Reviews

best drama

the best drama ever and best actress and actor
excellent acting ,
different drama story than usual

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Well-presented hackneyed stories

I really liked the beginning and was already hoping it might turn out to be another "Prisoner of Beauty" or "Melody of Golden Age", but unfortunately, it turned out to be a complete disappointment.

The script feels like it was slapped together in a rush—the plot structure and the female lead were lifted straight from *The Glory* (why? it was that the weakest part of that drama), and to this pathological female lead—who borders on psychopathy and sadism—they added a family of handsome princes with masochistic tendencies. The beginning was unconventional, but unfortunately, that was the extent of the characterization; the writers didn't even attempt to develop the characters. They stayed exactly the same from start to finish. Such cardboard characters get boring very quickly.
Essentially, there were no surprises in this drama. It relies entirely on tropes that have been used for years, and every viewer is familiar with them.

The only things moving forward were some shallow little stories—briefly attention-grabbing, yet devoid of any emotional resonance or deeper concept. It was as if the screenwriter were simply ticking off boxes—rushing through the process without truly engaging with the characters or the story's logic. Competent, but lackluster.
In my opinion, if you want to portray characters as intelligent through their actions, you have to write those actions intelligently, too. Unfortunately, that didn't happen here—things that should have emerged naturally from the sequence of events are instead pulled out like a rabbit from a hat.

The director seemed to do the plot more harm than good; many of the shots completely lack flair. I understand that many visuals exist simply to give the viewer a lovely view of the actors -and I’m all for that; I enjoy looking at beautiful people in nice settings with good lighting—but such shots really ought to have some relevance to the action, which isn't necessarily the case here.

It’s a real shame that Meng ZiYi was done such a disservice by such a flat role; I really like her as an actress and appreciate her restrained acting style, but here she simply didn't stand a chance. They turned her into a mannequin for pretty outfits—a character who cares only about her own interests and takes pleasure in saying things that hurt others.
I kept waiting for her inner shell to crack so we could see her soul, but I’ve reached episode 23, and unfortunately, it turns out it wasn’t armor after all - just an empty cardboard box. It could have been such a fascinating story, bordering on something like "The Double", but it seems to have been beyond the capabilities of the screenwriters and the director.

This is the first role of He Yu’s that I’ve seen, and you can really sense him trying to make something of the part. I even feel a certain sympathy for him, as he likely wants to play a fully fleshed-out character and is doing his best to breathe some life into such a poorly written role. It probably isn't particularly satisfying to play a masochistic maniac in love - why in love reasons that aren't even entirely clear.

As for the rest of the actors—many of whom I really like and respect—it is truly a shame to even speak of them. I understand that people have to make a living and pay the electricity bills, but they shouldn't be subjected to such a disservice.

I don’t know why so much money was poured into such a weak script. Perhaps there was just enough propaganda thrown in to convince the approving official—who doesn't strike me as a particularly sophisticated connoisseur of literature or film—to greenlight the production.

All in all, it’s an aesthetically pleasing but unoriginal drama that lacks real characters; it’s an okay watch, but not one that leaves a lasting impression. It’s perfect for girls who have just broken up with their boyfriends and are, firstly, furious at the world, and secondly, dreaming of a Prince Charming who will love them regardless of logic or psychological realism. A tub of ice cream and this drama, should lift their spirits. In other situations, however, it might be worth considering something with more substance; many short dramas offer greater psychological depth.

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Great Start That Lost Its Way

I started watching this series earlier than planned because of all the hype — I was curious to see what everyone was talking about. The show started really well, super fun and genuinely funny, which made it very entertaining from the early episodes. However, this series should have ended at episode 7. The last three episodes felt completely unnecessary.

The plot hooked me right from the beginning. I really enjoyed the story of Agent Kim, a man whose true background remains a mystery to everyone. He’s desperately searching for the truth behind his daughter’s disappearance, while his enemies gradually uncover more about his past. The reunion of the three former agents teaming up for missions together was extremely entertaining and full of great humor. However, the middle part of the series dragged on too much, and the last three episodes were noticeably weaker. I ended up watching them just to finish the show.

