Reviews

From a non-fan of zombie series

As the title of my review suggests, I'm not particularly fond of zombie stories, the classic group of survivors in an apocalyptic setting, or excessive gore as entertainment; yet, the series had me glued to the screen and I devoured it in two days!
I started it primarily because I love dark atmospheres and mystery. Plus, the killer factor piqued my interest, and I'm glad I did, regardless of the rather low rating.

What worked for me was the originality of this extraterrestrial entity that feeds on the grudges, traumas, fears and evil inherent in every human being.
Dark Hole covers a wide range of genres: we have sci-fi, horror, thriller, action, and drama. I'm not saying it was perfect, and I understand some might find it "too much," but for me it worked well, keeping the suspense high until the end without ever boring me.
As often happens in similar series, there are many characters with their own subplots but I appreciated that almost all of them were connected in some way, as if they were pieces of a mosaic and are revealed to us little by little until the last episodes.

The cast is excellent, I only have two complaints: one about the older police officer, whose performance I sometimes found a bit excessive/caricatured (even with his lines out of place in the serious context, and here the actor is not to blame) and the other about FL who, although charismatic and perfectly suited to the action scenes, seemed "odd" when some emotional depth was required (especially her intonation, it was as if she were reading the script aloud). I definitely preferred her stoic imperturbability. However, this is the first time I've seen this actress and I'm curious about her other works.

I lowered my overall rating a bit because of the final episode, which I won't say was bad, but it was slightly disappointing compared to the expectations built up for the series.
The CGI of the monster wasn't much to my taste; I preferred it when only the tentacle was visible. Choosing to show it in full length seemed ridiculous, and the way it was defeated also seemed a bit stupid, but that's a matter of personal taste.
The time jump, with the return to normality where everyone is smiling and happy, and the hint of a future romance between the protagonists, I found a "soap" for the viewers that I would have gladly done without; again, it's purely a matter of personal taste.
The final scene after the credits, however, is typical of horror films. Even if it doesn't answer the "why," I don't think there's room for a second season, and I'm fine with that; I don't consider it a cliffhanger.

In conclusion, it's a series that manages to entertain well, even if it's not perfect. It's perhaps not suitable for those who want everything explained in detail, but it can be very entertaining for those who "enjoy the journey more than the destination." It's worth a try even if you're not a fan of the genre, because it has different and captivating elements. And for those who are afraid of seeing gory scenes, I'd say it doesn't feature excessive violence; there's plenty of blurring of wounds and blood.

-These are my thoughts which I translated with Google Translate, I apologize for any mistakes but English is not my native language.-

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Hindi nakakainis.

Sa totoo lang madalas naiinis ako sa mga Filipino na palabas kumbaga lagi ako natatangahan kasi naman sobrang gagaling ng mga writers natin pero yung mga palabas puro ginagawa tayong mukhang tanga sa angle, galaw, linyahan, paligid, lahat nalang. Isa rin din siguro ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit madaming katangahan na desisyon ang mga Filipino. Walang magandang impluwensya kaya sige okay lang kahit tanga ang maging desisyon. Isa ito sa mga palabas na hindi ako nainis. Babae ang bida tapos hindi siya ginawang tanga. Pinakita na mayroon pantay na lakas ang mga babae sa lalaki. Pinakita ang lakas ng isang Filipina, hehe.

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A Gem of a Trio in the Wuxia World

Not gonna lie, this drama delivers some of the best fight scenes I've ever seen in a Chinese drama. The dynamic between Zhan Zhao, Ling Long, and Bai Yutang is an absolute gem and one of the show's biggest strengths. Once again, this drama proved that Yang Yang's face card is absolutely undefeated in the C-drama world. Now I'm craving a romance drama starring Yang Yang and Zhang Ruonan as they would look amazing together.

I wasn't a fan of the ending, and I can see why the lack of romance made it less popular with the general audience. I scored the story a bit lower because the ending lacked the closure it deserved. It probably won't make it onto my rewatch list, but it definitely left me with a serious post-drama effect. The fight scenes were so good that they've completely raised my standards. Now, whenever I watch another wuxia or historical drama, the action scenes feel pale in comparison.

This show definitely caters to a more specific group of viewers, but if you pass on it, you're missing one of the greatest wuxia dramas ever made.

