Reviews

A MASTERPIECE

POJ gave us everything -- flawless face cards, unforgettable characters, and exceptional performances from the entire cast. ✨

Thanks to production tean and the director is awesome!! 🫶🏻

Pursuit of Jade completely exceeded my expectations. I started watching it out of curiosity, but it quickly became one of my favorite C-dramas. Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei's chemistry is absolutely top-notch, and every emotion they portrayed felt genuine.

The visuals, cinematography, OST, costumes, and acting were all amazing.

Even though some scenes from the novel weren't adapted, the drama still delivered a beautiful story that stayed true to its emotional core. It made me laugh, cry, and root for every character. A drama that's definitely worth watching and one I'll never get tired of recommending. 💕

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Strong Start but Flat Last Episodes

Like the title says. I really enjoyed the first half of the show but unfortunatly the last 4-ish episodes I started getting bored. I think it was due to the fact that the one thing holding the female lead back throughout all the episodes was the same. The fact that he still spoke to his ex wife so once it hit like episode 8-9 it was getting too repetitive.

I think this show displays quite clear communication trope like misunderstandings were quickly cleared up. Also the fact she was so insecure about his ex was annoying to watch but quite realistic. Like I think I would be insecure too if I were in her shoes.

Anyways acting was fun and I think their chemistry was okay. Not the best but also not the worst. Overall I had a fun time watching.

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Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!" *

The Hill of Secrets was another tender coming of age story by a female director. This time Lee Ji Eun took us back to 1996 as Lee Myeong Eun struggled to understand what family meant and how to traverse class distinctions. Her chosen route of lying led her down a path that became filled with quicksand.

With the new school year starting, everyone in Eun’s class is required to divulge what their parents do for a living . Eun is too embarrassed to say that her parents run a salted fish stall. She thinks up a lie on the spot and declares that her father is a salaryman and her mother is a housewife. Looking for more validation, she ingratiates herself to her teacher and runs for class president which she wins. Her mother tells her to quit as she has neither the time nor money to help her. Eun doggedly keeps the position, creating a secret box where students can write their concerns or suggestions. As the school year progresses, keeping her secret, becomes more daunting. Especially, when a new student, Hye Jin arrives and creates competition for her.

Being twelve-years old as puberty hits is difficult enough. Most kids are embarrassed by their parents but in a class sensitive society, being the child of salted fish dealers took confidence to accept. Something Eun did not possess. Eun’s journey of self-discovery began as she entered several writing contests and had success. She researched her topics rigorously, still navigating the lies she had told. In order to maintain the façade of the “acceptable” middle class family she yearned for, Eun had to go to extreme lengths with the stress building minute by minute. Eun was not alone in the fibbing department. “Everybody lies,” the saying goes. Eun’s uncle lied when he donned a suit to pick her up from school. Her teacher and principal also lied. There were times lies protected others but more often the lies were self-serving.

Writing brought Eun more popularity and more problems. When Hye Jin bested her, she became jealous, lashing out in passive-aggressive ways. Hye Jin’s mother ran a brothel which she didn’t even attempt to hide. Hye Jin and her “sister” did almost no research for their essays, only writing their truth which the judges appreciated. Through Eun's writing and developing friendship with her rival, she began to recognize the costly lies around her and within her. Some of her classroom behaviors driven by jealousy were deceptive and unkind. Her mother’s drive to earn money held secrets Eun had not been privy to. When Eun finally wrote her truth, she discovered it was based on hidden lies, leaving her in a lurch with her family. Regardless of how she felt about them, she wasn’t prepared to unleash public pain and humiliation on them.

While Eun's mother was not the cuddly type, she worked hard to provide for her family and extended family. Her motto to “Take nothing, give nothing,” was born out of too many wounds and losses. One of the saddest moments for me was when the mom was working in her vision journal, posting pictures of the dream house she greatly desired and would likely never afford due to all the hands outstretched to her. As much as I wanted her to hug Eun and praise her successes and hard work, she likely could not give something she’d never been given.

