Reviews

interesting premise overall solid commitment

was grateful the premise was substantial enough to drive the pacing of the plot pretty naturally. I think the writing only fell short in the last 2 episodes, especially the final 3 or so scenes. otherwise, despite the story’s effort to be more complex, it actually was able to work out without many plot holes through the main progression. definitely harder to find shows able to achieve it in this genre. and as far as I can tell, even the ending being written flimsily seemed to be faithful to the source material funnily enough.. at least according to reviews I’ve read of the novel. I think at times, the romance felt somewhat misplaced, but I realised the passage of time in the story was stretched wider than indicated so it couldn’t help but feel a bit choppy. can see why people commended this show in its commitment to pass for a regular televised drama despite its minor hiccups and the usual budget limitations for this genre. overall thoughtful scene production to raise the value was appreciated, though the AI in the opening sequence was definitely jarring despite the fact I’d always skipped it anyway. seems that in the effort to seem higher budget, they got lazy in that regard without actually being able to afford to do so, in addition to the misfortune korea has no stigma towards AI even among the art community. characterizations were a bit exaggerated but there was the same issue of an unconvincing ex-cop that didn’t seem necessary. I think the corniness mostly stemmed from the fact they attempted doing too much in lieu of the story being dark in nature. music editing was mildly awkward in certain spots but not off enough to ruin the scenes.

tldr a pretty engaging show that’s able to maintain good momentum for the majority of the show despite the story leaving several conflicts seemingly unresolved in the end. might follow up with spoilers separately to pick on the specific scenes towards the end I had gripes with

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It's just a slice-of-life show, and that's it

It's a comedy slice-of-life show, and that's alright. Its production really reminds me of japanese bls, and so does the storyline. It's simple. Yet, it's kinda dull. As usual, TutorYim's acting are amazing. They're incredibly talented. Still, the narrative is just too weak. Once again, the production was there. Such a beautiful cinematography! But what's up with the script team having a beef with TutorYim? Of course I do understand that this show comes from a day-to-day basis, it is supposed to be easygoing and feel natural, but it doesn't mean it has to be this gray thing. Personally, I didn't have a problem with the ammount of NC scenes nor the sexual undertones of the whole show. I guess it's natural when they're a young and in love couple. Still, there were lots of other ways to go from it. See, in Battle of The Writers, all of the NC scenes felt so well-placed in the story. ChermChey's just feel random, that's the thing. Anyway, it's a comedy show, it's not supposed to be a really big deal. I wish TutorYim get to star a well written show, still. Also, something's worth thinking about is the way ChermChey was probably planned to be received by the audience weekly, considering the rhythm of the story. But, in a long term, that really sucks. Found Yim so cute in this series as a whole. Tutor's unbelievably beautiful with a blonde hair. They're so good.

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Meh.

I found this interesting at first, but I don't know... it just wasn't my cup of tea.

For me, the story left me asking, "Why?" Was it meant to be about healing? Moving on? I'm honestly not sure what the drama was trying to convey. One of the male leads' acting also didn't quite work for me. It felt a bit stiff, so I had a hard time connecting with the character.

As the story went on, it felt like there was one plot twist after another, and I personally found a lot of them unnecessary. Again, I kept asking myself, "Why?" Why did he have to die in a car accident? Why spend so much time developing the other ship when they were never meant to end up together? And what was the purpose of that final goodbye from the one who had already passed away? Maybe I just didn't fully understand what the writers were going for.

OMG, this review sounds so harsh. 😂 Please don't come for me. This is just how the series personally landed for me, and I can completely understand why others might love it. It simply wasn't for me, and that's okay. We all have different tastes, and unfortunately, this one just didn't click with me.

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Som Couple

My Som couple. My Sharmaine couple. 😭 I really hate saying goodbye to them.

First things first, let's appreciate the cinematography and color grading of this series because I think most people would agree that they're absolutely stunning. Every time I watched When Oranges Fall, I found myself smiling from ear to ear throughout the entire episode.