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something i noticed

yk the ICT girl yeah, she genuniely smashes the keyboard and presses enter in every single episode that it gets annoying because of how unrealistic it is, esp in episode 10 aorund 12:08 like you cant tell me that was typing LMFAOO. from episode one to episode 10 its honestly quite boring, to the point i dropped it for like a year until getting back on it. after episode 11 it starts to be extremely interesting idk if the cast just locked in cuz the plot is amazing, had me up until late at night to watch it. if ur someone who notices little things like these and gets annoyed i recommend to skip half of it or just binge watch while doing something else so you too wont get frustrated, overall solid drama.

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kinda regret spending my time on this

started watching this series expecting it to be really bad judging by all these reviews.. oh they were right
the only good thing about “tide of love” was probably the handsome actors
aside from that everything was terrible

the acting: i feel like we have to blame the director or smn else for that but not the actors cause i just KNOW they could’ve done better.. their acting was so unrealistic and unconvincing. they always looked like they were trying not to burst into laughter

the plot: there is not much to say about the plot because it simply is almost nonexistent. “tide of love” was supposed to be a korean version of “50 shades of grey” (i guess?) but it turned out to be some “50 loaves of bread” type of series because i just can’t understand why they were ALWAYS eating bread likee Jaehun is rich but the only food he has at home is bread? and they mentioned bread in their conversations really often

um anyway a short summary of the plot: haejun (a student) signs a contract with jaehun (his professor) and according to this contract he has to do everything his professor says? i don’t really remember but yeah and there is also this girl, let’s call her The apple girl, which is in love with haejun and tries to confess to him but jaehun gets jealous and doesn’t let her interact with his cookie. so boring and so cliche, i mean cliche is not a bad thing if it’s executed properly… but it is not executed properly here

the characters: there were only 3 characters btw and all of them are bland and unsympathetic.
haejun grunting and whimpering like he is in pain from every touch and jaehun looking like he belongs to mental ward. and the apple girl just being here.

there is also one particular thing i want to talk about and it’s the amount of mistakes and scenes that were probably supposed to be cut out but they couldn’t care less. like the plant moving by itself and the lav mic being visible and most importantly the sound not matching the character’s mouth movements.

at least i got a good laugh i guess…

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Enjoyed watching it!

I had a great time watching the series. At first, I was hesitant to watch because of the negative reviews but I realized, most often than not, it's better to judge the series on your own than be swayed by the negative reviews.
The story was very interesting despite what others claim that it's full of cliches. There were many cute and funny moments. There were scenes that made me feel really good and happy. I was able to reflect and be grateful for the little blessings in life. I love the acting of the actors, very natural. The main couple definitely had chemistry. Overall, a great watch and, of course, a rewatchable series.

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EP 1. A STRONG TAKEOFF FOR A DOG AND A PLANE,ONE EPISODE IN, AND I'M ALREADY HOOKED.

Just one episode in and I'm already on edge waiting for the next one.

TayNew's undeniable chemistry is simply unmatched. Their interactions feel effortless, making every scene enjoyable to watch. The comedy is natural, never forced, and the humor lands without feeling cringe.

And can we talk about the rescue gang? They ate. Every time they appeared on screen, they had me laughing. Their chemistry, timing, and chaotic energy made the episode even more enjoyable.

The pacing keeps you engaged from start to finish, the editing is sharp, and the dialogue flows smoothly. On top of that, the acting is spot on, bringing the characters to life in a way that feels genuine and entertaining.

If the first episode is anything to go by, A Dog and a Plane is shaping up to be something truly special.

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doubt the doubt

almost halfway through the year and this is my favourite 2026 drama to date. the current rating here on MDL is probably a combination of factors: perhaps some surprise from new Tian Xiwei fans expecting a certain genre and screentime (this was filmed well before the release of Pursuit of Jade), some viewers not appreciating the plethora of uncles because the cast does skew a bit older and male, and the offbeat dark humor not hitting for everyone. note though that the opening Douban rating is one of the highest for the year so far at an 8.0, since rising to 8.1.

our main character (Zhang Yi'ang played by Wang Xiao) is a middle-aged policeman who left a precinct under a cloud and is now basically a meme. he and his capable junior (Li Qian played by Tian Xiwei) are transferred back under yet another cloud from his new precinct and assigned to solve the case of a murdered senior colleague. along the way, they meet gangsters, corrupt officials, smugglers, petty thieves and many other undesirable characters, often solving cases through pure dumb luck.

this drama really is an entertaining little gem. the story is well thought-out and narratively sound. the music (when it's not repurposed classics, which is a bit odd and jarring) is perfect and surprisingly deep philosophically (okay, bunny bunny bunny isn't deep but the others are), and the pace never drags long enough to be problematic.

its real strength is the characterisation. the actors are a mixed bunch. some are old hands, some comedy team veterans, a few unknowns, and at least one rapper, while Tian Xiwei sits in her own category here as more of a popular traffic actor who provides a grounded, slightly sly energy in one of the few female roles.

being an ensemble cast, it's difficult to call out specific performances but a few standouts:

- Song Yuhe as Fang Chao: as a relatively unknown actor in these streets, I found him compelling and would love to see more of his work. he elevated a petty thief into a surprisingly intelligent, never-say-die master of disguise and yet still managed to be hilariously stupid without feeling disjointed.

