Reviews

Jun Jiuling!!!

The female protagonist,Jun Jiuling is very individual,confident,daring,responsible and brave woman.She has the courage and self confidence to face any situations and problems that occur in her life.What I liked the most about her is her responsibility as a princess.This is my second drama of Peng Xiaoran after Goodbye My princess,so I already how good she acts.She was perfectly cast.
My most favourite role in this drama is Zhu Zhan,the male lead,played by Jin Han.He is a very excellent actor and he instantly became one of my favourite Chinese actors.He was excellent in emoting every expression on screen.
Zhou Zhan,Wang Youshuo as the other male leads were respectively good.
The last male lead,Du Yafei played a role with negative shades and acted well.
This drama mainly focuses on Jiuling and her revenge on her uncle for her father's death.
What i liked here is the unconditional support of the male protagonist towards the female lead and how he was always there for her in her troubled times and his unconditional love towards her.
A hidden gem which really needs to be explored indeed!!

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Based off my personal rating criteria specifically made for BLs

1. Characters 9/10
+ They made Lee Hyun into such a bright and adorable cinnamon bun while still actually giving him depth
- I personally do not like the character of Maru. Partly because there are 3 couples in this show, I feel that Maru did not get enough time to give him the redemption the writers may have wanted. I feel that to the very end, I was not a fan of him
- Ultimately, most of the characters suffer from a lack of characterisation due to the large cast and time constraints

2. Shipability 10/10
+ Personally, I love everything about the Juhyuk and TA couple. I feel that it was a fairly interesting and accurate representation of how some relationships happen. I was on board for the way Juhyuk knew exactly how to hook the TA and everything about their dynamic
+ I like that they showed Kim An as broken as had Lee Hyun be the person who taught him to smile again. I really think personality-wise, the 2 characters are perfect for each other

3. Plot 9/10
- I really don't like how the toxic guy (Kim An's "brother") just left without much resolution
+ But I do concede that the portrayal of the toxic relationships with all the gaslighting and love bombing was very impressive

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Based off my personal rating criteria specifically made for BLs

1. Characters 10/10
+ The characters felt like real people who could exist
+ They made Baram into such a likeable cinnamon bun. It become really easily to make a dislikable character if one is too passive and soft but I feel like they made Baram into the perfect balance of agency while still being vulnerable
+ I like the consistency they gave to Hantae where he truly runs head-first into everything. And showing that there are both pros and cons to this behaviour is extremely realistic

2. Shipabaility 10/10
+ I really enjoyed how they became friends. Sometimes when you're sad, you really do just need someone to barge into your life regardless of what you want at that point. I feel like their relationship perfectly encapsulated this idea
+ Their dynamic is really comfortable and the fact that they showed us them living together from the start is really a plus
+ I think the show did a fantastic job at showing us from beginning to end the sheer amount of love and trust they have for each other

3. Plot 9/10
- I feel like the argument that occurred before they got together lasted longer than I'd like and edged on annoying

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The success story of a woman who lost her purpose of life

Things you should know first:
-This is season 2 of a show that only has a similar plot to this one. And other than the protagonist of the last season appearing in one episode, (and spoiler alert, turning out to be a key element of the story), the shows don't have any connections to each other. The endings are very different and so are the premises, most importantly, the protagonist. And while I will include some comparisons of the show, because of reasons I will state alongside, I won't go too deep into the first season, as it is a review of just the 2nd season.

- I WILL INCLUDE SPOILERS, so be FOREWARNED.

- Last thing, this might be long, but bear with me.

Plot: 10/10
Hino Misaki is an aspiring manga artist and housewife. Why is she both? Well, because she went to her (then future) editor of a successful manga husband before the course of the show to consult with him about her manga manuscript but (unfortunately), they ended up getting romantically involved, which resulted in Misaki conceiving Yuuto, her only son.

One shotgun wedding and 4-5 years later, Misaki is now a housewife, living with her apparently happy family, forced by her husband and in-laws to give up on her dream. I have to mention, that I watched the spin-off episode 0's series, where Misaki reveals, that while she had to give up on her dream, she truly was happy living as a housewife. Her kid was the purpose of her life, and when you're a mother, you can never not think about your household and child, even when you're on your break. So this setup is a bit different from the first season, where the protagonist didn't already have a kid, but went through a miscarriage.

