Reviews

The original version

I have been wanting to watch *Bad Genius* since it came out. From the trailer, I knew it would be great, and I was right. The story resonated with me as a straight-A student; I could really relate to the main female lead. I understood the unfairness of having to work hard for my achievements while wealthy kids seem to get everything handed to them. I must admit, I wish I had the cleverness to use my academic skills to make money like she did hahahahah . Beyond the humor, it's an excellent movie, and there are several remakes from other countries, including a Thai drama version. However, this is the original, and I highly recommend watching it before exploring any other adaptations.

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Waste of Talent

Let's be honest. This is a vertical. No one is expecting a top tier drama. The plot is straight out of a Chinese vertical drama, except it's Korean. However, this drama fails at capturing the essence of verticals. Just because it has a trashy makjang plot and is filmed vertically doesn't mean you've got things figured out. Good verticals are great at taking a long plot and compacting it into 1-2 hours with key plot points and straight to the point dialogue. This did not do any of that. How the heck do you film a vertical and actually make it draggy? One scene lasted for over 30 minutes and was basically chopped into 1-2 minute episodes. It was even repetitive within the same scene. It got really dumb and illogical at one point. FL puts a ring on ML and *poof* suddenly they're married without any paperwork.

I will give credit where it is due. The acting was decent. It doesn't have an A list cast, but it still has an experienced one with some notable actors. It's a shame they were cast in this mess. Whoever funded this project must've wanted to use it as a flagship drama to promote their vertical streaming service. However, they failed to realize what makes verticals enticing and addicting in the first place. What a pity and waste of talent.

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Good music, average production/design, decent acting, mediocre CGI, poor editing, incredibly stupid story. I want some sort of marker added to every story that doesn't have a happy ending so that I don't waste my time. Once the storyline got untwisted and I realized what was going on, I finished the movie on 2x speed. I'm tipping back and forth between having upleasant thoughts towards the writer and feeling sad for the kind of life they must have lived to create something like this.

Pay attention to the last sentence of the film description and you'll get a pretty clear indication of where this is headed. There are other made-for-tv movies out there. Don't punish yourself with this one.

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In my top 3 dramas for 2026

This drama storyline was great love story this is the leads third drama together ci sha finally got the girl. The chemistry is def strong made me believe they were real couple. Ren min did a wonderful job as independent strong fl. Also i hope after this ci sha gets more leading roles def has strong presence on screen and facel expressions says alot martial arts was great too. I also hope him and ren min will do maybe 4th drama together a modern one. And Win win def deserves more ml parents his character ye xian ending was sad but at the same made sense seeing him and ml become close towards the end even with chen yan yun holding crying when he found ye xian dead on the battlefield. And ye xian said that gu jin zhao will never forget him. Loved how the gu jin zhao instantly moved on from her first love chen xuan like such independent thing she got angry for bit and moved on. The finale made sense the leads story started with fire and ended with one. I heard rumor there be extra episode i hope so to see what happens to the leads and other characters i def plan rewatching this again i def recommend this drama. 😌

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2nd ML no bueno.

What I liked. Everything in the country side. All the characters there and the general vibes. I liked how FL is a shopping host. Never seen that before. Equally ML formulates cosmetics. So, in terms of jobs I haven’t seen before in Kdramas, this show has that going for it. I liked the young girl in the countryside and her connection to ML’s past. That plotline I liked. The show is mildly comedic, so that’s good. The romance parts are pretty good.

For me, the most infuriating aspect of this show is the second male lead. I rarely complain about appearances, but who are we kidding here? Put this man up against ML and are we really expected to believe he stands a chance? His dirty blond hair makes him look like a child. I really, really did not enjoy his character throughout the show. So pushy with FL. If you removed him from the story entirely, nothing changes, that’s how irrelevant I found his character. Granted, the show provided a reasonable explanation for why he tries so hard with FL, but I still didn’t care. Adding to my frustration, his sister is equally useless.

The sleepwalking scenes gradually got out of hand. I felt they were over the top on how convenient everything worked out to get them together. I'm fairly certain she could even do my taxes while sleepwalking.

