A hilarious one man show by the adorable Liu Xi Yu
This is the second collab between Liu Xi Yu and Cao Tian Kai out of 3 total, I've seen the other two and surprisingly, this one is my favourite.İ love the duo together, unfortunately this was mainly Liu Xi Yu with Cao Tian Kai literally appearing in no more than 30 mins of the total 2 hrs show, however, and despite lacking a big deal in terms of romance, it was so good watch, and their scenes were so funny.
The story is the weakest thing ever, it's inconsistent and doesn't make any sense, Moreover I've watched the dubbed version which is probably why I was more confused.
This is the first time I've ever watched a dubbed vertical drama, i didn't even know they dubbed them lol but it was the only available version so...
Now what i liked:
-Liu Xi Yu shines here, she is hilarious and so cute with her bunny eyes, her character too is funny and lovable
- the visual edits, oh my goodness!!! Who did that!? Who though about doing that? Give this person a freakin raise cause he upped the whole show to another level!! Specially the head filters, oh my, it must have been so much fun editing this!!
What i didn't like:
- the fact that the ML only appeared on a few scenes and this is supposed to have romance.
-the weird story, and what happened exactly to the system and did she stay in the story or go back to reality, too many loose ends also we don't know the "original story", we kinda experience that with every scene and they didn't a terrible job explaining it.
Overall a very nice and fun show, highly recommended if you didn't think much while watching, love Liu Xi Yu and just for the sake of the filters and edits they added to the show lol.
Was this review helpful to you?
Caffeine Jelly, Hurt Feelings, and the Cost of Being a Hero
There is a beautiful pattern I have noticed with superhuman kdrama narratives recently, and I keep turning it over in my head the more titles I add to the list. The pattern is this: Korean drama writers are exceptionally good at asking one question regardless of how wild the premise gets. What is the human angle here? I call it the Nolan Effect, borrowing from Christopher Nolan’s approach to the superhero genre. Not because every superhero story suddenly needs to become dark, gritty, and emotionally traumatizing like The Dark Knight trilogy. No, the real Nolan Effect, at least to me, is the understanding that the humanity behind the power matters more than the power itself. Superhuman abilities are not merely spectacle. They are emotional amplifiers. They expose grief, loneliness, sacrifice, fear, love, and identity in ways normal dramas sometimes cannot. The powers are the fireworks, but the human beneath the “mask” is the actual story.Moving built its entire emotional architecture on generational trauma and parental sacrifice as the true cost of extraordinary ability. Cashero, which I reviewed on this site, took the beautifully absurd premise of a man whose strength scales with how much cash he carries and turned it into a portrait of a reluctant hero burning his own future one rescue at a time. Both reviews are waiting for you here if you want the full picture.
And now enter The Wonderfools, an eight-episode Netflix original set in 1999, where a terminally ill woman accidentally falls into experimental chemical waste, gains the power to teleport via caffeine-spiked heart rate, and somehow ends up responsible for saving an entire city from apocalyptic ruin. Yes, I walked into this one on the strength of my barely-concealed bias for Park Eun-bin. I am not apologising for it. but The Wonderfools once again proved that Korean drama narrative has mastered the Nolan Effect and injected its own brand of warm, chaotic, deeply human storytelling into it.
So let’s chat about The Wonderfools, the latest superhuman Kdrama that reminded me there is always a human heart beating underneath the spectacle.
Let’s start with the obvious elephant in the room and the sole reason I pressed play in the first place: Park Eun-bin. She plays Eun Chae-ni, a woman born with congestive heart failure who never expected to live past thirty. Somehow, despite her tiny frame and constant goblin energy, Chae-ni becomes the chaos nucleus of the entire drama. Her friends literally dub her “The Trainwreck of Haeseong,” and honestly? Accurate.
One of the things I admire most about Park Eun-bin as an actor is how completely she erases the fingerprints of her previous characters. Chae-ni does not resemble Woo Young-woo, Seo Mok-ha, or Jung Se-ok even remotely. She feels like a completely different creature. One second she is making me slightly emotional with quiet vulnerability, the next second she is stuffing caffeine jelly into her mouth preparing for battle like a sleep deprived raccoon who accidentally became an Avenger. I am ridiculously impressed by how easily she shifts between moments of tragedy and moments of pure laughter as if both are a second skin. If you watch this drama even just for Park Eun-bin’s acting sorcery, that’s a completely valid excuse, and you will be well-fed.
