Reviews

Delivers on every front

It's been a while since I've watched such a satisfying storyline! I had minimal expectations going in; it was on my radar because of FL (loved Love Scout), and I became intrigued after seeing who the ML was. I didn't expect to enjoy the story so much, and it was so delightful to like every new character we were introduced to. The story is straightforward--no frustrating love triangles, and no unnecessary drama. While the ML frustrated me at times, and the pace lagged towards the end, overall it delivers on what it promises. It's sweet, not overly sentimental, and a good binge.

I like that ML picked his project. After The Glory and Squid Game, I think this one was a fresh breath of air. And as for Han Jimin...queen of romcom, am I right????

Edit: after reading some of the other reviews, I feel compelled to add that this drama is exactly what it says on the tin: a practical guide to love. I think most people missed the point of the blind dates and of FL meeting two (or more) guys and were looking for some societal-expectations-defying romance. This is not it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this drama romanticises the reality of trying to find your person/family when you're older; that's the point of it. It shows the pragmatism of "choosing" love for a single woman in her mid/late 30s (in Asia) . While it doesn't go into depth to deal with those elements, they are acknowledged, and I think they are a big part in understanding why the story plays out the way it does. I agree that the FL is egregiously immature at times, however--it's hard to take her seriously as the age she's playing. But I think overall it's a sweet story, and shouldn't be so easily dismissed.

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Babies' First Steps Towards Adulting?

This series is the fourth installment of the Baby Assassins franchise. The set up remains the same throughout the franchise: Chisako (Takaishi Akari) and Mahiro (Izawa Saori) are two young but highly competent assassins who just want a steady flow of work, but they would like to be otherwise left alone by the Assassins Guild that employs them. And the Assassins Guild, like any good, "benevolent" employer in the modern era, would like to develop their employees to have a wider skillset to leverage all the synergies in the assassination business. The entire franchise is a darkly comedic gun-fu martials arts series that obliquely critiques capitalistic corporate culture.

This jdrama continues directly from the three prior movies, but other than some shared characters (particularly among the service personnel who clean up after the assassinations) there's not a whole lot of continuity that anyone would need to know in order to enjoy this series. And so (at this point in 2026) if you've got an HBO Max subscription, and are curious whether you can watch this series without watching the prior movies, I'd say dive right in. You can always go back to the movies if you enjoy the characters, the action and the tone of the series.

This series is roughly divided into two halves. In the first half, the pair get reluctantly pulled into a "project" where one of the Guild's legendary assassins wants to come out of retirement to settle an old score. What's really going on in this part is a not so subtle critique of corporate training retreats. The pair's senpai for this section is Takashi (Kusakawa Takuya) who overacts pretty egregiously throughout, but his doing so seems to be as directed. The leads Takaishi and Izawa play things comparatively understated throughout the franchise in contrast to many of the more aggressive foils both within the Guild and without. That fact is is probably fairly essential to maintaining the comedic tone of the series between the action sequences.

The second half of the series has the pair split apart and assigned to two other departments. Mahiro is sent off to learn from and assist one of the Guild's liquidators who are assigned to kill assassins in the organization who have broken the rules. And Chisato is sent to work in Sales where issues of corporate politics and power harassment come to the fore. But the pair continue to live together, and ultimately work together to become partners again.

The acting of the leads remains superb and reaches a new peak in this series. Mahiro, outside of her extreme skills in hand to hand combat, is always mired in her debilitating social anxiety, and Chisato is outgoing, verging on manic at times. But the two actor's chemistry together is excellent to the point that it is natural to wonder if this series is, in fact, a GL. It's left ambiguous throughout the franchise, but I will reveal that there is a truly swoon-worthy moment in the final episode. Takaishi is the better actor as Chisato, and her career has recently gotten a well-deserved additional boost as she was the lead in this past winter's NHK asadora, The Ghost Writer's Wife. Much more surprising is Izawa's performance as Mahiro. Izawa was almost entirely a stunt performer prior to this series, but here she is not only anchoring the action sequences, but at one point she impressively cries directly to camera. She really should get more work, in my opinion.

If you enjoyed the prior movies, then this series is pretty much a must watch. There's probably a bit less time spent on the action sequences compared to the movies, and a bit more time on Chisato and Mahiro's slice-of-life interactions. In fact, one of the best episodes of the series has no diegetic action sequences at all (just a couple of brief flashbacks of memories). Nevertheless, there are good propulsive action sequences throughout the series with the same level of fight choreography that were seen in the movies. Thematically, there's also a bit more depth than the movies as the women take a few more steps towards adulthood, and the pair's relationship which has always been solid gets to bloom just a little.

