Reviews

♥️ Love with Hiccups ❗️ °7.8° °VG+°

Aunt and uncle… father & daughter… father-SON, mother/daughter, mother~son, friends, lovers, brothers, coworkers, coworkers who pass out drunk on the lounge sofa, and rivals… Pinocchio shows us that every relationship has its hiccups.

It's a quiz show. Dal is smarter than anyone realized - he's answering all the questions, but he's playing with the crowd even more. He makes a call out to Ha - she cannot lie without a tell! She has the Pinocchio effect. Lying always gives Ha a bad case of hiccups. Did Dal have to talk about her on national TV? She's with their class watching from school - the whole room erupts.

P is a 2014 release that is rated 96 on AWiki. It is 1 season consisting of 20 65-minute episodes. It should have been only 12-16. It's MAL-content. They stretched it too thin. I got into the Kdrama game in 2021. Therefore, I'm experiencing many things backwards. I was already a fan of these two leads, but seeing them act as kids makes me understand why they became such MEGA stars: They are amazing in this. They carry the viewer through the dry stretches.

Yes, there are dry stretches. Let's get the negatives dispatched. Some of the newsroom drama is simplified but it isn't necessarily bad - it isn't far off from bad, either. One character is on a years-long quest for revenge and gives up that burning desire too easily. It doesn't feel natural. The whole thing with mom's phone doesn't make sense. She would have had to get a new number for the phone to keep working. It makes no sense that they were able to keep the plan going. Am I being too picky? I have no explanation for what I can easily dismiss and what I cannot. The phone thing bothered me… eh, I'll admit it's minor. P is too sappy at times. Towards the end of ep18 Ha cries for her mother. It drove me nuts. Her mother didn't deserve one tear. There's simplified logic, dialogue, and character arcs. The second half drags. Basically, the acting is stellar; the script and direction are not as laudable.

The acting IS STELLAR. Park Shin Hye (Flower Boy Next Door-7, Memories of Alhambra-7) is Choi In “Ha”. Any intermediate Kdrama fan has seen her a handful of times. She's one of the BEST. Early on in her career, she's always tragic and traumatized. {No one wriggles the chin like she! Per AI: “Fans love GIF-ing her exaggerated expressions, including some chin-heavy ones during arguments or cute-rage scenes (toothbrush revenge vibes, anyone?). She even talked about how she practiced real hiccups…} She is nothing short of spectacular in this show. I just don't think she's always chosen the best projects. She's Omazing as an eye-rolling kick@$$ in Sisyphus: The Myth-8. That's her wheelhouse. It's obvious from watching her in P why fans love her. She's exceptional in this show and she carries half of it on her tiny frame.

Lee Jong Suk (Romance Is a Bonus Book-7.9, While You Were Sleeping-7.3, and The Hymn of Death-8.4 - my favorite performance of his, so far) plays Choi “Dal” Po and while he doesn't have to hiccup on demand while trying to look earnest and then get teary-eyed angry when it doesn’t work (PSH had the tougher role), he also does an exceptional job.

These two grew up together. Her grandfather adopted Dal after he lost his other son. Then Ha and her own father moved back home with grandpa and “Uncle Dal.” The two navigate HS together and make a pact to be reporters. As they embark on that adventure, fate reopens old wounds and raises other obstacles that make their journey rocky and unsure. Is the fact that Dal has been secretly in love with Ha for a long time an obstacle? Obstacle or not, it's what's happening now.

Pinocchio syndrome seems incompatible with being a reporter! C'mon: A reporter who can't lie?! Preposterous! But when a news broadcast suffers low ratings coupled with a decline in trust, she's seen as the perfect stunt to catapult them back into relevance. Dal, himself, breezes through the interview process, so there they are together, along with the rest of the miscreant band of probationary hires. One of those new hires is Seo Beom “Jo” (Kim Young Kwang from Hello, Me!-6.7 & Call It Love-8.4- which I seemed to like more than most. Go figure) He's a pretty boy, and boy is he wealthy. He's probably a mama's boy, too. Dal has serious competition. A much younger Kim Hae Sook is Park Ro Sa, Ja's mama. From a humble grandma in Start-up (my first look at her) to the Jade emperor in Tomorrow-8, she can do anything. My favorite role of hers was in Hospital Playlist-9.

