Reviews

Outdid the source material

At first, I didn't expect much from an adaptation of a smutty BL with a sus plot. I thought we'll get a Tokyo in April level of acting/kissing, but wow! This drama actually outdid the manga.

The actors and directing style were the major reasons I liked this drama. There were drama original elements which expanded the story and thoughts of the characters. I kinda liked Drama!Mizuki more and his angst ?

Many people might be skeptical to watch this as they see the relationship toxic and abusive, but I think they should look deeply into the characters and their thoughts. (Yoh has some issues towards Mizuki, but I don't think he sees their relationship toxic. He considers himself a slave, but that's because he doesn't know how to name their relationship.) I'm glad the drama actually expounds on that. The manga is rather comical in that regards, since well, it's manga. (Manga!Mizuki sulks, but he doesn't have that angsty vibe drama!Mizuki gives.) The drama has a sense of reality.

TLDR; all in all, I love how the actors and the staffs gave justice to the manga ? This is my first time giving a review since this drama deserves a higher rating ?

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You won't be able to respond normally to hearing the word "sunny" ever again

Well, this was a weird but fun watch that could only come from Japan!

I really liked how, when it came down to it, this was about two kind-of-kinky people who just hadn't had a proper conversation with each other about where they're at in their relationship, with one lead being terribly dense and unwilling/anxious to fully voice his desires and concerns and the other being forward physically all the while desperately craving simple but meaningful things from his lover: quality time together outside of sex, being relied on, being greeted at the door, and verbal expressions of affection.

All in all, I would recommend this sometimes frustrating drama.

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This was bad

I’m sorry, I know some people liked this series but, for me, it was bad. it started out okay but kept getting worse. By episode 11, I was ready to pull my hair out.

Fah and Thorn were the worst couple ever. I felt bad for Thorn. He really tried to keep his promises to Fah. When things started to fall apart he tried to communicate with Fah. There was no misunderstanding. Fah was just cold or stupid. He would hardly open his mouth even knowing how much he was hurting Thorn. And the slow speech and even slow body movements were killing me!

I loved Saen and Aii the most. What a breath of fresh air after the continuing torture with Fah and Thorn.

Didn’t really care for Vee and ( I can’t even remember the other one’s name). Could have been good but they were never really together so there was no chemistry.

All in all, didn’t care for this one.

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Kind of a letdown but an easy watch

Normally if I write a review it's for shows I really enjoy, posted only in a discord of mine, and a lot better written. But because this rare drama has no review, I shall write a very basic one. ( so sorry in advance if it's not up to this website's par haha).

First I'll just say I basically lost interest at ep6, half watched half used my phone (like to write this) afterwards. The story was obviously heading nowhere and none of the main characters showed much change, and I was right, like Shintani just ended up messing around with that woman who he said would make his, Noriko suddenly became attracted to Kisa whom she was completely uninterested in an ep prior, and Aya continued to mess with that married man despite knowing it's a depressing matter, etc.
Also I felt that most of the characters were two dimensional , especially the more side ones like Nagahori but also ones like Kisa and Kana, their characters were too predictable and 'scripted' if that makes sense. Then the Kisa family was straight up one dimensional, they literally existed to be a plot device this entire show.
I have other grievances with this show but they're all too small to speak about individually so to summarise them: every side plot was just added in an effort to bring more depth to the show but all ended up just being random side events.

Being honest, the only reason I finished this and got a 7 is because of Yamaguchi's (Noriko) performance, me having a significant interest in 80-90s entertainment (music included), the occasional comedic scenes, and the fact that I downloaded it (would be a waste otherwise haha). I'll probably end up rewatching this in the future and when I do I'll be sure to rewrite this or at the very least edit this to say my opinion has remained unchanged.

