Reviews

Campy satire of the mafia trope

The serie made me rediscover PondPhuwin (and grow completely obsessed with them). I knew them from We Are (which I dropped after a few episodes, eventually finished when I was in a ppw drought). I was seeing scenes from Me and Thee on soc while it aired & I was already very curious about it. Seeing Peach taking off Thee’s tie without context got me hooked on them (more than I was on their We Are scenes) and I think it’s because Nuttapong is very good at capturing what Pond and Phuwin are best at conveying: meaningful gestures that carry depth. Me and Thee got me crazy over eye contacts, brief shoulder touches, words of affirmation, because it’s not the relationship that carries the characters, but the characters that carry it making its slow development feel earned and believable. Phuwin embodies Peach (to me, it’s actually the character in which I can recognize Phuwin the least). It’s tiny things that make Peach seem real and multi dimensional. His body language, the hair flips, his little sighs to remain calm despite Thee’s antics, his confused frowns, his wardrobe… It’s also edits of Peach that got me so excited about Me and Thee. He’s so charming in his simplicity making all of his actions somewhat endearing (ex: him clumsily carrying his heavy chair to sit next to Thee). He has values, habits, both qualities and flaws. He also grows through the show. I absolutely love how he always meets Thee halfway: while having clear boundaries, he never shames Thee for his extra personality or feelings, doesn’t make him repress them. Their good communication enables them to tame each other and I think it’s one of Me and Thee’s greatest strength: it’s comedy, somewhat satiric at times, yet it’s also very realistic and mature when it comes to showing two adults building a genuine bond together.
I have to say, Me and Thee also made me fall in love with Pond. Thee’s body language (especially the way he talks with his hands, gets frantic when stressed (ep5 stairs scene lives in my head rent free)) is absolutely gold and I believe no one can portray him the way Pond did. To be honest, and here it’s a MY personal reading of the character, Thee is very neurodivergent coded: he’s not just out of touch with reality because of money. He doesn’t mean bad, and it’s not that he’s self-centred, he genuinely struggles with social cues and lives in his own world that’s actually very lonely. He should be annoying but he’s not, Thee is incredibly endearing in his strange ways. We get Peach, why instead of stepping back, he gets attached. It’s Pond (as well as the dialogue) who makes the nuance works. I thought I would struggle liking a character that steps over people’s boundaries but Thee ended up being such a comfort character to me because he wants to learn, he’s willing to adjust and he’s actually pretty harmless. He states when he’s hurt, why he’s hurt, and each of his actions (even the most ridiculous ones) somehow make sense (ex: his name on what belongs to him to ensure safety). It’s not just for the laughs, the way he expresses himself reveals not only his personality but also his trauma, his coping mechanisms as well as what he actually longs for (a real bond).
I’ve seen people complain about the lack of "plot" but to me Me and Thee was supposed to be a satire of the mafia trope. A story about two very different people taming each other & it never needed to be more than that. The time spent on the characters, them discovering each other through carefully written dialogue is what made the relationship well paced despite the show being only 10 eps (although I do feel like the last episode was a bit rushed, I’m glad there’s a spinoff). Action and heavy angst weren’t needed, it would have disrupted this slow and comfortable rhythm that makes it so enjoyable to watch. Again, it’s just me, but when it comes to romance (or more broadly, relationships) centered stories I prefer a non plot serie with believable characters and a well developed relationship. I need to be engaged with the characters to be engaged with the story, so to me a serie can be good without a plot but it can never be good without characters to carry it. Why would I feel invested in something if I’m not attached to? Me and Thee delivered iconic characters that were palpable and that’s why it worked.
Also, I’ve seen people being like: why did Thee propose ep10 when Peach told him not to ep9, but to me it was obvious than it wasn’t like, the next day? I could see a shift in ep10, TheePeach being more domestic indicating that some time had passed? Also Thee mentioning that him and Peach had being together for a while? I thought it was well done, showing instead of directly telling, that their relationship had grown into something quite stable (ex: Peach immediately noticing Thee sulking after the house thing and comforting him initiating physical contact/ Peach accompanying him to work/ them basically living together/ the way it was more natural for Thee to be in Peach’s house (his space generally) and his proximity with Plub)).
Anyway, I might be biased but sometimes I feel like people overlooked what was actually meant to be conveyed just to nitpick. Same with the comedic scenes. Not a lot of people pointed out how campy Me and Thee actually was, its beautiful aesthetic and shots that were always well thought and intentional. The cinematography was amazing. It was clever too. Just ep1, Plub telling Peach about the "blood" on Thee’s sleeve and boom, direct shift to Thee getting sauce on his sleeve while watching lakorns in a silk robe on his couch really set the tone. Same with the musical part ep4 (my fav ep) it was hilarious because it doesn’t take itself too seriously but it’s still somewhat beautiful and touching. The post credits scenes were also all amazing and knowing it was mostly impro is quite impressive.
Of course, it has flaws. I would have liked to know Plub more, could have been a great female character and her dynamic with Thee and Mok was promising. Peach and Thee being very well developed sadly meant the side characters were quite underdeveloped. Mok suffers less from this than the others, but his relationship with Rome was still a little confusing (although we’re getting the spinoff). The pacing ep 1 to 7 was great, it was bit more rushed post that but again we’ll be getting more of TheePeach’s domestic life. The parents’ intentions could have been clearer, same with what’s considered safe and unsafe for their family, what were the actual threats, love being a liability (I hope we’ll see them navigate through this as parents in Peach and Me). But as I said, it was a character/romance driven story, a comedy meant to make you laugh so it didn’t bug me that much. You don’t watch Me and Thee for accurate mafia world, gun fights or to shed tears. You watch because it’s quirky, because it serves iconic characters (and scenes) that’ll stay with you for a while, because the romance is well written, believable and heartwarming, because its aesthetic is carefully crafted. Like Peach, you need to let go a little to enter Thee’s world.
Anyway. Thee you’ll always be an icon. Gay delulu mafia boss on the spectrum. Pond really deserves the praises he got (same for the rest of the cast and Nuttapong, thank you for this campy show and for making me realize the actual gems that are Pond and Phuwin).