I know I said before that I was getting tired of high school BLs, but I'll gladly take that back. I just needed the right series, and this was definitely one of them. When Oranges Fall has such a calming and nostalgic atmosphere that every episode feels warm and comforting. Age doesn't matter here because every interaction between the couples will still give you butterflies. The angst and conflicts are grounded enough to feel like something real teenagers would actually go through, and they might even take you back to your own high school days.

What I loved the most was how the series explored the emotions and uncertainties that come with graduating from high school. Ko Neung may have seemed immature at times, but that's honestly how a teenager deeply in love would think and act. At that age, your partner feels like your whole world. 😂 Thankfully, they learned to overcome those fears, doubts, and insecurities together, and that's what made their journey so satisfying to watch.

And yes, we were definitely robbed of those two episodes. The story could have been even better if the real-life issue involving one of the actors hadn't happened. But it is what it is. Even with that, this series remains a genuinely beautiful watch, not just for teenagers, but for viewers of all ages. (Speaking on behalf of Team 30s. 😂)

One last question, though...

Did Ko Song's lost package from Episode 1 ever find its way back to its rightful owner? Because I'm still waiting for that closure. 🤣📦🍊

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Review of the first 6 episodes to date

I know many do not like seeing reviews of unfinished dramas, but I have so much to say that I fear I will forget by the time this drama wraps up, so I want to put pen to paper after watching the first 6 episodes and will update once the season wraps up.

So, to date, my overall reaction is that this second season is bigger, denser, and more overtly political than Season 1, but still manages to capture one's full attention; I know it does mine. I feel like I am transported to a different world when I am watching the two-drop episodes each week. I am in awe at how much work has been put into this drama, be it the actors, the writers, the director, or the producers. Just in awe. The one thing I've noticed so far is that the show has traded some of the relentless survival-thriller energy of Ji-an defending the shopping mall for a broader war against Babylon and a deeper exploration of Jin-man's past.

So what is Season 2 doing differently, some of you may ask? To answer this question, I must first say that Season 1 was essentially built around a fantastic hook: a young woman discovers her dead uncle was running a covert arms-and-assassination network. Everything was filtered through Ji-an's confusion and terror. Season 2 shifts the perspective. Instead of asking: what is happening, the question becomes: how do we destroy Babylon? The narrative fills in gaps from the first season and runs parallel stories involving Jin-man's survival, Babylon's internal politics, and the broader network of killers. I find this expansion exciting because the world suddenly feels much larger. I have seen reviews where others say the show has lost some of the claustrophobic intensity that made its first season so addictive. I disagree, but that is why differing perspectives matter.

A new season brings with it new characters, but the characters that matter most are the returning ones, such as Ji-an, Jin-man, Pasin, So Min Hye, Brother, and others. Ji-an remains the emotional center of the series. The biggest development is that she is no longer merely reacting. In Season 1 she was being hunted; in Season 2 she's increasingly making choices and asserting herself within a world she once barely understood. The show is gradually turning her from survivor into player.

As for Jeong Jin-man, he remains the focus, and Lee Dong-wook continues to carry the show. I think one of the clever aspects of Season 2 is showing what Jin-man was doing behind the scenes while Season 1 events unfolded. Rather than undoing Season 1, it reframes it. We learn that many events were part of a much larger operation against Babylon. Jin-man remains fascinating because he genuinely loves Ji-an but routinely manipulates information "for her own good." That contradiction is one of the strongest themes of the season.

As for Pasin and the old crew, they continue to provide continuity with the first season and help expand the mythology of Babylon and the mercenary world. They're arguably more important now because the conflict has moved from a personal siege into something resembling a covert war.

And, of course, there is Bale. He has always been one of the most memorable characters because he's pure chaos. I think what I found fascinating about him is that he is, in more ways than one, Jin-man's dark mirror. Both are lethal operators, with the biggest distinction being that Bale kills because he enjoys it, while Jin-man does only when he has to. I know I am not the only one who kept thinking throughout Season 1, and especially at the end, how did Bale survive? Well, Season 2 finally addresses that. The explanation is that Babylon pulled him out and protected him, tying his survival directly to the organization's power and influence. To me, he is almost mythic; everything Jin-man isn't and yet somehow just as magnetic. He is the villain one loves to hate. In a way, I feel that Babylon uses him to exacerbate situations involving Jin-man, his family, and his friends. He is a tool to be discarded once it becomes obsolete. He is the symptom rather than the cause.

