Reviews

Why so underrated?

After reading the reviews here I doubted if I would watch it. But boy was I glad I did! The story wasn't shallow, as commented by many of you. On the contrary. Jang UK has a hard time because of what happened and it's only natural that he is aloof and cold. His love for Jin Buyeon grows because she reminds him of Mu Deok. She looks completely different, but has her feisty moments and I don't agree with those who say that she's just a pretty face and cries a lot. She was confused too. The memories that came back didn't seem to be hers. There are a lot of layers here. I didn't find any big plot holes either.

SPOILER ALERT:
Mu Deok actually had 2 souls. It was Buyeon's body, but when Naksu entered her, the soul of Buyeon remained as well. This was possible because Buyeon's mother had used the ice stone to keep her unborn child alive. Thus Buyeon's was the reincarnation of JinSeol Ran the great goddess. The soul of Buyeon's prevented Naksu from getting wild. That only happened because Jin Mu controlled her with a special drink and bells. He had done the same to her father and other opponents.
After Mu Deok killed Jang UK she started to was petrify, so her body could not be repaired. But spirit and soul were still alive. And so was Buyeon's soul. But the body was beyond repair, so master Lee used Naksu's energy to make a new body. With both souls again.
When the council wanted Buyeon to take the ice stone from Jang Uk (which would cause him to die), she refused, because there was one soul changer he had not killed yet (meaning herself). Jin Mu the big badass, wanted use the firebird from Jinyeong to dry up the world, in order to obtain the icestone from rain. They stole the bird and awoke it, so it could wreak havoc upon the world. Jang Uk and Naksu then had difficult choices to make. Only Buyeon had divine powers, so she could stop the chaos. But that would mean Naksu would disappear. Jang Uk could prevent that, but then the chaos would prevail. They both choose to save the world, and (I think because of that, they are rewarded and Naksu returns. She is no longer a soul changer then, because the body was made with her energy and soul.

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Surprised me.

First time I've been out of synch with one of Bijou's reviews. But appreciate the different perspective. 😗. I thought the performances were true to character. I'm at a solid 10.

On the fence with WKM. Not really a hard core fan. But really, is there anything Wang Nan can't do? Both ML characters were bigger than life, although different types of flamboyant unhinged extremes. One was intentional; one was psychotic. If anything, I thought Wang Nan and Wang Kaimu displayed master level craft skills and reigned in their characters making them almost too close to IRL people? Way overwhelming if the rest of the cast hadn't truly supported them. Could go into way too much detail. I found lots to be impressed by.

IMO... This really crosses the boundaries of a big screen production. Locations, sets, wardrobe, etcetera are veritable eye candy. Cast selection and performances are perfection. Would love to see this on a big screen. Saved to rewatch.

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A solid watch. I definitely recommend

I just finished Can This Love Be Translated?, and yeah, this is a solid 9/10 for me.

I’m gonna be real for a second, a lot of the complaints I’ve seen about this drama feel incredibly surface-level. It’s like people walked in expecting a light, spoon-fed romcom and got frustrated when the show asked them to actually sit with its pacing and read between the lines. Not everything is meant to be loud, fast, and immediately gratifying, and this drama definitely isn’t trying to be that.

The pacing? I actually thought it was great. It takes its time, but in a way that lets the emotions settle and the characters feel real instead of rushed. If anything, I wish it had more time. 12 episodes felt a little too short for what it was trying to do. This easily could’ve stretched into 14 or even 16 episodes if they wanted to explore certain moments more deeply.

And the chemistry? Yeah… undeniable. Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung absolutely carried. Their performances weren’t over-the-top; they were controlled and subtle, and honestly more impactful because of it. You could feel everything in the pauses, the glances, the silence.

Also, calling this just a romcom feels… wrong. The Hong Sisters didn’t just write a fluffy romance; they built something way more layered. There’s this really delicate balance between romcom and melodrama, with just a hint of tension running underneath the whole time. It’s soft, but it cuts when it needs to.