Overall, Agent Kim Reactivated started very strongly and had so much potential. Unfortunately, the later episodes couldn’t maintain the quality, which lowered my interest. Still, the three lead actors delivered solid performances that kept it fun, funny, and engaging enough for me to watch until the end.

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Low quality

From the beginning i got that it was a simple basic show, however, nothing besides the acting of yoon sik caught my attention the entire show.

Si woo acting wasn't convincing at all, although the couple had good chemistry his acting couldn't make me believe that he was feeling something, he seemed most neutral all the time, even in emotional scenes , his effort was visible but the result... wasn't. I know that it's a low-budget drama, but at least I expected better acting.

I didn't like the plot, maybe the problem is me but i found it boring, i didn't care about the main characters parents ,because i didn't even get to know them, Hence, i also didn't care about the trauma baggage of the main characters . The investigation was also boring, i didn't find that case an interesting case at all, they could've done something more interesting... like Chae Ha and Tae Seon arresting Ja Hyeong at her cassino and making a mess, or a fight between Ha Neul and his parents... Agh it was so bland.

I felt uncomfortable the first time Chae Ha and Tae seon slept together, it seemed like tae seon was sober and Chae ha wasn't, I checked the internet about that and discovered that in my country ,that's illegal.

I won't give it a bad rating because it isn't a bad show, although it's disappointing

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So difficult to explain what I just watched...

Let's just start off with "it was basically terrible" and get that immediately established. Mkay.

So you got Jesse Ren. But this is not the Jesse Ren you are thinking. This is some Saved By The Bell version of Jesse Ren. And I suspect without any evidence, that this was filmed a while back and only released now. How can this be a sequential acting performance? I could see him doing this kind of acting in 2025 maybe if it was like at an airport while waiting for a layover flight... It's either beginner acting, or it's unconscious, phone-it-in acting. You-get-what-you-pay-for acting.

Because also, why would he decide to do this, of all things.

The fashion used in the show is mainly Esprit. Either that or the wardrobe person just really really likes Esprit and their aesthetic. It literally looks like Saved By The Bell. It's so kids-at-the-local-mall. Weird to see someone dress Jesse Ren like that.

The story is basically the cliffnotes version of My Girlfriend Is An Alien. But only Jesse Ren plays the alien. And I truly mean that --> there aren't any basic plot deviations from MGIAA here.

It's stripped down to only it's most basic elements, the writing is terrible, the production value is lo-budget, the bgm is kinda dorky, but it is mercifully minimalist as well, so at least there's that.

Jesse Ren's fellow co-actors on this one are - it pains me to say - terrible. I want to like them, they seem like sweet promising young people. But this is beginner level acting, on everyone's part. Nothing is convincing. Nothing. ML and FL are not into eachother, and script is written literally like Saved By The Bell, so there's just the tamest PG kiss scene type stuff and nothing more at ALL.

It actually started off kind of amusing and sweet, but the farther you go into it, the harder it is to keep your attention focused. Even so, it was an ok way to pass a few afternoons between shows. Because at least nothing was overwhelmingly cringe or annoying.. So it had that going for it.

I would mildly recc this to anyone who wants to watch "everything Jesse Ren has ever been in". I would also recc this to someone who has had trauma or stress, and needs to mentally "check out" and just watch something that's sweet and mellow and brainless that's just sort of 'on'. Like the way you might watch the cat channel.

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Easy to knock

This drama almost never made it to air. Besides losing its original producer, it also faced issues involving the second male lead, who was reportedly caught up in a tax-related controversy (if I remember correctly). It came with very little promotion and didn't have the advantage of being a highly anticipated release.

The story itself is light, easy to follow, and perfect for watching during dinner or when you're looking for something relaxing. It can be described as an enemies-to-lovers trope, although they're not really enemies in the strict sense.

