Reviews

Un re-visionnage qui n'a pas perdu de son charme.

Découvert à mes débuts dans l’univers BL, j’avais adoré cette petite série très mignonne.

Il y a peu de temps, j’ai décidé de me lancer dans la lecture du manhua pour en apprendre davantage sur ce jeune couple.
Et forcément, l’envie de revoir la série m’a pris — pour mon plus grand plaisir.

J’aime l’évolution de leur relation, rapide tout en restant logique.
Tae Sung est direct et protecteur, ce qui nous évite d’ailleurs un épisode cliché.
Hae Bom m’a conquis lorsqu’il défend son amour ; là aussi, on aurait pu tomber dans une scène clichée, mais non.
J’ai vraiment apprécié ce côté plus réaliste, centré sur l’essentiel.

La musique est très agréable, tout comme l’ambiance générale. Suffisamment pour que je me refasse la série — ce qui est rare.

Le seul petit bémol que je mettrais, c’est qu’à certains moments, je trouvais le jeu d’acteur légèrement en dehors du personnage. Rien d’assez fort pour me sortir de l’histoire, plutôt une impression passagère.
Je les ai trouvés très mignons et agréables à voir ensemble.

À voir et revoir dès que vous cherchez une série douce et sucrée pour vous remonter le moral.

Leer más

When the Morally Gray Deuteragonist absolutely Steals the Show

Exactly as it says in the headline.

It feels ironic that in a drama literally titled 'Warrior Baek Dong Soo', it was not the titular Dong Soo, but the man who (supposedly) stood opposite to him — Yeo Woon, who grabbed by heart right from the beginning up until the end. So much so, that I have to admit that, in contrast, I found Dong Soo's pride and arrogance in the beginning a little annoying and offputting, even though that's meant to be a part of his charm. He's mostly talk and little action, and it is not until the second half of the show that he finally begins to mature and his actions are able to back up his big talk, and that really hampered with my engagement with his character. JCW played him well, it's more the writing that was the issue here.

Dong Soo's argument about fate, though right, also lands rather weak when one considers that he was universally loved and had a strong father figure to lean on, as compared to Yeo Woon, whose own father was horribly abusive and tried to kill him, and then he got taken un by Chun, the textbook example of a narcissistic abuser, who manipulated and abused Woon on a level much worse than his biological father. His conditioning of Woon is much more subtle as compared to the outright violent bio father, but it's still VERY MUCH THERE. When their foundations are so vastly different, and DS knew little to nothing of YW's predicament, his words to Woon about defying fate come off as the empty boastings of a protagonist who has never actually had his beliefs tested. This isn't to justify YW's morally ambiguous actions, but it's simply unfair to put the blame solely on him, when he was dealt a rotten hand right from the beginning. He was a victim just as much as anyone else, and this is almost never acknowledged because of the drama's bs obsession with fate or whatever. It wasn't fate, it was Chun's extreme conditioning of him that rendered Woon unable to express himself in the most important moments, that led him to believe that there truly was no escape for him.

DS also constantly promises YW that he won't give up on him... without actually doing anything to help him. Again, it's a contrast to YW who kept helping them from the shadows. Yes, he did terrible things, but those don't nullify the good he did and the numerous times he helped them at a crucial point— those were his slight attempts at fighting the 'fate' that he had given himself up to, yet none of it is rewarded or acknowledged meaningfully— in the end, he is met with betrayal by one of the only two people he had ever felt happy with, the only ones in whom he had entrusted his hope for redemption of some sort. These elements, along with blaring plot holes and a storyline that was all over the place, were some of, if not my biggest gripe with the show.

Now, grievances aside, I want to talk about the silver lining that actually kept me watching, summed up in just two words: Yeo Woon.

It doesn't hurt that he's played by Yoo Seung Ho, and I can see why so many people who watch WBDS come out a YSH fan because sameee. He portrays Yeo Woon with such nuance, expressing his grief and conflict through his eyes alone, and that takes immense skill. This, juxtaposed with Dongsoo , who wears his heart on his sleeve and both cries and laughs freely, made Yeo Woon's reticent nature pop even more, throwing him into a much more poignant light as compared to all the other characters in the drama. The slightest flicker in his eyes, the delicate sheen of tears in scenes where Yeo Woon is emotionally and morally torn, yet it's all subdued because he has been conditioned both by his past and Chunsoo that vulnerability is not something he is allowed, especially as an assassin— it's all expressed so gut-wrenchingly well that it's impossible to not feel for him and hope that he would find his way out in the end (which is also why the ending lands as so pointlessly tragic; it denied him the honourable ending a character of his calibre deserved).

