Reviews

winter solstice

oh my goddddddddd
I don’t even know where I should begin.
what an amazing drama!!🤩
I did not know what I was missing on, until I watched this!!!!
Beautifully made and enacted. Since the time I have finished watching it, although it is over, it is still fresh in my mind, like every single scene and dialogue. My heart feels so different after watching it. I love itttttt…!
The leads, Lu Yang Yang and Chen Xin Hai did a commendable job.
Talking about the Plot, it is very fresh and unique. It is different and I love the fact that they have portrayed the FL to be so powerful and independent while the ML is working on preserving and art and loves his wife.
The lead couple are in a flash marriage, and the show slowly unfolds as they gradually know each other, and fall in love. The entire journey of them is too beautiful, so sad that it has only 23 episodes.
I wish I could forget completely about it and watch it all over again.
This drama has inspired me in soo many ways, like following my heart and dreams, being fearless in pursuit of what sets my heart on fire. Loving truly and loving slowly. It shows how country life or as we call it, the “slow life” is not always bad, but rather good in so many ways. I just loveeeeee this drama, I connected the characters and laughed when they laughed and cried when they cried….!
Jusr very beautiful.
if you have come sooooo far in reading my review then I would request you to watch it please 🥹

Read More

How do romantic feelings change a friendship?

Living with Him is a slow-paced, slice-of-life, friends-to-strangers-to-roommates-to-lovers story. It's one of those very gentle J-BLs which are not so much about the story but more about the characters.

The strength of this drama lies in how it is showing the dynamics of two childhood friends who are most comfortable together when they just live in the moment, don't think about what they are to each other, don't think about how others perceive them. As long as they are in their own world, everything is fine. It's when one of them starts to overthink things as well as when they think about what they are to each other that this closeness falls apart, and suddenly there's this chasm that they feel can't be overcome.
But they want to be near each other, so they try to find that balance, only to lose it again in the next moment. And this is what makes the drama interesting, not the plot but the change of distance in an evolving relationship.

The actors are quite good at showing this; unfortunately the story telling is quite different. It doesn't manage to build up the kind of tension the premise deserves, everything feels a bit flat. The scenes where Natsukawa and Kazuhito are very close to each other have the same overall feeling as those where there should be uncomfortable distance.

What also does not help is that Natsukawa is not a consistent character -- he says he is glad to be free of his obligations to his younger sisters but proceeds to fill exactly the same role in his new household with Kazuhito. And the question remains: After he realizes his feelings, what is holding him back? This is more than just the usual Japanese communication difficulties. Does he think he's not worth it? As the one who took care of two sisters for years, and seems to be mature beyond his age, his sense of self-worth shouldn't be that low. Does he have some internalized homophobia? Then it should have had more room than just that small scene.
In my opinion, a focus on one solidly developed inner obstacle and a consistent characterization for Natsukawa would have helped a lot.

The drama is worth watching for the change in distance romantic feelings can bring to a life-long friendship, just be aware that this is definitely not fast-paced, and much of what happens seems very mundane.

Read More

Hands Down: the best Chinese drama ever??

The main female lead is not just well-written; she's a force to be reckoned with. The chemistry between the male and female leads is electric, often speaking volumes with just a glance. The characters are consistent in their motives, and the story is well-paced. The supporting cast, from the ex-husband to the stepmother, is perfectly chosen, adding layers of depth to the storyline. It's rare to find a show where you're genuinely invested in the characters' next moves, but this one nails it. The fate of Jiang Li's and Xue Fangefei’s fathers and the journey of her stepsister, Jiang Ruo, are compelling as well. The entire soundtrack, including the waltz-like piano instrumental, is a cherry on top.

One of the character's deaths was also pretty emotional; I can't remember the last time I felt so many emotions in a drama.

Read More

My First Review because this is the only Drama that I have watched while it was airing.