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Elite Physicality, Peak Friendship

Confession: I actually couldn't make it all the way through Season 1 after multiple attempts, but I binged this season! It is a high-octane exploration of loyalty and the system updates required to survive a world that doesn't play fair.

The "Brawn": Elite Physicality
The physiques in this drama are next-level. Rain, Lee Sang-yi, and Woo Do-hwan do not disappoint.
The Training Montages: These aren't just for show; they highlight the raw athleticism and "Iron Fist" discipline required for these roles.
The Finale: The fight scenes in the last episode are satisfying!

The "Heart": Gun-woo & Woo-jin
The bond between these two is the drama's "Safe Harbor". May we all have relationships like this! Their chemistry is pure magic, particularly in Episodes 1 and 7. I loved when Woo-jin was wearing the belt after Gun-woo won the title, haha.

The Struggle: My only critique is that they spend too much time on separate side quests even though they are on the same mission. I want my guys together on the screen, please!

The Reunion: Seeing them rejoin when things go wrong and then rebuild each other up is when the show truly shines. The way they can easily collapse in each other's presence and get strength from one another is the best.

Character Arc: The "Firewall" Update
My favorite part of the season is Gun-woo’s evolution. He starts with a "Cotton Candy Heart," but realizes that not everyone deserves his pure sincerity. Watching him build a Firewall around his heart—reserving his kindness for the inner circle while "Steeling" himself against enemies—is a powerful arc. His desire to protect (that classic FE personality) remains his core, but it’s now fortified. I love this arc for his character!

The Contrast: Good vs. Evil
The show does a fantastic job of contrasting the two foundations of good vs evil. The Good Side: Built on the foundation to protect and love one another. The Bad Side: Built on a "Logic Riot" of fear and greed. Rain plays the villain well.

Special Highlights
Park Seo-joon’s Cameo: A total "Premium" treat! His hilarious code names provided the perfect comedic relief. Oh and I can’t forget Dex!!

Verdict: A solid 8.5. Here’s hoping for a Season 3 where our boys get to stay together for the whole mission!

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When Zombies are sort of the Least of your Problems

My Rating: 9.5/10

(My daughter, who’s in her 30s, gave it a full 10/10. She doesn’t typically like zombie movies at all, but she really enjoyed this one.)Review (No Spoilers)

I am not normally a zombie movie kind of person. The genre has just been done so many times. But this was good because it was a different take on zombies. There was also more to it than just fighting zombies. There was a romance. A lot of interpersonal relationships and conflict. The characters were well developed. I recommend it to zombie fans, of course, because even though it isn’t the “classic” zombie movie, it is definitely a fit for that monster-movie vibe in that aspect. It’s not very sad in the traditional sense, and it ends well—wrapped up as happily as it could be for a movie of this type.

Spoilers

What made the zombies so interesting was that they weren’t undead—no reanimated-corpse vibe at all. They weren’t completely mindless either. It was a fresh, different type of zombie that gave the whole story more depth and surprise. Yoon Sae-bom is supposed to be special forces, but she rarely does anything that would show she has the skill to that caliber. Her husband, Jung Yi-hyun, who is a beat cop, seems far more specially trained than she is. I wish she had been more of a badass. When Andrew the psycho had the gun on them, both had so many opportunities to take him out, especially her as supposed special forces. They didn’t give a lot of tender moments with the couple. I think they liked each other from the get-go—I mean, that is why she married him. I also wish we had more of a view of what was going on around that building. They did a great job of showing how shitty some people would be in such a situation. All the greed, selfishness, envy—all comes out. We really did not get the “normal” either. Not even sure who the other antibody carrier was. And Han Tae-seok, the soldier-scientist guy, went through all that to save his wife and it seems it didn’t really save her. Where did this virus come from? The pills? Who made the pills and why? I had some questions. That is why it was more like a 9.5/10 for me.

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Boring

That was terrible, and I'm very disappointed, specially with this cast, so you have a super fantastic Actress in the lead role and you give her that character?? Really?? Such a wasted potential.

And I only mentioned the FL cause Han JiMin is so versatile and even her bad dramas are good, but nothing can save this show!!

The thing I hated the most was how the FL behaved with the two MLs, like she was so indecisive and childish, like why do you even go to blind dates? What's the point, you literally don't check them at all!! And you don't even give them a proper No or Yes or anything, instead you just wait for them to do the next step, even with one of the dates when she wanted to cut him off, she literally asked her friend to do that for her, and when that friend didn't deliver that message for whatever reason, she went along with the second date instead of telling him that through a phon call or something, and I know it's not exactly great manners, but if you don't like someone be honest! At least stand by your choices!!