Overall, this slow film was entertaining. My biggest criticism is that it was too long. Grade school coming of age films like kung fu films, should not run longer than 90 minutes. The Hill of Secrets rested firmly on Moon Seung A’s slender shoulders and for the most part she carried the film well. There are times when lies are gentler than the truth. And there are times when a person has to accept who they are and where they are from and own those things. Lee Myeong Eun was not perfect, she was a pre-teen desperately looking for acceptance and belonging with no roadmap of how to achieve either. She lied, she was overly competitive, and increasingly arrogant. Yet she was also sensitive, intelligent, creative, and hard-working. Eun wanted what most people want--to be loved and appreciated. Watching her grow and evolve and gain confidence in who she was, was rewarding.

31 July 2026

* Quote Note: Sir Walter Scott ("Marmion")

School Note: Why would the teachers have the students talk about their parents’ jobs? It was a sure way to set up a pecking order, especially when according to Kdramas and Kfilms, schools are rife with bullying. I was delighted to find that there was no overt bullying in this drama. There was some typical grade school gossiping, but nothing awful. Hye Jin may have had a pessimistic world view, yet by being honest about her life, the students came to accept her which was refreshing. Eun’s jealous overreactions were the closest thing to villainous behavior.

Director Note: I would love to see more women directing in SKorea and in a wider variety of subjects. So many times they are relegated to coming-of-age stories. Same type of problem in my country. : /

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No cumplió mis expectativas

Puedes terminarla así para que supere los 500 caracteres y suene más natural:

> La verdad no me gustó la historia. No vi nada especial ni un buen desarrollo de los personajes, y la protagonista nunca tuvo ese momento estelar que la hiciera destacar. Esperaba mucho más de este drama. La pareja protagonista tampoco tuvo un buen desarrollo y me costó conectar con su romance. Eso sí, sería injusto hablar mal del elenco, porque todos hicieron un buen trabajo y las actuaciones fueron lo mejor del drama. La música también estuvo bien, pero una buena actuación no logra compensar una historia tan plana y predecible. Al final terminé el drama con la sensación de que desaprovechó todo su potencial y no logró dejarme una impresión memorable.

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Um drama sobre Idas e Vindas, Erros e Acertos.

Um dos dramas mais "estranhos" que já assisti.

ENREDO:

Começa como uma comédia romântica e depois se torna um melodrama.
Divertido no começo e com um sabor agridoce no final. Vale a pena mas não espere ver personagens "perfeitos" que nunca erram.
Existe humanidade nos personagens e essa humanidade é muito baseada em errar e tentar seguir adiante.

ATUAÇÃO:

Nenhum ator está fazendo um trabalho ruim, porém, nenhum se destacou a ponto de ser digno de nota.

MÚSICA:

Gostei da música tema mas é uma trilha sonora esquecível. pelo menos não prejudica a trama de maneira geral.

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Siempre DEAD nunca DEAR

Una formidable historia que combina atmósfera oscura, narrativa envolvente y personajes llenos de dilemas morales. Desde el primer capítulo te atrapa con su tensión, sus secretos y sus emociones intensas, llevándote a reflexionar sobre justicia, culpa y las consecuencias de nuestras decisiones.

ATMÓSFERA

Lo primero que pienso al recordar esta historia —y la razón principal por la que me encanta— es la fascinación que me produjo su atmósfera oscura y envolvente: el bosque, las leyendas, la cabaña elegante, el intro con esa sutil música tétrica y las tomas cuidadosamente elegidas para que desde el principio empezaras a intuir lo que te esperaba.

Esa oscuridad que emanaba, esa aparente tranquilidad inicial, ese hanging out de los chicos en la camioneta mientras se adentraban sin saberlo en algo que los superaría… todo tenía la vibra de los momentos previos a una tragedia, el camino inevitable hacia la desgracia. Lo mismo ocurría cuando estaban festejando dentro de la cabaña, completamente ajenos a lo que estaba por suceder. A eso se sumaba la presencia misteriosa con máscara macabra, los secretos del pasado que bullían por salir, la paranoia constante de sentirse amenazados, el surgir de personalidades bajo presión, las reacciones, los caracteres… y el miedo.

En resumen todo esos factores fueron tan significativos y bien manejados para crear un ambiente de atracción y expectación constante.

TRAMA Y NARRATIVA

Cada vez que deseaba que ocurriera algo en la historia porque sentía que elevaría mi interés… sucedía. La serie cumplía con mis expectativas de manera satisfactoria.

