Reviews

Some Goodbyes Stay Forever

I did not expect Once We Were Us to affect me this much. I started watching it thinking it would be another emotional romance film, but it turned out to be much deeper than that. It is not just about love, it is about timing, memories, regret, and the people we become after losing someone important.

What I loved most about this movie is how realistic it feels. The characters do not act like perfect movie characters. They feel like real people carrying pain, confusion, and feelings they do not know how to express properly. Their chemistry feels natural, and even the quiet scenes say so much without needing too many words.

The movie has a very soft and melancholic atmosphere. Every scene feels beautiful in a simple way, especially with the cinematography and background music. There were moments where I had to pause because some scenes felt too real. It reminded me that sometimes the hardest part is not losing someone, but learning how to live with the memories they leave behind.

The acting was also one of the strongest parts of the movie. Both leads delivered their emotions so naturally that I never felt like I was watching acting. Their expressions alone were enough to show heartbreak, longing, and the pain of unfinished feelings.

What makes Once We Were Us special is that it does not try too hard to be dramatic. It is emotional in a quiet way, and that is what makes it hit even harder. It leaves you thinking about your own past, the people you once loved, and the things you wish you had said.

For me, this movie deserves a 9/10 because it is beautiful, emotional, and unforgettable. It is the kind of film that stays with you long after it ends.

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A Fun and Heartwarming Opposites-Attract Drama Worth Watching

I gave Dali and Cocky Prince an 8.5/10 because it was fun, emotional, and different from most romance dramas. At first, I thought it would just be another rich guy and classy girl story, but it actually had more charm than I expected.

The biggest reason I enjoyed this drama was the chemistry between the two main leads. They are complete opposites, which made their scenes really entertaining. Moo Hak is loud, straightforward, and sometimes even childish, while Dali is calm, elegant, and intelligent. Normally, this type of pairing can feel forced, but here it worked really well. Their different personalities balanced each other, and watching them slowly understand each other was honestly the best part of the drama.

Moo Hak was probably my favorite character. At first, he seemed annoying and too over-the-top, but as the drama went on, I started liking him more and more. He was funny without trying too hard, and even though he was not very educated, he had a good heart. He genuinely cared about Dali and was always there for her. I think that is what made him lovable.

Dali was also a very good female lead. She was graceful and smart, but she was not perfect. She had her own struggles and emotional moments, which made her feel realistic. I liked that she stayed strong even when things became difficult.

The romance in this drama was sweet and natural. It had a lot of funny moments, but there were also emotional scenes that made their relationship feel deeper. I liked that they actually communicated instead of creating too many misunderstandings for no reason.

The side characters were decent too. Some of them were annoying, especially the villains, but I guess that was the point. There were times when the business and family issues felt a little repetitive, and some side plots dragged more than they needed to. That is one reason why I did not give it a higher rating.

Visually, the drama looked beautiful. The art museum setting made it feel elegant and different from other dramas. The outfits, colors, and cinematography were really nice. The soundtrack was also good and matched the mood of the drama.

The ending was satisfying overall, even if it felt slightly rushed in some parts. I think the drama did a good job mixing romance, comedy, and emotional moments without becoming too heavy.

Overall, Dali and Cocky Prince is a drama that is easy to enjoy. It has a unique couple, strong chemistry, funny moments, and enough emotional depth to keep you invested. It is not perfect, but it is definitely worth watching if you like romantic dramas with opposites-attract couples.

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Slow and boring with the FL acting like a little girl

I started watching this series because Bi Wen Jun is one of my favorite actors and all of his performances are great. Very talented young actor. However, now I simply can't continue watching the terrible acting of the FL. She may have misunderstood her character in this drama and instead of portraying an interesting, smart, fairly strong but soft at the same time character, someone who is a worthwhile partner to Han Zeng,,'s character. Instead, she is portraying a baby speaking, nagging, clingy, fake cutsie little girl character. So we are supposed to believe that this infantile girl is actually working as a constable and is a crime solving genius. Seriously?? I continued to episode 17, this very slow drama with too much boring dialogue and repeated themes over and over thinking that the director/writers may realize how awful the FL acting is and try to remedy it by giving her a character growth like the ML had. But no....I jumped ahead to the 34 episode to see if there were any changes in the FL acting/character/behavior, but unfortunately same little girl act. So at this point I can't spend more of my time on her bad acting and are dropping this show. Honestly, at this point I don't even care who the murderer is. I just feel sorry for Bi Wen Jun wasting his talent as he deserves a better FL who is not bringing the show down. I also really liked He Rui Xian and Yang Shi Ze roles and acting. Both are very talented young actors.