The new characters, however, are where Season 2 really starts to broaden its world. To me, it feels like the new additions are generally there to flesh out Babylon itself. One improvement over Season 1 is that Babylon no longer feels like a vague shadow organization. The show spends more time showing its structure, hierarchy, security systems, rivalries, and internal power struggles. The downside is that not every new character gets enough development. One of them is Okada Masaki. I love him as an actor and was so excited to see him join this season.

That said, two of the new additions who immediately captured my attention are J and Q. Part of that comes down to the performances themselves, but it is also because both characters bring a very different energy into the series. In a drama filled with professional killers, mercenaries, and operatives who often project competence through silence and restraint, J and Q somehow manage to stand out while still feeling completely at home in this world. What I particularly enjoy is the chemistry between them. Whether they are exchanging looks, trading barbs, or working together, they inject a sense of unpredictability into every scene they appear in. They feel dangerous, but also strangely entertaining to watch. Their presence adds another layer to the expanding world of Babylon and helps prevent the growing cast from feeling too similar.

The actors deserve a great deal of credit for this. New characters in a second season often struggle to establish themselves because audiences are already invested in the returning cast. Yet both performers make an immediate impression and feel as though they belong in this world. Even when they are not driving the story forward, they are the kind of characters who naturally draw your attention whenever they appear on screen. More importantly, they represent one of Season 2's greatest strengths: its ability to continually introduce new players while making the world feel larger, more interconnected, and alive. I still hope the series spends more time developing some of its newer characters, but J and Q are among the few who already feel like more than just pieces on the board. A few others, however, feel more like pieces on a chessboard than fully realized people, which I guess makes Babylon and those who continue to do its dirty work the real monsters.

The biggest strengths of the first 6 episodes -- Lee Dong-wook. He is as fantastic as ever. He remains effortlessly charismatic and believable as a strategist, fighter, and reluctant guardian. The world-building is much richer. Babylon finally feels like an institution rather than a mysterious plot device. And the fact that we get to see actors from Japan and other countries makes it that much more impactful. This season also has incredibly strong action sequences. I mean, the first one did as well, but this time around, the fluidity, efficiency, and speed that the Japanese affiliation brings is just a pleasure to watch. The action remains among the best in recent K-drama thrillers. The show understands geography and tension better than many action series.

I think what I like most is that the second season is not just a continuation of the first, but that it provides us with a better understanding of Season 1. Many scenes from the first season gain new meaning once the additional context is revealed. But like any drama that expands its storytelling, especially one that is as fast-paced as this one, it becomes less suspenseful. Not that this means it is any less good, just that it can occasionally feel a bit more predictable, though I am only speaking about the first 6 episodes. Season 1 had a simple, almost perfect premise: survive the night. Season 2 is more complicated but sometimes less gripping because of it. The pacing can feel uneven at times, especially when the drama pauses its momentum for exposition about Babylon's operations and internal politics. The expanding cast means some characters receive less attention than they deserve, while others perhaps receive more than they need. But there is still so much more story to tell, so who knows where it will all lead.

No doubt Season 1 was tighter and arguably more original. Season 2 is more ambitious and expansive. Whether it's better ultimately depends on where it goes from here. This said, I love this season, and I find myself at my wits' end having to wait week to week for new episodes. If you watched Season 1 primarily for Ji-an's desperate fight for survival, Season 2 may feel less focused. If you were fascinated by Jin-man, Babylon, Bale, and the hidden world around the shopping mall, Season 2 is probably giving you exactly what you wanted. I know it is for me.

For me, this season seems to be less about the inconceivable acts some of these people commit and more about the machine that created them in the first place. And I am completely here for that. The rating is based on the first 6 episodes only!