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In this one life he lived up to the world but failed Shi Yi

Different emotional aspects have different weightage for people of different temperaments,while for most viewers the saddest part was their tragic love story but for me it was the unjust death of that general who protected the borders of a country for decades with his life just to be branded as a traitor and dismembered in the end.. sure FL's following him in death was another sentimental peak of this plot... (~And I am a little disappointed that nothing about his previous life really addressed in the sequel ... Anyway we will talk about the sequel in the review of its own).
Talking about the characters and cast I believe Allen depicted the General, beautifully, he captured his essence of him being hopelessly in love yet unable to be the woman he loved, perfectly Through the micro acting details he is best known for ... Though the Character itself was very impractical and inspiring in my opinion cause i believe if you have strength and kindness to be a king better be a king ..if not , then drop the power struggle altogether and refrain from supporting worthless people to the peak with your strength. Pretty obvious his horrible doom was one of the repercussions of the same. Bailu's ShiYi was also amazing but only in the adulthood part .. the teenager part was a complete disaster .. i didn't like the character or bai lu's acting in that part. The reason is that shiyi herself has no skill or purpose and bai lu' acting looks very superficial in the parts when they have to dub Her voice. It's the same for all the shows she did with a voice dub .. i don't understand why they don't hire a proper voice artist with a voice that suits her face. Anyways , WXY's screentime was less but he graced the screen with his lovely looks and superb acting skills .. for being so young at that time he did a fantastic job as a sickly villain.

Dialogue writing was another notice worthy aspect about this drama ... The way the writer relayed the deep sentiments in the form of poetic phrases .... BRILLIANT; be it praising his bones, his real beauty or her longing for him when he was away in the battleground for months 'EVERY WORDS SO BEAUTIFULLY PUT TOGETHER THAT CAN MAKE YOU CRY FOR DAYS' big shoutout to the dialogue writer.

Other things like costumes and OST were mediocre.

Do I recommend watching ... Yes ..if you are up for a soggy romance with a bundle of tissue paper and a frustrating tragic ending that leads nowhere.

We will see each other in the next part~

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Who needs Tinder when you can join the OTP's friend circle

As an idol romance drama, it ticked many boxes. Our leads are eye candies, and they have good chemistry so their pairing can’t be faulted.

Credit where credit is due, the core theme is solid and made a nice through line. The sleepwalking is a little forced, but effective as a plot device. The late-night calling of the ML's phone by the FL is clever the first couple of times, but it becomes repetitive. The little twist with the call recordings saved us a lot of angst.

The rest of the drama is patchy. This is not helped by a large support cast that are mostly from central casting. The sad fact is the veteran actors did their best. Unfortunately, their characters have little presence and even less to do. There are also some production related issues such as integration of location shots.

Thus, it falls on the shoulders of not one, but 2 secondary couples to chew up some screen time. These two CPs' romances are stilted to say the least. BTW, there is a last minute 4CP. You guessed it, they are also in our leads' friend circle.

Let's start with the 2CP. We have a mushroom farm worker being paired with the FL's long suffering PD. The 2ML is the polar opposite to the ML and is socially awkward. They fell in love at first sight. Really?

The 3CP is even more tenuous. The 3ML is our male lead’s business partner and the 3FL is the village cafe owner. Their pairing is rather random and they have zero chemistry. We watch their awkward courtship with more apprehension than delight. Behold! The magical power of the friend circle!

If the secondary pairings are less than ideal, the meet-cute between the SML and the FL is next level. The script would have us believe the FL ran under a total stranger's umbrella during a sudden rain shower. Rather than mumbling a joesonghabnida and move on, she kept him company for some time, walking around aimlessly in the rain and chatting freely. They ended up having coffee together and she even agreed to a meal the next day. No wonder the SML developed feelings.

This appears to be out of character and made the FL look desperate. I'm glad they eventually parted ways as friends. I'm just thankful we didn't end up with a psycho SML as per the playbook.

We mustn't forget the relationship between the FL and her estranged mother. This is a can of worms. The original reasoning behind the alienation is old school but plausible. The longer the story runs, the more convoluted it becomes. No wonder the FL has mommy issues. Of course, that relationship also has an redemption arc. It is that type of drama after all.

If the show has been more focused on our lead's romance and growth, I'd have given it an 8.5. With all the missteps I can only give it a 7.5

In the end, the show was a hit and a miss for me. I freely acknowledge the series has good bones. I swooned when the OTP is firing. They are a cute couple. I just wish the series as a whole is done better.

