Reviews

typical dramatic story

I started Blossoming of Power because I genuinely thought it was going to be different from the usual historical romance. The premise sounded interesting, and I expected a more complex reincarnation story. Unfortunately, by Episode 7, I was completely checked out.

My biggest problem is the writing.

First of all... why do male leads in so many dramas fall in love with the FL for absolutely no reason? 😭 By Episode 3, the ML was already deeply in love with her, and I still couldn't understand why. Attraction is one thing, but love should actually have some build-up. Give me meaningful conversations, shared experiences, or something that makes me believe these two belong together.

Another thing that didn't work for me was the reincarnation plot. It's the typical "waking up in someone else's body" story, and by the time I stopped watching, they still hadn't explained what happened to the original owner of that body. Maybe they do later, but I wasn't interested enough to keep going.

The whole flower scene was also hard to take seriously. The ML had been seriously ill for years, yet he immediately gave away the only flower that could save his life... to a complete stranger. I get that dramas need emotional moments, but this just felt forced rather than believable.

I also wish the story had gone in a completely different direction. Imagine if she had reincarnated, married her former husband, and slowly uncovered the truth behind their past instead of immediately moving toward another romance. That would've been far more interesting than watching her fall for his younger brother.

The drama keeps introducing interesting ideas but never develops them enough. Instead of building mystery or emotional depth, it relies on familiar tropes and convenient plot developments. The pacing feels rushed when it comes to romance but oddly slow when it comes to the actual story.

The production, costumes, and visuals are beautiful, and the cast does a decent job with what they're given. But good visuals can't make up for weak storytelling.

Overall, I expected something fresh, but it ended up feeling like another generic historical romance with an underdeveloped romance and a lot of wasted potential. Maybe it gets better later, but Episode 7 was enough for me to stop watching.

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I Finished The Eternal Fragrance (2026)… and I'm Glad I Did

After seriously considering dropping it around episode 28, I decided to push through—and I'm actually glad I did.

The last three episodes completely changed my overall impression of the drama. While they couldn't erase all the issues I had with the confusing plot and uneven pacing, the ending was surprisingly satisfying and gave the story the emotional payoff I'd been waiting for. It definitely redeemed the drama for me.

One character I ended up loving was Riyan.

Every time he appeared on screen, he brought a calm, compelling presence that made me want to know more about him. I honestly wish he had been given more screen time because his character had so much potential. I would've loved to see more of his backstory and how he developed beyond the role he played in the main plot.

So would I recommend The Eternal Fragrance?

If you're someone who tends to drop dramas when they get slow or confusing, this one will definitely test your patience. But if you can stick with it until the end, the final few episodes do a good job of tying everything together and left me feeling much more satisfied than I expected.

It's not a drama I'll rush to rewatch, but thanks to that ending, I walked away with a much better impression than I had at episode 28. Sometimes all a drama needs is a strong finish to remind you why you stayed.

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A Beautiful and Emotional Masterpiece

This is my favorite drama of all time, and I honestly couldn’t find a single flaw. Every episode was beautiful, emotional, and unforgettable. The story was incredibly well written, and it kept me interested from the beginning to the end. The characters felt real, and I became attached to all of them. The acting was outstanding, the chemistry between the main leads was amazing, and the soundtrack made every emotional scene even more powerful. This drama made me laugh, cry, smile, and feel so many different emotions. I loved the fantasy elements and the romance so much. I have watched many dramas, but this one will always have a special place in my heart. I would recommend it to anyone without hesitation. It truly deserves a perfect 10/10 and will always be my favorite drama.

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A great weekend binge watch

TLDR: Great acting across the board, a thematically-focused story with surprising twists and genuine emotional depth, plus some genuinely creepy ghouls and cool action sequences.

