Reviews

Their Friendship was the Best Part

If this drama has taught me anything, it's that when my dream of living and working in a different country materialises, the 1st thing I'll do is enroll in a language school.

What I Liked
🥙The highlight given to all the food. You can make me watch almost anything as long as you mention that they will be talking about food from different cultures. I liked how Mari was curious and willing to try different foods. If she were real, I know that we'd go on so many food adventures together.

🌸Mari & Arikino's Friendship - Sure, it starts with Mari basically bulldozing into Arikino's life and dragging him along her adventures - his opinion be damned - but Arikino needed it. He needed someone to pull him out of that solitude and loneliness that had become his life. Someone to add some colour, taste, love (albeit platonic) into his life, and show him that not all humans are all bad. I love how he, over time, came to not only respect our lovely lettuce head, but also go out of his way to protect her against even his superiors

🚔A cold look at (some) foreigner experience in Japan - The world, at least today, loves Japan. There is a reason why the term 'Japan glazers' exists. I love how this show highlights how not every foreigner's experience is all cherry blossoms, mochi, matcha, and roses. I appreciate how they highlighted matters like xenophobia, racism, disregard from police forces, how language barrier affects daily life, etc., all things you never hear about unless you do a rather deep (and possibly depressive) dive into Japan - or any other country for that matter
PS. I also recently learned about a thing called 'hostage justice,' and Lord, was I traumatized. The thought of being a foreigner, getting arrested over there, having no language to explain yourself, and being saddled with legal enforcement that doesn't give 2 shits about you gives me shivers

💕How much respect and care Mari gave to Arikino & Oda's r/ship - She didn't make a big deal out of it, just simply approached the matter with care, and when Arikino finally opened up to her, lent a listening and understanding ear. She is such a good friend. We all need such friends in our lives (we should also strive to be such friends too)

🎶I did enjoy the OST by Balming Tiger. It's a fun little tune. But no other songs stood out

What Could've Been Done Better
🚨The police cases (and volunteer) - I would've liked it if we dove deeper into them. I wanted the show to dig just a bit deeper into the accused persons and the cases. But I suppose that wasn't the intention

🚨Mari's hair - It was distracting. Not the colour, but the roots and the intensity of the colour. I know TV shows/dramas are rarely shot chronologically. That is likely why her hair colour and roots growth differed so much. But, seeing her hair be bright green in one shot and a faded green with roots showing in another scene, and these scenes are supposed to be in one day or wto consecutive days takes you out of the story. They shold've gotten her a good wig or something

🚨The Villains - Mr. Volunteer guy played a much smaller role than I expected. He shpwed up in all white looking pretty but menacing and I thought he had a much bigger role. He doesn't. It felt like a waste.
Agawa did not get what he deserved. Yeah he got his throat slashed and might never wake up. Boohoo🙄. The man sold people to human traffickers, let murders slide, got that one witness murdered, threatened to out Arikino & Oda (leading to Oda's death) jeered at Arikino that one time they met at the station, and if left alone, would've gotten Mari killed too.
Being in a coma was too good for him. IMO, he deserved a worse fate

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Dashing Youth - Lost Me Halfway Through

I started watching Dashing Youth mainly because of the two male leads, and even while rewatching, my feelings haven’t really changed. I tend to skip scenes in C-dramas and come back to them later when I have nothing else to watch, which is why I ended up watching this one again. One thing that really bothered me is the unnecessary romance. I don’t mind romance when it’s done well, but in this drama, even though it’s little to none, it still feels annoying because it’s handled so subtly that it ends up dragging down the story instead of adding to it. Ye Dingzhi’s character especially went downhill for me once he started prioritizing his childhood friend. There’s a lot to say about the other characters too. The drama started off really strong, but as I kept watching, it just got even worse. What irritated me the most was the timing, Baili Dongjun finding out about Ye Dingzhi at the same time Ye Dingzhi was dealing with his childhood friend, absoluetly annoying. At first, I feel like it was interesting, but then the romance started to take over, and that’s when I got annoyed. I knew what I was getting into though, but I was really hoping to see more of my fav trio, Baili Dongjun, Sikong Changfeng, and Ye Dingzhi.