Opposite her is Cha Eun-woo as Lee Un-jeong. Full honesty here, I had never watched a Cha Eun-woo drama before this. He is good here. He plays one of the surviving experimented children from Project Wunderkind, carrying decades of trauma behind his polite face. I have no complaints about his performance at all. His emotional scenes work, his chemistry with the cast is solid, and his character being an aggressively honest straight shooter becomes the perfect comedic contrast against the rest of the chaotic goblins surrounding him.
That said, I never fully vibed with him the way I did with the rest of the cast. Through no fault of his own, I genuinely think he might be too pretty sometimes to the point of distraction. It is like placing a flawless sculpture inside a room full of exhausted raccoons fighting over emotional support ramen. Still, he anchors the ensemble well enough, and the drama would not function without his calm presence balancing everyone else’s nonsense.
The real comedic gold, however, comes from Choi Dae-hoon and Im Sung-jae as Son Gyeong-hun and Kang Ro-bin respectively. These two complete the trio and round out Chae-ni’s closest friends. I am actually laughing while writing this part right now as I imagine the scenes these two are in. Im Sung-jae plays Kang Ro-bin, Chae-ni’s friend since high school who now works in her grandmother’s restaurant. His super strength only activates when his feelings are hurt, which drives the entire comedic engine of the drama. The rest of the characters purposefully make fun of him just to trigger his power. Im Sung-jae is so great at physical comedy that any drama he’s in guarantees actual laugh-out-loud moments from me, not just the nose-exhale kind.
Choi Dae-hoon, oh Choi Dae-hoon. I already loved him from Seoul Busters, and here he plays a similar character archetype. Son Gyeong-hun is a husband and father who constantly struggles to get respect from his family. What surprised me most is that I recently watched him play a ruthless, cold character in Climax, and now he’s back to the warm, bumbling archetype I recognize. He rounds up the trio’s chaotic energy perfectly, and their group interactions are genuinely some of the best laugh-out-loud comedy I have seen this year.
Meanwhile, Choi Yoon-ji as Seok Ho-ran brought the exact emotional balance needed for the villain side of the story. I am not familiar with her work at all before this, but Ho-ran plays a perfect tragic villain whose character starts to waver toward the end. Together, both sisters inject humanity into characters who could have easily become cartoon antagonists. By the end, I genuinely wanted happiness for them more than revenge, which honestly says everything. Both names are now on my watchlist without hesitation. Love, Take Two just shoots up in my watch list.
Plot wise, The Wonderfools is not trying to reinvent the superhero genre. Experimental children. Secret projects. Immortality powers. A morally compromised scientist. Former allies turning against each other. None of this is new territory. But the drama succeeds because it understands something many superhero stories forget. Familiarity does not matter if the emotional execution works. The drama wears its genre influences without embarrassment and does not concern itself with subverting expectations. What it concerns itself with, relentlessly, is the human angle. The wunderkinds pay a visible cost for every use of their abilities, because that is what this brand of Korean superhero storytelling insists on examining. One character’s body hardens slowly into stone with each use. Seok Ju-ran’s hair whitens episode by episode, her skin pales, she begins coughing blood. The powers are not free, and watching that toll accumulate across eight episodes gives the final confrontation its genuine weight.
For most of its runtime, The Wonderfools is a full-throated comedy. I watched seven episodes without triggering a single analytical instinct, carried entirely by momentum, laughter, and the occasional human moment that landed like a quiet punch. One of those moments: Chae-ni strapped to an operating table, told by the lead antagonist that she is “nothing,” then getting back up after her rescue, loading herself with caffeine jelly, and declaring with shaking fury, “I’m not nothing, I’m my grandmother’s whole world. I just haven’t done anything yet.” Clichéd? Perhaps a little. Did I love it unreservedly? Absolutely. That is the secret sauce of The Wonderfools. The drama never tries to sound smarter than it is. It simply delivers emotional sincerity inside absurd superhero chaos.