Jin Kyung (Extraordinary Attorney Woo) is Song Cha Ok, Ha's bio-mom. I only remember seeing her in Melancholia-10, a woefully underrated masterpiece - and her performance is nothing short of legendary. Jang Young Nam portrays one of the character's mothers. She has a lovely earthy/raspy voice. I've seen her in The Devil Judge-8.2, It's Okay to Not Be Okay-9, and My Sassy Girl-8.5. She's 3-for-3 with me. The director is Jo Soo Won (Doctor John, Awaken-8.7) and the screenwriter is
Park Hye Ryun (While You Were Sleeping-7.3, Castaway Diva).

The romance is entirely unfair. Ha is unable to lie about her attraction to Dal, but he can pull the wool over her indefinitely - they each have their reasons for what they're doing. Then, enter the other love interests. One of Ha's coworkers is interested in her. He's every bit as good looking, arguably… it all comes down to taste after all, and this other dude is wealthy. He's perfect (except for being too attached to his Oma). The way the two men square off against each other while she is oblivious is adorable.

The filming is really pretty in spots. In ep2 they walk a cliffside road overlooking Azure seas and flamingo pink skies. Their first kiss is so cute! Under the warm, white, winter lights, amidst the newly falling snow, they lock eyes. She starts to explain her last hiccuping incident, but she stops talking when she sees how he's looking at her. At first she covers her mouth. She's scared! So, he just kisses her hand. They have some gorgeous scenes together that are convincingly tender.

Before Ha was finally hired /for/ her disability, it was keeping her down. Way down, like 7-11 clerk level. She tried to keep going forward, but the pressure was starting to escape: “I'll hiccup forever! I was almost a reporter but I failed! Life is hopeless! I graduated 3 years ago and look at me!” (Sometimes she just had to let off steam…) Confused customer: “Could I have my change, please?” 🤣 PSH's wailing 7-11 clerk motif is hilarious. {AI: YESSSSS. The wailing 7-11 clerk motif is unhinged genius. Park Shin-hye just fully commits to these sudden, full-body, high-pitched “AHHHHHHHH—” meltdowns like she just got yelled at by her 17th drunk customer at 2 a.m. and her soul has left her body. The way she throws her head back, clutches her chest, lets the wail spiral up into pure chaos, then snaps right back into bubbly rookie mode like nothing happened? Iconic.}

One of the things that touched me the most in P was Shin Jung Keun (from The Soup and A Birth) as Ha's father. His acting is incredible. He keeps looking at his daughter with love and longing. He wants to shield her from anything unpleasant, but when he speaks it comes out as disdain and lite abuse. He has no idea how to express himself! We are treated to his thoughts (💭my daughter is the most beautiful woman in the world, she is so precious, I want everything good for her💭… “💢Hey! Don't you dare come home late tonight❗” {AI: “That hits like a gut punch wrapped in a hug. Dad’s eyes are doing all the heavy lifting - soft, aching, desperate to wrap her in bubble wrap and keep the world from ever scratching her - while his mouth spits out that clipped, dismissive tone that lands like a backhanded slap. It’s such a perfect little portrait of a certain generation of Korean (and honestly, a lot of Asian) fathers: emotionally fluent in their heads, verbally bankrupt in real life. They’d walk through fire for you, but they’d rather die than say it. So they bark orders, nitpick, act annoyed… while their eyes are screaming “please be safe, please be happy, I’m terrified of losing you.”} 🤗 Dad almost quietly stole the show. He owns those scenes.

In the latter episodes doing the right thing becomes more than any ideological concept. It becomes a hurdle. The only way to become fully human is to do the right thing… no matter how difficult it is.


QUOTES🗣

Words saved a life.

What's merely a story to us is someone else's life.

IMHO〰🖍

RATINGS 🎬7 🖊7 🎭10 💓7 🦋6 🎨6 🎶6 🔚7.5 🤗4.5 ▪ LEVELS 🌞6⚡3 😅3 😭4 😱2 😬3 🤢2 🤔4.5 💤2.5

Age 11+ the show is actually on a kid level in a good way.

