Reviews

Cute Japanese BL with an amnesia plot

PLOT: Fumiya and Ritsu were in love and lived together, but without any real communication. This led to arguments and a breakup. That day, Ritsu has an accident and suffers from (partial) amnesia. Fumiya tells him they were roommates and takes him back home. He figures that since they still love each other, it's a chance to start over. Together, they explore Ritsu's memories.

+++ The two actors, Kyoya Honda and Kosuke Suzuki, are handsome, talented, subtle, and have great chemistry.
+++ Good overall cast
+++ Skillful direction, no technical issues despite a limited budget.
+++ For once in japanese dramas, well-suited OSTs

=> A realistic and cute story.
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Cute Japanese BL with an amnesia plot

PLOT: Fumiya et Ritsu étaient amoureux, vivaient ensemble mais sans réelle communication. Cela a finit par des disputes et un break-up. Ce jour-là, Ritsu a 1 accident, et souffre d'amnésie (partielle). Fumiya lui dit qu'ils étaient colocataires et le ramène at home. Il se dit que puisqu'ils s'aiment tjs, c'est l'occasion de recommencer à 0. Ils vont ensemble explorer les souvenirs de Ritsu.

+++ The two actors, Kyoya Honda and Kosuke Suzuki, are handsome, talented, subtle, and have a good chemistry.
+++ Good overall cast
+++ Skillful direction, no technical issues despite a limited budget.
+++ For once, well-suited OSTs

=> A realistic and cute story.

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Perfect Crown Is Perfectly...Fine

**05/30/2026 Update**

I finally finished the drama, and I can't lie: I was even more underwhelmed by the last couple of episodes. They were so boring, I would've abandoned the drama if I hadn't been watching it with someone else. There was virtually no tension or suspense during the climax, and everything was predictable.

The drama continued to LOOK beautiful (and so did IU and Byeon Woo Seok), but it was truly one of the blandest things I've ever watched. So, for that, I'm gonna have to knock half a star off my original rating and bring it down to 4.5 out of 10.

As someone who's been watching K-dramas for decades, I still can't believe how lackluster they've become. I don't know how, but I really hope this changes in the future.

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My personal rating system:

5.0= Average (aka "Not bad, but not good." IYKYK)

There's a Romcom Problem...and unfortunately, Perfect Crown doesn't escape it.

For a long time now, audiences have been complaining about the lack of squealing, heart-racing, butterfly-inducing content in modern romcoms. I am one of those audience participants.

Many issues have been identified, but if I talk about all of them this review would be longer than "War and Peace". So I'm going to talk about two: realism and the fear of “cringe”. Realism and the fear of cringe are the reasons why live-action Disney movies look so drab instead of vivid. Realism and the fear of cringe are why so many superhero flicks were dark and gritty until recently. Realism and the fear of cringe are why so many movies and TV shows (and arguably books) are predictable. It's negatively impacted almost every art medium and genre, but none as bad as the romance genre—particularly romcoms. That’s why so many of them, including Perfect Crown feel…lukewarm.

I've already mentioned this in a comment, but modern-day romcoms are trying too hard to stay grounded in reality. In doing so, much of the whimsical, epic, SWEEPING moments that became traits of the genre are either non-existent or feel muted. Perfect Crown's issue is the latter. It's a shame because I FEEL the director trying to create those moments for us, but I can also feel the screenwriter and whoever edited it practically chanting, "A realistic modern-day monarchy. A realistic modern-day monarchy. A REALISTIC MODERN-DAY MONARCHY." Why does it have to be so realistic when that's not what the genre's about? People watch romcoms to be swept up in a fantasy, but a lot of screenwriters and networks are forgetting that. They're too busy worrying about audiences finding their drama "cringe”, whether it's more profitable to make the leads red flags, green flags, or morally gray, and waiting to see what therapy terms people will incorrectly use to describe the relationship dynamics. It's obvious, and why Perfect Crown ultimately fails to stand out. I applaud it for trying to take us back to the romcom basics, but with two HUGE stars like IU and Byeon Woo Seok + an obscenely large budget, they needed to go wayyyyy BIGGER. This is a Cinderella love story (if Cinderella was already rich) at heart. And Cinderella’s a classic fairytale. We needed more whimsy, more drama, elaborate costumes, and ardent declarations of love! Not uneventful royal soirées with dresses that look straight off the rack at Nordstrom, baseball games where nothing cute or fun happens, and a Temu Titanic scene. People are calling the Temu Titanic scene cringe, but my problem was it being tame and lacking creativity. I’ve seen audiences forgive “cringe” in favor of novelty. If Prince I-an wanted to “fly”, Hui Ju should’ve taken him on a hot air balloon or something. Realistically, a yacht makes the most sense, but again, that’s the problem.

