Reviews

unusual cop x gangster romance

as they say, the whole is better than the sum of its parts the concept on which the drama is based of a relationship between a gangster and a cop is absurd、 the police story thriller background hangs together but is unoriginal and rather weak、 this is not only the most unconventional relationship but the most unconventional police unit I have ever seen、 maybe work is so laid back in Taiwan we should all get a work visa there、 but somehow the drama comes together into an enjoyable whole the greatest strength is the endearing romance and characters of Tang Yi, Shao Fei and the second leads、Jack and Zhao Li An .。there is enough mystery to keep you interested and the background bio story brings the story together。final episode is very well done with the right amounts of romance, emotion, love-making and closure。 very enjoyable watch and cute romance and definitely re-watchable in the future。 I only just started watching Taiwan dramas and I also like they are very much more open about gay relationships in public than k drama, j dorama and c drama。💖🌈

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The devil is in the details...or in this case, brilliancy is

I was shocked to see people calling this a bad story. Why? Have we watched the same thing?
It was great, but not in an obvious way. It was magnetic in a way that didn't feel evident. I found myself pulled into it like it was the most natural thing. That may be because it creates a state of hunger for the truth while only feeding you enough to keep you from starving.
I'd even go as far as to call it brilliant. That may be my personal bias towards things done differently. The fact that we don't get a definitive answer makes it marvelous. And it's all the more enthralling because it leaves you with a gap. It feels like you need answers, like you might have to become a detective, search for undeniable truths or at least save the world in some significant way or something.
What it does best is play with the unknown. It doesn't act like it knows what's happening. It's simply telling a story. It's pretty much corroborated evidence and educated guesses. But it's so magical that it makes you believe you've figured it out only to leave you guessing again. It really gives you the realistic feeling that we all get - uncertainty. Which is not satisfying in any way other than artistic. But it's done almost poetically.
Its commentary on life is impactful, but not loud. I'd say it's in your face, but respectfully? It definitely allows you to breathe. But it's thought-provoking without generalizing. I suppose one might take it that way sometimes, but to me it felt mostly like we were simply getting to know an enigmatic woman through shards of her past. Which makes it inherently subjective and not necessarily a moral judgements on her actions and motivations. I liked that a lot.
The series explains materialism very well and really takes its time portraying different sides of why people are materialistic and how that desire direct them in life. Great creative material for moral analyses.

And at the end of it I feel I'm in muddy waters. I can't see clearly, sounds are muffled and I have no sense of direction whatsoever. I don't feel trapped, but rather it feels as if, if i stare long enough, hold my breath enough, sharpen my sense enough, I might actually get to the bottom of this (no pun intended).
Interestingly, though, it's not even that you don't get answers. Cause you do. What you don't get is satisfaction - the kind that comes with certainty, the kind that makes punishment feel worthwhile. I guess in a way you could say "the only satisfaction in the world is the word 'satisfaction'" ;).
I don't believe that philosophically, but the show does make a great case of proving its premises. Inside its logical and philosophical setting, things really do make a surprisingly satisfying amount of sense. Outside, you have to turn your own brain on and analyze for yourself. And that's the perfect kind of tension and a delicious challenge.
Yeah, I mean either that or I'm just overanalyzing it because I likes symbolisms. I guess we'll never know...

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THE BEST DRAMA THIS YEAR SO FAR

this drama is pure gem. i don't remember last time when i found a drama this close to my heart. it definitely will leave an effect on me. it's so soothing, healing and equally the story is top notch.
i have never watched anything of moon sangmin neither of nam jihyun. and i haven't watched many saeguk dramas as well. so i had really less expectations with this. then i watched the first two episodes and found myself looking for updates on every weekend. and soon i was so excited to watch each episode and then i realized how much I'm loving this. and after watching each episode i only had one thing to say, "it's so beautifully written!" I don't know there was no other words (maybe because my English is limited) yet, I can't believe it ended so beautifully too. I'll miss them as much as j love them. there wasn't a single character written badly. especially the prince will be one of my favorite character.. then the second male lead is also admirable. and Haerim is so sweet. the queen dowager, the empress.. everyone is this drama deserves praise.. not talking about daechu tho.. poor guy lol.