And honestly, I think this is where South Korean superhero storytelling currently shines the brightest. Moving, Cashero, and The Wonderfools all exist on completely different tonal spectrum. Moving occupies the darker, heavier end. Cashero sits in the grounded, bittersweet middle. The Wonderfools plants its flag at the lighter, more absurd end. All three prove the same thesis: the Nolan Effect is not tied to tone or narrative weight. It is tied to the insistence on asking “what is the human angle here?” and refusing to let go of the answer. Balancing that humanity with full comedic identity is a harder achievement than it looks, because Moving had the luxury of darkness as its foundation. The Wonderfools had to hold comedy and genuine emotional stakes in the same hand without one killing the other. That it succeeds is mastery, not accident.
The OST leans into 90s rock throughout, fitting the era without demanding attention. Nothing was particularly memorable to me, though every track served its scene well. My favourite use was a single continuous shot near the finale: Park Eun-bin on a gurney, still groggy from a kidnapping, the chaos of the trio’s battle blurred and unfocused in the background, the music carrying the full weight of the scene. The kind of shot that made me laugh and feel something simultaneously. The final episode delivers genuinely impressive cinematography during the climactic battle, near Avengers-level in its scale and kineticism, while never losing sight of the fact that these are regular people improvising their way through heroism.
The drama also knows, crucially, when to stop being funny. The final thirty minutes shed the comedy cleanly, and the emotional stakes land because the characters have earned them. A post-credit scene hinting at a possible second season also made me laugh with genuine delight and I loved every second of it. The one notable flaw is the romance between the leads, which feels grafted on rather than organically grown. The story does not need it, and it occasionally pulls focus from more interesting dynamics at play. It is not obnoxious enough to damage the experience, but it earns the mention. The clearest proof that the Nolan Effect is fully operational in a superhero story is when you find yourself wishing for a happy ending for the people standing against the protagonist. I sat with The Wonderfools hoping, fully and helplessly, that Seok Ju-ran and Seok Ho-ran would make it through. They are not villains. They are victims of the same experiment that made them extraordinary, now paying for it with their lives. That grief is completely legible, and I felt every bit of it.
The Wonderfools is not trying to become the next emotionally devastating masterpiece. It is not a drama begging for symbolic dissection or philosophical essays. Instead, it understands the value of warmth, chaos, friendship, absurd comedy, and small emotional truths hidden underneath giant superhuman battles. Before I realized it, I was already on the final episode. That alone says a lot.
This is not a drama I will dissect. It is not asking me to. It is asking me to laugh, to care, and to notice how quickly eight episodes disappear when a show is doing its job well. It is asking me to confirm, once again, that Park Eun-bin is without argument one of the finest actors working in Korean drama today. Her range here, from chaos goblin to quiet heartbreak and back again within the same episode, is precisely why she holds SSS tier on my list next to Shin Hae-sun. It is asking me to add Jung Yi-seo to my watchlist immediately, because anyone who delivers restrained fury at that level deserves every leading role she gets next.
Most of all, The Wonderfools is asking me to recognise that Moving, Cashero, and this drama now occupy three distinct and deliberate points on the same tonal spectrum, from devastating to grounded to gleefully absurd, all three proving an identical thesis. South Korean superhero storytelling levels up by proving you do not need darkness to have depth. The Nolan Effect is not a formula reserved for serious dramas. It is a commitment to the human angle at any volume, in any tone, with any premise, caffeinated teleportation triggers and feelings-powered super strength very much included. The Wonderfools understood that from its first frame and never let go, and for that, and for Park Eun-bin, I am genuinely glad my bias dragged me through the door.
Kdrama superhero storytelling has mastered The Nolan Effect, and The Wonderfools might be the clearest proof yet. If you want a superhero story that doesn’t take itself seriously but still respects its own humanity, curl up with The Wonderfools. It won’t change your life, but it will make your weekend better. And sometimes, that is the truest superpower of all.
Was this review helpful to you?
Who is the real scarecrow?
It had been some time since I immersed myself in a thriller. From the very first episodes, The Scarecrow got my full attention and to say I could barely miss the episodes' release would be an understatement.Based on real events, The Scarecrow tells the infamous case of the Hwaseong Murders which shook the public in the '80s. Many viewers are already familiar with the setup, since this is not the first time this case was presented through fictional lenses. Memories of Murder, the classic movie, was also based on the serial murders, while being released before the killer's arrest.