Yesterday I watched episode 7, and I literally turned to the person I was watching it with during Prince I-an's confession, and asked, “Was this drama prescribed alprazolam???" That was one of the most lackluster confession scenes I've ever seen in...anything. And it's because the drama's trying to do this whole "realistic, every-day" thing. Again, most people aren't looking for that vibe in a romcom with princes, princesses, and palaces. So stop holding back. Go all the way. Aim to give us a confession we’ll be quoting for months.

Now that I've finished talking about Perfect Crown's main issues, I want to get into the nitty gritty. I’ll start with the things I found lukewarm, then end on a positive note with the things that were good.


THE LUKEWARM

• PRINCE I-AN: I don't know how it's possible, but Byeon Wook Seok looks even prettier here than Lovely Runner. Seriously, what's his skin care routine??? The man's skin is supple. The man is glowing. He's doing the best he can with I-an, but the character simply is not dynamic or memorable. I love to write, so I've taken writing courses, and done a lot of studying on my own. If you want a character who feels 3-dimensional, you're supposed to be able to answer these 4 questions about them:

1. What does your character want?
2. What does your character need?
3. What drives your character?
4. What secret does your character have?

And why? (For all of them).

I know I-an wants Hui-ju, and the drama's done a good job showing us why. I also know he might want to rule, but why? Just because he's the overlooked second son? Sorry, but the drama hasn't shown I-an being particularly passionate about helping his subjects or wanting to further a certain cause. Does he want to get rid of homelessness? Save the dolphins? We know nothing. The only reason he forced his high school to make the archery field accessible to everyone was because of Hui-ju, not because he's passionate about inequality between the social classes.

I also don't know what he needs. Now I know some people will gleefully take this opportunity to nitpick or get trite with answers like, "He needs family!" or "He needs love!" Yeah...we all need those things as humans. What else? What does he specifically need?

What drives him?? Why does he even want the crown? It can't just be because he's been passed over for it in the past. That's lazy writing. What does he actually want to accomplish if he becomes the emperor?

Lastly, aside from the poorly kept secret of I-an and Hui Ju’s fake relationship, we found out another one this episode: I-an has the burnt remains of his brother's letter abdicating the throne, and passing it to him. Predictable, but a good secret nevertheless.

But yeah, at the end of the day, Prince I-an is an extremely forgettable character who feels incomplete. There's nothing engaging or nuanced about him. (And this is coming from someone who loves “nice and/or kind guys”, so it’s not because he isn’t a “bad boy”.)

• THE ANTAGONISTS: Yoon Yi-rang (aka the Empress Dowager) could've been an amazing antagonist. Instead she's one-note and underutilized. I couldn’t answer the 4 character questions above about her with a gun to my temple, much less the why’s. It would've been nice to see what she was doing in high school. Did she go to an academy like I-an and Hui Ju? Or did she go to a finishing school of sorts where the whole curriculum was being a good royal wife? It would've been so easy to humanize her by giving her this inner conflict of: my whole life was about supporting my husband, and now it's about supporting my son. What...do I want? The screenwriter could've even given her a cute/unique hobby she has to hide because it’s “un-empress-like”, but she can’t help but enjoy it. Nope. She's basically a cartoon villain who only cares about power via her son.

Yoon Yi-rang's father Yoon Seong Won is the other villain, and he's barely worth mentioning.

• THE PLOT: Yoboseyo?? Are you there? I didn't expect this drama to be plot-heavy because most romcoms aren't, but all the characters do is go to work, the palace, and get Subway. We need better palace intrigue (those who know me will laugh at that), political interference the Prime Minister has a hard time stopping, and more imaginative royal events and parties. The need for realism strikes again! Where's the creativity?