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honest feedback

after completing this series i can finally understand why certain things happened & characters behaved in a way i couldn’t interpret at first. ngl i had a headache to process what was going on, every time, throughout the series but good thing a solution always comes after. the genre isn’t really my cup of tea and i feel like the script is still weak but thanks god to the actors/actress’ talent that they know to deliver every line without making it awkward, thats why i gave them a 9. perhaps, for someone who prefers a fantasy with a plot twist that makes you go “oh i was tricked” at the end, this is for you, but for me, i’d rather watch something simpler and easy to ‘consume’ lol so that’s the reason the storyline got 4. i also wanna point out that ep 11 is my fav ep from the series. if i could rate only one episode, ep 11 will get 10/10 from me. the camping scene had me laughing and enjoying it so much that i forgot about the whole plot. overall, the bl is good, but i know it can be better. good enough to watch and see how they played it well <3

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Ok?! Taeson!!

Korean BLs rarely fail to deliver, and this is another proof of that. What I love about KBLs is that, most of the time, the story always comes first. They don't compromise the plot just to squeeze in flirting or NC scenes. Even when there are a few flaws, the storytelling is strong enough that you barely notice them.

The actors absolutely nailed their characters. I spent most of the series hating Taeson, and that's honestly a compliment to his performance. 😂 While the overall premise isn't the most unique, it's still the kind of story we rarely get to see in BLs, which made it feel refreshing.

And can we talk about the NC scenes? They weren't just there for fan service. The cinematography, the emotions, the chemistry, and even the audio made every scene feel natural and incredibly well-executed. They enhanced the story instead of distracting from it.

Overall, it's a solid watch that proves you don't need to sacrifice storytelling to deliver great romance and chemistry.

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An impactful must watch drama

If you have not yet seen Love in the Big City, I implore you to do so. This story contains so much beauty and intricacy that can only be experienced though watching it, SO GO DO IT!

Anyway here’s my review:

In the ten years we follow Go Young we bear witness to every aspect of his life, from the realities of living with HIV, to dealing with his hyper-religious dying mother, to a suicide attempt. These sensitive subjects are handled with care but not sugarcoated, resulting in something that feels raw, realistic, and personal.

This drama is guided by Go Young's retrospective narration, which I interpreted as excerpts from a future novel of his. The narration is often poetic and brings another dimension to Go Young and the people around him. Go Young's narration also delivers one of my favourite quotes from the series: "In the face of a tough life and a long time love is powerless".

This line harkens back to one of the central ideas of the drama; is everlasting love real? Throughout the course of Love in the Big City we see Go Young enter various romantic relationships. They bring him moments of happiness and suffering, subsequently ending in hurt. Which makes him question if love has an expiration date.

Another theme that stuck out to me was loneliness. We see the different ways it develops in Go Young's life and his futile attempts to quell it. Even when he’s dating, even when he’s living with someone, the loneliness inevitably sets back in. All of his solutions are temporary.

Although Go Young’s loneliness is ever-present, it isn't permanent. A beacon of light that consistently makes him feel seen is his friends. When he spends time with them he can be loud, unabashed, and confident. He can stick his head out the window as they drive around in a bright pink car. Go Young’s friends are also the only characters that stay with him from the beginning to the very end of the series, affirming their loyalty. Absent of everything else, Go Young still has his friends.

In the final episode of Love in the Big City, we see Go Young write down a wish on a floating lantern. He wishes for love. After the lantern is released into the air, it burns down and falls into the sea. His hopes quite literally go up in flames. Despite this, the series ends on a rather optimistic note; Go Young smiling as he watches fireworks with his friends. I think in this moment Go Young realizes that he is loved and has been loved this whole time. Love exists in many forms, it doesn't have to be romantic or familial. Love's versatility is an aspect of its beauty.

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East Palace – A Masterpiece of Destiny, Sacrifice, and Love

East Palace is one of those rare dramas that completely draws you into its world. From the very first episode to the final scene, it balances political intrigue, heartfelt romance, unforgettable characters, and emotional storytelling with remarkable confidence. It never relies on spectacle alone—the true strength of this drama lies in its people and the choices they make.

The story unfolds at a carefully measured pace, allowing every relationship to develop naturally. Friendships feel genuine, rivalries carry real weight, and the romance grows through trust, loyalty, and shared hardship rather than simple attraction. Every victory feels earned, and every loss leaves its mark.