WHAT WORKED:
- Nam Joo Hyuk was compelling as the lost fatalist who finally finds something outside himself to live for. He felt genuinely powerful in the fighting scenes (his 6'2" frame doesn't hurt) but also hit all the right notes in the more quiet, emotional scenes, without ever over-doing it.
- Roh Yoon Seo in many ways was the emotional grounding of the story. Despite the character being more withdrawn most of the time, she never loses the passionate humanity that makes her seem like she always a match about to spark. Really good performance.
- NJH and RYS together have great chemistry, even though little of it is overtly romantic. Their bond is the emotional backbone of the story and their performances together are strong enough to carry the weight.
- All of the side characters brought depth and nuance to their characters-- Jang Young Nam (queen dowager), Cho Seung Woo (king), Kwak Dong Yeon (crown prince), and Lee Hong Nae (the Shaman) were the standouts.
- The story was intriguing and quite thematically tight, packed with compelling emotional depth. It explored the themes of guilt, resentment, and forgiveness in a real way, and none of the characters were fully good or bad, each had their shades of grey.



WHAT DIDN'T WORK:
- The CGI was too ambitious at times. There were some really cool/creepy ghouls and characters, but some of the bigger action sequences or monsters just seemed kinda amateur to the point where it wasn't creepy or scary it was just cringe.
- Some of the magic/occult stuff was convoluted. There wasn't always consistent rules for how things worked, and while it didn't derail the things in a significant way there were times I was taken out of the story by the logic just not really making sense or being clearly explained.
- The first couple eps could have done a better job introducing Gu Cheon and showing us his internal emotional state. We are told a lot about him but not really shown it so it was hard to connect to him fully at first. This isn't the case in the last 5-6 episodes and esp the last three, though.

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A Deep Dive into Deep In's Psychology

I honestly didn't expect Deep In to affect me this much.
At first glance it sounds like another story about actors falling in love while filming, and I went in expecting nothing. But somewhere along the way I realized the romance isn't even the most interesting part. The show uses acting as a way to explore identity, denial, grief, and how easily our emotions can blur the line between what's real and what isn't.

What fascinated me the most is that it never feels like the characters suddenly "fall in love because of acting" That would be too simple. Instead acting became a psychological device the thing that strips away everything they've been hiding from themselves. It forces them to sit with emotions they can no longer explain away. The more the characters insist they're "just acting" the more the audience starts questioning whether acting is creating these feelings or simply revealing ones that were already there.

Zhang Zhun spends so much time insisting "It's just acting" that eventually you start rolling your eyes because sir who are you trying to convince? Zhen Xin or yourself? He never really builds a wall between his real life and his feelings. He doesn't keep reminding everyone about his gf or try to create distance. He just repeats the same sentence like it's hoping that once filming ends, everything will magically go back to normal. Watching someone bargain with themselves like that felt incredibly human.

The show also plays with reality in a way I didn't expect. There were moments where even I forgot whether I was watching the actors or the drama they were filming. That blurry line isn't there just to confuse the audience it mirrors exactly what the characters are going through. You start questioning where Gao Zhun ends and Zhang Zhun begins, where Fang Chi ends and Zhen Xin begins, and whether those boundaries even matter anymore. Your confusion is just like theirs about their feelings and them getting in and out of character.

Another thing I appreciated is how the series treats trauma. It doesn't feel like it's using painful experiences just to shock the audience. The aftermath, the fear, the emotional breakdowns they're allowed to be messy. Some scenes were genuinely hard to watch for me because they felt so raw Shuyuan portays them amazingly. Even when I completely questioned the therapist's methods (seriously someone revoke that man's license 😭) I understood what the show was trying to explore emotionally.

And then there are the moments after the director yells "Cut" It snaps me right back to reality along with them and the long awaited real plot continues all the things and mess I felt from that rollercoaster it felt like they were telling me it's a dream you can wake up now, lol those might actually be my favorite.

The cameras stop rolling, but the emotions don't. The actors don't magically switch back into themselves. They carry the weight of those characters with them, and that's where the show really shines. It asks a question I don't think I've seen explored this way before: what happens when pretending becomes emotionally real?

By the end of episode 9, the line that stayed with me wasn't even a dramatic speech it was simply "It's not Fang Chi It's Zhen Xin"

That one sentence quietly tears down every excuse the story had been building. No more scripts. No more characters. No more hiding behind the role just one person telling another "This is me"

Deep In isn't trying to convince you that acting creates love. It's asking whether acting can uncover feelings that were already there but too frightening to acknowledge.