As expected, it all ends well. Rainbow and sunshine blessed the land. The last couple of eps used up all the pink ribbon supply and should come with a diabetic warning. A one-time watch for me. Peace.

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Do I need to give up on BL thrillers & Mysteries?

Every one of them has disappointed me.

Easily the best thing about this series was the cinematography.

OST was okay, I guess. I didn't pay attention to it half the time.

Watched a lot of it at X2 speed when the talking was really slow (this may have just been me), flashbacks, and when it was just music playing over moments with no dialogue.

Everyone did a good job on the acting, especially Jan (Dao) and Pu (the grandma). I hated both of their characters so much from the very beginning. The grandma was just a right bitch that I wanted to punt in the nearest lake. She was downright horrible to Tontharn for reasons that weren't his fault, and some of the problems she caused. She at least admitted that what she did was nasty, unlike Dao, who, until the very end, thinks she was in the right.

Now, Dao, I didn't like her because she was just shit at her job. I know that it was to spin the narrative, but boy, was she bad at it. I don't for a second think that she was 2nd in her class. Second from the bottom, maybe. I have 1 Forensic Science class from high school under my belt, and I knew more about how an investigation is meant to be run. This wasn't it! What made it more confusing was that the timeline of events was in order, but it was almost impossible to tell when things happened. I blame the writers for that. We start with two dead bodies found on the same day, and we aren't told the time of death, how they died, or if any evidence could be found at a secondary location, or if they were killed where their bodies were found. No one tried to backtrack their movements from the day they were killed, or if they had any other connections other than working for Botphleng's family. No one questions why this person killed and dumped two bodies in the "open" (they weren't really) like they were "playing with the police" and then stopped. I'm not saying killers can't just kill and stop; I'm just pointing out that no one thought it was strange. Did Thunphob die from the head wound or drowning? He was nothing but bones? Get an anthropologist to take a look. Also, his body was found a month before the series started, but how long had he actually been dead? Unless I missed it, no one reported him as a missing person. Then we have the fact that Botphleng could be a target, and she just doesn't give a rat's ass. She literally says, "He's strong, he can protect himself." Whether he can or can't doesn't matter; it's your job to offer him protection. He doesn't have to take it, but you have to offer it.

As a whole, crime investigation and general knowledge needed a lot of work. It would have been nice to see some of it as well, instead of Dao pulling information out of thin air like she was investigating, and not trying to spin the narrative. Honestly, for her reveal, it would have been better if she had been a likeable person who seemed to be trying to help, that way the reveal would have come as a greater shock. Just because most of the hate is going to the grandma doesn't mean that people are just going to think she's the killer. To me, she seemed too obvious a suspect, so I was suspecting everyone but her and her daughter. I also didn't think it was Tanu, Jen, Miles, or Tankoon, so that left very few people as suspects.

I'm going to be honest. I normally don't like Force or Books acting, I liked them in Perfect 10 Lines and nothing else, but they did a really good job in this one, especially Book. Book actually made me cry when he was telling Nim everything that he could remember. Not an ugly cry, but the silent kind that you don't realize is there until it's already fallen. His panic attack was also good.

Why did Thunphob continue using Tankoon's name with Botphleng after they got closer? Seemed weird.

Tankoon pissed me off (this was a script problem) when one minute he would say "I'll help you get your memories back" and then the next say "Your family doesn't want you to remember for a reason". PICK A SIDE AND STAY THERE. Also, who gives a fuck what the family wants? They are clearly hiding something shady if they have spent countless years making this boy forget who he is. Tontharn going back to the house at all after learning about the hypnosis was just wild and one of the stupidest things to do. No one put this boy in a horror movie.

Tanu also pissed me off by saving Botphleng's mom in the fire when his literal son had a large piece of burning wood on top of his unconscious body. I don't know if he knew Botphleng was in the burning building, but if he did, I'm doubly pissed off because what the fuck!? Why save the one person NOT directly in harm's way? Am I the crazy one?

The only surprising, and in my opinion, well-done thing done in this series was Tontharn being Botphleng and the reveal of it.