What truly elevates East Palace is its cast. The performances are exceptional across the board, with each actor bringing depth and authenticity to their character. Even the supporting cast shines, making the palace feel alive with people whose stories matter. There were very few one-dimensional characters—everyone had motivations, strengths, and flaws that made them believable.

Visually, the drama is stunning. The costumes, cinematography, and palace settings create an elegant atmosphere without overshadowing the story itself. Every scene feels thoughtfully composed, enhancing both the quieter emotional moments and the larger political conflicts.

One of the greatest strengths of East Palace is how emotionally rewarding it is. It made me smile, laugh, worry, and occasionally break my heart. The drama understands that the most memorable moments are often the quiet conversations, acts of sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty between people.

By the end, I wasn’t just watching a historical drama—I felt as though I had lived alongside these characters. Long after the final episode, they stayed with me, and that’s the mark of truly exceptional storytelling.

If you enjoy historical dramas with intelligent political intrigue, beautifully developed relationships, outstanding performances, and genuine emotional depth, East Palace is an easy recommendation.

A drama that reminded me why I fell in love with historical series in the first place.

⭐ Rating: 10/10 – An unforgettable journey that deserves a place among the very best historical dramas.

And we want a season 2 ☺️

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A Heartfelt Journey That Tried to Tell Too Many Stories

I went into Road to Success expecting a heartwarming sports drama, but what I found was something much more ambitious. It tries to blend coming-of-age, healing, sports, romance, mystery, trauma, family drama, and even a little suspense into one story. On paper, it has everything I usually enjoy, and for the first half, I genuinely thought it was going to end up in my 9s. Unfortunately, while its ambition is admirable, it ultimately becomes the very reason the drama struggles to reach its full potential.

The first fifteen episodes were honestly fantastic. They were fun, emotional, and surprisingly engaging. Every episode gave me something to look forward to. I loved the interactions between the characters, especially all the little inner monologues and the way everyone constantly misunderstood each other while the audience knew what was actually happening. Those moments gave the drama so much personality and made the cast incredibly easy to love. By that point, I was already thinking this would easily end up being an 8.5 or even a 9 out of 10.

Sadly, somewhere after episode fifteen, everything started losing momentum.

The biggest problem is that Road to Success simply tries to tell too many stories within thirty-two episodes. There are so many interesting plotlines that constantly compete for attention that none of them receive the development they deserve. The mysterious person responsible for bringing the football team back together feels incredibly important during the beginning, only to disappear for a huge portion of the drama before suddenly becoming relevant again. The same happens with several family storylines. We never really see whether Wen Chengye's father genuinely accepts his son's decision to play football, and Lin Wanxing's relationship with her parents also feels unresolved. They're briefly confronted, then quietly disappear without giving us the emotional closure those relationships deserved.

The biggest disappointment, however, was the entire storyline surrounding Lin Wanxing's past. The person responsible for destroying her career is introduced as this major mystery, yet when the truth finally comes out, the confrontation feels incredibly easy. The male lead finds him almost effortlessly, resolves everything quickly, and the drama immediately moves on. Considering this event shaped the female lead's entire life, I expected a much more emotional and satisfying resolution.

That became a recurring issue throughout the drama.

Every time the story introduced an interesting mystery, emotional conflict, or character trauma, it would quickly rush through the resolution before moving on to the next storyline. Instead of allowing emotional moments to breathe, the narrative constantly jumped ahead, making many scenes feel less impactful than they should have.

The drama's biggest weakness is its pacing.

Rather than naturally developing each storyline, it often feels like we're watching only the beginning and ending of important events while the middle is skipped entirely. You understand what happened, but you rarely experience how the characters reached those emotional conclusions. As a result, even scenes that should have been emotionally devastating never quite leave the impact they deserve.

This is especially noticeable because the drama is trying to balance so many different genres at once.

It wants to be a healing story, a sports drama, a romance, a mystery thriller, and a coming-of-age series simultaneously. Unfortunately, it never fully commits to any of them. The romance receives just enough attention to make you invested before disappearing for several episodes. The mysteries are intriguing until they're solved far too easily. The sports storyline builds excitement but often takes a back seat to other plots. The healing journeys are genuinely meaningful but frequently interrupted by another mystery waiting to be solved.

