Reviews

Please sell me my time back

God... where do I even start....
The script wasn't great. The conversations felt very "high school student who's writing a conversation for the first time".
The so called banter didn’t make sense a lot of the time. He's supposed to be a fan, yet it constantly shows him being distasteful towards his idol. It would make sense if they tried to make it so that he's trying to hide that he's a fan but that never seemed to be the case. He also kept getting disappointed that Gang Jae wasn't the person he showed himself to be, which could have been a good plot line of Ji U shifting to see him from an idol to an actual person but no. If literally was there for no reason. Because no matter how many times he seemed almost disgusted with Gang Jae, they would randomly show him back at being his 100% fan online.
I should have know the show was bad on the first episode, when the main couple meet, and the show tells us three freaking times in the next 5 minutes about "the tension" they had. The tension in question was them shaking hands and telling each other they're fans of one another, which somehow no one including them heard saying???
The plot, none sensical from the beginning. A professional soccer team with half players that can't play. They don't even train them, apart from training the relationship between in each other😭
Even if you ignore the premise of the show, the plot does not get better. They put in random storylines that never really lead anywhere. It almost seems like they cut scenes in between as well. Like the dream thing. We suddenly see a flashback of a dream Gang Jae had. Except, there was never a scene where he had that dream before??
And oh😩 The acting. Especially the one playing Gang Jae. It's literally high school amateur level. I will give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he was trying to overreact and have cliché, non-realistic expressions for, I don't even know, comedy reasons?? And not to sh*t on him, he's not ugly in any way, but he does look his age. And that age does not look the same as the others so making him and Ji U the same age was just an added inconsistency to the mix.

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The Untamed — A Story That Never Leaves Your Heart

Some dramas entertain you for a while. The Untamed stays with you forever.
It is a story that found its way into my heart and never left. Every smile, every sacrifice, every unspoken word carried a depth of emotion that is impossible to forget. Wei Wuxian taught me courage in the face of loneliness, while Lan Wangji showed me what unwavering love and loyalty truly look like.
This drama made me laugh, cry, and feel emotions I didn't know a story could awaken. It reminded me that even when the whole world misunderstands you, there can still be someone who believes in you without hesitation.
What makes The Untamed beautiful is not only its plot, but the feelings it leaves behind. The music still echoes in my heart, the characters still feel like old friends, and the memories remain as vivid as the first time I watched it.
Years may pass, new dramas may come and go, but The Untamed will always be the story I return to when I need comfort. It is not just a drama—it is a piece of my heart, a cherished memory, and a home I can revisit whenever I miss it.
Some stories end with the final episode. The Untamed begins there, living on in the hearts of those who loved it. :::
Featuring unforgettable performances by Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo in The Untamed

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Is being adored by millions actually worth the cost?

It's not a typical celebrity meets fan story.

What happens when the image people worship and the actual human being underneath are two completely different things.

Maeng Se-Na's successful, intelligent, terrifyingly competent in court, yet she's an entirely different person when Do Ra-Ik enters the conversation.

Ra-Ik initially appears to be the stereotypical difficult celebrity.

But the more time you spend with them, the more you realise everyone is carrying wounds they're desperately trying to hide.

Se-Na
Ra-Ik
Chung Jae
Hong Hye-Joo

Even people like Geum Bo-Sang, Prosecutor Kwak Byung-gyun, Reporter Baek, Kang Woo-Seong, Choi Jae-Hee and Lee Young-bin are introduced with layers that keep making you reassess them.

Sometimes I'd be convinced I understood a character's motivations and five scenes later I'd be sitting there like "Hold on... what are you actually hiding?"

One of my favourite things is how the drama explores celebrity culture without glamorising it. The story repeatedly pulls back the curtain on idol life and asks whether being adored by millions is actually worth the cost.
The fans.
The pressure.
The expectations.
The inability to simply exist as a normal human being.

The balance between emotional weight and humour is surprisingly good.

The relationship dynamics are great too.
Not just romantically but emotionally.

The story spends a lot of time exploring trust.
Who deserves it.
Who breaks it.
Who earns it.
And whether believing in someone is the same thing as actually knowing them.

Se-Na spends much of the story confronting the gap between the idol she created in her mind and the real person standing in front of her.
Because sometimes the hardest thing isn't loving someone. It's accepting who they really are.

The acting deserves praise too. Particularly the performances behind Se-Na and Ra-Ik. Their emotional scenes work because neither character feels emotionally invincible.
They cry.
They panic.
They make mistakes.
They get angry.
They retreat into themselves.
They're messy in ways that feel human.

The soundtrack also deserves a shoutout.

Overall, Idol I feels less like a celebrity romance and more like a story about loneliness, grief, trust, healing, and the dangerous gap between public image and reality.

It has mystery.
It has legal drama.
It has emotional trauma.
It has fandom commentary.

It has enough suspicious behaviour to make you side-eye almost every character at least once.

