Dropped 16/36
Tiger and Crane
8 people found this review helpful
by Le Ho
Oct 14, 2023
16 of 36 episodes seen
Dropped 2
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 3.0

The kungfu fighting scenes are good, but I didn't like the plot. I am dropping it.

Tiger and Crane is a historical/costume drama about young people fighting demons.

The Synopsis: This tells the story of a group of teenagers who, for the sake of their dreams, love, and responsibility, trudge through the gloom of the chaotic world to save the world. The optimistic and cheerful mountain orphan Huzi accidentally swallows a red pearl, a treasure of Yang, and befriends the cold captain, a clean freak, Qi Xiao Xuan, a national demon master. The two young people with very different personalities are forced to go on the road together because of a red pearl, and they make friends with Zhao Xin Tong, Wang Yu Qian, and others.

Each other's differences attract them, and through some adventures, they become life-and-death friends when Qi Xiaoxuan is imprisoned to protect Huzi. To save Qi Xiaoxuan, Huzi, and his partners come together to participate in selecting the national imperial demon master. Still, they uncover the great conspiracy of the national imperial demon master and seek to find the truth about the human-demon war five hundred years ago.

The Kungfu fighting scenes in this drama have some funny moments. I think Jiang Long did a decent job, and I am watching this drama because I like Wang Yu Wen. I was not too fond of the character she played in this drama, and I believe she is better in modern drama than historical one.

Zhang Ling He is popular and has been in many dramas this year; however, I don't particularly like his acting. He is another one-dimensional actor with the same facial expression regardless of joyful or emotional/suspenseful scenes.

I watched 16 episodes already, and I am dropping it because I don't like the plot and am not interested in demons fighting. I give it a 5.0 rating.

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Completed
Destined with You
3 people found this review helpful
by Le Ho
Oct 14, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Love this drama, and the acting was fantastic. It is funny, edgy, and tear-jerky.

Destined with You is a funny and enjoyable Kdrama. I normally don't watch too much Kdrama because I don't like to read subtitles, but this one is quite funny, and I like Rowoon the actor. I first like him in the King's Affection.

The Synopsis: Lee Hong Jo is the lowest-grade civil servant. She always does her best at work, even though she suffers from many civil complaints. In her personal life, she is used to being alone. One day, she becomes the owner of an old wooden chest and the key to lift a curse from Jang Shin Yu.

Jang Shin Yu is a competent lawyer who is smart and good-looking. He is usually in the spotlight wherever he goes but suffers from an unexplained disease. His condition gets progressively worse. He is desperate to lift the curse that has run through his family for generations. A lawyer bound by a centuries-old curse becomes entangled with a civil servant who holds the key to his freedom — igniting an unexpected romance.

I love and enjoy this drama a lot, and Jo Bo Ah did a great job playing Lee Hong Jo, and her onscreen chemistry with Rowoon is also good. They did a phenomenal job, especially Rowoon. I gave it an 8.5 rating. Highly recommended, and the ending leaves a cliffhanger for possible season 2. The

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Completed
Parallel World
1 people found this review helpful
by Le Ho
Oct 14, 2023
38 of 38 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

A bizarre sci-fi drama with some interesting special effects. Good acting and the rooster rock.

Parallel World is a weird ancient sci-fi drama produced out of Cdrama.

The Synopsis: A beautiful melon seller, Ye Liu Xi, and a shadow puppet performer, Chang Dong, join forces to venture deep into the desert. One seeks to unravel the mystery of her origins, while the other aims to retrieve the remains of his girlfriend and 17 others who perished under mysterious circumstances. As they encounter numerous anomalies in the uninhabited area, they are led to the weathered and supernatural Yumen Pass. They navigate between the Imperial Guards, Taoist Priests, and the Scorpion-Eyed creatures, unraveling the truth amidst various enigmas and gaining insights into true love through numerous life-and-death experiences. The answers seem within reach but are entangled in an even larger conspiracy. Will the truth and their love prevail?

The acting is good, especially the main CP, played by Bai Yu and Ni Ni. The flow of the story is bizarre as they travel into many dimensions of the parallel worlds. It is interesting to watch; however, I wouldn't say I like the production quality of the drama, where everything is blurred and blue when they travel into a parallel world. It is my biggest complaint about this drama.