Also this is a nitpick but why is it called My 29th Christmas when it hardly mentions or shows it until the final few minutes
(シ_ _)シ (not counting the music)

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Could've been done better

I'm always happy to see more thriller or different genre bl so when i heard of this i knew I'd try it.
Started it then about 5 minutes again felt like i needed to stop, didn't try again for a few days.
Very overly dramatic and not often in a good way.
As for the main couple it felt like decent chemistry (though alot of staring and flirting when someone's niece has died) until like halfway through and i just started feeling dissatisfied.
The repetitive will he won't he betray him and sell off the recording annoyed me too.
It was interesting having a dark lawyer charecter but they didn't really do the idea justice.
The secondary couple had potential, the bodyguard was obviously smitten but it seemed to just suddenly happen though with no weight to it, no connection. Similar can be said about the main couple becoming a thing, it was almost like the tension they tried to build up just fell pretty much flat.
Overall i was entertained for about 4 or 5 episodes then i just got more and more disappointed.
Not really attached to any charecters here and i don't see myself rewatching this.

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Another good japanese drama

Let me start by saying that this show has that captivating sparkle that only a Japanese work can bring.

Anyway, 'Taikan Yoho' has a great and exciting start that grips the audience with its intriguing premise. We are introduced to a shy Mangaka, named Yo, who lives with his idol, a beautiful weatherman, Mizuki. However, in the middle of the road, we discover that Mizuki likes/loves Yo back, and we're presented with the idea that we're going to see a shift in their relationship. Unfortunately, this change comes slowly and is a little bit unsatisfying for me.

While I still think that this piece is a wonderful show (maybe due to my bias towards Japanese TV shows), i believe that more development in their relationship would possibly take the show to another level."

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Perfect balance of comedy and family drama

What a beautiful and incredibly enjoyable drama. The final ep made me cry a lot. Even though this drama includes many silly and ridiculous moments (in the best way possible), it's amazing how they managed to maintain a sense of relatable realism throughout.

Du Ruyu as a mother feels so familiar. The way she deals with her daughters when they are out of control or comforts them when they are feeling down feels so relatable. The way the sisters treat each other is also something I can deeply relate to. Their interactions are natural and sweet. Even when they bicker or share a laugh, it all feels so authentic.

The finale and how each couple ended totally made sense. I love that they didn’t force anything to make a perfect happy ending, but an ending that actually shows true growth for all the characters the viewers have grown to love.

Even though Guo Zhensheng has always been in love with Du Ruyu, the drama didn’t force a romantic relationship between the two of them. Instead, they treat each other as more like platonic partners. Du Ruyu respects Guo Zhensheng as someone who helped her raise all her daughters and someone she will grow old together with, without necessarily being romantic with him.

Peilan and Buping have the most solid relationship among all the couples, so it was inevitable that they would be the first to marry. I love how they naturally grew closer throughout the course of the drama. Peilan started as someone afraid to leave her family behind, gradually becoming more comfortable expressing her feelings for Buping, and finally being willing to move on to the next stage of her life, creating a new family and home with him.

I appreciate that Shi Zi's father still hasn't fully accepted Jinrong as his future daughter-in-law. It just feels more realistic that way. It's admirable how Jinrong hasn't given up, and I'm sure she will eventually succeed.

A-si and Keling's relationship also makes perfect sense. Keling has been quickly overwhelmed and pressured into accepting his feelings, and she couldn't handle all the baggage that comes with being with someone in A-si's position. This doesn't mean she doesn't have feelings for him, but she still needs to grow before taking on too much responsibility for which she's not yet ready.

Finally, Banxia and Shen Wangyan. Again, I like that they hint more about their future relationship without shoe-horning that they magically end up together in the finale. Shen Wangyan appeared very briefly, but the sparks are flying everywhere, and although it doesn't happen in the last episode, you can already see where their relationship is headed.

It's a 10/10 for me! I’m really hoping for a second season.

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Rowoon's transition from music to acting is a promising one

Destined With You is a 16-episode Kdrama that had me hooked from the very beginning. The primary reason I tuned in was the talented Rowoon, who left his band SF9 to focus on his acting career, and boy, was I not disappointed. Rowoon's acting prowess is undeniable, and he effortlessly brings his characters to life with his captivating smile and the mellifluous timbre of his voice.