Despite being inspired by the same case, The Scarecrow diverted from Memories of Murder's storytelling. Instead of focusing on the investigation itself, The Scarecrow's writers prioritized the characters and their complex dynamics, which were built around the murders. Following two timelines (1988 and 2019), we got to see their involvement in the case, their bonds and how this tragic event shaped them for the rest of their lives.
The directing and cinematography were captivating. The camera work was so intense in many scenes, especially when it came to interactions between the characters (particularly Tae Ju and Si Young). One of the most memorable moments was Tae Ju and Si Young's reunion, where the camera did a 360° turn and it switched to the younger Si Young, the one who bullied Tae Ju at school. Scenes like this one added more emotions to the story and it's clear that the director put great emphasis on their framing.
While the first episodes had me guessing the identity of the culprit, The Scarecrow wasn't your typical mystery thriller, which keeps the viewers on their toes until the killer will be revealed. On the contrary, the reveal of the culprit happened pretty early - a bold choice, if one could say. However, that didn't affect my engagement with the drama, for its purpose was not to create a mystery thriller. The drama's goal was to present a real case that shattered the lives of many people, so by unveiling the killer earlier, it allowed the viewers to watch the story from a different perceptive (especially when the culprit was shown).
What I deeply appreciated in this drama is how it didn't hesitate to highlight the depths of corruption in the justice and political system. Having done a little bit of research regarding the events of the Hwaseong murders, I am astonished by the police's incompetence and all the wrongdoings that took place. In the drama, we constantly see the police officers running around in circles, not being able to work together to catch the culprit and acting on their own instead.
A great aspect that is constantly put on the center was the abuse of power, both by Si Young and the detectives. These people didn't hesitate to use their authority if it meant they would be able to achieve their goal. The torture scenes of the suspects were so disturbing and to think that they got to such great lengths instead of trying harder to catch the culprit made me so angry. Especially since he was right under their nose!
Where the drama shined the most was the way it depicted the different characters. A variety of people who found themselves entangled in such a cruel case. If you're going into this drama expecting to root hard for anyone, I'm afraid you might get disappointed, for these characters were flawed but oh so very complex. They would be straight up wicked or they'd either make mistakes for the sake of catching the culprit. By exploring all characters and by giving the viewers a chance to get to know them and understand their pain, we were allowed to emphasize with them and maybe understand them a little bit more. Maybe that wouldn't be enough to justify their actions, but at least it offered some explanation.
It was inevitable not to feel drawn to the main duo, Kang Tae Ju and Cha Si Young. Their relationship was a highlight on its own and it is one of the most complex depictions of a relationship between two people I've watched. They shared a painful past which accompanied them through their adult lives and with every encounter, I was really trying to guess where this would all end.
While this is a work of fiction, the writers didn't neglect an important aspect that many thrillers forget to tackle; the victims and their families. The drama treated the victims with respect, it never used their deaths as a shock factor and it made sure to humanize them and highlight the horror of their murder. The depiction of Hye Jin's family, who tried so hard to find her in 1988 and who finally confirmed her death years later, broke my heart. Seok Man's wrongful conviction was another devastating event, one that not only showcased the crimes committed by the police but it reminded us of the innocent lives that were destroyed because of the actions of a twisted monster.
Both Tae Ju and Si Young were so beautifully written, as bizarre as it sounds. I understand if many people aren't able to support their actions, especially Si Young's but I couldn't pain them merely as black and white, for they carried so much trauma and insecurities, each one their own. Their fallout was painful to watch after we got more more context regarding their background and every time they would act normal and friendly, a big "what if" would form inside my brain.
The actors did a marvelous job portraying their characters. Park Hae Soo and Lee Hee Jun stole the spotlight with their chemistry as Tae Ju and Si Young respectively. They brought the characters' emotions to life, I could feel them through my screen as if they were my own. Park Hae See in particular did a fantastic job portraying the different stages of Tae Ju - the police officer in the '80s, who was desperate to catch the culprit and the 2019 profiler who sought atonement for his guilt and who wanted to bring justice to those who were wronged. If his performance will go unnoticed, I will be very upset.
