Reviews

Eccentric Style of Time Travel Show, But Fell Out at The End

We have another time travel drama again! This time it was Shin Seo Ri, the FL, who travelled from Joseon era to the modern Korea. By reading the summary, I thought it was going to be a usual romcom or something like that. However, this show was executed in the unusual way. Everytime you see a situation that makes you think "oh, this is going to be another cliche", they snapped it out and brought something unique.

However this unique executions stopped in later episodes. They were too makjang-ish even for a fantasy show. The way Seo Ri casually time travelled back and forth in the last episode was peak makjang. This show is also a plot-hole fest. As someone time travelling from the past, adapting to the latest technology should be difficult. Normally a time traveller in a drama gets a sidekick who constantly gives a brief about their usual habit etc. However, Shin Seo Ri was totally alone. Yet she was able to use a smartphone (she even left it at home at the beginning), pick up some foreign words easily, and even understand medical diagnose from doctors. A lot of questionable storylines including: why Seo Ri's parents did suicide, why Mo Tae Hui suddenly changed her goal, why Choi Mun Do's assistant betrayed him, and what the heck was the extras actress trying to pull? The ending was underwhelming for Mun Do in both Joseon and present era, like after all these pains he didn't taste his own medicine.

The highlight of the show? It's obviously the casts performance. Lim Ji Yeon succesfully pulled a ruthless-emotionless (and old-fashioned) woman. All the casts here successfully increased your blood pressure in their own way. The ost for this show is really good.

Should you watch it? Yeah, it's quite refreshing. Especially if you want to see how a common cliche build ups got twisted in a unique way.

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Finally, the revenge K-drama we actually deserved!

TEACH YOU A LESSON was one of my most anticipated dramas this year, and it absolutely did not disappoint! If you are sick and tired of shows where the villains get away with everything until the very last minute, you need to watch this right now. It is one of the most incredibly satisfying viewing experiences I’ve had in a long time.

The series dives deep into a world where the ultra-rich and their spoiled kids think they are completely untouchable, believing their money and status place them way above the law.

The first episode kicks off with a massive start, and from there, the plot settles into a highly engaging case-by-case format, exposing one troubled school after another. Across 10 episodes, the drama masterfully tackles major school-related crimes, including physical violence, substance abuse, cybercrimes, stalking, defamation, and scams.

Why you will love it
Pure, direct justice: There is no room for absurd forgiveness or letting the bad guys slide. Every single hater, bully, and "privileged" brat gets put exactly where they belong in the most epic way possible.

Absolute satisfaction: Every single episode feels like a massive win. Watching these rich kids lose their masks of superiority and seeing their empire of arrogance crumble is deeply addictive.

Relentless pacing: It doesn't waste time beating around the bush. It gets straight to the point and keeps your adrenaline pumping from start to finish.

Verdict: A brilliant, cathartic, and damn satisfying drama. If you are looking for a show where justice is served cold right to the faces of those who think they own the world, Teach You a Lesson is an absolute must-watch!

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The most NCs I've seen in a Japanese BL

This drama is literally a NC fest😂😂 at 1st I was like did they add it for views but apparently the manga is the same. It has NC every single episode without miss. It's good for a short drama. The story is decent and the acting is good too. If you're wondering why the rating is soo low apparently it's cz the actors are ugly which I don't agree with.

The makeup was a little too dewy but overall it's an easy watch. Skip it if too much NCs bother you. I didn't expect soo much NC cz the poster looked cute😅😅 so.

If you've read "Punch Drunk Love" this one is pretty similar😂😂 minus the oblivious uke.

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I cried so much but still felt good

This series makes you smile, laugh, cry, angry.
I always like bittersweet crying series where you cry but hopeful, not ugly crying and feeling the plot overly sad and difficult to swallow.
At least 2 key scenes made me cry.
It was so satisfying. You cry but you don't feel overly down because you're sure things will be alright in the end.
Very good acting from the main and supporting actors. Day is very believable, you're kinda annoyed by him but can't help to want to root for him. You can tell Mhok's actor is very deep into the role. Porjai is very beautiful. Night can represent the hit close to home feeling for some audience.
The OST. The moment you hear the OST you lock in. This OST bring you inside last twilight world instantly.
The ending can be knitted more tightly and beautifully, but well. The 90% before is more than enough to make this one of my favorite series and ignore the last part. At least you folk don't experience the hurt of some ending out there which is so abrupt and saddening it ruined the whole series. This ending, while not perfect, is hopeful and leave you feeling good. The director is famous for making very very very good series with high emotional value but rushed ending anyway. Maybe he'll find a better formula someday. I'm willing to forgive it for that key climax scene.
Overall, the series is very good it neutralize the rushed ending.