At the end of the day, this drama isn’t about big, obvious moments; it’s about nuance. About miscommunication, emotional distance, and the way people try (and fail) to understand each other. If you’re not paying attention, yeah, it might feel slow or underwhelming. But if you are? It hits.

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A Love Worth Fighting For A Story That Broke Me and Healed Me at the Same Time

I just finished watching Love in the Moonlight, and wow… I’m honestly still emotional. This drama is so beautiful and powerful. It really shows the true meaning of love not the easy kind, but the kind you have to fight for.
One thing I loved is how it teaches us to choose ourselves. We don’t always have to live to please others. Sometimes, being strong means standing up for who you are and what you feel, even when it’s hard. The story also shows that loving someone whether it’s a man or a woman is something personal, and no one has the right to judge that.
I’m not going to lie, the father made me really angry at first. The way he reacted was painful to watch. But at the same time, I could understand him. He comes from a different generation where this kind of love wasn’t accepted, so his mindset was shaped by that. It doesn’t make it right, but it makes it real.
What touched me the most is that he changed in the end. He accepted his son and his boyfriend, and that moment was so powerful. It showed that people can grow, and that love can be stronger than fear or judgment.
The characters felt so real, and the emotions were so deep that I actually cried a lot. I’ve never cried like this for a drama before. It wasn’t just sad, it was everything at once.
This drama is not just a love story. It’s about acceptance, courage, and fighting for what truly matters. And honestly… I’ll never forget it.

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A Weird Mix of Good Writing and Terrible Writing

I am really disappointed in this drama it could have been so much better. The mortal sets commonly looked lived in but the heavenly realm looked bare and - well - like they were lying about the amount of people there. It felt low budget when they weren't in the moral world. And the Marriage Pavilion? Where does everyone work exactly usually? I know we get a few scenes of them working but a lot of the time their "workplace" is empty. Where are they working then?

Okay maybe I expect too much fantasy realism and immersivity.

I dropped this a few times but kept coming back to it until now. I just couldn't forget it and the reason is that there are sparks of charm and good writing in this amongst the terrible writing. I was undecided on what to do with this for so long because of it.

STORY
In some parts the writers did a good job. The emotion hits well and the story feels immersive... And then you get slapped in the face by the sometimes fake emotion. Suddenly nothing had any emotional weight or real consequences to the characters. I was left confused and disappointed. I grew to hate a lot of the Heavenly realm scenes because the characters felt bland. It didn't feel lived in and it was like all emotion was an act. And then you'd go back to the mortal realm and it would be almost polar opposite at times.

It started getting good again around episode 26. I don't have much hope for the story after episode 35 though. I think I've seen the peak. I can guess where it's going from spoiler clips and the situation. I don't want to watch anymore.

There's also a plot hole created around episode 30 regarding spiritual power. If you watch it and spot it, you'll get what I mean.

CHARACTERS
Until around episode 26 I thought the FL was annoying. Her character felt inconsistent and whiny. She couldn't do anything herself. She kept trying to pout and act cute... and she looked like an ill-behaved child the parents were ashamed of. The reason I kept dropping this was partially because of her... And then it reached a certain arc and suddenly the character was awesome! Well, at least in comparison. It's a shame it feels like she reverted back after, though.

The ML felt like a cardboard cut out in a lot of the heavenly realm scenes in like the first half of the series. He kept going "Hmmm?" to get people to back off. And then in other scenes and arcs he was a great character.

ACTING & ACTORS
I feel sorry for Yang Chao Yue having been given this kind of whiny character. The only issue is when she tries to cry or talk when crying. A lot of the time it is obviously an act. It's a shame.

There are certain moments where Ding Yu Xi shines but I also think he could have been given a better character.

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I think this is the first drama I didn't like one single thing

Things I loved

1 I thought the premise was good and of course due to the promise and the blurb that it would be romantic, funny, original, full of tropes in a good way, basically a decent rom com. How fool I was.