Kwak Sun Young did a great job as Ji Won, her character was the only one who made me feel warm and safe and she expressed Ji Won's fierce yet gentle character perfectly. Song Geon Hee in his dual role was very good and Seo Ji Hye definitely captured my attention by her portrayal of Sun Young. Her shift from a carefree Young woman to a grieving and hopeless person moved me a lot and she made me emphasize a lot for Sun Young.
The soundtrack was yet another aspect that made the drama more memorable. It was powerful and full of melancholy, a sad addition to the bleak atmosphere. I have many songs stuck in my head and every time I bring them in my mind, I can picture the characters and the sceneries.
Great as it might have been, The Scarecrow could have been even more polished in some areas. I believe that it would have benefited even more from a longer run-time (say, 14-16 episodes) since some aspects of the story would have been more fleshed out or they would have developed more smoothly. During the last episodes, I had the impression that some events felt disjointed.
The Scarecrow is one of the most haunting series I've watched. The ending made me shed so many tears, for the characters who had to live with their guilt and for the victims who had been wronged. So many things could have been different, if only the people behind the case had acted differently. Just like Tae Ju said, in the search of the scarecrow killer, he became a scarecrow himself. Just how easy it is to lose our moral compass? And how can the consequences of our actions follow us and the people affected by them? Thought provoking as it is, The Scarecrow questions our views of ethics, justice and power and while it remains a psychological thriller, it never strived from its purpose: to bring awareness to the people who are still waiting for justice.
Mayhaps we won't be able to solve all the problems in the world. But that doesn't mean we should stop aiming for a better future. Who knows. Perhaps we will come to see a society where there will be no place for "scarecrows".
Was this review helpful to you?
Why the low ratings?
Azure Spring is a simple seaside series, the scenery is beautiful, the food looks delicious and the characters are quite likeable (except for that annoying girl) It's a healing no fuss drama and it's short so it's very easy to watch in one sitting.I saw the low rating today and I almost dropped it, I'm so happy I gave it a chance because it's a pretty nice miniseries, honestly the only reason I'm not rating it a 10/10 it's because of the annoying girl and the cat, really that cat! Is too hard to train a real cat or are they just too lazy? AI is slowly ruining everything, but anyway if you're looking for a simple healing drama this one hits the spot.
Was this review helpful to you?
A fun gripping watch that does loose it’s emotional momentum towards the end though.
I was gripping the edge of my seat in the 2/3 of show. Very gripping, but then when the reveal of the serial killer happens, the show moves towards other things: the police and prosecutors playing their own versions of villains. While the story was engaging, the focus does shift from finding the serial killer to ones trying to hide his crimes to protect themselves. We don’t even get to see the killer going to jail for another murder he does. So the emotional buildup lacks the proper payoff too. And by the mid of the drama, I was totally rooting for Si Young to be the misunderstood character but he is just evil, so that was disappointing to say the least. Especially as we get more glimpses of his past and uncover his own traumas. That said, his elder brother doesn’t make any appearance in the current time. Especiallt since he exploited Si Young’s weaknesses and fears.And don’t tell me I was the only one who found Cha Si Young genuinely regretful of his failed friendship with KTJ. They had such a complex relationship. CSY’s buddy summed it up perfectly: You don’t hate Kang Tae Ju but you don’t like him either. Perfectly summed up.
P.S.: I could guess by the mid who the serial killer was.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Whew...............worth a watch BUT.........!!!!
Dark and gritty and surreal in its realism. Do not go into this expecting a clean concise nicely tied up ending or happiness or everyone getting their just desserts.........this was a sad piece from start to finish. From the way the case was handled inside and IRL, this was rough~That darkness was neverending. It felt like just a clinical retelling of the events and the precedents and/or the beginnings of precedents established then and in the near future. It felt like a piece 5 or 6 years ago, it was about introducing the art of criminal profiling and how it was eventually installed within SK as well as the world eventually~
They did a wonderful job with the music too and how it conveyed that sappy good ole boy growing up together in a small town setting. The theme song to Weak Hero Class. Goblins OST. Uncanny Counter. It was perfect.