The cinematography for this drama is quite good, but why blur the sandman's face? It looks distorted. It is okay, and I like the acting, but I am not sure I will watch this genre in the future. I gave it a 7.5 rating.

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Completed
Uncontrollably Fond
0 people found this review helpful
by Xtinew
Oct 13, 2023
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

20 EPISODES FULL OF FILLERS

I'd say that this drama can finish in 10-12 episodes instead of 20 episodes which they filled it with more twists, plots, confusion over feeling or self-realization, back-on-forth love (or not to love). The main idea of every damn 'Choi' family created such terrible connection that every 'Shin' had to bear hardship and sadness. Yeah...every plots went around about these 2 family names.

Shin Joon-young (Kim Woo-bin) and No-Eul (Bae Suzy) were high school classmates who were separated during their teenage years due to an ill-fated relationship, but later meet each other in adulthood. Shin Joon-young is now a top actor-singer (Jerk, rude, devilish gorgeous, rich, sickly, cold), while No-Eul (emotional, unlucky, beautiful, poor, pity, money minded) was a documentary producer. No-Eul had a tough childhood; her father died in a hit-and-run, prompting No-Eul to quit school and make a living for herself and her brother. Shin Joon-young, had his life planned out for him. His mother wanted him to become a prosecutor to follow in the footsteps of his estranged father, but an incident caused him to quit law school and become a singer-actor. His mother disowned him, couldn't understand why he quit law, she hated his celebrity status. She had him when she's 22 and impregnated by boyfriend Choi Hyeon-joon which he left her for another woman and became the source of suffering for all characters in this drama.

The two later reunite when No-Eul is tasked to film Shin Joon-young's documentary. She convinced the producer that she can obtain his consent for the documentary shoot. Initially, Joon-young gave No-Eul a hard time, but he eventually agrees to participate in the documentary. Working together didn't give them solitude, more like battle of heart, like one pulling rope tight and lose, never ending confusion because of circumstances. Joon-Young didn't give shit to anything (breaking contracts, change mind in last minute, rude, dismiss press), nothing to lose demeanor that made every person frustrated, but he had secrets that he wouldn't admit...he's terminally ill - a cancer that only allowed him 3 months to live...he's also guilty on action he caused car accident to No-Eul 5 years earlier....and he's the son of congressman Choi Hyeon-joon out of wedlock.

Okay, I think Kim Woo-Bin is gorgeous and he has the cold eyes good for a rude guy character while he also could be a charmer for his mom. Bae Suzy....she often delivered her dialog screaming on top of her lung! Not to mention her acting cute (ackh...) I don't understand where they supposedly madly in love each other but there wasn't warmness in relationship, she didn't hug him back, kiss on peck, no tender glances. I can shorten the episode by suggesting some changes in plots: give No-Eul compensation for the death of her father, move away and move on, be transparent (seems everybody loves to held grudges and keeping secrets). Of course, this is drama, the more melodramatic the longer episode becomes. At the end though, did Shin Joon-Yong died from his cancer? As No-Eul wishing to see him tomorrow? Possibly season 2? Hope not but I don't mind to see Kim Woo-BIn again. LOL

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Completed
Hello Mr. Gu
3 people found this review helpful
Oct 13, 2023
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
This review may contain spoilers

Shallow as Glass

I can't think what the screenwriter was thinking when she put this one together. The story itself had potential, but somehow got lost in the very shallow characters portrayed in the drama. The premise of a man growing up with the psychological scars of a trauma in his childhood, then finding a love to heal him was intriguing. This writer certainly did not do that scenario any justice!

The performance by the actors wasn't the problem, as I quite liked the ML's character and his growth by the end of the series. I liked the FL's brother and his silly girlfriend; I liked the ML's assistant and the FL's 'assistant'. I even liked the ML's mother. The character played by the FL was the one that spoiled this for me. She looked like a schoolgirl in a group of adults and professionals. She was so shallow, self-centered and insensitive to everyone and everything around her. She was petulant and demanding and spoiled. The choice of clothing for her was very unfortunate - making her look like a child, again, playing in the midst of adults. It was almost cringeworthy to watch the love scenes because while the ML looked hot, she managed to look like a frightened child who didn't know what was happening to her. (I hate the fish-eye trope when these couples are kissing. It is so unattractive!)