- Dong Baoshi (Gem) as Lu Yibo: takes a terrified weak-man caricature that could easily have been little more than the butt of uncomfortable jokes and brings us someone that we could actually support, probably against our better judgment. another actor (rapper) I'd be happy to see more of.

-Wang Xiao as Zhang Yi'ang: having never seen this veteran do comedy before, I appreciated his dry, well-timed dialogue and tendency to project a confidence and knowledge he did not possess. it played well into the actor's uncanny ability to say one thing while silently displaying his internal thoughts to the contrary.

ask me about almost any character and I can write a paragraph explaining everything about them, from their motivations to their petty dislikes. it's such supremely rich writing and truly elevates this from a simple dark comedy.

my recommendation: if you want something a little different to the usual cute idol/bleak crime drama, doubt the doubt of the rating, anticipate the anticipation, and buckle into your sputtering 1990s hatchback for the ride.

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Surprisingly good shorter drama

This little show is a surprisingly good watch. It engaged me a lot more than most other shows of this length. Even with the shorter runtime, it manages to tell a fairly complete story and build up characters I care about without being too disjointed.

I rather like the FL. Forced into the position of emperor, she is at first is a bit uncertain and out of place. But actually she has quite a backbone and a good heart too. I think this character is built up well to make me empathize with her, understand where she’s coming from, and then feel really proud of her when she pulls something off. Some of her actions made me actually clap out loud for her.

Partway through, the FL makes a somewhat abrupt transition to being assertive, badass, and the head of her own schemes. The dynamic after this is still fun to watch and I still clapped for her, but it made me less gleeful than the underdog feel of the first part.

The ML is one of those typical MLs who seems ruthless and cruel but is actually a good person underneath. It’s not that unique but he does it as well as any. Supposedly he has done actual bad things in the past, but we don’t get any specifics. He maintains a kind of lethal aura throughout the show, though.

Their romance is not so much enemies to lovers, as it is enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers again. This because they have a falling out in the middle which I think is pretty well done- I can see why it happened, and the characters recognize it for what it is too. In their inimical phases, I found the tension between the two leads to be smoking... even I, a non-romance fan, was holding my breath. It’s a power couple having power struggles, full of a deadly push and pull.

However, I think developing the relationship into lovers is not that well done. It feels rather abrupt, especially the first time around. A longer drama might have built it up properly to show what they like about each other and them falling for each other.

The villain is pretty obvious from the start. But he is powerful, so taking him down isn’t easy. I was pretty satisfied with this villain because he is easy to hate and I didn’t feel sorry for him, though I feel we missed some pieces of his backstory and motivations. It’s also not really clear where his power comes from (eg rather than seeing his factions exert influence or him executing deadly schemes, we just see him threaten to choke the emperor a few times), but whatever, details.

The plot covers several story arcs with minor enemies along the way and the ultimate villain as a common thread. Some of the story arcs have tones of female empowerment, showing women struggling against an unfair system and our emperor doing her best to stand up for them. There are a few splashes of humor throughout, dying down as the show goes on. I found the plot interesting, engaging, and the right level of complication.

The feel and tone of this show relies heavily on an aura of gravitas. You can see it in the cinematography style and the way slow-motion, music, and so on are used. As a side note, I liked that the slow motion is not used to play up the romance like so many other shows, but instead to make people look commanding and powerful.

So for the acting, the two leads and the villain all manage the gravitas really well. I didn’t question that they were badass. But it was also a bit overdone at times, because there was maybe too much slow talking with long pauses and too many slow and dramatic movements. Especially the FL- I think she should have talked more naturally most of the time, and saved the dramatic style for her biggest moments of authority.

There are also plenty of supporting actors and extras, more so than a lot of the shorter dramas I watched. It makes the show feel more complete and engaging.

