Reviews

Not bad for a shallow watch

This show doesn’t really qualify as a short drama, but sometimes it feels like one. The pace is quite fast. I think this is both good and bad- the cases are all rather short (a couple episodes, maybe) so you get quick gratification in finding out whodunit. Add to that the way the cases all feed one into the other, and the show is particularly easy to binge.

On the flip side, though, the case-solving is rather rushed- that’s how they can solve so many, so quickly. Rather than walking us through each case properly, the investigative team simply sniffs a corpse or two, uncovers a few clues, and then “deduces” a full-blown elaborate story. It’s a mystery to me how they got there. So in the end, this is a crime show that doesn’t really show crime solving. Instead I think the focus is on the stories that are uncovered.

A side effect of breezing through so many cases is that there are a lot of characters for the amount of story. Sometimes by the time the mystery is solved, I was still trying to figure out who is who. This is fine for characters who disappear, but a lot of the cases are interlocked, so many characters become relevant again and then you’re sitting there trying to remember who they are. Characters need more development to make an impression.

If you can look past all that, and all the other random plot holes, I did find the actual stories behind the cases to be pretty good. Interesting and often touching. Many cases have some element of the fantastical (similar to Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty). It would almost be a spoiler to reveal whether the supernatural is actually real in the show, so I won’t say more.

The detective team grew on me. It’s great to see a father-son relationship; father-aged characters rarely get main roles and I really enjoyed his interactions with everyone. There is also a budding romance which is not done too well, like you can see the signs here and there but they are subtle, and then when they suddenly get together it’s rather abrupt. But romance is not a huge part of this show and I was fine with it.

The FL herself is bright, cheery, and outgoing. I found her quite likeable but a bit anachronistic, which the show glosses over. At the beginning, a lot of her expressions and reactions seem exaggerated in an attempt at comedy- it’s not really my style of humor, but I still liked the lighthearted vibe. For better or worse, the comedy dies down as the show goes on.

The FL does her best to be useful, but the character who actually comes up with all the magical deductions is Jueming, the ML (or one of?). He is fairly likeable, but mostly I just wanted him to tell me what happened. Overall I liked the team but I wasn’t in love with the characters, and I don’t think it’s a particularly character-driven story.

I do like that this show isn’t afraid to let “good” people do “bad” things. Even people on the protagonists’ side can do wrong things or have prejudiced ideas. There are also some pretty good plot twists and reveals. So the various cases, along with the central mystery (Jueming figuring out what happened to his family), kept me interested.

My main complaint is probably that some things are handled in ways I simply don’t agree with. I couldn’t help feeling that many of these tragedies only happened because society and the law have failed the common people. The characters don’t seem to recognize this or have much empathy. Of course, our modern values are different (eg our opinion of how much a life is worth) and it’s better for a show to stay true to its setting. But my favorite shows still acknowledge my modern values, maybe with some sympathetic character recognizing where the blame truly lies. The closest this show comes is refuting the idea that somebody is predestined to crime via birthright, which seems pretty basic to me.

Acting-wise, I think everyone did ok. Some of the show felt overacted, but it might just be the fast pace pushing too many dramatic scenes too close together without enough “normal” scenes in between.

The production seems decent for a smaller drama. The sets and costumes are nice, there are plenty of extras, and even the props look real which I find is important for these murder shows. This show does have a style of acting out hypotheses, memories, and descriptions whether they are correct or not, and sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s past, present, or imaginary. So this led to a little confusion, but it’s not too bad.

The music is alright- the BGM is used well to set the mood and includes some nice orchestral pieces. I thought the OST is ok but I didn’t love it, though that might be because it mostly only plays during recap scenes (flashing memories, which the show seems to use to say goodbye to characters) and I am not a fan of those, as I would rather watch more story.

Overall I think this show is not bad for a shallow binge watch and can be finished in decent time, especially if you watch it sped up. The stories are decent but don’t expect much from the case solving, or to particularly fall in love with any characters or ideas.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





The show’s ending seems to be a setup for another season. Jueming is shown walking off with the FL, discussing the next mystery he wants to tackle. Of course, the leads do manage to first resolve the big case of the show and bring the ultimate villain to justice- it turns out to just be another corruption case, which is not that interesting but at least easy on my emotions.

The show actually dares to (probably?) kill off one of the main characters. But we don’t see any follow-up or confirmation of this, or Jinglan and Jueming’s reactions. As a standalone ending it would be pretty unsatisfying with loose ends, but my guess is they want to do a S2.

