Reviews

8/10 Must watch for Love Triangle / Romcom lovers

To be honest I clicked on this just because Arin looked too pretty on the thumbnail and I didn't have anything better to watch. I was almost dropping it at episode 1 when she turned into a man, thinking that it will be a complete sausage fest after that. But it turned out to be a really decent show with unexpectedly good acting, especially when you consider the ages and short filmography of the actors. In some scenes you can actually see the Arin in Jung-hoo and it is my first time experiencing this among all the other gender switch shows I have watched. I haven't read the webtoon but I could easily imagine the panels while watching the show since the cast fit their character types perfectly. When you combine all of these with good writing you eventually end up asking yourself "what would I do in a situation like this" and the answers, confusions, self doubts, late realizations matches to what we see on the screen very appropriately. It's not just a feel good show that you are gonna forget 2 weeks later. Actually if you dive a little bit deeper into it you can feel the heart wrenching love story that ends with regrets and what ifs that inspired the writer to write her story with a new ending.

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Glad the Show Saw the Light of Day (review till ep10+ upto ep 16)

I thought I shall wait a while more but couldn't help myself writing this review--the characters are well written and the acting is very good--by the whole cast. But the actor who plays ML--Tan Jian Ci--is an excellent actor--one of the finest actors (in ML roles esp) I have seen in dramaverse (not confined to C drama alone)--he is so good with his micro-expressions and is extremely natural on screen. Even till Ep 10, on so many occasions I forgot I was watching acting on screen.
It is a comforting story and I really hope there are none of the silly break-ups and angsty characters that are brought in in many shows for no reason excpet to lengthen the show's duration.
I also hope the leads have a healthy relationship all through.
Oh did I say that the FL Wang Churan is so beautiful!

The show does look dated at times--given the kind of big budget chinese shows we are getting to see these days--and yet it makes me glad to think that the show actually was released eventually and did not lie in cold storage without seeing light of the day.

on ep 16
I like it that the exes are kind of dealt with swiftly in these episodes though i am afraid the Gui Lili character may again come back to trouble (the typical way we see in c dramas but i hope not). The relationship is building up and it isn't apparent initially but the ML is also healing like the FL just that the ML has much better EQ (something the FL also acknowledges)--i like it how in 2 episodes we see both the leads facing their exes and what a contrast in their responses.
I won't deny the show is going the almost predictable way, I just hope they don't spoil things with the typical silly exes and even sillier breakups.

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Relevant social issues

Overall, it is a very good drama about school violence and much more. It addresses various issues and situations that arise between parents, students, and teachers. Unfortunately, this has become a reality and has evolved into both a social and moral problem.🥲
The series does use the “eye for an eye” approach, which I am generally not in favor of. However, in these particular cases, because of the extreme personalities and circumstances involved, it is presented as the only viable solution. One quote from the main character in the first episode really stayed with me: “Some people learn through words, while others are taught through actions.” There is a lot of truth in that.
Of course, I wish that extreme measures like those shown throughout the episodes were never necessary. However, in some situations, dialogue alone is not enough, and it often leads to a vicious cycle rather than a solution.
Since similar incidents have been increasingly observed in my own country—not just in Korea—and because the education system is often struggling to function effectively, I believe the issues explored in this drama represent a global plague that continues to worsen over the years, especially with the rise of technology. School violence, cyberbullying, abuse of power, drugs and institutional failure are no longer local issues but worldwide concerns that affect countless young people.
Naturally, even within the story, our inspector protagonist—who lost his fiancée—manages to carry out this mission with the support of his future father-in-law, who is a minister, along with a team of two additional assistants. Even here, the drama subtly suggests that without support from the political sphere, such an undertaking would not be possible.

