Reviews

A lot of angst, not a lot of substance

I should preface, I don't hate the show. I don't believe there is anything that is glaringly bad, but I also don't think there is anything worth talking about either. I want to go over what I liked and disliked, but it has to be mentioned that the end couples have to be spoil, if it really is even a spoiler, because ultimately the show felt like a means to an end, without the ending monologue the show genuinely has no purpose of existing, which I'll elaborate more on later. I first want to get out of the way what I liked about the show.

The actors, the main couple was fine, no issues there, the side characters were a bit much for me. Also, the fact that the main couple didn't get back together, that would've instantly plunged this rating down to a 5.

Now on to the bad. The main issues this show suffers from is boredom, nothing really happens. And I think that stems from 2 main things, it's trying to be grounded and realistic, and it focuses too much on love. What do I mean by that. When you watch those YouTube videos of "Here's a day in the life of blah blah blah", that is rarely ever a day that is perfectly representative of their day. Why? Because it'd be too boring to show you an average day. Shows, and especially Kdramas, try to filter out the mundane and cut to the more dramatic parts. This show does not. The guy mops around for 5 episodes reminiscing and drinking. The girl is trying to stay strong, but she's clearly also affected by the breakup, and we have to see her go from "I'm fine" and crying for the same duration. Realistically, yes, two normal mature adults going through a breakup are upset and coping. The issue is why could that constitute as a show? Nothing ever really happens; you're just dragged along by 2 sad people and their own thoughts about a breakup. A breakup that is somewhat validated. There was no driving event, they just grew tired of each other.

Which segways into the 2nd issue, the show ONLY focuses on romantic relationships. They don't introduce anything new to the show conceptually. Maybe now that they are apart you show the effect on their friend group, or maybe their worklife? Nope they just stop hanging out as a group, and when the guys/girls get together separately, the conversation starts as "huh we all don't see each other anymore" straight into "so how's everyone relationship going. The guy tries to start working on his company, nope, can't forget his ex who he used to work with. The girl goes to a new company to pursue her original dream, nope ex-college friend who wants to be in a relationship with her and that's the only time you see her working, when he's in frame as well. Nothing is happening, the story is told through the perspective of the 2 main characters to the detriment of the show. We never see other people's perspectives and there are no external conflicts being addressed.

The final scene ends with a standard monologue, something you could see happening 6 episodes back. To me it felt like they found some random buzzword quotes on a 14-year old's Tumblr page about love and went backwards from there to tell a relationship that would satisfy the ending. You could've easily condensed this show into 3 episodes for each of the couples and ended with the monologue and had the same exact effect. The show simply dragged on nothing for too long.

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Wow! What a convoluted story, and not in a good way.

My rating on this was all over the place. I can pretty much suspend disbelief when I watch a drama, but this was like watching a telenovela, with over-the-top characters, consequences for evil too long in coming, and don't even get me started on the "is this my fate? Is it your fate? What do I have to do to correct my fate? Maybe if I try this..." It's fate, for the love of Pete, you're not supposed to be able to figure it out! My rating started pretty high, the story was interesting, and the acting was fun, for the most part. However, when Ha Ye Ji showed up in episode 12 onward, my rating fell like a rock. It was like they had determined that they didn't want to finish the story at 12 episodes, so let's add another random psycho to the mix. The only reason this drama even got the rating from me that it did is that it redeemed itself in the end with a wedding (can we just talk about how stunning her dress was?), and children, rather than the usual hurried final 15 minutes.

I love Park Min Young, but have you ever noticed how, in addition to the ridiculous amount of product placement, they continually show her hands? It's like they are their own version of product placement. Granted, her hands are beautiful, but come on. I hope that in future roles she gains some of her weight back, because even after she went back in time, she looked entirely too thin. Her character in her original life was pathetic, and in her new life, there were so many times I wanted to tell her to grow a spine. Why continue to say the guy is your boyfriend when he obviously gives you the creeps? I guess it gets back to her trying to make fate work in her favor.

Na In Woo as Ji Huyk. I've never seen this actor in anything else, but BOY was his character boring! Bad hair, bad glasses, bad suits, pretty much one expression throughout.