Another positive is undoubtedly the OST. It's beautiful and the background score that plays in fight scenes is simply awesome. Overall, I'd say it's worth a watch for the captivating Yeo Woon alone, and the specks of bromance that we get between him and Dong Soo, because the two actors have really, really good chemistry.

Leer más

10/10 Beautiful romantic show and a must watch for Kdramas fan

Short story:- It got me hooked from the very first episode.
Long story:- I am someone who have watched plenty of Kdramas in the past and so my standard is pretty high for rating a show as positive. Any show which gets me attached and hooked from early on is straight away deserves 10 stars.
Lately at the time of writing there is so much negativity and depressing stuff going on in the world and in our life, i was looking for show which can bring smile on my face after hard day at work. I started few Kdramas on Netflix before this and was struggling to find a decent show.
About this show, first of all it is believable, the story I mean.
It's so simple yet so beautifully crafted. It's relaxing and doesn't stray away from the story much. The rural setting makes you wanna retire to some place like this in your future. The setting of the town is picturesque and full of colours. Both the lead characters are cute looking and instantly lovable. At times, the show will teach you valuable life lessons also. The romance and chemistry between the two characters are pure and angelic. You know they are made for each other.
This is so far my analysis of the show after watching the first few episodes of it. Can't wait how the rest of the story will unfold. So interesting.

Leer más

I cried... and I laughed... then I cried again

First, I began watching this drama without realizing the emotional rollercoaster I was in for. Of course, the title gives a hint, but somehow I still expected something lighter and more fun. That wasn't quite the case... well, some parts were, but overall, I cried a lot. There was a moment when I was sobbing and asking myself why I hate happiness.
I recommend this drama because, even though it’s hard to watch, it remains essential. We have no idea of ​​the unfortunate situations people face throughout their lives, they suffer because we value money and a good public image more than a human life.
We talk and talk, but ultimately, we have no grasp of reality because we haven't experienced firsthand the pain the other person had to endure. To be honest, I can't even explain the importance of this drama, you simply have to watch it, and I don't want to ruin the impact it has.
I truly wish people understood the value of a human life.

Leer más

10/10 Surprisingly good!

Honestly i truly didn't expect it be good, had my doubts over eunwoo being the main lead and not doing the character justice but he improved big time. Great acting by both eunwoo and ga young but her character was annoying at times especially knowing her insecurities were mainly related to her acne and she thought the only way to hide them was to wear makeup, not go to a dermatologist and fix it but wear makeup everyday to school and make it even worse. It made no sense. The real star of the show was definitely in youp, great acting and you find yourself rooting for him throughout the whole thing. He truly had the best character development delivered in the best way possible, he better get a main role soon because he got potential. It's just a typical rom-com drama with a few twists here and there but it was enjoyable and filled with great visuals and great actors so it's definitely recommended if u need something light and pleasing to the eye to watch.

Leer más

I hadn’t heard of this series until it popped up in my iQIYI top picks. Dual Stars is proof that you can make a great show on a low budget. In just six 20-something-minute episodes, they managed to tell a cute enemies-to-lovers story about two actors with opposite personalities at different points in their careers who are forced to work together on a controversial BL movie. I loved how what started as a fake romance turned into the real deal. Xu Xinglang is exactly the safe haven Jian Mo needed. Alan Chen and Ray Chen have such cute chemistry and delivered really solid performances. I’ll definitely be checking out their other shows. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it was engaging enough to keep me hooked. It's definitely worth a watch. Also, I am absolutely obsessed with the OST.

P.S. 1: Is the director of the show also Jian Mo’s manager? 🤔

Leer más

"Even if the world sees you as a bad person, someone will still love you for who you are."

There are some dramas that are just so good in the most unexpected ways. Never-ending Summer is one of those dramas for me. On paper, it has all the tropes I hate, especially the “almost step-siblings” trope. However, despite having its frustrating moments, this drama has become my ultimate comfort watch, mainly the reason being Lu Xixiao.

Lu Xi Xiao is easily one of my favourite male leads ever. He's an artist, a problem child, a rebellious teen, a clumsy lover, an adult who is not fully an adult, and most importantly, emotionally vulnerable(something romance male leads are scared to be).

He appears confident and nonchalant on the surface, and no one, except Zhou Wan, understood his insecurities, his fears, and loved him despite all his flaws. They become eachother's safe place, as she, too, had to put on a facade of maturity, and he is the only one she could be childish with.