I'll rewatch it soon i think. it was a very memorable journey for me.

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A great entry point to K Dramas

This drama gave me everything I want in a historical K drama. At the end of the 16th episode, I felt completely satisfied. There wasn't a lingering feeling that something missing.

They executed the body swap trope well. Usually that type of plot line can get silly very quick, and leave plot holes.

Some dramas either too much or too little. This drama found the sweet spot. I loved that the FL and ML had strong sense of self. The plot didn't overly rely on miscommunications. The second ML (and most of the supporting cast) had great character development. The political antics were realistic. As I said before, this drama found the sweet spot.

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Manifesting the end of the transmigration genre in cdramaland ~

The drama was quite entertaining in the beginning, the chemistry was lovely between the cp and they had a unique dynamic between them, rarely display in other cdramas.
The progression of their feelings felt quite natural, it was refreshing to see.

For the rest, to be honest it was pretty average ... directing & writing.
Nothing truly was thrilling, fascinating or intriguing.
The cp was cute, but honestly I feel like the writing didn't let the ml and fl display more intensity between them.
I was struggling to finish it ... The whole transmigration plot is so boring to me, I really don't get china obsession with it. it rarely done properly ...

anyway, yet again ... another forgetable drama for me.

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Difficult to review

Things I adored

1 The 2FL. Such a beautiful actress and so talented. I wish she played the main role. I also loved her story with the 2ML. It was funny and touching and although I dislike the baby thing in any drama here it didn't bother me that much.

Things I loved

1 The premise. It was original and it had potential to be funny, interesting and moving. I think it failed more than it succeeded.

2 The 2ML. I would never imagine saying that after Love is Sweet where I hated his character more than anything. On top of that I don't find him attractive at all, but here he did a great job and I went as far as looking for his other dramas.

Things I liked

1 The sister. She was something. I liked hat she knew about the secret and that she helped the girls. I thought I'd hate her but it turned out I was wrong. I enjoyed her performance. The only thing that bothered me is the constant reminder that she is gorgeous. She's not.

2 The ML. This is my first drama with him and while at firs I didn't like him at all, little by little I found his acting fine and started to like him. I'm looking forward to watch another drama with him so I can find out if I really like his acting. I think he's also much more handsome than what he looks like here. So I give an 8 for the premise and the second couple and a little for him, otherwise it would be a 5.

Things I disliked

1 The serious aspects of the story. They weren't done well so I didn't feel much. I think the director and the screenwriter messed things up. Some things were cringe and I wanted to skip them.

2 The characters she used. I didn't care for any of them and that was the biggest flaw of the series. None of these characters was interesting or funny and none moved me.

Things I hated

1 The ML. She never made me care about her. I have felt more things in romantic comedies about characters who just have an argument. Here we are supposed to feel her pain but what I feel is indifference. I'm not familiar with the actress, apparently she is well-known and people love her but I found her bland and boring. Her delivery reminded me of school plays. Something was definitely missing. Maybe she was well cast for the supposedly less beautiful than her sister girl and I agree sometimes I found her totally unattractive but let's be real, she wasn't ugly either so it's not that the issue. It's her acting.

2 The death thing for the first character. Ridiculous is the best word I can find to avoid indult that part and the way it unraveled.

3 The abused woman. It was too dark and not well done. I didn't like the actress either so to me it was a NO again.

4 The third character was a bit better but again I don't think it was such a smart addition. I could come up with dozens more interesting characters and I could turn the story in a way that could make sense and at the same time move me and make me laugh.

5 The chemistry between the leads was nonexistent to me. I didn't see any.

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FROM CLASSROOM TO BOARDROOM

DISCLAIMER: I'VE ALREADY READ THE MANHWA, AND EVERYTHING HERE IS MY HONEST THOUGHTS OF THE ADAPTATION DRAMA.