The ML was so direct, right from the beginning, but they made them take a tiny step by step, they even kissed without making anything clear! I mean, I'm not saying once they kisses it's a done deal, they can get caught in a moment or something, but when the SML directly and openly pursues her, she didn't tell him she is considering the ML, nor did she care about his effort, she just went along!! Even after she started a vague relationship with the ML she went to a date with the SML, just why? You started a stable relationship with a guy who adores you, why two timing?

I won't dwell much longer, long story short, the characters are just bad, and the FL was my least favourite if I ever had a favourite ~

Definitely not recommended ~~

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The law drama that I didn t know I needed

Pro Bono turned out to be a really engaging drama. I didn’t expect to get so invested in it, but it completely drew me in from the beginning.I was really expecting every single episode!

What I appreciated the most was how the drama balanced legal cases with deeper social issues. Each case wasn’t just about the law—it highlighted real struggles and gave a voice to people who are often overlooked. That made the story feel both important and emotionally impactful.

The character development was also very well done. Watching the main lead grow and gradually change his perspectives!That added a lot of depth to the story. Their journey felt realistic and satisfying.

I also liked that the drama didn’t rely heavily on romance, but instead focused more on justice, morality, and personal growth. It’s definitely one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories with meaningful messages.

I could say this is my favorite drama of Jung Kyung-ho.

P.S. The performances were excellent, and the cast really brought their characters to life.

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Double ending

This is a bit of a spoiler but there's actually two endings. It's not specified in the main episode, however on the same day the show ended, there was another small 6min official video released at the same time that gives it an alternate end in a way. much happier than the ending in ep40 and we get to see a bit of both

also in this one she gets the ending she has always longed for so it truly is the case of both being happy in the end.

overall, this was a really good drama and i definitely recommend. their acting was so good and i cried plenty of times and i love the chemistry between the two.

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My comfort drama?

Tomorrow is a truly powerful drama. Honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much, but it completely surprised me—and it’s definitely a show I would rewatch many times.
Before starting it, I was a bit hesitant because I thought there might be a romance between Kim Hee-sun’s character and Rowoon, which I wasn’t really interested in. I’m so glad I gave it a chance anyway, because I would have missed out on something really special.
What stood out the most to me were the meaningful cases, the harsh but real truths they presented, and the way each intervention led to genuine changes in people’s perspectives. I found myself getting emotional in every episode. The sense of catharsis at the end of each story was incredibly impactful.
The character development is strong, and the plot is thoughtfully written. This drama really makes you reflect on life and the value of every individual’s story.
Also, huge credit to the cast—they all did an amazing job.

P.S. Lee Soo-hyuk was especially captivating in this role. I might have a soft spot for tsundere characters, but I also appreciated how his character gradually confronted and overcame his trauma.

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The flashbacks were confusing

This was pretty good, but where I have to knock it down some points is the confusion. They jump between now, high school, and their time together before the accident. It's fine that they do that but it's hard to tell the difference sometimes of what is pre-accident and what isn't. The high school stuff is pretty easy because they have their uniforms on, but the adulthood stuff is so difficult to tell the timeline of at times. They didn't do anything to show or tell you when it was happening. They should've changed up hairstyles or even do something as easy as putting text on the screen to show the past and present.

Other than that, I enjoyed the show. The main two had good chemistry and were likable characters outside of each other as well. Jeong Han was an interesting character too. Him being the bad guy didn't really shock me, but it was still a cool twist. The ending of this did feel a bit rushed though. I didn't really care for the finale.

I don't know if this happened with anyone else or just me, so I'm not going to deduct points for it, but this show took forever to air for me. It wasn't weekly and was kind of all over the place.

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Needed to be longer

Pretty cute story that I wish we had just a bit more time with. I really liked this and looked forward to the next episode every week, it just felt so short. The last two episodes felt like they needed more time as well. We should've had more once U Jin survived.

I think if we had more time to get to know the characters more, it would've made the story hit harder. I wish we got to see more of the main two together in the past as well as in the end when he survives, more of them with Tae Jun, and just all of them individually as well.

I loved the main two characters a lot and they had great chemistry together. I would love to see them in something else together. Their love story in school is so cute, especially for it taking place in 2008. It was so cute to see them fall in love. I liked seeing the differences of what happened the first-time vs when Hye Seong is reliving it.

