This review may contain spoilers
A good watch
The alternate-history setting is truly unique and interesting theme.IU brings her signature charm to Seong Hui-ju — bold, a little chaotic, and deeply compelling. Byeon Woo-seok as Grand Prince Yi-an is quietly magnetic — his character carries layers of suppressed pain and guarded hope that he conveys with real restraint. But what truly made this drama feel alive was its ensemble. Every supporting character — from the scheming court figures to the loyal side characters — added genuine texture to the world. The supporting cast didn't just exist to fill scenes; they made you care about the universe beyond the central romance. When a drama succeeds at that, it's a sign of both strong writing and a committed cast delivering at every level.
A formal petition was posted to the National Assembly's public petition board criticizing the drama for allegedly borrowing Chinese-style clothing, etiquette, and vocabulary despite being set in a fictionalized version of Korea — with petitioners arguing it engaged in cultural appropriation and historical distortion. Specific criticisms included details like the use of nine strings when emperors use twelve, and the greeting "Cheon-cheon-se" when emperors are traditionally greeted with "Man-man-se." As a history buff, these are not trivial points. Attention to cultural and historical detail matters — especially now, when Korean dramas and films are no longer viewed only domestically, with the entire world watching. The concern that a globally distributed show could muddle Korean identity and it's a conversation the industry genuinely needs to have.
That said, the drama was set in an alternate version of modern Korea operating under a constitutional monarchy — a work of fiction, not a history lesson. The leap from "this drama made historical missteps" to "demand the immediate suspension of the drama's broadcast and its complete removal from VOD and OTT platforms" is a dramatic one. Demanding erasure of a creative work over correctable errors — ones the production team did address with edits and apologies — crosses into overcorrection. Art can be criticized and improved; it doesn't need to be destroyed.
The drama's biggest missed opportunity, for me, is the ending of the monarchy thread. The show builds a world where royalty and privilege are woven into everyday modern life, which creates a perfect canvas to explore how that very structure harms ordinary people. The rigid class divisions, the way Hui-ju's illegitimate birth becomes an obstacle despite all her ability, the political maneuvering to protect royal bloodlines — all of it hints at a deeper critique. But the drama never quite commits to it.
It would have been powerful to see concrete moments showing how royal status and inherited privilege extract a real cost from common people — not just as a backdrop for the romance, but as a theme the story actually wrestled with. That layer of social commentary would have elevated Perfect Crown from a very enjoyable rom-com into something more memorable and meaningful.
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Don't mind the bad reviews. It is not bad
I am sure we have watched alot of average Kdramas where it is cute, funny and includes supporting casts finding love as well....I liked it even though it is not perfect but it was a good watch. Lee Hae Seok and Dam Ye Jin had great chemistry.
I was wondering though, how he is so concerned about her not getting sleeping or not enough when he himself is having the same issues LOL.
Overall, it was light, romantic and inspiring not to give up on your dreams.
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This review may contain spoilers
“You, me, and them - we were all scarecrows.”
“Scarecrow” is a detective thriller about a former police officer who returns to his hometown of Kangsan and teams up with his former school rival, now a prosecutor, to investigate a series of mysterious murders. As the investigation unfolds, both men are forced to confront secrets from their past.The first thing I want to praise is the dual timeline structure, which switches between 1998 and 2019. In my opinion, it was used very effectively and helped reveal the story gradually while making the plot easier to follow. I’ve seen a similar approach in the drama “The Frog,” but there it felt much less successful.
I also loved the overall atmosphere of the drama. The cinematography and soundtrack perfectly capture the mood of the story and make it easy to become immersed in its world. The character I connected with the most was Tae Ju. He genuinely wanted to uncover the truth and do what was right. More importantly, he was one of the few people who truly recognized his mistakes and felt remorse for them.
What stayed with me the most after finishing the drama was its overwhelming sense of injustice. Even after all those years, the people responsible never admitted their wrongdoing. They continued to live comfortably, enjoying their status and privileges, while the victims were left carrying that pain for the rest of their lives. The drama does an excellent job of showing what people are willing to do for money and power. That’s probably why it feels so impactful - it reflects real life, where evil is not always punished and justice does not always prevail.
One quote that particularly resonated with me was: “You, me, and them - we were all scarecrows.” To me, this line captures the main message of the drama. The real “scarecrow” was not just the killer, but also everyone whose actions, mistakes, or silence contributed to the tragedy in one way or another.
I was especially touched by the final scene where Tae Joo dreams of a reality in which everyone is alive and happy. After all the pain and injustice throughout the story, that moment felt truly heartbreaking, as it showed the life they could have had if the tragedy had never happened.
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Gong Myoung is undeniably the greatest fit for the lead role!