The fighting is decent, especially for a show of this length. The costumes and styling are alright- some faces are a bit too heavily made up (and FL does not look male at all) but it’s not as bad as some other shorter dramas I’ve watched. I also liked the music, which leans more towards power songs than e.g. soft and slow love ballads. The BGM is quite good and used well for effect. I counted two OST songs (but one of them I only heard once), I liked both and thought they are also used well.

Overall, I think this is a good show for the length. I would even rewatch it- I think there are a few more things I could pick up now that I know what’s going on, and it doesn’t take too much time to watch. Of course, there are still a few aspects that could have used more development, while the show spends a lot of runtime instead on people talking and moving slowly and dramatically. I would be more ok with the “wasted” time if the show were longer, and I think this could have a been a good full-length show.

EXCEPT for the ending- if I got that ending at the end of 40 full length episodes, I might have flipped out. I would have given this show a higher score except for that ending.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





This ending is bittersweet to sad.

The ML basically makes the FL execute him. It is framed as some sort of sacrifice to protect her and their greater cause. A year later we can see the FL has taken control of her court, also seems to have found her own peace and acceptance, so that’s the sweet part of the bittersweet.

Honestly, I was kind of pissed. Realism is nice, but they totally could have pulled off a happier ending without too many leaps of logic. She is the emperor- it should have been possible to save him. They only put this sad ending to add a poignant, lingering, bittersweet feel.

But even this “big sacrifice” of his isn’t the selfless act it’s made out to be. She said herself that he should consult her and they can come up with something together, but he disregards all that. Not only does he leave her ignorant of her birthright- which I think she deserves to know- but he also leaves her all alone to shoulder the burdens of ruling and deal with grief and loss by herself.

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"can't you just be romantic for 5 minutes?"

this show is a hard watch. obviously it's visually beautiful, it has some of the best cinematography i've seen from the genre in a while in fact, but that's almost everything it has going for it. that, and that half of domundi is in this, which makes it even more difficult for dmd fans to understand that this is *not* a dmd show. it was produced by copyA bangkok. that dmd mega-cast and the cinematography are really the only good things, apart from the sets, location choices, styling etc. (except for the visibly peeling fake tattoos on yim. i don't have anything to say about that. MUA, go sit in the corner and think about what you've done.)

the "comedic" pacing feels like trying to watch a regular show with a gacha game split screen screaming at you at the same time. every time things start to get serious or a moment starts to have a tiny bit of depth, it's interrupted by unfunny sound effects (i know they're common in thai shows, i'm familiar with it and they usually don't bother me one bit. but the way they're used in this show is just too much, too frequently) immature sex jokes, or something else equally painful to watch. it begins to feel like the show cannot stand to have a single sincere moment without constantly trying to use twitch streamer tactics to hold onto a tiktok-fried attention span. it is genuinely unbearable. there's a moment in today's ep where erng asks intha "can't you just be romantic for 5 minutes?" and it's a question i'd really like to ask the screenwriters and director, too.

the plot was promising, the setup was promising, tutoryim are always a joy to watch, i was looking forward to seeing the domundi reunion, and everything in ep1 felt like a huge buildup to what could have been a really good show. there have been a couple of moments since then when i was deluded into thinking that this show was capable of handling emotional subject matter well, such as erng's body dysmorphia and the whole matter with his abusive ex. but they're not actually explored in a meaningful way. they're swept under the rug as the scene inevitably goes back to circling the drain of almost-NC scenes, "10 rounds" jokes, and someone having way too much fun with the soundboard. i get that it's a comedy, and i'm not expecting high drama. but even a comedy needs to let the story breathe for a second so that the comedic beats actually land. this show doesn't seem to know how to do that.

everything becomes clear when you realize this show was made by the same person responsible for suntiny, which was notoriously such a rough watch that i personally saw people asking if maxnat were forced to do it as some kind of elaborate humiliation ritual or if they were in severe debt. when i saw the first episode of chermchey i thought that maybe this individual had learned and grown as a director, but i was wrong to think that. well, at least it looks pretty.

i'm going to continue to watch this show because i love the actors that much and it really is gorgeous visually, but i'd be lying if i said that i don't think about hitting my head against the wall every time the sound editor puts in another horse whinnying or bike horn or something else equally insufferable, or when we go in for yet another shameless bait and switch NC scene. well, at least when this is over i won't have to watch any of this director's work again and i can move on with my... what's that? he's also the director for your third, the highly anticipated upcoming project of maxnat, peterpanfluke, and ohm krit? you've got to be f*cking kidding me.