While the original webtoon featured a school teacher, the drama shifts the setting to a high-stakes corporate environment. Jang Hui-won is a high-achieving career woman who has sworn off marriage due to her parents' bitter divorce. After a drunken one-night stand with Kang Doo-jun, a perfectionist chaebol heir, she discovers she is pregnant. Doo-jun, driven by a sense of responsibility and his own family trauma, proposes a 'shotgun marriage', leading to a reverse-romance where the commitment precedes the feelings.

Furthermore, Choi Jin-hyuk and Oh Yeon-seo bring a seasoned, 'grown-up' energy to the roles. Their chemistry is strongest in the quiet, domestic moments as they navigate the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy. The production value is bright and bubbly, often using creative visual flourishes (like 360- degree time freezes) that pay homage to its webton roots. Unlike many rom-coms that drag out the 'will-they-won't-they', the final episodes deliver a heartwarming payoff, including a romantic proposal and a glimpse into their life as a family.

However, this adaptation deviates from the original manhwa. The lighthearted 'fluff' of the manhwa is often replaced with heavier subplots, including a tragic backstory for the male lead and corporate scheming involving an 'evil' sister-in-law. The drama occasionally struggles to balance its breezy rom-com roots with 'makjang' elements. The second male lead and certain family rivals receive significant screen time, which felt distracted from the main couple.

In conclusion, Positively Yours, in terms of the adaptation, is actually not bad, even though it's a little bit different from the manhwa. In my opinion, watch the drama first instead of the manhwa, so you don't get disappointed, but if you want the original creation, then read the manhwa cuz it's really good. So I'll recommend bothof them.

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Coming of Age sweetness.

I'm not entirely sure what specific aspect of this drama has resonated so deeply with me, yet I found myself completely captivated from the very first episode. I have a particular preference for 'slice of life' dramas, wherein the plot's progression is minimal, yet character development is notably emphasized. I didn’t even mind that there was little to no BL in this BL show. I figured the producers were banking on making a season 2 to include that slow burn progression, but having looked on Google to see S2 was cancelled, I’m super bummed because it would have been awesome to watch Sheng Wang and Jian Tian fall in love in real time. Because of that, I turned to reading their novel (not finished yet) but ohhhh, it would have been so good on the screen. These boys are so sweet and so in love with each other! (still holding out hope we get a S2 somehow!)

I’d still recommend this show to any BL fan. The subtle way Tian will do just about anything for Sheng Wang and how Sheng Wang was always gravitating toward the cold boy.

I enjoyed the support cast too.
Though, he’s somewhat cast in the antagonist role, I did feel bad for Qi Jia Hao. He’s the typical overachiever and can’t accept when he’s not top of the class, becoming resentful.

Also, color me rainbow shocked that the substitute teachers weren’t in a secret relationship. The entire time I thought they were!

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It was innovative plot when i first watching this

I watched this on my first year on watching short drama i quite remember Fang Zhen Nan face and his role was quite jerk one especially the scene he didn't acknowledge his daughter was truly the first time I'd ever from anger from him. Even after i watch short drama since two years this is Xu Siqi best work. I never get attached to her recent work.

The plot about FL who pretends to be mute to save ML from his accident complication but he got mistress and her child. Mentally abuse FL and her daughter and keep saying Mistress son was his. I liked the FL daughter acting, her anger from ML was justified and it was normal reaction even her mom didn't say anything bad about his father. FL was actually singer that ML adored, she retired to be with him and yeah his mistress stole all of FL works. Too bad the songs was actually not from the actress herself and it basically lipsync from other singer.

I'm not entirely satisfied with the fact that FL didn't have an abortion. Unless she can't get pregnant again after an abortion, I really don't understand why she would carry his child after deciding to break up with ML.

Worth to Watch.

