Reviews

Scandalously Bad

Arguably, the first K-GL to make it to a mainstream platform, this came out of the woodwork!

And how did it fare compared to K-BL's first popular offering of Where Your Eyes Linger in 2020, which gradually led to a K-BL wave and even real irl representation on the screen in the form of the reality dating show His Man, which has run for multiple seasons?

*grimaces*

Yeah, unfortunately, I believe the K-GL wave is going to be set back because of this trash.

I went in with hope. And again, with this being a milestone drama, I tried to give it grace.

They did try.

But did they really?

Because much as I wish I could say there are redeeming aspects to Scandal Love, I can't think of anything positive to say other than the two FLs had a couple of legitimately good moments together and it was an effort to produce/put out a mainstream K-GL.

I even find myself questioning whether this was "subtle" product placement, given how on-the-nose the writing was and how many times the two girl groups in this universe were name-dropped, and promotion/marketing was treated like character growth.

The sound design was poor, AI/stock footage shots were very obviously AI/stock footage, the dancing was laughably bad, the music sounded like it was royalty-free, and never have I ever seen actors/characters SO uncomfortable existing on the screen! Their faces were always twisted in pain/they looked like they were cringing with every line, begging the ground to swallow them whole.

Seemingly, no one wanted to be here except Mr. Creepy Ceo (who, I might add, switched from supportive mentor to voyer villain on a dime), funnily enough. Which go-figure it was the dude licking his lips, trying to mog the camera, eyeing the FLs/their potential romance like a steak he couldn't wait to devour, because this shit felt like cheap porn without plot except there was no porn AND no plot!

And to top all this off, of course, there were constant character inconsistencies from episode to episode and even scene to scene! One moment, one of the FLs is sad, and the other is bitter, and the next one's supportive and adoring, and the other is cold and distant, and then both are suddenly super duper happy and optimistic and besties and/or in love, with NOTHING in between to justify the sudden shift. You're just supposed to go along with the drama's mood swings, I guess! The only theory I can come up with for this nonsense is that the editor fell asleep in the middle of editing, and their vindictive black cat took over the keyboard!

Don't even get me started on the plot because tell me how they managed to drag such a lame, bare-bones story about a K-Pop girl group who gains a new member out of nowhere, has millions of followers, and is also about to be forced to disband, across ten episodes with an average runtime of 40 minutes each? That's not a compliment!

Low budget, few actors/sets, and not much time to rehearse/shoot can be understandable reasons as to why a piece of media doesn't live up to expectations.

But this is just inexcusable!

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DO NOT LET THOSE BAD COMMENTS SWAY YOU! WATCH IT FOR URSELF! IT IS VERY GOOD!

Honestly, IDK why this is getting so much hate. If you approach it without comparing it to PA, you'll definitely enjoy it. And the criticisms to the actors are so unfounded, i believe they delivered pretty well (especially Li Yunrui). And even if you would complain about the age gap of the actors, that still is not a valid reason to pull this drama down, bc the age gap thing wasn't even a hindrance. And a piece of advice: If you can't understand the plot, and whine that the story is so unfocused and complex, then you weren't paying attention when watching it. Again, watch it urself, don't believe those bad reviews (bc most of them plainly compared it to PA).

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Interesting sort-of addictive short drama

I really liked this short drama, it's well-done considering the length & production budget. Scenes are framed nicely by the female director. The drama was shot 2 years ago but has a tighter story than other more-recent productions. Main cast is not well-known but have done well / okay. It hasn't had that many views, so I'm leaving a review for all those curious:

STORY: 20 years ago King got himself a second wife (daughter of Right Chancellor) to have political leverage & had a son Prince Rui from her. His first wife, whom he claimed to love, got pregnant later and gave birth to twins: Yin Ci & Yin Zhou. Her carriage is attacked, she dies, the twins end up in different places:

Yin Zhou (ML) is designated as crown prince (over Prince Rui, first-born) & sent by king to be raised by a martial artist to keep him safe.

Yin Ci is raised as Zhaoxi by 'Master Gu', head of a secretive government body, an investigative/law enforcement agency called Xuanji Pavilion. Master is in a wheelchair. Master never tells him the truth of his lineage/parentage & that he is son of king & co-crown prince. Zhaoxi has weak health & is home-bound but is good natured & helps poor people a lot.

Master also raises another child, a girl, Luo Yuo (FL), who is actually the daughter of Left Chancellor who had killed his entire family over jealousy - he doesn't tell her of her lineage / parentage either. He raises her as an assassin / information gatherer.

Master has 3 kids of his own too: all are good-for-nothing, corrupt, extremely cruel, opportunistic & dumb. One is a successful merchant, the other is owner of a dance/prostitute den & expert in poisons, third is a martial artist who loves / is obsessed with Luo Yuo. Master is not close to any of them & they all hate him & want to succeed Xuanji Pavilion's leadership.

Master wants Luo Yuo to be next Master of Xuanji Pavilion & arranges her to be married off to Zhaoxi - he tells Luo Yuo he will only give her leadership if she marries him. Luo Yuo and Zhaoxi meet just once (for chess in garden). She agrees because he appears simple & harmless, & she wants to become Master to know the truth of her parentage. Poor Zhaoxi is happy.