I particularly appreciated the minister’s attitude. Despite losing his daughter, his goal was not to use his power to destroy the perpetrator or seek revenge. Instead, he chose to use his influence to continue the work his daughter had dedicated her life to as a worthy and passionate educator before her murder. He refused to let her sacrifice be in vain.
In the midst of unimaginable grief, he chose to see things in a positive light and tried to do the right thing. Rather than abusing his authority for personal reasons, he used it to serve the greater good. To me, that is the true greatness of a father who made the conscious decision to respond in such a way. It is extremely rare. Even rarer is the fact that he is a politician who chose not to put his power and influence first. If there were even one person like him in every country, the world would be a slightly better place.
I also believe this drama has excellent character development and feels very realistic,when it comes to that. The former soldier and fiancé who lost the woman he loved initially wanted to kill her murderer, but his father-in-law convinced him otherwise and brought him into this mission. Years later, he is still struggling with his anger—which is completely understandable—yet he constantly tries to do what is right. Throughout the story, he is also forced to confront the very person responsible for his fiancée’s death, making his internal conflict even more intense as he struggles between his desire for revenge and his commitment to justice. This emotional battle is one of the strongest aspects of his character arc.

Then there is his hot-tempered assistant, who was also a victim of bullying. He saved her, and ever since, despite her impulsive personality and short temper, she has dedicated herself to helping other victims and fighting against the same injustices she once experienced.

Finally, there is the quiet, nerdy assistant, a highly skilled computer expert who contributes to the team in his own way through his technical knowledge, investigative abilities, and mastery of technology. While he may not be as physically or emotionally expressive as the others, he plays a crucial role in the team’s success.

Another aspect I really appreciated was the consistency in the way the perpetrators were portrayed and how their behavioral patterns were handled throughout the story. The drama did not take the simplistic approach of having every bully suddenly change their ways after a single confrontation or emotional moment. Instead, it realistically showed that people with deeply rooted issues, traumas, insecurities, or personality disorders do not change easily and that genuine growth requires time, effort, and self-awareness.

I particularly liked that some of the perpetrators remained completely unrepentant until the very end. This felt far more realistic and believable, as not everyone is willing to acknowledge their mistakes or take responsibility for the harm they have caused. The series recognized the diversity of human personalities and the different psychological complexes that drive people’s behavior, making both the victims and the perpetrators feel like multidimensional characters rather than simple stereotypes.

This level of consistency in character writing added to the realism of the drama and made its exploration of school violence and human behavior even more compelling.
Overall, the drama delivers a powerful message about school violence, justice, trauma, grief, and the long-lasting consequences of abuse. It presents a compelling and believable cast of characters whose personal struggles are just as engaging as the cases they investigate. Beyond being an entertaining thriller, it serves as a thought-provoking commentary on a growing global issue and highlights the importance of standing up for victims while striving for justice rather than revenge. A truly outstanding drama with meaningful themes, strong character development, and an important social message.
It is a good drama overall and I will definitely rewatch it at some point!🩷

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intriguing!

I went in with zero expectations, but I was surprised by how much I ended up liking this!

This might be the first time sukfilm did something with a dark tone? This is so much different from their usual cute-fluffy (and mostly campus romances), and I loved it. The plot was pretty intriguing, made me keep wondering what’s happening. I feel like this drama should have a psychological/mystery tag, because it was kinda messing with our minds lol.

The actor playing Jihyeok did such an incredible job! The way he switches from from cute and sweet to absolute psycho is actually crazy. I was on edge every time he was on the screen! I would love to see him in more BLs (hopefully, full length ones) 💕

Overall, this was a pretty interesting watch, despite being so short. I would love to see a second season!

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A Mature Ode to Macau and Second Chances

Begin Again (2024) is a beautifully atmospheric, slice-of-life healing drama that feels less like a typical textbook romance and more like a mature exploration of relationships, timing, and personal growth. Set against the gorgeous, historic backdrop of Macau, which truly acts as its own distinct character in the show, the drama serves up a comforting blend of stunning cinematography, local Cantonese flavor, and realistic life transitions.

What Shines
The Absolute Standout Second Couple: Mai Youge and Xu Junle (Sunny Sun) steal the show. Sunny Sun brings a charismatic charm to Junle. Watching him gently guide the workaholic, anxious Youge through Macau, acting as her informal translator and showing her that life is about more than just money and career pressure, is a total joy. Their soft, slow-burn dynamic and communication are the emotional anchor of the series. Their story line gave me Hometown Cha Cha Cha vibes--Xu Junle born and raised in Macau knowing everyone & everything local, and Mai Younge the out of town, city girl trying to navigate her way through Macau.