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É MELHOR DO QUE EU ACHEI QUE SERIA

eu nunca tinha visto essa série antes por motivos de: eu tinha birra só pq sim

eu sei q eu tinha lido um pouco do manhwa faz uns anos mas como nunca terminei e isso faz uns anos eu simplesmente não sei pq eu dropei e não queria ver a série (depois de um tempo eu só comecei a ter a impressão de q ela era me sem sal)

mas decidi ver pq sempre via as pessoas falando bem e não me arrependi de ver

a trama é um rivals to lovers acadêmico bem gostosinho (mas eu não tava tão errada é algo q eu já fo acostumada ou seja genérico)
o jae yeon realmente atormenta o juizo do sangwoo no começo e o sangwoo é uma pessoa q não sabe se expressar direito
e ai eles vão formando a relação ao redor disso e influenciando a mudança pra melhor um do outro
mas eles se desentendem também e isso é importante pra esse crescimento
e eles tem química !! (o yaoi size deles perfeitissimo !!)

também achei legal q teve a clássica cena de yaoi japonês de terem q fazer um mini teatrinho vestindo fantasia e peruca
a personagem feminina q gosta do sangwoo na real é legal e não insuportável e a amiga lésbica do jae é perfeita (queria yuri no meu yaoi💔
e teve uns tropos q eu gosto tipo beijo bêbado, leve slow burn, personagem tsundere etc etc

também acho que a homofobia interna do sangwoo foi ok pro tempo da série
se fosse uma série mais longa eu ia gostar q aprofundasse mais nisso mas aqui funciona do jeito q foi
a cena do sangwoo se declarando é mt boa

oq eu não gostei mt é isso de ai "mds fizeram uma proposta pra mim se mudsr de país e agora"
pq isso ja ta batido pra mim de tanto q eu ja vi
e eu não entendi direito o motivo do sangwoo ter atrasado a formatura do jae??? talvez a tradução q tenha ficado meio bosta na cena ou eu q burrei mesmo e não entendi
enfimm

e eu sei que censuraram tá, eu nao lembro direito do manhwa mas eu nao esqueci tudo, poderiam ter aproveitado mais a química deles seus canalhas na coreia nao tem par fixo é uma chane só🖕🖕🖕

mas no geral eu curti bastante, vi pra passar o tempo e me entreteu mt, achei divertida
só não recomendo pq acho q todo mundo já viu😅

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(Spoiler but you might actually want to hear.)

[Girls can fall in love and not give a f*ck too just like boys do.]

Damn I must be an odd one, I just finished Dynamite Kiss and I genuinely rate it a solid ten and they’re saying it’s just six. I highkey like Dynamite Kiss. It actually reflects a reality a lot of people don’t want to admit, hahaha. Girls can fall in love and not give a f*ck too just like boys do. I spent my childhood watching Korean dramas I adored them but in recent years, I had a realization that made me step away, maybe my frontal lobe developed, lolol. My mind and heart are racing while I type this, and I’m literally cleaning just to organize my thoughts.

First one thing needs to be clear, I believe love isn't hard, the situations are. You know what I love about Korean dramas? They make situations feel so real and genuine but growing up hits hard, because you start noticing that most plots revolve around tolerance, enduring things you shouldn't have to endue that breaks my heart thinking about it gives me chills, I don’t want that for myself. Dynamite Kiss was fun because it's opposite of the usual plots decisions.

Rewatching it from the start to check if I'm biased or if my observation actually holds. The first few minutes are fun but something clicked to me this time. I realized that the guy she was smirking at was the male lead. On my first watch, I didn’t even think it was, and the show didn’t force it either. Lol, she was dreaming about being a baddie and I love that it breaks that disgusting belief that a woman is only meant to have one man in her life, that once she loves that's it forever. F*ck, no. Women can feel choose, explore, and even walk away. We’re just as capable of the emotional freedom men are so proud of.

I love the female lead, She genuinely represents a lot of women, we fantasize yes, but we also know how to stay grounded and respect reality. Then there's that moment where an adult is openly disrespectful using someone's weakness as a joke, as an example, I used to like the idea of 'You have a reason to be the vilain. And maybe I still do, in theory, but in real lfe, when you’re fully present, when your mind isn’t escaping into fantasy, its actually hard to be cruel. It’s hard to choose to hurt people, even when you’ve been hurt, I respect the female lead even more, and I didn’t find that annoying.

