Reviews

YEY HAPPY ENDING

Like at first I thought this drama would be lighweight, but its very sad towards the end. I really love Mark Prin Covered Ost in this drama, I would never skip the song.

But I skip almost everyone part except the lead couple. The affair couple they are good looking but, I skipp most of it, and all the other couple too.

If they be focusing on the lead couple it might can cut 5 episodes hahaha.

But overall the drama is good, but if I can compare BAD MARIO is better cause I did not skip anything.

You guys should watch it cause the couple is cute, the ost is good.

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I have watched all 3 dramas on firefighters this year and I think that Bright Eyes in The Dark surpasses the other 2. Although I am a fan of Yang Yang, Fireworks of my Heart disappointed with its weak FL character, Bright Eyes in the Dark is more than a romance - it shows the dedication of a team of firefighters to their work and the conflicts it imposes on them and their families,. The camaraderie and support amongst the team members is always heart warming and the lighter moments allievate the tragic events that befall the team. But of course Bright Eyes in The Dark is also a love story - a story of a love that is selfless and not imposing. Lin Luxiao and Nanchu love with maturity, giving each other support and complete understanding. The ending is sad and not what I would have like to see but it is well executed with implied meaning instead of literal story telling. The cast performed well and Johnny Huang portrayed the role of Lin Luxiao with just the right touch, portraying a man who is knowing but who knows when to hold back. All in all - a great drama to watch but one that leaves you feeling pensive at the end.

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The Most Amusing & Entertaining Adaptation Ever

Adapted from the webtoon “A Good Day to Be a Dog” (오늘도 사랑스럽개) by Lee Hey (이혜), this is one of those shows that leaves a memorable impression in your minds. MBC’s latest fantasy romcom is a rustic mix of intriguing characters, riveting storyline and a cute dog that you can’t hate. I was actually apprehensive about watching this drama; the only reason to start this show was Cha Eun Woo. Yup, I have been his huge fan since I saw his high school romance, “True Beauty”. “Island Season One & Two” has further cemented my obsession; so here we are. The pilot episodes do a decent job of introducing the characters while neatly weaving the unbelievable yet hilarious fantasy element. Well, you don’t have many dramas where the female protagonist turns into a cutesy dog, do you? Starring alongside Cha Eun Woo is Park Gyu Young; frankly I wasn’t quite enthused about watching her. Her clingy character roles in “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” and “The Devil Judge” were lackluster. So, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to watch a drama which features her as the main lead. But Park Gyu Young manages to break out of the old mold and turns the tables to play a bubbly character who is equal parts sweet and amusing. The trio is completed by Lee Hyun Woo who recently starred in “Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area”. Now, fasten your seatbelts as I take you on this joyride!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/10/13/a-good-day-to-be-a-dog-first-impressions/

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It grows on you

I actually dropped it at the first episode as it seemed to come off as mega-tropy buddy film of the annoying 'dumb' guy and the stoic 'good' guy and ok have to say this the hairline of the guys in this drama is way to high---such wide foreheads that the handsome Zhang Linghe is not is his best looking (compare to My Journey To You!). But the story gets interesting after about 5 episodes---now that said, I am watching this at 1.25 speed so as to keep my interest. This drama is a decent time filler when there is nothing better to watch and unfortunately not refreshingly new.

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One of the best BL's I've seen

The chemistry of the two ML's grabbed me by the throat right from episode one, and it didn't let go right up to the end.
The acting was fantastic!!
The NC scenes were on fire!!
The music was the perfect complement to the show.

Story:
An unsuccessful manga artist accepts a deal from his old college senior who is now a successful TV meteorologist: he'll move in with the meteorologist and be supported by him while trying to build up a manga writing career, and in exchange, he'll do whatever the meteorologist wants. His "duties" include housework, laundry, and cooking. They also "sleep" together.
The meteorologist is very brusque and somewhat autocratic, sending the manga artist text messages instructing him which meals to cook for dinner, and talking very little.
The manga artist goes along with it all. In the beginning, the sexual component of their relationship shocked him. With time, he grew to not only like it but to anticipate it. Eventually, he realizes two things: 1- the meteorologist is finicky and annoying. And 2- he's fallen for him-bad. All of which means that the poor manga artist is royally screwed.
And that's how the show opens.