The storyline follows the classic romcom formula, complete with the standard Kdrama setup and tropes. While it doesn't break new ground in terms of plot, what sets it apart is the remarkable ensemble cast. Each actor, both in lead and supporting roles, delivers stellar performances, making the characters relatable and endearing.

One of the standout features of this drama is its cinematography, which beautifully captures the essence of the scenes and adds depth to the storytelling. The humor is perfectly timed and adds a delightful touch to the narrative, keeping the viewers engaged and entertained throughout.

The OST is another highlight, with its soulful melodies and emotional resonance that enhances the viewing experience. It beautifully complements the emotional moments in the series, creating a profound connection with the audience.

What truly impressed me was the outstanding wrap-up in the final episode. It ties up all loose ends and leaves viewers with a satisfying sense of closure, which is often a rarity in many Kdramas.

It may not reinvent the wheel when it comes to Kdrama plots, but its stellar cast, picturesque cinematography, humor, and heartwarming OST make it a must-watch. Rowoon's transition from music to acting is a promising one, and this series showcases his talents to the fullest. Whether you're a fan of Kdramas or new to the genre, this show is an excellent choice for a heartwarming and enjoyable watch.

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This was a quintessential and perfect romance kdrama

Coming into this show after a long drought of good romance kdrama left one apprehensive but hopeful. Yet as soon as the show found it's footing it was hard to let it go. It established it's characters strongly and from the first episode you knew who you liked and who you loved. There was hardly any acting black hole in the show and every joke was placed well, even those that were not to my humor wereat he'd well with a plethora of those that were. Overall I think this was a great kdrama and a good way to get back into the genre. Wishing the best for all the actors and crew involved.

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Is it a curse or just tragic love willing itself into happiness?

Destined with You begins intriguing, fun, cute, and a bit mysterious. It draws you in and a gives you a great cast. The directing has some great cinematography and approaches to scenes. The comedy is on-point and the chemistry of the 3 main leads is explosive.

However, it couldn't keep this going. The middle dragged, the plot became repetitive, and the characters became stale.

Our ML kept being thrown in a grey area of being a good man, a selfish egotistical elitist, and a philanderer. In some scenes you loved him, others you were annoyed, and some repulsed. Rowoon does a great job in his portrayal but the plot will not let us simply like him nor hate him. So you keep waiting for the truth of it all to unfold so you can choose a side. To do this the plot shows you what he does and his actions only to an episode or 2 later, completely reconstruct the events with new or more information. Thus, over and over again he comes off as a pretty terrible guy only to be told no wait there was a reason for his actions or this happened and you didn't know, or sometimes just simply forgive him he's not perfect. But the sheer amount of times we are forced to go through this cycle over and over again becomes grating and exhausting.

Our FL is a mouse who isn't a mouse. Carefree, fun loving, off beat, cute, funny and lonely, you love her. But again, the plot needs to make her a damsel, thus when anything important transpires, or true slights happen against her, she becomes a mouse who can't speak, fend for herself, think logically, and spends half of her screen time apologizing and taking blame with her head hung low. Again, this happens so much over and over again that she literally apologizes at least once to every other character on screen, even just there for 1 episode characters, let alone multiple times to main roles. And again, it becomes exhausting to watch.

When the end finally puts the stakes on high, with lives in the balance, we finally get the truths of the hundred of years past that lead us here, but it comes off as flimsy as the paper used to cover the windows and doors of the Joseon era. You can poke holes in it to no end, and though when you first watch it you are drawn in, by the time the episode ends you start to think, huh what? And since I watched this while airing, by the time the following week showed up, I expected more because the mess that was given didn't make all that came before it work or worth it. Logically, how did one of the cast survive to have a lineage of wealth and power considering the events that transpired? Also, was the love of the main leads in the past that impressive? Especially considering that for us to be here in the now of today, our ML went on to marry and father lineage and live a life of privileged, ultimately doing what had been asked of him before all the tragedy.

