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the way this could have been amazing
i remember when i first started this show i was excited. the first eps were actually good, both couples have great chemistry and the acting is good as well but unfortunately the execution of the plot wasn’t well done imo. it’s one of those shows that starts strong then suddenly takes a different direction and you start wondering why.the plot execution is really important, and after ep 7 (Tim’s revelation about the lies and deception) which was supposed to be the peak ep but it didn't, it just didn’t feel like one. they were building it up for many eps but the payoff felt weak. i get that it’s a romcom, but that doesn’t excuse bad writing. serious situations are better when treated seriously. the audience didn’t really get the right amount of angst, and real problems were treated almost like a joke.
Pai has been struggling to even stay mad, and Tim doesn’t seem properly apologetic. lines like “don’t worry i won’t charge you for the meal” or “you’re living in my place for free” just feel off after what he has done… like are we supposed to find that charming? then i check more ep and Pai isn’t as upset as he should be after being betrayed for years, and Tim doesn’t seem as sorry as he should. it's getting brushed off with playful moments instead.
i could honestly rant a lot about how this could have been better based on what Tim and Pai characters could have done. but good for people who enjoyed it. i do love the cast and hope to see them in better directed series in the future. maybe not by New
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Underwhelming
This show dealt well with controversial topics - euthanasia, assisted suicide, end of life issues. It is a sensitive topic in Korea, at least at the time the show was made. Often when a show deals with sensitive topics, they tend to become didactic.Plot: fairly good. It did drop the ball on a major subplot - the election of the new CEO of the hospital. From being talked about in almost every episode, it was “resolved” with one brief conversation in the next to last episode. The last episode was just odd. I guess they were trying to wrap up all the characters’ story arcs, but it felt forced and under explicated. For example, Dr. Cha (John) dropped out of contact for 3 years and the reason given was that he was getting healthy. That’s no reason to ghost people who care about him, especially the woman he says he loves.
Characters: Kang Shi Young - she oversteps boundaries all the time, snooping in Dr. Cha’s desk and his computer and following him. This is supposed to endear her to him. I never saw any chemistry between her and Dr. Cha, and found their age gap and professional relationship problematic for a romance.
The rest of the characters were ok, serving as comedic foils or for the FL and ML to react with.
Acting: FL - no matter her emotion, her facial expressions (most of the time) remained the same. She could be sad, happy, irritated - just the same face almost. ML - he was ok, but I’ve seen him do a better job in other dramas.
Not the best drama I’ve watched. For medical shows, I thought Hospital Playlist was better. However, my husband really liked Dr. John.
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Favorite drama so far for 2026
This drama was one I had been waiting for a long time. I was excited to see both main leads acting together, and even more excited that it was directed by a director I love. His most popular recent work that everyone knows is Blossom, but it was Familiar Stranger that first got me hooked on his work. I hope he continues to make amazing dramas like this—I really love the visual storytelling and the way everything is directed.Another behind-the-scenes talent I would like to mention is the screenwriter. I just found out that she wrote many series I highly recommend and love, The Rise of the Phoenixes being one of them! She also has other notable titles like Love Like the Galaxy and Guardian of Beauty and Corner Diary.
Probably the one thing that hooked me from the beginning and kept me watching was Chang Yu’s character. She was brave, loyal, and a strong, fearless, and loving character. Zhang Linghe’s character was a bonus—I loved how ruthless he was and how he didn’t care about the emperor, especially when he declined the princess’s marriage proposal and even cut off the messenger’s ear.
I plan to read the book, as I’ve been told the series follows it quite closely and includes more details that viewers might enjoy.
Another thing I loved about this series is the side characters. I have to admit, before watching, the second couple showed up a lot on my feed, and I can see why. They are toxic, but I can’t help but love and pity Qi Min’s character. Yu Qianqian was another actress I grew to love, and I was excited to see her here as a second lead.
Other cast members I look forward to include Lin Muran and Li Qing. I couldn’t help but cheer and giggle every time they appeared on screen.
My only downside to this drama was the confusing mystery of what actually happened in the past. I’m still a bit fuzzy on the details, so I plan to go back and rewatch, as a lot happened and there were many details and characters I didn’t fully catch the first time.
Pursuit of Jade is a drama I highly recommend for 2026. So far, it’s my favorite and currently in first place. I’m giving it a 9/10, with one point deducted for the confusing mystery in the past.