Let's mention the 'bad guys', shall we? Talk about plot holes and loose ends. What happened to the evil 'uncle' who was trying to sabotage the company every which way? What happened the bitch girlfriend-wannabe after ML found out she had tampered with the papers and caused all the plagiarism backlash? And they never even found out that she had sabotaged the FL in the first place. Again - the screenwriter dropped that ball!

I suffered through the 30 episodes with the help of the fast-forward button and a morbid curiosity to see how Karma might be served to those who deserved it. I got no such satisfaction. I persevered to see if the romance factor of both the couples would compensate me for my time and effort. Very little satisfaction there, although I will admit to some sizzle between the second couple - and a little between the lead couple if I could get past her looking like a minor. Still, there was very little development of the romances per se - one minute they were enemies the next, they were kissing and voila! A couple!

OST wasn't all that - so I couldn't give many points for that. And I definitely wouldn't re-watch this.

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Completed
Taikan Yoho
3 people found this review helpful
by ando
Oct 13, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

MY PERSONAL WEATHERMAN!!!

This show was probably the thing that kept me going in the week, knowing I can come home, relax, and watch this at the end of the week.

Is this show DEFINITELY a 10/10? No. Is it in my eyes? ABSOLUTELY!!!

There are many things that I LOVED, but there were certain things that I didn't like so much.

The ending was a bit confusing. Were they actually TOGETHER?

I always love Japanese BLs (RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE!!) and usually never rate it lower than a 7-8. What was it about this show that made me enjoy it so much? THE CHEMISTRY!!!!

The chemistry between the leads is just outstanding, which lowkey made up for all the misunderstandings.

Some of the scenes were HOT!!! As in like, peeking through my fingers and giggling. THAT TYPE OF HOT!

If I were to give it a lower rating, the reason would be because of the misunderstandings.

The way they couldn't just talk it out infuriated me. A simple discussion would have made the relationship better and stronger. The fear of rejection shouldn't be there in my opinion. Segasaki had obvious feelings for Yoh, IF ONLY HE JUST FOLLOWED BODY LANGUAGE AND FACIAL EXPRESSIONS!!

Overall, this was an amazing JBL, and would definitely recommend. (especially people who like a bit of spicy scenes..) The chemistry is THERE!

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Completed
Ripe Town
2 people found this review helpful
by Xtinew
Oct 13, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 8.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

A GREAT SHORT DRAMA

Only 12 episodes all together. A realistic set up, less make-up and none beautification (great!), great flowing story, good acting for every actors. Setting in the 37th year of the Wan Li Time of the Ming Administration, there were progressive homicides in the region seat of Jiangnan District. The personalities of the dead were unique and inconsequential to one another but they had similarity; intention, message left in the dead bodies, all pointing to the fire burning accident to Lu family 20 years earlier. As a apprentice Qu San Geng (Bai YuFan) of his dead teacher Captain Leng, he was a bailiff who try to decoding the murder mystery of his teacher and other unrelated victims. With the help of his friends Gao Shi Cong (Liu YiTong), Feng Ke Zhui (Zhang Hao Wei), Leng Gui Er (Julia Xiang) Captain Leng's only daughter. They uncovered (figuratively) worm-box of 20 years old secret; one clue and one witness at a time, victim's dark pasts, the connection of victims to each other. Song Chen (Ning Li) was an upright well-respected official who became Qu SanGeng mentor, He's the County Judge who appointed by the Emperor because of the error judgement when he was much younger, so much tortures for wrong conviction, experience injustices, he became disable - his mind though still as bright as his younger-self, he's now uphold justice for other people.