She chose herself instead of blindly trusting a man she just met and fell for. She faced reality, him coming from an elite family isn't something you can just gamble with. It’s not insecurity. She love herself enough to not give in for luck the she encounter. She’s strong literally and in the sense too that being weak isn’t weak too. What I really love about this show both leads love themselves and their families. It's what makes their choices heavier, more real, and honestly more painful, I want to yap about this so much more…

We can literally see it throughout the episodes their decisions were never based solely on their feelings but on their reality. The male lead forgives not because it's easy but because deep down even from the beginning he knows he doesn't have the right to demand anything. His love isn't possessive that kind of awareness hurts but it's honest.

The female lead on the other hand loves herself really to understand that a first encounter doesn't have to be the last just because something felt special once doesn't mean it's meant to be held onto forever. She doesn't cling. She recognize her feelings, acknowledge it, and still chooses herself, and I think that’s what makes them so real. Not just in love, they’re thinking, weighing, holding back, and choosing.

They were literally, almost comically, longing for each other. It was so obvious and thats what made it both hilarious and painful. The tension wasn't because they didn't feel enough but because the situation wouldn't allow them yet.

When they were finally together, we got to witness how soft and sweet love can actually be. For a moment, it felt easy but just like in real life, problems don't end just because two people choose each other. They keep coming. And yet, what mattered was they found their way back every time.

About the amnesia that everyone keeps hating on, I actually see it differently… Because of it, we were able to witness again who the male lead was before he met the female lead. It stripped everything back. No shared memories just him as he originally was.

The female lead? She didn't lose herself even
while being deeply in love.

I think this one of the shows, I wish didn’t end, hahaha.

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Never Thought I'd Love it This Much

I think whoever watched this drama would agree that it's unskippable. I'm a person that'll never admit that i like romcoms or just romance in any way, as it is boring. But this drama moved something in me, I cannot talk highly enough about how this drama had me on a chokehold.

The cast is perfect, story is perfect, I loved every moment in this kdrama and I have never ever felt that way towards any kdrama. Which made me ask myself this question, is it the romance magic? because it certainly made me feel like i belonged when I'm just a watcher nonetheless.

I really like the FL personality, it somehow makes me so curious about her in every aspect, and I love when I'm curious. Plus, the OST is fire, I danced to it, cried to it and it was a blessing to my ear. Since when a show can be this perfect it feels illegal to watch it for free!

Overall, this is number 1 in my list and i don't think I'll change my mind about it. And i look forward to find other masterpieces in the future.

Sincerely,
ChukChuk

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10 - because It speaks to the heart, that’s why.

Queen of Tears is being re-released marathon-style this weekend (6/3-5/26) in Korea. This feels like the perfect opportunity to revisit and review one of my favorite dramas and also respond to some of the criticism I’ve seen out there.

To those who have thoughtfully articulated their criticisms on various sites, I respect you for clearly explaining your perspectives. However, to those who gave this drama a low rating after dropping it within the first three episodes, to keep ratings fair, I would respectfully suggest placing those early impressions in the comments section rather than the review section.

—The Acting

I believe the director of Queen of Tears intentionally employed a restrained style of acting between Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Ji-Won for Baek Hyun-woo’s and Hong Hae-in’s characters. Meaning there was more silence and less dialogue, with much of the communication happening through eyes, facial expressions, delayed reactions, and unspoken emotions. This approach drew viewers into the characters’ thoughts and feelings, allowing us to experience their emotional journeys alongside them.

For me, much of the drama’s suspense came from these moments rather than from cliffhangers at the end of episodes. Both Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun portrayed their characters with remarkable refinement and skill. Each displayed the wide acting range necessary to create truly multidimensional characters.

Not only can Kim Soo-hyun portray profound sorrow, but he also excels at restraint. He masterfully utilizes subtle gestures and micro-expressions, communicating volumes without words. I’ve seen many of his dramas and films. Never have I seen him display more varied gestures, facial expressions, or dimensions within a single character than he did with Baek Hyun-woo. As Baek Hyun-woo, he convincingly portrayed boyish innocence, explosive anger, intense longing, devastating heartbreak, emotional collapse, and everything in between.

To the critics, how is that not great acting?

Kim Soo-hyun needs no defense from me. He proved his ability years ago. Part of South Korea’s finest assembly of actors, he became his country’s highest-paid K-drama actor and one of its most awarded actors through consistent excellence. One does not reach that status by being flat or mediocre.

Kim Ji-won has likewise evolved into an exceptionally dynamic actress. I first enjoyed her performance in Descendants of the Sun, but there is a night-and-day difference between her acting range then and what she delivered in Queen of Tears.