Chemistry between leads - for me, I didn't feel the chemistry at all. I did appreciate that they took time to talk to one another, that they supported each other, and they planned things together. That said, I didn't believe the romance. Kisses were okay (not dead fish kisses), but to me, this relationship didn't bring the heat.

Now, for chemistry, I thought Lee Gi Kwang as Chef Eun Ho and Choi Ghu Ri as Hee Yeon were precious together. I LOVED her energy. I would have liked to have seen more of them.

STANDOUTS - Lee Yi Kyung as Min Hwan and Song Ha Yoon as Soo Min. Oh, my goodness, they brought the passion, the pathos, the greed, and the degeneration into insanity. His anger was scary, honestly. And I normally don't like actresses that scream, but her out-of-control screams here were excellent. The cat and mouse game they played throughout the drama was very entertaining...what will they do next? Just when you think someone can't sink any lower, they prove you wrong.
Oh, and I loved the BTS songs and BTS references. Very cleverly done.

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It is sweet that I need to see a dentist!

A love story between a dentist and a bar owner was a new thing for me to see. They managed to create a cute romance between numerous couples with winning chemistry. Although the reasoning behind the phobia of seeing a dentist from the main character’s perspective doesn’t conclude well, I still enjoyed it since this is where everything began.

The main couple was great and deserves to be the star of the show but it also pains me to be left hanging with the minimum screentime from the side couples. RJ and Alex were cute but I feel like Big A and his admirer are worthier to be called as the next couple between the main. I easily swayed and fell in love with Big A and his adorable little bye-bye’s that are so soft and gentle.

All the characters are lovely and I enjoyed the entirety of the show. It was not super impactful but the important thing is how I see and remember them in general. I liked the settings and the absence of annoying villains from the story, it made the show even lighter to absorb. The lines from the script were too clever too.

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The Real Sassy Girl

The silliness and the chaotic descension of old rom-coms remains unmatched. The improbable setup of their story was stretched too thin but it worked with their abrasive behavior. I found the highschool arc to be tolerable despite having the infamous "theater" episode trope just like most school themed media. The leads were a bit old to be passed as highschoolers but at least they switched the setting shortly after. The main conflict lasted for too long and the drama tried to take more serious tone during it which wasn't fitting for the story or the characters. This also forced the ending to be really short and quick. The main soundtrack with vocals was quite good. On the other hand, there's a certain type of soundtrack that always accompany Uhm Tae Woong across different dramas and I can't figure out how or why?

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Barely Danceable

The drama was much better than what its synopsis, title, poster or cast selection might entail, the same can be said about some of the initial scenes. The drama itself turned out to be decent despite taking sometime to kickoff, it took over 3 episodes. However, it was a bit dry sometimes and was missing the necessary link to tie everything together. The romance was an awful addition to the mix, really wasn't needed. On the bright side, it was only half the length of a typical 16 episodes drama. Yet, the drama could've worked better in a 120-150 mins movie format with better production. Speaking of which, the production value was really rocky and barely serviceable.

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An appetizer, not a meal

With Ma Dong Seok as the main lead, not gonna lie, my expectations soared. And while I wasn't let down, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was so much more story to tell. A movie just didn't seem like enough; this tale deserved for a longer format, perhaps a 6 to 8 episode series, to truly dive into its depths.

I personally felt that the movie missed an opportunity to delve deeper into the aftermath of the earthquake, exploring the lives of the people affected and shedding more light on why the doctor descended into madness. The three-year time jump after the earthquake left me wanting more— craving a more thorough exploration of the characters' journeys.

Additionally, the movie could also have expanded on the mad doctor's research, providing a more detailed and scientifically grounded explanation for his actions. Perhaps I also missed a crucial detail, but I found myself confused about the significance of the laceration or whatever it was on the back of their ears. I think more explanation or context around this detail would have been helpful in understanding its importance to the story.

The part when they discussed the mission to rescue the girl, I couldn't help but anticipate one epic journey ahead. Yet, it felt a tad too short-lived. The irony wasn't lost on me when the military woman emphasized the tight security at the apartment, only for the team to effortlessly breach the building, adding a humorous twist to the situation.

