Reviews

A Well-Made Office Romance That Brings Nothing New

After 12 episodes, it became clear that Love Under Audit was never really about auditing, corporate politics, or business ethics.

It's an office romance wrapped in the familiar K-drama formula: love triangles, jealous rivals, workplace rumors, secret relationships, corporate power struggles, noble sacrifices, misunderstandings, and conveniently timed emotional crises.

The biggest strength of the series is its cast. Shin Hye-sun and Gong Myung carry much of the show's emotional weight, making even the most predictable situations watchable. Their chemistry is solid enough to keep the story moving even when the writing falls back on well-worn clichés.

The problem is that the drama rarely takes risks. Almost every major development feels recycled from dozens of previous office romances. The story constantly chooses the safest possible route, making it easy to predict where everything is heading long before it gets there.

Even the corporate storyline eventually becomes secondary to relationship drama, rumors, and personal conflicts. At times, the company seems less interested in making money than in managing everyone's love life.

That doesn't make the drama bad. It simply makes it familiar.

In fact, that's probably why many viewers will enjoy it. It delivers exactly what it promises: romance, attractive leads, emotional tension, and a satisfying ending.

My biggest disappointment was that some of the supporting characters—especially the protagonist's sisters—were more entertaining than several of the main subplots and deserved much more screen time.

In the end, Love Under Audit is comfort food television. Easy to watch, easy to enjoy, and just as easy to forget a few months later.

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He speaks his mind. She's a tough cookie.

A nice adult workplace drama. Nothing too exciting but solid nonetheless. He speaks his mind. She’s a tough cookie. A mature romance between working adults and their coworkers. At first, I didn’t think much of ML's character at the start, he’s arrogant and cocky, but week by week, I gradually came to like him. The actress playing the female lead is always a powerhouse, so there’s nothing to complain about there. Their romance is enjoyable.

Romance aside, the show is a weekly case of a workplace issue that the main couple must investigate in each episode. I felt these were a hit or miss, but nonetheless, they place the main couple in unusual yet entertaining situations.

There’s one character who drove me up a wall, but I suppose they needed someone to give the show a semblance of conflict. Blinded by love I guess.

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The audience was coldly betrayed, and the communication was totally unclear.

Let me tell you straight up: the male lead dies. He dies completely without reason. He didn't even put himself in any danger—he was just minding his own business, walking in the market. Despite his tall and large build, he was swarmed, captured, and killed just because they wanted to steal his camera. It makes absolutely no sense for a doctor on an international mission. Normally, they are well-protected by security agencies and would never go to a high-risk area or do anything risky.

The male lead's decision-making makes it feel like he practically committed suicide, but the drama didn't dare to tell the story based on actual facts.

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fun to watch and strong start

The first episode was really fun to watch. The comedy wasn’t overdone, and the storyline was easy to follow, making it an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

TayNew’s chemistry is always top-tier, and they delivered every scene naturally and smoothly. Toto is such a free-spirited character with a great sense of humor, and Tay absolutely nailed the role. Knowing Tay’s real personality, Toto feels quite different from him, which makes his performance even more impressive. He brought Toto to life on screen so well that the character feels authentic and lovable.

As for Kanit, he is a classy, sassy, and elite flight attendant, and Newwiee portrayed him perfectly. His annoyed expressions, witty remarks, and sassy attitude were all on point, making Kanit a very entertaining character to watch.

The supporting cast also did a great job portraying their characters. Each character feels unique and adds something interesting to the story. I already find myself attached to the whole cast and am excited to learn more about their individual stories as the series progresses.

Overall, Episode 1 was a strong and entertaining start. It introduced the characters well, balanced comedy and storytelling nicely, and left me looking forward to the next episode.

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When Growth, Friendship, and Love Feel Real: Why Law and the City Stands Out

This drama was handled with remarkable maturity, and its greatest strength was how beautifully every storyline came together by the end.

"Law and the City" follows five associate lawyers working in the same building but for different firms, balancing emotional struggles, family expectations, career ambitions, and enduring friendships. What made the series special was the way these characters consistently showed up for one another through every success and setback. Their bond felt authentic—exactly how genuine friendships should.

One aspect that seems widely underestimated is the relationship between Ahn Ju Hyeong and Kang Hui Ji. Their romance wasn't built on dramatic misunderstandings, constant tension, or high-stakes passion. Instead, it reflected how many adult relationships actually function. They understood each other deeply. They paid attention to the smallest details, expressing care through actions rather than grand declarations. They recognized when the other was struggling and gave each other the space and patience needed to work through personal challenges before offering support.