I like how it ended, it was perfect in that the ending wasn't perfect. Like Trolley or Queen Maker, something along those lines. Confident enough to say this is worthy of a watch~
Was this review helpful to you?
A Splendid Mess - an uneven but nonetheless surprisingly worthy watch
As I don't wish to spoil the story, my aim is not to add anything substantially new to the already existing reviews; rather, I seek to reinforce what has already been said by some other members of the community, most notably by @SceneStealer (no spoilers) and by @MrsGong (spoilers).Let me put it this way: if you have enjoyed some of the more ambitious recent historical dramas, such as the Dream of Splendor, the Flourished Peony, the Prisoner of Beauty or even the Story of Kunning Palace, then you are very likely to enjoy this drama as well. That being said, I don't expect the Splendid Match to be quite as successful as any of the dramas mentioned above. Not because it's any worse - I feel that it's actually more substantial than most - but because it's too unfocused and goes in too many different directions.
A Splendid Match is a coming-of-age story, and a reflection on feminine condition, and an analyses of family and state power dynamics, and an account of ups and downs in palace scheming with some unexpectedly good fighting scenes thrown in; and, the last but not the least, it is a truly splendid slow-burn romance with some reasonably convincing love triangles. And if that is not enough, there are probably even more aspects of the story that I'm simply forgetting to mention.
None of these aspects are handled poorly; on the contrary, taken individually, they hold up unexpectedly well, But what we end up with is a bit messy because keeping so many threads from vibrating loose is an ambition simply to high to live up to. It is as if this drama has an identity issue: It can't quite make up its mind on whether it wants to be a crowd-pleaser or a more serious take on the human condition from a historical perspective. So, in the end, if falls somewhere in the middle and just a little short of both.
Nonetheless, and in spite of this inherent flaw, A Splendid Match engages and enchants thanks to its multi-layered character portrayal and its rare depiction of what it means to be in a healthy loving relationship.
Many characters in this drama - not just the leads, but down to the smallest supporting ones - are fully fleshed out, consistent and convincing. Many feel like real people whom we progressively get to know and follow in their decisions, good and bad, which might sometimes appear too exaggerated for my taste, but never feel random and unmotivated. However, the same high standard is not equally applied to all, so the results turn out a little uneven.
On the other hand, watching the relationship between the leads grow, develop and transform is truly delightful. For once, we have an older male lead who is explicitly not a virgin and does not abruptly turn into a shy boy the moment he falls in love; rather - and much more logically - he uses his vast intelligence and the advantage of sexual and emotional experience to both intellectually convince and sensually seduce. For once, we have a male lead who truly respects his partner and does not try to control her; not because he is not occasionally tempted to - of course he is, considering his upbringing and status - but because they manage to air, discuss and work out any issues together as a couple. Thus, we are mercifully spared the patronizing trope of I-love-you-so-much-that-it-entitles-me-to-make-decisions-about-your-life-without-asking-your-opinion. For once, the romance doesn't peter out and lose all interest once that the leads get together. If anything, the sexual tension between them becomes even stronger after they consume their relationship, which is only natural for any couple with a fulfilling intimate life. In all this, A Splendid Match sets a new standard for a credible romantic relationship, hopefully to be emulated more often in future.
Most other relationship in the drama, romantic or otherwise, are equally plausible, if less compelling. I will not go into the details in order to avoid spoilers.
The drama is well served by an excellent cast, with brilliant leads and many outstanding supporting actors. I initially found the young female lead, Ren Min, somewhat irritating, only to be impressed later on by the way in which she grew with, and into, her character. The male lead, Ci Sha, is consistently convincing in his quiet intensity. Everybody does a great job, really; I was perhaps particularly delighted by supporting actors incarnating grey-scale female characters, such as the unscrupulous but staunch matriarch (Yang Kun) or the tragically silly, superficial and suggestible concubine (Li Fei Er).
Cinematography, scenography, costumes and make-up are refined and subtle. The choreography for fighting scenes is sharp and visceral. The soundtrack is generally unremarkable, with a couple of standard love songs. My only complaint is about a certain instrumental cue for the main couple which I found distractingly incongruous as, to my ears, it sounded like it landed straight from a 1980s comedy and had no place in a historical C-drama.