Despite its brevity, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. And of course, action-wise, Ma Dong Seok always delivers, never failing to captivate the audience with his prowess on screen.

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I don't like such dramas

What do i like about this drama? The actors did a good job and portrayed their characters well. I liked that the story was a bit more serious and that the characters didn't overact. It came across as very mature.

What I didn't like so much was the theme of the drama. I started the drama without reading up on the plot. I liked how they portrayed everything. But I have a big problem with infidelity. Which is why I found this drama very difficult to watch. The lead actress was way too soft and fell in love with the main character way too quickly. It all happened too fast, which is why I didn't like that aspect either. Always these bad guys... I was really hoping she'd end up with the good guy, but let's face it, that doesn't happen often in the drama world.

The music was also too cheerful. It didn't fit the drama at all. Would I watch this drama again? No, I would not.

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not as bad as people make out

This is the first review I've written on here and I'm going to keep it pretty short, for all of our sakes, ha!
I always read reviews before starting a series, it's a terrible habit and it ruins a lot for me, but I can't not, so I knew going in that a majority of watchers didn't enjoy this series for a variety of reasons.
I watched it anyway, and although it's not going to win any awards I found it enjoyable and sincere.
Yes there is a meddling ex and a girl with interest, there are communication problems and lack of chemistry at times but I found that this all became what I liked about it.
The side characters were interesting and had some purpose and when the girl got rejected she moved on, something I appreciate.
The chemistry and physicality was stilted between Sakae and Soga but I think that made their relationship stand apart from the the one with the ex. Soga was navigating having feelings for a man and Sakae was opening himself up again after being hurt. I actually would have disliked it if they'd fallen into it all easily.
Also the chemistry really picked up in the last few episodes and they were adorable together.
I do think people should give this a watch with no expectations based on what they want it to be and just take it for what it is.

Special mentions; the actor that play Sakae is stunning, I'd love to see him in more
The OST is great

Apologies I did not in face keep this short.

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An attempt to break free from cliches.

The show starts off with a very cheerful soundtrack and then introduces us to our clumsy, silly and naive mc, Chen Shi. We are then introduced to the other members of the Court of Judicial Review, who each have their own quirks that distinguish them from each other. The ending brings in the main protagonist, Li Bing who has a secret- he can transform into a cat.
The plot starts off strong, with interesting cases and each character was equally important in solving them. But, the plot is also what let down the entire drama.
Firstly, lets discuss the pros-
The cast- Couldn't have asked for a better cast. They were all so good! Great chemistry and expressions. I was surprised to learn that Chen Shi's actor is actually rather young. The level of maturity in his style is rare in actor of this age group. Yi Zhi Hua's actor also managed to bring out the perverse insanity of his role.
Then we have Ding Yuxi. I have heard that there are often animal imitation classes in acting schools. I think we know who was top of the class when the subject was cats. I am convinced that he is a cat in a human's body. His acting is filled with details, even in scenes that don't explicitly show his feline nature, he still adds those quirks that remind you he is actually a cat.

The OST- Most of the tracks are refreshing and filled with energy. I have no complaints with the soundtrack.

The characters- I have already talked about the characters, but I'll praise them as many times is required. The characters were well modelled, each had their own story and characteristics unique to them. The only thing is, Qiu Qingzhi's character didn't have enough screen time. The writers attempted to make him a very complex character and even succeeded to some extent. But, we didn't get to see much of his sides before the last few episodes. Any time before that was utterly confusing and I get that it was for the big reveal later on. So, I guess this counts as an open door.

The anecdotes in credits of the last episode were hilarious. I have rewatched them twice already.

