Reviews

Episode 2 reveals why their relationship has remained unchanged for two years. Higashi never rejected Fumihara because of his gender—he simply couldn't treat the most important person in his life casually. What seemed like hesitation was actually respect and fear of ruining the comfort they had built together. Rather than relying on dramatic twists, the series quietly explores emotional intimacy, making every conversation and shared movie outing feel meaningful. It's a thoughtful episode that asks whether "ordinary love" is ever truly ordinary.

Streaming: TVer (Japan, free), FOD (Japan).

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It Was Good

Southern anecdote starts its story in a city where a series of strange cases often occur, with supernatural and surreal elements. Given the Introduction to the main premise of the story, Southern Archives, an undercover organization under the alias of a famous company, dispatches a great duo of its agents to investigate. Following the adventures of the two agents and all the disasters they made, problems created, and solutions they ought to provide.

What I like in this show.

Their relationship, specifically their brotherhood, immerses an out-of-the-world depiction. Considering how much we didn't get much build-up/backstory in their brotherhood, it still felt amazingly realistic and tugging at one's heart; their performance gave the live, intensity, and power to their brotherhood. The brotherhood was touching, angsty, conflicting, and most of the time heartwarming. Even amidst the backdrop of the conflicts surrounding their brotherhood and personal lives, we could see the thin line of love and deep connection with care. Their relationship with their mentor is one to be mentioned; the mentor and student relationship was nonchalant, playful, lighthearted, and most times heartwarming, while looking underneath all the precious, truthful facade, the trust, responsibility, and care outshone all the playfulness and put that tender warmth in my heart at every one of their peaceful family period of the three.

The performance of most of the actors and both actresses, from the seamlessly tailored main casting to the amazing supporting casts and even the scene catchers from the guest actors, really contributed the most to this show; if they hadn't given this outstanding performance, the drama wouldn't have been given this popularity and rating.

Ding Yuxi displayed a new range of acting skills in this role, tackling a challenging task of depicting a multifaceted character to its core: depicting a psychopathic savage character, and the opposite cool character with a deep sense of warmth, pain, care, and regret; he really carried the role on like any other role I have seen him play. Zhang Xin Cheng designs his own space taken this role as one of mine best and unforgettable role up I have watched him played, though not given a wider range to showcase a vast embodiment, he showed clearly his dedication to the role and clearing all my uncertainties on his take, bearing, sustaining and immaculately depicting the emotional complexities the character had to offer, Zhang Xin Cheng was definitely more than a meet of an eye, would definitely love to see him in more projects in the future.

Even with the CGI not being well rendered, and the special effects giving a less than okay vibes, that feels okay, each of the few fight, their sequences and the neatly choreographed work subsequently continued to amaze me, following an emmaculate wireworks that felt absence through the dedication of the cast and crew, from the close hand to hand combat to the knife clashes, to much more, they were done mostly done precisely. The only thing is they should have given more attention to the fight scenes.

The plotline showcases something less convoluted, but gradually and steadily draws an overarching mystery that culminates in a whole process of thrilling suspense and seeking answers (leaving me quite disoriented and disturbed while watching the show, but you could find it interesting), that carefully unravels things, leaning closer to the end.


What I didn't quite enjoy

It was befitting to say the conflict between the brotherhood of the character was well emphasized (which is a downvote for me), and seemingly prolonged. The ending episode was a little rushed, as more details ought to be added seamlessly. Given how much conflict the brotherhood/bromance bore, they could have wrapped everything up in 30 eps, with the inclusion of the rushed ending, and mended everything well.

Conclusion

The drama was an extremely good watch for me; the ending gave a nice closure to some viewers, but that's not the case. I went into this expecting something that included more adventures rather than the bizarre cases, but everything amounted to a really great watch for me. With a great performance from the stunning cast, showcasing their due dedication where it matters, and even the villains stole scenes from the show, the plotline was overbearing at times, but it lets you understand everything as you watch more towards the end

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Way better than others say.