Watching this was a surprisingly heartfelt experience.

If you enjoy stories where characters slowly peel back their emotional armour and reveal the person underneath, there's a lot here to love.

What I Loved ❤️

Maeng Se-Na: One of the strongest parts of the drama. She's brilliant, stubborn, emotionally scarred, and surprisingly funny. Her journey feels personal and believable.

Do Ra-Ik's character depth: The story constantly challenges assumptions about him and refuses to reduce him to a celebrity stereotype.

The exploration of idol culture: The drama repeatedly questions fan obsession, celebrity worship, and the loss of personal freedom.

The emotional vulnerability: The characters are broken, scared, angry, and imperfect.

Se-Na and Ra-Ik's evolving relationship: It was built more on trust, understanding, and emotional healing than surface-level attraction.

Chung Jae: He constantly had me feeling bad for him while simultaneously appreciating how much he cared.

The mystery element: The fact that I was questioning everyone's motives.

The soundtrack

The commentary on loneliness: Especially the loneliness that exists even when someone is surrounded by people.


What I Didn't Love

There were some frustratingly stubborn characters.

The toxic side of fandom culture is uncomfortable to watch. It is of course intentional, but still frustrating.

The emotional suffering pile-up gets intense. Every time I thought Ra-Ik was finally catching a break, the drama would show up with another emotional brick.

Favourite Characters
1. Maeng Se-Na
2. Do Ra-Ik
3. Chung Jae
4. Kang Woo-Seong
5. Lee Young-bin


Most Frustrating Characters
1. Kwak Byung-gyun
2. Reporter Baek
3. Hong Hye-Joo (because girl... please stand up and make healthier decisions)
4. Ra-Ik's mother
5. Geum Bo-Sang: A perfect reflection of how some entertainment industry execs view these idols as products rather than humans.

Final Rating: 9/10

Not because it's perfect, but because it made me care. And once a drama gets me emotionally invested enough to argue with fictional characters through my screen, it's already doing something right.

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More than I ever expected

This drama left a lasting impression on me... I was hesitant to start it at first because the synopsis didn’t sound particularly appealing to me, despite the countless recommendations. I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance. So if you're anything like me and have been putting this drama off, I hope this review gives you that little push to finally watch it.

I enjoyed every second of this show. Even during the quieter moments when not much was happening, I was completely invested. The main storyline was captivating, and the characters made every scene worthwhile. I LOVED THEM ALL.

I went through a full range of emotions while watching which is something that doesn't happen often for me. I felt happy, sad, angry, frustrated, and even embarrassed at times.

SPOILER!!

My only complaint is, I would have loved to see more reactions from the supporting characters when Ji Eun Tak died. We didn't get to see that at all. The ending felt a little anticlimactic also. After everything the characters went through I wanted a more emotional payoff. I was hoping to see them run into each other's arms, overwhelmed with relief and excitement. Those moments felt like missed opportunities and would have made the finale even more satisfying.

Despite that, this is still a drama that will stay with me for a very long time, and one that I would happily recommend to others.

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Watching this series changed my life!

I don't even know where to begin writing this review... I still remember when the pilot of this series was released and I waited the rest of the year to watch Duang With You. I confess that the first three episodes didn't grab my attention much; I think some people agree that Duang's reactions were very exaggerated (but it's understandable when you look at his family, they're all so lively). But as time went on, I got used to his personality (and I even want a Duang for myself 🥹). After episode 4, I became completely obsessed (in a positive way) with DuangQin. From that episode on, my Saturdays watching Duang With You transported me to a world where I felt absolute happiness. No BL series I've watched (and believe me, there have been more than 200) has shown the relationship between the main characters as well as this series, and it's possible to feel the love and care they have for each other. Duang With You raised the bar for how characters show affection, and I can't watch any other series anymore without finding it boring. Seriously, the acting of the TeeTeePor was impeccable in this series (and in Your Sky too). I really miss the Saturdays when I could watch Duang With You. I hope TeeTeePor gets a new series soon! 🙏

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Came for the Mystery, Stayed for the Slow Burn Connection

Siren’s Kiss is a mature, character-driven thriller. It won't have you at the edge of your seat, but the character arcs made it very watchable for me.

What I Enjoyed:

Trust & Evolution: The highlight of this drama is the chemistry between the leads and how they grow to trust each other. Watching Cha Woo-seok (Wi Ha-joon) transition from a place of deep distrust, cynicism, and accusation to becoming Han Seol-ah’s (Park Min-young) biggest advocate and protector was beautifully executed.

A Soft Place to Land: In a world filled with high-stakes danger and suspicion, the emotional vulnerability between the leads is everything. Woo-seok truly becomes a safe, soft harbor for Seol-ah to drop her defenses, and their mutual emotional maturity is incredibly satisfying.

The Atmospheric Soundtrack: The OST sets the perfect, haunting mood for a dark psychological thriller, perfectly underscoring the quiet tension between the leads.