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IF YOU LIKED IT...YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T READ THIS REVIEW
It's hard to believe a story about a family with superpowers could be so boring. With a couple of exceptions:What I liked:
1. The special effects were good. Don't want to give it away, so I won't mention specifics.
2. I really liked Bok Dong-hee, Gwi-ju's sister. She was hilarious and charming.
3. The father, Oh Man-seok, also plays the dad in SOMETHING ABOUT THE RAIN.
One of the reasons I like Oh Man-seok, other than his eternally cheerful demeanor, is because he's one of the few Korean actors in a major series with less than a lily-white complexion. Hey, Netflix, how about more brown-skinned Asian actors in your series? Thanks.
4. A satisfying ending.
What I didn't like:
1. My main problem is that this series lacks any logical coherence. Why is there an elaborate wedding--with no guests--mind you, when A) the groom didn't actually propose, and B) the bride never accepted the non-proposal? Did either of these two ever say "I love you"? Did I miss something? This is the stiffest, least-convincing marriage ceremony I've ever seen.
And each person in the family is aware that the marriage is a fraud, and an attempt to steal their money. And everybody goes along with it. Really?
2. Then there's the matter of the brother, Gwi-ju, who apparently needs to "save" someone. While at first, Gwi-ju is out to "save" a dude that he worked with, suddenly the target of his obsession changes.
He's now set on "saving" Do Da-hae, a woman who's moved into the house under suspicious circumstances.
But as Ms. Do points out to Gwi--ju, in a rare display of logical thinking--rare for this series anyway, she actually doesn't need saving as she's a healthy, fully functioning woman. Therefore she must have survived whatever horrible, no good, very bad thing happened to her in the past. You know, that thing that Gwi-ju has a bee in his bonnet about.
3. Firemen don't stand around giving speeches to someone they're trying to save while the building's going down-but someone does that in this drama.
4. The actress who plays Gwi-ju's daughter is adorable, but the romance between the character she plays and the most popular boy in the school is, well, hard to believe. This is middle school, folks.
TO BE CONTINUED... *************
Later: This series is so illogical it's impossible to suspend belief or care about anyone in this family. A couple of questions:
4. What exactly are the rules for Bok Gwi-joo's superpower? At first, he can only revisit times when he was happy-until Do Da-hae enters the picture. Then the rule changes: he can only revisit happy times when he was with her. But then the rule changes again-he goes back to a happy moment he shared with his classmates, without Do Da-hae. Then it changes again, he watches a happy moment between his mom and dad-but wait! A very young Do Da-hae rides by on her bike. Whaaa?
It feels like the writers made it all up as they went along.
5. What side of his neck is Bok Gwi-joo's mark on? Is it on the left? Is it on the right? On both sides? "They say it will never go away." Who said that? I don't remember anyone consulting a doctor.
The ending made up for a lot...but, but, but...why couldn't Mr. Time Travel come back on his own recognizance? It's not like he hasn't done it 1000 times.
Writers, you can do better!
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Almost a documentary about Bangkok youth
PLOT: The daily lives, friendships, hobbies, and romances of (ordinary) Bangkok high school students, following the journey of Fou4mod (a high school student, musician, who has a crush on Chian, a high school student who loves nail art, and Bua, a TikToker).+++ The actors are very young, but talented.
*** The unique aspect of this series is its very contemporary style. The pace is intense, the settings are mainly the streets of Bangkok and the Siam Square, and we spend a lot of time on the subway, the BTS, and in tuk-tuks. The passersby are "normal," looking more at their smartphones than at their neighbors, etc. The houses are incredibly cluttered, even messy, like real homes!
*** The story focuses on youth, teenagers, first loves, intensive smartphone use (shopping, social media, videos & posts, playlists, ChatGPT, etc.), the importance of appearance, youth's trial and error, and sometimes, experiences more or less difficult to navigate.
+++ The OSTs are fantastic.
=> An unusual, refreshing, and relevant series.
**************************************************
Presque un documentaire sur la jeunesse de Bangkok
PLOT: La vie quotidienne, les amitiés, les loisirs, les amours des lycéens (ordinaires) de Bangkok, en suivant le parcours de Fou4mod (lycéen, musicien, qui a un crush sur Chian, lycéen qui aime le Nail Art et Bua, un tik-tokeur).