• THE WARDROBE/COSTUMES!!!!: Uh...for a drama about princes and princesses, and the uber rich, WHERE IS THE FASHION???? Is it hiding with the plot? Perfect Crown has had some of the most basic outfits I've ever seen! Every time the drama tried to do a big outfit reveal with Hui Ju, it was just a boring suit! LOLLLLLL. They expected my jaw to drop for a suit???? They weren’t even interesting. They were very regular. I know Hui Ju is a CEO, but she's already a rule-breaker, so let that actually translate to her sense of fashion in a meaningful way. And no, Hui Ju wearing a suit while everyone else is wearing evening gowns or hanboks doesn't count. A suit is still a suit at the end of the day, and an outfit known for being functional and practical doesn’t fit Hui Ju's personality even though the costume designer is trying to tell us it does. The whole drama exists because Hui Ju does outlandish, impractical things like enter into a fake marriage with a prince to raise her social standing. Her clothing choices don’t reflect that. Even her gowns and hanboks were lackluster. The peachy, tulle gown she wore in episode 6? Revolutionary! I’ve never seen that before. What an interesting choice for a bold character -_- Prince I-an’s black and gold royal uniform ate her up in that scene. In fact, his suits are often more interesting than Hui Ju’s when it comes to cut, style, and color. However, if I had to give one character best dressed, it would be Yoon Yi-rang—which isn't saying much, but her outfits are better than everyone else's.


THE GOOD

• SEONG HUI JU: She's a polarizing figure. People either love her or hate her—which means she's well-written. (Btw, just because a character is universally liked, it doesn't mean they're well-written. People can wrap their heads around that when it comes to male characters, but they’re still working on it with female characters). I happen to love Hui Ju. She's ambitious, intelligent, assertive, arrogant, resilient, and kind (she's kind, NOT nice. Kind and nice can overlap, but they aren't the same thing. I will not be debating this. The only thing I'll say is kind people actually tend to rock the boat and piss people off in society. They don't mind hurting feelings or offending people in order to do the right thing. Whereas, nice people tend to go with the flow and worry about offending/hurting others, sometimes to the point of being people pleasers. Do some research if you're curious. The differences are interesting). I can easily answer all 4 characters questions about Hui Ju. They're obvious, so I won't bother going into them here. She's an engaging character, and IU's comedic chops are not lost on me. Just wish Hui Ju had better fashion sense.

• THE CHEMISTRY: I didn't know if IU and Byeon Woo Seok were going to have any chemistry. This is something a lot of people were wondering about before the drama came out, and now that it has I think it’s safe to say they do. It's not the tense or explosive kind of chemistry, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't there. I'm not surprised because IU tends to have pretty good chemistry with most of her co-stars. She comes across as someone who’s chill and easy to get along with, and it's not hard for that kind of person to connect with others. I've only seen Byeon Woo Seok in Lovely Runner, but judging by people’s reactions to 20th Century Girl, he might have that same charm.

• THE ACTING: In addition to IU and Byeon Woo Seok's cute chemistry, the acting is what's keeping me watching. I love IU's little facial expressions, and comedic timing. And Byeon Woo Seok is doing a great job at acting smitten with her. Prince I-an’s eyes are full of fondness whenever he stares at Hui Ju. Their love story is sweet, and I want to see what happens with it. It's just a shame these two solid actors are wasted on such a mediocre script (I still can't believe it won MBC's Screenwriting Contest. This was really the most creative, impressive thing in the bunch???).

• TRYING TO GO BACK TO THE ROMCOM BASICS: There are a lot of things about Perfect Crown that could be better, but I do want to applaud it for TRYING to give us a whimsical fairytale romance. It’s trying to make us swoon and give us butterflies like the romcoms of old. There's no magic, time travel, serial killers, robots...etc. The focus is on I-an and Hui Ju’s relationship. A romcom in its purest form. But to be a solid one, Perfect Crown needed to let go of its fear of being cringe and unrealistic. Screenwriters nowadays seem to be scared of the words "romantic” (the irony), “sappy”, "outlandish" when they actually need to be leaning into those words to get the genre back on track. I mean, some viewers are already calling it cringe, so they might as well take it all the way and give us something unique and MEMORABLE.