Re-📺? No comment


Family & Where You Find It
Racket Boys-8.3,
Reply 1988-8.6,
Hospital Playlist 9 (give it 3 episodes to get warmed up),
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9,
Be Melodramatic-8.7,
Familiar Wife-8.5,
Move To Heaven-8.4,
Heirs-7.3,
That Winter, The Wind Blows-7,
99 days with the Superstar-7,
Birthcare Center-8.2,
The Bros-7.4,
The Golden Spoon-8.1,
Mine-8
Playful kiss-7.3,
One Spring Night-7.8,
Never Give Up-7.3,
My Unfamiliar Family-7.9,
My First First Love-8,
Strongest Delivery Man-6.6,
That Winter, The Wind Blows-7


💋Dopamine Factory⚗️
My Secret Romance-7 (if you ff thru overdone flashbacks),
Boys Over Flowers-8 ~ melodrama to the max,
Oh My Venus-7.4K,
Crash Landing On You 9.1,
A Witch's Love-7.9,
Business Proposal-7
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha-8.2,
Her Private Life-8,
Love Struck in the City 7.3,
Oh My Ghost 10,
Descendants Of The Sun-8.3,
A Korean Odyssey-7.2,
The Bride of Habaek-7,
Nevertheless-7.6
That Winter, The Wind Blows-7
Something in them Rain-9,

C🇨🇳: Well-Intended Love-7.5 Rom-porn - extra points for the dopamine,
When I Fly Towards You-7.8,
Wait, My Youth-8.4,
A Little Thing Called First Love-8.5,
Find Yourself-8.9,
Hidden Love-7.8

J🇯🇵: 7th Time Loop-7.9,
Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke's Mansion-8.4,

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Cringe but good

I am not a big fan of Thai comedy, but i could appreciate this one. Though it had some really cringe moments (which i didn't like) most of it was good humor. The story was good, the production was great.
The Ost was fun! And it had stunning visuals.
The moment the friends almost kissed was cliche, but still really funny.
I don't like it when in a family all 3 sons are gay, that's just not realistic...

The actors all did a great job! But you could see that the youngest "couple" still need some experience in acting.
I rather see Boss and Noeul in more serious roles, but they pulled off the comedy. And as always their chemistry, kisses and NC scenes are great!
I liked the other couple and the possible couple with Tian and Mark, i wished i saw more of their stories, but it looks like there will be a second season and i hope to see more of those two couples in that season.

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Buen guíon, con un electo de primera

Pocas veces me quedo viendo los créditos iniciales, pero sólo con esa introducción tan expectacular, ya me quedé enganchada a la serie. ¡Qué historia tan bonita y que bien están construídos los personajes! Hacía tiempo que no me gustaba tanto un personaje como Wuji. Su comportamiento, esa fachada fría e indiferente creada para los de fuera, pero cuando lo conoces ves su corazón. Es un personaje muy inteligente y talentoso, igual que Jiayu, los dos son iguales, y me encanta su historia de amor. Los personajes femeninos son fuertes, cada una tiene su historia. El vestuario es precisoso, y las escenas de acción son increíbles.

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romantic comedy mixed with a mini sitcom

If you’re looking for a good laugh and something lighthearted, healing, and easy to watch in a school setting, give this drama a try.

The friendship between the leads and the supporting actors is hilarious, and their chemistry is fantastic. It feels like watching a romantic comedy mixed with a mini sitcom, thanks to the fun sound effects and expressive acting.

It’s a little sad that they’re no longer a switch pairing because I really see a lot of potential from them as a couple. This was my first time watching a series with TeeteePor, and they definitely left a good impression.

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another cap for the BL community.

i stayed up late to finish this well into the morning and for nothing. this BL was more-or-less trash. i rated the story high because they had it ! the foundation was stellar but the execution was pure comedy. this could have went down as one of the best of all time considering the plot twist, the excitement, the toxicity, the triangle, etc. but nope. some of the acting was questionable like at the end, in the police station - that made no sense. the intimacy scenes were wack and dry as hell. the one drunken kiss was the best kiss of the whole run. the kiss at the end was that garbage stiff ish that people hate so why did they implement that? the most inviting kiss, for me as a consumer, was the one with the dessert and still that could have been more. what a huge disappointment.

this was definitely way overhyped and overrated by fans. the music was not memorable so i did not rate it accurately. it still pisses me off to know that i watched this even though it was some weeks ago.

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The WONDERfools is Wonderful. The best K-Drama of the year!

The WonderFools stands out as one of the most remarkable K-dramas of the year, delivering a refreshing blend of creativity, emotional depth, and compelling storytelling. What initially presents itself as a lighthearted concept gradually unfolds into a layered narrative that balances humor, humanity, and introspection with impressive finesse.

The drama excels in its character development, offering a cast that feels both authentic and deeply engaging. Each character is crafted with nuance, allowing viewers to connect with their journeys, struggles, and growth. The performances elevate the material further, with a natural charisma and emotional sincerity that leave a lasting impression.