Overall, while this drama could have been better - more streamlined and more even in depth and tone - I genuinely enjoyed it much more than I expected.. Therefore, I will swipe its imperfections under the carpet and give it a generous score of 8.5.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Tear-jerker
I've watched Zhou Yu Tong in Nothing But You and didn't realize that it's also her in this drama until I Googled her name. She looks so much prettier with long hair and she portrayed Zhuang Jie so well. Her acting was so natural. Li Xian also did really well. Their chemistry is 10/10!Lots of lessons about love, life and death in this drama. There's not a single annoying character or negative vibes. But because it touches on death and some characters ended up dying, you'll need a box of tissues for this one.
Was this review helpful to you?
Proof that time changes no one deep down ...
It's a classic set up story early on, showing us how much of our present day life is shaped by our past. Two friends early on, one a bully and one being bullied for various reasons. Thirty years of a duration in this series and nothing really changes between the two of them. Once a bully, always a bully.Hae Soo & Hee Joon are the perfect pair that continually go head to head with each other, unfortunately the antagonist, Si Yeong, always seems to get the best of the situation , over and over and over again. It makes for a decent story, but it started to lose points with me as you get deep into the series. After episode 4, which is truly the pinnacle episode of the drama, you start to think things might go the protagonists' way for a change ... but no such luck. Tae Ju continues to fall on the sword. I realize you need the "bad guys" to win early on, or the story would end pretty quick ... but so many people are genuinely horrible throughout this series, with very few facing retribution by the end. The last two episodes prove this. In fact, it really shows the rewards people received for being wicked & evil people.
The first half of the drama is so strong and entertaining, that even with the last couple of episodes lacking a good story or outcome, the series still maintains high marks. It's just a bit disappointing, cause had I rated it through the first six or so episodes, I would have given it 10's across.
The acting is brilliant throughout. That never changes. A truly great cast. I just wish the writing toward the end would have matched the acting, and given a better conclusion.
Overall, an entertaining series, but it could have been so much better.
Was this review helpful to you?
another master piece from the genius that is Park Hae Young
I am genuinely glad I didn't skip on this one, and glad I know who Park Hae young and chose to watch this one specifically because of her.she is a masterclass in and of herself in slice of life dramas.
she manages to create a world of everyday normal characters that you can encounter anywhere, and still manages to make every moment count. she draws these moments and writes these lines, that turn the most mundane of everyday moments in a heart-felt and profound scene. her dramas and this one is no exception will manage to bring a smile, a laugh, a tear to you constantly and sometimes all at once. her multi-layered deeply flawed characters are not just written with care and dedication that they feel relatable and believable, they actually breathe and live through her script. you will find yourself loving and hating a character at the same time, wanting to go through the screen and hug or slap a character at the same time, you will watch two chracters clash on screen and feel like you relate with both and understand where each is coming from. she is a masterclass in conveying emotion through her script, and this drama specifically helped this part, because the deeply emotional and intelectually profound lines felt all the more believable coming out of film production staff such as: writers, producers, poets, actors and directors; which makes up almost all of the characters.
the story is written in a way that allows one to take a peak into the life of characters that are struggling with feelings of depression and questionign their purpose and self-worh. You will be amazed at how you will start almost hating the main ML's character (I personally reached a point where I also thinking to myself how am I going to watch this obnoxious protagonist till the end) but just hold on, cause she will make you not just sympathize and feel for him, but above all relate and cheer for him the more the story progresses. hwang dong-man was a magnificent protagonist and Koo Kyo Hwan was the perfect actor to play the role (it was my first time watching him, visually he stands out in many ways but his charisma and perfect acting will drag you in and leave you attracted to the crazy eccentric genius aura that he exudes) Go Young Jun did a marvelous job here as well and I commend her performance. all the other main and supporting actors delivered a superb performance that's why acting takes a perfect score from me.
the pacing of the story was perfectly balanced IMHO, and the drama never felt draggy. some scenes might feel unnecessarily long but then you will find that it served a purpose (like watching a bunch of drunk individuals dancing and goofing at the beach at night, only to cut to the short and sarcastic line that the only sober individual looking at them from afar says, and then cut to their melancholic ride back in the car, where some are deep in sleep other deep in thought). each and every character and its story arc served a purpose in the grand scheme of things, it gave meaning or taught a lesson to another character, it helped with the growth and the journey of other characters.