I'm technically rewatching this because I fell asleep last time at episode 2 due to dsfs LMAO. Anyways, because I fell asleep last time I did not remember a single shit about this Bl. But I kinda dropped this for weeks and decided to pick it up again. Which I wasn't super confident about since the reviews were realllyyy bad. And I have to say, this Bl is wayyy beter than many comments or reviews say. I heard people say many just hate on it because of MarkOhm and that makes me sad... They are so cute together. The plot Isn't exactly how it's described but that's okay! Of course you can dislike this by the way, opinions are opinions!

Let's start at the first good points. I'm a BIG fan of the OST ยาวิเศษ (Magic Potion) it's soooo cute . I fucking luvvv it. The intro itself has cute letter animations, sadly doesn't show a lot about the series itself. It's just really fun and silly, just like the song! Everything about the production itself looks extremely simple but in my opinion that doesn't matter a lot. The story is cute enough and doesn't need to be extremely special. I'm gonna be very honest right here but I'm not the biggest fan of Jittirain. Some of her work is incredible but some are also bad. I either love or hate it. Pepzi has to my opinion made sooo much good stuff. I don't think there's a drama out there that she has directed that I didn't like. I also love how Klom is the composer!!

I fucking love how they went on cute datessss. Each time they went on one my heart melted. They had such a romantic friendship that it felt like they had been dating for years. I'm not even joking I was screaming at my screen. They had the type of slowborn where you kinda had to wait for the confession even though it was clear they both like each other. For people who don't like slow burn I do NOT suggest this series. It's really slow. I do kinda have the feeling this series is more focused on a younger audience? Not gonna lie but everything was too adorable and slow for it to be for older audience. Also the poster, song and style is kinda childish. This does not matter to me at all, but it's just something I noticed. I like how both Jay and Sant are huge green flags and they actually have communicationnn. Feels like this lacks in a lot of series, because I think communication is very important in a relationship.

Finally a series with a rare jobbb!! I feel like I've become tired of the engineering student/medical student trope or the one where on of the ML are rich ceos, doctor, Idols and mafia's. I like how one is a dentist (yes, technically medical but still rare) and the other a YouTuber who loves deserts. It helps set a cute trope and it just feels different.

Like I mentioned before the hate seems extremely forced. Maybe I just liked it too much so I don't get it but a lot of people are talking about the bad plot. And here's the thing, to my opinion the plot isn't like how it is described. It's described like Sant just has a lot of dental problems due to him liking deserts and that Jay has to fix everything. The emotional growth is one thing that it lacks and I agree with that. I also saw people being mad at it having almost 0 NC scene's.... WHAT. Sant and his mother's relationship could've been more complicated. But besides those things, I don't get the amount of hate it is receiving.

I really liked Kak!! I always like it when Poon plays a character because he's always funny but serious. He seems to want to actually help his friends but doesn't really know how to. It was quite funny to me how Kak didn't even figure his friend Sant dating Jay. His unrequited love for Yada was lowkey funny but also kinda sad. Bro really caught feelings for someone in a lesbian relationship. I'm not gonna lie Yada also treated him a little shitty. I love Yada but she should've made some shit clear to him as well. Move on brooo.

Do not listen to all the bad reviews! Form your own opinion by watching it. This is something I've seen multiple people talk about already. There's a lot of people who don't like it. But don't let others influence what you watch and don't miss out on this banger (in my opinion).

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Drama soo good one wouldn't realise it was shot in 1 house

99% of the drama is literally shot in 1 house. The drama is definitely a budget friendly one but the script and acting didn't make us feel it. I absolutely loved the clumsy cop x killer plot. Each and every actor in the series, including the father were serving looks with amazing acting. They did lack blood supply though🤣 cz when it came to blood splatter scenes which would need large amounts of fake blood they just switch the camera angle and hide it. It was funny to watch them do that over and over again. Overall I really liked the drama it was super interesting. The plot twist was pretty shocking for me although I did guess it to some extent, it was definitely not what I thought was the story.