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Ultimate love story

I love everything about this. Them meeting, their voiceovers, the push and pull, the angst....so perfect
Gil-Chae was kind of a pick me in the beginning but it makes sense for the time period they are in. She has great survival skills and for women needed to be picked by a safe man in order to survive. She stepped up when there was no man to help them and went a long way on her own, I liked those parts so much. Gil-Chae and Jang Hyeon finding each other in these gaps, missing and yearning for each other while not admitting anything to each other...so entertaining to watch. I'm very happy with the 1st part. Let's see how the story goes

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Death Note - But Make It A Gripping, Suspenseful Political Crime Thriller

This is by far one of the best recent k-dramas I've watched. in fact, I'd go as far as to say that it's one of the best k-dramas I've watched, PERIOD! It's definitely going into my favorite k-dramas list. I don't even usually watch dramas like this, but I wanted to step out my comfort zone, and BOY am I happy that I did! I love good villain protagonists, and Baek Ki-Tae was a VERY compelling one. I couldn't help but root for him, especially with the backstory he had. And he was sympathetic to some extent. Not to mention Hyun-Bin did an incredible job playing Ki-Tae- I'm officially a fan of his now if I wasn't before! Jang Gun-Young was a great foil/antagonist to him, too. I like how he was still flawed, but very determined. Jung Woo-Sung did a wonderful job with his portrayal of Gun-Young as an anti-hero, but I feel like he overacted a little bit at times. BUT this was clearly a directing choice: the fiery, reckless (and sometimes maniacal) prosecutor compared to the suave, calculating, and ruthless drug smuggler & KCIA director. It definitely made sense to me.

