Reviews

A beautiful story about quiet love, growth, and the comfort of finding love

Hidden Love is one of those dramas that feels warm from the very beginning. What makes it special is not just the romance, but the way the relationship develops naturally over time.

Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu have a chemistry that feels sincere. Their interactions are sweet without feeling forced, and the drama does a great job showing the small moments that slowly build their connection.

I especially loved the male lead's personality. Instead of being the typical cold and arrogant character, he is caring, patient, and emotionally mature. The female lead also grows beautifully throughout the story, becoming more confident while keeping her charming personality.

The drama's biggest strength is its atmosphere. The friendships, family moments, and everyday scenes create a comfortable feeling that makes you want to keep watching.
The pacing is slower compared to some romance dramas, but it fits the story because the focus is on emotional development rather than unnecessary conflict.
The acting, visuals, and soundtrack all add to the relaxing feeling.

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Body Swap Fantasy Done Uniquely

Started slow... took awhile to get to the fantasy elements, but once they came in they were incorporated well and uniquely. Great chemistry between the lead and secondary couples. The only couple that lacked chemistry was Yoo In A's character and the personal assistant dude. Also would've been cool if a romance developed between the Action Studio director and Joo Won's sister, since she showed a clear interest in him. The was good all around but especially Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won. A lot of beautiful sets matched with flat lightning, possibly due to the fact that this was shot on film. A very trope heavy drama (a bit repetitive), but still well written overall. The story comes full circle in the end. I will definitely be watching more "old school" Kdramas in the future.

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A Bittersweet "Bullying" Drama.

There's so much I want to say about this drama. But let's keep it short.

This drama, which explores bullying in schools, left me with mixed feelings. It is both terrifying and sad to realize that perhaps in some places cases of bullying are becoming more and more common. Although in my own place the bullying cases are not that bad (or so I thought). Like the tip of the iceberg, this bullying seems to be a hidden threat for a long time.

But one thing I've realized is that recent bullying cases are truly horrific. It's as if the psychological impact on the victims isn't a problem.

The perpetrators can still live, but the victims? Life feels reluctant.

It's a bittersweet, but bullying between students, teacher-on-student violence, student-on-teacher resentment, and even parental accusations against teachers do exist, and will continue to happen if we can't control ourselves.

And this drama seems to reveal everything (even though it is packaged in a fictional story).

Aside from the bullying things, I personally really enjoyed this drama, especially the interactions between Na Hwajin and Minister Choi. The dry, dad-like comedy was also quite entertaining, making me laugh out loud several times.

When it comes to the acting, I think they all deserve a thumbs up. This drama is a chef's kiss, I guess.

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Long Live Noisy Hongs!

The series was written and acted perfectly, and it truly warms your heart. There are no dull moments as fighting scenes and character interactions are very enjoyable. The drama OSTs are excellent and will make you want to sing along. The leads have a cute love story and strong chemistry.

The series is during the Yeonsangun regime, a known tyrant King of Joseon. In the series, Hong Gil Dong, a mighty child with immense strength and drive for justice, is born to his servant parents. Together with his Hong family, he fights against corruption and the evil ruler of Joseon. The series shows great power struggle between the Yangban (Noble) and Nobi (Slaves/Servants), which plays a huge part in the drama.

Overall, this drama is a must-watch for me. Personally, I was drawn because I am interested in Yeonsangun regime, which the drama reflected, in general sense. Though I think it's heavily fictionalized, the struggle of the people was real.

As I progressed towards the end, I can't help but wish that every country had it's own Hong Gil Dong, especially nowadays when corruption is rampant and people are greatly oppressed.