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If you don't mind a sad ending...

First I was impressed by the actress since so far in ger career she felt very wooden.

I'll admit, I'm not a fan of melodrama or sad ending in general. My life is already awful at it is, I want to dream joy, not get slap with reality which this movie does brilliantly.

The part where they kinda lost me is when we learn he has a daughter. Yes it's realistic that in 10 years stuffs happened but you can't drop a kid twist and then have him sobbing asking 'what ifs'. For all we know he has a partner at home with a young daughter.

I wish they didn't leave each other again after meeting on the plane and I wish he didn't have a family and I wish he didn't wish he had fought for their relationship while knowing he has a toddler.

If they separated peacefully both acknowledging that they were different people and their love was great but they changed too much it would have been, in my opinion, a better ending than what we got.

Also it's messed up to close the movie with a letter from his now-dead dad.

Good movie but it made me upset and I should have read reviews before watching it.

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Poetic ... artistic ... but too slow

I can see why some people thought this show was beautiful. It was indeed well made, well acted, and had a certain poetic nature to it. Like a piece of art. The kind of thing that would win an oscar if it was a movie. But as a piece of entertainment, it fell short. I really wanted to like it, because it was so ... nice. But it was hard to get any feeling of continuity witb the nonstop back and forth in the time line. I don't mind a little flashback to provide some context, but there was so much of it, never going back to the present for more than 10 minutes. The context of the past is good, but ultimately you want to know how the protagonists end up. And you literally have to wait until the last 5 minutes for that. I had to fastforward the heck out of the last 4 episodes. Again, I really wanted to like this, but in the end, it disappointed me.

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A Melodrama That Failed to Fully Shine

It could have been a strong melodrama, much like the writer’s earlier works On the Way to the Airport and A Piece of Your Mind. But this drama failed to sustain its central theme of whether first love can truly end up together.

Bringing four characters into one chaotic first-love story could have worked better if each had been given a distinct bittersweet ending. Instead, much of the story drifted into family drama that felt disconnected from the core narrative. From the beginning, the focus was clearly on the on-and-off relationships between the leads and the second leads’ unrequited feelings, so the family background never felt essential enough to carry weight.

I have no complaints about the episode length or the cast ensemble, but with such a promising plot, I honestly hoped they had chosen a different actress to better match both Jinyoung and Shin Jae-ha.

A failure—definitely not shining. ✨

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CRYBABIES WHO THROW HANDS

This cast understood the assignment. I applaud the dedication they put in their physiques, footwork, and fight choreography which were convincing enough to sell the boxing world, and I say this as someone who knows nothing about boxing. Not only that, I was also impressed by the emotional control played out by the leads. They knew when to go hard and when to pull back.

Meanwhile our leads, Gun Woo and Woo Jin? Soft hearted, borderline crybabies. But it works for I loved how they balance brutal fights with genuine warmth, making them easy to root for. The respect they share for boxing and the understanding they possess made this whole chaotic experience quite the heartwarming one.

Baek Jeong on the other hand,…he was so infuriating, in the absolute best possible way. He managed to make me riled up with nearly every scene however, all this was forgotten when the leads landed a punch on him. Pure bliss.

The premise is pretty straight-forward: threats, illegal boxing matches, money, and a touch of drugs. If I have one critique, it's that nothing here feels particularly new. You've seen this kind of setup before. However much I found this drama predictable it doesn't mean it was boring. What keeps it engaging is the back and forth. Both sides take hits, even if the antagonists often feel one step ahead.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The illegal fighting and drugs were great fun but it was our loveable, sensitive pair of crybabies that make you want to watch. It's predictable yes, but when there is so much emotion, so much heartbreak, you will look past it. Definitely recommend to those who enjoy their action with a side of real, genuine tears.

