The story
I really enjoyed the series from start to finish. The 2 MLs were perfect for each other andgreat acting from both of them. I didn't take much notice of the second pairing I was to wrapped up in the main couple. When they kissed they kissed. As for the ending as long as they were with each other and alive thats a great ending. Thankyou to all who took part actors.. Directors.. Production staff. 100%...❤️
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This sad drama hits a little harder now knowing that lead actor Lee Sun-kyun took his own life.He's so convincing at playing someone on the edge of breaking down, someone down on their luck pushed to the limits of their sad lives, someone who is silently one step away from ending it all. Brilliant acting.
…or was it even acting?
Reminds me of Leslie Cheung actually, in that both of them had this melancholy and sadness behind their eyes. Sometimes it's just acting, but it would seem like with them, it turns out there was something more maybe that made their performances all the more convincing and soul-crushing. Something, sadly, that was perhaps real underneath the facade of acting.
This show has got pacing issues though. Definitely could have told the same story in less episodes. Some of the drama involving the brothers got repetitive after a while of basically just the same stuff happening over and over with little new development.
IU doesn't really look the part of a hardened young woman who's had the toughest life, she'd be more of a fit in a Sageuk playing the delicate princess coveted by all actually, but somehow she made it work, which is a testament to her acting I guess.
I could have gone without the redemption story for the shithead too. He was literally the only reason why her life was so miserable. He didn't deserve anything, sorry.
Overall though it's a pretty good drama, recommended if you like that genre.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Thought I could get away without the tears
🚨🚨spoiler 🚨🚨I thought this would be one I could enjoy without the tears. 40.5 did me in. When she told him that she would not forgive him if he died first ~ and then they cut away to the two old hands holding the forgiveness card, I lost it. 🤧🤧
Heck I even had trouble writing this review. 🥹
Was this review helpful to you?
The East Palace: Where the Greatest Evil Isn't Supernatural
STORYThe East Palace is a cinematic, visually stunning occult fantasy that takes place during the Joseon era. I believe Netflix labeled it as horror, but I'd describe it more as a supernatural mystery infused with palace intrigue. From the very beginning, the drama makes one thing clear: the true monsters aren't the spirits haunting the palace; they're the humans and the sins they commit. Every episode ends with a compelling twist or cliffhanger that kept me glued to the screen, and I ended up devouring the drama in a single day.
The drama clearly draws inspiration from Netflix productions like Kingdom and Stranger Things. While the individual plot elements aren't entirely new, the combination of Korean occult folklore, political intrigue, and fantasy action feels fresh thanks to the show's excellent execution. As someone who isn't very familiar with Korean mythology, I especially enjoyed seeing it being brought to life on screen. The action sequences set between the human world and the spirit realm were particularly exciting and visually imaginative.
Both leads are characters who have been wronged and cast aside in different ways. In a palace filled with deception and cruelty, it was heartwarming to watch them gradually learn to trust one another and become each other's source of comfort. I also appreciated that the writers didn't force a conventional romance into the story. Instead, their relationship develops naturally through their small gestures, loyalty, and the sacrifices they're willing to make for one another. Even without explicit romance, their emotional connection feels genuine and deeply earned. Although this is presented as a limited series, I'd happily watch another season exploring where the story could take our two leads and their spirit companion.
The cinematography deserves special praise. Every frame feels polished and cinematic, from the haunting spirit designs to the striking contrast between the human world and the supernatural realm. My only minor criticism is that some of the action scenes relied on overly shaky camera work, making them harder to follow than they needed to be.
ACTING / CAST
The entire cast delivered excellent performances.
Cho Seung Woo and Jang Young Nam were absolutely captivating as the antagonists. I'd previously seen Jang Young Nam in another drama, and I almost didn't recognize her here. Her transformation was remarkable. Not only did she convincingly portray a character nearly two decades older than herself, but even her voice, mannerisms, and overall presence were completely different. That's a veteran actress for you!