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Friends in Low Places

To Chang'an, Season 3 of Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty, opens with Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming's perilous return to the capital, transporting golden peaches for the emperor from the Kang kingdom. The ensemble team brims with lively, familiar chemistry amid even bigger stakes as they arrive at the peak of the power struggle between Princess Taiping and Emperor Xuanzong. The tension in the air is palpable, and Lu Lingfeng finds himself once again caught between being the Princess's son and a loyal subject of the throne. Su Wuming shamelessly lies and grovels as his survival instincts kick in, helping Lu Lingfeng and his team walk a precarious tightrope as they find themselves in the crosshairs of both sides of the political divide.

This franchise continues to fire the imagination with exotic mythical creatures, vivid visuals, eerie illusions, and strange anomalies. Superstition and folklore surround eight eerie cases driven by ultimately human factors: political intrigue, greed and corruption, distorted love and hate, social injustice, and revenge. The "drop-bys" of popular characters from past seasons adds to the sense of continuity and nostalgia. This season's cases are intriguing, well-written, and tightly plotted with rigorous detail, featuring enough reversals to keep viewers on their toes—albeit dialed down a notch or two in intricacy. This shift widens the narrative focus onto the complex social and power dynamics of Chang'an during a time of transition.

Where Season 2 held the team's personal developments in abeyance, Season 3 explores them fully. This is Strange Tales' most romantic season to date, with romance featuring heavily in many cases. But it is Lu Lingfeng and Pei Xijun's meltingly romantic courtship that steals the show. It is high time they take their relationship to the next level and the frank passion in the way they express their feelings by via famous Tang love poems made my toes curl! Master Fei also seems to hilariously discover a new calling as ice cream/sushan (酥山) proprietor by day and spymaster by night!

In a departure from its travelogue format, this season immerses itself in the diversity and divisiveness of Chang'an—an ancient melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, social classes, and political factions. As if being embroiled in the power struggle weren't enough, Lu Lingfeng also finds himself at the center of the class conflict between merchants and nobility. The tension boils over in a case that threatens to rip apart the social fabric of the city. In a fiery ideological debate, Su Wuming compellingly articulates the grievances of the "everybody-nobody" against Lu Lingfeng's proud and impassioned defense of the aristocratic "somebody." Yang Xuwen impresses with his layered portrayal of a deeply conflicted Lu Lingfeng—torn between loyalty and affection for his friends in low places and his ingrained belief in the social order and the cultural and moral superiority of the educated elite.

While I thoroughly enjoyed their showdown, the stakes become very real for the battling sheriffs: Sheriff Wei of Chang'an County and Sheriff Du of Wannian County. For me, the sixth case, with its deeper messages and social commentary, was the most moving and memorable. The final case, focused on diplomatic affairs, is also superb—high-octane and action-packed. It brings the season to a close on a high, more positive note, though it lacks the emotional resonance of the sixth.

I am both relieved and impressed that this wonderful series continues to deliver. The production continues to invest in high-quality writing and visuals that stay true to authentic Tang aesthetics. The only hint that this season was helmed by a different director is the subtlest shift in camera language and visual storytelling. I won't lie: Season 3 is not as good as Season 2. But the richer fleshing out of the team puts it on par with Season 1.

I enthusiastically rate this 9.0/10.

(This season was followed by a "mini" Season 4 comprising two cases, which I will review separately.)

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I love how they put sexual innuendos in this drama

I watched this drama because my friend recommend Wu Yuhang works and saying he is tissue brand ambassador in this drama or to put it explicitly dai fei kei man, He Ling Yao is good kisser but Wu Yuhang was quite wild in this drama. His kisses was full of affection rather than lust which is kind of rare case on short drama. (Lin Fensong was included in this case that's why i enjoy his drama). It's not one of those intimate scenes that are intensely sexual but make you feel uncomfortable watching and its not just the sake for add the kisses for sake for buzz but it was related to the story.