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Shadows that need a light to give them shape.

☑️ The plot for the first 10 episodes: 6.5-7/10.
🔸️Just so and so. I mostly used 2x speed during my watching.

✅️ The plot for the last 19 episodes: 8- 8.5/10.
🔸️It took me 10 episodes for me to fully engage with the plot.
🔸️I enjoyed the story better when our leads were trapped in the Star Stone's illusion. I liked Wu Shi Guang and Wu Wang Yan's story more than the main couple's. Their story gave me feelings the main couple hadn't. The chemistry & the spark between the two were electric. The couple exuded a more mature vibe, and their love developed so naturally that it was believable and tugged at my heartstrings.
🔸️Lu Wu Yi's and Ji Ling's story was just okay to me. Their scenes that made me feel the most were when Lu Wu Yi went back 150 years in the past for Ji Ling. What happened there… was truly heart-wrenching. Poor Ji Ling and Lu Wu Yi. Till now, I still remember the pain from those episodes 😭😭.
🔸️The flow of the story in the last 1/3rd was quite complex and confusing because the past revelations were done bit by bit. We went back and forth from the past (50 years, 150 years, 1000 years) to the present; many things were hard to understand. I felt so dumb while watching 😂. Of course, you won't be as confused when the puzzle of the story is completed later. You just got to be patient...

✅️ The acting: 8-8.5/10.
🔸️I enjoyed Joseph Zeng's, Chen Du Ling's, and Tian Jia Rui's acting the most. Since Feud, I liked Joseph Zeng's acting . I have no more doubt about Chen Du Ling's acting after watching her in The Glory and now, this drama. Tian Ji Rui did not impress in MJTY and FOF, but here, he slayed his roles as Ji Ling and Dragon Deity. My opinion of Ju Jing Yi's acting is the same. It is still 50:50. Sometimes I feel her character, but sometimes, not.

✅️ Cinematography, Costumes, OST: 8.5-10/10.
🔸️Knowing this director, you would instantly know the aesthetic would be spectacular 🤌, even prior to your watching.
🔸️The OST took me a while to get used to, but most of them were pleasant to listen to. My favorite: Time Woven in Mist by Xin Liu (Wu Shi Guang + Wu Wang Yan's theme song)

Others:

I can't help but compare this drama with Fangs of Fortune. The latter left a bad taste in my mouth even after nearly 2 years post-watching. It made me doubt this director, Edward Guo. So I didn't place high expectations when I started in this drama. I was ready to drop this at any time. But man, I was glad I was wrong. I enjoyed this drama more than I expected to.

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Bringing back the old but gold k-romcom we used to have

Liking this drama wasn’t a surprise for me. I’m usually a fan of time travel/soul swapping trope so I knew I would like this one in the moment I watched the trailer. Both main leads here are hot tempered too, which made their dynamic really interesting and funny to see. I was already convinced by their acting and chemistry since EP1. And in a time where acting seems to be forgotten, it was really refreshing to see actors who really can act.

Im Ji Yeon showed another version of her and if you watched her being a villain in The Glory, you will be surprised by how different she is here. That’s what a good actress do and her acting was really on point here. She nailed every scene. There’s a lot of funny scenes that she did amazingly without being cringe. But I’m not gonna lie, Heo Nam Jun was the best thing in the drama for me. He also nailed all scenes and he’s sooooo expressive. His eyes can literally tell everything that the character is feeling.