Instead of complementing each other, these genres often compete for screen time.

The romance was probably my biggest personal disappointment.

The chemistry between Esther Yu and Chen Jingke is genuinely lovely, and I really enjoyed watching them together during the early episodes. Their slow burn initially felt very promising. However, somewhere along the way, that slow burn simply... stopped burning.

Once the male lead realized Lin Wanxing wasn't responsible for the incident he blamed her for, it almost felt like the romance paused entirely. By the time he finally confessed his feelings, I found myself no longer emotionally invested in whether they became a couple or not. Their dating phase was equally underwhelming, lacking the emotional payoff that such a long buildup should have delivered.

Ironically, despite romance not being the drama's strongest element, Esther Yu gives one of the most mature performances of her career.

I've always thought she was capable of much more than the overly cute characters she's often cast as, and this drama proves exactly that. Lin Wanxing is warm, compassionate, resilient, and quietly determined without becoming exaggerated. Esther balances vulnerability and strength beautifully, making this one of my favorite performances from her so far.

Chen Jingke was equally enjoyable.

His reserved personality worked perfectly opposite Esther's warmth, and together they provided the emotional center that kept me invested even when the storytelling became uneven. I just wish he had received even more screen time because every time the drama focused on him, it became noticeably stronger.

The real stars of the series, however, are the students.

Watching these children slowly overcome trauma, abuse, family pressure, bullying, and feelings of worthlessness became the emotional heart of the drama. The football team wasn't simply learning how to play a sport—they were learning how to believe in themselves again. Whether their struggles came from poverty, wealth, strict parents, neglect, or emotional abuse, every child represented a different kind of pain.

The message that everyone carries invisible burdens regardless of social status was genuinely beautiful. More importantly, the drama constantly reminds us that having someone believe in you can completely change the direction of your life.

Unfortunately, even here the writing feels inconsistent.

The team is introduced as a complete group, yet by the second half the story focuses almost exclusively on three or four members while the rest quietly fade into the background. I found myself wanting to know more about many of the other students, but the drama simply didn't have enough time.

The mystery elements also left me frustrated.

Who left the email and password on the classroom board? Who created the puzzles leading to her grandfather's classroom? Who placed the photographs and keys? These details seemed incredibly important when they were introduced, but the drama often forgot about them until it suddenly remembered they existed. Instead of creating satisfying mysteries, they ended up feeling like convenient plot devices.

Some scenes also felt surprisingly illogical.

One example that really bothered me was the counseling session where the female lead somehow overhears the male lead's private conversation with his psychologist. Confidential therapy sessions exist for a reason, and using such an unrealistic situation simply to force emotional development felt incredibly awkward.

The football itself was enjoyable, although not always convincing.

The matches created excitement, but occasionally it was obvious the actors weren't actually playing competitive football. The coaching also felt inconsistent. We're told Wang Fa is one of the country's most respected youth coaches, yet during one of the biggest matches his strategy essentially comes down to telling the team to eat well, sleep well, and stay calm while the opposing team arrives with detailed tactical plans. Moments like that made the sports aspect feel less authentic than it could have been.

Another aspect that never quite worked for me was how the drama handled some of its supporting relationships. Lin Wanxing's friendship with her best friend left me more confused than emotionally invested. The story kept insisting they shared an incredibly deep bond, but I rarely felt it. In fact, some of their interactions almost made it seem as though her friend had romantic feelings for her rather than simply being a close friend. They never shared those heartfelt conversations or moments of emotional vulnerability that usually define a lifelong friendship, so when the drama leaned on that relationship for emotional impact, it didn't resonate as strongly as it should have.

The same issue applies to Wang Fa's manager and best friend. While he provided some comic relief, he often felt like a character who existed only when the plot needed him. His relationship with Wang Fa's sister also never sat right with me. He continued pursuing her even though she clearly wasn't taking the relationship seriously, yet she never gave him a firm rejection either. Instead of feeling like a charming slow-burn romance, their dynamic became awkward and frustrating because neither character seemed honest about what they wanted. It was another subplot that could have been much stronger with better development.