Make no mistake, this is not dubious consent nor r*pe. I strongly disagree with commenters who've called it so. Or those who've called the meteorologist toxic. The manga artist is able to say "no" and any time and doesn't. Although surprised and taken aback at first, he does choose to go along with what's happening and comes to the realization that he likes it, and has from the start. He liked the meteorologist in college but didn't understand his feelings. The meteorologist liked the manga artist in college but never shared his feelings.

The crux of this show is the manga artist suffering through "unrequited love" and being very closed-off emotionally towards the meteorologist, despite always following his wishes and orders.
And the meteorologist being completely gaga over the manga artist but never clearly saying it; only showing it in ways that completely go above the poor manga artist's head. AKA two clueless idiots in love LOL.


They have a ton (and I mean A TON) of misunderstandings.
But they are both so cute and loveable. And the comedy is top tier. So you're left laughing, crying, and rooting for them all at the same time, without the frustrated feeling usually invoked when heavier dramas follow similar plotlines.
This show is very lighthearted. The comedic moments are plentiful and pulled off very, very well.

My one complaint is the ending. The actual final moments of the show. We get to see the happily ever after. But (spoiler!!!) they don't actually say it clearly. The words they say heavily imply how they feel and they say it to each other. And their actions show that they are both finally open and honest with each other. But still! I like my endings wrapped up and tied neatly with a bow. This show didn't give me that. But this show was one giant tease right from episode one, so who am I to complain that they stayed true to character right up to the end? LOL

Anyway, I loved loved loved this show. And highly recommend it. <3

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Outdid the source material

At first, I didn't expect much from an adaptation of a smutty BL with a sus plot. I thought we'll get a Tokyo in April level of acting/kissing, but wow! This drama actually outdid the manga.

The actors and directing style were the major reasons I liked this drama. There were drama original elements which expanded the story and thoughts of the characters. I kinda liked Drama!Mizuki more and his angst ?

Many people might be skeptical to watch this as they see the relationship toxic and abusive, but I think they should look deeply into the characters and their thoughts. (Yoh has some issues towards Mizuki, but I don't think he sees their relationship toxic. He considers himself a slave, but that's because he doesn't know how to name their relationship.) I'm glad the drama actually expounds on that. The manga is rather comical in that regards, since well, it's manga. (Manga!Mizuki sulks, but he doesn't have that angsty vibe drama!Mizuki gives.) The drama has a sense of reality.

TLDR; all in all, I love how the actors and the staffs gave justice to the manga ? This is my first time giving a review since this drama deserves a higher rating ?

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You won't be able to respond normally to hearing the word "sunny" ever again

Well, this was a weird but fun watch that could only come from Japan!

I really liked how, when it came down to it, this was about two kind-of-kinky people who just hadn't had a proper conversation with each other about where they're at in their relationship, with one lead being terribly dense and unwilling/anxious to fully voice his desires and concerns and the other being forward physically all the while desperately craving simple but meaningful things from his lover: quality time together outside of sex, being relied on, being greeted at the door, and verbal expressions of affection.

All in all, I would recommend this sometimes frustrating drama.

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This was bad

I’m sorry, I know some people liked this series but, for me, it was bad. it started out okay but kept getting worse. By episode 11, I was ready to pull my hair out.

Fah and Thorn were the worst couple ever. I felt bad for Thorn. He really tried to keep his promises to Fah. When things started to fall apart he tried to communicate with Fah. There was no misunderstanding. Fah was just cold or stupid. He would hardly open his mouth even knowing how much he was hurting Thorn. And the slow speech and even slow body movements were killing me!

I loved Saen and Aii the most. What a breath of fresh air after the continuing torture with Fah and Thorn.

Didn’t really care for Vee and ( I can’t even remember the other one’s name). Could have been good but they were never really together so there was no chemistry.

All in all, didn’t care for this one.

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Kind of a letdown but an easy watch

Normally if I write a review it's for shows I really enjoy, posted only in a discord of mine, and a lot better written. But because this rare drama has no review, I shall write a very basic one. ( so sorry in advance if it's not up to this website's par haha).

First I'll just say I basically lost interest at ep6, half watched half used my phone (like to write this) afterwards. The story was obviously heading nowhere and none of the main characters showed much change, and I was right, like Shintani just ended up messing around with that woman who he said would make his, Noriko suddenly became attracted to Kisa whom she was completely uninterested in an ep prior, and Aya continued to mess with that married man despite knowing it's a depressing matter, etc.
Also I felt that most of the characters were two dimensional , especially the more side ones like Nagahori but also ones like Kisa and Kana, their characters were too predictable and 'scripted' if that makes sense. Then the Kisa family was straight up one dimensional, they literally existed to be a plot device this entire show.
I have other grievances with this show but they're all too small to speak about individually so to summarise them: every side plot was just added in an effort to bring more depth to the show but all ended up just being random side events.

