.

Jungyeong's character is especially untethered from reality as an all-powerful and all-knowing judge-therapist-hacker moonlighting as a shady thrill-seeking private investigator who is also a rich tech company CEO. This kind of absurd character might work as the protagonist of a 400-episode webtoon about underground MMA fights (or House MD?), but not in a fast-paced 90-minute thriller that doesn't spare even a second to justify his existence. (That said, Kim Mingue and Kang Seoha do as much as they can with what they're given and I would say they even elevate the script a little, which is the mark of an above-average acting performance in my book.)

Overall, this is a mediocre movie in terms of emotional impact and artistry, but it does exactly what it sets out to do and I commend it for its strong and mature moral message.

Leia Mais

Started strong, then lost the plot

This drama started really well. The first 10 episodes had a promising setup—the women-empowerment angle, the challenges and obstacles our FL had to face to establish herself as a court official, and ML as an Emperor trying to take his power back from the Chancellor so he could rule according to his own vision of a prosperous country.

Unfortunately, after those first 10 episodes, the plot took a nosedive into the same tried-and-tested formula. The FL went from being smart and capable to a speech-spouting damsel-in-distress who needs the Emperor to save her almost every other episode. It genuinely feels like she left all her wits back in Shaozou. And somehow, the Emperor can travel all over the place without guards or even shadow guards. And there is so many issues happning in the empire and the only thing the court officials are concerned about is how to get the FL fired, or get the emperor married.

What is working is the acting. Almost all the actors, except the FL, have done a great job with the roles and the material they were given. The costume designer and team have done exceptionally well as well.

Unfortunately, WJY’s portrayal of the FL isn't as impressive. The first 10 episodes were good, but as the story progressed, her performance became repetitive and increasingly self-righteous. There is a thin line between defiance and disrespect, and assertiveness and arrogance". The dialogues convey the intended conflict well, but the performance of the role by the actress doesn't always convey those nuances, making the FL come across as more drama-heroic than genuinely strong, and at times even disrespectful.

It is still an enjoyable watch if you're watching it simply for the drama. For the dramatic impact and a casual watch it can be a 7/10.
For those who were drawn in by the first 10 episodes and expected the same level of intelligent plotting and storytelling, this is likely to be a disappointment.

Leia Mais

wild and loved

The omegaverse is kind of important to the plot, but you do not need to worry about the normal pitfalls. There are no omegas or even betas mentioned. The alphas aren't wolfy or animalistic. it seems to just be a way to explain why one has heightened senses.

The description makes this show seem simple but the plot has many winding turns and surprising twists. I cried twice. Try not to expose yourself to spoilers because this show is an amazing experience when you're hanging on every word to uncover the truth.

It was hard not to fall in love with the characters and their arcs. The actors did a pretty good job, especially our main leads.

The music did nothing good or bad for me. If you told me there was no soundtrack, I probably would believe you since I was so sucked into the story. Gotta go rewatch it right now.

No loose strings. You do not need to watch the second season if you do not want to.
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(my only true complaint is that it feels like secretly everyone makes the same reveal for an hour mid story)

Leia Mais

I watched this for 3 reasons: 1) Queen Sa DingDing, 2) Queen Tia Ray, and 3) Queen Chen Lijun. But most of them were Queens by the end of the season.

I only watched Call Me By Fire S4 before, so comparing, I think the girls are more determined than the guys. I thought I wouldn't find the same camaraderie as in CMBF4 but I was pleasantly wrong. The girls (women, since they are all older than 30) showed a lovely bond and admiration between them. Take for example the first magnificent group (SDD, CLJ, Chen Haoyu and Liu Yan). They all formed different groups afterwards, but that first group was the most beloved for all 4 of them. SDD and LY formed again later on a duet where they told the other girls how they teased each other. Or you could tell how much CHY admired and looked up to CLJ (she was never too far away from CLJ, and always wanted to collaborate with her). Then there were Laure Zhang and ZhuDan, and Joyce + Han Xue. There were many girls that formed a tight bond with another, and it was very nice to see.

What is nice about this type of reality show is that you can see how someone who is excellent inspires others. And how someone who is mediocre gets better after much determination and perseverance. Like Zhang Yuxi ans ZhuDan, two very mediocre artists who couldn't sing nor dance at the beginning (whenever they sung in the first episodes, it was so embarrassing) but they persisted and both got so much better at the end.

Much admiration for Joyce, the French artist and the only Western artist that persisted till the end ( I wonder if Mai, Sasha Alex Sloan and the Russian girl felt too overwhelmed but the best reason they could give was "health issues"). Joyce (a Queen) sings many songs in Chinese, and as an Ambassador for France, she committed to learning Chinese. And she sings so well (I fell in love with her with that first very song, and the one she sings with HX is on my playlist).

Two things where CMBF4 was better: 1) the first half of this show the performances were MEH.. the songs the show gave to the girls were, 40%, of the "cute" type, and the other 40% of the "slutty" type and only 20% of the good type. We had to wait a bit for the "cool" performances, and even then, the actresses didn't have stages where their skills as an actress were shined. Unlike CMBF4 that had many stages that mixed dance, singing and acting. And 2) CMFB4 had 17 winners, RWTW5 had only 15, and they were:

1) Liu Xin: the rocker who cried a lot XD She is very cool, can sing, dance, arrange, and be an awesome leader. Her voice is great.
2) CLJ: one of the most consistent artists. Everyone wanted her on her team, but her greatest fan was without a doubt, CHY XD Not only she is beautiful but also handsome and amazingly talented in Yue Opera (the representative of this type of Opera). She was the Wang ZhengLiang of this season.
3) Qi Wei: I wouldn't say she was the best at dancing nor at singing, but she was a Winner right from the start. Her personality, her determination. She was the Hacken Lee of the season.
4) CHY: from a somewhat shy actress that was self-taught in musicals to a more confident leader. She was the Azora of this season.
5) He Jie: she could do everything: dance, sing, lead... very extrovert.
6) Tia Ray: who doesn't know her singing skills? And she can dance too! And even if her voice stood out over everyone's, she wasn't overwhelming and knew that it was fair that she shouldn't sing all the high notes.
7) Shang Wen Jie (or Laure Zhang): I knew her from "Super Vocal" as a judge. And she continues to be a good judge here. And mentor. And she could easily speak in Chinese or French or English. Starts as an introvert artist who can't dance... but then she is a very good dancer :)
8) SDD: our weird Queen, she was a bit crazy but so funny. And we see her dance! And she danced very well too. I love her and I am going to miss her.
9) Joyce Jonathan: what more can I say about her? a French Queen.
10) Cai Wen Jing (or Elvira): a very outgoing girl, she could talk! Impossible not to like her specially at the beginning where she "adopted" the two oldest contestants (that were over 50). She can sing and dance, not like WOW but she was good.
11) Liu Yan: the sweetest actress, I am so glad she made it to the end! I was sure she would bc she had been in the top3 once, and bc she was part of that 1st Top Group. She teased SDD and wasn't in awe about anything.
12) Han Xue: a very regal Lady. Sings like a Queen, but can't dance :D Her English is very, very good, and she formed a tight duo with Joyce.

Anyway, I liked all the girls that got it till the final episode. I was sorry for all of them having to wear those super high heels + long dresses + that terrible stair though XD Like it happened after I finished CMBF4, I have withdrawal symptoms, I am going to miss them all <3

Leia Mais