Cha Se Gye was exactly the type of main lead we used to see in old k-dramas: he’s rich, dramatic as fuck, possessive, hot tempered but at the same time the boy it’s a yearner and would do literally EVERYTHING for Seo Ri. He didn’t care about anyone else. I think it's been a while since I've seen a male lead in a k-drama be like that and literally swallow his own pride for the girl he likes. He didn't care about being pathetic and I loved that. When he thought Seo Ri was gone? The boy almost died and cried his eyes out like wtfffff #NEEDTHAT. I wouldn’t say he’s perfect tho because in real life some of his actions could be a red flag but a character like that in fiction? GIVE ME MORE!! I also screamed in all the romantic scenes like the chemistry between the main leads was on fire.

Jang Seung Jo as a villain was good too. He can really convince us right away. In fact, I felt that all actors here did a great job in their respective roles. Seori’s nanny and Segye’s secretary was on point too. The main plot about the soul swapping/reincarnation was also interesting and we even had some plot twists that made the drama more interesting.

But although I enjoyed the drama, I think the last episodes were a bit off, don’t know if anyone felt the same. I feel like in the beginning of the drama the pacing was better but after EP12 things got a little too fast paced, especially the villain arc and the issue with the company. Mun Do was a good villain but then I felt his whole story got flat. The soul swapping thing and the correlation with the past was also confunsing in last episode. It’s unfortunate because the drama was moving really good and then I felt it declined a bit.

Overall, although not perfect, My Royal Nemesis was a likeable drama that reminded me the old but gold k-romcom we used to have. We know these dramas aren’t perfect right but they are so enjoyable and they just have the exactly good things that make us enjoy watching a drama. I feel exactly like that with My Royal Nemesis. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a good romcom with good acting and chemistry between the leads. Cha Se Gye you’ll definitely be one of the my favorites male lead of the year lol

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Good Drama

I think the title Netflix gave it confused a lot of people; the nemesis thing doesn't last long because Segye falls in love quickly lol, since the literal Korean title is "Wonderful New World" (Meotjin Sinsegye)


I feel like it could have been 16 episodes long to give more development to certain things, like Seori's relationship with Segye's grandfather, why Dansim marries the king, why Seori's "friend" hates her, and a conversation between Jihyo and Seori.

But it was pretty good; I didn't feel so disappointed like some dramas do when they reach the end. The actors did a good job.

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lackluster vertical series

Overall: note that this is not a BL series, there is a small BL part to it. I was annoyed by all of the lead characters at various points. 50 short episodes. 1-5 for free on the Shortime app. The rest you can watch for free by watching ads. My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.

Content Warnings: intimate partner abuse/violence (including choking), manipulation, mental health struggles, likely more that I'm forgetting

What I Liked
- the gay couple, though there was very little of them
- character growth with the lead guy

Room For Improvement
- all of the lead characters were annoying at various points
- it seemed the abuser and the professor would have some consequences, but I wanted to see him in jail which I realize is unrealistic but at least in fictional media jail time for an abuser would be nice to see
- the stupid jingle at the end of each episode including some that were very serious
- "comedy" sound effects
- odd camera work

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There were things to love, there were things to question, and there were things to criticize.

Objectively great rom-com, subjectively I had a few beefs with certain aspects. Specific parts and elements were perfect, but they did not quite make a perfect picture. Be in the characters, plot, set up, twist - some imbalances and conflicts just made me roll my eyes a few times too many. I had fun while watching the episodes, but I was never truly excited to start them.

Se Gye was the true unrealistically perfect male lead. His undying love for Seo Ri made all the best men on the planet combine seem mediocre. Handsome, hot, devoted, rich, smart and dedicated, but also willing to show vulnerability to the person he loves. As a romantic interest, he did not have any flaws. The man that no one deserves. What’s more? I adore how the moment he figured out he likes Seo Ri (which did not take him that long), he did not act dumb and was not led by his ego - he acted according to his feelings, did not hide them, did not pretend like he was not interested. Do I want one for myself? Of course.

As amazing as a romantic lead he was, it’s not the same story outside of the lovey-dovey scenes. From the start he was set up to be a masterclass of manipulation and schemes, a fool only to the woman he loves. So why did he keep making the dumbest mistakes over and over again by the end of the drama? You want to tell me that this man with what they claim is a working brain would not take precautions against whatever wild plan Mun Do might have, being fully aware his dear cousin had no issue killing people? Apparently, the moment you drove your enemy into a corner is also the best time to be alone at night in the dark parking lot, asking to be stabbed. He kept underestimating Mun Do without proper explanation, while also writers claiming he can predict every step Mun Do makes to bring him down… so which one is it?