It would have been really interesting if the real Botphleng had followed Tontharn around as a ghost during the whole series, only to finally be laid to rest once the truth is revealed and his grave is placed next to Thunphob, then they move on together.

I've seen quite a few Thai thrillers, and so far the only one that hasn't disappointed me is Triage. I won't stop watching them completely, but I'm going to be very picky from now on. I went into this with zero expectations, and the only reason my rating isn't lower is because of the acting, and Botphleng's real identity reveal was well done.

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A Wuxia Gem That Holds Up

The Vigilantes in Masks (also known as Strange Hero Yi Zhi Mei) aired in 2010–2011. For a wuxia drama that that revolves around solving mysteries and upholding justice, 30 episodes is considered lean. But it's packed and never drags, while also managing to pull at your emotions. It holds a strong 8.5 on Douban (from over 83,000 users) and has earned a reputation as a cult classic. I have watched it twice, and want to explain why it deserves a 9.5/10 from me.

Li Ge Xiao was once a brilliant captain of the Imperial Secret Guard. After being framed by the corrupt Grand Secretary Yan Song, his wife was killed and his entire squad massacred. Broken with guilt, he became a wandering drunkard.

He is pulled back into action to recover stolen disaster relief gold. To pull off the heist, Li Ge Xiao assembles a team of three outcasts: Yan San Niang, a quick-fingered thief who trusts no one; Chai Hu, a hot-tempered brawler; and He Xiao Mei, a refined opera singer skilled in disguise and medicine. After they succeed, they are betrayed and framed. Clearing their names, the four decide to stay together, becoming a Robin Hood-style vigilante group known as "One Plum Blossom."

The drama is structured as episodic "cases" (each lasting 2–4 episodes), ranging from a plague village to family curse, all while building toward the final confrontation with his archenemies: Yan Song and Gexiao’s jealous former colleague, Ying Wu Qiu.

Character Analysis: The Four Protagonists – A True Ensemble
One of the drama's greatest strengths is that no one feels like a sidekick. Each of the four leads gets dedicated backstory episodes, distinct fighting styles, and meaningful character arcs.

Li Ge Xiao (Wallace Huo) is the broken strategist. Once a celebrated captain, he blames himself entirely for his wife Jing Ru's death. His genius never leaves him, but his emotional arc is about learning to trust again and accepting that he could not have saved everyone. Wallace Huo delivers a restrained, internal performance where pain is carried in silences.

Yan San Niang (Liu Shishi) is a breath of fresh air. Introduced as a loner thief, she is competent, emotionally guarded, and fiercely independent. Crucially, she is never reduced to a love interest. She forms a deep, platonic bond with Li Ge Xiao based on mutual respect. Liu Shishi's dance background brings grace to her acrobatic fighting style.

He Xiao Mei (Ma Tianyu) is the team's most refined member. An opera singer by training, he is a master of disguise, hidden weapons, and medicine. Beneath his calm exterior lies a tragic past. Ma Tianyu brings genuine vulnerability to the character.

Chai Hu (Shi Yan Neng) is the comic relief but also the heart. A food-loving, fist-first brawler, his loyalty is absolute. Shi Yan Neng, a former Shaolin monk and professional martial artist, brings authentic physicality to the role.

Together, they form a "found family" that grows from reluctant allies to genuine comrades. The drama resists forcing romance between Li Ge Xiao and Yan San Niang, which feels refreshingly restrained for the genre.

The Villains
Yan Song (the Prime Minister) is a real historical figure, portrayed as the embodiment of systemic corruption – calm, methodical, and unreachable.

Ying Wu Qiu is the drama's most complex and heartbreaking character. He was Li Ge Xiao's colleague, always living in his shadow. But his resentment was personal. He is not evil for power's sake – he is a man destroyed by unrequited love and helplessness. His tragic arc elevates the drama beyond simple good-versus-evil storytelling.

Visual & Production Style
For a drama produced on a modest budget, The Vigilantes in Masks made bold stylistic choices that still feel distinctive. The comic-book-style panels during action sequences – complete with on-screen text like "SWISH" and "TOO SLOW" – turn budgetary limitations into signature flair. (Despite common assumptions, the drama is not adapted from a manhua; these panels were original artwork commissioned for the production.)

