Reviews

"What exactly have I been waiting on"

The Neighbor was an odd story of orphans, loss, and found family. A four-hundred-year-old missing treasure complicates the lives of Takeda and Setsu, but never overshadows the bonds being created.

Government worker Takeda Shunsuke lives in a “don’t ask, don’t tell” existence he has created. Orphaned at a young age, he refuses to create any new relationships. He asks no questions about others and expects the same courtesy in return. Though he tries to keep people at a distance he takes in a “gay, suicidal, drug addict.” Initially complaining about his octogenarian neighbor’s late-night singing, he eventually befriends Isumi/Sanada Setsu who believes she has waited 400 years for him to marry her. Takeda also forms a bond with a mute orphan who has created problems for the orphanage he’s been assigned to. For a guy who doesn’t want anyone close to him, he manages to take in all the strays in his vicinity.

A historian believed that Setsu was the missing “princess” from his uncle’s mountain village and knew where a four-hundred-year-old treasure of gold was hidden. He planned to take custody of her so that the remaining villagers and their heirs would receive the treasure after her passing. When Takeda worked to make Setsu’s vision come true he ran into a mountain of bureaucracy trying to “protect” Setsu though they’d never done a thing to help the older women in her 60 years of isolation.

Takeda’s life changed as he reached out to the people around him. In the process he and Setsu began healing their traumas and pain. The “treasure” was unimportant to Takeda and Setsu, yet each unearthed gifts worth far more than gold as they stopped waiting and started living.

24 June 2026

Trigger warning: Suicide

Genre/tag notes: This was not a Mystery or Investigation in the typical way. Takeda did some research to better understand Setsu to help her, but nothing like a treasure hunt or criminal investigation or mystery. This was a story of healing old wounds and creating meaningful relationships.

Acting note: Ogaki Tomoya played Takeda Shunsuke. I only say three cast listings for him.

Minor spoilery thought below:


















The “treasure” ended up being reminiscent to the treasure discovered in the old folk song “One Tin Soldier.”

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Start Out So Brightly and Just Faded

From the first episode, my thoughts were, “What a beautiful drama this is going to be.” Don’t get me wrong it was beautiful. It dealt with what we all like…young love. Yes, those days in school with the boy you like and hoping one day that you will marry him. This drama led us down those wonderful days of senior year in high school. Getting ready for exams that will eventually get you into the college of your choice and then out into the real world. Yes, this is that story. A hidden gem of sorts that started off so well in those high school years but flounder when going to the adult years with a too swift wrap up. But don’t let me get ahead of myself.

The drama revolves around Qing Ye (Guan Xiao Tong) who was pulled out of high school during her senior year due to a family emergency, so she was taken back to her hometown. Talk about a change. This girl was used to the bustling city, her usual hangouts and friends, but when she found out she was leaving her thoughts were you’re taking me where? To a seaside town? To be with who? My aunt? To say she wasn’t shell shocked was putting it mildly after coming from her pampered lifestyle. She was devastated.

The room was not to her liking, no air conditioning, no decent bathroom, where was she to wash her clothes, the food needed to have less calories, I mean she was a hot mess! She knew she was not going to have the lifestyle she had back home, so she knew either deal with it or leave. So, she opted to leave and go to the hotel. Well, that didn’t go any better either. No air conditioning, the guy next door was always doing “live streams” so, she couldn’t sleep so she had no choice but to go back. After getting over her “prima donna” act, she realized she needed to make adjustments to this new way of life. Starting with trying to fit in.

After Qing Ye’s brief meeting with Xing Wu, she was realizing that she needed to get along with him because he was the glue that held everything together, from his mother to his grandmother, friends and the community, she saw he was the person everyone turned too.

Xing Wu was very likable and always did not “want to owe” anyone anything, especially money. He wanted to pay his own way no matter what. After a school altercation, not wanting to speak up for himself, he let the school expel him. Xing Wu had his own reasons for doing that, it was his father’s gambling debts and paying back all the money that was owed. His friend Shu Han (Jenny Zeng) knew of his situation and provided him with the necessary work to help him and his family. Qing Ye eventually learned about this and much more.

As Qing Ye became more immersed in the day-to-day with her aunt, grandmother, Xing Wu and friends she was realizing what a family was and true friends. She was growing to like Xing Wu. She saw how he had done so much to make her feel welcome knowing how her life was before she came there. He tried to make her as comfortable as possible. Fixing the bathroom, her room with air conditioning she saw the soft side of Xing Wu, her attitude began to change—they became closer.