But since the title is "socially killing your husband", the husband is the bad guy and causes Misaki to walk down a dark path. How so? By doing what husbands/boyfriends in most Jdramas do! Yes, having an affair. And since this was a shotgun wedding, it was revealed that he never really loved Misaki, and loved the other woman the whole time. And that affair causes the eventual death of Yuuto/Yuu-chan (because he's allergic to gluten) at the beginning of the season. Don't worry, I won't spoil EVERYTHING for you. But to be a bit linear with this review, I'm saying some of the details beforehand.

And after her son dies, Misaki contemplates suicide. But soon gets video messages from the anonymous "Kamen/Mask-san", who tells her to take revenge instead. And man, that was the best thing ever. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED seeing Misaki torturing the douchebag who she unfortunately had to call her husband. She not only gets the most satisfying revenge, but she also wins the best newcomer award for her manga. Not half bad if you ask me.

Cast/acting: 10/10
The lead, Takanashi Rin, who I'm a big fan of, did an incredible job. Right from the moment I learned that she was doing this show, I knew it was gonna be fantastic. Because she is so good playing every type of character, be it the clumsy lead in a rom-com or a vengeful, angry, badass character in a story like this one. Not to discredit Baba Fumika, maybe that was the writing/directing/ behind the scenes issues of the last season. But Rin's character was handled much better than Fumika's character. So if the 2nd season was meant to be a do-over from the production team, then mission accomplished! And the other characters were also good, seeing 2 amazing toku heroines (Kudo Haruka and Rin) as sisters, was one of the biggest treats of this show. Season 1 did this Toku sister/almost sister relationship too, with Fumika and Mori Kanna, which I also LOVED to see.
Crazy coincidence, as last season featured Baba Fumika from KR Drive, this one featured Inaba Yu from KR Drive. I was hoping there'd be interactions between the characters, but oh well. It was a fun treat for toku fans, nonetheless. Thank God, we saw at least one GOOD Toku collaboration in 2024.
I haven't seen Yanagi Shuntaro in many things, but he successfully made me hate him 1000%. So there's nothing wrong there. Yuu-chan, I wish he didn't have to die. Just cute enough to break my heart.

Music: 10/10
Winter Jdrama at the beginning of the year. 2023, 2024- 2 completely different kind of Jdramas, with a few things in common. Featured Takanashi Rin as the lead, and ending songs sung by Natumi(pronounced "Natsumi", apparently). Yes, this is random, but I just wanted to mention this somewhere that coincidences like this happen. Both songs, as different as the were, were wonderful, by the way.
This show's ending, "Kuruwase" was perfect, with sweet and creepy vocals, matched with crazy music.

Rewatch: 7/10
I rarely rewatch dramas, but if I were to say which Jdramas I would consider rewatching, then this would be pretty high up on my list.

Overall: 9.5/10
Recommended? As you've guessed by now, YES. Treat for Toku fans, and Jdramas fans who are looking for a bit of revenge to spice up their day. If you're thinking, if this is as bad/good as season 1, then I can guarantee you, it is certainly better on so many levels. The plot, acting, characters, everything.

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Based off my personal rating criteria specifically made for BLs

1. Characters 9/10
- I feel that for short series such as these, it is obligatory for me to acknowledge the lack of time for characterisation
+ However, I feel that this was thoroughly overcome by the amazing job they did in making every frame count. So much characterisation was achieved without dialogue that it felt like I did know the characters at the end

2. Shipability 10/10
+ I typically do not enjoy enemies to lovers but even in their initial fighting stage, the attraction and tension could be felt
+ The on-screen chemistry really felt impeccable. Every time they were together it truly felt like I was looking at 2 people in love

3. Plot 9/10
- I did not particularly enjoy the misunderstanding troupe that occurred during the dinner stage
+ I do feel that they did a fantastic job weaving in the flashbacks in a manner that gave us information when we needed it but always making us curious to know more
+ I also enjoyed how they made the idea of Dohyun being Dongwook's insomnia cure work. I feel that if they had made this a soulmate kind of scenario it would have needed a lot of explaining. The lack of explanation actually helped in moving the story along in a more natural manner.

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Thrilling and suspenseful enough!