The reason I gave it a 9 was cz i felt some scenes were just kinda out of context. Like after all the villain die they just makeout infront of the bodies😳 umm what?

Also I felt like in the last 2 episodes I needed more scenes instead of them just hinting everything. I feel if this drama had a good budget with 12 episodes. Even with the same actors and directors it'd have been a masterpiece. Especially if they added the backstory of the leads like how I Do ended up with the mayor's man and how he raised him... and his attachment towards him finally leading to his death..that build up would be amazing. Same in the case of Tae Jeong, if they showed his life with his family and how the father's death affected his life. His wish to avenge his father's death, the betrayal.. if those scenes were given the right time 🤌🤌 .. but it's fine. It is actually really good just as it is.

Special mention to Kim Seung Beom's nose. I just couldn't take my eyes off his nose (in a good way🤣) it's like this absolutely perfect shaped nose and is like the perfect size, shape which makes him slay that side profile❤️ and also the killers... someone definitely had taste🤭🤭 cz all the killers were soo damn handsome

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A Beautiful Beginning That Lost the Tide

I watched Summer Strike after seeing a TikTok edit and wondering how I’d managed to miss it. The first episode immediately hooked me. I even started the second one instead of going to bed.

The opening episodes are exactly what I hoped for. The small coastal town, the library, and the central idea of stepping away from a life that has become nothing more than surviving all felt wonderfully understated. It had all the ingredients of a memorable healing drama.

Unfortunately, it never quite maintained that momentum for me.

The series tackles a lot of heavy subjects, but they didn’t have the emotional impact I’d expected. I’m not entirely sure why, perhaps because there were so many dramatic storylines competing for attention that none of them had enough space to breathe.

My biggest disappointment was the setting. I wish the ocean had become more of a character. The town and library were charming, but the coast felt underused. Given the premise, I kept expecting the sea to play a larger role in the story’s atmosphere and the characters’ healing.

Even so, I’m glad I watched it. The first quarter of the drama is genuinely captivating, and although the rest didn’t quite live up to that promise for me, it still offered moments of warmth and reflection that made it worthwhile.

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The expectation was set differently but the girls still rules

Contrary to popular opinion I enjoyed Girl Rules a lot more than I thought I would. My first GL didn't disappoint me at all. While my expectations were set for something else, this turned out not at all bad.

The plot is well written. Did I anticipate it to be more messy, toxic and deep? Yes but it was still good enough to reach my heart. The problem is the pilot and trailer set a different expectation for the series, making it the GL equivalent of Only Friends. But it was way less messy in terms the cross relations. In the middle it did fell of a bit however while it took a different part it still managed to show multiple issues w|w relationship faces, all the issues women as a general face in the society. Through the characters it showed us about the value of love, friendship and care. Each of the character carried their own back story. Bambi's character was well written and had the multidimension while most slid towards one dimensional characters. What really made me stay till the end was how the scenes are played, which felt closer to reality, as if I was a part of the Girl Rules universe. There was no rush or scenes which felt unnecessary. The girlhood and sisterhood played throughout the story made my heart warm.

The direction was great. I don't know what people are complaining about. This was not just for the adrenaline, this felt more like stories about actual queer women. I loved the direction style. The pace was perfect. The color grading and editing was perfect. The styling is chef kiss. The sound engineering could have been better but overall the watching experience was good.

Oh my gosh I love the GMM girls. Shout out to Namtan. Film, Love, Milk, View, Mim, Emi, Bonnie, Ciize, Kapook, Mint and the rest of the cast for crushing the drama with their acting. From dialogue delivery to facial expression, everything brought each of the characters to life.

As a women myself, this was closer to my heart. It felt more than a drama. If we keep the pre-built thoughts aside, Girl Rules might be one of the best GLs in the industry with such a realistic set up and grey characters.

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Back to the Future with a twist

This is a story of what ifs, of second chances, and ultimately of discovering what truly matters in life.