Onto the female characters, and this is one of the very, very, VERY few problems I have with this drama, it's male-centered as hell. But I know that this was intentional, since Korea was and is still very patriarchal, especially in the 1970s under President Park Chung-Hee. Most of the female characters were either plot devices or dead weight, I'd say the only exception was probably Ikeda/Choi Yu-Ji, who matched Ki-Tae's cold nature. But she had her own reasons for being so stoic- proving herself to her (adopted) father, Chairman Ikeda Osamu. Also understandable. You don't often see cold-hearted female protagonists in k-dramas, so this was a welcome change. As for Oh Ye-Jin, I liked her being so feisty. I did not, though, like her being comic relief. I feel like it definitely threw off the tone of the show. Not completely, but it was jarring and felt unnecessary. But she's still a good character, although she feels more like a side character rather than a main one. Regarding the other female characters, I'm interested in seeing how Baek So-Young's story unfolds in Season 2 especially with her being the new drug facility manager considering what happened to Kang Dae-Il (another guy I actually ended up feeling a little bad for, somehow?) I also LOVED Bae Geum-Ji, but the writer did her so dirty!

Side characters! Again, I felt bad for Dae-Il. I can't remember all of them right now, but the one I liked the most was definitely the President's Chief of Staff, Cheon Seok-Jung. He's very interesting, and I wanna see what his relationship with Ki-Tae is gonna look like in Season 2! He's so unpredictable! As for Baek Ki-Hyun, I think he's the only traditional hero in this drama. So he seems like he'll play a more antagonistic role in Season 2, especially since he's the more righteous/"good" sibling. Then again, no one in this drama is a good person! You can't trust anyone! 😭 Everyone's flawed, a criminal, greedy, ambitious, and/or selfish somehow. I LOVE IT! Give me more!

Writing-wise, okay, I'm gonna be honest, some scenes felt like they dragged on A LOT. It was endless talking and sometimes I'd definitely skip ahead or lose focus. But this was a minor issue, I think I'm used to it now with k-dramas that have hour-long episodes. Again, I don't typically watch dramas within this genre, but... at some point, by the end, EVERYTHING managed to connect pretty much perfectly. When I reached the last few scenes of the season finale, I was like, "What? Oh... oh. OHHHH!!!! OH SHIT! WHOA!" Excellent. Just excellent. Honestly, each episode could've been its own movie, because I feel there was just... not enough exploration. Depth? It felt too short! In the words of Michael Irvin from that one commercial, "We want MORE! WE NEED MORE!" This show definitely suited its genre though. A political crime thriller mixed with action, mystery, law, political intrigue, suspense, and just the right amount of drama. No romance necessary. It's basically a Korean Death Note with politics, drugs, and morally grey characters everywhere. And the MUSIC was great, too! Very subtle BGM, but it suited the setting and fit the mood incredibly well. A drama like this doesn't need some poppy OST, instrumentals do just fine. And I like the opening theme/sequence too.

I believe that this is one of those dramas you HAVE to rewatch in order to fully understand everything. When I say everything is connected, I mean EVERYTHING (mostly) is connected somehow, in some way, shape, or form. I highly recommend this k-drama, it is SO underrated. Definitely a diamond in the rough. The acting is amazing, the music is awesome, the directing is pretty perfect, the characters are flawed and the writing & pacing have minor issues, but they can mostly be overlooked, and the story itself is very interesting. My score? 10/10.

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Extremely boring for all it's messy format

Can't believe I am saying this for a show starring bailu and WXY but what a third class series this was .. i sticked to the end barely for my support to the leads otherwise I would have dropped it long ago ... Where should I start ???? .. from the 6 hilarious murders within first two episodes or from the flower ing plant growing on dead body or maybe from the eunuch who killed himself for his bestie to find the cure for an epidemic. With each passing episode this plot was becoming more ridiculous and non-entertaining.
I personally love crime detective thriller only when the plot is maneuvered properly around good conspiracies that cater to one' intellect, which can actually push your curiosity but here the only excuse that writer gives to drag and expand this series was'the villains are high and powerful people' i mean there is no convincingly looking chess games between the two parties, just all BS.
As for the other aspects .. I love Bailu and WXY for their acting and their chemistry but here everything fall apart .. their chemistry is flat ..they had more chemistry in their previous projects where they were not even playing couple .. here they looked good as partners but romance is just so dull ... But in the end it was supposed to be only slightly romantic ..but seriously this slight ??? 😮‍💨
Ost is horrible.
I was excited cause I thought this was going to be GOTD women centric version ( with no time travel ) but it didn't deliver even 15 percent of that expectation.
I just wish whoever wrote this crap never writes detective thriller again.