The movie starts with Zheng wei,played by Greg Hsu,meeting Joanna,played by Janine Chang on the charges of investigating a murder case involving her and her ex lover.
Though it is shot in a locked room with serious discussions between Greg Hsu and Janine Chang,the twists are mind blowing.
The plot is very intriguing and the screenplay also makes us stick to our seats till the end.
The ost was perfect for each and every scene.
The finale revelation of the villain really leaves us astonished.The pace is also good.
Greg Hsu is one amazing actor I found through this movie.
Janine Chang is one actress with both beauty and talent.Both of them were perfect in their roles.
Everything else was also equally good.
Watch this movie if you want to watch a perfect crime thriller.Highly recommended.?

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Epid and tragic tale

Bai Qian and Ye Hua aka chronic gatekeepers of vital information and their true feelings for one another. Ye Hua – King of gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss ? Also… justice for my man Mo Yuan ?✊?.

Well… I finished this show. I understand why it is considered a classic. It’s an epic tale of a fated yet heartbreaking love. I thoroughly enjoyed it despite skipping through some parts I didn’t care about (the Winged Tribe lmao). Ye Hua is a male lead that I loved and hated if I’m being honest. This man never properly communicated with Su Su/Bai Qian, which was so annoying. He also forced himself onto her several time, which is… not great.

My girl Su Su/BQ went through so much pain in this show, and it really pissed me off how her pain was constantly invalidated and how her person was vilified. The Heavenly Tribe is one pretentious, hypocritical and annoying tribe. Ye Hua’s mother is on my hit list because she had the audacity to downplay my Qian Qian’s pain as if didn’t matter at all. As if didn’t matter how badly they treated her when she was a mortal, and how she lost her eyes simply because she was falsely accused (this made no sense: how would she 1) know where the Immortal Execution Platform even is? She was always locked away. 2) She was pregnant, ready to give birth. Why would she start beef with that witch Su Jin and push her down the platform? How would she, as a mortal, have the strength to fight the immortal SJ? Made no sense, and everyone lowkey knew. But they regarded her as less because she was a human.). Even when they found out that she was Su Su, they didn’t feel bad for their physical and emotional mistreatment and abuse. No, they feared that she might harm their darling Crown Prince. Always seen as the bad woman. The disrespect the Heavenly Tribe showed Green Hill will always piss me off.

I’m also so sad that my babes Dong Hua and Feng Jiu didn’t have a happy end ☹. I will have to watch their spin-off to cleanse my soul because their conclusion was so upsetting.

Another upsetting thing is the fact that we did not get a wedding?? I mean, yay, Ye Hua is back from sleeping, but give me the wedding you’ve been talking about for the last 30 episodes???… oh well.

The OST is iconic, I absolutely love it. Anyway, this was a rollercoaster of emotions: I laughed, I cried, and I yelled (anger and surprise because Ye Hua might have been a 70.000-year-old virgin when he fell in love with Su Su, but he was one horny Prince!). I can see myself rewatching certain scenes, but might have to skip the sad (and annoying) stuff... farewell peach blossoms??.

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A light hearted drama

Firstly the story starts off with Xu Hong dou,the female protagonist,being depressed with the demise of her best friend and then decides to go on a trip to Yunnan, where she makes new friends and her life changes forever.
What attracted me the most in this drama is it's cinematography.The locales were scenic,very relaxing and pleasing to the eyes!!
Liu Yifei as Xu Hong Dou is apt for the role.
Li Xian as the male lead was good in his acting.All their friends were good.
The friendship development between all of them was nice .
This drama also teaches us to never lose hope in life,also find your place of peace and happiness and always follow your heart.
Particularly I liked the character of Granny Xie and her bonding with her grandson Xie Zhi Yao.
The music and background also are nice.
Overall a worth watching drama.Watch it for a relaxing change in your busy life.