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Fantastic Sequel ...

It's always difficult to make a great sequel or season 2 when the first season was nothing but perfection. Somehow, though, they made it happen. This new season was everything you could have hoped for, and more!
It's a strong start that pulls you into the story immediately. Besides the fighting, and fighting, and fighting again, there was a great story behind the punches, along with a great cast to match. So many different layers of the story that all come together in the final episode.
Do Hwan & Sang Yi are once again the brilliant bromance fighting duo. The two had great chemistry of friendship, making that one of the strongest points of this continuing series, once again. The one unexpected surprise was Rain. He turns out to be such a great antagonist. I hadn't seen him play a role like this before, but he really was fantastically evil and cold hearted, giving you everything you wanted in the main villain. You really can't wait until that final showdown fight with Geon U & Baek Jeong. It's definitely worth the wait, making for great entertainment.
The rest of the supporting cast matches brilliantly with all the sub story plots happening at the same time. Don't be fooled by who you think is all good or all bad. Some characters have a mix of both, which you find out as you get deeper into the series.
After some of the final credits roll, you get an add on scene that kind of gives a teaser for a possible season three??? I sure hope so, cause both 1 & 2 have been great.

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I just had to write a review for this series!

Honestly, this series was amazing. The acting, the soundtrack, and the cinematography were all so amazing. With each episode, I was on the edge of my seat, and my jaw kept dropping lower and lower. To me, I felt that it was kinda hard to really fully predict how it would end, and I love that as I was in suspense all the way. I was hooked from the beginning, and there were times when I didn't feel like continuing, but somehow it kept me interested till the finale.

With FortPeat as the MLs, I was already instantly drawn to this show since they are such an explosive pairing. Their acting was phenomenal; they really carried the series. Their chemistry is undeniable, unmatched, unbeatable. The raw feel of everything they portrayed was so fucking good. They've improved so much since their LITA days, especially Peat.

Peat should really get an award for his acting in this series since he played his role so damn well. The way he went from innocent and naive to a crazy, obsessed psycho was terrifying. The naunce of his expressions throughout the series was remarkable. He acted so well that in some scenes, you really can't tell what he's thinking/feeling, which makes his psycho role even more convincing.

I personally think Fort already performed quite well in LITA, but he has shown nothing but improvement since those days, and his acting in this series was just chef's kiss. He played his role so well in terms of the emotions he evoked in the audience. His acting throughout the series just felt very real, very natural, and it really tugs at your heartstrings.

This show was really different to what FortPeat have done before, and it highlighted just how versatile they are as actors. In LITA and Love Sea, there was definitely a lot of trauma and toxicity, but they were much milder compared to this series. This series was just so intense in the best way, and I was on a roller coaster of emotions every few scenes. It's dark, twisted, and angsty, which is a nice contrast to the childish/cute tropes in other BLs over the years. I hope they get more different and crazier roles in the future, as they're just overflowing with talent.

There were a shit ton of red flags in this show. The lying, the betrayal, the manipulation, the kidnapping, the assaults and torture. In reality, if anyone went through what Veir did, there's no way in hell they would be able to forgive Kelvin. Especially the part where Kelvin indirectly caused Lalit's (Veir's best friend) death.

Kelvin crossed the boundaries way too many times, and the stuff he did was honestly unforgivable. Yes, he eventually realised he did wrong, and he reflected on his actions, but it doesn't justify a damn thing. Later on in the series, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression, so maybe he kept flicking back and forth from being "normal" to psycho because of his condition(?). With that said, it still doesn't justify his actions as he really crossed the line.

At one point, he was just obsessed with Veir; it wasn't love anymore. He "branded" Veir's forehead to claim him as his, so nobody else would want him. He held him captive and chained him up like a fucking pet. He controlled everything Veir did and followed him everywhere. But, somehow, Veir was able to forgive this motherfucker at the end. He confessed that he still loves him and has never stopped loving him. What the actual fuck? Both of them are legit insane, so they're perfect for each other, I guess.