Throughout the drama, the male lead can be quite frustrating at times. He grew up privileged and spoiled, which often causes the female lead a lot of stress and emotional exhaustion. As for the female lead, she is rather timid and often struggles to stand up to the people who mistreat her. Because of this, she sometimes comes across as weak, even though her behavior is largely shaped by her circumstances and personality.
but overall acting both of them is good, if not bcs their acting this drama would end up low rate

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A Nearly Perfect Drama with a Frustrating Finish

I actually was disappointed with the ending. It felt rushed, with a horrible CGI war scene that was nothing like the rest of the show. What I liked about the show became what I disliked really quickly. The drama's last 5 to 7 episodes allow viewers to get about 2 episodes of bliss, and then turmoil comes into play, which is common, but here it feels misplaced. They deny the marriage only for him to grant them permission to marry in the end. They sign a peace treaty just for them to go to war. They have her become a general again just for the emperor to send her to the city where there is no war to fight. The entirety of these episodes feels rushed and goes back on everything it previously stated. They make one of the bad guys into a good guy, only for him to turn around and become a bad guy again. What was the actual point? I think it's a solid drama, and I might even rewatch it someday, but within these last few episodes, it's sad to see the show's quality go down.

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Comfortable, Heartwarming but Predictable.....yet still touches and warms my Heart

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I wanted to watch a Japanese drama and came across “9 Border”. What does the title really mean? It means you are at the 9th year of your age, and at the border between decades, e.g. 19 years old, 29 years old and 39 years old.

The drama follows three sisters who are at this order, 19, 29, and 39. At different stages of their lives, they go through different crises. “9 Border” is about the growth of these sisters as individuals and as a family. Honestly, this is a comfortable and predictable drama. Yet, Jdramas have a way to pull you into these heartwarming stories and then make you cry. It’s been a while since I cried so much, not because I was heartbroken, but I was touched by their experiences, triumphs and romantic journey (especially Nana and Kotaro).

Nana, our main lead, is a workaholic. She is sweet, caring and has all the responsibilities in the world on her shoulders. She is lonely and has no time to do anything but work. Eventually, she found her own dream and dream man, leading her family to a much better life.

Mucchan, the oldest of the siblings, struggles to come to terms that she is on a way to a divorce. From a clingy ex-wife, she has learned to love herself, and made sure she has her own best interest at heart. She learns to love herself and be happy.

Hatsumi, the youngest, doesn’t know what to do with herself after graduating from high school. She has probably grown and matured the most out of the three sisters. It’s lovely to see her find her passion and explore what’s outside of the house.

The setting of a bath house as a family business is interesting. I really like their house because it gives off a very welcoming and homey feel. Their living room is a space for all, whether it’s intentional or not. I’ve enjoyed all the conversations, meals, parties and gatherings that happened in this place of warmth.

As for romance, I really love the relationship development between Nana and Kotaro. If you are looking for fluffy, this is not it. However, it’s sweet and mature, gentle and calming. There are no grand gestures, but many thoughtful conversations and small deeds. Matsushita Kouhei has such a gentle voice. I felt the same way when I saw him in #Remolove. Every time he calls Nana by her name, my heart melts. (Aaww…..). The interesting thing about their romance is that it’s so darn predictable. You know how it’s going to end, yet I have shed so many tears - happy, moving and sad ones. I don’t know why.

Nana description of her ideal romance sums up her relationship with Kotaro perfectly: "I feel calm when I'm with him" & "We can look at the same view and say it's beautiful".

The other two romance storylines did not have a lot of screen time. They are simple and cute in their own way. The drama could have spent more time, but instead, it focuses more on the family as a unit. I think that’s totally fine as well. 10 episodes are not enough to fully develop 3 romance storylines well.

I am glad I stumbled upon “9 Border” and was introduced to the Oba family. This is a very easy and comfortable watch. Everyone is so nice and supportive. I also really love the songs and am glad they are not repetitive or overpowering.


Drama Completed: 8/2/2026 Review #710

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The Real Story Begins After "Happily Ever After"

Unlike many BL epilogues that simply show a happy couple being sweet together, Peach and Me explores what it actually takes to protect that happiness after the ending.