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A Sageuk to Brighten Your Day

Love in the Moonlight is a lighthearted romantic comedy set in the Joseon era. Since it takes place in ancient times, it naturally involves palace politics, yet it never loses its refreshing and breezy tone.

As a beginner in this genre, I was immediately hooked by several elements: from the historical context (costumes and settings unlike anything I’d seen before) to the politics, which I didn't find overwhelming at all. It had just the right amount of tension to keep me excited and help me understand the dynamics of the era, sparking a genuine interest in seeing how the conflicts would be resolved.
This was paired with comedic situations that had me constantly laughing out loud, creating a perfect balance with the friendship—which felt like a warm hug—and a romance that blossomed in such an endearing way.

Characters and Performances

Lee Yeong: I completely fell in love with him. His charisma, loyalty, and even that commanding Crown Prince persona—which drove everyone crazy while hiding a kind heart—captivated me. Park Bo Gum did an excellent job capturing his essence.

Hong Sam Nom / Ra On: She was adorable throughout; she had many funny and sweet scenes. However, I feel like I can’t highlight much more about her character, which is a bit of a shame.

The Supporting Leads: The loyal bodyguard and the lovestruck artist were highlights for me. Beyond being handsome, I thoroughly enjoyed the contrast between the former's tough exterior and the latter's looks of pure adoration.

The Villains: They certainly did their job—they made me feel genuine anger and helplessness.

Final Considerations

From my perspective, while the series features political elements and court conflicts, they probably weren't the most complex or groundbreaking in terms of intrigue and suspense. The story truly shines when it focuses on romance and comedy. It’s best watched with the mindset of enjoying a light dynamic and letting yourself be swept away by the beauty of a different era.

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A love so beautiful?

I started watching this drama for the idea of a fresh youth romance with the "sweet girl and cold guy" trope. But as it unfolded, all I could notice were problematic and frustrating things hidden under a surface of pastel colors, tender music, and adorable gestures.

First, we have the female lead, whose life seems to revolve solely and exclusively around her crush of many years. He has never shown a genuine interest in her; he is someone cold who, when he speaks, does so with rudeness. It was quite annoying to see her trying harder and harder to make him happy while he didn't seem to care at all (though, of course, they gave us those hints of him smiling behind her back just to keep us hooked on the idea that he was actually interested).

The male lead's attitude only generated confusion for me. They portray him as someone who doesn't know how to express his feelings and who also had an interest in her, but seriously—would you treat someone you care about or are interested in such a blunt and cold way? Just playing it tough and smiling every time she made an effort to get closer to you? And what did you give in return? If you want to convince me that this is cute and romantic, I’m sorry, but I can't empathize with you.


Regarding the female lead, I have to say she is a character that makes me feel pity. It bothers me because you can tell she is innocent and kind-hearted, but she has let her entire life revolve around one person, idealizing someone who is clearly flawed and minimizing his bad attitudes. The most revealing part—and what a surprise—is that it’s precisely during the three years he is away that she finally manages to build herself independently and get a job. I can only interpret this as her only being able to grow once he stopped being the center of her world.

Later, as time passes, we see them start a relationship because, clearly, "the girl who begs" achieves her goal of melting the ice guy. Everything is laughter and smiles until she can’t find a job—a frustrating situation—and to top it off, she is nearly assaulted; it’s simply horrible. Meanwhile, we have our "prodigy boy" for whom everything is going great with his opportunity to go abroad for three years. The misunderstanding, the terrible conversation they had afterward, and the three years of zero contact prove that this relationship was far from being something sweet and beautiful.