And honestly? That's a much more interesting story.

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I will consider it ended at ep 6

I tried ep 7 and 8 and no thanks. I have decided that episode 6 was the best place to end it at a happy note. ML was great, FL was a floundering mess of emotions. Can't communicate better and opting to make a face for so long. Just so annoying to watch. And what will the rest of the episodes be about? Typical misunderstandings, exes coming in and spoiling things. I think the first 6 eps was good enough. Also i find FL not that great at the workplace just because she scribble some ideas in a notebook. How does that make her suddenly a great employee? just too basic and simplistic made by people who has never worked in an office.

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All I can say is wow.

This series left me speechless. I'm genuinely surprised I have seen no one really talk about this show. Before you hesitate I'M BEGGING YOU let this have a chance. At first I was extremely about watching this series because of the description. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was scared Korn would only pursue Lin and ignore Win, If you get what I mean. I'm genuinely so surprised and I have to say, another favourite series from EarthMix!! I started this with the feeling something bad/sad would happen, which I'm not gonna give spoilers on in the headline. Apparently there was backlash on this show which I just can't believe...

I love the original concept of the road trip while having to collect holy water from 4 temples in 7 days. It's super original!!I always like series/movies where the location is something farm or countryside related. So that made it extra fun for me. The switching bodies is not very original but the way they put it is with Win having to 'safe' his sister. I also like the soul concept and I love how Buddhism is used In this, this is coming from a buddhistic person. Of course it's Thailand but it just made the series a bit more interesting and special to me.

About the soul's, this was very complicated to some people maybe. You see Win played by Mix each time they meet people who 'know' the actual soul inside Win. I really like this because it leaves the impression that Korn sees Win as Win even if he's stuck in Lin's body. If they didn't add this I'm gonna be honest but I wouldn't have seen a difference in people.

I like how they showed that Win actually had issues with 'being' his sister. I feel bad for Win because he kept forgetting he was trapped inside his sister's body. That monk at the first temple had to let Win be reminded that he was in Lin's body. The discomfort when he got his period as well and when he was 'assaulted'. I get why Mix would wanna go back to his original body because he clearly felt like he was 'using' his sister's body, but then again, he was not able to. He kept having reminders he was not himself even though their souls swapped. Him being hesitant to actually like Korn back was extremely valid. I was so afraid Korn would end up falling in love with Lin because he was 'seeing' Lin's body the whole time. I felt so bad for Win and I'm happy that wasn't the end.

Sorry, but I am again making a small paragraph about how amazing the ost is. With again I mean that I often do this in other reviews as well. I actually knew the song Closer (ไม่ไกลหัวใจ) before this series. The song makes me so emotional each time I hear it and that rarely happens because normally I don't like 'emotional' songs. It's not emotional, it is just such a sweet song... Honestly each time it was played through the series I felt like "oh shit there will be a part where I'll have to cry purely because of the song." This song gives me some sort of weird nostalgic feeling. . Hearing the song makes me sad every fucking time.

Ok so this was the last EarthMix series I had left to watch, until Cupid's ghost comes out of course. I have to say, EarthMix are one of my favourite actors under Gmmtv when it comes to their series. I'm not even joking, now that I've seen everything, they leave me impressed every time. I love EarthMix's acting a lot and every series they've played in just hits different, It's as if gmmtv gives them the more complicated series, I am not sure how to explain this, I find it hard to describe. Also Mix and Jan GENUINELY look alike, I hope they'll be casted as sibling again if that's ever needed, because Jesus Christ. I don't even think I can separate these roles irl.

Overall, Please give this series a chance if you keep pushing it away, you'll regret not watching it earlier. It's so good and just everything about this series makes me wanna cry from nostalgia. The ending was extremely peak, trust me.

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A Thai Version of Tales of the City!

The headline might make it sound like a copy or a direct adaptation, but no worries it never feels like one.


I had been excited about this show ever since the trailer was released. Despite that excitement, before watching it I had seen comments saying things like “don’t watch this if you’re looking for the kind of BL produced by those X companies. ” and ain't gonna lie I backed down a bit. At first, I thought people were saying this because the series features more mature men and has fewer NC scenes, similar to Mandate, Spare me your mercy or other more mature productions. But they were actually right. This is a completely different kind of series.