El trasfondo fue simplemente adictivo. Estaba ansiosa por descubrir qué había desencadenado todo, por desenterrar esos secretos que tanto se esforzaban por ocultar. La forma en que la historia se fue contando me pareció coherente: un hilo que se deshilaba poco a poco, pero siempre con sentido. Te muestran a cada personaje, sus comportamientos, las causas que los moldean y las consecuencias que generan.

Todo lo que descubres despierta un cúmulo de emociones: impotencia, rabia, tristeza, angustia, empatía… incluso pequeños momentos en los que el caos parece detenerse y aparecen mínimos oasis de tranquilidad, esperanza y quizá felicidad.

Mención honorífica al final: fue muy ingenioso.

PERSONAJES

Otro de mis puntos favoritos es cómo la serie maneja a sus múltiples personajes principales. Cada uno aporta algo distinto: un rasgo, una herida, una decisión o un comportamiento que despierta en mí preguntas, dilemas y la necesidad de analizarlos con detenimiento.

Son personajes con una construcción consistente, cuyas motivaciones y reacciones bajo presión tienen un peso enorme en la historia. Todo gira alrededor de ellos, y eso se siente en cada capítulo: sus conflictos, sus secretos y sus dinámicas son el motor que impulsa la trama.

Además, cada uno abre puertas a reflexiones que profundizaré en la siguiente sección, porque sus decisiones y contradicciones generan análisis que vale la pena explorar.



REFLEXIONES, DILEMAS Y ANÁLISIS

Por último, quiero destacar algunos temas y situaciones que captaron profundamente mi atención y que inevitablemente te llevan a hacerte preguntas, a debatir contigo misma y a reflexionar sobre lo que la serie plantea.

---------------¡ALERTA DE SPOILER!-------------------

1. El trato hacia Non

Una de las primeras interrogantes es: ¿qué justificación de peso había para que trataran tan mal a Non?
Según ellos, era raro cuando simplemente era un chico tranquilo, reservado, talentoso y que se acercó con buenas intenciones. Y aun así decidieron portarse de manera cruel y aprovecharse de él.
No hay una explicación profunda: solo maldad, inmadurez y una necesidad absurda de ejercer poder sobre alguien vulnerable. Qué nobleza, ¿no?

2. Las decisiones de Non

Non es un personaje que me genera eterna compasión. No creo que haya una causa que justifique señalarlo por “seguir cayendo” en un espiral más hondo.
Fue manipulado, engañado, menospreciado y, para colmo, injustamente involucrado en problemas por Tee y Top. Estaba deprimido, agotado, desesperado por salir de su situación.

¿Tomó malas decisiones? Quizá desde fuera lo parezca, pero desde su realidad —una vida convertida en miseria— es imposible juzgarlo con dureza.

Pudo cambiar de escuela, pudo buscar apoyo en su novio… sí. Pero también entiendo que quiso luchar, que no quiso huir, que no quiso permitir que otros se llevaran el mérito de su trabajo. En su convicción, sentía que era justo pelear por lo que consideraba correcto. No quería escapar: quería resistir.


3. ¿Qué harías si fueras Jin?

Jin es uno de esos personajes que te obligan a cuestionarte cosas incómodas.
¿Qué haces cuando tus amigos —con quienes te llevas bien— empiezan a portarse horrible con alguien? No te afecta directamente, pero estás viendo una injusticia. ¿Qué decides?

Sabes que está mal. La víctima te cae bien, incluso te gusta. Pero no actúas.
Jin mostraba su desacuerdo y le daba cariño a Non, sí… pero no intervenía más allá de eso.

Y entonces surge el dilema real:
¿qué pasa cuando tu grupo de amigos hace algo con lo que no estás de acuerdo?
¿Intentas hacerlos entrar en razón? ¿Ignoras la situación porque “no es tu problema”?
Si no te escuchan, ¿sigues con ellos o te alejas?
¿Te pones del lado de la víctima?

No tengo respuestas absolutas. Pero Jin y su situación son un excelente punto de análisis moral.


4. ¿Por qué pagó White?