This my first review for a KDrama, I will be short about it. The starting was amazing even i was anxious of what might be go down in the coming episodes but it couldn't just do well in the second last part of the drama. The acting was good but the story continuation was below average. There were times when one could just see how below and clueless the characters were about how to deal with a crisis. People kept talking and a lot of talking kept going on, you never feel the impact of it eventually. The only thing that I held onto was the the beautiful chemistry between ML & FL apart from that the second half wasn't able to carry the same specularity.
What should have happened in between they dragged it to the ending. If only it could be a tug of war between academies rather than multiple meets and unnecessary persusion knowing the consequence of it.
Korean Drama hardly and rarely lives upto my epectation especially they crash in the middle but I had high expectations with this one as it started slow and there weren't any cringe or slow moments but it really failed to deliver the perfect blow I was expecting all along.

Read More

Pure Entertainment with Great Acting

Definitely a must-watch drama. The leads are on fire - so much chemistry, character, and foxiness from both of them. Delicious lines, yummy not-so-obvious plot. Mind you, romance is not at the center of this revenge series, but it's done very intricately and delicately, and is very believable.

The murderous ex-husband also delivers a stellar performance - you can really see how conflicted he is about what he did, but he still goes far beyond redemption with the evil princess (his kinky love/hate relationship with her was also far from boring and you don't see something like this in cdramas a lot).

All the side characters play well (Tong'er so cute, and so are Duke Su's bodyguards, A-Li's evil mother from the Jiang family is so cunning and evil, with her own back story). All in all, the plot is actually very entertaining.

Visually, it's a masterpiece - I love the colors, floating hair/clothes, pretty lighting, and all those close-ups that really make the viewing experience more intimate (Wang Xing Yue's eyes are magnetic). I've never seen such a filming style before, it's quite refreshing, and overall the beauty and esthetic levels are high in this one.

I didn't mind the ending. They could skip the whole war thing, of course, but then we'd miss those cool fighting scenes and that moment when Xiao Heng takes the pendant given by A-Li into his mouth - oh boy, those were some pretty shots! So, from that aspect, I really don't mind the extra scenes. And they did end up getting back together, so no loss here))

Read More

go girl give us nothing!

i saw edits of this and i was like omggg i gotta watch. NEVER again will i trust tiktok edits again. i kinda liked this at the start, but i wasn't a fan of daon and taekyung as a couple so it was a little boring to watch. they just didn't have much chemistry at all?? like they were just too nice no romantic banter. thats why i liked shinwoo and taekyung, because they had that (sometimes..). but after it took literally the WHOLE series to get over the first couple, there was no time for them!! they developped too quick and it was just bad like there was no romantic scenes at ALL. like how does he liked shinwoo when one minute ago he was talking to daon about how he liked him like its too fast. also the music was so bad like they just repeated the same bad background music over and over again. quality of acting wasn't the best, like there was no chemistry between anyone. if anything i thought there was more between namgoong and sohee like... this was just not enjoyable in general like it was so long too and for what. like its impossible to even like the couples when they have 0 romantic tension scenes. also the final kiss was HORRID.

Read More

Eye-opening but shot too dark to see

Is a teacher's purpose only for helping students pass exams? Not knowing what a hagwon is when I started this drama, I had homework to do. Why are school kids learning in an office building? isn't that setting usually for adult night classes? It took a few episodes just to get a sense of the role of hagwons, or private prep schools, within the public educational system. Teachers compete against each other for students while pandering to the parents, measuring success by how many get accepted to prestigious universities. It's a complex world of ultra-privilege & free market dynamics, intertwined with regular schooling like a cancer, choking out academic freedom & feuling incredible pressures for all involved.

Speaking of night classes, this drama made me claustrophobic. Most of the scenes are visually dark: offices & rooms appear windowless, what windows were visible had their blinds drawn during the day, many outdoor scenes were nighttime, & classrooms & offices are so small all the occupants looked like they were virtually shoulder to shoulder. It made for a very oppressive setting. In fact, the overall look was so dark I actually had to adjust the brightness of my tv just to see what was going on (it's a cheap tv).