+++ Les acteurs sont très jeunes, mais talentueux.
*** La particularité de cette série, c'est la réalisation très actuelle. Le rythme est intense, les décors sont surtt les rues de Bangkok et le quartier de Siam Square, on passe du temps dans le métro, dans le BTS, les tuk-tuk. Les passants sont "normaux", regardant plus leur smartphone que leur voisin. Etc. Les maisons sont hyper-encombrée voire bordéliques, comme des logements où on vit vraiment !
*** La story est axée sur la jeunesse, les ados, les 1ers amours, l'usage intensif du smartphone (achats, réseaux sociaux, vidéos & posts, playlists, ChatGPT, etc.), l'importance du look, les tâtonnements, les expériences plus ou moins difficiles à vivre.
+++ Les OSTs sont géniales.
=> Une série inhabituelle, rafraichissante, actuelle.
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a great show
the reason about why i watched this movie is that i saw a short video about it accidently so i was intrigued and looked for the movie's name, it turned out that it is as good as expected, a movie that keep you invested, a good quality.the acting is good,
the action is good ,
the music is good,
no boring scenes,
i recommend this movie.
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bittersweet
this was a short movie, but don’t let it fool you. when the film started, i I didn’t have high expectations nor wasn’t sure what to expect because i thought i kinda had the plot of the story figured out. even though it was true, i found myself with tears by the end.i think Sang Beom could have been more sure with who he was and his identity before going into the relationship. the opinions and expectations of those that surround you shouldn’t matter if it with someone you truly love. i think Sang Beom did, but by the time he was sure it was too late.
i thought this film would have had a happier ending. i was a bit confused when Min Ha said they should break up, although i got the idea that Min Ha was giving too much to someone who wouldn’t do the same. they seemed so happy around the fireworks and sparklers for him to say those words with a smiling face.
he possibly felt he was doing a good thing, but Sang Beom’s internal feelings weren’t expressed yet.
the ending of Sang Beom at the same beach is what really got to me. it was bittersweet and i was honestly hoping Min Ha would pop up behind him. good story, would definitely rewatch and recommend! 🙌
reviewer note- i don’t write reviews often so it might not be very thorough but i tried to get all my points across.
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Why the wait
This left me with more questions than answers.The acting and story was good. The use of blind spots and silence were effective. We get the stark reality of what it is to be deaf. Albeit, we know sound and he doesn't.
The questions that remain:
Why did he wait until the other was getting married?
Why was it so important then?
What made them lose contact?
What purpose would it serve now than earlier?
Was it to show that he operated on a different frequency to everyone else?
The symbolism of him at the end being a face in the crowd, then looking back, would suggest regret. When he got the answer at the wedding, his face conveyed everything. Why the ending?
He keeps saying, he is trapped among the crowd.
He traps himself and speaks too late. The word friend has no warmth. It does show how important he was to his friend as the friend continues to practice and use sign language even though they have been separated for five years.
For me, these are the types of films that are rewarding to watch as it creates further thought. It could have been longer.
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Dao x Arthit The SUN FROM ANOTHER STAR
Dao x Arthit love story is the best so far! Like its giving me the same level of engagement as Johan and North's story from Fourever You Part 1!!! The other love stories are good too but this one really caught my attention! From Ep 9 till Ep 15 and still ongoing Dao's and Arthit's story and the actors chemistry is really eye catching and the chemistry is undeniable!Actors Oat Tharathon aka Dao and Ngern Anupart aka Arthit really did justice to the characters! I love the contrast between the personalities of real life actors and the reel life characters!
Dao is a person who can see spirits, communicate with them, feel people's hidden emotions and also sense the energy of places or spirits and their memories...While Arthit is just Arthit lol 😂...Story starts with Dao renting a place where he gets a staggering 70% discount on his rent as 3 different people died in the same apartment at different times and haunt the place...Dao being our unbothered boy rents the place...And coincidentally Arthit turns out to be his neighbor who well ended up renting the place cause he got a 50% discount on the rent...And by his way of being and dressing you'd think the guy is dirt poor lol but he has a rich father Direk and rich friends like Johan and the others and bro is just very down to earth in his ways...He is studying medical along with Johan and the others...Now the way Dao and Arthit's paths end up crossing is because one of the ghosts in Dao's home was a friend of Arthit's who got murdered under mysterious circumstances and the ghosts girlfriend is accused of being the killer...This case is then solved with the help of Dao's powers...And this ends up bring Arthit and Dao close but what really gets them connected is Arthit's search for his mom's spirit and wanting to know if she's happy and if he could still communicate with her...And there's Dao's cheating ex who stalks him and so Dao takes Arthit's help in dealing with him...Over a period as their lives entangle Arthit ends up falling for Dao who turns out to be his first love! And now how will their love story turn out from here is all that this story about...Im honestly looking froward to how their story is gonna progress so far I love it! And recommend others to watch it too!