We're more than halfway through the drama, so I don't expect much to change, but if it does I'd be happy to amend my comment. Perfect Crown had the opportunity to dust off the romcom crown and place it on its own head, but a failure to commit to the fairytale, and trying to make the story feel realistic and "accessible" only make it “fine” instead of great or amazing.

With that said, this is MDL so I know I have to leave a little disclaimer:

• I am allowed to have my own opinions. You don't have to agree with me and I don't have to agree with you.
• Constructive criticism is something that exists. Not liking every single thing about a drama is NOT hate.
• I'm open to respectful discussions, but not arguing. I have a job and other responsibilities. I will simply block you and you'll be talking to yourself in the comments (perhaps that’s what some of you want?).
• If things get too crazy, I'll nip everything in the bud and just disable the comments.

This is the longest review I've ever posted, and it's for an extremely popular drama. I’ve seen what some of you have done to others, so let’s keep it cute >.> I’ll be watching episode 8 later today.

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heartwarming , extremely funny but nothing special ....

although this drama's plot is quite cliche yet it keeps you watching , almost all of the cases were heartwarming especially when he helped those wronged souls who couldn't get the justice they deserve after their death , the drama was great on so many levels yet nothing was special about it even when they tried to give it some depth it was rushed multiple times.

the case with the will where the wife forged her husband's will to give some shares of the company to her friend's son it really annoyed me although that friend helped in building their company , the wife had to right to forge her husband's will as she could have discussed it with her son and when we get to know it was out of guilt because she caused her friend's arrest back then as a north korean spy it even became more annoying although that friend turned out to be alive and the government were keeping an eye on her as they suspected her to spy it didn't make it better for me .

Do gyeong's is the most characterless person I have ever seen , like what was he doing he admired na hyeon and he let the gang attack her and ML all for the recorder his father wanted , I mean she could have been killed , and when he got the recorder he didn't tell his father , why exactly ? he didn't trust his father or wanted to held it as a leverage ? not a smart character and a very indecisive one .

usually any drama would have a main antagonist , so who was the main antagonist here was Do gyeong or his father ? from the events I guess it was the father , he even didn't get that much screen time , for me either Do gyeong or his father were both weak antagonist .

although the romance was barely there , i glad they didn't force it.

the last case with shin gi jung , was quite rushed , at first I was frustrated like how ML didn't trust his father and wanted to let him go without trying to know the truth I mean he should know the man who raised him better than anyone , and when he didn't remember how he died and that byeong il injected him with drugs before his death didn't make sense as he clearly saw him before he died , I mean this was supposed to be the biggest case in all of this , the great finale yet it ended up being rushed and unsatisfying.

overall a quite funny and heartwarming drama with a lot of wasted potential .

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Not Just Another Highschool BL

We all know the premise, highschool, two boys, falling in love. But this show genuinely subverted every single expectation.

From giving both characters well nuanced personal problems they had to work through, to having their relationship build up be genuinely so natural and authentic. This show took what I thought was a genre I had seen every possible take of (see: highschool jbls) and gave me a concoction I never even knew was possible until I had already been served it.

I loved how none of the problems either character was going through was all that easily solvable. How the hurdles were ones they kept tripping over time and time again, even with the help of each other and their friends. (Shout-out to Kanata's friend group, specially mizuki —we love emotionally intelligent female characters in bls!— and Akira's brother's best friend, such a breath of fresh air to have nunaced supporting characters.) It did feel slightly frustrating to watch in the moment, having the cast of characters confront the same issue for episodes at a time, but it felt incredibly realistic to the nature of things in real life? And I fear that frustration is in parts because of how accustomed we've grown to conflicts being so easily solved or sweeped under a rug in shows for convenience. So it was nice to take a moment to sit with that discomfort and watch the characters constantly show up for each other even when zero problems were actually getting solved.

Also loved how the teenage characters in the show were treated with so much maturity?? (Except for when Akira, a minor, was alluded to have constantly hooked up with his former tutor who without a doubt was well into his twenties 😭 I'm glad his character was genuinely remorseful for it and did admit to having used Akira, and letting Akira use him, for them both to get over their gay heartbreaks but bro, why a minor of all people orz) Their problems and emotions in the moment were treated with so much sincerity within both the narrative and by the fellow characters, which I feel isn't something we see often.