Things I disliked

1 The 2ML. I didn't like that he fell for the FL. Why? I didn't see a single thing that could make me believe he was in love with her. She didn't do anything that was remotely interesting or smart or anything. Of course, people can fall in love with dull, stupid people in real life, so why not in a drama? You got me there.

Things I hated

1 The outfits of the leads, but especially the FL. What on earth was that? I'm okay with wearing whatever you want, but in a drama, what you wear has to be meaningful. So, I'm curious what was supposed to convey the way she dressed? That she was a 35 years old ready to take the vow? That she had a job that required for her to be dressed as a nun? That she wanted to convey an image of a pure soul? Whatever the heck they wanted to show it irritated me non stop seeing her dressed like a 70 years old grandma.

2 The acting of the FL. Even when she tried she was incapable to convey any feelings. She cried, I didn't care. She laughed same thing. She played the happy in love person, it left me cold. She managed one thing though. Every time she put her hands together in her lap I wanted to scream at her. Kudos for that performance. It was consistent all the way.

3 The ML. I've never seen a more dull, uninteresting, old fashion, boring male lead. I feel bad to trash both leads since they probably are good people and maybe also good actors, but in this drama they failed miserably.

3 The misleading poster, title and blurb. I was expecting a rom com or at least a lighthearted romance. I got two leads who don't know how to act other than boring. A script that had no reason to exist. What was the point of all this? There was no humor, there was no chemistry between the leads, there were dramatic moments that were more laughable and without any development, conflicts without any flavor, and the list goes on.
Honestly after having watched dozens of dramas I cans ay that this one could win the trophy of the most boring hands down. It's unfortunate, but the Koreans don't know anymore how to write a rom com or at least a fluttering romance. Even when they have the premise right, they ruin it with the cast and the directing and of course the plot.
I watch in parallel a Chinese rom com Legally Romance, and the contrast is so big, it hurts. I laugh every other line, my heart fluttered ten times already and I'm only in the fourth episode. The leads have so much talent and chemistry, I just can't get enough of their interactions. Where was all this in this drama? Nowhere.

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Highly rated BL, but the ending is a bit disappointing.

PLOT: Jom, an architect, renovates an old house and stumbles upon strange things. At this time, his lover, returns after two years to announce his marriage (his girlfriend is pregnant). Drunk and desperate, Jom has a car accident and falls into the river. He finds himself in 1920, taken in by Ming, a servant in an aristocratic family. Yai, the son of this family, takes him under his wing as a butler (and as his lover). But being LGBT+ and/or a servant in that era is tough!

+++ Bright and Nonkul are fantastic ლ(´◉❥◉｀ლ): sensitive, subtle, with superb chemistry.
+++ The era is well described, the mentalities, the very harsh living conditions (especially for servants and women).
+++ Flawless execution: not just the sets and costumes—props, jewelry, etc.—but the cinematography with its filter, pacing, alternation of emotions, and suspense maintained until the very end. Kudos!
+++ Excellent OST

### The separation storyline drags.
### Unexpected and unexplained HE. Disappointing!

=> Fantastic actors, but they deserved a well-written story right to the end
***************************************************************
PLOT: Jom, architecte, rénove 1 vieille maison et tombe sur des choses étranges. //t, son lover revient après 2 ans, pr lui annoncer son mariage (fille enceinte). Ivre et malheureux, Jom a 1 accident de voiture et tombe ds la rivière. Il se retrouve en 1920, recueilli par Ming, domestique d'1 famille aristocratique. Yai, fils de cette famille, va le prendre sous son aile, comme majordome (et comme lover). Mais être LGBT+ et/ou domestique à cette époque, c'est dur !