I like that ultimately it doesn't let you know if the spells in the show or real or not. While reincarnation is used as solid truth, all the mythos around spells and books comes down to the viewer, and also the characters in the show. Was this just tortured souls haunted by their past lives coming back together to try and find love? Or is it a curse that has persisted for hundreds of years and will now meet fruition? Even our shaman in the show keeps getting things wrong. Some argue that the spells and curses are real in the comments, while I side that they were not, too many holes exist in both the past and present of the story to say they were real. People die from believed curses, that are claimed to have never been cast. People are and aren't affected by the main curse at random. The spells we watch cast seem to have had no effect, except one. BUT IF THAT ONE SPELL WAS REAL, then do we really have a story of love at all? Especially when thinking about the credit scene of the end.

The last scene of the show, as title cards fly and we say goodbye to everyone, is a blaring question mark, especially if the box from the beginning that sparked the entire series can only be opened by its true owner, which was the law that had been given. With all the holes that already exist in the plot, why does it end with such a large one? Because here someone seems to have access to what was inside the fateful vessel, when everything else told us, they should not. You also are left to question what does this say about this character and what was their ultimate goal in the story?

Remember in a dying breath one of our character's asks, "Did you fool me, where you only here for the spell book?"

That is up to you to decide, and if the spells are real, then this isn't a story of love at all.

7.0 = B-, 3 1/2-Stars. Flawed and imperfect, but still worthy of a watch.

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Destined With You; An Interesting Premise, Just Lacking In Charming Writing…

Let’s be honest. Very few Korean dramas are original. Yes, they can explore different concepts and themes, but many are inspired or borrowed from other shows or movies across years, cultures and genres. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. Writers and directors are influenced by other works, and Destined With You is no exception.

The series was written by Noh Ji Sul and directed by Nam Ki Hoon. It follows Lee Hong Jo ( Jo Bo Ah), a bright underdog civil servant, who works hard despite being overshadowed by others. When Hong Jo comes into possession of a mysterious object, she becomes intertwined with cold and stoic lawyer Jang Shin Yu ( Rowoon). Shin Yu has been cursed to live with an incurable disease, yet, Hong Jo may just hold the cure in more ways than one..


Off the bat, I will give it to Destined With You: it is an interesting premise. The cursed setup had been seen and done before, but the sense of the horror element being so spooky early on was quite well done. Some Korean dramas are fairly mild when it comes to horror or jumpscares( especially over censorship concerns), but Destined With You was surprisingly chilling in its opening episode . ( Moments such as the infamous “ bloodied-hand scene” , felt as though they were taken from shows like OCN’s The Guest and CW’s Angel .)


Yet as much as the horror element thrived, the show struggled with attempting to balance the horror and romance element to work well together. It is not necessarily that horror and romance cannot work well. In fact shows like The Master’s Sun and Arang and the Magistrate were able to use this formula fairly well in execution.

The problem is that while both predecessors were aware of creating and broadening characters and balance , Destined With You really struggles to do the same. As the series progressed the horror element was pretty non-existent and turned more into a cutesy rom-com. As a result, it was really hard to work out what this show was going for in thematic setup and messaging, even early on. The early episodes would suddenly go from menial moments of Hong Jo being stuck in a rom-com moment in front of a cute guy, to law procedurals and bickering, to full out body horror with Sin Yu. The constant flip between cutesy romance moments, courtroom drama and disturbing violence and horror , rubbed against one another in the wrong way because the show was never really settled to balance it out . Simply put, it felt like watching three very different shows at times, without a lot of opportunity to fuse them together.


Another major problem lay with character writing. The acting was decent enough. Rowoon is okay here too. He is certainly a good actor, and the idol has proven it in shows like Extraordinary You and Tomorrow. The problem is that Rowoon is not given an opportunity to really shine. His character is the trope-inducing “ cold male lead”.