Nam Joo Hyuk and Roh Yoon Seo were equally compelling as the leads. Nam Joo Hyuk brought convincing emotional depth to a reluctant antihero who discovers something worth fighting for, while Roh Yoon Seo skillfully portrayed a young woman searching for answers while contending with a complicated relationship with her family.
MUSIC
The soundtrack felt cinematic in every sense, perfectly complementing both the breathtaking visuals and the shifting emotional tone of the story.
REWATCH VALUE
Because much of the drama's appeal comes from its mysteries and plot twists, the biggest surprises naturally lose their impact after a first viewing. That said, I think it's the kind of series that rewards a rewatch. Knowing the full story allows you to catch subtle details and foreshadowing you may have missed the first time.
OVERALL
The East Palace combines several of my favorite genres—mystery, fantasy, supernatural, and action—and I absolutely enjoyed it from start to finish. Its blend of Korean occult folklore with palace intrigue gives the series a distinctive identity, elevated by gorgeous cinematography, strong performances, and consistently engaging storytelling. If you're looking for a stylish supernatural mystery with compelling characters, excellent production values, and just the right amount of action, then The East Palace is worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Mature relationship, youth spirit, relaxing and healing drama
I'm more to costume drama rather than modern, but this become my new favorite💗 I don't expected to like this drama very much, moreover this is about sport and I usually not really into this genre. But this is different!The love story, conflict, and characters are very well writen! Everything is perfect! Even all the OST itself! I find myself really hard to skip the intro bcs it's just so gooooddd! I really loveeee all things about this drama, the love story, youth spirit, and how each of them have their own problems. Moreover the romance between the lead for me feels really mature especially because they are teachers, doesn't mean they are serious all the time, they also love to joking and teasing each other, but also they try to always understand each other and always be there even if one of them needs to be alone sometimes. Watching this drama makes me feel very cozy and excited, I'm jealous of u guys who watch this drama after finished airing, bcs it's really hard to keep waiting for the episode day by dayyy haha. The last eps feels too rushed! It's not enough for me😫 I need moree epsss!
The chemistry between the leads successfully made me giggle and blush while watching even though they do not have many intense romance scenes, character development for every character is really amazingg! Especially Wen Chengye! 🤩 Love the title "Road to Success" everyone has their own struggle that they have to overcome and a dream to achieve and the path is not easy. In some scene I caught myself crying! Which is very rarely even when I watch costume drama~ this drama success bring many emotions to me💘 I can say this is one of my best drama in 2026! Xinxin u success made me fall in love again and again with ur drama 😆 Chen Jingke u also success stole my heart in this drama haha
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
First series that made me wish for a two person only cast
First of all, most if not all of the grade goes to the two main actors. Excellent chemistry, very good acting. What absolutely did not work for my was everybody else that appeared on the screen. Be it the parents, the childhood friend that has been in love with the ML since the womb, the absolute pest that was the 2ML. Every single one of them got on my nerves in different ways, though the end result was the same for all of them: I could not, for the life of me, stand another 30 seconds watching them.Right now I am on episode 42 and I won't drop it because I've come this far. What I want to say to someone that intends on watching this one: if you're a fan of the two leads, do it. If you want a romantic, sweet and very, very healthy and discerning relationship, do it, though please do bear in mind that the supporting cast ABSOLUTELY DESTROYS THIS and not in a good way. Every single rage moment that I had as a spectator was because some incredibly annoying and disposable character was pissing me the hell off. The female lead had the very refreshing approach of putting those snobbish rich people in their place. She had her annoying moments too, but they came and went fast.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
(Contains Spoilers)The Chemistry between the main characters was really good, that's the main reason I watched to the end, but I was expecting that Hee Joo would trust Woogy a little bit in the end, but she didn't. Even Woogy helps her in every way and never leaves her behind, at the first opportunity, Hee Joo leaves him behind. This really disappointed me. She is just selfish and blinded by gold like the bad guys, so what was the difference between the bad guys and Hee Joo?
Was this review helpful to you?