Visually and tonally, The WonderFools maintains a distinctive identity. Its direction and pacing create an immersive viewing experience, while its ability to shift seamlessly between comedic and heartfelt moments showcases strong creative control. Rather than relying solely on conventional tropes, the series dares to explore themes of resilience, identity, and connection in a way that feels both fresh and meaningful.

Ultimately, The WonderFools is more than just entertainment; it is a thoughtfully crafted piece that resonates long after each episode ends. With its originality, strong performances, and emotional impact, it firmly earns its place as the best K-drama of the year.

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The Cost of Loving What You Can’t Keep

I started Archives: The Nanyang Mystery expecting a mystery filled with secrets, investigations, and dangerous missions. While it delivered all of that, what stayed with me wasn’t the mystery. It was the quiet pain of growing attached to people you slowly realize you can’t save.

From the very beginning, there was a feeling that happiness would never last. Even the warmest moments carried a sense of unease, making every smile, every laugh, and every quiet moment feel precious. I found myself wanting to hold on to those moments because deep down, I was afraid they would disappear.

Zhang Haixia completely stole my heart. His intelligence, kindness, quiet strength, and gentle smile made him impossible not to love. He always seemed to carry more than he ever allowed others to see. Looking back after finishing the drama, every scene with him feels different. The smiles that once brought comfort now carry an unbearable sadness because you realize how much was hidden behind them. I kept hoping fate would finally be kind to him, but the more I hoped, the more my heart prepared for disappointment.

What hurt even more was watching Zhang Hailou. Losing someone who becomes part of your life doesn’t end with a goodbye. It changes the way you see the world and the way you carry yourself afterward. His pain wasn’t expressed through dramatic words. It lived in the silence, in the memories he couldn’t leave behind, and in the quiet strength he forced himself to keep. That kind of grief felt painfully real.

What touched me most was how this drama portrayed love and care. It wasn’t shown through grand speeches or dramatic confessions. It lived in trust, protection, silent understanding, and the countless sacrifices they made for one another. Sometimes love is simply wanting someone to stay safe, even if it means carrying the pain yourself. That quiet, selfless love became the emotional heart of this story.

The performances made every emotion feel genuine. Ding Yuxi and Zhang Xincheng brought so much depth to their characters that I stopped watching actors and simply believed in the people they were portraying. A single glance or a small smile often carried more emotion than pages of dialogue.

By the end, I wasn’t thinking about the mystery anymore. I was thinking about the people I had grown attached to. This drama reminded me that sometimes the greatest pain isn’t losing someone. It’s knowing how deeply you’ve come to love them while realizing there was never anything you could do to change their fate.

Nanyang Mystery isn’t just a mystery drama. It’s a story about the cost of loving what you can’t keep, and that’s a feeling that stays with you long after the final episode.

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20分間に美しさと感動が凝縮された大傑作

圧倒的な映像美と繊細な人間ドラマに、最初から最後まで心が揺さぶられました。観客を引き込む独特な演出が本当に秀逸で、登場人物たちの心の距離感がダイレクトに伝わってきます。主演の庄司浩平さんは圧倒的なビジュアルだけでなく、セリフのない一瞬の表情の演技まで素晴らしく、目が離せませんでした。東京の景色をどこか切なく切り取ったカメラワークも非常にスタイリッシュです。短い時間の中に映画の魅力がぎゅっと詰まっており、観終わった後もしばらく心地よい余韻に浸れる素晴らしいショートフィルムです。大満足の10点満点！

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For Mark.

This show had been sitting on my watchlist for quite some time, and its theme and genre kept tugging at my curiosity. At first, Tong as a character wasn’t really my cup of tea, but watching the entire series changed that perspective. His stubbornness and clumsiness turned out to be essential to the story, and Tong truly did justice to the role. Mark’s performance, paired with his striking vampire‑like looks, was top‑notch, and Nakan’s presence added to the overall appeal.

The story began with promise but gradually drifted midway, though the leads managed to keep things engaging whether the plots were silly or serious. The direction was commendable, but the script felt shallow, lacking unpredictability or innovation. Still, the actors carried the show with their energy and chemistry.

The ending was sweet, and the final portrait left me unexpectedly sad, a sign that somewhere along the way I had grown attached to the series. Every time Mark looked at Tong, his genuine admiration and love shone through. And the thought of spending eternity in marks arms? Honestly, sign me up.

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