The fight choreography is both character-specific – Li Ge Xiao fights with strategy, Yan San Niang with acrobatic grace, He Xiao Mei with operatic deception, and Chai Hu with brute force – and remarkably authentic. Unlike many modern wuxia dramas that rely on rapid editing and tight close-ups, The Vigilantes in Masks favors long, mid-range shots where you can actually see the actors' full bodies performing complete long move sequences, which is very rare in the current wuxia dramas.

Themes
Beneath its action-adventure surface, the drama presents mature themes. At its core, it is a study in grief and survivor's guilt. Li Ge Xiao's arc is about learning that he could not have saved his wife – and that accepting this is not failure, but survival. His final voiceover reframes grief beautifully.

This is complemented by the theme of found family: four broken individuals who become a family through shared danger. The drama also draws a line between justice and revenge. The vigilantes operate outside a corrupt law but follow rules: they save innocents rather than pursue grudges. Ying Wu Qiu serves as the dark mirror – his path of revenge aligns him with corruption.

The closing message is not about defeating evil, but about continuing to live. This wisdom elevates the drama above typical wuxia fare.

The One Flaw
If there is one technical flaw, it is the plum blossom grove scenes. Whenever the squad gathers under the tree, the backdrop is painfully artificial–the blossoms bloom with impossible perfection, the lighting never matches, and the falling petals are clearly animated. Thematically, these scenes are essential (the plum blossom symbolizes resilience). But technically, they are the drama's weakest link. Fortunately, this is the only significant flaw.

Final Verdict
The Vigilantes in Masks is not perfect. The plum blossom grove scenes are distractingly fake, and the final arc feels slightly rushed. But what it gets right – character writing, ensemble chemistry, authentic fight choreography, a tragically human villain, and a mature emotional core – outweighs its flaws by a wide margin.

I have watched it twice. I will probably watch it again, though I will cringe at the fake petals :). But I know I will immediately forget them when I see the gang's dynamic and their resilience to uphold justice and survive.

Score: 9.5/10
A small-scale, character-driven wuxia classic that proves less can be more.

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Starts as it means to go on.

May 2026
A very violent, sometimes darkly amusing, gripping film.

JDY is certainly a diverse actress, and acting in some very adult productions in the past, certainly hasn't harmed her career, or pigeon-holed her

For a 50-year old actress (at the time of film's release), I think she looks amazing.

I liked her character in this; independent, never played the victim, and whilst shaped by her childhood, it didn't affect her own role as a mother... her daughter being her world, although balancing her 'profession' with a normal life, was always going to be challenging!

I felt, after watching, that rising to the top and standing out in this field, even with the financial gains, was not worth the isolation, which was a result of being the one successors wanted to topple to prove their worth and become the best.

Relationships felt fleeting and friendships superficial. Family, frankly, became a potential weakness, weapon for opponents, or leverage opportunity.

Esom's character in this (Cha Min Hui), was loathsome, and she seemed to play her with relish!

It seems the family profession might be continued, too.

Mixed characters, pretty fast paced, and very watchable.

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A Quietly Disturbing Look at Modern Life

New Normal is an interesting, if somewhat uneven, film that follows the lives of six different people, with each story unfolding through chapter-style storytelling. This structure works well because it gradually offers insight into each character’s life while emphasizing how disconnected people can be from one another, even while living side by side in the same world.

One of the film’s strongest aspects is its cinematography and overall presentation. The way the movie is shot reinforces its central theme: everyone appears to be living ordinary, routine lives on the surface, yet there are darker and more complicated events happening beyond what others can see. That sense of hidden reality creates an unsettling atmosphere throughout the film.

The ending, however, is where the movie becomes more divisive. It takes a very nuanced and ambiguous approach, which makes the story feel intentionally unresolved. While the final revelations and the group chat sequence provide enough context to understand why certain individuals were being targeted, the film leaves many questions unanswered. Not seeing the aftermath or consequences of those events may frustrate some viewers, especially since no one is truly held accountable and life seemingly continues as normal.

At the same time, that unresolved feeling appears to be deliberate. New Normal leans heavily into the idea that real life rarely provides complete closure or easy answers. People move on, mysteries remain unsolved, and the world continues regardless. Whether that approach feels thought-provoking or unsatisfying will likely depend on the viewer.