A sweet BL for when you don't know what to watch
A perfectly average, if a little too slow, Japanese BL. I like that they very quickly discussed their romantic interest for each other and it wasn't made into a huge deal. Two other standouts for me were the main character's female colleague with her easy acceptance and advice and the little plot twist with the phone strap at the end, which was quite charming.But both the characters behaved a bit too immaturely for their age; I wasn't sure if they were mentally 14 or just way too stereotypically Japanese for me to take for 1 hour and a half. They spent half their time talking to each other apologising for inconsequential things and talking in circles, to the point where it got on my nerve and the romance lost a bit of its magic by the end 😅.
But it's a nice enough palate cleanser of a movie, short and sweet and not trying to do too much, so I would recommend it for a rainy day when you don't know what to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
More Than Just a Sports Drama
I went into Road to Success expecting a fairly standard sports drama, but it ended up being so much more than football.The biggest strength of this drama is its characters. Every member of the team feels important, and watching them grow from a group of individuals into a family was easily my favourite part. Their victories felt earned because you experienced every setback, disagreement and emotional hurdle alongside them.
The romance is a genuine slow burn. WF and LWX have fantastic chemistry, and I loved that their relationship developed through trust, support and understanding rather than unnecessary misunderstandings. It complemented the main story without ever taking it over.
What really surprised me was how emotional this drama became. There were episodes that had me smiling because of the team bonding, others that had me reaching for the tissues, and plenty that left me desperate to watch the next episode. The drama balances football, friendship, romance and personal struggles really well.
I also appreciated that even characters who frustrated me early on were given opportunities to grow. Themes of found family, forgiveness, perseverance and believing in one another run throughout the entire series.
The only reason this isn’t a perfect 10 is the ending. It wrapped everything up nicely, but I would have loved a little more time with the characters after everything they had been through. It felt just a touch rushed.
If you enjoy sports dramas, found family, slow-burn romance and character-driven stories, I’d definitely recommend giving Road to Success a watch. I came for the football, but I stayed for the people. ⚽❤️
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Healing Story Wrapped in Sports
❤️ Romance Isn’t the Focus—Healing IsFirst off, if you’re looking for a drama packed with romance, this isn’t the one. The romance here is a slow, step‑by‑step process where the leads rely on each other emotionally long before they start falling for each other. They share plenty of screen time, but the heart of the story is healing—both individually and through the sports team.
Both the male and female lead carry heavy emotional wounds, and their stories connect in meaningful ways. At the same time, you’ve got a group of young soccer/football players dreaming of winning a championship but struggling with back‑to‑back losses and the departure of their coach. Three of the boys even get their own side stories, each tied to personal hurt and complicated relationships with their parents.
Speaking of parents… there are a LOT of bad ones in this drama. They don’t appear often, but when they do, prepare to feel annoyed, frustrated, or straight‑up angry.
⚽ Sports Done Right—Not Just Running on the Field
The sports aspect isn’t just nonstop gameplay, which I appreciated. Sports are more than what happens on the field, and the drama actually shows that. You get tactics, training sessions, breakdowns of strengths and weaknesses, replay analysis, and—most importantly—team bonding.
It feels like a real sports environment rather than just a highlight reel.
🧩 Good Story, But Missing Some Important Wrap‑Ups
Overall, the story was handled pretty well, but a few plot points definitely needed better closure. The biggest issue for me was the parents. None of the bad parents ever truly realized their mistakes or offered heartfelt apologies. Wan Xing’s parents especially bothered me—no reflection, no regret, nothing. The same goes for Fu Xin Shu’s mom and Weng Cheng Ye’s dad.
Seeing even a small moment of change or remorse would’ve made the emotional arcs feel more complete for Wan Xing, Fu Xin Shu, and Weng Cheng Ye.
⚖️ Wan Xing’s Justice Felt Weak
Wan Xing’s justice also didn’t feel justified. The villain impersonated her, ruined her life, and drove two innocent people to end theirs. A forced written and recorded apology—something C‑dramas love—is always weird to me because it feels empty.
Sure, the news anchors mention an investigation, but that’s basically it. It didn’t feel like a punishment that matched the damage done.