I don't have the heart to tell what happens / is done to Zhaoxi & why he is presumed dead.

Luo Yuo needs a look-alike. Crown Prince Yin Zhou / ML who has just survived an assassination attempt has reason to believe Gu family (of Xuanji Pavilion) has something to do with it so he needs to infiltrate it and finds the perfect opportunity to do so when he finds out that 'wife' of dead Zhaoxi is looking for a look-alike.

Luo Yuo wants him to play husband's role till the official wedding when she will get leadership or till Zhaoxi is confirmed dead.

That's how their interaction, romance, sizzle, etc. starts. FL is most definitely attracted to him early on, while he comes to think of her as a fascinating creature who trusts no one and wants a different life. I don't know when they 'fell' in love but there are 3 kiss scenes, all well picturized. Ep. 13 has a risqué makeout scene that I don't usually see in C-dramas (C-dramas are more prudish usually). Amazingly, both feel rejected later on for the simple reason that ML creates distance since he has just found out her betrothed was his long-lost brother & he mourns the loss of him & her in a poem, which FL understands correctly as separation & longing. In Ep. 16, he's depressed. In Ep.17-18, she lays her heart, loneliness & disappointment in front of him. In Ep.20, ML says to her "For you, I'd die a thousand deaths" while all she says is "hurry back" & hugs him. FL's thoughts & emotions are internalized & seen in flashbacks only (especially in Ep.23, when she isn't sure that ML is hurt or alive & misses him). Nobody says I love you. It's not that kind of story.

Interestingly, FL comes to trust ML even though she doesn't know the truth about him (who he is, etc.) because he keeps helping her, risking his life, when she's in a fix. And ML clearly holds her in high regard: In Ep.20, he asks Master's son what the family's plan is, but keeps glancing at FL because he knows she's the brains & she will provide a solution what to do next.

I liked scenes in Ep.8-9, when FL risks her life to get a ledger, she has to paint 'plum blossoms' for a troubled murderous Prince consort who has it & does it successfully but then when she is drugged, she's rescued by ML & even though ML wanted the ledger too, he tells his guard to let her have it (of course he has a plan to root out corrupt officers once she goes through the ledger) but it showed development in their feelings. The attraction is obvious in the scene in Ep. 10, when ML is having the 'ritual bath' in her room & she is seated where she can see him, & he can see her.

I especially liked the proposal in the end by ML /Yin Zhou (crown prince) who calls Luo Yuo his beloved & tells her "I'm truly blessed to have found someone as clever as you in this life" & asks her to be a partner / adviser to him, not just a wife/lover. "There are thorny issues within my household. Will you lend a hand?" And she confirms her yes by a simple passionate kiss.

I also liked what he told his disapproving caddish father / king about FL, "I want to protect her all her life but she's not someone I need to protect but someone strong enough to stand side by side with me."

The fight scenes (between them & with others) are well-choreographed for a small-budget production. There's wire action too.

The main villain and his motivation is expected & predictable - but the one who killed Zhaoxi is a surprise revelation - even though it makes sense why that person did it.

The story is more about FL realizing her purpose in life & her own path, her own choice than any mystery & the way she makes her choice in Ep.24 is amazing.

Ep. 23, second-to-last episode, is slow & in my view, useless filler (except for the scene where FL misses ML).

Ep. 24 is flawless.

CAST:

FL is good in her role - her character is supposed to have a poker face (she never gave away how she felt or thought except in front of ML), her character is very graceful, mysterious, intelligent, seductive, & in command of her emotions & is a great fighter. She rescues ML & even the caddish king.

ML is also good. His role was more difficult because he likes FL but is jealous of this look-alike 'husband' / brother that she says she was deeply in love with. He also can see FL struggle with her wants & needs, her trust issues & the fact that she always works alone, never with a partner.

Zhaoxi is the most pitiful character in the drama, a sacrificial lamb caught between a power struggle & obsessive love.

There is no redeeming quality about Master Gu who selfishly endangered both Zhaoxi (son of king / co-crown prince of sorts) & Luo Yuo. He thought of everyone as a guinea pig. In fact I feel Zhaoxi & Luo Yuo would have been different people & protected themselves better if they had known the truth about their parentage.

Master Gu's adult children performed okay.

There is nothing nice about the coward / caddish king.

None of these actors is a thespian or great actor / actress, but they did okay & I liked the drama.

MUSIC:

Songs & lyrics are mostly melancholic, pleasant, & fit the scenes.

TITLE:

I don't understand why the title of the drama is 'In the Grip' / 'In the Palm.'

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Law, Life & Late-Night Chaos — A Courtroom Drama That Plays It Safe

If you are looking for a light legal drama with a mix of workplace struggles, friendship, and slow emotional moments, Law and the City is a decent one-time watch. The series has a realistic city-life atmosphere and a calm storytelling style, but it often feels too predictable to leave a strong impact.