Then we have our lovely female lead Seo Ri - I love this woman as an individual. From the opening scene I knew her story was worth following. Strong, brave, smart. Caring for people she loves. Her strong will to survive and lead a good life was truly inspiring.

I was excited for Seo Ri's scenes outside of the romance. Her slow journey into becoming actually content and confident and not just putting the front as a defense mechanism. Her search for who she was and how to navigate in the “new” world. Her growing career and how she slowly took the spotlight with her sheer talent. Her story was truly amazing.

As for the dynamic between the main characters vs their individual stories… For most of the screen time I did not care for Cha Se Gye as a character outside of his romance with Seo Ri. I did not care about Seo Ri as a character inside her romance with Se Gye. And that clashed badly. I was half excited for the romance scenes, because of Se Gye. Seo Ri gave me the bare minimum, and the last two episodes with grand gestures and sacrifices were not enough. Yes, I loved the last two episodes, but that does not negate the lukewarm romance I’ve got from her in the previous 12… Only in the last two episodes they tried to switch the focus for the leads - we dived deeper into the company politics and schemes on Se Gye’s side, and Seo Ri’s love and devotion to Se Gye. Too little, too late.

Their relationship just felt painfully uneven for most of the drama. She was his whole life, but he was not hers. They made him unrealistically perfect, and made her beautifully realistically flawed. And these two writing types do not match well together. It makes the viewer frustrated with the well written complex character, because they keep hurting the unrealistically perfect one. So when she blamed him for her own mistakes, or pushed him away, I kept thinking - do I even want them together? When he is always the one giving in? It’s kind of annoying to watch. If we talk about character writing she is so much better and more complex. But if you talk about my delulu feels, Se Gye is the gold standard. Love her as a female character. Love him as a love interest.

And I want to state it clearly - Seo Ri’s behavior was valid and made perfect sense. I understand why her character was written like that, why she made the choices she made. Does not negate the fact their relationship did not feel equal up until the last 2 episodes. For quite a big portion of the story she was too self-absorbed. For valid reasons. But one can be right for themselves and that makes them wrong for another person. Too many times she did not learn from her past mistakes at all, did not trust him no matter what he did for her and how open he was. And again, all valid behavior taking into consideration her past, but it's also true that it was all unfair towards Se Gye.

Still, the last episode was so strong, they did make me momentarily forget about that tiny frustration I felt when watching the show.

For the other characters, the two I was especially happy with their developments: Mo Tae Hui and Cha Dal Su. For my girl - I love how they did not let her burn and become the evil second female lead. She fought as long as she thought she had a chance, and when she clearly saw it wouldn't work - she gave up that romantic relationship and entered partnership. I loved that for her. She would work hard for a man, but she would not destroy herself for one. As for Cha Dal Su - obviously an asshole, but in a realistic way. I was scared they would make him oblivious to Mun Do’s schemes, so knowing he was up to date with the shenanigans made me happy.

On the other hand, Mun Do was a huge disappointment. Flat, poorly written, annoying. A lot of things shown about him made no sense. Did he even do any work himself? He kept spying and following Se Gye and Seo Ri personally, as if he would not have people to do it for him. I wish they explored his relationship with his son more - 2 or 3 phone conversations about the kid is not enough to validate his last scene with Seo Ri. It had no emotional impact, because they did not set it up enough.

Moving strictly to the plot.

What I love about this show is how unpredictable it was on a tiny scale. You had all the cliches and they all got a royal twist to them. The scene starts, I recognize the pattern I have seen 938475645987654 times in other dramas, I know how this ends... and then it takes a sharp U-turn. The end of ep 7 and beginning of ep 8 was a good example of that: you expect them to announce they are dating and even if not announced, this coming out in public as gossip. Nope. Seo Ri had a different plan to calm the media and explain the situation. Lead up being exactly what you expect, the conclusion not so much - love it.

On a more technical part of the storytelling and choices made - love how Seo Ri did not adapt to modern time on day one. She kept the speaking mannerisms of Joseon till the end - even if it became less and less obvious. And how Se Gye was just okay with her weird behavior. For the longest time he did not know about her time travel, he just thought she was strange like that and vibed with it.