The two main leads were incredibly well cast, cos not once did I ever get broken out of the illusion of the show during my watch. And while this is pretty much the norm for Japanese bls with how well they deliver 9 out of 10 chances, I still feel it deserves acknowledgement.

Overall, genuinely a beyond amazing watch. I'm so glad I stuck around for it.

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Started Strong, Fell into Formulaic (Dropped)

This is a drop review—commentary on more than half the season.

I thought this started strong but then gradually settled into okay. I’m not sure if it became sleepy or too predictable for me.

What initially drew me in was the theme—a powerful demon controls dreams. But I’ve probably watched too many dramas that follow the same formula: betrayal, revenge, and a misunderstanding. Then a brief reconciliation, a second separation, and the rest of the story focuses on reuniting. So, I decided to stop watching once it felt like the story was looping back into the same pipeline.

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A Quick and Entertaining Legal Watch

Phantom Lawyer begins on a strong note, blending humor and emotion before gradually introducing a deeper layer of mystery around episode five. Its short, fast-paced format keeps the story engaging without unnecessary drag, making it an easy and enjoyable watch. The male lead stands out with a particularly impressive performance, bringing both charisma and emotional depth to the role.
The drama maintains a good balance between lighthearted moments and suspense, keeping viewers invested throughout. While there are moments where the writing leans into typical dramatic choices(especially in episode 15) they don’t take away much from the overall experience. For the most part, the story remains entertaining and holds attention well.
The final episode delivers a satisfying conclusion, wrapping things up with an emotional and heartfelt touch. The ending feels fitting and leaves a positive impression.
Overall, Phantom Lawyer is a fun, engaging drama that doesn’t overstay its welcome. With solid performances and a compelling pace, it’s definitely worth the watch

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Are 6 bad episodes worth watching???

This is one bad high school love drama. The production team managed to capture the same beauty clothing but failed the rest. None of the four main characters are likable unlike the previous series “Story of Yanxi Palace”

Princess Zhao Hua has no brainy compare to her mother at the same age. This character is arrogant and immature. Fu Kang An, they ruined this character. His personality changed way too much from the previous series. I believe he was an innocent and obedient kid in the previous series hence it’s unbelievable when he comes up with this nonsense revenge for Er Qing . What’s worse is that they made him a son of the fourth sibling. The desperation for
La Wang Duo Er Ji is “Boring”. He is supposed to be sharper given his experience from the battlefields and part of the reason why I don’t like this character is that the actor fails to deliver his character properly.
Si Wan Ge Ge is textbook antagonist, lacks of depth.

If we talk about the story, one word I can describe it is nonsense. ML failed in love with FL in less than one day because he felt rejected and his ego got hurt?? And he felt pity for ML that her sister was plotting against her?? FL and 2nd ML also doesn’t make sense. I need more logic from these characters.

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Endearing watch that could've been better

Firstly I will give you a little insight to the political situation in the movie's premise, as it might be difficult to understand for someone who has not heard this story before.
The King's warden is set in a tumultuous period of Joseon's history, where our titular king,Yi Hong-wi had already been forced to abdicate the throne by his uncle, Grand Prince Suyang. And after the attempted coup by the 6 ministers whom we see being punished in the beginning, the deposed Hong wi is sent away from the palace into exile at a remote village. And as I came to learn, the rest of the story, except some facts about Um Heung Do (village chief) is fictional or based on folklore.

The strongest point of this movie was the acting. Almost all the characters here are somewhat stereotypical, serving as a means but are likeable nonetheless. As someone who was already an admirer of Park Ji Hoon after Weak hero class 1, his acting was phenomenal as usual. The way his eyes transform from utter despair and emptiness in the beginning into quite strength and ambition like a tiger's afterwards. And also the village chief, though a somewhat stereotypical character still managed to make him endearing through the acting. Lee Jae Hoon was stunning and a delight to watch as Prince Geum Seong.
The only characters with some character development were the king and the warden/ village chief, whereas it seemed like a missed opportunity for the characters of the devoted court lady and village chief's son.

The music was alright I guess, but there was nothing memorable about it. It feels like this movie could have benefitted from a better soundtrack and cinematography. But it won't bother you very much while watching it as it is carried successfully by the actors. In the end, I have no regrets about watching this and it made my heart ache for king Danjeong.
The King's warden has it's heart in the right place and succeeds in being a heartfelt watch.