Being honest, the only reason I finished this and got a 7 is because of Yamaguchi's (Noriko) performance, me having a significant interest in 80-90s entertainment (music included), the occasional comedic scenes, and the fact that I downloaded it (would be a waste otherwise haha). I'll probably end up rewatching this in the future and when I do I'll be sure to rewrite this or at the very least edit this to say my opinion has remained unchanged.

Also this is a nitpick but why is it called My 29th Christmas when it hardly mentions or shows it until the final few minutes
(シ_ _)シ (not counting the music)

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Could've been done better

I'm always happy to see more thriller or different genre bl so when i heard of this i knew I'd try it.
Started it then about 5 minutes again felt like i needed to stop, didn't try again for a few days.
Very overly dramatic and not often in a good way.
As for the main couple it felt like decent chemistry (though alot of staring and flirting when someone's niece has died) until like halfway through and i just started feeling dissatisfied.
The repetitive will he won't he betray him and sell off the recording annoyed me too.
It was interesting having a dark lawyer charecter but they didn't really do the idea justice.
The secondary couple had potential, the bodyguard was obviously smitten but it seemed to just suddenly happen though with no weight to it, no connection. Similar can be said about the main couple becoming a thing, it was almost like the tension they tried to build up just fell pretty much flat.
Overall i was entertained for about 4 or 5 episodes then i just got more and more disappointed.
Not really attached to any charecters here and i don't see myself rewatching this.

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Another good japanese drama

Let me start by saying that this show has that captivating sparkle that only a Japanese work can bring.

Anyway, 'Taikan Yoho' has a great and exciting start that grips the audience with its intriguing premise. We are introduced to a shy Mangaka, named Yo, who lives with his idol, a beautiful weatherman, Mizuki. However, in the middle of the road, we discover that Mizuki likes/loves Yo back, and we're presented with the idea that we're going to see a shift in their relationship. Unfortunately, this change comes slowly and is a little bit unsatisfying for me.

While I still think that this piece is a wonderful show (maybe due to my bias towards Japanese TV shows), i believe that more development in their relationship would possibly take the show to another level."

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Love with a hopping vampire!

When hopping vampires come to town, who are you going to call? Vampire Cleanup Department! This Hong Kong production starred several older actors from the golden era of fists and kicks kung fu movies as well as two younger actors. The film had a few gruesome scenes but overall was a more lighthearted romance and coming of age vampire wrangler story.

Tim witnesses a vampire attack and after being bitten by a vampire and not transforming is recruited by the Vampire Cleanup Department. On a mission outside of town he accidentally transforms a gruesome water vampire back into her original form. Summer, the young vampire woman looks normal but is unable to talk except with the help of his phone which she had swallowed and hops like the rest of the vampires. He’s tasked with cremating her back at headquarters but instead hides her nearby. From there the story becomes about him training her to be more human. At the VCD, faster than you can say “wax on, wax off!”, Tim has learned kung fu from repeatedly sweeping the floors. He runs afoul of his trainers when he wants to help the vampires instead of killing them. A competing agency causes problems for the cleanup department when they steal Summer and attempt to lure her maker, a devilishly dangerous landlord vampire, so that they can capture him for research.

I was thrilled to see Toad Venom Lo Meng as one of the fight trainers who also loved plants. Yuen Chueng Yan played the priest who provided the amulets. Aside from acting Yuen spent much of his career as a martial arts director for numerous films. Chin Siu Ho as the trainer who was toughest on Tim, started his martial arts training at the age of 10. These three alone made my geeky martial arts loving heart tremble. Richard Ng played the director in charge of tech support and cremation. Babyjohn did a good job as the naïve, bumbling, vampire cleanup trainee who falls in love with a partially transformed hopping vampire. Lin Min Chen gave Summer a kind quality as she hopped about and learned more human traits, but wasn’t asked to stretch much acting-wise.

The quality of the CGI, vampires, and fights weren’t bad for this genre of film. Thankfully, the humor wasn’t overly slapstick. Though at 90 minutes the movie tried to do too many things leaving many issues resolved thinly or not at all. Vampire Cleanup Department wasn’t a blockbuster type movie, just a nice little Hong Kong hopping vampire story with a surprisingly heartfelt center to it.