I appreciate the fact that there was a GL side couple that was actually well-written this time, and they added depth and harmony to the series, unlike in Love Sea, where it was absolutely unnecessary and annoying. I like that the writer didn't make the females out to be villains or love rivals, as in every other BL.

Lalin is an independent and smart woman who was eventually rewarded due to her hard work and perseverance. Nana is a badass who knows how to kick ass and protect those she loves. I felt their pairing was really nice, and they had great chemistry. Both of them also acted well.

The rest of the cast also acted pretty damn well. There were little to no scenes where I felt that it was too cringey or fake, maybe except for the over-the-top shouting or laughing like a maniac sometimes.

The whole plot was quite convoluted at times, especially with all the time skips and flashbacks/memories. There were also inconsistencies or times when it felt like something was missing. Like the scene when Nana was angry with Lalin in EP 7, and why Nana felt like she couldn't trust her. I felt the context could have been elaborated more to make the audience fully understand why Nana said what she said to Lalin. This may be due to footage being cut (?) since EP 7 was substantially shorter than the other EPs. It felt like there were missing pieces to the series, and I wish we could have been given an even clearer storyline so it was easier to keep up with.

The plot of corrupted father CEOs, the half-sibling rivalry, and the fight to become the heir of the company was all pretty cliché. It was done well enough to not make me feel sick of watching it, but it wasn't anything too special or different. It was definitely not as intense and cringey as in 'The Wicked Game' though (*No hate to DaouOffroad, love them down, but the script they got was genuinely pretty ass).

The final scene, when Rawit found Ken, then the screen just faded to black, pissed me the fuck off. Why did it end like that? It was so inconclusive and left the audience on a cliffhanger. I get that they ended it like that to keep us wanting more, but why!! Also, how and why is Ken not jailed? He literally committed so many crimes and murdered Likhit (evidence was found too), but he's just out and about, enjoying his freedom. He technically lost everything, since he has no power or money anymore, so how is he able to evade the police so damn well? I hope there's a season two or at least a special episode, or I'll feel so incomplete.

Overall, the series was different from what FortPeat have done, and I really enjoyed it. The acting from the MLs and the side couple were solid. The storyline was interesting and fresh to me, though confusing and cliché at times. I would definitely rewatch this series, and it's now my Top 3 BLs of 2026. So glad that FortPeat worked on this together, wouldn't want any other couple to play it because they just wouldn't match their level.

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Not Shining

Still Shining had everything going for it. A serious romance and mature story with visuals to back it up. Acting was excellent with realistic characters and decisions. Regardless of the choices ML and FL made and how horrible they are at communicating it all fell in the realm of possibility. However, around the halfway point, cracks began to appear, and character motivations and reasoning started to falter.

When you realize there are only four episodes left, but the writers decide to introduce a second female lead, you know something is up. I was rooting for 2nd FL, but honestly WTF is she doing on this show? What a waste of precious time. The writers had her ask the male lead to roleplay a breakup, even though they never dated. I understood the context of why she did it, but are we serious right now? The writers seemed to want the show to appear smart through her with the nonsensical lines they made her speak all while neglecting the main focus of the story with an ending fast approaching.

This ending. My goodness. This show is definitely more about the journey than the destination. A rough journey at that. And a journey I’d argue not worth starting if you have other shows you’re interested in.

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sometimes less is more.

The story was well written, the cast was definitely on spot, I saw no problem with the acting and I think the main couple had an insane chemistry. I loved the development of the "villains", it felt quite natural, nothing forced and are made well enough so you can't not hate them. The ending did justice to the main couple and I really liked it overall.

But, there were some things I did not like. For starters, I don't understand why they introduced a new villain, Oh Yu-Ra. I felt like Soo-min had enough dimension and motivation to be the "main villain" so it felt like it was unnecessary to bring Yu-Ra in the picture as well. Also her motivations weren't clear at all. I mean yeah, she wanted the ML but her actions can't be justified. I mean, the crazy ex it's a cliche in drama, but this was beyond the exaggeration you usually see, and it didn't really fit the plot.