• “I can't pretend anymore. I am only 18”. Lu Xixiao is the only person she can admit this to, and his reply to her confession of being tired of pretending is the reason she gets so scared when he gets harmed later in the show, infront of her, and eventually, leaves him.

• “I've never been really that interested in this world. I never had much hope for the future. Everything just felt kind of boring. But, now that, you’re with me, when I think about the future, I actually find it exciting. I never make promises, or talk about ‘forever’ with anyone, but this time, I really want to say this to you: Zhou Wan, lets spend every summer together from now on”. Despite getting abandoned by both his parents, LXX felt safe enough around ZW to propose something like this, as she healed him, yet she also abandons him, and tells him to forget her, but how could he— when she was the closest thing resembling to a family to him?

I love how ‘Never-ending Summer’ doesn't paint one character as a messiah, and the other as evil incarnate. Both LXX and ZW are flawed characters who hurt eachother, and I wouldn't say their relationship is healthy. It borders on codependency, but what could you expect from two grieving people who have been abandoned? Despite everything they've gone through, their bond is genuinely beautiful. You can tell they both love eachother. Their vacation arc, where they were free from their ‘family’, showed how perfect they're together when the adults in their life don't mess with them.

Talking about the adults in this drama, they're the most infuriating part. None of the adults are responsible, or mature, or rational in the slightest bit. It frustrated me a lot.

Another thing that was frustrating was the second male lead— Jiang Yan. His inferiority complex towards LXX is due to his parents(there are moments where I felt like the reason he still lingers around ZW after getting rejected is cause of he wants to have something LXX has). He resents LXX for getting everything that was supposed to be ‘his’, but that resentment is so misplaced. He crashes out on his mother (understandably so), and LXX, but he works for his father's company. He wants the approval of his father, and he resents the wrong person for not getting it.

Anyways, the casting is perfect. Whoever decided to cast ZKY and BSE in a drama together deserves a raise. Their chemistry is exceptional, and they fit the character so perfectly. ZKY really brought LXX to life. I think it'd be hard for me to watch other ZKY dramas without getting reminded of LXX. I wasn't a fan of BSE’s acting in G2G, but she's great here.

Another thing that I adore about this drama is the OST. Its comforting, and befitting of the show's overall aesthetic. I have them on repeat. Especially ‘When The Milky Way Falls’ by Zhou Ke Yu, and the Sunset Counter one (i am listening to it rn).

Overall, ‘Never-ending Summer’ is a comforting watch. It tackles a lot of heavy topics, like suicide, emotional abuse by family, abandonment issues with care(tho, there's a scene where the ml and fl help a suicidal person, and i hated every bit of it). The main characters with estranged families are relatable, and the romance between the leads feel genuine. The editing might seem a bit weird at times, but the aesthetic of this drama is so beautiful. Its one of those dramas that'd make you fall in love with summer.

^^Bonus(yeah there's more):

• “She actually just stepped out of time. She returned to earth’s most primitive components— atoms, molecules. In the future, she will slowly return to you in another form. When it rains heavily, or the wind blows hard in the future, she can be the big tree that shelters you from the wind and rain. When winter comes, she can also be the sweater that keeps you warm”. Lu Xixiao says this to Zhou Wan after her grandma dies, and its such a beautiful way to view death. Instead of saying something clichéd, he answers in a way that is so him. ZW's mother keeps saying Lu Xixiao is just like his father, but I think he's more like his mother— artistic, sensitive, loving, and obviously, miserable :(

If you decide to watch this drama after reading my long review(tbh this is more of a character analysis), I'd tell you to focus more on the characters, rather than the overall story. Its a very clichéd plot, but the characters make it unique. Also, LXX is adorable<3

Leer más

Perfect all round happy ending for all

When I started this show I knew I would be getting 5 different storylines for all the pairings so I knew it would be an entertaining show. What I wasn't expecting was for it to be so varied in genres within those storylines.
It gave us longing, drama, rivalry, family secrets, forced proximity, healing, and more drama in all shapes and forms including murder mistery!

I will say though, that I personally got a little bit bored during Shouhua's arc so I skipped a couple scenes to get through it quicker, but that's my personal preference in regards to pacing. There's a little bit of everything for everyone in here.
My favorite sister was Leshan, maybe because I identify with being the youngest and fiercest in my family, but my favorite relationship arc was Haode's, followed by Kangning's.

The ending was quite satisfying with everyone happy and that's all I'll say on that.