Background of the crime
The sad story about 3 teenager best friends, because of the greed and anger 20 years ago that cause destructive motivation. Unlikely best friend were young Lu Zhi, Xiao Bao, Lu Bu Yao came from different social status background; Lu Zhi was the servant of Lu family, Lu Bu Yao was his young master, Xiao Bao was attendant for a brothel. The Lu elder humiliated and punished Lu Zhi that drove him to seek revenge and gained some money with the encouragement from Mr. Zhong the steward, with the help of other 4 helpers they killed the whole Lu family with poison and burned down the house. Lu Zhi as adopted son Of Lu elder claimed the wealth of Lu family and divided between them. After stay away and low, they came back to town as rich merchants and respected by people in town. Recently, they've been murdered of those individuals connected with devastating fire. Captain Leng, murdered for involvement in cold-closed case. Lin Si Niang murdered for where was all started, Dr. Cheng murdered for fake prescription poison all Lu's, Wang Chen the gambler murdered for killing the mother Lu and Lu baby girl, other 3 victims related to the accident. Although Qu SanGeng knew the identity of the culprits, he made the choice to pick one of 2 devious killers to take on his revenge .

The setting was same location as 'Under Microscope' or 'Pledge of Allegiance' so for those who love those 2 dramas, we're getting the same vibes - same genre with different plots.

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Oct 13, 2023
1 of 1 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 6.0

Low stakes and heart-warming

I really enjoyed seeing everyone again and it actually does add a lot to the story — the subplot in this with Khai actually owning up to his mistake is one that I think should've been in the original drama because it showed so much character development, even though we always could tell things were going to turn out okay.

There's a lot of voiceover and the light-hearted humor kind of makes this feel like an extended epilogue, but I don't really have a problem with it. Giving this the same rating I gave the show.
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Completed
Destined with You
2 people found this review helpful
by jade
Oct 13, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 1.5
Rewatch Value 4.5

Leaves a lot to be desired


Not sure how to feel about this drama. I didn't think it was THAT bad. I mean, it was watchable. The writing was just insane, the plot just went all over the place and the last half felt like it turned into a completely different drama. It was like the writer completely forgot about the curse and fantasy plotline, just dropped it (literally had the characters say several times "it doesn't matter if the curse was real or not" with no real closure whatsoever) and turned it into a run of the mill past life connection romance. The OST is quite honestly one of the worst I've ever heard in a drama.

Rowoon impressed me, at first I thought his acting was starting out pretty stiff but then in the last half his acting became really good...again, not sure what the change in the middle of this drama was about. Either way he has a new fan.

The FL was annoying as heck, and I'm sick of the past life connection trend in dramas already. But the makeout scenes toward the end were super hot and their chemistry was good, I think mostly thanks to Rowoon.

Overall not really one I'd recommend but it had potential.

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Completed
Theory of Love
1 people found this review helpful
Oct 13, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Satisfying but has some hiccups

There are some pacing and story issues, but overall this was a pretty satisfying watch — as expected, the Flipped trope is great.

I might be one of the few people who didn't get too annoyed with the first six episodes. Sure, Khai was kinda terrible and it was a lot of repetitive crying from Third, but you could feel the story building towards Third's breaking point and the reversal of roles, and that was good enough. In fact, I think the two-part style works really well, with the first half being from Third's perspective and the second half being from Khai's.

With that being said, I still think there were some weird pacing issues. While I liked the two-part style itself, the transition between them was a little fast, and I also do think the back-end of both sections were a little dragged out, before just jumping to the next plot too fast. There's not really a strong main plot going on behind the romance either, so I don't get a really good sense of how much time is passing.

I also didn't care about some of the side plots, particularly Bone's. Two's story got better over time and it definitely paid off at the end, especially because he was such a good character even on his own.

The bromance throughout the show was actually one of its strengths. Some of the best moments came when characters were talking to each other about their struggles and heartbreaks and I wish we'd seen more of it, because I often felt like characters were dealing with issues in silos.

As someone who rates with my brain, 6.5 is what I would consider average, but I do have a soft spot for this show and for what it might bring to any viewers who've ever been trapped in unrequited love. And all the film references also made my movie buff heart very happy.

And finally, as a little heads up I also do want to mention that there are some nonconsensual kisses in here, in case anyone reading doesn't want to see that.

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Completed
The Best Story
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 13, 2023
3 of 3 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

Cute Crush

Really liked it...but I'm not sure why! Imagine having such a crush that you don't know what to do with yourself or how to behave when you see that person. Imagine realising that it somehow crept up on you!