This series surprisingly captivates me and I enjoy watching it.Story: It has a straightforward narration of the trope "how to hate him/her lovingly", "secret workplace romance", "superior-subordinate romance", "workplace politics", and "one-sided love". I would say the element of humor elevates the story telling making it really fun to watch. It was interesting for me to see how a specific "Audit Department" exists and functions for a large business entity and how essential its role in administering and protecting the set work ethics morally. I love how the story simply resolve each character's conflict by accepting the variables in their lives and making the right decisions that would not merely benefit themselves but the people around them. All in all, the story has a lot of heart in capturing best the emotion, warmth, and sincerity.
Acting/Cast: Shin Hae Sun & Gong Myoung has a slow burning chemistry here. Unlike with other pairings, the moment you see them together, you could instantly see the visual chemistry but, with these two it's totally different. Their chemistry shines and literally explodes during their interactions and performances together in this series. You will love the dynamics of their pre & post relationship scenes that their differences in work status, age, family backgrounds, and convictions work for them favorably. Meanwhile, Kim Jae Wook with whom I'm not used to seeing a weak character role here delivers a satisfying performance too. His laid back, soft and mellow movements shows flawless alignment to what he is portraying. His character might be spineless but he's decent and has a good soul. Lastly, Hong Hwa Yeon, whose character comes into circle from good to bad to good, does an impressive portrayal as well. Her character is annoyingly relatable that heightens the tensions in the story compromising the reputations of the other three lead roles.
Music: This is the area where the series fall short. I really can't recall a background song for this one. Fortunately, the executions, performances, and dialogues make this shortcoming unnoticeable.
Rewatch Value: Yes, a definite option to watch again sometime. I'd love to see how specifically Gong Myoung make me a fan through this. Seeing this will make you want to have a decent, adorable, protective, and charming boyfriend like him in a workplace.
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GREAT IDEA, BAD EXECUTION
Im sure everyone had high expectations for this one. Honestly the girls were really good and thats the only thing that makes this series actually watchable. If it weren't for the cast this show would be a total flop from gmmtv. Messy plots, no character development and non existent budget. The production team did a terrible job basically with everything and its a shame because it could have been one of the greatest gls with that cast. Ending was good tho, glad this is over.Was this review helpful to you?
A Dark and Psychological Drama That Explores Trauma, Revenge, and Forgiveness
I really liked this. It’s gripping, dark, and highly psychological. The only downside for me was that Yan Zixian wasn’t the main lead—especially since I felt something missing in Zhang Chuhan’s performance who was. That said, Yan Zixian still played a significant role, and at times it felt like he and Zhang Chuhan were dual leads. Both characters were essential to the female lead’s development, offering two very different arcs: one rooted in healing and closure, and the other offering a future and fresh start. I think this drama really highlights Yan Zixian’s talent and delivers a powerful portrayal of mental anguish, revenge, and the complex layers involved in processing trauma and forgiveness. It's a haunting piece, so I do think it deserves fair warning before jumping in.Was this review helpful to you?
1Plot written in bullet points.
Why did it feel like chatgpt writing? Nothing was explained, nothing was developed, nothing was truly connected. What happened? Why it happened? Don’t know. Sometimes it’s fine, but only when the horror does not pretend to have a plot, but here - they tried to fool me.They gave me nothing except for a decent set up. But I feel like I only have bullet points of who the characters are, what’s the background, and what the plot is about - not a full narrative structure. Female lead with trauma - why, when, how? Senior with unexplained past and motives. Granny with vague goals and even more vague past. Rules of the supernatural that no one understands and cares to explore. Ending that kind of makes sense, but also feels not satisfying at all.
They had the cast and they had the budget, so what happened? It’s 2026 - lake lady with long black hair is not enough anymore. With all the innovative takes and twists in the genre you cannot give bare minimum and be happy with the result.
They tried to make it more fresh with camera work, but some ideas were ill-fitting. That fish lens bird view not only made me feel nauseous, but also it fitted more for a kids movie adventure type of a story.
The performances were good, but the writing for the characters was a mess. Example: Han Su In one second be acting like a true skeptic who only believes what she sees, to then be the first one to act paranoid because of the supernatural events.
Maybe I saw too many horrors in my life, but this one was simply below the average. There were two moments I did enjoy - both in the lake with the ghost attacking/trapping/hunting the characters down. Effective scares, too bad the story itself created zero tension.
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Watch it for the food!
I hadn't seen the leads in other roles, and I enjoyed them both in this. I liked his goofiness. He and the FL bickered like an old married couple, which was cute. The secondary characters that helped them with the restaurant were fun to watch as well. The food was beautifully displayed and filmed.My problem with this show was that it went off the rails with the entrance of the ex-boyfriend. I always like to see Yoo Yeon Seok in anything, but this storyline departed too far from the original storyline and then we lost time trying to get it back on track.