Peach and Tee come from completely different worlds. Tee was born into a powerful mafia family where everything could be obtained through wealth and influence, while Peach grew up with almost nothing except his own kindness. Their marriage doesn't erase those differences—it asks them to understand and support each other despite them.

What I appreciated most was that the story never relied on dramatic conflict. Instead, it focused on responsibility, friendship, family, and the quiet effort required to build a life together. Rome's succession, Mork's changing role from bodyguard to friend, and the brothers' heartfelt conversation all reinforced the idea that everyone was finding a new place in each other's lives.

Tee's love is almost overwhelming. Personally, I don't think I could ever handle someone loving me that intensely! That's why Peach impressed me so much. He accepts Tee's enormous affection without losing himself, making their relationship feel balanced rather than one-sided.

The special reenactments performed by other GMMTV couples were a delightful bonus. Watching Tay & New, Junior & Mark, Force & Book, Perth & Santa, and the others recreate iconic scenes was both hilarious and affectionate. They reminded us that no matter how talented they are, only Pond & Phuwin can truly be Peach and Tee.

For me, this wasn't simply a sequel about a married couple. It was a gentle story about discovering that a happy ending is not the finish line—it's the beginning of choosing each other every single day.

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Everyone forget that overdo is angst drama not romance

This drama had everyone's attention long before it even premiered. It attracted fans, casual viewers, and even haters simply because it brought together two of the industry's biggest visual stars. On top of that, many people were already arguing about the original novel, which is known for being extremely toxic especially the male lead's character.

However, the director and screenwriter made it clear from the beginning that they only borrowed the characters' names, not the novel's storyline. Even so, this was always intended to be an **angst drama**, filled with conflict, misunderstandings, and a constant push-and-pull relationship between the female lead and the male lead.

Then Episode 1 aired, and instead of discussing the story, the drama started trending because of its AI-generated opening sequence. Many people immediately said they had no interest in watching *Overdo* simply because it used AI. But if you think about it logically, the opening sequence has nothing to do with the quality of the story itself. You can literally skip the intro and still enjoy the entire drama. Unfortunately, many people had already decided to criticize it before giving it a fair chance.

After watching Episodes 1–25, I can honestly say the story is much more than just romance. It also explores serious social issues such as human trafficking, scams, illegal drugs, switched families, abusive families, and many other dark themes. The romance isn't meant to be sweet and fluffy. From the very beginning, this is a push-and-pull relationship where both leads constantly hurt each other with their words, yet deep down they genuinely love each other and can't let go.

The problem isn't that the drama is bad. It's that this kind of highly emotional, Republican-era angst drama simply isn't everyone's cup of tea. That doesn't automatically make it poorly made.

The performances from both lead actors are excellent. The editing improved significantly from Episode 6 onward, and the AI intro was even replaced. Yet some people kept bringing up the same complaints, making it feel as though they were more interested in hating the drama than actually watching it.

What's truly disappointing is that many viewers gave it low ratings simply because it wasn't their preferred genre, rather than judging it objectively. A drama should be evaluated based on its writing, acting, directing, and execution—not just on whether it matches someone's personal taste.

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PEACH AND ME.