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High School Romance (reminder there is an extra scene of them after so don't end the movie)

Our Secret Diary was probably one of the best Japanese romance movies I've ever watched before, the story was so good on how he thought it was Matsumoto when it was Kuroda, it was so cute when Setoyama realized it was Kuroda after the karaoke bar while they were walking she said something to motivate him which was what he saw in the desk but he didn't want to end it because he loved talking to her though a notebook he gave to he and it absolutely so cute when they were studying in the classroom and Kuroda said she wished the best for him and Matsumoto and he kissed which was SUPER DUPER CUTE!!!!!!!!!! and when she confessed that she wasn't Matsumoto he ran to her and confessed he liked her. But then he realized he was on air and everyone could hear him and they ended up being together and DON'T FORGET TO WATCH ALL THE WAY TO THE END BECAUSE THERE'S A SCENE WITH BOTH OF THEM WHEN THEY'RE OLDER. I super duper recommend this movie for you people to watch.

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Great acting but not gripping enough characters.

Hide is a story about Na Moon Young (Lee Bo Young) whose husband Cha Sung Jae (Lee Moo Saeng), goes missing and discovered to have died in this horrible car crash, leaving his family face the consequences of his actions. But is he really dead? The more Moon Young investigates to her husband's past, the more conflicting stories surface, leaving her unsure of whom to trust.

Mixed thoughts on this drama. The first two episodes set up a good momentum; it was fast-paced and intriguing to find many suspicious characters. It’s hard to trust anyone besides Moon Young. It was nice to see Moon Young being a strong character who fights back with her smart and cheeky moves, that led towards few satisfying winning for her early on.

It was thrilling enough to watch until it wasn't. With more twists that lead to more questions than clear answers, I felt it's turning into a drag build up towards the endgame. I'm tired with the plot and I'm tired with everything that happens around the husband, and it really didn't help with him being coward and selfish. Had his characters been more captivating, I might be less bored. At this point, I just hope it ends with a clear conclusion.

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One sided love

Honestly this movie was one of the best japanese movies I've ever watched and the way he wanted do the one sided love game with her was so cute. It was so cute how he was her stalker and he played the game to get closer with her,I honestly believe this is such an amazing movie because both actors really fit into the charaters personality and how they both experienced one sided love. I was honestly so cute how he cofessed how he was her stalker at the end and a few scenes showed up with him admiring her. I honestly believe this is an amazing hogh school romance movie.

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Relax with two handsomes goin on a trip to El Nido

You're probably here from Love Tractor but apart from the actors and the natural scenery, the shows aren't related so don't come here expecting BL nor to ship the actors because they're acting more like themselves and as the brofriends they are.

This is a relaxing variety show with many memorable moments, some funny, some exciting but mostly relaxing.
Lalala Day by Noiz as the main soundtrack was an excellent choice worthy of being saved on your playlist just like the main songs of Love Tractor.

The charming and extrovert Do Jin makes the perfect duo with the shy and introvert Do Won.
I'm definitely gonna miss these guys haggling, connecting with the locals, just having fun and specially the cockroaches making Do Won run for his life.

The editing isn't very polished which is actually a blessing when we consider Korean editing is generally repetitive and full of distracting texts.
Just wish that for a next season the staff leave the guys more free to vlog around and be comfortable with each other without so many cameras around them.

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A well-structured, controversial dark romance.

This is one of the dark-concept GL movies I found interesting. It reminds me of Black Swan and Thelma. The epilogue is rather bizarre, but it managed to pull the audience's attention right away. The moment it started, you knew that it was going to be full of angst, so brace yourself.

The main characters, Phoenix and Jade, are two women from different backgrounds. Phoenix is an openly gay artist who lives a free-spirited life, while Jade is a prosecutor and a Catholic fundamentalist. While Phoenix is keen to pursue a relationship with Jade, it’s not exactly possible. Then there’s Meng Ye, an androgynous man. Though this movie centers on the love triangle between them, there is no romance whatsoever in this movie. Only desire and pain.

This movie has an extensive theme that ranges from jealousy, possessiveness, sexual acceptance, one’s insecurity, and unhealthy conceptions of power and sex. It also explores the analogy between sex and gender. While the theme and the storylines are quite controversial and provocative, the director handles them brilliantly and conveys them through skillful cinematography.

In my opinion, ‘Wrath of Desire’ is not a perfect movie, and it may not be everyone’s cup of tea due to the taboo and dark elements it touches on, like BDSM, self-harm, cheating, grooming, and sex abuse, but it's a well-structured movie. It's a nice blending of reality, fantasy, emotions, and desire into a tragedy-packed story. If you like dark romance or something melodramatic, and if you can handle the triggers mentioned, it’s something to watch.

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