Now, the only con here was the Plot- While the cases were interesting and so was the idea of someone intentionally leading them, the plot stopped functioning properly in the last quarter. Negative characters kept popping up like they were the final villain and then died and then suddenly revived only to be killed again. Like what was going on??? It felt like the writers couldn't decide who should be the main villain. While everything made sense in the last two episodes, it was simply too late. It could not compensate for the confusion created by the previous episodes. Especially when it brought back more confusion itself in the form of Lai Zhongshu.
Lai Zhongshu was an extremely annoying character, not because he was a negative one, but because I didn't see the point in killing him so soon after he transitioned into a potential villain from just a side character and then reviving him when the dust finally settled on his corpse.
The Yong An Pavilion was the final boss, of whom we were given a glimpse of in the first half and then poof! They disappeared for god knows how many episodes. Then the Empress, she was said to be involved with the Pavilion as inferred from what an elder said to QQZ when he asked to become a part of the Pavilion. She was also said to be suffering from an illness which made her look younger as grew older. This was also never addressed properly. She was a major plot hole.
Another plot hole was the lack of boundaries that distinguished the duties of the Court of Judicial Review, Jinwu guards and the Ministry of Justice. The three fought for every second case.

The cases were although, all tied together to the underlying case of Yi Zhi Hua. But, the screenplay simply lacked coherence.

The first half built high expectations. The third quarter struggled to maintain them and the last completely failed. It could have been one of the best shows this year, but it just lacked some sense of direction in the overall and especially in the last few episodes. A good show, but it just failed to hit the mark.

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A Nugget of Laughter: Unpacking ‘Chicken Nugget ??

I found “Chicken Nugget” to be a delightful Korean drama with a comedic twist that sets it apart from the usual fare. The series, which is based on a webtoon, tells the story of a woman who turns into a chicken nugget, sparking a humorous and heartwarming adventure as her father and a colleague try to reverse the transformation. I appreciated the show’s clever humor and the way it plays with the absurdity of the situation. The performances, especially the special appearances, added to the charm of the series. With its short episodes, “Chicken Nugget” is perfect for those looking for a quick, entertaining watch that combines mystery and comedy with touching moments. It’s a refreshing pick for any Kdrama enthusiast.
“Chicken Nugget” might be a refreshing addition to your watchlist, offering a blend of mystery, comedy, and heartwarming moments2. Enjoy the show! ??

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Not that great but not that bad either

Ain’t the most appealing and entertaining J-BL this year yet I’m happy they tried and make things work. The love story was light and the chemistry was alright but it took me a while before being absorbed into their characters. The inconsistency in each episode is also there as sometimes I got too bored but there are also times that I was smiling with them.

The memorable parts of this drama were the sauna scenes that seldom missed a single episode without having one of their conversation inside the hot room. I must also say that the childish fight right after becoming an official couple was indeed cute. Sakae-kun is handsome and emits the lighter version of the word sexy.

But the best part that the show has to offer was to bless me with such a cool setup of OSTs. ‘Palette’ by SG and ‘I’ll Be There’ by Genic were playing on repeat in my playlist. It was so good that it also helped the drama to be more catchy and have an average rating score.

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Fun concept well-told and acted, surprisingly complex and emotional characters :)

29-year-old Tae Myung Ha gets transported into a virtual world game where he exists as his 19-year-old-self. He's given a mission to make Cha Yeo Woon happy, else there will be a dire consequence. Will Myung Ha accomplish this mission? Would Cha Yeo Woon be happy if he likes him, though?

A fluffy romance with thrilling twists. It has a unique concept, time-travelling to a virtual game world and using the game prompts to move the plot. I really appreciate that the mission was dropped right away, and that they explained the rules and world-building so well. I think those rules are very important to get me on board with any time-travel story. I also like that they added details about the “love supremacy zone”, debuffs, etc… which make for an exciting watching experience.

Among all characters, Myung Ha was the most engaging for me. His 29-y.o. confidence stays in his 19-y.o.-self, so he doesn't hesitate to speak up his mind based on the game prompts. I like how he initiate conversations to Yeo Woon. Furthermore, him being fish-out-of-water in this game allowed him to face his own internal struggles besides doing his mission, so it’s easy to feel sympathy and invested on him.

As the story goes on, the foreshadowing danger sneaked up when I wasn't aware of it and the way they do it felt thrilling.The last two episodes gets quite emotional, but also a little confusing, and I felt it ended a bit random. I know it's a weird word to describe an ending, but that's how I felt. Nevertheless, it was fun overall!