+++ Bright et Nonkul sont fantastiques ლ(´◉❥◉｀ლ) : sensibles, subtiles, avec 1 superbe alchimie.
+++ L'époque est bien décrite, les mentalités, les conditions de vie très dures (en particulier des domestiques, des femmes).
+++ Réalisa° sans défaut : pas seulement les décors et les costumes - accessoires - bijoux - etc. , mais la cinématographie avec un filtre, rythme, alternance des émotions, le suspense maintenu jusqu'au bout. Kudos !
+++ Excellentes OSTs

### Des longueurs dans l'arc narratif de la séparation.
### HE inattendue et inexpliquée. Décevant !

=> 2 acteurs fantastiques, mais qui méritaient une histoire bien écrite jusqu'à la fin.

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It's like the heat is radiating off the screen

In my view, Speed and Love is not unlike those classic dark romance novels from the old days that I'd forgotten about, but nonetheless happy to have received in this format. It's one of those dramas that I didn't know I needed and now that it is in front of me, wouldn't have it any other way.

The story begins with Jiang Mu (Esther Yu) traveling to Thailand for the sole purpose of rediscovering Jin Zhao (He Yu). As children they were inseparable. Though not related by blood, they were a family. But their bond was ripped apart when the adults parted. When they meet again at the present time 10 years later, Jin Zhao is like a stranger, worlds different from the person Jiang Mu looked up to, who had protected her and indulged her like a big brother. He has intangled himself in street racing and underground fights; immersed in a lifestyle she could not have fathomed. But it's obvious he's been living a difficult, empty life, without really feeling and not realizing he's starving for affection. Jiang Mu quickly inserts herself into his life, determined to extract him from his sinister world.

As absurd as the plot is, the execution made all the difference. The characters feel real. The action and racing scenes are well done. There is this melancholy yet romantic atmosphere throughout, and the setting and music enhance this so well. Going in blind I had no idea it was filmed abroad. As someone who has visited Bangkok, I recognize the major landmarks in some scenes, but it's the parts unknown that seamlessly blends in with the story. It's charming in a vintage, nostalgic way.

Jiang Mu's simplicity and cheerful nature gives her a childlike naivete. But she's also thoughtful, and her genuine care is apparent. She makes these unexpected, declarative statements, revealing her unwavering devotion and Jin Zhao's reaction both warms and breaks my heart. In spite of his bad boy image, I don't recall there ever being a moment where he says or does anything remotely mean to her. As their relationship turns romantic, the chemistry rivals those of uninhibited web dramas. The acting, the directing, the cinematography, the music (that beautiful, beautiful OST) all come together to make these scenes electrifying. The pull is so strong I don't even realize I'm so close to the screen at times!

I was concerned the third act of the drama would ruin the experience but I was needlessly worried. There's a flashback in a later episode that reveals Jin Zhao's thought process that explains his decision and it's a story that is both touching and heartbreaking to listen to. The crux of the matter has always been that Jiang Mu is so precious to him that he doesn't feel worthy. So as much as we all hate noble idiocy trope, I felt like it was logical at that point in the story. To me, it's the good kind of angst. And alongside the inevitable heartbreak, this arc gives each an opportunity to grow and become respectable, educated adults with careers and new lives. Usually at this point in dramas, I'd be bored and skip around to get to the end. Instead, the drama remains compelling that I lost sleep because I could not stop myself from consuming episode after episode.

The drama peaked my interest from the promo posters and these photos did not mislead me at all because they perfectly capture the vibe of the drama. I've always liked Esther Yu, while He Yu has to be one of the most talented actors I've ever come across, not to mention, hot as hell. His ability to clearly convey his emotions in any scene has me completely smitten with him, as well as admire him as an actor. I enjoyed watching different looks flash cross his face as Jin Zhao: desire, jealousy, playfulness, rage, heartbreak. It's wild because their chemistry somehow strikes this amazing balance between innocence and delicious sexual tension, like he's going to strike any moment and devour her. And I don't even know why I was worried about the last arc. From start to finish it was absolutely amazing. To me, the feelings evoked by the drama parallels the male lead's journey: at first melancholy, then flirty then downright hot, and in the end completely enamored that it's hard to let go, as if we're experiencing his gradual emotional transformation. I joined late but the hype is valid. This drama will sit up there for me as one of those unique take on the beloved romance genre and remain unforgettable.