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Emotional whiplash
Production, images, costumes, casting, OST (!!!) are all amazing. Definitely worth watching for fans of genre.If there is any complain to voice I'd say sometimes script lacked originality and covered logic with drama.
Ending was just simply exhausting. It made me cry non stop. And not in a good way. Enough with the sacrifices! And how many times do we have to watch ML die? In the end Bai Shuo was severely traumatized by this, and me right with her. And the wedding with no guests? Depressing..
So I was absolutely glued to the screen, but there is no lingering good feelings after. Insted I feel a little bitter.
And what's with Bai Shuo becoming diety and getting all the power only after the final fight? I didn't thought I'll find trope I hate more than main characater loosing powers at the end, but it has to be it.
So yeah... excellent drama, just with some lazy writing here and there.
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Lovely C drama ❤️
Indeed it's a lovely c drama ...every girl should watch this c drama ...it highlighted the true difficulties and struggles of a women who is going through divorce ,job challenges and many other personal problems, very very worth watching .... It is very important for girls to be truly independent...so dear girls no matter what you do in life .. whether you get married or not ...it is really important to be an independent working women ...no matter how hard one's life can get ..never give up ...every day is a new chapter to begin ...so stop not ...very strong message ...Very interesting drama I'm watching ❤️♥️❤️♥️♥️ everyone is playing their role very well ...choose a life partner who supports you emotionally not financially ✨🙂💕Was this review helpful to you?
Legendary!
This was what started it all for me. The first Asian drama I ever watched. Having only watched telenovelas and western series/films, I was not ready for all the tears and anguish I could feel watching a K drama. This opened up a whole new world for me and I will never forget it. Also, one of the best OSTs I've ever heard!Was this review helpful to you?
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3 episode were enough...
let's me start by saying that I ve nothing against this genre. I watched plenty of coming of age/ love in highschool drama and they are usually cute and light-hearted.this is no exception, but I just can't bring my self to watch the same stuff without something interesting to latch on.
frankly speaking I'm kind of tired of the "we met in kindergarten for 3 hours and I cannot forget you" trope.
what's so romantic about? I just don't get it.
the ml is probably 17, looking obsessed with a girl he meet eons ago. I get it. your life went downhill and she is probably a nice memory from the past, but his attachment to her right away give me the hick. she is different person now, times passed.
to be honest he creeped me out. If the soundtrack would have been different, he would have looked like a stalker to be honest.
the FL was definitely my favourite part. bubbly, outspoken and a bit stubborn.
her friends looked alright and not as paper thin as other characters in other dramas.
moving on there will probably be cute moments etc but I just didn't find anything to look forward in these 3 episodes.
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A Healing Journey With The Most Lovable Cast Of Characters You've Ever Seen
There are NO words to explain how much I have thoroughly enjoyed every second of this show. Everything about it was just perfect, and exactly what I have been searching for for ages now. A feel-good show with compelling characters, good storyline, and charming romance.The story was so interesting. I went into it blind because I saw a random edit on Instagram, looked up the show, and put it on my watchlist, planning to watch over the weekend. I ended picking up a different show over that weekend, but after finishing it decided to give this a go (even though it was middle of the week - we all gasp lol). Because of all of that I didn't really know what the storyline is beyond the short synopsis here. When the plot twist happened, I genuinely screamed! I won't go into it further than that to avoid spoilers.
Lee Sung Kyung, and Chae Jong Hyeop had beautiful chemistry. I love them so much!
All of the characters in this are extremely loveable, kind, and endearing. In Your Radiant Season really goes to show how less episodes leads to a more coherent, impactful story. 10/10, will recommend to everyone!!!
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