We are shown the breakdown of the person who has waited so long when she says: "I can't wait anymore, you don't give me the attention you should." That is the problem with waiting too long for someone: you burn out emotionally. The guy made a selfish decision for three years; my problem isn't that he left, but that they left things on such bad terms only for him to return later with "acts of kindness" toward her father and a drunken confession to soften her heart again.
It is very sad that this happens, especially with his confession saying he regretted it during those years but was unable to even send a message, or when he said he thought she would wait for him. BRO, what else is she supposed to wait for? Please!

But of course, since the plot is a romance, it doesn't matter what the characters say or do; everything is going to look pretty and happy in the end. It’s all very sad and delicate.


My goal isn't to be a perfect judge; I fully recognize that as human beings we are complex and imperfect—we fail and we hurt others. But my problem is that the fresh, youthful aesthetic and the idea of a "beautiful love" seems to take this too lightly. It asks us not to give it much importance, that everything is solved with a few words, and that we should just enjoy the pretty things and understand a handsome guy and an adorable girl. For me, this wasn't enjoyable; it was sad, frustrating, and confusing, which is why I couldn't connect emotionally with the story.


The good points: The aesthetic is beautiful, the friendship was the most youthful and meaningful part, and the second lead was someone I really liked as well.

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Princess Charming's Alive!

Watched both eps 9 & 10 (Finale Episode) of FROZEN VALENTINE - Now there's something else to remember, aside from that iconic "Eat me Gen, eat all of me" line from MATE - FROZEN VALENTINE'S "Pls don't stop P'Charm, please don't" Haha haha haha haha 😂😆 It's a good story with occasionally good acting, but the directing's kinda flaky and the editing is so wonky. Nevertheless, FROZEN VALENTINE is still a good watch, could be even binge-worthy, if you're in the mood for a good laugh-cry before falling asleep.

If Faye Peraya Malisorn had a child with B Mine Jiratchaya Komontut, for sure their daughter would be Natty Natthamon Jantraviphart🥰😍😘😁😉❤️💯🇹🇭

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Accident turned compulsion

I feel like I have to come with a disclaimer. I really loved the show. I actually binged the entire show when I first watched it in early 2025. When I binged it I really liked it and thought int was a thriller masterpiece, but on my rewatch I felt that I was missing something in the later half od the show. It missed the thrill that I had upon first watch. I really enjoyed that the whole aspect of the show was that one impulsive kill made him keep killing. He become reckless and couldn't control it after that one accident.
It did kinda waste the opportunity this show had to make it go full death note type of feeling. The premise reminded me of Light when he first tried the death note and he actually managed to give them a heart attack. This premise felt lacking in the later episodes but overall I don't think I wouldn't have not wanted to watch this.

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avoid if you are addicted to cookies

when I watched episode 1 of this drama I wondered、 is it meant as a comedy because the eye effect on eating the cookie is hilarious。 this drama is addictive www watch no doubt but the problem for me is the constantly shifting relationships between characters like a kaleidoscope combined with reliance on flashback and flash forward to unravel the plot and　 explain these shifts in characters as collaborators one minute and enemies the next。 some may see this as original script writing but I wonder as the story risks losing credibility。it is not a spoiler I think to comment if someone stabs you in the back and takes advantage of your weakness one minute why will you embrace them the next？ even on a chessboard the pieces on the two sides remain black and white。on the plus side it develops some nice ironies。 for me the ending was weak、 especially regarding the male leads、 and rather unclear。 maybe they want to leave it open for a sequel though I am not convinced it justifies one。

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Sadly, this is a poorly written drama.

More than a week has passed and it’s getting annoying how hard I try to help others understand the politics and the details of this drama. That just goes to show how it’s poorly written. The first part was done well, made us immerse in the story and in the art— cinematography, scoring, costumes, set design, etc. But the second half especially towards the end didn’t even give justice to how we all expected the root of the story will be well-explained. It didn’t help that Tian XiWei is so romance-averse that it showed a lot on the screen, making their intimate scenes so awkward that not even the great kisser Linghe could salvage it.