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Based on the myth of the Samurai rather than the history.

As far as story telling goes, the plot is very basic and doesn’t make a lot of sense. There are a lot of plot wholes. That being said, it does include historical facts in interesting ways.

The reason behind the presence of the character Futaba is a mystery to me. I can see the drama plays out exactly as it went without her character and nothing would change with the other characters nor the story.

The drama is star studded and most do a great job at distinguishing their characters no matter how small the role is. Except for the actors whose roles were ridiculously short. I’m still wondering the reason behind bringing such a talented actor for a role that lasted less than a minute.

The main attraction of the drama and where it succeeds is the action. Not all action scenes were great. I personally find scenes where dozens go after a few with weapons are difficult to believe. However, one-on-one fights were a feast! It’s nothing over the top and controlled. It’s quick when needed and limited when required. It was stylish and fun.

Except for Higashide Masahiro’s fight scene which appeared fake. Not bad, just not in the same height as other action scenes. The character he plays though is interesting.

Though I have my criticism, it was entertaining and I am looking forward to the next season.

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"HIDDEN LOVE is resilience, honesty, care, and timeless love."

This drama really deals with the tragedies of young first love in such a sweet, respectful manner that it's so refreshing to see. The drama hits off with absolutely lovely writing of Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi. Their chemistry is on par with actual real-life couples, and especially how the age gap is treated here is so sweet and brilliant. I think the drama emphasizes this by constantly reminding the audience of the differences in Zhizhi and Jiaxu's environments, and also the different pressures for example, when Jiaxu had to cancel the dates because of what he said were "trivial life matters," but in reality there were true problems with him being the man, showing that it was his fault, and Zhizhi being the woman respecting that while also asking him if it was really okay. The number of times Sang Zhi showed what falling in love means is to stand up for love when times get hard, with Jiaxu reciprocating the same, supporting her. The prejudice of others about their age gap, the very real worries of parents about their children dating, and whether Zhizhi and Jiaxu were really honest with themselves about their feelings are all explored.

It shows what it is like when you support someone endlessly and do not doubt the person you love. In this case, the story of Jiaxu's family history and the Sang family knowing it and questioning it, and how Sang Zhi comes forward truly and maturely with a tender heart about liking him for a long time, is shown in a very true manner: first being just an infatuation, then when Zhi reaches a certain age realizing it may be a crush, and then the story kicks off to the "hidden love." The show doesn't undercut when it comes to choosing or having to make decisions, with Zhi enrolling in Yihe University and then having an internship, which matters not just for love but also for personal growth both Zhi's feelings and career, and Jiaxu's feelings and career. The parents show concern and take steps like confiscating phones and making time to be at home for Zhi, having Yang pick her up, actually video calling her in college days, and everything in between. The college days are shown very truly: friends, school bullying, college tests, and seminars.

Very mature characters, both Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu, show respect for their original concerns about being together, from consent questions like "Can I hold your hand?" to "Do you want to...?" to showing menstruation problems, predatory relationship issues, and putting dreams and family health relationships first. Zhi smartly takes on the pressure of the problems given by the debtor's family while supporting Jiaxu's feelings of "You've done your part; she can't bully you forever; it's not your fault." Very lovely, both Jiaxu and Zhizhi, and the hard-hitting line "Am I really getting too old? Why are my parents no longer here?" just encapsulates everything in one line. Then Zhizhi embraces him and tells him, "I've got you," showing he has a home, a family that will love him.

The drama is very well written and exceptionally adapted, with incredible acting and a lovely cast. No fake drama, no plot twists just real, mature, cared for, true first love. Zhizhi had to hide it for a long time the treasure of "HIDDEN LOVE is resilience, honesty, care, and timeless love." That's the brilliance of this show.

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eles foram luz

BL de gênero escolar, mas lembro que no mesmo ano de lançamento desse saíram outros que fugiam um pouco dessa temática escola/faculdade que predominava muito, mas dessa temática esse foi um dos melhores que tiveram e foi o primeiro BL coreano que eu assisti e amei de coração.

O fato desse BL não ter tido o formato padrão de BL coreano foi espetacular pois tivemos 16 episódios para história e desenvolvimento dos personagens, o drama entrega um triângulo amoroso leve, fofo, divertido e é bem produzido para os moldes da Coreia que em comparação com outros países começou bem tarde produzindo BL e esse foge muito dos moldes dos que já existiam.