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Plot is nonsense but the leads chemistry are on lit.

I watched this after watching Chen Si and Zhao Jia version and the chemistry between the leads was better in here even the kisses were better in here too. The acting was quite decent for the newcomers (The FL is :Peng Huiying and the ML is Gao Haizhou. But the plot is still doesn't make sense given that the drama started with ML drugged and entering FL's room and they have sex while FL still not processing her divorce. The online dialogue between scenes is really annoying for me. It's a pity the drama is too drawn out and the ending feels rushed.

Worth to watch.

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The obsession of being a socialite

Art of Sarah is a sharp, unsettling drama about the obsession with status — particularly the desperate desire to be seen as a “socialite.” At its core, the series dissects elitism, narcissism, and the illusion of exclusivity that surrounds chaebols and high society.

The female lead is one of the most compelling grey characters in recent K-dramas. You fall in love with her when she boldly confronts fake elites and narcissistic chaebols, exposing their hypocrisy and performative sophistication. In those moments, she feels almost revolutionary — someone tearing down a corrupt system from within.

But then the discomfort sets in.

Because she doesn’t just challenge the system — she mirrors it. The same way these so-called socialites look down on others, she too begins treating those “below” her with similar coldness. That contradiction is what makes her fascinating. She’s not a hero or a villain — she’s an embodiment of how power and validation can corrupt, even when your original intentions seem justified.

The detective in the series provides a strong contrast. He’s logical, grounded, and quietly charming — someone who approaches the chaos with reason rather than ego. Yet one of the most striking lines comes from Sarah herself: the people who get conned are often the ones who believe they could never be conned. That statement perfectly captures the drama’s core message — arrogance and the hunger for status are what make people vulnerable.

Overall, the direction, storyline, and character arcs are stunning. The drama doesn’t just tell a story about fraud or ambition; it explores identity, insecurity, and the psychological cost of chasing elite validation. Art of Sarah leaves you conflicted — admiring its protagonist one moment and questioning her the next — and that moral tension is exactly what makes it so powerful.

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More like Bore You to Death

Half crime series, half comedy BL, Dare You to Death tries to mix together two apparently contrasting genres, while presenting a grittier, darker version of JoongDunk and, may I say, fails spectacularly.

The story tries to juggle between a very serious case of serial murders (and I will say, very gory ones too) and the development of a cheap romance between the main leads. The clash is honestly irritating: you will have two of the most incompetent cops ever seen on a screen shamelessly flirting while teens get brutally assassinated around them. The whole romance portion of the show is not only uninteresting and underdeveloped (you can't even understand why these two like eachother, besides finding eachother hot, I guess), but majorly inappropriate for the context of the whole show: after a while, seeing Jade getting jealous over Kamin on the crime scene of someone who just got crushed to a pulp by a falling car will just have you say "Can't these guys just do their job?".

Besides the boring romance, the crime/police part is honestly terrible, to the point that I doubt the writers of this show even bothered watching a single crime series in their whole life. Cops using guns to threaten suspects, undercover operations without any backup whatsoever, whole episodes spent on marginally important drug leads that lead to nowhere at all, no interrogations of prime suspects and key witnesses are just a few of the absurd things about this whole mess of an investigation that will make you feel like you could do a better job than these guys. The cherry on top was honestly the episode where Jade and Kamin wasted a whole day on a cute date because "they worked a lot so they deserved to rest": is the work in the room with us right now?

Acting wise, Dunk is as stiff as ever, but I at least appreciated Joong's performance, who is pretty good at portraying a goofier character for once. Regarding the supporting cast, they were ok, but unremarkable for the most.

In the end, while I found the show kinda funny during its first half, the latter one just got me so uninterested that I spent most of the time just gazing at the screen asking myself "How was this thing greenlit?" Dear writers, let's put the pens down for a while, shall we?

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Skip it ! I mean it !

If you’re planning to watch this movie, let me give you a genuine heads-up: I truly don’t think it’s worth it.And I’m not saying that lightly.

I usually love challenging films. I enjoy stories that make my brain work, that force me to analyze human behavior, question morality, and sit with uncomfortable themes. I’m not someone who avoids dark or complicated narratives. But this one? I honestly wish I had skipped it. It didn’t just disturb me... it made me feel sick.