In spite of the show being uncomfortable to look at, the story itself was fascinating as it introduced an aspect of S Korean society I hadn't seen before, nor have I experienced anything close to that where I live. The story follows Seo Hye Jin (played by Jung Ryeo Won) a top performing teacher at a Daechi-dong academy. Her life is turned upside down when her former star student, Lee Jun Ho (played by Wi Ha Joon) quits a comfortable, nepotically achieved corporate job & is hired as a new teacher into her own team.

When you've been teaching for while, you discover it takes a student to challenge you to your roots. HyeJin unknowingly instilled in JunHo genuine wonder & curiosity in literature which was the spark to the improvement in his grades. But having been in the business for so long, HyeJin seems to have forgotten that focus, locked into her memorization techniques & dependency on her ability to predict exam questions that brought her to the top of her game. In stark contrast is JunHo's approach in encouraging exploration & appreciation. Catalyzing their explosive clash is a brilliant 10th grade student Lee Si Wu, who is in the top tier of smart: i.e. he actually knows what he doesn't know. Si Wu fully understands his perfect scores are like walking blindfolded on a tightrope, totally dependent on knowing which questions to study for, rather than being able to handle any question that could come his way. He knows how to memorize, but doesn't know how to read. JunHo wants to teach students to read, a skill for a lifetime, which would bring a seismic shift to the role of the academy as an economic machine, catering only to parents' wishes.

The influence of hagwons is so deep they affect real estate, & this is reflected in Jun Ho's pursuit of becoming successful enough to buy his own home. In spite of growing up privileged in Gangnam, he's determined to achieve his own living & stay in Gangnam. Stronger than his own economic ambition, however, is his pursuit of the true purpose of education & his own role as a teacher.

At the center of it all is JunHo & HyeJin's noona relationship, one in which HyeJin has a very hard time overcoming the teacher/student mindset. And, given her own hesitancy & inexperience, she's paradoxically mature & immature at the same time. JunHo challenges her on different levels &, in this respect, I felt this was one of the more realistically presented age gap romances I've seen. Things get ugly when ambitious executives at the school seek to use this relationship to destroy HyeJin's career. This somehow made me lose interest in the show in it's final episodes as it plunged downward into viscious office politicking.

The subject of hagwons has been eye-opening & for that reason I enjoyed the story which is the show's greatest strength, along with good performances from the cast. Unfortunately, the show was also visually suffocating with all the poorly lit interior & night time settings, & with a lower res tv I sometimes couldn't even see the actors' faces clearly. If you can get beyond that, this drama was well worth the watch for an honest examination of the purpose of education itself.

Read More

Excellent adaptation with great cinematography ( +ost)!

I read the novel this drama is adapted from, “Marriage of the Di daughter ”, a few years back. Most adaptations change the story too much, or make the plot worse. Even though I am a book fan, this drama only changed a few things which I think made the plot even better.

In the book, Xu Fangfei actually died and possessed Jiang Li (who also died by falling into a pond). So technically she was not Xue Fangfei anymore. I like how the drama changes this plot due to censorship, but also acknowledges the changes and bends the story along with it. Jiang Li is much more likable here.

I think Xiao Heng is the character that is the most faithful to the book. He is absolutely perfect in both the drama and the book. One word: Swoon worthy.

I love the supporting characters in the drama. The villains especially. Most of the villains were pretty one dimensional in the book. But the drama added backstories. Even though they're still evil, atleast we get to see why they are the way they are. The princess is a psychotic character. But you get to see why and exactly how she becomes that way in the drama. I'll admit I loved her scenes a lot. Shen Yurong seems more evil to me, just because he lacks a backbone yet dares to be envious.

My favorite scene in the drama is the confrontation between the grand princess and Shen Yurong in the rain. Such a heartbreaking scene, filmed appropriately. I absolutely love the cinematography in this drama. And the OSTs are the cherry on top. Beautiful work!

Over all the plot is really good, the acting is better than most dramas these days, and the music + camera work is top notch. Highly recommended!