A Refreshing Break from Romance: While the sudden shift to focusing on the main characters' families around Episode 10 can feel a bit jarring at first, the writing delivers some incredibly real and mature family subplots. The story with Casey and Mr. Frank breaks up the main couple drama. Howard’s story line is genuinely heart-wrenching, but watching him and his father successfully navigate their pain and repair their relationship is deeply rewarding. The matriarchs of the two families are also compelling to watch.

The Ultimate Theme: While the open/implied ending might not satisfy viewers looking for a traditional, perfectly wrapped romance, it fits the tone of the show. The story is called Begin Again for a reason. By the finale, you can tell that every character has finally reached a place in their life where they can approach their relationships with fresh eyes, fresh hearts, and a clean slate. It treats its characters like adults.

What Missed the Mark
The Main Couple's Communication Failures: Elvis Han and Zhong Chuxi have undeniable, passionate visual chemistry, but their story line lacks actual, honest conversations (the noble idiocy trope, yuck!). It gets frustrating watching them repeatedly fail to talk out their issues (they barely even discuss his racing career!). But when they are on screen together locking eyes, it is magic. Elvis brings that same rizz his character has in Fake it Till You Make It, which is another gem.

Final Verdict
If you are looking for a fast-paced, high-drama plot, this might feel too slow. But if you appreciate realistic, mature relationship dynamics, a gorgeous setting that makes you want to book a flight to Macau immediately, and the delicious comfort of a healing slice-of-life drama, Begin Again is a beautiful gem worth the watch.

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Thankfully I made it to the end..

The scenery, costumes, and set design were all nicely done.

It dragged in the middle, the main couple didn't really have much chemistry.

Rabbit boy's wide eyed, hurt stare became aggravating.

Pin was insufferable toward the end.
She knew the facts and still questioned why ol' boy couldn't sleep with her or didn't love her.

She started off as a likeable character then was one I wanted to take a long walk off a short cliff.

Yeah, they did her wrong but she beat that dead horse until it came back to life and she could kill it again.
Her tears started to irk me. Especially when she tried to get him to consummate their marriage.

A lot of staring from rabbit eyed boy came across as painful .. like he had gas trapped or something.
I didn't believe the love between the two men, especially when they suddenly had s-e-x.

Too much over the top plotting by the dad, his brother, the other dad, the general...

As for the genera, he was just a cruddy character.
The stepmother needed her mouth rearranged with a good slap.

Even the grandmother was shoddily played.

The only character I liked was the older maid who acted as the go between, delivering notes between the leads.

I started off kind of liking it, but quickly became I was just ready for it to end.

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Great acting

This had the potential to be effortlessly perfect, but the writers just had to mess a few things up - why were Mari and Seongu such inconsistent characters? I seriously hate the way a lot of writers create terrible characters and then want to make it seem like they're actually good people and it's as if their serious actions are no big deal - that's not the way it works, either create a terrible character or a good character with personality issues, but have the emotional intelligence to make the difference between the two!
To add to that, there were a few things that made no sense, such as the fact that Louis's fingerprints weren't in the system, or the way he was in his own building several times and never saw his loved ones, or the way the old lady and the delinquent schoolgirls won against everyone they met - that was so unrealistic, it was simply ridiculous.
Louis's story was very sad, but the writers shouldn't have made him so irritating while he lived with Bokshil - he meant well, but she should've imposed limits and taught him what to do. At the same time, Inguk was just cuteness overload in this, haha. Bokshil seemed to be the best character, until the writers decided to make her do what she did towards the end.
Everyone is an amazing actor and most characters are great - special mention to Hojoon, Insung and the detectives, especially Joohyuk, because they were such nice characters, but I really loved everyone! It's also a plus that I got to see my favourite, Semi!
On another note, the special effects were perfect - everything looked so real!