Mar, 2024
Find me on instagram: @kdramajudge

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It's a rollercoaster ride of emotions

From the moment I stepped into Yorozu General Hospital, I knew I was in for a wild ride. This show doesn't waste a single second, throwing viewers headfirst into the high-stakes world of pharmacists and doctors, where every heartbeat counts and lives hang in the balance. Talk about starting with a bang!

At the center of this medical whirlwind is Aoi Midori, a pharmacist with the heart of a lion and the determination of a surgical team on caffeine overload. Satomi Ishihara brings Aoi to life with such depth and authenticity that I couldn't help but be inspired by her unwavering dedication to her patients. But Aoi isn't in this alone—her colleagues, Aihara and Onozuka, add their own unique blend of wisdom and humor to the mix, making for one heck of a team.

But let's talk about the real stars of the show: the patients. From chronic conditions to mental health struggles, "Unsung Cinderella" dives headfirst into the messy, complicated, beautiful tapestry of the human experience. I laughed, I cried, and I may have even found myself diagnosing my own ailments along the way!

Sure, there were a few eyebrow-raising moments—questionable ethics.......—but hey, what's a medical drama without a little drama, right? Besides, it's all part of the heart-pounding charm of this adrenaline-fueled rollercoaster ride.

So if you're looking for a prescription for prime-time excitement, look no further than "Unsung Cinderella: Byoin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen". Just be warned: once you start, you won't be able to stop. Consider yourself diagnosed with a serious case of binge-watching fever! ??

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Not what you'd expect

First of all, I am huge ZLS fan. Her acting is great. Second, it was a tencent production with a great cast and the original work has a huge fan base as well. So, it wouldn't be illogical to have high expectations from a show like this. But, whilst the show had its highs, it also had its lows.
Pros-
1. Acting: The acting was great. Period. No further explanation needed.

2. Music: It was good, the opening track was quite nice.

3. Happy ending.

Cons-
1. The plot- As the spiritual successor of ALP, you would expect better plot. But, all you get is recycled cliches. Has it never happened before that the FL is actually a super powerful and is just undergoing tribulation? Has there never been someone who erased the ML's memories/feelings because they thought that the FL was unworthy of him?

2. The Characters- The ML started off interesting, but as the show progressed, he became an increasingly textbook wood block ML. The kind that will go through thousands of trial for the FL, but would die, (or kill her, as seen here) than tell her. The FL's character was still bearable. The second leads were alright, I'll give them that. The characters of Ao Ge and Xiu Yan were very interesting. Then comes the Devil God. His character was well in the grey zone. It could have been so great, but the story didn't give him enough time. But still, he was the only good thing about the ending. Other than the 2nd leads wedding, that is.

3. CGI: The CGI was just so underwhelming. It was bearable, you can say, but it had so much room for improvement.

4. The ending- Enough with one of the leads dying and then regenerating after some centuries.

The plot was my biggest disappointment. ZLS's shows in the recent years have mostly had a plot different from the rest. It looks like the streak breaks here. Because this is easily one of the worst shows I have watched in 2023. The acting was the only saving grace.

And the intro track, while it is a good song, it fails as an intro. A good opening song is a mirror of the show, it highlights some feature of the plot or the interpersonal relationships or shows the story from the other lead's pov. This one failed to do any of them. It talks about not being willing to die, yet A-Yin is willing to sacrifice her life at the drop of a hat. It doesn't even matter for whom, at times.

2023 had a lot of great shows, it was a nice year for C-dramas. I hoped to end it on a good note. But it seems that I just wasn't meant to. Thanks to 'The Last Immortal', I am laying off xianxia scripts for a long while now.

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I didn't skip any episodes!! Shocking!

This drama had me glued to the very end. The story line depicts real life scenarios - pain, joy, love, forgiveness, selfishness, sacrifice and friendship. I was so engrossed in their story and didn't want it to come to an end. Abrupt end, if you would ask me. I wanted more. I know they had a happy ending, but I wanted to see it. Oh well....

The kids are stars! I laughed when they were happy and cried when they were sad.

I loved the relationship between Li Hai Chao and Ling He Ping. Their struggles were well documented.

Overall, this drama is the best I've watched in a long, long time.

... Oh and He Zi Qiu is one very handsome man!

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