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a lua sempre brilha

Shine foi uma grande surpresa no contexto BL. Ambientada na Tailândia dos anos 60 e 70, a série destaca-se por fugir dos clichês escolares, abordando a ditadura militar, a censura e o ativismo político.

Os temas que foram trazidos fogem totalmente de tudo que já tivemos na indústria, mas também ao seu final que subverte qualquer fim de série do gênero, devido ao grande amargor que desde o início já vinha sendo sentido levemente na boca até que no último capítulo o amargor toma conta de toda a boca e a realidade não é mascarada, os sonhos utópicos trazem dor mas servem/serviram de forte inspiração para mudanças e não teve como segurar as lágrimas de ódio e de dor pelo casal secundário aqui, simplesmente não aguentei,

Confesso que de primeira não engatei e dropei após não conseguir avançar o primeiro episódio, mas numa nova chance a série fluiu perfeitamente e todos os atores estão simplesmente incrível aqui, é uma série de alto nivel que consegue trazer o passado e ainda conseguir tocar na ferida mesmo que tenhamos o conhecimento de houve tempos bem mais difíceis para nós, para o povo, várias vidas foram perdidas e são graças a elas que houveram muitas mudanças, muitas conquistas. No fim, a série cumpre o seu papel e para mim fica uma sensação boa apesar de tudo, uma coisa que a música That's Life do Frank Sinatra transmite, é isso.

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Esse drama não faz o menor sentido, sério! Que merda foi essa?
O ML é um covarde que finge fazer as coisas para proteger a FL. Meu querido, a culpa foi sua, você sabia desde o início porque ela não queria se relacionar com você, invés de você explicar a situação para a chefe dela, você foi em encontro as cegas e sua parceira ainda fez o inferno na vida dela, assim como o babaca do colega de trabalho dela.
Não satisfeito, sob ameaça, você larga a FL, sabendo que a 2FL já tinha a feito perder o segundo emprego e foge kkkkkkk
Anh me poupe.
E quando ela está em um novo emprego, um ano depois, você volta, como cliente novamente? kkkkkkk independente do trabalho dela, o ML é um burro e um roteiro estúpido.

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I Had a Crush... Until the Drama Took Over

I like dramas that are sweet but still feel grounded in realism, which is why I felt drawn to this drama. One of the things that immediately interested me about Crush was that the main character is blind, because it opens up a completely different way of experiencing the world. I also liked the career choices in the drama. A braille teacher, a composer, and someone wanting to work at a radio station all felt refreshing and meaningful, especially nowadays when most people spend their time online or watching series.

It even made me realize how important radio actually is in this context. Before watching this drama, I sometimes thought that radio might eventually disappear, but afterward I realized how sad that would be. The series reminded me that voices, sound, and imagination can create connection in ways visual media sometimes cannot.

I also enjoyed the sweetness at the beginning and the way the characters felt imperfect and awkward while trying to navigate their first relationship. Their interactions felt warm, sincere, and playful, which really gave this series its soul.

I especially liked the way the story explored perception and how different people experience the world differently. Because the male lead is almost completely blind, even ordinary moments felt sensual and mindful. Watching the characters discover the world together created some of the drama’s strongest and most emotional scenes. It was beautiful to see how they slowly warmed up to one another and began integrating each other’s perspectives into their own.

However, even though the trailer hinted at some dramatic moments, I still felt somewhat misled because I did not expect such a huge middle-arc conflict to completely change the tone of the story.
The middle section especially felt overloaded with family drama and misunderstandings. Many conflicts were introduced, but not all of them were resolved in a satisfying or emotionally sincere way. Some side characters and friendships also felt underused, and I kept wondering what purpose certain friends had in the overall story besides occasionally moving the plot forward.

I also felt the character growth became less authentic over time. Certain personality traits that were initially sweet and playful gradually started to feel impertinent or frustrating instead. The characters also seemed to lose some of the warmth that originally made them so likable.

One thing that especially disappointed me was how the drama handled the topic of blindness later on. Earlier in the story, it beautifully showed that although people perceive the world differently, there can still be beauty in those experiences. However, later parts of the drama made it feel as though being blind automatically meant being incomplete or “broken” until it could be medically fixed. I wholeheartedly support people gaining sight through operations if they want to, but I disliked the implication that blindness itself was something inherently defective. This felt contradictory to the more nuanced and compassionate message the beginning seemed to present.