El trato del guion hacia White es un gran “¿por qué?”.
Pero ese “¿por qué?” es el mismo que surge cuando pensamos en el desprecio hacia Non que terminó en su muerte.

White y Non no merecían lo que les pasó.
La injusticia hacia Non no tiene explicación más allá de la crueldad humana.
La muerte de White funciona como una especie de redención narrativa: un intento de equilibrar la balanza, de sanar simbólicamente lo que se le hizo a Non.

Pequeña nota aparte: no me gustó la dependencia emocional que White tenía hacia Tee.

5. Tee y Top

Tee al menos tuvo remordimientos. Su vida era horrible, sí, pero eso no le daba derecho a hacer lo que hizo con Non.
Creo en el cambio, en que una persona puede enmendar sus errores… pero eso no significa que haya sentido empatía por Tee. Su desarrollo mejoró, pero no suficiente para justificar nada.

Top, en cambio, siempre fue un desgraciado. Nunca mostró arrepentimiento real hasta el final.


6. Phee y Tan

Dos seres dolidos que buscaban respuestas. Mientras uno logró mantener sus límites y principios morales, el otro terminó perdiendo el control por completo.

Phee es mi personaje favorito: su carisma, su amabilidad, su forma de amar y, sobre todo, su capacidad para conservar la cordura y aferrarse a lo que él considera justicia. Es alguien que, incluso en medio del caos, sabe detenerse antes de cruzar líneas que lo destruirían.

Tan, en cambio, es alguien que lamentablemente se fue desmoronando a sí mismo. Créeme, yo quería que hiciera pagar a los culpables; después de todo, cuando ellos tenían miedo era cuando realmente se arrepentían… vaya sorpresa. Y sí, el final es de mis partes favoritas. Pero también abre dilemas muy interesantes:
¿deberían vivir un infierno como el que vivió Non?
En la lógica de la serie, es redentor. Pero ¿es realmente lo que se debería hacer?
¿Tan/New quedó como alguien satisfecho por haber logrado vengarse?

No tengo respuestas definitivas para eso.

Lo que sí pienso es que no deberíamos convertirnos en aquello que juramos destruir (sí, suena trillado, pero lo creo). Deberíamos priorizar nuestro equilibrio y nuestra salud mental. La justicia debe buscarse, pero por vías que no nos consuman: que vayan a la cárcel, que se exponga públicamente lo que hicieron, que se reconozca la apropiación de derechos con la película… algo que genere consecuencias reales sin destruir a quien busca justicia.

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I had a really fun time watching it. I went in completely blind without reading the synopsis, so I had no idea what to expect. I think one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed it as much as I did is because I binged it rather than watch it while it aired. I don’t think the mystery was strong enough to keep me hooked week after week (it was fairly easy to predict where things were headed early on).

One thing the drama deserves its flowers for was the cast. Really good acting across the board. No notes. I’m very impressed and happy to see a consistently strong performance. Besides the main leads, notably, the performance by the actress playing Jahyeon is to be lauded.

The script was decent overall, even if I had some issues with the execution here and there. There was decent dialogue and banter between the main leads as well. The drama’s biggest drawback is that it was overly ambitious without having enough time to fully explore and flesh out both the plot and the characters. Twenty-minute episodes simply weren’t enough to peel back the layers of the characters’ trauma as well as the complex mystery they were trying to weave. I believe this constraint led to some sloppy scene execution in order to keep the plot moving.

I loved the characterization for the most part sans Lee Chaeha and the severely underdeveloped background about his stint as a police officer. Giving such a background to a character and not having any of the qualities of that profession that come with it translate into present time was a great disservice to the character.
I think the strongest selling point for me was Ju Taeseon. He is snarky, witty, and petty. He opens his mouth and you cannot predicts what’s going to come out of it. And the actor did his part very well too. He entertained me from start to end.

The actors’ chemistry also deserves praise. It felt effortless and charming. I really liked the romance, though I would’ve preferred a little more tension. A bit more push and pull, with a slower build-up at the beginning. Again, I think that’s more a consequence of the limited runtime than any lack of chemistry between the actors.

Overall, I was highly entertained so i’ll bump my original rating by 0.5 and give it an 8.