THIS SERIES IS ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF COMEDY, CRAZINESS, AND PURE CHAOS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF KHUN THEE. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED POND'S PERFORMANCE BECAUSE HE WASN'T AFRAID TO MAKE THE FUNNIEST FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, AND IT MADE EVERY SCENE EVEN MORE HILARIOUS. THE BATHTUB SCENE WHERE KHUN THEE WAS CRYING WHILE THE BODYGUARD WAS HOLDING THE SHOWER HAD ME LAUGHING SO HARD. KHUN THEE IS HONESTLY ONE OF THE GREENEST FLAGS EVER. I LOVE HOW HE ALWAYS SUPPORTS PEACH WITHOUT PEACH EVEN HAVING TO ASK—THEE JUST KNOWS WHAT PEACH NEEDS AND NEVER FORGETS THE PROMISES HE MAKES. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING, THE ARSENI AND MAFIA STORYLINE ALREADY HAD ME SO STRESSED, AND SEEING EMI APPEAR MADE ME EVEN MORE EXCITED. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE ME AND THEE OR PEACH AND ME HAS ENDED, BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE THIS SERIES INTRODUCED ME TO PONDPHUWIN. EPISODE 4 WAS EASILY ONE OF THE FUNNIEST EPISODES. I COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING BECAUSE SO MANY GMMTV PAIRINGS MADE CAMEO APPEARANCES, AND I KEPT REPLAYING THOSE SCENES BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST THAT FUNNY. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT NO ONE CAN REPLACE POND AND PHUWIN AS KHUN THEE AND PEACH. ALTHOUGH I THINK NEW CAME VERY CLOSE TO PEACH'S PERSONALITY BECAUSE HE WAS COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN HIS CHARACTER, POND AND PHUWIN WILL ALWAYS BE THE KHUN THEE AND PEACH FOR ME. I ALSO WISH WE HAD GOTTEN MORE SCENES WITH THEIR ADOPTED CHILDREN AND MORE SWEET MOMENTS BETWEEN PEACH AND THEE. ONE THING I NOTICED, ESPECIALLY AFTER WATCHING ALL OF PONDPHUWIN'S SERIES, IS THAT THEY SEEMED MORE CONSERVATIVE WITH THEIR ROMANTIC SCENES HERE—EVEN A KISS ON THE CHEEK WAS ENOUGH. BUT HONESTLY, I BARELY NOTICED BECAUSE THE STORY WAS JUST SO FUNNY, ESPECIALLY KHUN THEE'S CHARACTER. I LOVE POND'S ACTING SO MUCH, AND BOTH POND AND PHUWIN LOOKED ABSOLUTELY STUNNING THROUGHOUT THE SERIES. AND SERIOUSLY... POND IS SO FUCKING HANDSOME.

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THE BANTER IS GONE!

I went into this drama with high expectations because I loved the original novel. As someone who read and thoroughly enjoyed the source material, I was genuinely excited to see it adapted for the screen. Unfortunately, despite trying to keep an open mind, this drama left me somewhat disappointed in certain areas.

You know when you read a novel and you can visualize the characters from the authors words? Like you can realistically imagine their appearances and personality from the way they’re introduced? Well I think this drama adaptation changed too much of the aspects I personally enjoyed that was originally prevalent in the novel.

To be fair, I understand that no adaptation can be completely faithful to its source material. Some changes are inevitable and even necessary. For example, I completely understand why they partially changed the female lead’s career. In the novel, she’s a manhua artist who draws somewhat risqué comics, which obviously wouldn’t pass censorship. In the drama, she becomes a more standard manhua artist which still allows her to make a story inspired by snowboarding just like she did in the novel. That change made perfect sense and even improved the logicality of the plot. While I did miss some of the comedic situations tied to her original profession, I saw this as a perfectly reasonable change.

The bigger issue is that so many other changes accumulated that the story no longer felt like the same work. The characters only retained surface-level similarities to their novel counterparts, while their personalities, relationships, dialogue, and dynamics were all significantly altered. At times, it felt like I was watching entirely different people.

The female lead is one example. In the novel, she’s undeniably adorable, slightly ditzy, and clumsy, but way more straightforward and feisty. She’s clever in her own way, hardworking, and genuinely grows to love snowboarding. Even if her initial motivations aren’t entirely pure or selfless, she wants to improve and gradually finds her own path in snowboarding. In the drama, however, we barely get to see her develop through that learning process which allowed her to fall in love with the ml. I do like that they kept her storyline about wanting to make her own choices and stand up to her mother. I also appreciate that, in the drama, she retained her kindness and compassion towards those around her. Her career plot line is much more developed than it is in the novel and greatly adds to the modern day relevance and connection to snowboarding.

The male lead, on the other hand, lost much of what made him compelling. In the novel he’s stoic, sarcastic, and occasionally sharp-tongued, but underneath that reserved exterior is someone genuinely kind, dependable, and caring. His personality also makes sense when you consider everything he’s been through. When they first meet, she’s just his new slightly silly student, and their evolving relationship is what makes the story so engaging.