Sadly, the whole past storyline was a complete flop except for the opening scene in episode 1. Underdeveloped and honestly inconsequential for the modern story for most of the show. They went with "past is mimicking the present" and not "present is mimicking the past" and it completely changed the viewing experience.

Less of the drama flaw, more of a difference in perspectives, but I always feel so conflicted about this whole "scarifying yourself for the other person's life" plotlines... It's hard to call it selfish since the character is giving up so much, but also... it is by all means selfish. Because if they were in the position of the person "dying" they would not want their loved one to give up anything for them. So at the end of the day they are choosing what will be easier for them - give up what's important to you, save the person you love, instead of living alone with the guilt of them being gone. What the "saved" person wants and decides is not even part of the consideration. It’s a well known trope and plot development, so it’s not necessarily a dig against My Royal Nemesis alone, but I wish if the dramas decide to use it, they would present it in more depth, as a moral dilemma it is.

For the big plot twist of Seo Ri from the past actually being the original Seo Ri from the modern times - great idea, mixed execution. I wish they actually set up the existence of said twist better. For most of the drama, the majority of viewers did not even consider the possibility of the twist existing and for me that’s a bit of a failure for the storytelling. It means the twist was simply not set up, just revealed in its full glory when the timing was right. It felt more like a cope to give a happy ending, and not the well developed part of the plot.

I am also honestly shocked how much I loved the last episode. Even though I am 100% confused about the past storyline… I guess that past story has an open ending, we are not meant to know what happened to them. The little “flashback” is more of the imagined ending by the leads, and not a confirmed conclusion. Still, what a solid last episode. I am so used to being disappointed by the last episodes of the drama, I am shocked with my current level of enjoyment. Not gonna lie, the angst desperate era Se Gye went through was everything I needed in life. Seo Ri stepping up and matching Se Gye’s dedication was also something I kept craving to see. The bad guys being published, the good guys moving on with their lives. Loved the details like using the deepfake team from earlier episodes against Mun Do. Little moments that put a smile on my face.

We obviously, as always in any drama in existence, had a whole set of dumb choices from not caring for danger, misunderstandings, miscommunications, saying you will be honest with each other, to lie and hide shit next scene - the usual sins of kdramas. Things we slowly learn to accept, ignore and move on.

As for the performances - bless Im Ji Yeon and Heo Nam Jun. Will start with Heo Nam Jun since it will be shorter - this man knows how to act in love. There are some actors who are so good at showing love with their eyes and micro expressions I could easily be fooled to believe they actually love their co-stars.

As for Im Ji Yeon, this was an extremely hard role to deliver. She truly had to give us everything - tragedy, comedy, romance, mystery. She had to feel strong and imposing because of her Joseon back story, but also vulnerable and delicate because of her modern circumstances. The slow changes in her behavior, mannerisms, way of talking, moving, addressing people. Showing how the character slowly adapts to her situation while not losing the hints of the past life impact. She did not miss one beat, not one scene seemed off.

For the production - this is a typical case of good, but not memorable. Do I remember one moment that stood out because of the scenery, set design, editing, camera work? No. Be it in a good or bad way.

Side note, can we get a new hair stylist for Se Gye. Heo Nam Jun should have his hair either all up or all down - this weird side bangs… not it.

Overall, a really enjoyable watch. A lot of unexplored potential might be the reason I did not rate it higher. I was good, but it could have been great. There are some shows that exist for pure entertainment and nothing would fix the plot to make more than that. But I feel like a few changes here and there could make this drama great.

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A Rom-Com With a Brain

A time-travel rom-com about a royal concubine and a modern chaebol heir — with enough emotional instability between them to keep a therapist, a shaman, and possibly a crisis hotline busy — already sounds like chaos, and it is. But the chaos has a brain. Under the body-swapping, palace baggage, and culture-clash comedy, the plot actually carries weight. These characters aren't props dressed up to service a gimmick. They feel like real people — proud, messy, wanting things, and spectacularly bad at handling any of it — and that's what keeps the whole ride alive. Silly, sure. Never empty.