Admittedly this is not entirely the fault of Rowoon as it is the writing. The cold male lead trope is a preference in romance dramas. It is not bad per say and can be used well in romances to explore characters’ backgrounds and fears. The problem with Shin Yu is that he is a bit of a paper-thin character. Yes, the audience gets he lacks social etiquette, a few “ sob” moments in his backstory and is stoic, but what else is there to say about him?


He is seemingly self-assured and confident in public , and suffering from his curse in private, but his composure rarely breaks beyond this even early on. We see some loose plot threads into Shin Yu’s mysterious family and their weird connection to shamans, but aside from being a necessary plot device, we are never shown the full effect on Shin Yu and how this has influenced any form of backstory or careful character development. In some later episodes we do see a “ softer” side to the male lead by playing into the romantic element and some angsty plot backstory , but aside from this, it’s hard to really see any pivotal or particularly poignant development, apart from going from being churlish then jealous to lovey-dovey with the female lead. This is the a little disappointing considering the fact that he could have been a really interesting character, especially from his written role and introduction with the female lead.


Hong-Jo is unsurprisingly Shin-Yu’s polar opposite. Jo Bo Ah is a good actress and does have some good moments of the show. However similar to Rowoon, her talents are never really given an opportunity to be explored further as a consequence of the writing.

It seemed like a really good writing point to have Hong Jo as the “ underdog heroine”. In theory, she has so many parallelisms that could have been explored to parallel metaphorically with the male lead’s literal “ cursed” predicament. She is outcasted at work, has an abject love life and often feels lonely. She is by all accounts, a “relatable” underdog heroine.


Before I go into the problems, I will say a few good aspects of Hong Jo as a character. She is fairly headstrong, both getting the job done such as the demolition case, confessing to her crush ( even if she was a little childish ) and remaining resilient against the toxic culture of her workplace. They were good attributes in the female lead, and did show off some of her strengths.


However, the problem is Hong Jo is never really fleshed out to the extent for the audience to truly connect with her. Sure, there were moments of pity for this character when it was needed in the plot, but on a deeper level, it was hard to really feel as strongly as the show wanted us to do so for her. For example, one major driving point early on is that she is very bullied and isolated from her work colleagues. She is not invited out after work for drinks, and spends most of her time alone. Yes, this shows she is alone, but why is it so significant for Hong Jo? We do learn a bit of history of being bullied, but, why is she so determined to be friends with people who have hated her? These may seem nuanced, but the show seemed to have multiple opportunities to really go into character’s backstories or growth early on, yet rarely did so even in later episodes.


Then there’s Yoon Na Yeon ( Yura), an interior designer with a bad history with Lee Hong Jo. There’s definitely a lot of mixed things about Na Yeon as a character.



On one hand, she is fairly complicated in the fact that she she puts on a lot of different sides as well as being a bully , and is more than the meets the eye, especially when Hong Jo renters the picture. On the other hand, while it feels like Yura has been typecast once again, the character feeds into a bit of a tiresome cliche of the cruel second female lead.


This isn’t to say that there can’t be animosity between a bully or victim, or alternatively see the character’s pettiness come to light, but rather than using this as an opportunity for Na Yeon to either be explored further in a more subtle manner,this storyline still seems to perpetuate a lot of archaic stereotypes . ( Particularly the oldest cliche in the book of two women at odds with one another being pitted against one another further for a man .)

Adding to this, there’s also the actual fact Shin Yu, probably one of the most misanthropic and seemingly “ isolated” characters in the drama, is in a dating relationship with Na Yeon. Understandably, relationships are not always straightforward and people can meet in a lot of different circumstances. Shin Yu never seems truly happy with Na Yeon, often trying to break up things with her or sitting in sullenness, while Na Yeon fawns over him and becomes more obsessive when she sees Hong Jo as a threat and love rival. Shin Yu does attempt to put their relationship on hold, but Na Yeon is obsessed and does not back down. The relationship displayed a good aspect of difficulties between dating partners, but, aside from just adding fuel to the fire on plot devices and drama, it did seem a little questionable as to why Shin Yu would even agree to date someone like Na Yeon, ( knowing about her past or not) .