Xing Wu found himself changing as well. He wanted to be better to be good enough to be with Qing Ye knowing her family background and her life. She was the influence that got him to go back to school. Opening up his trunk of hidden dreams and to once again make them a reality. Friendships grew. Old rivalries ended. New begins. Flourishing joys and love their senior year.

Yet, like all good things, they must come to an end. This was brought about by Qing Ye’s father. He had cleared up his situation, and he wanted to take her back. Qing Ye now had a mind of her own and was defensive against her father wishes of returning. Everything was said and done. She left the seaside town and all the friends, her aunt, grandmother but especially Xing Wu.

There was a lot of devastations that happen to the family with the burning down of the salon but, the death of the grandmother. She passed while Qing Ye had already left and Xing Wu did not tell her due to him wanting her not to feel obligated to come back. That was very sad. Xing Wu did not pass his exams either. Leading him to take them again, and he eventually pass.

Fast forward, to being adults. Yes, we skipped over those college years and went directly to working. Qing Ye was now working for a company outside of her father’s. She wanted to make her own way. This led her back to the seaside town she loved. But going back was not only for her company but for the two friends from school that were going to get married.

We, of course knew that they would miss each other due to Qing Ye needing to go back to her company to handle another project she had been working on. Xing Wu arrived late due to a flight delay. We see both her and Xing Wu as they pass each other in taxis. Hence let the "near misses" begin until we could not keep doing that, so it was now time to get these two to meet.

Xing Wu’s colleague wants him to meet his sister only to find out that Qing Ye would be there. At last. But it was a very lame first meeting after all those years apart. No excitement. No recognition of knowing each other. Just awkwardness for not only them but for the brother and sister who had to watch it.

They do finally become a couple. Qing Ye father was still in disagreement with them becoming a couple, but Xing Wu did pay him back and with interest for the money he gave them after Qing Ye left. I think he respected Xing Wu and he would eventually come around.

The sad part for me, we did not see them get married. Just Xing Wu giving a speech to a new class on behest of one of his teachers that helped him and asking him to do the same for his class. Too many repetitive flashbacks in the ending episodes.

For something that started out so strong and so well, while enjoyable in the beginning. overall, to me it was not dazzling but more of a shimmer….

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Beautiful show

Good show.

Heartwarming.

Also, breathtaking & unforgettable.

Loved Seo Hae Joon & his character, too.

Good storyline. Well written & well directed.

You're still moved even after the show has ended.

Love. Kindness. Family. The beauty of them all makes your heart warm & joyful while watching the show.

Also loved Mama's selfless act in accepting Seulhee's proposal, which led to them 3's beautiful relationship.

At least for a while or for some time after watching it, you wouldn't want to start on another show, because nothing can compare to it.

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I’ve never cried this hard before

It’s been years since this drama came out but it didn’t catch my attention until today (yes, I’ve binge-watched the whole series lol).
Actually I wasn’t planning on watching it but I was bored and sometimes I just open netflix and play the first series that appear on the feed and this time was Move to Heaven.

I lost someone very important to me a few months ago and watching this series healed me some way.

I’m still crying and this review doesn’t make any sense but I’ve just finished watching it and it was heart wrenching but beautiful. The portrayal of loss and death and how they dealth with such difficult task as it is trauma cleansing … I don’t really have words right now to express how this drama has touched me but if you ask me if I recommend it, I do.

Just keep your tissues close 🫶🏼

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One More Episode Turned Into Four Rewatches

📝 Review

(WARNING: Potential Spoilers — I’m Not Saving You from Any Emotional Damage)

I've always been a sucker for transmigration dramas, so this one already had my attention before I even pressed play. A girl getting pulled into a novel and forced to complete missions to survive? That's basically catnip for me.

What I wasn't expecting was how quickly I would become attached to the characters.

The story follows Ling Miao Miao as she finds herself trapped inside a novel as the villainous supporting character. To return home, she must complete a series of increasingly difficult missions, including winning over the mysterious Mu Sheng. What starts as a game-like survival story quickly evolves into something much deeper, blending fantasy, adventure, romance, comedy, and surprisingly emotional character growth.

The FL is witty, resourceful, and endlessly entertaining, while the ML starts off as a walking red flag wrapped in mystery before slowly revealing the layers underneath, creating one of the most enjoyable relationship progressions I've watched in recent years.

The supporting cast never feels like background decoration. Mu Yao and Liu Fu Yi contribute just as much to the emotional weight of the story as the main couple, helping the group dynamic feel natural and complete.

These types of dramas tend to rely heavily on their gimmick, and this one could have easily coasted on the transmigration concept alone.

Instead, it built characters I genuinely cared about.