It was a lovely short drama.

What I liked: Yinwar. I've only seen them in music videos and a trailer (a mini drama itself!) for their concert. I love War's (who played Best) acting; his expressions are great. I liked Best's friends - nicely portrayed as true friends who hugged and tried to cheer up their friend when he was down. There were so many things I thought were sweet.
What I didn't like: not overly fond of school dramas, but it was sweet

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Completed
Lighter & Princess
3 people found this review helpful
by Jun
Oct 13, 2023
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

Thats how you do it

This one of the best c-dramas I have ever seen. The acting is just perfect for what they are portraying. The story is written in a way that if you watch it, you have that feeling of it's not too slow nor too fast. For a whopping 36 EPs it felt surprisingly short as I've fallen really in love with the characters. So all in all I can only say that it's all about the people in this drama and how they're played, written and shot (the camera work). Props to everyone in this drama, but the FL and ML stood out because of their chemistry.
Thus far, I've not watched many c-dramas, but most of the time I encounter one problem: How they're acting and how the story is written. Most of the time, the dramas tend to be very plain. But this one (at least for me) has shown that if you give the right people a budget, get a good written script and to get people who show their chemistry believably you can get this drama.

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Completed
My Dearest
44 people found this review helpful
by lex
Oct 13, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

THE SOUND OF THE FLOWERS WILL HAUNT ME FOREVER ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

**Disclaimer: This is just my opinion, please don't take anything I say personally. We don't have to agree and I'm not here to argue with anyone. This review is kind of lengthy so please bare with me.***

General Overview:

My Dearest is a profound story set in the year 1636 during the Qing invasion of Joseon. It tells the tale of Gil Chae the "village’s 99 tale fox", who can have any man she wants because they are willing to do anything for her at the drop of a hat. The story depicts how this beloved but conceited and naive girl matures as the tides change and she realizes she must be strong for those around her. She has to step up and become a leader and a source of strength in these harsh times. We also meet Jang Hyun, a flawed man whose actions demonstrate how determined he is to change and be better for the woman he loves. He acts as if he doesn't care about much, but as the story progresses, you can see how much he does care and is determined, willing to fight for and help the innocent people around him.

The plot revolves around the constraints imposed on various classes of people, gender disparity, camaraderie – sisterhood and brotherhood all combined with a breathtaking, slow burn romance that continually breaks and mends your heart. It's about survival and, more importantly, perseverance – it's about how far you're prepared to go for the people you care about. It's a great drama that underlines the importance of sacrifice. This story offers so much more than romance. You get politics, warfare, suspense, drama, heartbreak, romance and everything in between. The story could exist without the love story and I think that’s what makes it so special. The love between the people is what ties everyone together and keeps them hoping for a better and brighter day but it is not the focus of the plot. It is about the perils of war and how that can tear people apart and make them often do things they would have never done in the first place. It’s about choosing the best option not for yourself but for the greater good of everyone.

Needless to say I feel like this story has changed the trajectory of my life. Am I embellishing and over exaggerating? Yes, but I’m also being so serious. It’s a story I believe everyone should experience at least once in their life. The artistry and care behind this production is something you can feel through the screen in any scene, at any moment. I won’t say it’s the best Sageuk I’ve ever watched because there is still more to come but for me, it’s pretty damn close.

If you're on the fence about watching or starting it, I would highly encourage you to do so. I feel like this drama is a classic and everyone should experience it at least once in their life.

____________________________________________________


In more detail (spoilers ahead):

I genuinely feel like my soul just got ripped out of my body. They literally had me hoping things would work out between Jang Hyun and Gil Chae and in the end they gave us nothing but PAIN?!

Let me first take a moment to rewind and go over everything I liked about this drama...

They literally gave meet cute, slow burn, enemies to lovers, forbidden love, right person wrong time, drama, suspense, passion and yearning. When I tell you I was on the edge of my seat with each episode. I went into this not knowing whether I would like this drama as much as the next person but I was pleasantly surprised when I realized this would easily become one of my favorite dramas of the year.