Not to mention how bad the marketing strategy was, mainly capitalizing on Linghe but didn’t even protect him after it backfired. They even allowed leaks to be released, jeopardizing the entire show as a whole. As much as I loved the entire month of March for celebrating PoJ, I hated how the bad parts of it will stay with me forever. The new CP fans are even so entiled, they’d be spamming in every other edits of Linghe’s other CP fans. Please let’s learn to respect everyone’s projects. The world doesn’t revolve on Pursuit of Jade.

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A love that gave hope, but an ending that took some of it away

Last Twilight is one of those rare dramas that doesn’t just tell a love story — it makes you feel every layer of it. What stands out the most is how beautifully it portrays vulnerability, growth, and emotional resilience through its characters.
Day’s journey is especially compelling. At first, he comes across as a spoiled and difficult person, but as the story unfolds, we see the fear, frustration, and helplessness beneath that exterior. His transition from resistance to acceptance is handled with depth.... he doesn’t just suffer, he actively works through his emotions, mends relationships, and chooses to move forward. That makes his character feel real and grounded.

Mhok, on the other hand, is quietly powerful. Despite carrying immense personal loss, losing his parents and his sister... he grows into someone incredibly empathetic and dependable. What makes him stand out is not just his love for Day, but the way he becomes a source of hope for him. He doesn’t pity Day; he supports him, pushes him, and stands by him in a way that feels genuine and selfless.

However, the drama slightly falters in its final stretch. While the breakup between Day and Mhok can be understood narratively, the execution feels unfair, especially towards Mhok. His fear and protectiveness stem from unresolved trauma, not pity, yet the story frames it in a way that places disproportionate blame on him. Day’s reaction, treating the situation as a betrayal rather than a misunderstanding rooted in fear, feels harsh and somewhat out of character.

The most frustrating part is the imbalance in emotional accountability. Mhok is left alone to deal with the aftermath, carrying guilt and pain without support, while Day has his family to lean on. Even their reconciliation feels incomplete, with Mhok apologizing more than necessary and Day not fully acknowledging Mhok’s emotional struggles. This creates a lingering sense that justice wasn’t entirely served for his character.

Despite this, the drama’s emotional impact remains undeniable. The performances are incredibly raw... the actors bring so much authenticity that you can feel every emotion through their expressions and voice. The connection between Day and Mhok feels lived-in, not just performed.

Overall, Last Twilight is a deeply moving story about love, loss, and healing. While the ending could have been more balanced and emotionally fair, the journey it takes you on is powerful enough to leave a lasting impression.

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So Dark, So Disturbing ...

From the moment this series begins, and I mean literally the first minute, it's so disturbing that you can't help but be captivated by it!! It's gotta be one of the most off the wall psychological stories I've seen.
We appear to see such a sick twisted protagonist in this drama, so deranged, with absolutely no remorse what so ever. I wasn't really familiar with most of the cast other than Leo Matsumoto & Jyutaro Yamanaka, who I've enjoyed in the past. Unfortunately, they only played supporting roles in this. Hidetoshi Nishijima gives such a cold and callous performance, it gives you a chill seeing him.
As you're watching this story about using live human beings being used for an art exhibition of butterflies, you'll keep asking yourself "am I really seeing this happen?" ... The only thing I can say without giving away the ending ... Don't completely judge any of the characters as you're watching this play out. There are so many shocking twists as you head into the final two episodes. You'll truly be surprised as to who and how many people are evil and unhinged with reality.
It's definitely a story you'll remember, but want to forget!