The idea of traveling back in time to change the past is one of the oldest tropes in storytelling. On the surface, Twinkling Watermelon doesn’t reinvent that formula. But what makes this series special is that it uses time travel not to alter history, but to deepen our understanding of the people we love.

Its emotional core lies in our relationship with our parents. As children, we often see them only as mothers and fathers, forgetting that they were once teenagers themselves—full of dreams, insecurities, first loves, disappointments, and impossible choices. Through the eyes of the protagonist, we are reminded how arrogance, youth, or simply ignorance can blind us to the struggles they quietly endured long before we were born.
Watching this series reminded me of the song Dance with My Father. It carries the same bittersweet longing—the weight of “could have,” “should have,” and the question we all ask ourselves: If I were given one more chance, what would I do differently?

There are obvious echoes of Back to the Future, not only in its time-travel premise but even in the way music becomes a bridge between generations. Speaking of music, the original soundtrack is simply wonderful. It’s one of those rare OSTs that lingers long after the final episode and deserves a permanent place on my iPhone playlist.

The performances are equally remarkable. Every actor is convincing, and each character feels authentic and fully realized. Their chemistry makes every emotional moment believable, whether joyful, heartbreaking, or quietly reflective. I found myself eagerly waiting for each new episode, and when it ended, I was already longing for the next.

In today’s landscape of increasingly familiar dramas, Twinkling Watermelon feels refreshingly sincere. It takes an old trope and breathes new life into it through warmth, humor, music, and genuine emotional storytelling. More than anything, it reminds us that while we may never get the chance to change the past, we can always change how we understand it.

Without question, this is a series I’ll gladly watch again.

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I tried to like this

I liked the main cast from Princess agents and because of how that show ended I was looking forward to their next work together.
I tried watching this when it just came out ended up dropping it after 3 episodes
I picked it up again this year but still couldn’t finish
Maybe I just hate fantasy dramas
The world building is not my cup of tea
The only thing worse than those ugly cgi monsters is the annoying background sound effects
Not sure if they were going for dramatic effects but the sounds are just too loud and annoying.
As someone who loves mandarin I thought I could watch it for the Mandarin but I can’t hear them speak because of the annoying sound effects.
Kudos to anyone who was able to follow the plot
I guess I love dramas with good ole regular mortals, all this immortal and spiritual real bs is not my cup of tea.

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Breathtakingly beautiful

A breathtaking historical romance where every sacrifice, every glance, and every choice carries extraordinary emotional weight.

Pursuit of Jade is everything I hope for in a historical drama: richly layered characters, intelligent political intrigue, breathtaking romance, and emotional storytelling that never loses sight of its heart. From beginning to end, it delivers a beautifully crafted story that constantly raises the stakes while remaining deeply character-driven.

The romance is undoubtedly the soul of the series. Rather than falling in love instantly, the relationship develops through mutual respect, trust, sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty. Their bond feels earned, making every joyful reunion and heartbreaking separation profoundly emotional. It’s the kind of love story that quietly grows stronger with every episode until you realize you’re completely invested.

The performances across the entire cast are phenomenal. The leads bring remarkable emotional depth to their roles, portraying strength, vulnerability, resilience, and devotion with incredible authenticity. Even the supporting characters are given meaningful arcs that add complexity to the larger story rather than feeling like background characters.

The writing deserves enormous praise. Political conflicts never overshadow the emotional core, and personal relationships never diminish the larger stakes. Every plotline intertwines seamlessly, creating a story that feels epic in scale while remaining deeply personal.

Visually, Pursuit of Jade is simply stunning. The cinematography captures both the grandeur of the historical setting and the intimacy of its quieter moments. Every costume, location, and musical piece enhances the atmosphere, making each episode feel cinematic.

What impressed me most was the emotional maturity of the storytelling. Every difficult decision carries consequences. Every victory comes with sacrifice. Every heartbreak serves a purpose. It never relies on unnecessary misunderstandings or cheap emotional manipulation because the characters themselves are compelling enough to carry the story.