Overall, I neither loved nor disliked the film. It presents some compelling ideas and creates an effective atmosphere, even if its storytelling choices do not always fully land. One thing that stood out, intentionally or not, was the soundtrack, which often felt strangely placed and unexpectedly comedic at times.

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If you're in it for a good revenge story, watch something else

I love a good revenge story. This is not a good revenge story.

My major gripe is that the characters are dumb as hell. I'm not here watching a revenge drama with characters who don't know how to scheme. But wait! They DO scheme, you might be saying. Yeah, sure, they scheme when the plot needs them to be smart, which is a huge issue! I can't buy that these characters are worth rooting for when the only things that happen are when the writer decides oh yeah, this plot needs to move further along so suddenly this character has Known All Along when every other step they've been outwitted. It's SO frustrating.

The other gripe I have is that the motives are SO weak, but this is mostly about the over the top villainous caricature of a villain, Kim Han Cheol -- complete with a bad mustache and beard combo! Because they waited so long to reveal his Motive for Being Evil and Going to These Lengths, there was no way I could've been compelled to care... or even found it compelling. Also, if he is SO obsessed with becoming The Most Powerful, I CANNOT believe that he is settling at being the ~Royal Father in Law~, especially when he has already manipulated the coward king into being the real power. Like, why is this character not just WANTING THE THRONE FOR HIMSELF AND ESTABLISHING HIS OWN DYNASTY? His extreme obsession with marrying off his daughter who he clearly hates (and hates him, good for her!!!) into the royal family so he can be an in-law. Real loser behavior. How about you be a little more ambitious??

Some positives: Sejeong and Kang Tae Oh were very lovely, although I also found KTO's portrayal of Dal Yi a little too much when Dal Yi was NOT like that, but w/e. The music was lovely too. I loved that main/first OST so much and always looked forward to hearing it in an episode.

In conclusion: don't watch this for the revenge story. Watch a better revenge story. Watch Nirvana in Fire, Story of Yanxi Palace, The Legend of Zang Hai, The Vendetta of An.

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Samsung Commercial

The title “The Men Scolded the Woman Who Bothered Me” is both a spoiler and complete summary of this short web film/Samsung commercial. I would say “men” and “woman” was stretching things as most behaved like high school students instead of employees at a major company.

Ji Hie’s first day at work doesn’t go well when she returns a wallet to a stranger on the street. The stranger accuses her of stealing the 50,000 won that had been in the wallet. Joo Hyun tells her off and then goes to work and gossips with the other members of his team, including Joo Mi who used to bully Ji Hie mercilessly in high school. Sure enough, Ji Hie walks in and is introduced as the newest member of the team. Joo Mi thinks she can pick up where she left off torturing Ji Hie, but will everyone buy her victim performance?

The film contained a long product placement for Samsung in the middle of the short film. The end credits were also all about their Galaxy products. I’m not against companies making short films that feature their products, the Philippines’ Jollibee famously makes very touching short film commercials. This commercial, on the other hand, was completely graceless. The acting was below average and the bullying storyline was clumsily handled. At one point, in order to highlight a Galaxy product and resolve a conflict, they stepped into absurdity. Everyone was pretty to look at and Samsung was the focal point so it probably succeeded in its goals despite appearing very amateurish. However, I just found myself rolling my eyes at the denouement, completely uninspired to purchase their high-tech equipment. Better luck next time Samsung, maybe get Jollibee on the phone and see who they use to make their commercials.

28 May 2026

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A masterpiece and a Guide to Growing Up

This is a drama that wholly represents growing up and ""adulting."" The grandma's death so early on in the show was a shock but a good stepping stone for their relationship. I love how the ML gives the FL room to grow while also being supportive. Wang GeGe always chooses roles that have good social impact and are emotional-heavy. She excels at them. Only He Jian Qi could make you feel so broken hearted for a character losing his grandmother within the first 20 minutes of the show (still not over the scene of him eating the dumplings from a previous drama.) Together their chemistry is absolutely phenomenal. I enjoyed the plot and the reassurance that long distance relationships can be okay. The message seemed a little heavy as if it was trying to promote long distance relationships, perhaps the birth rate is down? idk i dont live in China and have very limited knowledge to what social challenges they have going on other than Zhang Linghe but to be honest, he is a global icon.

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