The dynamic, the relationship at the center of the story… I don’t even know how to describe it properly. It’s not just uncomfortable; it 's wrong.
I kept thinking, *how did this move from page to screen?* Some stories might work better as books, where ambiguity can stay internal and abstract. But seeing this dynamic visualized made it feel even more unsettling.

I walked away not feeling intellectually challenged, just emotionally drained and disturbed. And if you’re reading this thinking, “Now I’m curious, let me check it out”… DON'T!!!!. This isn’t reverse psychology. It’s not clickbait to make you more intrigued. For once, I genuinely mean it: you’re not missing out.

Some films leave you thoughtful. Some leave you inspired. This one just left me uncomfortable in a way I didn’t need. So sometimes, protecting your peace is the better choice.

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Cute for a vertical short reels format!

I’m always bummed that people lowball reviews for vertical shorts just because they hate the format. As someone who avidly consumes this format on a daily basis, I can say that some are clearly superior to others. I wish they rated them according to the format instead.
-Anyway, the story adapted the same plot premise as Half of Me (webtoon/manhwa), but of course some plot details had to be changed or scrapped due to budget constraints and the vertical short-reels format --- which made certain parts confusing, rushed, and lacking explanation. For example, it wasn’t clear why Taekin was at Heechan’s home instead in the hospital or with his family, or what Heechan’s job was (which was explained better in the source material). Certain plot points felt like afterthoughts or seemed to come out of nowhere, but I guess the story had enough glue to make it work. The backstory of the two MLs was also revised, but it blended well with the direction they chose.

-Acting-wise, it was okay. Minjae was somewhat awkward at times, but it was fine if you didn’t dwell on it too much. Also pls, what is that hairstyle choice with the highschool Minjae?? 😭 it didn't suit his face.
-Nevertheless, the story was still cute, fluffy, and interesting. The interactions between the characters felt natural and fun to watch. There weren’t any cringe moments for me, which is a plus 😅. I also quite enjoyed it; there were moments that had me giggling.

(Also, it had three decent-ish peck kisses and two proper moving-lip kisses, lmao)

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A masterpiece ofcemotional realism and raw passion

A masterpiece of emotional realism abd raw passion. Fireworks of ny heart is much more than a standard drama. It is a profiund exploration of trauma, social pressure, and suppressed love. The most discussed scene, the kitchen kiss, has been misundertood by chinese as being too aggressive. On the contrary , if you look at the journey of Song Yang and Xu Quin, that moment is a masterclass in emotionale release. It wasn' t aggression, it was hunger born from years of deprivation. Yang Yangvabd Wang Chu deliver performance that feel modern and "western" in their subtlety. They give us a relationship that feels visceral, mature and deeply human. Must watch

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A must watch!

I had put off watching this purely because of its name, but had some suggestions to watch it and i am so glad I did! This is one of the best cdramas I have watched. The story is engaging right from the start. Each character was very well acted. The FL and ML were amazing and their chemistry was out of this world. Most often the kissing scenes are cold and really awkward - but these had the best kissing scenes of I think all cdramas I've seen.

The romance was well paced - the first ten or so episodes really dealt with earlier life, but while some said that was too many episodes and it dragged on, I felt they were needed as they gave a very well rounded background.

Overall, I loved it. It is a romance, but it had lots of elements to support it.

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Perfect Depiction of Loneliness and Finding Bright Moments in Life

When I first saw the trailers and bits of the movie, I thought it was set in the 80s. The cinematography of the movie made it seem that way, but I was surprised that the story actually takes place in the present time. Compared to other romance movies, Pavane's take on love did not portray it as something with grand gestures. This movie's view on love is simple, and this was highlighted through each character's circumstances in life. We have Gyeong-rok who grew up with a painful reality through his parents. We have Mi-jeong who has a difficult life as a breadwinner, stuck with the reality her deceased parents left. Then we have Yo-han who seems easygoing and has it all that in life, but actually succumbs to the darkness of loneliness. His line about the refrigerator light was a perfect visualization of what loneliness and sadness is after being left alone in a house.