This is historical storytelling at its finest—romantic, heartbreaking, intelligent, and visually spectacular. A drama that completely consumed me from beginning to end and one I’ll happily revisit for years to come. An effortless 10/10.

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Masterpiece

A masterpiece that captures every complicated emotion that comes with loving someone at the wrong time and finding your way back years later.

Our Beloved Summer is one of the most realistic, heartfelt, and beautifully written romance dramas I’ve ever watched. Rather than relying on over-the-top drama or unbelievable plot twists, it tells a deeply human story about first love, personal growth, unresolved feelings, and the bittersweet reality that sometimes people need to grow separately before they’re capable of loving each other properly.

What immediately stands out is how authentic every character feels. Choi Ung and Kook Yeon-soo are wonderfully imperfect. They’re stubborn, insecure, funny, frustrating, and incredibly relatable. Watching them slowly confront their past mistakes while learning to understand each other again feels completely natural. Their relationship isn’t idealized it feels real.

Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi deliver career-defining performances. Their chemistry is effortless, built through meaningful conversations, quiet moments, lingering glances, and years of emotional history. You believe every smile, every argument, and every painful silence because both actors portray their characters with incredible honesty.

The supporting cast deserves just as much praise. Each character has their own dreams, fears, and emotional journey, making the world feel rich and believable rather than existing solely around the main couple.

Visually, this drama is breathtaking. The cinematography is warm, nostalgic, and almost dreamlike, perfectly reflecting the themes of memory and growing up. Combined with one of the most beautiful OSTs in any K-drama, every episode feels comforting while quietly breaking your heart.

What truly makes this drama unforgettable is its understanding of adulthood. It reminds us that growing older doesn’t mean having everything figured out. We continue making mistakes, carrying old wounds, and searching for where we belong. Yet despite all of life’s uncertainties, love still finds a way when two people are finally ready.

Beautifully written, emotionally honest, and deeply comforting, Our Beloved Summer is a romance I’ll never forget. It’s the kind of drama that stays with you because it feels so incredibly real. A perfect 10/10.

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Beautiful

A beautiful reminder that sometimes the people who change our lives don’t save us they simply help us find ourselves again.

Melo Movie is one of the most emotionally mature romance dramas I’ve had the pleasure of watching. While it presents itself as a love story, it is ultimately about grief, healing, dreams left behind, and learning that life rarely follows the script we imagined for ourselves. It’s a drama that understands that love isn’t always about dramatic confessions or grand gestures. Sometimes it’s about showing up, staying, and helping another person remember who they are.

What makes this drama exceptional is its writing. Every character feels authentic, with hopes, insecurities, and emotional scars that shape every decision they make. No one exists solely to push the plot forward; everyone has their own journey, making the world feel incredibly lived-in. The dialogue is thoughtful without becoming overly poetic, allowing even the quietest moments to carry enormous emotional weight.

Choi Woo-shik once again proves why he’s one of the strongest actors of his generation. His performance is understated yet incredibly moving, portraying vulnerability, regret, and hope with remarkable subtlety. Park Bo-young is equally outstanding, bringing warmth and emotional depth to a character who refuses to let life’s disappointments define her. Their chemistry feels effortless because it grows naturally through shared experiences instead of manufactured drama.

Visually, the series is stunning. Every frame feels intentional, with warm lighting and cinematic compositions that beautifully reflect the emotional tone of the story. The soundtrack perfectly complements every scene without overpowering it, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that lingers long after each episode ends.

What I appreciated most is that Melo Movie respects its audience. It doesn’t rush emotional moments or rely on unnecessary misunderstandings to create conflict. Instead, it allows relationships to develop through honesty, communication, and personal growth. Watching these characters slowly heal both individually and together is incredibly rewarding.

This isn’t just a romance. It’s a story about rediscovering your dreams, learning to forgive yourself, and finding beauty in life’s imperfect moments. It’s heartfelt, beautifully acted, gorgeously filmed, and emotionally unforgettable. A flawless 10/10.

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