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A Rollercoaster of emotions

OVERVIEW:

Climax presents itself as a psychological drama but quickly evolves into something far more intense. The story revolves around a group of individuals whose lives become entangled through power struggles, hidden pasts, and emotional manipulation.

At the heart of it all is the female lead, a woman who has spent years suppressing her true self to survive in an environment that constantly tries to control her. Opposite her is the male lead, a man shaped by pressure, expectations, and a deeply rooted need for control—whether over his life or the people in it.

As their paths intertwine, what begins as a tense, almost transactional relationship slowly spirals into something much more complicated, ultimately leading to a breaking point where everything unravels.

MORE DETAILS (SPOILERS):

Climax doesn’t rely on immediate shock value to pull you in. Instead, it builds its tension quietly, letting the characters carry the weight of the story. By episode 2 or 3, I found myself completely invested—not because of big twists, but because of the growing emotional intensity.

The female lead is honestly a very interesting character. At the beginning, she comes across as reserved, almost passive—but as the story progresses, you realise that her silence isn’t weakness, it’s survival. Watching her slowly reclaim her voice (both literally and emotionally) was incredibly satisfying.

The male lead, on the other hand, is much harder to read. He’s cold, calculated, and at times frustratingly detached. But the more we learn about his past, the more his behavior starts to make sense. He isn’t just controlling—he’s someone who has never been given the space to be anything else. His desire to reach the top and on the other hand to protect the one thing what really is something worth in his life.

What really stood out to me was their dynamic. It’s not a typical romance. There’s tension, resentment, and even moments where their relationship feels almost toxic. But that’s what makes it interesting. Their connection isn’t built on idealised love—it’s built on confrontation, truth, and eventually understanding.

There were moments where I struggled with how certain characters were written, especially when it came to their sudden emotional shifts. One character in particular goes from being almost irredeemable to somewhat sympathetic, and while I understand the intention, it felt slightly rushed.

Also, some of the more dramatic plot twists felt like they were pushing the boundaries a bit too far. Not enough to ruin the experience, but enough to make you question the realism.

The side characters had strong setups, but not all of them were explored as deeply as they could have been. A few arcs felt cut short just as they were getting interesting.

I DIDN‘T LIKE:

The middle portion of the drama drags slightly. There are episodes that feel more like transitions rather than meaningful progress.

This is also not an easy watch. The emotional weight of the story can be intense, especially when it comes to the characters’ trauma and relationships. Some scenes are intentionally uncomfortable, which might not appeal to everyone.

I also found some of the male lead’s decisions frustrating, especially early on. While they make sense in hindsight, they can be difficult to watch in the moment.

I LIKED:

The acting is genuinely impressive. Both leads deliver performances that feel raw and authentic, especially in emotionally charged scenes.

The cinematography deserves a mention as well. The use of lighting and framing adds a lot to the storytelling, often reflecting the characters’ internal struggles without needing explicit dialogue.

I also appreciated how the drama doesn’t simplify its characters. Everyone is flawed, and the story doesn’t try to excuse their actions—it just shows them as they are.

The tension is consistently present, even in quieter scenes, which keeps you engaged throughout.

THINGS I LOVED:

The character development is where Climax truly shines.

Watching the female lead evolve from someone who suppresses everything to someone who finally confronts her reality was incredibly powerful. Her growth felt earned, not rushed.

The male lead’s journey was equally compelling, though in a different way. Seeing him slowly reach what he yearned for - and realising the damage he caused until a certain point - added a lot of emotional depth to the story.

And their relationship? Messy, complicated, sometimes frustrating—but ultimately very real. It’s not about perfect love, it’s about two broken people trying (and often failing) to understand each other.

The final episodes deliver exactly what the buildup promises. Everything comes to a head in a way that feels intense, chaotic, and fitting for the story.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

Climax is not a light or easy drama—but it’s not trying to be.

It’s intense, emotionally heavy, and at times uncomfortable, but that’s exactly what makes it stand out.

Is it perfect? No.
Is it gripping and emotionally impactful? Absolutely.

If you enjoy character-driven stories with complex relationships and darker themes, this is definitely worth watching.

THE END:

This is the kind of drama that will definitely divide opinions. Some will find it too slow or too heavy, while others will appreciate its depth and character focus.

If you’re unsure, give it a few episodes—you’ll know pretty quickly if it’s for you.

HAPPY WATCH!

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I loved all the kitties so much!

This show was so cute and fun! I love FirstKhaotung so I knew I had to watch it! Their chemistry is always amazing! I heard this show was made for them and I think that really came across on screen. I liked their characters too as well as the rest of the cast.