Kang Hui Ji was especially refreshing as a female lead. She was already independent and self-sufficient. She didn't need Ahn Ju Hyeong because the story demanded a romance; she wanted him because sharing her life with him made it richer than experiencing it alone. Likewise, Ahn Ju Hyeong's growth felt natural rather than forced. He was never devoid of empathy, but through observing Hui Ji's approach to both her work and her clients, he slowly rediscovered a part of himself that had been buried beneath nine years of professional routine.

Their second-chance love story was beautiful precisely because of its simplicity. Not every romance needs adrenaline, endless obstacles, or dramatic twists. Sometimes love is gentle, steady, and quietly transformative—and this drama understood that perfectly.

Cho Chang Won, Bae Mun Jeong, and Ha Sang Gi were equally delightful. Each received a thoughtfully developed character arc. Through the cases they handled, their beliefs about the world and themselves gradually evolved. Their dedication to their work was admirable, but what made their journeys meaningful was their realization that they wanted more from life. Watching them step beyond their comfort zones and pursue long-held dreams felt both realistic and inspiring.

Kim Hyeong Min was another standout character. Despite being the CEO and founder of a charitable foundation, she carried the regret of never becoming a lawyer. Her decision to bring the firms together under one roof and serve as their legal advisor stemmed from that unrealized dream. Her commitment to helping the weak, the poor, and the overlooked reflected genuine compassion. Yet even after achieving success, she eventually recognized that she still wanted to pursue the dream she had abandoned and chose to study law again. Her story was both inspiring and believable.

What I also appreciated was that the four bosses were treated as complete characters rather than being reduced to background figures. Even with the focus on the five associates, the drama gave the senior characters their own presence, personalities, and significance.

The recurring tradition of the five friends gathering for dinner—and the series ending with them sharing lunch as the "lunch and dinner crew"—was a simple but meaningful way to bring the story full circle.

Ultimately, *Law and the City* is a drama about growth: personal growth, professional growth, emotional growth, and the growth that comes from meaningful relationships. It doesn't rely on exaggerated drama or unrealistic romance. Instead, it tells grounded, relatable stories with warmth, sincerity, and maturity. For that reason alone, it stands out as one of the most realistic and thoughtfully written dramas in recent years.

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This show should have been 20 episodes and cut out the 2nd Couple

This show is watchable until the main couple gets together. The writer had no clue what to do after that and started adding terrible business storylines that made no sense. If investment business always involves crime, then who would want to work in it? It seemed every company they wanted to invest in had some criminal activity. Then the big face-off with the main villain was handled in the most boring way possible. There was no big reveal, just a matter-of-fact conversation about how her dad was killed. No shock, no drama, just oh, hey, you shouldn't have killed him because you got your takeover anyway.

After that, the show completely falls off the cliff with a random time jump to 3 years later, with the FL lead working closely with the 2ML for 3 years while accepting his advances (time together, dinner invitations, personal gifts, etc.) For 3 years, she disrespected her relationship and had a work husband, but then she is shocked when 2ML reveals he likes her. All the while, the male lead is fine with all of this for 3 YEARS, knowing the intentions of the 2ML, even though the entire show, he was opposed to them spending time together. Then he is also shocked when there is a confession and a forced kiss. Then the 2ML reverts to his scheming ways to win the game. Everyone saw this coming, and no one did a thing to prevent it.

Recommend watching until the couple gets together and then skipping the rest, or watch it on fast forward.

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My first Thai BL and it was amazing!!!

First off, I love these actors so much. I have watched this 4 times within 2 weeks. I’m that obsessed with the story, I love ghost detective mysteries and this delivered. I’ve seen some people talking about stylistic choices and other plot issues and I’m here to cape for this show lol

First, I loved that they focused on small details like making Thup have heterochromia because, in some cultures, odd eyes are associated with people who can see supernatural beings like ghosts and spirits. I liked that small detail and my first time watching I thought it was the actors real eye colors. I have seen people with different colored eyes and some do have a larger pupil especially if the eye experienced physical trauma. My only gripe on the eyes was the 10 year old version of Thup didn’t seem to have odd eyes in the flash back but that’s a small thing.