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6/10 Typical BL

Nothing groundbreaking. I liked how it had a 'leading up to sex' scene with the bottom shirtless. The physical chemistry wasn't really there imo but props for including one at all.
And the makeup and hair styling were pretty good.
The evil brother was too stereotypical and there wasn't enough time to make it work. Only at episode 5-6 did I get actually invested. There was a lot to build on between the two leads. I don't think the evil brother aspect was necessary.
Its all forgivable though due to the short run time. Its 80~ minutes total. A good pallete cleanser when burnt out from long intricate series.

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Would it be too much to ask for age appropriate actors?

In the month of crap Thai BLs, we got this. This is a mixture of a lot of crap and some good to make it just an average show, because the crap is overwhelming. First the actors are 26 and 30 and play 18 year olds... They don't look old but they also don't look super young. Which is a shame. Grandpa was never shaved correctly, with some exceptions, having hanging out a white hair from his face most of the time which was annoying... did nobody see that?

Then we have the classic cliché a so called "hetero" is confessed by a gay guy. Of course the hetero rejects him. That is before grandpa is forced to write a BL to bail himself out... And then "of course" he tries ... and falls in love - crap.

On the other hand we have a lot of cute kids in the orphanage which are the cause of grandpas debt. Running a orphanage without goverment support is a chore and expensive. So grandpa the seasoned writer is forced to adopt to times, because "normal" literatur is hard to sell. At least he is learning and opening his mind while writing a BL novel. There is of course also a medical condition because grandpa has troubles with his eyesight and only an operation can save it and when you don't have public heathcare, it costs money...

Between all this crap there also tidbits of wisdom. Production quality was good. The show does not prioritize the BL couple, they have a little kiss but no nc-scenes. Overall it's ok to watch, but nothing I will revisit again.

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Came for BWS & IU so no complaints

It’s a bit of a pity that this drama only has 12 episodes. I feel that some parts of the story weren’t explored deeply enough due to the limited runtime, which made it difficult for me to fully understand or relate to certain characters’ decisions. Overall, it’s an enjoyable watch with a good storyline, but I believe it could have been even better with more episodes or a second season.

If you enjoy shows that blend modern and traditional elements, this is a great pick. The contrast between the two adds a unique charm to the story and makes it an interesting watch.

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One of the most memorable K-dramas I've watched

My Royal Nemesis was everything I wanted in a fantasy romance drama. It made me laugh, cry, stress, and smile all at the same time.

What I loved most was the journey of Cha Se-gye and Shin Seori. Their relationship felt sincere, and their chemistry carried every emotional moment beautifully. The drama balanced romance, destiny, heartbreak, healing, and hope in a way that kept me invested from beginning to end.

A special mention to Heo Nam-jun as Cha Se-gye. I've watched a lot of K-dramas, but I've never been this obsessed with a K-drama actor before. He completely won me over with this role. He brought so much warmth, vulnerability, loyalty, and charm to Cha Se-gye that I found myself rooting for him in every episode.

Cha Se-gye will easily remain one of the most memorable male leads I've watched. Heo Nam-jun's performance made every emotional scene feel genuine, and his chemistry with Lim Ji-yeon was beautiful to watch. I genuinely hope to see him in many more leading roles after this drama.

The acting, OST, cinematography, and visuals were all amazing. There were moments that broke my heart and moments that made me smile like an idiot. By the end, I felt genuinely attached to the characters and wasn't ready to say goodbye.

This is one of those dramas that will stay with me for a long time. A beautiful story, memorable characters, amazing chemistry, and an unforgettable emotional journey.

10/10.

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Intergenerational story about love in all its forms

This isn't a stereotypical BL, but some of the best queer stories aren't... and I love that we are getting broader diversity in storytelling that incorporates love in all its forms.

We have an orphanage in financial difficulty, a grandpa who is a writer learning to move with the times out of desperation, a family divided by past wounds and insecurities, best friends with conflicted feelings, and a bittersweet backstory from grandpa's youth to work with... and the story manages to deliver on eveything in a meaningful way.

This show is very healing, even though it shows sad moments and difficult conflicts. Everything feels very human and the ability of the characters to overcome their difficulties is in large part due to the love that they have for one another - even when they haven't always expressed it, or have made mistakes and missteps along the way.

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