She gave us a subtly layered Hong Hae-in: a strong, uncompromising Type-A personality who is fiercely defiant but too proud to openly express emotions that might be perceived as weakness. Some of her funniest moments came through her indirect expressions of affection—asking leading questions, offering backhanded compliments, or scolding Hyun-woo before admitting he made her heart flutter. These moments, in my view, highlighted just how difficult it was for her to communicate genuine romantic feelings.

As Hae-in’s journey progressed, Kim Ji-won revealed her character’s deepest vulnerabilities at precisely the right moments and in exactly the right measure, making her both believable and relatable.

Queen of Tears would not have been the same story without both Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won. They were equals as actors, just as their characters were equals within the story. To say they had little or no chemistry is, in my opinion, to have missed much of what the drama intended to convey.

—The Character Development

Kim Soo-hyun once remarked in an interview that Baek Hyun-woo begins the story as a loser. In some respects, he was right.

Hyun-woo was passive, submissive, and immature in his understanding of love. He believed enduring mistreatment without protest was an expression of devotion. Eventually, being constantly wounded by the Hong family—including his wife—became unbearable.

He convinced himself that he hated her.

Not surprisingly, with that mindset, divorce appeared to be his only escape. Then came the shocking realization that his wife’s impending death might conveniently solve his problems for him.

What a cowardly way of thinking.

Hae-in sounded as though she understood what love was when she spoke to Eun-sung. In reality, she was every bit as immature as her husband. She seemed to believe that as long as Hyun-woo remained “by her side,” they would be alright. He said he would always be there, didn’t he?

At the beginning of the story, we see how thoroughly she has adopted her family’s arrogant sense of superiority, which justifies mistreating those of lower status for personal gain—even when that person is her husband. As we saw in the nursery scene, she hid behind that arrogance as a way of coping with the miscarriage.

While utterly foolish, Yang-gi’s suggestion that Hyun-woo pretend to love Hae-in in order to secure a place in her will became a blessing in disguise. Or…, perhaps it was a calculated move by Yang-gi to help his best friend see the truth beneath all the hurt.

Luckily, Hyun-woo cannot truly pull off hating Hae-in. As her condition deteriorates, his resolve gradually crumbles. His love for her reignites.

In reality, he never hated her at all.

The pivotal moment comes in Germany. Completely defeated, he deliberately provokes a divorce battle from Hae-in, not because he wants to leave her, but because he desperately wants her to live. He gives her something to fight for, even if it is not with him.

This is where Baek Hyun-woo fully embraces what love truly is—not merely a feeling, but a choice and a commitment expressed through action.

In helping the Hong family escape to Yongdu-ri, Hyun-woo proves that love by devoting himself completely to protecting Hae-in and her family. We later learn that he contacted hundreds of cancer centers around the world in search of treatment options for her.

Likewise, Hae-in’s growth begins when she finally “wins” the divorce. Only then does she begin to examine herself honestly and see Hyun-woo for who he truly is, the only man she could ever love. She realizes that he gives her a reason to live and that she cannot bear the thought of a future without him—whether in life or in death.

For a fiercely independent and emotionally guarded woman, this was enormous character development.

When she found herself separated from the pressures of her corporate life in Yongdu-ri, Hae-in revealed a softer side she may never have known existed. The ultimate expression of her selfless love for Hyun-woo came during the press conference, where she exposed Eun-sung in order to protect him.

The overall family relationships ultimately reinforced one of the drama’s central themes: that love outweighs money, status, and power. When they lost it all, they could finally see and appreciate each other.

Beom-ja, although initially too eccentric to be taken seriously, became a scene-stealer who consistently provided much-needed comic relief.

Yang-gi also stole nearly every scene he appeared in. In fact, I think his final scene with Hyun-woo was one of the most memorable moments involving any supporting character in the entire drama.

Ironically, Eun-sung did nothing to weaken the Baek-Hong relationship. If anything, he strengthened it. Despite all their resentment and misunderstandings, neither Hyun-woo nor Hae-in seriously looked elsewhere. Eun-sung, wonderfully portrayed by Park Sung-hoon, never truly had a chance.

—The Story and Valid Criticisms

Queen of Tears was approximately two years in the making, including about a year of filming. Across its roughly 23-hour runtime, Studio Dragon delivered a beautiful story about two people who had forgotten how deeply they loved each other and who rediscovered that buried love after a life-threatening tragedy nearly ended their relationship forever.

It’s worth remembering that the drama was reportedly inspired in part by the real-life story of a Samsung heiress who married a regular employee.