Another missed opportunity for me was the couple’s shared daily life. I would have loved to see more scenes of them learning how to truly live together — creating routines, understanding each other’s needs, balancing messy and careful spaces, and finding practical ways to support one another. That kind of grounded relationship development would have been much more meaningful to me than the excessive dramatic conflicts that took over the story.

I also wish the characters had experienced more genuine healing by the end of the story, especially the male lead. At times, it felt as though emotional wounds were simply pushed aside rather than truly understood and worked through.

Despite my criticisms, I still think Crush had a beautiful emotional unique moments. Even after the drama lost most of its direction later on.

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Why Is This So Good Though?

Honestly I didn’t have very high hopes. I usually feel like time travel to modern day stories can seem a bit dull and not as fun as time travel dramas set in the past, but this one completely proved me wrong.

The chemistry between both leads is amazing and I love how chaotic and all over the place their dynamic is while still feeling natural. The story flows really well with no dragging at all.

And the male lead the way he yearns and is completely crazily in love is just wow. It’s honestly top tier acting. Whoever cast him as the male lead deserves a raise!

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10/10 Well balanced Drama

As a big fan of Gong Yoo, I was eagerly waiting for his next drama, and The Trunk did not disappoint. Both Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin delivered incredible performances, and I truly felt they brought their characters to life.
One thing I really appreciated was the romance in the drama.
Unlike many mini-series these days, which often rush romantic storylines due to their limited episodes, The Trunk took its time. The slow progression of the relationship felt so genuine. Watching the main characters grow closer, depend on each other was absolutely beautiful. It made their connection feel authentic and realistic, which is rare in shorter dramas.
I also want to highlight how well-balanced the drama was. In my opinion the storytelling avoided being overly dramatic, which is something I see often in other shows. In many Korean dramas, certain plot points are exaggerated for mystery or drama, only to fall flat by the end. But The Trunk avoided that pitfall. Every twist and turn made sense, and nothing felt out of place.
Fun fact (Spoil alert) One thing I found really charming was in the final episode included Jeong Won living with cats and Noh In-ji with a dog. Because Gong Yoo, who lives with cats, and, Seo Hyun-jin who has a dog, brought this personal touch into the drama. It's such a small detail, but it made the story feel even more genuine and warm.

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10/10 Just Amazing! xEnjoyed every moment of it.

Been almost.illiterate at the.social levels of Korean society! really Like this show.
The locations, scenes purity, lighting, photography in general and most of all the.clothing used in this series was just at leat to me out of the normal series I see each day.
I enjoyed every moment of it and was looking for the next scene to see another piece or fashion at the actresses, even at the male characters!. And I'm not a person who gives particular importance to fashion at all, but really this show made that issue a huge point.
The plot although kind of known from the begining keeps on changing and keeps you hooked.
The way they talk with different language and express themselves without saying the words in an explicit way is also great!
I really recommend this show.

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10/10 Basically a piece of pure art

This is what I call a amazing dorama.
Sky Castle is a dorama when you thing is going really high, they climb higher and make you be more than surprised. I remember when I watched it was at least one plot twist by episode.
I really recommend you to give a try. Sky Castle is a type of drama that every single character you need to keep an eye open because they could turn your hope into angry. This was a nonstop watching dorama, once you start you get addicted to the point you only think about what will happen and with who.
All of the families and his stories are really interesting. Each of one have your own feeling but make us rethink about how we should treat our family.
The OST was also amazing. I'm not the type of person that keep listening to the soundtrack once I finished the dorama but "We all lie" keeps in my mind everytime I remember of Sky Castle. The best OST I ever heard.

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A anatomia do fracasso

Estamos todos tentando aqui faz jus ao seu título original alternativo, todo mundo está lutando contra sua própria inutilidade e entrega um dos retratos mais honestos, crus e melancólicos da vida adulta já vistos na TV. Usando os bastidores da indústria cinematográfica como plano de fundo, o drama foge do glamour e foca no que acontece quando o sucesso demora a chegar, quando as bilheterias fracassam ou quando a criatividade simplesmente seca.