What's likeable about this movie is that its view on love was not boxed to the idea that you only find love from other people. One could say that the romance between Gyeong-rok and Mi-jeong was not really the focus of the story even though it was hooking. They all had those dark moments, and another common ground they have is that they all had something they were passionate about. In some way, you could consider their passions 'love' also becuase it brought sparks in their dull lives. At the latter half of the movie, they were able to find the light together despite the mundaneness of their lives. Though it was cut short for some of them, it remains true that those moments will remain eternal even though time has passed. That's a realistic take on how some bright moments in life only come for a short time, but it's something you'll remember for a long time.

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Yeah I can't do anymore. Dropping at episode 10.

Yeah I can't do anymore. Dropping at episode 10. I tried to watch for the love of the game but production really did a mad stinker here. The music to make scenes feel like something it wasnt? They were also creating deep story lines for something that was shallow. Then using pairs for promotion just rubbed me the wrong way. I liked it at the beginning but they lost their way. Almost like they only planned the first 5 episodes and a clueless person took charge after episode 5. Su Min continuing to sleep alone too?

I truly didn't mind the reshoot thing and I still don't. For a group who "knew each other" they really were super awkward. It's working for MS and HG but because its not for YJ people are blaming the reshoot. I truly feel YJ would have performed the same even if it wasn't. They should have given new comers the advantages like they did for Min Seong. Put certain limitations, again that card play by Sun Wook was out of bonds.

The cast was really bad, no one here was TV ready. They all just killed the mood completely, having boring laid back personalities. "I wanna sleep/I wanna go home" Some's up the energy.

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"A Delicate Romance Where Time Plays Its Part"

Once We Were Us is a romance that doesn’t aim to impress with big plot twists but with the subtlety of its emotions. It’s a film about time, memories, and above all, how love can remain alive even when it is no longer present in our daily lives. It tells a simple story — two young people meet, fall deeply in love, separate, and then reunite years later — but it treats it with tenderness and sensitivity, giving it real depth.

One of the most beautiful aspects of the film is how it portrays the beginnings of a relationship. The youth scenes are bright, almost warm, with a spontaneous energy that feels authentic. Shared laughter, late-night conversations, and naïve dreams make the ordinary moments feel precious. It’s not dramatic declarations that leave a mark, but small everyday moments elevated by the direction. You can feel the fragile excitement of first love, a mix of innocence and ambition that makes everything seem possible.

The chemistry between Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young is central to the film’s success. Their connection is natural rather than theatrical. They seem genuinely comfortable with each other, making their interactions believable and moving. The silences are as important as the dialogues. In the present-day scenes, their performances are more subtle and restrained. Gazes linger longer, smiles are more fragile, and you can feel the weight of years, choices, and regrets in every exchange. This evolution in their dynamic is one of the film’s strongest points.

The narrative structure, alternating between past and present, enhances the nostalgic feeling. Each memory sheds new light on their current relationship. The visual contrast is also well executed: warm, vibrant tones of the past against the cooler, subdued palette of the present. This emphasizes how the past always seems brighter in our memories, even if it wasn’t quite that way at the time. This duality gives the film a consistent bittersweet atmosphere.

Another particularly beautiful aspect is how the film handles dreams and personal ambitions. It shows how love, no matter how sincere, can be challenged by professional realities, social expectations, and the pressure to succeed. The film doesn’t assign blame for the separation; it simply shows how two people can deeply love each other while moving in different directions. This maturity in the writing makes the story feel realistic and emotionally resonant.

However, the film remains fairly traditional in its structure. Some situations may feel predictable to viewers familiar with Korean romances. The deliberately contemplative pace can feel slow at times. But this slowness also contributes to the emotional experience: it allows feelings to settle and gives the viewer time to reflect.

What makes Once We Were Us particularly beautiful are the quiet moments: a look exchanged on a train, a conversation interrupted by emotion, a smile hiding sadness. These small details give the film its sincerity. It doesn’t try to force tears; it simply lets emotions emerge naturally.

In conclusion, Once We Were Us is a gentle, melancholic, and mature romance. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it masters it with elegance. It’s a film about memories, timing, and what it means to love someone at different stages of life, leaving a delicate and lasting impression after the credits roll.

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