Their banter is my favorite part of the novel and the main reason I fell in love with it. It’s especially hilarious in the original Chinese. The female lead isn’t intimidated by him despite his reputation as an elite snowboarder and coach. She argues with him, teases him, and talks back whenever she thinks he’s being unreasonable. Meanwhile, he’s constantly caught off guard because despite his authority and status, he doesn’t know how to deal with someone who refuses to completely obey him as his student. He can’t be harsh with her, nor does he want to be, which creates this subtle… almost helpless dynamic whenever she’s around, despite his arrogance that stems from confidence in his snowboarding skills. His sarcasm and sharp tongue doesn’t seem to deter her. Their conversations are witty, playful, and full of chemistry. It almost feels like they liked each other from the beginning. They just hadn’t realized it yet. The romance develops naturally through small everyday interactions rather than dramatic or forced moments.

Unfortunately, the drama changes this dynamic almost entirely. Both characters are softened significantly and the male lead, in particular, loses that “burnt out” nuance or “emotionally in hibernation” quality to his personality as someone who had essentially given up competing in the sport that defined his life. It’s almost like, in his retreat from the competition stage, he put himself in standby mode. That layer of depth is barely visible in the drama. As a result, their personalities feel different, their conversations lose their playful edge, and the romance no longer develops with the same natural progression.

The changes weren’t limited to the main couple either. Many supporting characters were also rewritten. Some were only slightly altered, but others were changed so much that they barely resembled their novel versions.

The clearest example is the second male lead who is originally the female lead’s arranged fiancé in the novel. In the drama not only was his name changed, but his personality and role were almost completely rewritten. (I think they decided to merge two different characters from the novel into one?) In the novel he’s arrogant, highly confident, somewhat aloof, and carries himself with an unmistakable air of superiority. Its obvious how self-assured he is, which the author did an excellent job of subtlety portraying through his speech, mannerisms, and attitude toward the fl even when it was him chasing her. And it made sense given he was born into wealth along with naturally superior looks and smarts.

Instead of the proud, confident man from the novel, he’s rewritten into someone whose entire personality revolves around pursuing the female lead. Despite being portrayed in both versions as a highly respected and skilled surgeon, the drama has him constantly following her around, ignoring her boundaries, inserting himself into situations where he isn’t wanted, and repeatedly invading her privacy despite her discomfort. He becomes overly clingy and emotionally dependent on her, which made his scenes more cringey than endearing.

Why did they changed him so drastically when his original characterization was already strong and served the story well even with the changes made for the adaptation? He represents the oppression and lifestyle her mom keeps trying to force onto her, which she finds the courage to resist. If anything, his original personality is much better suited to differentiate from the freedom and strength provided by the male lead. In the novel, he appears polite and refined but is actually quietly possessive. He even says to her that he “let her be” all this time as he assumed her reserved rejection was just her childish rebellion and she needed time to adjust. Conversely, the ml is initially more unapproachable and defensive, but is the one who shows her true consideration and acceptance despite being somewhat openly critical of the suggestive content of her manhuas. This in turn allows her to be more confidently expressive instead of secretive of her works.

That same pattern repeats throughout the adaptation. From appearances to personalities, many characters no longer resemble the people I came to know in the novel. I don’t expect actors to look exactly like descriptions on the page, but I do expect the essence of the characters to remain intact.

I also want to emphasize that none of this is directed at the actors. I think they did a good job with the material they were given. Many conversations were rewritten, character dynamics were changed, and the script fundamentally altered the characters. The actors can only work with what they’re given. They aren’t responsible for those creative decisions. My disappointment is with parts of the adaptation itself. (Although I still wish Lin Yi acted a bit more tsundere and Esther Yu more rebellious)

Ultimately, it felt like a drama that borrowed the same premise, setting, and characters, but along with the changes made to the storyline, lost the essence of the characters I originally loved.

Take this with a grain of salt. I know people will still enjoy this drama on its own and I admit it’s a solid watch with pretty snow scenery and lots of fluff. I guess I arrived with more expectations as someone who first read the novel.

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