Read More

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO WATCH 55:15!

YOU ALL NEED TO WATCH THIS AMAZING SHOW!

55:15 Never Too Late is about five 55 aged people transforming into their 15 year old selves suddenly. All five of them are strangers to each other but form a solid bond when they realize they are in the same boat. When life gives them a second chance, what they do will do? Will they be able to return their old selves or begin a new line as 15?

The entire line of cast is amazing. The similarities and mannerism matched perfectly between the young and old actors. There is no way you could tell they are different people. All five characters have a solid backstory because of which they have turned into 15. My most favorite character would be Jarunee, followed by Paul. These two had the most heartbreaking storyline. There are 16 episodes instead of the usual 12 as per Thai show norms. But there was never a moment I felt bored or thought that this show was a waste of time. Tbh, each character made me feel like I was the one who is 15 transformed from my old self of 55.

I really wish more people could watch this. It has some solid messages in the end that just hits the nail in your heart and you will remember those moments forever in your life. It is a healing series - a series that makes you find the right path if you are lost. PLEASE SHARE THIS POST AND RECOMMEND THIS SERIES TO EVERYONE YOU CAN! That's the only we can do to a series that totally deserves more recognition.

P.S: Jaya Janiya's song is stuck in my head and heart!

Read More

Transformation of Pushover to Mighty Guy.

The typical plot of school ragging. The cast was impressive. A normal yet abnormal boy transforms into a Massiha of the Loser's Club. The moments where the ML imagines himself in different yet funny situations were interesting. The urge of ML to make new friends because he never had friends in previous schools. Supporting characters were also amusing. The comedic duo of Namkoong Dahl and Yeong Seong and their journey towards friendship was worth watchable. Also, the teachers do not seem to be that serious. I mean they are funny. Overall it was fun to watch this movie.
The Underrated kind of thing. If you enjoy school bully comedic stories, then you must watch it.

Read More

10 episodes of substance are better than 16 of boring developments. An entertaining roller coaster!

Must watching.
I've never written a review but I have to because this rating isn't right.
YES, this is a low budget drama - n° of episodes, duration, scenery, cast and script (in some points) - BUT honestly it's also thanks to this that it's fast, fun, entertains you from start to finish, zero useless stories or scenes in 2x.
They did the best work they could, result: AMAZING.
The chemistry between the protagonists is fantastic, the plot seems like a cliché but it is developed in an original way and focuses on them, full of highlights, twists and fluttering moments: a healing drama and a roller coaster of emotions!
I saw it in one night, rewatch guaranteed.
I needed this after series with 15/16 useless eps
For me it's a YES, I recommend!!!!

Read More

This series is a roller coaster of events, people and genre

I have encountered another crime-thriller series even though I tried to avoid it as much as possible and I loved it?!? I do love the crime genre but it has been too heavy for me to watch it back-to-back so I'm trying to cleanse with some light-hearted series and this came up on my radar. The plot premise is interesting because it is mixed with comedy and supernatural. It's a risky combination and mostly doesn't end well but this one works. I love the mind games of me trying to guess who is the killer with the right amount of cheesiness here and there (where cringe is just funny enough). I encountered questionable moments/characters where I was like, ' Why the hell did XXXX do this or that?' but other than those, I really loved watching this series.

It's also nice to see Lee MinKi on a series again. The last drama I saw with him was on Flower Band (which is also a good one -- I remember having a crush on him while watching that series as well) And also the reason, why I watched this -- Han JiMin. I was still hooked with The Familiar Wife then saw JiMin on this series. The female and male lead had some questionable choices on the series but I just accepted as part of the story and kept past it.

The rap opening song was quite catchy and also the playful background music throughout the series. While not that memorable, I feel like it set the mood for the scenes on the series effectively.

I personally recommend this one with a light-crime plot while also having comedic relief and an interesting supernatural aspect of it. Plus the ending was reasonable. I was able to wrap it up in my head.

Read More