All In all, even if it will be the first time for you to try a drama by this screenwriter, and you are not attracted to the premise written here or offput by the low ratings, I would like to tell you to forget all of that and give it a try, and keep watching because it only gets better the more it progresses.
Was this review helpful to you?
Lim Ji-yeon plays her role so convincingly, completely transforming from one character to the next. Here, she's clumsy, uncomfortable in her own skin, yet unstoppable,a fighter for justice. And Lee Jung-jae is hilarious as an actor who can’t handle his fame, which he feels he never deserved. He's the kind of guy who’s nice to everyone but doesn't want anyone to know it.
Their romance works surprisingly well. People who hate each other in real life but adore each other online. The rice cooker idea... incredible, so good. Even if it leads to a situation we'd call somewhat questionable. They make it into something funny, but it’s really a bit of emotional manipulation…
Anyway, we can't say it enough : there are two things that are essential in this world. Rice cookers and umbrellas.
On the other hand, an 18-year age gap… and diametrically opposed levels of income and fame. Just pretend I didn't say anything.
Was this review helpful to you?
I kept watching
I didn't think I liked it, but I kept watching anyway, so I guess that means I like it?In general, it's a very chill show to watch and very smooth.
It has some very special/unique characters that make it a bit more strange than necessary.
I definitely liked Neo (Na) in this show. He was one of the most respectful characters.
I am a big fan of Pod, but I started to doubt it, because he plays his role as a homophobic guy way too realistically!
Advantage: It’s a great show to learn Thai!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A sequel with a personality of its own
The finale was great, maybe not completely flawless, but the wrap-up for every couple hit the right notes.JackDean: Their reunion left me feeling conflicted, particularly regarding Jack’s reaction to Great, but that tension is exactly what made their ending stand out. You can interpret it in two different ways: either Jack has finally matured and will fiercely defend his relationship with Dean against any future threats, OR the two of them are tragically trapped in an endless, repetitive cycle of breaking up and making up.
ArnoldTua: A tiny part of me craved more drama from their storyline, but ultimately, I adored their gentle and mutually respectful dynamic. They were easily the most balanced pair of the bunch, despite the economic status differences. Even during their worst arguments, neither ever talked down to the other, something I can’t say for the other two couples.
RomeRaffy: This fiery duo started off with a bang but eventually fell into a push and pull routine. Their storyline was a mixed bag for me because I’m still not convinced Rome views Raffy as a true equal. Even after Raffy's personal growth, it feels like Rome’s judgment is always lingering over him. I really wanted to see Raffy fully step into his confidence by the end, but it never quite materialized the way I wished.
Ultimately, all three couples have their flaws, but they are incredibly endearing and easy to cheer for. Honestly, I found their dynamics much more grounded and relatable than the pairings we got in the first season. As for non-couple moments, I adored the friendship between Dean and Tua and I needed more.
Honorable Mentions: A massive shoutout to Timmy for surviving all the chaos. I also really appreciated the brief, beautifully bittersweet moment between Boston and Nick 🥲
Was this review helpful to you?
Loved the show
Loved this showNever a dull moment , chemistry for all was thru the roof. Going to watch more movies from these leads but already a fan of miles
Please watch you will enjoy it.
Some parts could have moved a little faster. But I just kept watching even took off work to finish it
Great scenery and not those meddling parents or in laws as much as in other shows ,hurray for that
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I finally watched it
I have started this drama so many times. I just couldn't get into it. Chinese dramas are a breed unto there own and I have watched quite a few but this one took me forever and many false starts to get through. Maybe it was because of how much it was hyped up.Don't get me wrong it wasn't awful, I just didn't get all the hype and to be honest I still don't.
There were some very parts, some very sad parts, some very mediocre parts, some very awful parts and some parts that were just there.
The music choices for some scenes were quite baffling and other choices were beautiful.
I'm not saying don't watch it because overall it was an enjoyable experience. Sometimes the writing though did make me want to throw my tablet across the room!
All in all I am proud I finally watching it after 4 years of trying!
Was this review helpful to you?