There is also a constant attempt to compare Soo-min with Ji-won to show this parallel between evil and good, and we see it in the story about Soo-min's father and Ji-won's mother. They both experienced this but reacted differently. Even with these parallels, Ji-won's actions are still questionable. At some point I found myself asking "how many people need to suffer so you could live?" which I'm sure it wasn't the intention of the drama, but it happened.
I would've liked to see more scenes with the other couples as well, I think they were really cute and promising, but they're development felt rushed and unfinished.

Overall, I recommend this drama. It's easy to watch and it did not feel boring at all, but don't get your hopes too high. If you're someone like me, who likes romance drama, definitely you're gonna like it. Everything was on point and smooth, the interactions between the love interests are amazing, the scenes are well written, and the conflict had the perfect amount of drama. I can apreciate they didn't make it longer than needed to be.

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When Fire Meets Ice

I started this drama mainly because of the actor. I’ve already seen him in completely different roles before, from a 1970s setting to a modern story about programming. And now seeing him in a historical drama just proves how versatile he really is. He truly stands out.

This drama It’s not a simple, linear story. It feels like a loop, almost like reincarnation, or a destiny that cannot be broken. No matter what happens, even if one of them dies or disappears, they always find their way back to each other. It’s inevitable.

The female lead is especially interesting because she comes from the modern world into this ancient setting. And the drama never gives a clear answer: was it real, or was it all a dream?

Personally, I don’t think it was just a dream. I see it more as her soul transcending while she was in a coma, like we were watching a past life or another existence. And when she returns to the real world… somehow, he finds a way to follow her.

The male lead starts off cold, almost cruel, but it comes from trauma. He once had love in him, but it was completely destroyed. Then she appears, someone who doesn’t belong in his world, and that changes everything.

Curiosity turns into obsession… and eventually into love.

And this isn’t a soft kind of love. It’s intense to the point where they could destroy each other.

One thing that really surprised me was how romantic this drama actually is. I wasn’t expecting so many intimate moments, not in an explicit way, but in how deeply they connect emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Their bond feels complete.

There’s also this idea mentioned about a place beyond the three realms… and that stayed with me. Because it raises so many questions:
Did he die to find her again?
Was everything we saw a memory from past lives?
Or was it fate bringing them back together in the real world?
I think the drama allows both interpretations and that’s what makes it even more interesting.

The ending is open, but in a positive way. I had a feeling she would eventually return to the modern world, especially in the last episodes. I was just hoping it wouldn’t end badly… and it doesn’t. It gives you the feeling that they’ll finally have a normal life together. Not a life full of suffering and sacrifice, just something human, simple, and real.

Rating: 9.5/10

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This drama just hit different, I feel a new sensation.

I love the storyline. This drama is built with a refreshing (anti-mainstream) plot. The writer incorporates a mysterious element about Chan's memories, which influences his treatment of Haran.

What amazes me are the details of this drama, which give me a new sensation. I love their outfits, I love the OST, I love the dialogue, and the cinematography, which warms my heart.

This story is perfectly executed by Lee Sung Kyung and Chae Jong Hyeop; their chemistry is excellent. I felt the trauma when I saw Haran's eyes and the sadness hidden in Seanu Chan's eyes.

This drama will always hold a special place in my heart. Goodbye long winter, I will live this life without regrets 👋

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Good, but I enjoyed H2H more

My only complaint is that the series felt longer than it needed to be. In episode 8, I felt like we were getting a lot of filler and NC scenes just to expand the show out to 12 episodes, and by episode 10, I was watching at 2X speed so I wouldn't DNF it because I found my attention drifting.

Despite that, I liked the acting, except for JJ's, because it felt very stiff, but I've seen him in other things, and it's been fine, so it's probably because it was his first drama, or that's how they wanted him to act.

Didn't care about the singing. I rarely do unless music is the main focus of a character or plot, like Kim from Kinnporche, or ThamePo & Cutie Pie.

I love this kind of plot because it dives into something that many people experience, but don't really talk about. I have these kinds of dreams a few times out of the year, and it always leaves me feeling disoriented when they start happening in real life, and I think this show captured that feeling very well. I also like that in this series, it's an inherited gift.

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