The plot was actually average about secret marriage office romance between cold killer but doting husband ML and meek rabbit FL but scriptwriter has skill to make this drama more entertaining. This director of this drama have skill about how to put nuances scene especially in those intimate scenes. There is many sexual innuendo scene in this drama which i don't mind at all since ML was borderline cannot control himself when he near FL. The Banana scene was too hilarious. The plot was okay in the first but it kind of dragged for a few minutes in the middle but they keep on track again. I was too relate about those poor office co-workers.

For the characteristic, ML is a top-tier character he was too clingy to FL and kept his image in office and FL is also incredibly intelligent. They've been childhood sweethearts, so even though some people try to sow discord, FL always believes in the ML always keeping quiet and never misunderstanding him, except for ML getting jealous while digging for wild vegetables. Most importantly, they completely trust each other and aren't easily swayed by others .I liked how ML handled his own enemies.

For the cons, thoses scars are quite lazy works for VFX people.

Recommended to watch.

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A CAST OF PRETTY BOYS WITH FINALLY A GOOD PLOT

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SERIES LIKE A CLOWN 🤡 because I genuinely thought we were about to get some erotic horror ritual-core nonsense. Like… demons, sex magic, chanting and thrusting in the same breath. DAYUMMMMM was I wrong??? Not really… but also YES??? My expectations were in hell and this show said “sit down.”

First of all. FIRST. OF. ALL.

KENG.

Why is this man built like a luxury mannequin that came to life and chose violence. His face is ILLEGAL. The visuals are so sharp I feel like I need a license to look at him. Every time he opens his mouth, I feel something in my stomach. Butterflies? Anxiety? Ovulation? I don’t know. Science needs to study this. And DMD??? Oh they know what they’re doing with pairings. So DO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NAMPING AND KENG?

HELL NAWWWW.

Let’s unwrap this series the way Keng unwraps people with his eyes. Slowly. Intentionally. Threateningly.

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a) Plot

DARLINGGGGG THE TRAILER CLICKBAITED ME A LITTLE BIT. I thought they had to smash to break a curse. I really sat there thinking, “So they need to do the deed to exorcise the ghost?” LMAOOOOO my brain needs holy water. But honestly? What we got was actually better.

The story revolves around Khem, our fragile ghost-magnet princess, who can see spirits and is basically a walking haunted house. Ghosts love him. They obsess over him. They stalk him. He is the IT BOY of the spirit world. And unfortunately, one particular ghost, Ramphueng, has karmic beef with him from a past life. Sis said, “You wronged me before, now I will haunt you until your bloodline ends.” Petty? Yes. Dedicated? Also yes.

Apparently, Khem is destined to die before 21 because this ghost is not playing around. So his bestie Jet, MVP behavior, goes “Let’s see my master.” Enter Peem. The master. The shaman. The man. The face card. The voice that could command both spirits and me. Khem goes to get help and instead catches feelings. Because of course he does. Imagine trying not to fall in love with a man who chants mantras while looking like that. Impossible.

The pacing? Slow burn but not boring. Every episode has a peak moment that makes you sit up like “oh???” The angst? DELICIOUS. The plot twists? GURL. I had to PAUSE. My jaw dropped so hard I could’ve inhaled a mosquito. Episodes 10 to 12 went DARK dark. I was watching at night like, “Why am I doing this to myself? I have work tomorrow.” But miss girl also needs to justify that IQIYI subscription.

The opening scenes were actually scary. I had to fast forward because I live alone and I value my sleep.

And yes, I said it. This can compete with Triage.

Now… the last episode? A little cringe. I’m sorry. I love you but I cringed. Still forgivable though.

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b) Characters

- Khemjira played by Namping Napatsakorn

He is PRETTY. Like delicate pretty. He gives Gun from GMMTV vibes in certain angles. But sometimes… his face goes blank. The tears are there but I need MESS. I need snot. I need ugly crying. Instead he’s crying like he’s scared to mess up his skincare routine. And why is he fixing his hair mid emotional breakdown. Sir. Your life is in danger. Your hairline will survive. Even during intimate scenes I’m like “LET IT BE MESSY.” The man is about to risk his life and his hair still has better discipline than me.