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A sort of a different cdrama -BUT

I don't write reviews cause I believe its a very subjective kind of thing,to each their own,but i had to rant about this drama!
Obviously spoilers ahead ..!
Now to the main point.This drama started so positively and charming but things went awry after ep.19..Having watched my fair share of dramas in general,I didnt had a lot of good expectations but the first episodes kinda amazed me with the characters introduction and stories,the universe and the story in general.We had also good chemistry between the cast and the first leads were were presented beautifully with quirky dialogues and emotion.I really enjoyed the interactions between the 2 main leads,the presentations and motives of the villains and the first story arcs.Music and visuals very good as expected.The cliches also down to the minimum and not too cringey.We also had a good presentation of the main lead's backgrounds and motives.All good and not boring till ep 19 and specifically after Ming Yi's torture.A disclaimer is needed i believe here about my drama/scene preferences ,I hate with all my guts when the leads are in a haze/confused/drugged/tortured in a scene and the next scene have them to perform an intimate scene to progress the romance so as you can tell,i hated the scene after my girl's torture,where Bozai thought she made a move towards him and tried (and succeded) kissing her and tried to do more.My girl was tortured in all possible ways and according to the writers THAT was the romantic moment.!Anyhow,moving on to the rest of the drama where things went all wrong.The main leads once again started the no talking and miscommunication era,things could have been resolved sooo easily BUT drama had to drag for extra episodes,we had extra revelations to the last 3 episodes,cause why not and a lot of extra stories introduced last minute.Ofc we had an extra villain,a sweet but obsessed with the FL guy that turned out to be bad the last 3 episodes,for story purposes ofc,a father and a family background that came out of nowhere and without some sort of connection beforehand and a revelation about the main leads that threw everything off last episodes.The ML decided once again to ditch the FL even though SHE sacrificed herself soo many times for him(while she was also dying without a cure mind you) and kept her in the dark about his plans to sacrifice himself this time for the greater good.MIscommunication to the maximum this time and lots of silence between them and just looks and close camera shots with no point.Also,we never found out about FL’s original name.She borrowed fairy’s Ming Yi name when she saw the dead parents and Ming Xian is the name the empress gave her,so what name her true parents gave her??This also never cames up,i guess its a plot hole.The best part of these episoded was the return of FM's little beast .
The drama had some quirky and shrewd dialogues,especially in the beginning with ML,a good base story to begin with and good chemistry between the actors but lost a great amount of points with some scenes,ML's total clueleness and lack of wit and sharpness in some points and the last episodes that were too overwhelming.There is no rewatch value for me and i definitely cant recommend it,at least from the middle and on..If you like the ML i believe he was at his best in Fangs of Fortune,great chemistry with the other ML and he was way more clever and sharp there.😝

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Skip the last episode

I was basically a little angry at myself because I’m making an effort not to watch shows that are currently airing, because they tend to be short, and I sort of lose track of the story when I’m not binging it. That all being said I was drawn into this show early. These two guys are ridiculously beautiful and they really do have a ton of chemistry together. There’s a lot of things to love about this show. The ending is not one of them. Watch the show up to episode eight, get a very warm feeling inside for these two characters, and only watch the last episode if there’s a season two. This might’ve been the worst ending of any show that I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I had no idea what was going on with the cop and the other guy. I had no idea what would happen between the two main characters. I’m not even sure if these guys become a couple at the end. Like I said, this was one of my favorite shows which made the ending, probably the biggest letdown ever. I want to say rise of Skywalker had a worst ending, but I would’ve even taking that ending as opposed to the ending that this show got. Hopefully my stars on this review give it a pretty good rating, because there were a ton of those that I intended to be 10 stars, but my finger just wouldn’t make that happen for some reason.