Leer más

Spicy Ryan Ren scenes loosely stitched together with plot

I started out questioning the wisdom of the FLs choice to sport open toe'd, strappy heels as she marched across the soaking wet grass in the pouring rain (I would have slipped, sunk in the mud, & fallen on my face) - although, from a visual standpoint the scene was gorgeously cinematic.
I was quickly distracted by the unexpected appearance of our very gorgeous, dead guy taking our FL down for a spicy make out session... on his coffin?
This tells us a few things.
1. Ren Ren is crazy hot no matter what what you ask him to do.
2. If you are expecting a logical, plot based story, you have come to the wrong place.

Embrace the steamy goodness, but don't ask too many questions about things like timeline congruity or feasibility.

Once I embraced the chaos I found myself really enjoying this. I was even kind of surprised that I wanted to rate it 8, because I rarely give web dramas above 7.
The fact that this easily has the highest kiss count I have ever seen May have something to do with that...

Sometimes the FL's character got on my nerves because they liked using the old "a clueless idiot is funny" trope, which I find that annoying.
Other times she was utterly adorable and really funny.

Leer más

Slow and motives are confusing without context (understanding Korean corruption in the 80s)

My Rating: 8/10

Review

This is a good but not great crime drama. It features a serial killer element that will appeal to fans of those types of stories, along with some romantic moments, though it’s not a romance—it’s primarily focused on justice and current crimes. I would recommend it to anyone interested in court dramas, especially those involving a killer on the loose. People familiar with certain Korean history, particularly events that occurred in the 1980s, will likely find it particularly interesting, as they are more likely to understand some of the nuances. Fans of the lead actors will appreciate their strong performances. I wouldn’t watch it again, as it felt a bit slow and confusing at times. 

What I Liked

I really enjoyed the two main characters: Noh Chak-Hee (public defender, formerly corporate lawyer) and Jwa Si-Baek (public defender). Jwa Si-Baek was always very serious, which made complete sense given what he had gone through. Lee Kyu-hyung did a great job portraying that almost flat, emotionless but still kind type of character.

I loved Noh Chak-Hee’s character development. She started out extremely immoral, selfish, and corrupt as a high-powered lawyer, but humbling herself as a public defender helped her find her human side. Jwa Si-Baek played a big part in that, and I really liked their interchanges—they felt authentic, like two people who would naturally banter and complement each other. Other viewers have echoed this, appreciating how their dynamic drives the story.

The deeper dive into legal, social, and political themes added layers that made it more engaging for me (in my 50s) than for my daughter (who is in her 30s and rated it closer to a 7/10, finding much of it dry and boring).

What I Didn’t Like

I was disappointed when Noh Chak-Hee suspected Jwa Si-Baek of killing her grandfather. By that point, she should have known him better, especially given the timeline of one particular night that would have made it virtually impossible for him to have been the serial killer. Since he was tortured, and they knew that by then, she should have known it was the serial killer. The police officer saw through it more readily as she doubted Jwa Si-Baek's guilt despite his confession. But Noh Chak-Hee remained deeply suspicious and didn’t initially look for other possibilities. I know she was grieving initially but, in giving the other side evidence, she crossed some thick ethics lines. I thought she had progressed past that. I also wished there had been more development around why he confessed (a discussion explaining to her) and just a deeper conversation between them in general. 

After she learned it wasn’t him, they didn’t really talk about it—no real expression of remorse from her for how harshly she treated him, even though she had viewed her grandfather as family and later discovered the horrible things he had done. She was blaming the victim. And I thought she should have acknowledged that. Especially finding out he wasn't the one who killed the grandfather. That missing emotional payoff felt like a letdown. Their relationship did not feel fully heeled from the hurt they caused each other.

The historical and political context (drawing from real Korean history where authorities targeted people for political or social reasons, using torture and false accusations) helped explain some otherwise confusing lack of clear motives. Once I looked that up, the story clicked more, but I shouldn’t have needed external research for it to fully make sense. Other viewers have noted similar confusion around the motives without that background.

There was so much potential for romance between Noh Chak-Hee and Jwa Si-Baek, but her suspicions seemed to kill a lot of that momentum toward the end. They implied some reconciliation, and he probably understood her reactions, but I was disappointed we didn’t get more from it. They were actually a very believable couple. And I enjoyed their interactions. I did miss their being a romance with them.

Noh Chak-Hee didn’t fully break out as a standout lawyer after becoming a public defender. There were a few impressive moments, but overall it didn’t feel like she truly shone in that new arena. She was so fixated on going back. Even after she saw how immoral and unethical some of her past actions had been she was still so tied in with that law firm. It still seemed like her ultimate goal.