A genialidade do roteiro de Park Hae Young está em dar voz a sentimentos que a sociedade costuma varrer para debaixo do tapete: a inveja dos amigos bem-sucedidos, o medo latente do fracasso e o vazio existencial de quem se sente estagnado. A jornada de Hwang Dong Man (Koo Kyo Hwan), o único do seu grupo que ainda não estreou como diretor, dói porque é real. O contraste entre a agressividade defensiva da produtora Byeon Eun A (Go Youn Jung) e o esgotamento interno do ex-poeta Hwang Jin Man (Park Hae Joon) constrói um mosaico perfeito sobre as diferentes formas que a frustração assume quando não sabemos mais quem somos fora do trabalho.

Com a direção sensível de Cha Young Hoon, a série avança em um ritmo mais calmo, focado em diálogos profundos, silêncios incômodos e atuações brilhantes com destaque para Oh Jung Se, que entrega a dose exata de vulnerabilidade e pressão psicológica. Não é um drama para assistir com pressa; é uma obra de cura que incomoda, abraça e, acima de tudo, nos faz refletir que tentar sobreviver e manter a sanidade já é uma vitória gigante em um mundo obcecado por aparências e conquistas.

Um soco no estômago disfarçado de melodrama sobre a vida comum. Se você gostou de Meu Diário para a Liberdade, vai se conectar profundamente com a crueza e a poesia melancólica desse elenco espetacular. Indispensável para quem precisa de um acolhimento nos dias de desânimo.

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10/10 KDrama at its best to date!

10/10 KDrama at its best to date!
Having watched so many TV dramas for decades, this is a real gem. Don't listen to the haters. Amazing production (notice the details of everything, even the home appliances exude luxury), the story (though its a remake of BBC's Dr Foster, but which remake is better than the original? This), and most importantly, the Mind Blowing acting especially from Kim Hae Ee. It's not your average Kdrama. It's an emotional roller-coaster, keeping you at the edge of your seats through all episodes, it's the best. Hell of a ride that you will never regret!

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I am very proud of the performances of Santa, Perth, Sammy, and Kay in this series. Their acting was truly outstanding, and each of them succeeded in portraying their character and conveying their emotions exactly as the story required.

As for the story itself, it was both sensitive and heartwarming. Perhaps only people who have not yet found peace with their inner child will fully understand what I mean, but this story genuinely touched my heart. I wish comfort, healing, and self-acceptance to everyone who is dealing with trauma or struggles related to their inner child.

Santa's performance made me become deeply attached to the character of young Sun, and he made me cry many times throughout the series. I could also genuinely feel the pressure that Bobmik's character experienced while taking care of Solar.

However, despite all that, I felt that the series was a little rushed at times. Some of the most important events happened rather quickly, and I wish certain moments had been given more time to develop so that their emotional impact could have been explored more deeply.

The series is filled with emotions, whether it's sadness, sympathy, love, or the warmth of family bonds. I highly recommend watching it. ❤️

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Had Promise, But Needed More

I remember when only friends came out, so many people were talking about wanting the lesbian version of the show. Then, to have one of the directors of only friends direct girl rules, I was super excited! I feel like the women of GMM do not get the same level of hype as the men, so believe me when I say I was PUMPED to see some messy lesbian drama. Unfortunately, some of it fell flat and I found some of the characters flat out unlikeable.

Prim (Namtan) runs Lady Bird, a film company, alongside her friend Min (View). When stylist Gorya (Love), who happens to be an old friend of Prim, tries to make a move on her, Prim's ex-girlfriend Bambi (Film) comes back into the picture. While Gorya and Bambi are fighting for Prim's attention, model Shasha (Milk) can't figure out why Gorya doesn't like her - and is determined to change that. And as Min finally breaks things off with her toxic boyfriend, her junior Praew (Mim) is ready to help her get over him.

While I enjoyed a show about adult women (not in school for once) and their messy relationships, I found Bambi to be wholly unlikeable. Everything about her character left me annoyed and frustrated. For a lot of the show, I found myself wanting Prim and Gorya to be together. This is nothing against the actors or their pairings, I just could NOT like the relationship between Prim and Bambi. Way too much back and forth on the same conflicts, and not enough character development for me to care. On the other hand, I found myself LOVING ViewMim in this show. I thought their characters were so fun and realistic, and their conflicts had the weight that I wish the rest of them did. I also really enjoyed Milk and Love together in this show, but it took a little longer for me to enjoy them. Overall, the show was a good time and worth watching, and I loved seeing so many women on screen! I just wish they had done a better job on the character building and creating unique conflicts that weren't repetitive.

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