The cast does a good job portraying exhausted lawyers trying to balance ambition and personal life, and some emotional scenes genuinely work well. However, the pacing becomes slow in the middle episodes, and several courtroom cases lack excitement or tension compared to stronger Korean legal dramas.

What keeps the drama watchable is its relatable office dynamics and grounded characters rather than thrilling plot twists. While it does not completely fail, it never fully reaches its potential either.

Overall, Law and the City is an average Korean drama — comforting at times, forgettable at others, but still suitable for viewers who enjoy slice-of-life legal stories without heavy intensity.

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Missed the mark at the end...

Overall 8/10
🌟🌟🌟🌟

I really enjoyed this drama as it was super fun and engaging! However, the last episode just felt off for some reason, and that alone dropped my rating to 8. Each ghost that Shin I Rang encounters has well-developed stories, and they did a great job of keeping it quirky but not too silly. Off the bat, don't expect any real logic when it comes to how the cases are dealt with, but instead enjoy the show! The whole show was a solid 9/10 for me up until the end - the last two episodes felt off, and everything was just a little TOO convenient. I wish they had taken the time to flesh out the last ghost's scenario and made it more of a challenge to get through. There is one moment in the show where I genuinely crashed out at the absurdity of what I had just witnessed, but after I got over it, I found it funny!😂 (The actors did an amazing job portraying their roles, and kudos to Yoo Yeon Seok for pulling off the different ghosts when acting possessed!)
Overall, super enjoyable and would definitely recommend!

(Similar vibes to Oh My Ghost Clients but also TOTALLY different)

TW// SUICIDE; MURDER; PROCESSING GRIEF; CORRUPTION; VIOLENCE

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Fav adaptation!

Overall 11/10
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

[Watched in 2025!]
My notes:

LOVED IT!!
This felt much more whole/complete by the end as opposed to the other versions. Which is interesting considering it had the least amount of episodes, but the storytelling was just THAT good! I prefer how nothing was overly dramatic; in some cases that works well, but I prefer the way they portrayed the story in this version. What I loved even more is how the webtoon, Kdrama, and Jdrama all felt completely different but the same! Verdict: Japanese adaptation is my favourite out of all three! I loved how they concluded the fate situation and the possible deaths that kind of hung in the air.

TW// TERMINAL ILLNESS; PHYSICAL VIOLENCE; EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE; SUICIDE ; MURDER; EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR

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Okay If you didnt whatch it yet go or it its really worth it.All with that Girigo app and the wishes and the plot also verry interesting the drama step by step tell you everything about the girigo thing. And if you not really like horror whatch it too its really worth it,I mean the series have a small romantig side too. :)
The drama have lot of sides its tell how bad can be a schoolbullynig,we have love triangle too I guess... and we have a little saman ting too...We also can se how bad can people feel if their friend let them behind...Anyway..
As I said the drama have lot of sides :D
The drama really tell you everything how the girigo app made how the curse even exist, I was supprised tbh.
And the illusions what the curse made to controll you and trap you inside with them its really crazy.
And untill the last episode you cant guess who made the curse,Okay we talkig about a horror show ofc people dying in almost every episode,if they dont hen where is the horror part?
Here is what i dont understand :When Yoo Se A friend wished something and her boyfriend too why both got a call from her like shi connected somehow the curse?..Or am I missed something.
And the end of the drama what happent to Na Ri? when u know Yoo Se A did that to her why? okay she was mad at her but why am I think there is a third spirit too who didt show ut themself?
Okay I dont understand things too but im sure if we get a season 2 we will get answer to our questions too:)
(Sorry for my broken english...pls forgive me..)
Please tell me your option this ,bc Im lost I never write review but I just cant stan see that this drama only got bad review :)

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left me standing

Genuinely, this is by far one of the well-executed BL dramas I've ever watched. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like the mixed genre. But that's exactly what makes Khemjira stand out from the mainstream. I only deducted .5 points because I anticipated Paran to apologize to Khem for being harsh on him, before they became official. CharnJet's development was something future producers should take note of. I loved everything. I was so immersed in every detail of the entire series. And I wish I had watched this way sooner when it was still airing. I'm not sure how many awards Khemjira has taken home yet, but GET THEM ALL IM SO SERIOUS

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A decent netflix thai action flick that could've accomplished more

As a fan of Baifern - when a new netflix action movie starring her comes out, it's a must-watch for me!

Having said that though, I think while the movie holds pretty well on its own, I don't think I can give it anymore than a 7.5/10. The cast is generally likable and interesting enough, and the action scenes (especially the beginning) are great. It kinda falls off towards the middle and the end though where it's just just gunfights with endless generic goons which tends to respawn automatically just to continue the movie. I think the inconsistency in the number of generic goons really took me away from the story quite a fair bit, because you see maybe 12 of them come in, but the fights seem to show like 50 of them.

Another thing is the hitmen "villians". They're pretty two dimensional and honestly doesn't add much to the movie, Toni's the most interesting of the lot but it doesn't seem like he's exceptionally skilled or anything, just that he is ruthless and has a lot of money to throw around to hire more assassins and goons.

Still, it is what it is, if you're a fan of action movies, thai movies or Baifern, it's still quite a solid watch and an entertaining evening.

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