To say Gil Chae is a well-written, multifaceted character who serves as a role model for women everywhere would be an understatement. She has so many positive attributes, and I found myself being a proud observer of her development.

We first meet this young, naive girl who is consumed by the fairytale of having a happy ever after with the man she sees in her dreams (the one she feels is her rightful husband) But oh my how the threads of fate proved to have a different path in store for her. I believe that her dream was foreshadowing all the ups and downs and tribulations she will have to face until she and her lover can finally reunite. We follow Gil Chae on her journey as she transforms from a snobbish, shallow noble's daughter to someone willing to put her life on the line for her friends. The road there is not easy, as we can see but Gil Chae has really blossomed and transofrmed into something of a force herself since the 1st episode compared to the last. She is truly a flower that changes with the seasons and grows older and wiser as the story progresses.

Jang Hyun, on the other hand, is a laid-back, free-spirited man who clearly puts on a cheerful facade so that people don't see the real him or know his true intentions. He appears to be a man who is uninterested in politics, has no plans to marry, does not believe in supporting / backing his country or the king, and prefers to avoid war and picking sides. In contrast, our Gil Chae fantasizes about her ideal happy marriage with her perfect husband. Jang Hyun claims that love and romance are fleeting and that he does not want to be tied down to anyone as a result. He'd rather think about things and have fun for the time being. That is, until he meets Gil Chae, who changes the course of his life and challenges his previously held beliefs. He appears to be a people-pleaser, always seeking flattery and recognition, but I don't think he knows what he wants at the end of the day. He's a man who has lived a full life, is well read and educated, and has traveled extensively. It'll be interesting to learn more about his backstory.

As the story progresses and Jang Hyun's layers are gradually peeled back, you realize he is a shell of a boy, with scars and unhealed trauma from his turbulent past. You can tell he has had a difficult life, but he does not portray himself as a victim; instead, he handles everything with grace. I believe he is very calculating and he sort of quietly observes people as if he sees them as pieces in a game of chess. You notice this when he makes subtle remarks about the king and crown prince, or any bad men he encounters. It's heartwarming to see Jang Hyun change for the better as he rises to the occasion and ends up saving countless lives. He wants to live another day and meet Gil Chae again, not because of the war or his circumstances. He perseveres and survives, demonstrating incredible bravery, determination, and resilience in the face of any challenge, battle, or adversary.

I love a "pathetic" and "morally gray" man so much. There's just something so inherently attractive about a man who is down bad for his woman and literally gets so sad at the thought of leaving or losing her – literally when the mere thought of being apart from her for even a second makes him so lovesick or causes him to make the most unpredictable decisions to protect her. Jang Hyun is the embodiment of "touch her and I kill you" and "I hate everyone in the world but you." and that's why he's the best ML to exist. The mere fact that he would probably burn down the world to save Gil Chae is just so satisfying to watch. I am truly saddened whenever I hear Jang Hyun refer to himself as a terrible man since he is so kind, wise beyond his years and pure of heart. When I tell you we as viewers don't even deserve him, know that I'm being dead serious. Normally, I would find persistence annoying, but the way Jang Hyun pursued Gil Chae had me gasping for air and at a loss for words. It reminded me of a Bridgerton-esque courtship lol! The tension was so thick and intense that it appeared to be impenetrable even by the sharpest blade.

Gil Chae and Jang Hyun share a lot of similarities. They do differ in terms of upbringing, status, and maturity levels, yet throughout the drama, they embark on their own adventures, endure trials, and grow. At first I thought their personalities were too similar and I was unsure about their pairing because in the back of my mind usually it’s opposites that attract. But as I continued watching I realized they were each others true equals. Nobody else would ever be good enough for either of them. It was clear from their banter and subtle gazes that Jang Hyun understands and knows her, and vice versa. They are, at their core, just two people who long for that one constant love that will never change, regardless of time, space, or distance. No matter how many times Gil Chae hurt his feelings and rejected him, he still hoped that she felt even a smidgeon of affection for him. I melted when he told Yeon Jun that if he could only have a quarter of her heart, he would take it. That is genuine love right there. I loved how Jang Hyun was able to let his guard down for her to truly see he was being sincere in his affection and he never wavered even when Gil Chae was being stubborn / playing hard to get. When faced with adversity, they both are unable to to give up. Both will fight to the death to protect the people they care about, while simultaneously longing for the day when they can reunite.