The ending was not very satisfying. There was little emotional payoff—no real discussion between the leads about what they thought of each other, where she might have gone wrong, or where he might have. The trial resolution felt implied rather than shown, and while public opinion turning helped, it lacked a bigger rewarding payoff (like some form of justice or closure). It left me wanting more resolution overall.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Leer más

Un jour tout se sait, un jour tout se paie..

Lorsque j'ai commencé Reflection of You, j'étais assez mitigée. Le synopsis m'avait énormément attirée, mais les premiers épisodes ont été une véritable épreuve. Le rythme est très lent, la narration volontairement confuse, et il est difficile de comprendre où le drama veut nous emmener. Après six épisodes, j'ai même décidé de faire une pause de plusieurs semaines, tant j'avais du mal à m'investir dans l'histoire.

Pourtant, en reprenant le drama, tout a changé. À partir du sixième épisode, le récit gagne en intensité, les pièces du puzzle s'assemblent enfin et les véritables thématiques commencent à émerger. C'est à ce moment-là que j'ai réellement compris ce que Reflection of You cherchait à raconter.

Au premier abord, on pourrait croire qu'il s'agit simplement d'une histoire d'adultère. Mais, en réalité, le cœur du drama est ailleurs. Il s'intéresse avant tout au poids des mensonges, au refus d'assumer ses erreurs et aux conséquences que cela peut avoir, non seulement sur soi-même, mais aussi sur tous ceux qui nous entourent.

Hui-ju commet l'irréparable en trompant son mari avec le compagnon de son amie. Pourtant, ce n'est finalement pas cette faute qui constitue le véritable drame. Ce qui détruit peu à peu sa vie, c'est son incapacité à reconnaître ce qu'elle a fait. Elle refuse d'assumer sa responsabilité, nie les faits, ne présente jamais de véritables excuses à ceux qu'elle a blessés et agit comme si le silence pouvait effacer le passé.

Au fil des épisodes, le spectateur découvre d'ailleurs que son secret n'en est pas vraiment un. Son mari savait depuis longtemps. Sa fille également. Tous vivaient avec cette vérité sans jamais l'exprimer ouvertement, ce qui explique une partie des tensions qui traversent leur famille. Cette révélation renforce encore davantage l'idée que les non-dits peuvent parfois être plus destructeurs que la faute elle-même.

La vengeance de son ancienne amie prend également une autre dimension. Bien sûr, la trahison est terrible, mais ce qui nourrit véritablement sa colère est le sentiment de n'avoir jamais été entendue. Sa souffrance n'a jamais été reconnue. Hui-ju ne lui offre ni explication, ni excuses, ni reconnaissance de la douleur qu'elle lui a infligée. C'est ce manque de considération qui transforme une blessure en désir de destruction.

La fin du drama m'a particulièrement marquée. Elle est dure, profondément mélancolique et, surtout, tragique. Pendant toute l'histoire, Hui-ju se bat pour préserver ce qu'elle considère comme le plus précieux : sa famille. Tous ses mensonges n'ont qu'un seul objectif, protéger cette vie qu'elle s'est construite. Et pourtant, c'est précisément à cause de ces mensonges qu'elle finit par tout perdre.

Elle perd son mari. Elle perd ses enfants. Elle est finalement contrainte de s'éloigner pour protéger sa fille. Ce sacrifice est sans doute l'un des moments les plus déchirants du drama, car le spectateur connaît ses véritables motivations. Nous savons qu'elle ne part pas par égoïsme ni pour fuir son passé. Pourtant, ceux qu'elle aime interprètent ce départ comme un nouvel abandon lié à son infidélité. Cette incompréhension rend la conclusion encore plus douloureuse.

Au fond, Reflection of You rappelle une vérité profondément humaine : il est naturel de commettre des erreurs. Personne n'est irréprochable. En revanche, ce qui fait toute la différence, c'est notre capacité à les reconnaître et à en assumer les conséquences.

J'ai d'ailleurs eu le sentiment que si Hui-ju avait trouvé le courage d'avouer la vérité dès le départ, de demander pardon à son mari comme à son amie et d'accepter pleinement sa responsabilité, une grande partie de cette tragédie aurait pu être évitée. Les blessures auraient sans doute existé malgré tout, mais elles n'auraient peut-être jamais atteint un point de non-retour.

C'est précisément ce qui rend ce drama si poignant. Il montre que les conséquences les plus dramatiques ne naissent pas toujours de nos erreurs, mais parfois de notre incapacité à les affronter.

Leer más