The chemistry between Esther Yu and Ding Yu Xi is phenomenal. Whether they're making me laugh, making me frustrated, or making me smile like an idiot at my screen, they simply work together.

Visually, this drama is gorgeous. The costumes, creatures, fantasy landscapes, and special effects showcase just how far Chinese fantasy productions have evolved. There were multiple scenes where I caught myself admiring the visuals before remembering I was supposed to be reading subtitles.

And then there's the soundtrack.

The OST is absolutely incredible.

I've added most of the songs to my regular playlist, which is probably one of the highest compliments I can give a drama soundtrack. Long after finishing the series, the music stayed with me.

By the middle/end, I was fully emotionally invested in these characters and their journey.

Then the finale happened.

And here's where my one complaint lives.

Not because the ending was bad.

Because it stopped one scene too soon.

After everything these characters went through, I wanted the payoff of actually seeing them reunite in the real world. I wanted that final moment where all the waiting, growth, and emotional investment came full circle.

Instead, we get the implication.

The possibility.

The hope.

Mu Sheng calls her name.

She turns.

And then the drama ends.

I understand what they were going for.

I still wanted one more scene.

One actual reunion.

One chance to watch these two finally get their happy ending outside the novel.

My brain: "Just give me five more minutes."

My emotions: "We deserved that reunion."

My snacks: long gone several episodes ago.

In the end, I finished feeling happy, emotional, and slightly robbed of the closure I wanted.

And somehow… it worked.

Because even now, after multiple rewatches, I'm still thinking about these characters.

Still listening to the music.

Still wishing for that one final scene.

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Very hard watch and had to force myself to finish.

This series sadly disappointed me extremely. I've been getting more and more into this genre. I fucking love these mystery, law and political series. Before watching, I was really curious what the series would actually be about (bc my dumb f never watches any trailers). I liked how it had 8 episodes so I could binge watch it with my time limit. I seem to be one of the only people who didn't like this series, so don't judge the series based on my review too much. All I can say is that I had different expectations and was extremely disappointed. And I'm saying this as a fan of lakorn, who also likes some of the work of Wo Worawit. In my opinion this series is just extremely overrated. I almost dropped this series after episode 3...

Only recently heard of Film Thanapat, since the accident with the, what I assume sasaeng, tried to kiss him. Then later on found out he's playing in Mon Merng Mang, a series which I'm really excited to see! Also never seen any roles Jam Rachata had before. I was just really curious about the acting work since that's one of the main things I focus on when watching a series. I have to say the actors are super good and the reasons I did manage to finish the series. Film Thanapat is good at expressions, like extremely. I can hate him like 4 minutes long and then shift to another feeling. Also, Aew (the grandma), she is sooo good at acting aswell. I love her characters and she also fixed some of the hate I had.

Let's get over one of the few reasons I didn't like it a lot: the editing. Starting by a minor issue, the translation was fucking horrible, at least I understand Thai quite good and this is not the editing or production team's fault. I don't like the extreme editing mess. Sometimes they randomly slowed down scene's or sped them up. Also cutting on action could be way better if they even tried to imply it. I'm gonna be very honest here and this is something most people know of me. I think the intro's and ost's are VERY important when it comes to giving personality to series. The audio was boring and just overall disappointing. The ending ost was quite good and some part in the series they sang, which was also good. The background music however, wayyy too loud. Sometimes the effects went over the dialogue. Horrible fx effects with the fire in ep 5, and some other parts. The thing I hated the most was the lightning. Lighting that reflects sooo much in the eye it looks fake and unrealistic. It's sooooo irritating. Extreme overexposure. Lighting that reflects sooo much in the eye it looks fake and unrealistic. It's sooooo irritating. and noticed in multiple scene's extreme overexposure. Lightning is important, but do it well.

Next up another irritation is Charn. I FUCKING HATE HATE HATE CHARN, his attitude is annoying, his 'fake' smile and overall his fake personality. And with me hating Charn a lot has to do with the extremely well done acting. Really wanna see more of Thanapat. Granny saying there might be a reason he acted like that made me kinda like Charn more. It just got me thinking about his actions. Like trauma's? Charn can't put any fucking sense is his brain, no one can make me like you Charn. At the ending I started liking him more but only at the very last episodes. He was a big red flag, sorry not sorry lol. Tinn did not deserve this.

This series was a mess. It's all over the place and zeroooo build up. Feels super rushed and definitely needed more episodes to make the story more interesting. Not gonna blame the screenwriters for this one but 4 screenwriters working on this series is... a bit much. Could possibly be the script passing down the whole time.