For the plot holes, I believe the most glaring for me was why not test the DNA of all people involved during the period of the investigation, even the YouTubers? If they had tested them, Bom would have come back as related to the hair on the clay doll they found the night that Ghost Hunt had infiltrated the crime scene. My only explanation was that they had created a profile for a man older than 30 years old since the crimes were happening since 15 years ago. Also, the YouTubers did seem like your typical dumb young adults who did stupid things for clout and views and likely not involved and the cops just wanted to scare them and have their DNA on file for safe keeping in case they did something stupid again.
Another thing that probably blinded the team was Darin’s accident which sidetracked them for a while (which is what the killers wanted). And lastly, the killers’ insane luck played a part. The ritual was both to extend their lives but also take in all the victims’ fortune. Considering that, I get why it was so hard to catch them, it didn’t help that the main perp was also ex cop :/

Another plot hole or weirdness that people mentioned was the Apple Watch not working with King but magically working with Bom. The simple answer is that it was discharged and King kept pressing on the button to try to turn it on but it wasn’t working. Those watches can barely last one full day unless you literally only use it as a watch. When Bom had it, he charged it (likely right at the abandoned mall) and used it to lure the team. As for Singha telling Thup to stay in the car, it actually makes a lot of sense because Thup could drive or run away as he was in an open space leading to the exit and couldn’t be locked inside the building. They didn’t know what they were walking into and didn’t want to risk giving them Thup since Singha was very sure he was the Saturday target. The problem was Thup didn’t listen (understandably since he’s worried), if he had stayed in the car he probably wouldn’t have gotten kidnapped.

Another plot hole people have mentioned was the use of the same crime scene for the new killings. My first watching I thought it was a different abandoned mall with a tree lol. Mainly because the outside of buildings looked similar but had different numbers of floors. The first was 3 stories and the second around 6-7 stories tall (I think). But on my 2nd and 3rd watch, I did realized that it was the same crime scene which makes sense with having to do the process again in the same place since it was interrupted but it means that the team didn’t think to check the original crime scene???
I can only attribute it to them being understaffed and doing everything secretly while the ghosts messed with them. Having the case closed also meant the abandoned mall becoming private property again since the developers wanted it back ASAP (which was the reason for the crazy push to close this case so soon.) I think the team and any logical person would assume that the developers would tighten security but they didn’t :/. In truth, I’m not sure if the production team didn’t have the budget for a second crime scene and try to make it seem like a different one and failed. Or it was just bad plot 😂 I sadly can’t defend this one.

I do have to say that the re-watchability is high on this one and I loved the characters, especially Thup and Singha. Thup is such a flirt, he would focus so hard on Singha at times it made him tongue tied. He would stare into his soul lol, while grilling King. I loved that birth day of the week coin scene because Thup was so possessive. Also, loved the twink top and beefy bottom dynamic, especially because Thup is quite dominant and possessive towards Singha which Singha seems to like 🥰

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This episode felt less like a romance and more like the end of childhood.

The exams are finally over, and everyone is looking forward to spending time together. Kou 1 remains carefree as always, while Kou 2 quietly supports him behind the scenes. Their everyday interactions are simple, warm, and comforting.

Then suddenly, Kou 2 disappears.

What struck me most was not the disappearance itself, but Kou 1's reaction. He keeps looking toward the neighboring house, wondering where Kou 2 went, when he will return, and whether he will return at all.

They have only known each other for a few months, yet his absence leaves a surprisingly large hole in Kou 1's daily life.

The series continues to portray their relationship with remarkable gentleness. Kou 1 admires Kou 2's kindness and maturity, while Kou 2 seems drawn to Kou 1's freedom and sincerity. Little by little, admiration is turning into something deeper.

At the same time, this episode gave me an uneasy feeling. The title is When Oranges Fall, not When Oranges Bloom. It carries the sense that something beautiful may also be temporary.

Perhaps I'm overthinking, but for the first time I found myself wondering whether this story is heading toward a separation rather than a simple happy ending.

The atmosphere, the seaside setting, and the quiet longing between the two boys are all beautifully captured here.

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Why Blossom (2024) Completely Captivated Me!

Blossom (九重紫) was one of the most enjoyable Chinese dramas I have watched in recent years. What initially drew me in was the rebirth storyline, but what kept me invested from beginning to end was the combination of strong writing, memorable characters, and excellent performances from the entire cast. The drama takes a familiar premise and elevates it through intelligent storytelling, emotional depth, and meaningful character development.

Meng Ziyi delivered a fantastic performance as Dou Zhao. She portrayed a woman who had suffered betrayal and heartbreak in her previous life yet remained intelligent, resilient, and determined to change her fate. Dou Zhao never felt like a helpless heroine waiting to be saved. Instead, she was capable, thoughtful, and often several steps ahead of her enemies. Meng Ziyi captured both her strength and vulnerability beautifully.

Li Yunrui was equally impressive as Song Mo. He brought dignity, charisma, and emotional depth to the role. Song Mo could be fierce and intimidating when facing his enemies, but Li Yunrui also showed his softer and more caring side in his scenes with Dou Zhao. The chemistry between the two leads felt natural and mature, built on trust, respect, and shared struggles rather than simple attraction. Their relationship developed gradually and became one of the drama's greatest strengths.