I liked the story; it wasn't anything too complicated. The cats all having voices was really fun and I love how they each kind of had their own episode. They were so cute too! The way the power passed to the next person was a little strange, but I didn't mind it either.

I do wish we got more scenes between just Lynx and Tiger. I felt like that was where the show was lacking for me. We really didn't get a lot of moments of just them. Leo or the cats were always around or interrupting. I wish we got a few more kisses between them too. It's fine if it's not a spicy show, but I do wish we got them being intimate or acting like a couple a bit more.

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The worst thing I've seen since Flirt Milk

This was awful. I wouldn't recommend to anyone. This isn't even bad in the way that it's fun to watch, it's just bad.

First off, the two main characters seem so one-dimensional. They don't really have any personality. I've never read fanfics before, but they give Wattpad couple in the worst way. Sasom was just so boring to me. His actor was okay I guess but there was nothing interesting about him. Po annoyed me so much, but I think it was the actor more than the character. I don't know if anyone else feels this way, maybe it was just me, but the actor for Po gave me the ick with his facial expressions all throughout the show. He almost seemed like they were forced and very stereotypical "gay" facial expressions which almost made it feel homophobic. Just very creepy. (I really hope someone knows what I mean when I say that). That made me really not like his character.

The plot for these two was not thought out at all. Everything with Po's dad was such a waste. He popped into the story way too late for anyone to care. If this was going to be a thing, why did it wait until episode like 9 or 10?! The show is wrapping up at that point. Even the whole thing with Po being the new "peach" seemed to be such an afterthought. The show seemed more just about two people who like to have s*x. Which speaking of the spicy scenes...sheesh. This show is already a big risk because of what the plot is supposed to be and therefore there will be a lot of spicy scenes, which is fine, but when the plot is practically nonexistent...you just have p*rn. Don't get me wrong, I love a spicy BL, but this was just not it. Between there being no plot, the characters being unlikable, and the relationship being noting more than s*x, it made the spice scenes super unenjoyable to me. All the conversations that were had in this were also just so boring that I watched them on 2x speed and it was still boring me.

For the second couple, if they can even be called that...girl where were they? They had absolutely no screentime. I couldn't even tell you their names if I tried. Also, the one who works at the coffee shop and Po are supposed to be best friends, but I think they had maybe two scenes together. The show ended and I don't think either one of them even knew the other had a boyfriend. The second couple was so nonexistent in the show that I don't know why they even had them in there. They felt so disconnected from the main story.

I heard they used AI for the art too which is another huge thumbs down for the series.

This was actually just such a waste of time. I can't say enough how bad this is. Bad acting, bad writing, bad everything.

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A Visual Masterpiece With a Weak Plot

“Siren’s Kiss” is a drama that hooks you from the very first episode. It has a stunning cast, great music, and strong visuals, but there are a few “buts” that slightly ruin the overall impression.

I’ll start with the actors. I’m a huge fan of Park Min Young and her roles as a femme fatale — I’ve always thought those characters suit her best. I knew Wi Ha Joon from “Crazy and Bad,” and just like Min Young, he also did really well in a dramatic role. The rest of the cast also performed their roles excellently.

The plot is genuinely interesting and keeps you engaged. You remain unsure about Han Seol A’s guilt until the very end. However, the main issue is its simplicity. No matter how well the actors perform, the story turns out to be too predictable. It feels like the writers were trying to mislead the audience, but they didn’t succeed very well, and from the early episodes it becomes clear who is who.

The relationships between the characters are also poorly developed. We are shown that Seol A and Eun Hyeok were close, but the only real evidence of this is a few scenes — for example, when Seol A protects him and Eun Hye from their father, and some bar scenes where they drink together. Because of this, it’s unclear where Eun Hyeok’s obsession comes from.

The relationships between Han Seol A and her lovers are also only briefly shown, and it’s not clear what exactly attracted them to her. This is another weak point.

Another thing I dislike is how the main characters constantly break the law without any consequences. For example, Cha U Seok casually enters crime scenes and private property even though he is not a police officer, and still faces no punishment. The same applies to Seol A and other characters. There are too many moments like this, and it would take too long to list them all.

Despite everything, my expectations were still somewhat met. The main mystery — who killed Seol A’s lovers — is kept until the very end.

The OST is truly amazing, as is the cinematography and production work.

I would recommend "Siren’s Kiss” for its beautiful visuals, strong cast, and overall atmosphere. However, if you’re looking for a serious detective or thriller story, this is probably not for you.

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