Characters that aren't likeable and relatable at all, which is important to me to be able to actually understand the series from character viewpoint. The tension is FUCKING GOOD, just a bit overdramatic and too much. Why do we need each 10 minutes a verbal fight? The chemistry was veryyy mid, only due to expressions that you could notice love. it lacked flirting or touches or gestures in my opinion. It kinda felt like: "hey guys we both like each other now yay!" and kiss kiss. No big realisation or crushes, no, just immediate romance.

Side character who? The side characters were fucking confusing. I get the family of Tinn but where did all those ppl go after a few eps? Only our saviour grandma. Also was heavily confused about Thaenthai and Methee.


The ending made me give a better review. The ending was actually cute and just nice. They fixed Charn's attitude but missing the perspectives of all characters. I never got away from the confusion I had about Thaenthai and Methee. It was still unclear what their roles exactly were, but that's my fault. Overall, watch it to form an own opinion, I feel like I'm the only person who rated the series this low.

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COULD'VE BEEN A 10/10 SHOW HAD THEY NOT CASUALLY ADDED RAPE TO IT.

10/10 out of ten MAIN story. With 10/10 performance from Zhang Xincheng, Ding Yuxi and Jiang Peiyao. Great performance from the side characters and villains as well. However I cannot give this show a 10 no matter how good it is. THEY SHOULD'VE NEVER HAD A LEAD CHARACTER RAPE ANOTHER ONE THEN LATER HAD THEM MARRY EACHOTHER. that aspect of the show was truly disgusting and nauseating and they shouldn't have added it since it brought nothing to the main plot. They simply wanted to be disgusting. Though I've finished, I would never recommend or even rewatch a single episode. Everybody on the writing and production team that signed off on those scenes need to be put in jail. It was truly repulsive predatory of them.

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Decent

I watched this a while ago, but I forgot to write a review on it for some reason. It was one of the earlier J dramas that I’ve watched. I thought the female lead was a little bit naïve for running a company and a little spaced out and innocent, and for some reason she keeps following the male lead for everything and can’t seem to think for herself. She’s not a very strong character. The male lead is a little bit annoying, and I don’t find him to be that good looking or charming. But he seems to think that he’s all that. I actually liked the second male love interest, and I thought he was more attractive than the male lead. But as we know the second love interest never gets the girl. At least not in J dramas. No matter how hard they try, or how kind they are, or how much they helped the female lead, apparently it all boils down to chemistry. I thought the female leads superpower was pretty cool, and I would love to have that for myself. I would use it a lot more boldly.

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Great Aesthetics, Terrible Writing: Don't Blindly Trust the 10/10 Ratings

It has been a long time since I last wrote a review. However, seeing this drama flooded with perfect 10s forced me to share a more realistic perspective.
Let’s be honest from the start: we can all agree that Ma Xiao Yu is incredibly attractive and a talented actor. But a hot lead does not automatically equal a 10-star masterpiece.

Good:
Visuals and ActingStunning Aesthetics: The sets and clothing are absolutely on point throughout the show.
Solid Cast: The main actors are highly attractive and deliver genuinely good performances.
Standout Supporting Role: The brother's girlfriend is an amazing character who shows true internal strength.

The Bad: Toxic Dynamics and Weak Writing

The actual storyline is complete trash. It is incredibly difficult to find any redeeming qualities in the Female Lead (FL). She hires the Male Lead (ML) as her bodyguard, yet constantly does whatever she wants, fully aware that he will bear the consequences. To make matters worse, her toxic brother exploits the fact that the ML cannot say "no" to the FL, using it as an excuse to brutally torture him.

The romance is equally unconvincing. The show expects the audience to believe in a deep, lifelong love between the leads, but the FL's character portrays absolutely no genuine affection. While she is supposed to be fiercely loyal to her brother, her actions in setting the ML up were simply too much to forgive.

The Verdict: Dragged Out and Disappointing

The plot is heavily padded, repeatedly recycling the exact same scenarios over and over. To top it all off, the ending is awful and completely unrewarding. Enjoy the visuals and the acting, but lower your expectations for the script.

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Aburrimiento total

Empecé la serie con mucho entusiasmo y creía que me iba a gustar porque es un buen inicio, incluso la trama en su totalidad me ha gustado. Pero la forma en la que cuentan la historia y el ritmo al que suceden las cosas ha hecho que me aburra en cada capítulo. En algunos incluso me he quedado dormida, y no por cansancio.

Los actores son increíbles y la música también, porque realmente estoy obsesionada, pero el resto deja mucho que desear. Básicamente cuando más me he emocionado ha sido cuando sonaban las canciones y me ponía a cantar.

Creo que podrían haberlo hecho en menos capítulos y así hubiese estado más condensado y entretenido.

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