10/12/23

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Perfect balance of comedy and family drama

What a beautiful and incredibly enjoyable drama. The final ep made me cry a lot. Even though this drama includes many silly and ridiculous moments (in the best way possible), it's amazing how they managed to maintain a sense of relatable realism throughout.

Du Ruyu as a mother feels so familiar. The way she deals with her daughters when they are out of control or comforts them when they are feeling down feels so relatable. The way the sisters treat each other is also something I can deeply relate to. Their interactions are natural and sweet. Even when they bicker or share a laugh, it all feels so authentic.

The finale and how each couple ended totally made sense. I love that they didn’t force anything to make a perfect happy ending, but an ending that actually shows true growth for all the characters the viewers have grown to love.

Even though Guo Zhensheng has always been in love with Du Ruyu, the drama didn’t force a romantic relationship between the two of them. Instead, they treat each other as more like platonic partners. Du Ruyu respects Guo Zhensheng as someone who helped her raise all her daughters and someone she will grow old together with, without necessarily being romantic with him.

Peilan and Buping have the most solid relationship among all the couples, so it was inevitable that they would be the first to marry. I love how they naturally grew closer throughout the course of the drama. Peilan started as someone afraid to leave her family behind, gradually becoming more comfortable expressing her feelings for Buping, and finally being willing to move on to the next stage of her life, creating a new family and home with him.

I appreciate that Shi Zi's father still hasn't fully accepted Jinrong as his future daughter-in-law. It just feels more realistic that way. It's admirable how Jinrong hasn't given up, and I'm sure she will eventually succeed.

A-si and Keling's relationship also makes perfect sense. Keling has been quickly overwhelmed and pressured into accepting his feelings, and she couldn't handle all the baggage that comes with being with someone in A-si's position. This doesn't mean she doesn't have feelings for him, but she still needs to grow before taking on too much responsibility for which she's not yet ready.

Finally, Banxia and Shen Wangyan. Again, I like that they hint more about their future relationship without shoe-horning that they magically end up together in the finale. Shen Wangyan appeared very briefly, but the sparks are flying everywhere, and although it doesn't happen in the last episode, you can already see where their relationship is headed.

It's a 10/10 for me! I’m really hoping for a second season.

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Rowoon's transition from music to acting is a promising one

Destined With You is a 16-episode Kdrama that had me hooked from the very beginning. The primary reason I tuned in was the talented Rowoon, who left his band SF9 to focus on his acting career, and boy, was I not disappointed. Rowoon's acting prowess is undeniable, and he effortlessly brings his characters to life with his captivating smile and the mellifluous timbre of his voice.

The storyline follows the classic romcom formula, complete with the standard Kdrama setup and tropes. While it doesn't break new ground in terms of plot, what sets it apart is the remarkable ensemble cast. Each actor, both in lead and supporting roles, delivers stellar performances, making the characters relatable and endearing.

One of the standout features of this drama is its cinematography, which beautifully captures the essence of the scenes and adds depth to the storytelling. The humor is perfectly timed and adds a delightful touch to the narrative, keeping the viewers engaged and entertained throughout.

The OST is another highlight, with its soulful melodies and emotional resonance that enhances the viewing experience. It beautifully complements the emotional moments in the series, creating a profound connection with the audience.

What truly impressed me was the outstanding wrap-up in the final episode. It ties up all loose ends and leaves viewers with a satisfying sense of closure, which is often a rarity in many Kdramas.

It may not reinvent the wheel when it comes to Kdrama plots, but its stellar cast, picturesque cinematography, humor, and heartwarming OST make it a must-watch. Rowoon's transition from music to acting is a promising one, and this series showcases his talents to the fullest. Whether you're a fan of Kdramas or new to the genre, this show is an excellent choice for a heartwarming and enjoyable watch.

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This was a quintessential and perfect romance kdrama

Coming into this show after a long drought of good romance kdrama left one apprehensive but hopeful. Yet as soon as the show found it's footing it was hard to let it go. It established it's characters strongly and from the first episode you knew who you liked and who you loved. There was hardly any acting black hole in the show and every joke was placed well, even those that were not to my humor wereat he'd well with a plethora of those that were. Overall I think this was a great kdrama and a good way to get back into the genre. Wishing the best for all the actors and crew involved.

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