As Jang Hyun said "I swear by the moonlight, wherever you are, I'll make sure to find find you." The symbolism of the moon touched me deeply because, just as everyone is under the same moonlight, Gil Chae and Jang Hyun's love will also remain constant, no matter where they are. This oath/promise is kept throughout the entire drama and solidifies their soulmatism.

Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin both delivered outstanding performances. Their portrayal of their characters was so amazing and emotional that it completely blew me away. Namkoong Min takes us through a variety of thrilling and heartbreaking scenes. His fight scenes are fantastic, as are his tender and heartfelt scenes demonstrating his growing affection for Gil Chae. Eun Jin does a wonderful job of portraying Gil Chae especially in her funny/silly moments and her painful, heartbreaking ones. Their chemistry is beyond words to the point where it feels palpable through the screen. The side characters and extras also do a phenomenal job of selling their roles. The villains (Qing intruders) are very menacing and they add to the realism of the portrayal. Everyone in this drama has done a tremendous job acting their asses off – they are really convincing, and I believe that is what distinguishes this drama.

Dislikes:

Yeon Jun annoyed me because he seemed to be playing with Gil Chae's emotions. He seemed harsh when he said that Gil Chae could have any man she wanted, but Eum Ae could only have him. Which was true, but it was still brutal, made worse by the fact that he almost broke down his wall, revealed his true feelings, and kissed her. My heart broke for Gil Chae, but it was exactly what she needed to mature. She needed to experience the fantasy and dream of one-sided love. Something that appeared to be perfectly crafted in her head, but was actually something entirely different in reality. I was relieved she chose to be selfless and encouraged Eum Ae to marry him instead. It was touching how she stood by her friend and assured her that she was worthy of being his wife and the best person for him. He still irritated me in the end because when it was time for him to step up, he didn't and made the lame excuse of not wanting to betray his country and maintain his pride, but all the characters literally suffered and were affected as a result of that one decision. He caused his wife and her friends/family to suffer as a result of his pride and stupidity, which is completely different from Jang Hyun in that regard because at least he is able to use his morals/judgment and be selfless even in difficult situations.

Let us now discuss Ryang Eum. He clearly idolizes Jang Hyun to the point where he believes he has developed strong, intense feelings for him. Jang Hyun saved Ryang Eum from a bad man who was torturing him when he was a boy, and his gratitude grew into adoration and love. While I don't blame him for feeling the way he does, the way he goes about being a driving force to keep Gil Chae and Jang Hyun apart is deceitful and dishonest. I'm not sure how he can face Gil Chae or Jang Hyun after literally betraying them both. Isn't he aware that he is the problem and the plot device / boulder in the way of their love? I'm sure he's smart enough to realize Jang Hyun will never feel the same way he does, will never return his affections, and yet he's hellbent on sabotaging them and then making pathetic excuses like "I thought she'd make you miserable"? I needed him to be so for real! He irritated me, but what is a drama without close friends betraying characters' trust and undercover foes driving the plot?