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Verdict: Emotion Sustained, Logic Dismissed

Phantom Lawyer opens with a premise that sounds like it came straight out of a quirky 판타지 meets 법정 mashup. Shin Yi Rang is introduced as a kindhearted, almost too pure-for-this-world lawyer who keeps failing job interviews because of his father’s stained reputation as a corrupt prosecutor. With nowhere else to go, he opens his own law office, and this is where the drama quietly tells you to suspend logic. I could not help but side-eye his decision to rent a place that practically screams “haunted real estate discount.” One incense stick later, and Yi Rang gains the ability to see ghosts tied to talismans left behind by their loved ones. These spirits carry regrets, resentment, and unfinished stories, and Yi Rang becomes their unexpected counsel, helping them resolve what they could not in life.

From there, the story settles into a case-of-the-week format. Each ghost client brings a new emotional thread, and Yi Rang handles them with unwavering kindness. The emotional angle is clearly the drama’s priority, often choosing heart over legal complexity. Cases tend to resolve a little too neatly, sometimes relying on convenient turns rather than solid groundwork. Early on, many of Yi Rang’s cases overlap with Han Na Hyeon, an elite lawyer with a flawless winning streak. While their rivalry is meant to create tension, the constant overlap feels more like coincidence doing overtime than organic storytelling. Some cases wrap up so quickly that they barely leave room for legal depth. Evidence appears just in time, confessions come easily, and loopholes that would normally spark debate are brushed aside for pacing. It feels less like a courtroom battle and more like a moral fable dressed in legal robes.

The structure does not do much to support a larger narrative either. Most cases exist in their own bubble, rarely tying back to a central conflict. Yi Rang’s father’s scandal is positioned as the emotional backbone of the story, shaping Yi Rang’s struggles and reputation. Yet, this supposed main conflict only truly takes center stage in the final stretch, and even then, it resolves within roughly one and a half episodes. The investigation feels rushed, the evidence conveniently detailed, and the resolution lands more on the comical side than the impactful one might expect. For a storyline that had been quietly looming since the beginning, it lacks the weight needed to deliver a satisfying payoff. The drama stays consistently light from start to finish, which is not inherently a flaw, but it does limit its potential for a memorable climax.

The final family dinner scene tries to pull everything together emotionally. The concept is touching, almost designed to be a tearjerker, but the execution does not fully land. Choi Won Young, as Shin Gi Jun, delivers a standout performance that adds genuine emotional depth. His presence elevates the scene, making you feel the weight that the script struggles to carry. Unfortunately, the rest of the ensemble does not quite match that intensity. Kim Mi Kyung plays the mother with a restrained expression that borders on flat, while Son Yeo Eun, playing the sister, shines in brighter moments but falters when the tone turns heavy. There is even a moment involving Yi Rang’s coma that feels unintentionally awkward due to the uneven emotional delivery. One small but nagging detail is Yi Rang’s niece, who never questions the bizarre situation unfolding around her, which feels like a missed opportunity for a more grounded touch.

Character writing is where the drama struggles the most. Yi Rang’s defining trait is his endless kindness, but it is written in a way that feels exaggerated, almost like a morality lesson aimed at children. Yoo Yeon Seok has proven in other works that he can portray warm and selfless characters with nuance, but here, he is boxed in by a script that leans too heavily into idealism. Han Na Hyeon undergoes a similarly jarring shift. Esom initially brings a sharp, charismatic edge to Na Hyeon as a win-at-all-costs lawyer, but after her sister’s arc, the character pivots into a softer, justice-driven persona who suddenly becomes shy and romantically inclined. The transition feels abrupt, like a switch flipped without enough buildup.

Yang Do Gyeong is perhaps the most confusing character of the bunch. His personality swings between intimidating, obsessive, comedic, and eventually sympathetic. At times he seems unstable, at others almost childlike, and by the end, he reveals a more grounded motivation tied to his desire for his father’s approval. There is an interesting idea buried there about pressure, resentment, and morality, but it never fully settles into a clear or consistent portrayal.

Then there is the question no one in the drama seems eager to answer. Does Yi Rang actually make money? Representing ghost clients is noble and all, but unless there is a living client willing to pay, the business model remains a mystery. It becomes one of those lingering thoughts you cannot quite shake, like a plot hole in a courtroom drama that refuses to be objected to.

To give credit where it is due, the drama does sprinkle in some enjoyable elements. There are playful references to Dr. Romantic and Hospital Playlist that feel like little winks to fans of Yoo Yeon Seok. The humor leans heavily into slapstick, but it does land more often than not, adding to the overall light tone.