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Story is dragged and questionable chemistry

The plot initially seemed interesting and had enough potential to keep me invested, but the execution was disappointing. The biggest issue is the lack of chemistry between the main leads. Their interactions often feel forced and awkward rather than natural, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in their relationship. At times, both actors come across as stiff, and their performances fail to bring the characters to life.

One of the lead actresses, in particular, delivers a weak performance. Her expressions and emotional scenes rarely feel convincing, which makes many important moments lose their impact. Instead of enhancing the story, her acting often pulls you out of it.

Another major problem is the repetitive writing. Almost every episode revolves around the same conflicts with the mother-in-law, and after a few episodes, it becomes predictable and exhausting. Rather than developing the characters or introducing fresh storylines, the series keeps recycling the same arguments and misunderstandings.

Overall, the writing feels quite shallow, with underdeveloped characters, repetitive conflicts, and an unacceptable lack of chemistry between the leads. While the premise had promise, the poor execution and uninspiring performances make it difficult to stay engaged.

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Nota 10???????

História que prende início ao fim, a mistura da vida real com o filme que eles estavam atuando te faz parar pra pensar oque é realidade e ficção entre eles. E oque falar da atuação desses meninos tão jovens e promissor 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽, eles se jogam em casa cena com uma química de milhões o beijo lindo, tem ships ai que já atua faz tempo e não entrega a metade do que eles entregaram. Desejo que venha muitos trabalhos deles juntos😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽.

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TayNew's Unmatched Chemistry and Chaotic Comedy Carry an Okay Script

A Dog and a Plane relies heavily on the timeless charm of Tay and New, delivering electric chemistry and endless comedy even when the overarching plot feels a bit disjointed. Tay Tawan and New Thitipoom’s off-the-charts dynamic shines through the classic "opposites attract" trope, flawlessly balancing Khanit’s pristine, put-together demeanor with Toto’s delightfully cringey, loud, and quirky energy. The series starts on a high note with an engaging setup centered around Khanit’s cheating ex-boyfriend, the secret debt, and the fun revelation that Toto had been harboring feelings for Khanit all along while acting as his spy. The acting and romantic payoff throughout these early stages are top-tier, making for an immensely enjoyable watch. However, the narrative loses steam when it transitions into the second half. Khanit’s deep, intense love for his ex was portrayed so heavily in the beginning that his sudden shift toward dating Toto felt a bit too fast and unearned. Furthermore, once the initial drama settled, the sudden turn into a standard "pleasing the strict parents who look down on Toto's job" plotline felt like a strange shift in pacing. While the storyline could have definitely been tighter and more cohesive, the sheer charisma of TayNew, paired with fantastic romance scenes and great comedic beats, makes it a fun ride overall.

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a story about losing yourself for people who won’t choose you.

oh my!!!!!! this drama is absolutely one of my top 3 bl dramas of all time. i have so much to say about it, so let’s start this review because i already know it won’t be short!

'love in the big city' is not a perfect love story. it's messy, bittersweet, and sometimes uncomfortable, but that's exactly why it feels so close to real life.

what i loved the most about Go-young is how painfully human he is. he is not a perfect character, and that's exactly why he feels so real. he makes mistakes, he holds on to people who are NOT always good for him, and sometimes he loses pieces of himself while trying to find love and acceptance. but instead of judging him, i actually found myself understanding him so much, and now he's definitely my comfort character.

his relationship with his last boyfriend (Sim Gyu-ho) especially stayed with me.
it was heartbreaking because it felt SO real.. that feeling of loving someone deeply while slowly realizing that maybe you are the only one still fighting for the relationship :( the pain wasn't just about losing someone, but about realizing how much time and energy you can give to a person who might not even look back at you in the future.

Go-young is someone who wants to be loved, understood, and chosen, but sometimes he searches for those things in people who cannot give them to him. and honestly, i think many people can see a part of themselves in that.

this drama made me think about all the moments when we hold on to someone because we are attached to the version of them we created in our heads... not necessarily who they really are. it's painful, but also incredibly honest.

i finished this drama feeling sad (i cried my eyes out), but also grateful. some stories don't need a perfect "happy" ending to be meaningful. <3

at the end, i want to add:
this drama is incredibly important for young queer people, especially gay men who are struggling with their identity, feeling lost, or trying to find themselves.

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