🎬 Final Thoughts
Despite those issues, the story was still pretty good overall. The cast was great, the acting was strong, and the music was fine (just not something I’d listen to often). I probably wouldn’t rewatch the whole drama now that I know everything that happens, but I’d definitely revisit some of my favorite episodes.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is for the Kenty oshi's (dont be shy about why you are watching this)
Is this drama Goofy? yesis it fun? yes
Is it an easy watch? yes
did i enjoy this drama? overall yes
Did I just watch this because I love Kento Nakajima? .. well YES!
If you are a regular Jdrama watcher, you know what this drama is by the first episode. Personally this what I call "NHK old people propaganda" where NHK makes a drama to communicate important stuff to the elderly people of japan, and you know what, there is nothing wrong with that. As long as you know that's what you're watching, and accept it, then I think its an easy watch. Especially if you like the cast.
Some of these episodes were so sweet and cute, I teared up, especially the one with the kid on sports day. That was probably my favorite episode. I also loved ep 9 cause it's fun! (I can understand why people would not like it)
Overall the cast was very good and im happy with how easy and light this drama was to watch. Felt like a breath of fresh air. I would suggest watching with a snack cause some episodes made me really hungry, Especially the desserts. 😂
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Fun drama, chalk full of action!
This drama is a full roller-coaster. intriguing start, slow build up for the main villains, then a wild ending that i had a great time watching. The shinaingians of these 2 are the main highlight. The dynamic of a grumpy seasoned assassin paired with a big hearted newbie was a fun combo. The growth of tsukasa and the relationship overall is very enjoyable! I also just love it when a villain is batshit crazy & matches the energy of the protagonist. Kora Kengo has those crazy eyes, kinda scared me, but was fun to watch! aShout out to my boy Fuma (played by Harada Konosuke) cause that storyline was actually hilarious. There was points in this drama where I did laugh out loud, the comedy landed with me.
I also would highlight that the fight choreography was so interesting. it contained moves and types of fighting i was not expepting. If you are a fan of toku, you might find the action a fun watch.
My main criticism would be that some of the middle episodes had weird storylines, which I think I have just gotten used to from 30 minute Jdramas. Felt preachy at times, but still wasn't the worst of these types I've seen.
overall id say if you can watch it definitely give it a try, i really hope thier is a season 2!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Fun watch but an inconsequential story with no opinion
"Love Class 3" is the least “Love Class” of all the Love Classes.The "love class" element in this show became increasingly irrelevant to the plot, and it ends up having virtually no screen time and no relation to what happens in the drama. So I’m not sure why they tried to fit this into the “Love Class” series instead of just making it its own thing.
Overall, this was a really cute, fun watch, and the “steamy” scenes were surprisingly good for a K-BL about idols with some actors that are actually active idols. Comparing it to something like “A Shoulder to Cry On,” it is less afraid of showing "BL" and way more open to showing intimacy. Granted, I still think “A Shoulder to Cry On” is the better drama/story/plot.
The problem I had with this drama, personally, is that it felt like a lot of things happening EXCEPT for a consequential story. By consequential, I basically mean a story where the events matter. At first, it seems like it has a lot of real stakes – the boys’ careers as idols, their ability to be in a relationship while being idols, etc. – but by the end, all the important stuff seems less so?
And what happened to queens Stella and Ye Eun? No clue, because there is zero closure on what happens to them. They hint at a GL side couple only to give us nothing.
Not to make this a full-blown essay, but I guess my gripe here is that there were a lot of stakes built up, only for them to be solved behind the scenes or in such a quick way that made me think – okay, what was the whole show for then? What was the purpose, and what is it trying to say or do?
I really feel the show just scratched the surface of its potential. I kind of wish it went a little deeper into the idol industry, the systematic problems it has, and the life of idols, but maybe that would be too deep for what this show is going for. In a way, it showed the problem, but it didn’t really do anything else.
It's kind of funny, because the setup is that "idols cannot be in romantic relationships with others/eachother" and the whole show is the leads fighting this, and the conclusion is that it was true? Lol.
Was this review helpful to you?