I have two favorite lines from this drama and I think will forever leave an impact on me.
First is something like this, "The blood flowing through my veins is warmer and more precious than that of any high-ranking official! Only those with bloods as warm and precious as mine can join this great fight. What kind of blood flows through your veins? Who among you will stand with me?!" It made me realize that not all those acting high and mighty are of noble heart. Sometimes those people who were deemed low and dirty are the one's who truly possesses a heart of a noble man.
Second is something like, "Why did you become such a lowly man, when you were born from such a mighty king?". It left a huge impact on me, knowing the great accomplishments that the previous kings before Yeonsangun had done.

If you want something that will fuel your drive for justice and see the people oppressed winning, then this drama is for you. Every feats reflects perseverance, courage, and strong drive for justice.

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Diverse - romance, comedy and mystery

I personally really liked this drama. It's an easy watch but still enticing and fun.

What I liked:
- The mystery element is undersold in the genre category. It really kept the story going and kept me hooked! The drama did not feel solely just about romance due to this element.
- The balance of comedy, romance and mystery is done well. I liked it.
- Each daughter of the family has their own unique personality, and it kept me wanting to see how the next daughter would handle things. I just felt like it was getting better with each couple! It flows well from one couple to the next and the introduction to each next couple is done naturally through the mystery storyline.
- I love the family dynamics. The development and growth were wonderful to see. It felt like I was part of the family, smiling with them at the end. I'm so sad I finished watching this but I'm glad it ended happily.

My only criticism:
- When the second and third daughter were kidnapped and the husbands teased them while they were still tied up and blindfolded was a bit insensitive perhaps? I get the point, but I can imagine you're scared after being kidnapped and then your feelings are being toyed with when you're worried about your life and thinking how to escape. I felt bad for the girls. Like that's a traumatic experience surely. Just my thoughts though.

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Low budget boys over flower kinda plot

I created an account on this site just to pour my heart out . This drama will have you on an emotional roller coaster. I genuinely don’t blame FL for her actions becus at the end of the day she was a child failed by adults around her . As for ML family so upsetting how the acted. . The didn’t even look that wealthy to me . This drama was giving low budget boys over flower plot but overall I enjoyed it and glad the got a happy ending but it will really be nice for dramas to invest in happy moments more than having all the sad moments have more scenes then by the time for romance we have few mins left for season wrap it’s not fail . I will rate this drama a 7/10

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An In-Depth Character Study

Please don't read this review unless you've finished the series! The show is so much better going in blind!

This series is a very unique take on a character study. The main genres are thriller and mystery and they take you on a wild ride as you try to understand who Fei Ke really was. What were his goals, motives, and what made him into the person that he was? That question is never answered, because he himself never got to find out.

The series plays as each character takes a turn describing their own story with Fei Ke. Each person describes a different personality, a different type of manipulation, and a indescribable pull towards him.

But this is not a story of a man, evil, intent on on gaining money or power. He is not some master manipulator. Though, his intentions can be subjective, I think it's clear that he didn't set out to scam people. When opportunities arose, when he was betrayed, when the victim created and walked into their own trap, he pushed forward. He was oddly sincere and kind, searching for genuine connection and treating others as meaningful to him, but also preparing for the worst. As soon as they betrayed him, he did so back double fold. The story is more so about a man who continues to make the wrong choice, meet the wrong people, and push away the only person that stayed on his side, honest and good Shen.

The one and only chance he had at escaping his dark childhood, becoming the person he was meant to be, when he was given the choice, he chose revenge. From the moment he chose revenge, he set his life on a course of lies that led him to twisted people, further twisting himself until he became a "fake" version of himself. Rather than actualize the person he was going to become, bright and clever and kind, he chose to hurt those that had hurt him. This moment destroys him and that is where the story truly began and where Li Zenrui's ended.

The ending was truly heartbreaking and brought my score up from an 8 to a 9.5.
It ends with each person returning to their happiest self or their truest forms of themselves. For Fei Ke, only after his death did he regain his name. Only in his last moments, did he do something that was true of himself, returning to his innocent self still full of hopes and dreams. Only once before his death, did he get to hear someone call him by his real name, only once...only once.