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The little child saved the series and the main lead were the extras i wanted to skip

Ep 1 - 10 started to get bored, story is sloppy , the characters gets stupid , the fl especially makes dumb and dumber decisions as the story progresses till ep : 22 since only few eps are left i try to force myself to complete it but couldn't bear to watch it anymore , the Psychiatrists choosing to let the patient hide his trauma and not help but run away from him ( ml is the patient here and fl is the Psychiatrists doctor ) . as for the second leads , i guess they make more sense and seem like real peoples but the mail lead is frustrating , i couldn't like the seconds and extra like ex and ml aunt.

The child is a good addition in the show , he carried the entire series , from the beginning to the end , towards the end as far i have watched ep 22 , he has shown good progress considering its only been few months since he started treatment from our fl.
towards the end even the child loses it compelling nature as i lose interest in the main leads

towards the end from ep 18 i started to skip scenes , i wanted to justify my time of watching till eps 18 , so i just wanted to went through with it and just finish it . but ep 21 and 22 were against me on this and wanted me to be true to myself and save whatever time i can still save and stop myself from this suffering . so i did , i red some review pointing to same thing , ep 21 & 22 being bad and 23 & 24 being better , so if you are also stuck in this eps , maybe give a go and push through those 2 eps , and try to finish it.

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The star of the show goes to Baby Donut.

When it comes to the GL series from Channel 3, I learned that having expectations is not an option. You just need to prepare yourself for whatever they might throw your way. It could be anything - either a weak script, poor execution, inconsistent plots, rushed pace or just an average series. In the case of Play Park, it's the last two.

In my opinion, Play Park is not really good, but not entirely bad either. Out of all Ch3's GL series released so far, I personally think Play Park has better character development. Although the development is not very significant, it's still something worth noting that the whole story has a structure instead of having a bunch of random subplots. At least the plots are cohesive. However, some scenes feel quite rushed and shallow.

Acting-wise, Yada carries this series pretty well even though it’s not her best performance to date. And Tan Duangkaew, starring in her first-ever series, I genuinely don’t think she’s bad at all. She has her own charms, but her acting still needs a lot of work. Being paired with Yada, one of Ch3’s leading ladies known for her versatility and big acting range, it's easy to notice the unmatched acting ability and nitpick the flaws. With more practice, Tan can definitely improve in the future. And I want to give a shoutout to the star of the show, BABY DONUT. He's the scene stealer and you'll just melt every time he appears on screen. So yeah, Donut definitely adds excitement to this series not only with the cuteness, but how natural he acts on camera. People can hate the show, but never come to my N’Donut. I’ll fight you! 😁

Now, the chemistry between Tan and Yada is quite mysterious to me. There are scenes when the spark ignites, but in other scenes, it feels muted and awkward. The inconsistency doesn't help much in elevating the somewhat flat storylines. They should really work on their chemistry given that they’re the only pair out of 4 couples who started off from scratch, unlike the others had known each other prior to being paired for their GL series. I believe that every couple has its own appeal on-screen, and it's not just about executing love scenes.

Overall, Play Park is far from perfect, but at least, it has a story structure. It didn’t turn out super messy. Is it worth watching? It really depends on what you’re looking for in a series. If you want a great story, outstanding performance and explosive chemistry, you won’t get it from this series.

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Another Trauma but so worth it!

Just another Japanese drama, and for some reason, as usua Nana Komatsu plays another traumatic characters, and she is simply brilliant. When I started this movie, I knew I was going to regret it; in fact, I was just sobbing the whole time.
The movie has brilliant story, but it’s sooooo SAD!!!!!. However, apart from being sad, the movie highlights important message which is; how most people treat life so lightly, never appreciating the blessing of being alive and healthy while others have their days numbered. It’s incredibly moving, and as only a Japanese film can, it’s extremely sad but at the same time a brilliant piece of work. I think you should dive into this blindly without watching any trailers or reading anything about it. I would definitely add this to my list of must-watch all-time best Japanese movies because its just brilliant.