In the end, Phantom Lawyer is best described as an easy watch that blends ghosts and law without digging too deeply into either. It prioritizes emotion over logic, warmth over realism. If you go in expecting a legal drama packed with intricate cases and sharp courtroom battles, this will feel like res ipsa loquitur gone wrong. But if you are in the mood for something light, occasionally funny, and gently emotional, it serves its purpose. It is not bad, but it does not quite leave a lasting impression either, like a case that is closed without ever truly being argued.

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Similar to movie Nerve!

This show had me immediatelyyyyyy hooked. From the beginning till the end. I started it yesterday and finished it today. 8 Episode kdramas are always so damn good..

From relationships to friendships, I liked all of the bonds that we had. Even though we spend quite a short time with these characters, you end up caring for them and their relationships with others.

Although it was a bit frustrating how stupid the main characters could be but that’s like a given in Horror plots lol…

I usually never watch horror genres but this one was watchable, it wasn’t scary at all (coming from a scaredy-cat) more like gore and shock value stuff but it wasn’t jumpscary which made it even better and watchable!!!

Really quick series to keep you from being bored, and a potential set up for season 2 in the end. I would definitely stick around and watch the new season if it ever gets renewed! I recommend it!

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A little different than what I initially thought

So, I came across this drama while scrolling through Viki and thought it could be a fun watch. From the summary...I thought it was going to be like the nanny or something...just instead of being a beautiful but low income lady from Flushing, it was going to a tomboyish girl pretending to be lesbian. Which it was...initially, until the kids get taken out of the storyline. Like bro. So yeah, that changes the whole finding love from her being the nanny set up. But all in all, the story was funny and entertaining so I kept going.
Here''s what I liked:
--I found it pretty hilarious with the overacting and all
--Yang Duo--Yang Guo's sister--is so relatable. Her biggest fear: being poor. Same girl.
--I love the quirky intro song that Jerry Yan is singing.
--Yang Guo was never made to change her style significantly. She was appreciated and loved for who she was.
-- Yang Guo and Duo's backstory is heart breaking and adds a good amount of depth to their characters.
--Yu Ping wasn't some cold, mean guy. He was giddy and head over heels for Yang Guo and wanted to impress her.
--The actors (specifically Jerry Yan) would break character at time, but instead of taking me out the scene, it felt like it immersed me more.

Here's what I didn't like:
--They really made it seem like Yu Ping was a menace at moments that he wasn't. For example, I feel like it is realistic to not want to represent a known scammer in court for the sake of your career.
--Yang Guo had that childlike innocence that can get annoying once you remember that the character your watching is a fully grown adult.
--I hate the random, " I'm going to pursue female lead after not putting in any effort for the past 15 episodes" event that happens in like the last episode. Like bro, you're not going to get her no matter how much you try. It's a done deal.
--Second female lead was sooooo annoying. Like gooooo!! Please!! I beg!!

Would I rewatch this drama? Probably not all of it. I would definitely return back for specific scenes or episodes, though. I do wish that the kids would've been a bigger part of it. I feel like that would've helped keep it out of that unnecessary melodrama feel that happened towards the end.

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Bene, ma ho alcuni punti su cui soffermarmi.

Allora, dalla prima puntata avevo deciso che gli avrei dato 9,5, anche se ero partita a monte con il volergli dare 10. Questo perché come ho letto su un commento qua sotto, la differenza di tempo fra le due storie è troppa: le opzioni sono due se vuoi fare una serie del genere: O usi degli attori diversi per interpretare i personaggi "vecchi" (come hanno fatto per esempio in 55:15) O il time skip deve essere inferiore. Nel senso che non me li puoi avere non invecchiati, nemmeno con una ruga, o un capello bianco. Visto che il time skip funziona (nel senso che sono stati bravi a gestire il passato io direi che dovevano usarmi degli attori differtin (più vecchi) per le parti nel presente, in modo da creare un certo flow. Considerando poi che le scene del passato sono la maggior parte, io sono convinta non avrebbe veramente intaccato la storia (in maniera fra le altre cose non dissimile da quello che è successo in My Stand In).
E questa è l'ultima vera e propria critica che ho per questa serie. Ho dato 9 invece che 9,5 perché la storia del fratello dei Tada mi annoiava.

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