HORNY, DIFFICULT, AND COMPLETELY INTO EACH OTHER

The romance is where that pays off first. This isn't one of those dramas where the main source of sexual tension is catching the female lead mid-stumble. It works because of who these two people actually are: sharp, vain, reactive, and just a little bit unwell — in the best possible way. They annoy each other. They challenge each other. They are clearly into each other long before either one can admit it without combusting. Crucially, the drama lets all of that stay adult, which is half the fun. The flirting crackles. Secretary Son hears that Seo-ri brewed Se-gye some herbal tea and immediately weaponizes it into a stamina joke. There's the arm-size Namsan Tower gag. This is a show that knows grown people can want each other without acting like they were raised in a convent and released into society last Tuesday.

EVERYONE IN THIS CAST GOT THE MEMO

A lot of that clicks because the cast is operating on the exact same wavelength. Im Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun are doing far more than looking good, bickering well, and having chemistry — though they are doing all three at an obnoxiously high level. What sets them apart is the character work sitting underneath all the fun. Both swing from absurd to aching without a jolt, saying so much through the smallest things: a flicker of pride, a beat of cold calculation, a glance that's half irritation and half longing. That's what gives Sin Seo-ri and Cha Se-gye real shape — not just entertaining together, but genuinely layered together.

Secretary Son is an obvious gift, but he's far more than a punchline dispenser with immaculate hair. His reactions sharpen scenes and keep the comedy quick instead of labored. And Jang Seung-jo deserves real credit. His villain is written and played like a person with a full interior life — not just there to glare, meddle, and wait politely for defeat. He has motive, grievance, and emotional logic, which makes the conflict hit harder than it has any right to in a show this gleefully committed to royal nonsense.

THE DIRECTOR SAID "GO PLAY" AND THEY DID NOT MISS

You can feel the director giving the cast room to breathe. Scenes don't march from beat to beat like they're following traffic signals. There's looseness in the rhythm, space for genuine ad-libs, and a sense that the actors are allowed to play instead of just deliver. That's why the comedy feels alive rather than factory-sealed.

MORE BRAIN, LESS GRANDMA

And here's where it gets maddening: the drama knows exactly what it has in these two, and then slowly starts acting like it forgot. From episode one, Se-gye isn't just a handsome man in expensive suits — he's sharp, ruthless, and very good at what he does. And Seo-ri is absolutely not what anyone would call low-key. She has force-of-nature energy — opinionated, chaotic, wonderfully difficult — that keeps knocking scenes sideways in all the right ways. The show even sets up the quietly thrilling promise of watching Se-gye go to work on a villain with actual inner life. You can see the better version of the second half sitting right there, ready to go.

Which is why it's genuinely frustrating that the second half pivots so hard toward the grandmother arc and the extended metaphysical question of where her soul is meant to be parked. Both storylines clearly want to matter. But somewhere in all that, Se-gye's edge gets less room and Seo-ri's spark starts to dim — and you feel that loss more than you'd expect to.

The later episodes still have plenty going for them. They just never quite get that snap back. The grandmother arc carries real emotional weight, but it takes up so much real estate that the drama quietly starts starving its best ingredients — the layered villain, the adult romance, Se-gye's sharpness, Seo-ri's chaos. All still present. Just running on reduced rations.

STILL DERANGED, STILL COMPLETELY WORTH IT

This drama is gleefully unhinged in all the right ways, and it earns every bit of that chaos. It's funny, sexy, stranger than it has any business being, and smarter about its own ridiculousness than it first lets on. The final stretch softens some of that earlier bite — but not enough to undo what came before. Because the best romantic mayhem was never going to come from nice people being politely into each other. It was always going to come from strong personalities colliding, sharp writing keeping them on their toes, and a cast committed enough to make the whole beautiful mess look easy. This show has all three.

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From perfection to nonsense

Everything after ep10 is nonsense, especially the final episode. What was the point of all this chaos? It should have been a simple reincarnation story and the comedy wouldn't have been ruined. Going back in time, coming back, going back again, coming back again. What nonsense.They were too busy dealing with nonsense to have time for the Choi Mundo incident. They just solved it stupidly in 2-3 minutes. I didn't give it low ratings because of the previous episodes I enjoyed and the cast. There isn't a single person I dislike. if the cast hadn't been so great, I would have given it very low ratings

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