Stories, fables, and even biblical narratives often use extreme or unrealistic circumstances to communicate deeper truths. I view many K-dramas through a similar lens. Not every detail needs to be realistic if the emotional truth resonates.

This is why I can accept some of the more exaggerated elements of Queen of Tears. One could dismiss parts of the story as unrealistic, yet real life often proves stranger than fiction.

That said, even as someone who loved the drama, I can acknowledge its flaws.

Too much screen time may have been devoted to the mechanics of the conspiracy against the Hong family. The writer and director likely felt it necessary to illustrate the lengths psychopaths will go to in pursuit of power and wealth, but I was not heavily invested in all of the related side characters and their storylines. Some of that time could have been spent further developing the Baek-Hong relationship.

The Hong family—excluding Hae-in—sometimes came across as overly naive in their trust of people who clearly sought to exploit them. At first, I found it difficult to believe that Hae-in’s mother remained trapped in grief over her son’s death for so many years, but unfortunately some people never fully recover from such losses.

Grandfather, who trusted every word Baek Hyun-woo said, suddenly placed his faith in a complete stranger and eventually removed Hyun-woo from the board. That transition felt abrupt.

Eun-sung’s character arc never truly evolved beyond his obsession with possessing Hae-in and controlling Queens Group. Despite the writers’ efforts, viewers never developed meaningful sympathy for him or for his mother, Moh Seul-hee. We were repeatedly reminded how terrible a mother she was, often more times than necessary.

—The Second Half

The collapse of Queens Group and the destruction of Baek Hyun-woo’s life is where some viewers felt the drama lost focus. With so many moving parts, keeping track of everything could be challenging. Grace’s role as a double agent often felt like a wrench thrown into the machinery of the plot.

The exile to Yongdu-ri introduced numerous additional storylines, some of which felt unnecessary. Yet the central focus remained the Baek-Hong relationship. Every major event either contributed to or reflected their gradual surrender to the love they had spent years suppressing.

These moments may seem like plot diversions, but most of them serve a deeper purpose: they forced the building of a new relationship between two people who thought they knew each other but actually didn’t.

—The Illness and the Plot Extremes

Critics who argue that Hae-in’s illness lacked realism make a fair point. The drama could have done more to show its physical effects and the reality of her recovery.

Likewise, Hae-in’s post-surgery recovery was far more glamorous than reality would allow. Still, those shortcomings were not deal-breakers for me.

The arrest in Germany, the kidnapping, the hit-and-run, Hyun-woo somehow leaving the emergency room in one piece, and the winter gunshot sequence all pushed the boundaries of plausibility. But these were narrative devices designed to intensify the emotional climax between Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in.

Alchemy of Souls was pure fantasy, yet audiences embraced it because they connected emotionally with the characters. The same principle applies here.

—Why I Still Rate It So Highly

Even someone who loves Queen of Tears can acknowledge its flaws and still give it a 9 or 10.

Why?

Because, taken as a whole, the drama speaks to the heart.

I have never been wealthy, nor did I marry into a chaebol family. Yet the relationship between Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in reminded me of my own marriage.

My love was immature in the beginning. Like many couples, we experienced our share of dramatic and difficult moments. Then, in our sixth year together, my husband began suffering life-altering medical episodes while still appearing healthy on the outside.

I had to grow up. I had to choose to love him, not simply rely on the fluctuating feelings associated with being in love.

An emergency room doctor’s quick thinking over the phone taught me how to respond during his episodes. What I learned helped save his life at least a dozen times.

A year later, the end came suddenly and tragically. There was no opportunity to go back and correct my mistakes. No chance to revisit the moments when I had been immature or selfish.

After spending enough time blaming myself, I eventually realized something important: he never held those mistakes against me. He had made plenty of his own. We always understood that about each other, even during our worst arguments.

That realization changed how I viewed Queen of Tears. Forgiveness is one of the highest forms of love in action.

I love the song “Way Home,” but because of my own experiences, it is still difficult for me to listen to the final soundtrack without becoming emotional.

—Why is Queen of Tears a treasured story for many

I am certain I am not the only viewer who found pieces of their own life reflected in this drama.

Queen of Tears may contain over-the-top moments, but many viewers accept them because extraordinary moments exist in ordinary lives. We just don’t read about them every day.

In the end, despite its plot holes, detours, and occasional excesses, Queen of Tears succeeds where it matters most.

It reminds us that love is not merely something we feel.

Love is a choice. And it is not for the faint of heart.

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