Only one person remembered who he once was, Shen was his only lifeline. And in his final moments, he chose to save that lifeline, the last remaining piece of his hope.

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A robot and a human fall in love

This was a fantastic drama!

At first I wasn't sure I would like it. Not because of the interspecies romance (vampires, werewolves, demons, etc...) that's usually my bread and butter. But because I don't see how a mother could allow her child to be taken and not fight for him... in any and every way she could, yeah, I know she went to the compound (that was a dumb move) but then she waited for 20 years... mind blowing.

There's a lot of things I could say about the mother, I thought she was a terrible person, very selfish.

The grandpa was a horrible person. No wonder the 'real' Nam Shin was so messed up. But the fact that he was the one that... It was unforgiveable. The things he did and he had no consequences. At the end Ji Yeong Hun and David were acting like he did nothing wrong. That irritated me.

The story, the romance between Nam Shin III and Kang So Bong was so sweet.

Some are talking about how horrible it is that she fell in love with a robot, that they hoped it wasn't the robot with her at the end. Anyone still having doubts about which one was which at the end... last episode started at 29:28 should put those doubts to rest.

Personally, I was hoping the robot and the human would a find away to stay together. Thankfully, the ending was a very happy one (a year later) in the last few minutes of the last episode. (I'm usually not a fan of the last minute happy ending but for this one I'm just glad it was one.)

Would I recommend it? Yes, with a caveat. If you don't like interspecies romance, this is not the drama for you. However if you like a drama with a Gorgeous male lead, a FL who can be irritating as all get out (especially in the beginning) but she mellows in the later episodes, if you like a sweet romance, no spice, a couple of kisses, angst, bad guys who don't get their just desserts but villains who do... then this is the one for you.

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The Difference Between Hell And Purgatory

This is lots of fun, and more thoughtful than I expected.

It has a similar vibe to Study Group, and while it is also quite funny in parts, it's less goofy and slapstick.

It is extremely entertaining while also critiquing the inefficiency (and ultimately the failure) of systems meant to protect people, the culture surrounding education of emphasizing results, grades and excellent jobs over the growth and cultivation of moral integrity in schools, the horrifying nature of some parenting practices, and the danger of jeopardizing safe spaces for young people to learn and grow if bullying and drugs are not addressed in them.

The part that was most satisfying and which I'd not seen attempted in quite this way before, was the way every bully (whether student, parent, or teacher) got a turn to experience a dose of their own medicine. A few used the lesson to grow, (most) others just grew more resentful and bitter.

If your criticism is that it's unrealistic or over-the-top...well, that's kind of the point.

The ERPB could never exist, just as a politician as good-hearted and upright as Minister Choi Jang Seok could probably never exist, but the issues they highlight are obviously on a spectrum of the real.

The question the drama is posing is: Will we actually address the root problem? Will we just put bandaids on our festering societal injuries and let the wound grow worse or will we do the painful, agonizing, image-destroying work of surgery to bring actual healing and long-term restoration?

There was this thoughtful (though not always perfect) balance of the tension between compassion/grace and punishment. All the perpetrators are given a chance at redemption (and enlightenment is offered through the Dante-like contrapasso punishment the perpetrators suffer), but not everyone takes it.

As Dante highlights, this response to punishment is the difference between Hell and Purgatory. 😉

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Not sure why

I couldn't finish this show, I really struggled to keep my mind on it, the first four episodes weren't too bad. Kinda disappointed in myself for not being to stick through it for Kim Sejeong's sake since I REALLY enjoyed her performance in Brewing Love.

I said that if this drama wowed me then I'd finally give Extraordinary Attorney Woo a try and move it to the top of my watchlist. Guess that won't be happening. 😔 How awful.

5/10 cuz I'm pretty neutral.

It looked good, had an interesting premise, good acting and pretty solid music. All the components put together just didn't do it for me.

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