The main couple has a remarkably social circle that includes many different people from the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the series, these characters face all kinds of difficulties, ranging from assault and violence to unemployement, aging, and even death. Despite everything they go through, they continue to support one another and find ways to move forward.

The series gets its title from the fact that, in each episode, the characters encounter a problem that keeps them awake at night. The person at the center of that problem can be almost any character in the story. They are someone connected to the main couple, who then do everything they can to support them.

One of the main characters is also a cartoonist, and the series occasionally brings the comic-book universe he created to life through animated scenes. These scenes often represent the way he processes the problems he is facing, adding a distinctive visual elements to the story.

The show also explores subjects beyond LGBTQ+ identity, including contemporary relationship dynamics such as polyamory and monogamy. It even touches on the use of AI at one point. Although the central focus remains on its main gay male couple, this series should never be viewed simply as a “boys’ love” or “men’s love” drama.

Its references to real events, such as Sao Saw Et, are particularly interesting. Combined with the amount of information it provides and its consistently open-minded approach, these elements sometimes give the series an almost documentary-like quality.

There was even an episode explaining how a “Public Documented Will” is prepared. I am not sure whether this is something specific to that region or something that exists worldwide, but it was the first time I had ever heard of it. I was fascinated by the fact that I could learn so much from a show.

!!!One final warning!!!: the level of bullying in some eps is quite intense, so I would especially caution anyone who may be triggered by it. There were a few scenes that left me staring at the screen with my mouth open and made me physically set my laptop aside for a moment.

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Loveable characters - sweet story

The Great Show is a well told, tender hearted story. Even with its predictable plot, it was told realistically and with sincerity. The very talented Song Seung Heon brought Wi De Han to life in a charming, realistic, believable way. We’re given enough backstory to understand how WDH’s youth shaped him in the present day. He was on his way back to the National Assembly but had to navigate the shock of a lifetime to get there. WDH’s journey showed how difficult it is to maintain integrity in the cutthroat world of politics.

He’s probably one of the most imperfect yet transparent guys you can’t help but like. He just couldn’t get a break on his road to the NA. Yes he had a temper. Yes he said things he’d later regret. Yes he made decisions that could cost him that goal. But he humbly owned his mistakes and that set him apart from every other politician.

I loved the contract between Da Jung and WDH as well as the household constitution.

“A happy household isn’t made by perfect people, but it’s made when people with weaknesses try to fill in for each other’s weaknesses. We all have weaknesses, but in order to become a perfect family we should try hard together.”

Da Jung’s siblings were charming including Tak. Soo Hyun was an excellent friend/confident/support to De Han, Da Jung and the children (well played by Lee Sun Bin). All the supporting characters added to the story. I was pulled into the market community so much, at times, I found the student of business in me thinking of ways to help if I were there.

I would agree it’s a predictable drama, but TGS’s evolution still had the element of surprise when most of those predictable moments did happen. I felt the story was well paced. Each episode was eventful and I didn’t feel it dragged anywhere too long.

I liked this story so much that tolerated the ads on TUBI to watch it. I recommend The Great Show to anybody looking for a light but meaningful slice of life story with lots of heart.

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Not Exactly Horror, But…..

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Although this was more supernatural than horror, this was an amazing series. However, I could be little bias because I love this type of theme. This had an incredible script! It successfully grabbed my attention from the very beginning. The script also did a wonderful job linking everything together throughout the series. Even the ending was perfect! The whole cast was phenomenal. They did a fantastic job with their roles. This is also one of those rare times when a series uses it’s screentime wisely and pace everything perfectly with the number of episodes it had. This had visually stunning cinematography. They also did an amazing job with the special effects, CGI, and FX make-up.

Random Note:

Again, this is not really a horror series which means there is not much gore.

I got a little confused towards the end, but I thing that was due to the English subtitles and not the actual script.




******Potential Spoiler Alert******

I like how the ending is ambiguous. Not only was it awesome, they manage to make it perfect as a series ending while keeping the door open for possible more seasons. I would love to see different instalments of this world!

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