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A Visually Stunning Drama with a Few Weak Spots

As a fan of this genre, I love this drama. The cinematography is soooo good, it gives Western series vibes. The lighting, makeup, outfits, angles, action, romance, everything is perfect.
Dilraba and Chen Xingxu are really suitable for this drama. They're so beautiful, and their features look so good together. Their chemistry is also good, and the romance is just perfect for the drama. So I don't get why some people say the drama is too focused on their romance, because it's not. And the way they fall in love is also not out of nowhere. If you go through danger together several times and the other person is also attractive, I think you're bound to have some feelings.
The pace is just right, it doesn't drag on but is also not rushed (except the ending). It makes me feel curious about what happens next and eager to watch the next episode.
I really like their fight in the earlier episodes. That was so hot. And I love their villains, Aunt Lin and Xiong Hei. Aunt Lin really gives you an eerie feeling while also being gorgeous at the same time.
This drama isn't without flaws. The good guy side seems useless, especially compared to the villain side. Some people who read the novel said that in the novel they're not that useless. And some things aren't explained clearly in the drama, but I can get past that since they don't really impact the drama overall. I can still enjoy it. Probably because they have to fit everything into 32 episodes.
The CGI could be better for the monster. Then the final battle feels rushed, I kinda expected more.
It's still very enjoyable to watch.

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A Very Thin Line of Good and Bad

I placed a spoiler alert at the end of this review.

This was a very riveting movie. Don’t let the running time scary you because this is very fast paced. It never felt like it dragged on.

The positive: The script did a very good job luring your attention in the beginning, setting up the story details, and introducing the main characters. It also did a great job connecting multiple elements and characters together. The entire cast did an incredible job with their roles. The production team did an outstanding job with the cinematography, special effects, and FX make-up.

The negative: The script could have spent a little more time with the group’s relationship development. It also randomly introduced characters with now explanation. There is also a few side storyline that you don’t get much information about.

The in-between: Some people may find the ending unsatisfactory. It has a few loose ends and lacks some logic with a few events.



******Potential Spoiler Alert******

This does not necessarily have a happy ending because it is ambiguous and bittersweet. For me, it was not terrible and may indicate the price one pays for revenge.

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One of the best slow burn love drama ✨✨?

This drama is an absolute breath of fresh air and has officially secured a spot as one of my favorite modern C-dramas, right alongside Love Between the Lines. From the very first episode, the production value is striking; every location, from the female lead’s charming house to the cozy, aesthetic cafes, feels intentionally curated and visually stunning. The cinematography captures a dreamlike quality that makes the setting feel like a character of its own.

The casting is equally brilliant. The female lead is breathtaking—I genuinely gasped at her visuals when she first appeared on screen—and her wardrobe is a fashion lover's dream, filled with elegant and trendy pieces. Beyond her looks, her chemistry with the male lead is top-tier. Speaking of the ML, he is the ultimate "green flag" character; his acting is nuanced and layered, portraying a supportive partner who communicates rather than creates drama. One of the most refreshing aspects of this series is the lack of toxic tropes; there are no exhausting, long-winded arguments or petty misunderstandings that drag on for episodes.

The supporting cast adds so much heart and humor to the story. The friendship between the ML and the second male lead provides some of the funniest moments in the show, while the second female lead is a standout for her bravery, strength, and unwavering loyalty to her friend(FL). Even the secondary high school couple is incredibly endearing, adding a sweet "puppy love" layer to the plot. Finally, the OST is the perfect finishing touch—it’s nostalgic, emotive, and carries a similar magic to the music in Love Between the Lines. If you’re looking for a "perfect" watch that balances beauty, maturity, and heartwarming romance, this is it. Totally recommend 💕💕💕

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