The supporting cast also deserves tremendous praise. One of my favourite characters was Yuan Tong (Ji Yong). He added mystery, wisdom, and emotional complexity to the story. Rather than feeling like a secondary character who existed only to support the leads, Yuan Tong had his own motivations, struggles, and memorable moments. Many of the side characters, whether allies or antagonists, were given enough depth to make the world feel alive and believable.

What impressed me most was the story itself. Blossom is much more than a romance. It combines family drama, political intrigue, revenge, redemption, and personal growth into a compelling narrative. The rebirth element is used effectively, allowing Dou Zhao to confront past mistakes and change the futures of those around her. The plot constantly moves forward with new challenges, conspiracies, and emotional moments, making it difficult to stop watching. The writers did an excellent job balancing the romance with the larger political and family conflicts.

Visually, the drama is beautiful. The costumes, cinematography, and production design create an immersive historical atmosphere. Every scene feels carefully crafted, enhancing both the emotional and dramatic moments. Many scenes between Dou Zhao and Song Mo are particularly stunning and memorable.

Overall, Blossom is a drama that excels in nearly every aspect. It features a gripping story, outstanding performances from Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui, strong supporting characters like Yuan Tong, and a romance that feels earned and heartfelt. For anyone who enjoys historical romance, political intrigue, and strong character development, Blossom is an easy 10/10 recommendation.

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WHERE IS THE CLARITY????

I have never in my life hated and loved a show like this. It's like equilibrium for me because everything about it is so perfect but oh, how I hate unresolved endings. I know that this means there will be another season after this but I just feel ragebaited because there is no certainty with second seasons and there is no telling when or even IF they will be released.

However, and this is a big one - I still think it is worth a watch and this is coming from someone who HATES cliffhangers - seriously, I am an avid Thai BL watcher so I know every ending and every scene that's coming my way. I literally even have the pacing memorised in my head but I decided to try something new this time round and wow did this do the trick!

I had been on a short break from watching BL or any shows for that matter because I was going through a really dark time in my life, so the show I started watching or should I say actually finished watching just so happened to be this and I am glad I picked this to get back into my watching era. Sammy's Children's Day will forever hold a special place in my heart strictly because of how sweet it is. The humour and light tones of the story never take away from the seriousness of the main plot and that is something to appreciate.

The music, the actors, the producers all did a phenomenal job with this. If you have an eye for detail or just an appreciation for good art, this will definitely take your breath away as it did mine. This is not a major spoiler but there is a scene in the show where it transitions from night into day during sunrise time and it is just so beautiful. The change happens at exactly the perfect time and it does not feel to forced. The actors were so natural and the chemistry was off the charts. I do not mean to be superficial when I say this but that's exactly what I am being - an added bonus too is that all the main actors are so HAWT. I actually had to let out a big laugh typing that statement at my big age but it had to be said. The music was perfect and I loved it. Safe to say, I will definitely be adding the songs to my OST playlist.

I know it sounds like I am glorifying this show but there were a few concerns that I had about it such as the adlibs or the dubbing? I am not too sure but it was clear, especially in the first few episodes that the voices were not matching with the way that the actor's lips were moving and that might be an ick for some people watching or not even an ick but rather a minor annoyance. It was noticeable at first but as I started getting engrossed in the plot, I stopped paying attention to it but it's just a disclaimer for future potential watchers.

Another issue I had is not really an issue and more just a personal problem I had. It is that the times or the era in this show is a little confusing to me. I think from the occasional retro feel that it has to it, you can tell that the show is not set in the modern era - it is set in the 1900s? 1800s? I have absolutely no idea because they never explicitly specify it but I think that also has an upside to it because it leaves it up to the viewer's imagination. It was just a bit confusing to me because at times it would feel modern to me like when they were filming a movie in the show and the presence of high tech filming equipment was never explained but at the same time they're still using block phones. I could be wrong though because I am no history expert. Once more, this is literally just a me problem and I just need to be spoon-fed certain information at times.

I did not think I would ramble this much about a show like literally ever but I hope you enjoyed this brutally honest and oddly specific review of one of my now cherished series - Sammy's Children's Day.

Little fun fact - it's called that because He Chu San's English name is Sam, often nicknamed as Sammy and 'Children's Day' is a representative marker of Xia Liu Yi (forgive me if I spelt that wrong) and his identity.

Thank you for reading my review! Please feel free to reply to it in the comments - I would love to chat with other lovers about this show xx

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