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TRASH AVOID AT ALL COST

This was so bad and it’s literally a pedofile drama. she was a minor and he was a full grown adult, the writer really think having him in a school uniform will try to cover it up. Bruh anyone rating this a 10s star must be out of their mind. He was literally grooming her, preventing her speaking to other boys like #whatdatmean ? why does the grown adults around them too not feel weirded out by this. him asking her for a kiss 😃randomly hugging and her and both of them falling on each other. what made it worst is that the drama was not even funny. i’m also disappointed with the end because lowkey i want to see what her Father opinions on their relationship, bet he will agree cause the movie tried to convince us this was a normal relationship. the only good thing about the drama is the actress she was really pretty and the man was just there being boring. STOP TRYING TO JUSTIFY GROOMING. waste of time don’t bother watching

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All the scientific justification just to make the leads kiss.

This is what happens when a drama forces any explanation just to rationalize one man’s instinctive, obsessive pull toward one woman, and the justification on why the drama needs so much sniffing and kissing for our entertainment.

Affinity plays like an omegaverse with a mix of guideverse, masked as science fiction with a splash of mythology. We are talking futuristic elements, aliens, virus, biology, and even somehow a dragon that had the best CGI out of everything unrealistic. Each new concept sounds like it will deepen the story, but most of them end up working as elaborate justification. Everything eventually circles back to the same outcome: the ML gravitates toward her again and again, and the narrative bends itself to make that feel inevitable.

And the more serious the setup becomes, the funnier the payoff gets, at least for me.

The worldbuilding talks about dangers and survival, because, hello, there's a literal virus out there. And yet, the center is just a man 'logically' craving a woman, because her presence and touch is his temporary cure. It is basically a reversed Disney princess situation played straight. The bond is framed as something rare and almost fated, and conveniently, it only works between opposite biological genders.

The logic stretches, breaks, then keeps going anyway, and this messiness becomes part of the appeal; it is oddly confident in its own ridiculousness. I guess a bad idea plus another bad idea equals a good watch here, and it somehow works. You stop expecting coherence and start anticipating what wild explanation will come next. One moment it is the virus driving instinctive attraction, the next it is emotional dependence, then mythology enters the conversation, and somehow all of it coexists.

At the core of everything is the ML’s obsession over FL, and FL trying to escape him. The dynamic leans heavily into that. He pursues, she retreats, and the narrative keeps placing her in situations where she becomes the anchor he clings to. It is clearly not framed as a healthy relationship, and it does not really try to soften it. The tension comes from a seemingly predatory pull, where she is like prey caught by the ML. But of course, being a romance-centered drama, they eventually develop real feelings for each other, no matter how toxic the beginning is. His need overrides boundaries, and the story repeatedly reinforces closeness as the solution. Whether it is danger, new lore, or another sudden twist, it somehow ends with her on his lap once again.

It is not a well written drama by any conventional standard. The logic is shaky even in its own rules, and the story sometimes feels like a pile of random ideas stacked together under the guise of science fiction. The unhealthy dynamic between the leads is also not something I'd watch. It is the excuses that became the logic behind ML's actions that make it bearable, plus the obviously unrealistic entirety of what's happening in their world.

But it is undeniably bingeable, very much in the guilty pleasure territory. That is also what I expected from a short web series. It sits right alongside those trashy short dramas and vertical series that you watch for your own satisfaction and entertainment rather than quality. The difference is that this one is as bold as it is absurd, and it makes it feel oddly fresh. It tells its ridiculous story with complete commitment to the fiction, and that uniqueness makes it more entertaining than it has any right to be.

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A Siren’s Downfall

I don’t know what the writer was thinking with this setup. I found myself pitying the female lead all the way until the final scene, because the writer completely failed her character. She showed so much potential in her introduction, but as the story progressed, she became a plot device.
Also, it’s frustrating how the drama was falsely advertised, presenting both leads as equals. In reality, the female lead goes from being an independent woman to a damsel in distress by the end of the series. And don’t even get me started on the male lead basically acting like a full-time stalker.
The only saving grace of this drama is the acting. Otherwise, it would’ve been a straightforward 6/10 for me.

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