Despite all these issues, there is still so much to appreciate.

The performances are consistently strong across the entire cast. Esther Yu delivers one of her best roles to date, Chen Jingke is quietly compelling, and the young actors deserve enormous praise for carrying so much emotional weight. The drama genuinely succeeds whenever it slows down and allows its characters to simply exist together.

In many ways, Road to Success feels like several really good dramas trying to occupy the same thirty-two episodes. Every individual storyline had enough potential to become emotionally memorable, but because the drama kept rushing from one idea to another, very few of them reached the depth they deserved.

That's ultimately how I feel about the entire series.

For fifteen episodes, I genuinely believed I was watching a drama that would easily earn a place among my favorites. Then the pacing accelerated, the mysteries became easier, the romance lost its emotional momentum, and the resolutions started arriving before the emotional journeys had properly unfolded.

It's still an enjoyable watch with meaningful themes, lovable characters, and genuinely heartfelt moments. It reminds us that healing often begins with someone simply believing in us, and that no matter our background, everyone carries struggles that aren't immediately visible.

I just wish the drama had trusted those stories enough to let them breathe.

The first half promised something truly special. The second half never quite lived up to that promise. Still, thanks to its wonderful cast, heartfelt message, and memorable students, Road to Success remains a worthwhile watch—even if it never fully reaches the heights it seemed destined for.

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Kim Tae Ri as always at her superb best

Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024)

A stunning production, which I gather did not garner much enthusiasm as the time it was released. Which is a pity because, for someone like me who knew nothing about pansori storytelling or gukgeuk theatre, it was a real eye-opener – the theatrical productions and auditions from this Korean arts tradition were a joy to watch. Whether the writing between the lines is Sapphic or not.

The cast, with Kim Tae-Ri in the lead, were also stellar. The vocal acrobatics of all actor/singers (whether voiced-over or not I do not know, but it didn’t seem to matter in any case, so why am I raising the issue…) were staggering in stark contrast to the simple folk tales and heroic events enacted in the theatre productions.

Kim Tae Ri, as ever, stood head and shoulders above everyone for the depth, intelligence and sensitivity of her acting, whether as a young woman fighting multiple challenges in order to become a gukgeuk actor, or as that actor on stage. Her vocal modulation technique in particular was remarkable. I never tire of watching her in the ambitious parts she always manages to choose.

My only quibble would be the tendency at times towards lengthy melodramatic moments, especially between members of the gukgeuk troupe. But that may be my 21st century European perspective which could arguably be viewed as inappropriate for a series set in Korea in the 1950s (excellent set and costumes btw). However, perhaps the script could nonetheless have taken the contemporary sensitivities of the target viewership into account?

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MUITO BOM!!! ABSOLUTE CINEMA!!!

RANK DOS CURTAS:
1. In The End.
Esse foi o melhor dos dois filmes. Simplesmente absolute cinema. Como que pode? Um filme de 2008 ter tanto a oferecer: comédia e terror. Meu deus, incrível mesmo, ri demais.

2. Backpackers.
SPOILER!!: Adorei a trama de zombie do nada e os dois japoneses. Se fosse um filme completo mesmo e tivesse mais profundidade teria sido INCRÍVEL.

3. Ward.
Gostei da história toda, maaaas acho que o final deixou a desejar.

3. Salvage.
Me deu dó independente se ela é uma pessoa ruim. O que o bebezinho tem a ver com a maldade dela?

4. Novice.
Uma grande besteira.

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Uncomfortable Watch

The age gap in the beginning of the show makes me feel too uncomfortable, and they could have shown less, such as a simple, momentary crush maybe, but they chose to build the relationship from there by calling it love. Yikes. I had high hopes since it's high up on the lists, but I guess I should remind myself that the audience for Asian dramas is very young and might still think these types of situations are okay. But it's not okay, guys. Like the show says, if you are 20 and meet someone who is 25, it might be okay, but 14 to 19 is absurd. (Still not for me, though, as I think a 5-year age gap is only okay for people above 25.)

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