Character-wise, Khem is VERY fragile. Which fits the story but sometimes I’m like “BABY STAND UP.” The show is literally named after you. I get the trauma. I get the fear. But sometimes I needed him to stop spiraling and let Peem handle business. Episode 11 almost had him crossing that holy thread and Monk Kasem had to drag him back spiritually and emotionally. Thank you monk sir because what was that behavior.

Cute. Soft. But not my favorite personality.


- Peem played by Keng Harit

OOOOOFFFFFF. This man is fine. His voice??? Deep. Calm. Controlled. I swear he acts with his voice alone. When he chants mantras I’m convinced he’s actually summoning something. Maybe my downfall. His acting feels so natural that I refuse to believe this is his first rodeo. He doesn’t overdo it. He doesn’t underdo it. He just IS Peem. Strong foundation. Stoic at first, heart of stone energy, then slowly softens for Khem. Watching him fall in love was so satisfying because he fought it. He had principles. He had promises to keep to his grandpapi. He had morals. And yet… feelings won.

Character development done RIGHT. Not dramatic personality transplant. Just subtle softening. Love that.


- Jet played by FirstOne Wannakorn

WHY does this man look like Mix and Off combined in a lab experiment. I kept staring at his face like “You look familiar but in two different fonts.” Jet is chaotic best friend energy. Number one KhemPeem shipper. Protective. Loud. Goofy. But when it’s serious? He switches up fast. The way he wakes up instantly when Khem sleepwalks? THAT is best friend goals. His relationship with Charn though… blink and they’re in bed. I’m not complaining but I needed more build up. A little tension. A little “oh?” before “OH.”


- Charn played by Tle Matimun

Why does he look like Pepper from GMMTV? Why is DMD collecting look-alikes like Pokémon cards?

He can be a bit stiff but not unbearable. His character is actually interesting. Nerd vibes. Suddenly discovers he has some sixth sense ability. Starts training with Peem. Slightly random but okay we move. He’s not the most memorable for me but he fits.


- Yos played by Pung Phirunwat

SOMEONE GIVE THIS MAN MORE SCREEN TIME. He is so cute it hurts. Soft face. Soft aura. Soft everything. I wanted more from him. More scenes. More depth. Maybe even a dramatic sacrifice arc. I’m writing fanfiction in my head because the show didn’t give me enough.

His backstory? Painful. One-sided love will always ruin me.


- Khachen played by Net Siraphop

HELLO??? I forgot how fine Net is. He shows up and suddenly I’m alert. His comedic timing as Khachen was actually so refreshing. That fake sleeping scene while Jet and Charn were talking? ICONIC. That little smile? Naughty but adorable.

Lowkey wish they teased a future pairing for him. Just a snippet. As a treat.

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c) OST

The OST slaps. It’s atmospheric. Spooky. Dramatic. Am I downloading it? No. Because I refuse to invite ghost vibes into my room at 2AM. I like peace.

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d) The intimacy and chemistry

- Keng x Namping

The chemistry is STRONG. Especially considering this is their first project together. The tension. The eye contact. The small touches. And when that handjob scene popped up I literally froze. My jaw dropped. My soul left my body and came back five business days later.

DMD does not play around with intimate scenes and I was NOT mentally prepared.


- Tle x FirstOne

The chemistry is there physically. The scenes? Whew. But emotionally I needed more. It felt a bit rushed. Still cute though.

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e) Overall

CGI? Solid. Ghost design? Creepy enough to make me side-eye my dark hallway. Plot twists? Effective. Angst? Chef’s kiss. Not many plot holes either.

Would I rewatch? I’m conflicted. I don’t usually rewatch unless I’m OBSESSED. This one has me half in, half out. But it did hook me hard while airing.

Final rating: 9/10.

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