The potential romantic pairing between Hong Jo and Shin Yu is fairly good, even if the screenwriting does not always justify it. One of the major parts that came to play here was the romantic sparks flying between Rowoon and Jo Bo Ah’s onscreen characters. They have surprisingly good chemistry as actors. For the characters, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. There is certainly romantic development ( in typical romance fashion) early on, but it was admittedly a little hard to root for the characters when Shin-Yu was often just plain rude to Hong Jo from gossip he overheard as well as his attitude. To make matters worse, even later on, he never really apologised for his actions. Later episodes improve this a little, but then there’s also the elements of Shin Yu’s obsession and later actions ( though there is a suggested cause), as well as feeding into some overused cliches.

On the pacing side, Destined With You is very slow to begin with. It’s understandable even in the first episode alone, there’s a lot to get through, but the first few episodes were fairly slow with pacing . Later episodes did pick up the pace more briskly, but there were later moments, which struggled to really get off the ground, even by the ending. Speaking of which, the ending was a little anticlimactic. Sure we saw a few loose threads tied, but it felt as though some characters and plot was left greatly unresolved.


The cinematography is definitely one of the show’s major highlights. It’s fairly stylish and sleek, with a glossy element of different palette schemes to reflect the mood and tone of the scenes. There are later episodes which feel a little insipid on the staging side, but scenes with the cursed hand, definitely helped capture the more horror and fearful element, with careful attention to detail.



Destined With You is a very odd show. It has a good cast, an intriguing premise and beautiful cinematography, but in execution, it has some very noticeable inconsistencies. The themes were so imbalanced that it was hard to work out what the show was going for in its general setup. While there’s nothing wrong with using classic tropes with a new spin or using them to address a message, Destined With You took them with a fairly copy and paste manner and nothing more . At times, it often made the show feel like it would have been less out of place in 2013 than 2023.


Writing and pacing is another major issue. There were some potentially brilliant characters in the show ( particularly the main leads) , but rather than fleshing them out to their full potential, they were rarely allowed to change and grow ( a key stage in any character’s development). Overall, Destined With You is an average show which is probably best to watch during a forgettable binge-watching session to pass the time .

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Just watch it

First of all, I watched it without knowing that this was a re-do version of another story. If you haven't watched the other version, then, just watch this and don't read other negative comments!
That being said: I just loved it.
It was perfect.
It kept hanging over and over again.
I cried several times which I barely do (compared to my friends).
I loved the way the series managed the time travel, it gave me DARK vibes (german series from Netflix as well). I understand that some people might think it was confusing, but to be honest it was pretty simple to understand if you're paying attention.
The cast was perfect as well.
The music was perfect.
Just watch it.

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I came for the romance, stayed for the action and loved because of both of them

This series has been fantastic since the first minute. The first episode already contained so much information and action that i was instantly hooked.

When you decide to watch this, prepare to cry, but most importantly, prepare to be flabbergasted. Every single moment i thought i knew who the bad guy was, who the murderer was, who the villain of the story was. I was just wrong, every single time. I think i have actually suspected 5 or 6 people who were all wrong. The makers of this drama did such a good job.

Also, I was so hooked to the story that i forgot it had bl romance. In the beginning, there is barely any romance, so everytime there was some kind of romance showing in a scene, i was extra happy :)
I came for the romance, stayed for the action and loved because of both of them.

I also want to say that MaxTul did such a fantastic job. You can definitely see that the've pleyed together for a long time and their chemistry was just chefs kiss.

All the actors were fantastic, the plottwist were so good and unexpected and the story was phenomenal.
Overal... EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH THIS

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