I also dislike the officer (Won Moo). At first, I was overjoyed at his kindness towards Gil Chae but disappointed when I realized he wanted more than friendship, that he wanted to marry her and offer her a more comfortable life. I guess the deciding factor for Gil Chae was when Won Moo said he would still have her knowing she had another man in her heart. That should have made me feel relieved but I was just so torn as all of this transpired while she thought Jang Hyun was dead. I was celebrating when I believed Gil Chae was going to go with Jang Hyun and the officer would have turned a blind eye and let her, but that did not happen because Won Moo chose to be cruel and let her mentally ill father loose in an attempt to bring her back home. While I wholeheartedly understand Gil Chae's motives, her duty to stay and take care of her family, as she is the sole provider for them, it didn't make the ending of the third act conflict any less painful. Jang Hyun and Gil Chae have been through so much that they deserve to be happy, with each other. I don't know what else to say other than I hope the officer dies. Just anything else just so Gil Chae can be with the man she truly loves. But of course, things are never that simple and we don't get what we want because life isn't fair and it seems like the ML and FL must always be facing obstacles that push them further apart.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, the drama's historical accuracy is astounding. The costumes, scenery, and realistic depictions of the brutality of war is one of the best I've seen in a historical drama. The OST they used is simply stunning and heartfelt. The songs complement the story perfectly and leave an emptiness / yearning that just stays with you. Each episode held my attention, and I'm not going to lie, I've shed a few tears. So be sure to bring your box of tissues lol! My biggest fear is that this drama will end in tragedy. I really hope not. but even if it does I know that i'll stick around until the final episodes' credits roll.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and I’m still reeling from this immense high. They gave cinema. They gave near perfection. It’s just that the ending pissed me off so much I wanted to rate it lower but I will stick to my initial thought. I am still waiting for things to get better They literally had me for more than half of the episodes and then completely shattered me with that ending. While I am aware it is a continuation to say I was disappointed / dissatisfied with the cliffhanger of an ending, is an understatement. I can empathize with Gil Chae and her motives behind choosing to stay for her father and her friends but it hurts to know that two people are so perfect for each other but can't be together (yet). They keep missing their timing, which is both frustrating and exciting.

Obviously, if you start this drama expect a simple and sweet love story, you should reconsider. This is not a drama for the faint of heart. Is it perfect? Yes and no. It's complicated, but that's kind of the point, and it's one of the reasons I enjoy this drama so much. I love how intricate the storylines and characters are. I like that this drama strikes a balance between highlighting the struggle of doing what is right versus doing what is necessary, delving into how far people are willing to go to survive and protect those they care about. This story was written for angst , slow burn, acts of service and pain / comfort lovers like me. In my opinion, these tropes have never hit harder, and I can't wait to see everything else that unravels in the future with these complex characters.

Sidenote:

(I am mad at myself for not watching it sooner but I was unable to start it knowing Part 2 would not be released until October. I started it last night October 12, 2023 and completed it this morning October 13, 2023. I am so excited for Part 2 but also worried because it might be a very sad ending)

I'm expecting more trials and tribulations, but I'm not too concerned because Gil Chae is a resilient person who I believe can and will face anything with a brave heart. Jang Hyun is also a very resourceful and determined man as well, so I doubt this is the end of their story.

The underlying message of this drama is that relationships require effort and that love is a choice people make every day rather than just a fleeting emotion. It demonstrates how two flawed people fight for each other without losing their sense of self-worth. This drama isn't about your typical delicate and frail damsel in distress waiting for a knight in shining armor to come and save her... instead, it's about how two people strive to be together despite all odds but trust that in the end they will have the courage and endurance to take care of themselves until they meet again.

With ALL of that being said, I gave it a 9/10 and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

(Thank you to all the beautiful and kind souls who actually read all this ❤️ )

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Ongoing 2/16
Strong Girl Namsoon
11 people found this review helpful
Oct 13, 2023
2 of 16 episodes seen
Ongoing 1
Overall 6.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

idk what to say honestly

consider its the sequel of strong girl do bongsoon, i thought it was gonna be AWESOME! but this is so cringe istg. the say the actress for gang namsoon is acting idk if its her or the role but I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT. the overly extra dramatic facial expressions makes it so cringe. I'm liking ong seongwoo and will be PISSED if he turns out to be second male lead cuz HE'S SO SWEET. i think he's the only character i liked till now. im still gonna keep hope fof this show and watch it until I can't haha. they need to lower the cringe levels...
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Completed
A Good Day to Be a Dog
52 people found this review helpful
Oct 13, 2023
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

cute funny rom com

I will be honest i didnt expect to like this drama as the story sounded so crazy. But its really cute light and frothyAll the characters are great you know fl sister will end up with her bf the vet. the ml and fl are çerfectly cast although fl does look older than the ml. the introduction of the ml nephew in episode 2 has just added more spice tp the drama. i cant wait to watch the next episode. Just gutted its only one episode a week. the little dog is so cute i couldnt work out whether it was real ir cgi this drama will be a superhit i would be very surprised if it isnt and not just because the ml is cha eun woo from Astro

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