And can we talk about the ML's mother?!? What a nightmare (as she was meant to be)! But when she cheated during the competition and the French guy knew it, she should have been called out on it.
This show was an enjoyable watch, but it failed to live up to its own expectations.
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Cozy Romcom which actually stays true to it's "Romcom" tag
I usually avoid SHS dramas as her characters tend to be overbearing more often than not, but somehow that very thing works positively here and Gong Myoung's character complements her really well throughout, which makes the series fun add to the chaotic Team Three and visuals of KJW you can say this is amongst the easy to watch series in recent times with no misunderstandings or such useless tropes usually seen without context in kdramaland. Overall, it's consistent throughout, although it does lag a bit in between episodes, but once the love triangle is resolved the story and drama goes in good pace and maintains the fun vibe it started with and manages to give a rather satisfactory ending among other kdramasWas this review helpful to you?
Under rated
Just saw clips of the show but always loved Honami Suzuki. Shes a wonderful actress and the chemistry between her and the lead was nice. Sad ending seems like. Wish I could watch this fully but not sure where to look for it. If anyone can suggest.From the clips I saw I find the script to be nice. I hope one day to be able to find where to watch the series.
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One of the Best Thai BL Shows 2026: Queerness, Christianity & Conversion Therapy
I have been waiting forever for this show after seeing the trailer in 2024.I have to say the first episode quenched that long feeling of anticipation. I love every bit of it and the story is surely off to a great start. The acting is really great too.
Let me add that this is not a simple feel-good BL series. It's something deeper than that. Think “I Told Sunset About You” This story also treats several themes of queerness, acceptance and the hetero-normative conformity struggles. Beyond that, there's also an exploration of conversion therapy (and its flaws)
All these is to say, this is surely a great series for those who are fans of deep and unconventional stories.
Should you start it? Without a doubt!
EDIT: This is going to be one of the best Thai BL shows in history.
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About humanity and normality
I felt this was a timely show as to how to treat people who are disabled and that they are also entitled to be loved and to love.To live with dignity. Just can’t understand how these people are treated as if they don’t deserve a stand in society. Like they never referred to her by name but the girl in a wheelchair. It’s so demeaning. How they compared her to Shuji’s old flame and how they blatantly suggest that she should meet her own kind for love. Hence this series gave dignity to the disabled people.
The lead actors had such chemistry and had funny and warm fuzzy moments. The ending was so sad but the monologues were delightful. Credit to the scriptwriter. The acting were just the right doses and so was the script. A delightful story to watch just be prepared with lots of tissues
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Absolute cinema
If you’re wondering if you should watch it or not, you definitely should. The wait was worth it, the beginning is amazing, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen something so amazing that made me love it from the first scene and even brought tears to my eyes. When Gmmtv announced this show I was worried it will get a lot of hate just because of its genres, however I believe that it will do the opposite. The fact that the first episode starts with same sex marriage becoming legal in 2025 and ends with two guys being judged for sleeping next to each other in pool in 1996 is an amazing detail that shows how much we changed as a society when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.And now the only thing we can do is wait for new episodes that I believe will be as good or even better than the first one.
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Worth watching !
For me, the best in the drama is the story and the comedy.This drama is a good short watch, something to enjoy for like, 3 hours and half. Not like the usual dramas about solving mysterious cases or demon killing plot, I didn't expected that the story goes deeper than that, but I won't spoil and let you discover it yourself.
The effects are good for a short drama. The story is paced with a light comedy, coming from characters well acted and thoughtfully crafted plot and scenes, that got us immersed in the story. If I have to find some negative points, it would be that the story might look stretched but in the end, that make sense.
Finally, I made this review only to say to you, who came across this page, that this drama deserves giving it a chance and I wish you to enjoy it as much as I did.
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Timeless classic that i can always come back to
I remember watching this show ages ago, maybe like 15 years ago or something. It popped back on my radar recently. I rewatched the show because it I remembered that it was funny with silly moments, and ofc the heartwarming moments of her getting to really know the students. Its a lot of older jokes that don't land the same, since nowadays its a bit more cliche. But the action comedy part of her being yakuza and also a teacher just makes the entire show funny. You can tell that she really want this but her quicks of how she grew up makes the teaching part much more difficult.It's a light drama for the most part, its easy to get through and be immersed in, as its got this "we are human, we make mistakes, its okay".
This is really a show that doesn't take itself too seriously but still somewhat serious. You have your silly moments - but you also have your heartwarming and moving moments.
If you want to watch this just keep in mind that this is an old show. So a lot might feel cliche and the archetypes that they play are overused, but this is a timeless classic.
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