The Pacing: It isn't a heart-pounding, action-packed thriller. The pacing is on the slower side at times, but I appreciated that because it built some tension.

What Didn't Work as Well:

The Subplots: Not every narrative thread lands perfectly. I found the police to be narrow minded and steps behind. The second ML's sister's storyline became annoying.

Final Verdict:
Come for the mystery, but stay for the slow-burn partnership. Highly recommended if you prefer mature, equal, and protective romantic dynamics over generic tropes!

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Frustrating watch due bad writing

If you want to turn off your brain and watch this without a single critical thought in your head, then this drama is for you!

Gave this at least until episode 2 but I just can't bring myself to watch more cause if I did, I would be voluntarily torturing myself with the absolute emotional SLOP that is being force fed to the viewers. There were so many inconsistencies in basic human behavior on A LOT of moments that were written out just for the sake of forcefully "tugging on your heartstrings" like come on. I don't usually write reviews but I had to make an exception for this sorry piece of turd, and even calling it a turd would be disingenuous towards turds., at least with turds I can actually appreciate it coming out.

So far it seems like every character besides the wife and sister, are all missing a couple of chromosomes in their head. It's like playing a RPG game and you're given 4 choices of action to take and somehow they all take the most dumbest possible selection. Watching these characters make these choices is this kdrama's way of rage baiting you. Ts can't be serious.

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A good J-Drama turning into a bad K-Drama

This drama started well: lonely, disillusioned ML meets heart-broken FL. Love at first sight, straightforward communication, benevolant entourage. Plus, both are talented.
The story writes itself from here, one would think. But, for whatever reason, the writers decided to complicate things.

Midway through the drama, this cute little jdrama turns into your typical annoying kdrama, where the story jettisons half of itself and its characters, gives up on plausibility, and soaks itself into the unimaginative whim of the writers.

Miscommunication, noble idiocy,...
If you get annoyed at some point, please be aware that it will not get better. I was hoping for a white truck appearance late in the drama.

For those learning Japanese: FL uses a dialect from Kyushu. At my level, I found it hard to understand sometimes. Good practice in that regard. Japanes Subs are on Viki.

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10/10 Series Interest

10/10 Series Interest
The Netflix K-drama Teach You a Lesson (adapted from the popular webtoon Get Schooled) is a gripping, high-octane action thriller that has completely captivated audiences. The core appeal of the series lies in its provocative, edge-of-your-seat "power fantasy" premise. It introduces a reality where classroom discipline has totally collapsed due to systemic corruption, hyper-influential parents, and toothless school policies. In response to rampant bullying and extortion, the government sanctions a rogue task force called the Educational Rights Protection Bureau (ERPB).
Watching the charismatic field inspector Na Hwa-jin-a ruthless former Special Forces operator played brilliantly by Kim Mu-yeol-step into these broken institutions to bypass red tape and deliver immediate retribution to untouchable delinquents provides an immensely satisfying viewing experience.

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thank god it’s over

this got to be one of the worst BL shows ever. i loved the actors. i loved most of the ost. i loved the scenery.
that’s it.
the story was awful. the story telling also awful. a mixture of hiatory, dreams, reality, wishful thinking and god knows what. all shaken into this.
then in the last two episodes throw in a girl couple that wasn’t really a couple. the story would have been interesting but unfortunately we will never know.
the entire time everyone feels bad for Ba woo and how he suffered. when in reality Jee Hoon was in love with him a lot longer, just as scared and just as much in pain. the only difference was that he wasn’t an ass about it. he protected his feelings just like ba woo has done for much longer without the cruelty. first I thought he was the one oblivious but watching the last 5 minutes of the show it all made sense. finally. all the frienda knew about it. just not ba woo because he was just as ignorant as the other one. they are basically the same just one of them kept it friendly.
would I watch it again. nope. the actors yes but not this drama. it was torture to get through it.

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something in the rain 2 bis

ah la la la que dire... un seul mot du copié collé de something in the rain ... presque les mêmes acteurs... les musiques à foison qui énervent! et pour cause les mêmes scénaristes... mais une très belle histoire la mère qui est bien plus bienveillante ici que dans something in the rain (redorage de blason ???), l ex qui est stupide à souhait, il aurait mérité un bien meilleur développement... comme les sœurs d ailleurs. le père que dire ... si ce n est que la culture coréenne nous fait revivre dans les années 80 voir 50 par ces comportements de patriarcat bien lourd où la femme doit rester a sa place ( je vous rassure ça existe toujours en France) mais c est ce que veut nous montrer ce drama finalement, l émancipation des femmes , des filles par rapport à la misogynie ambiante. on est loin, très loin, des dramas qui idéalisent les hommes Coréens et ça fait du bien oufff ! foncez si vous avez aimé something in the rain, rythme lent ( beaucoup de démarrage de voiture etc ...)🤣🤣

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