Reviews

Raw and Realistic

The way that this is filmed just makes everything feel very raw and realistic. There’s also very limited use of music, so the scenes always have time to breathe. Each moment feels very precious. It’s all very intentional and well-done.

Acting is great, the leads have these micro expression that really evoke their thoughts and feelings. They also have pretty solid chemistry.

Why is it called Jack O’ Frost? I think the frost might represent Ritsu’s amnesia. When Jack Frost leaves, spring arrives. So, when Ritsu’s frost (amnesia) leaves, he regains his memories of Fumiya

I just really enjoyed it. I smiled, I cried, what more can you ask for lol. Highly recommend

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An Unparalleled Masterpiece: A Must-Watch Drama with Extraordinary Performances!

OMG I am absolutely astounded by this drama; it has undoubtedly earned a spot among the best I have ever watched. The chemistry between the actors is unparalleled, and the seamless progression of the storyline is simply flawless. The performances delivered by both actors are nothing short of extraordinary, leaving me in awe. Furthermore, the drama is filled with intricate details that add a remarkable depth to every action and dialogue. Each moment resonates with me on a profound level. If you haven't had the chance to experience this drama yet, I request you to please watch it trust me you will not regret it. The portrayal of Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu by Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan, respectively, is an exceptional feat that breathes life into these characters. Their performances are the epitome of excellence, capturing the essence and depth of their respective roles. Furthermore, I must give a special mention to Victor Ma, no one could have played Sang Yan better than him. His portrayal brings an unparalleled charm and authenticity to the character, making it truly memorable. Collectively, these actors have done an outstanding job in giving these characters a vivid and captivating presence on screen. I am at a loss for words it is truly a magnificent piece of work. 10/10 MUST WATCH!

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Exquisitely painful, wonderfully mature

Look idk what I expected from a story about a modern girl going back in time to charm 8 cute princes but it sure wasn't a brutal Shakespearean tragedy about power corrupting even the truest love.

THE PREMISE
A near-death experience during a solar eclipse transports our girl back in time to 10th century Goryeo, where she awakes in the body of Hae Soo, a noblewoman at the royal court. She arrives in the royal bathhouse, which contains seven cute princes and their perfect abs. An eighth, played by Lee Joon Gi, gallops moodily in on his horse. He has swooping emo bangs and a little face mask that makes him look like a cross between Zuko and the Phantom of the Opera. For now this tells you everything you need to know.

These two are about to fall in love across a sweeping backdrop of deadly political intrigue, family trauma and royal corruption - all complicated by Hae Soo's knowledge that although the eight princes of Goryeo may live charmed lives, one of them is destined to slaughter his brothers and seize the throne...

THE PLOT
I often find kdramas a little soft on plot, but this one was a twisty, eventful tale which ultimately acquires a sense of steadily-ratcheting suspense and dread. I was impressed not just by how the emotional spotlight always remained on the main couple, but also by how every character in the large supporting cast had a meaningful part to play before the end. This is a complex story, spanning the better part of a decade, and it's beautifully constructed.

THE CHARACTERS
HAE SOO is our female lead, and while I could wish for a little more context about her 21st century life, to tell us what sort of family she came from and what kind of peace she'll find after her sojourn in Goryeo, her role is one of my favourites in all of kdrama. If Wang So reminds one of AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER'S Zuko, Hae Soo began by reminding me of TILL THE END OF THE MOON's Li Susu. Both transmigrate into the body of a noblewoman centuries in the past and must adapt to a new life; both attempt to stop the bloody rise of a future tyrant by restoring a sense of love and humanity to a traumatised youth; both find themselves falling in love with him. But there the similarities end. Hae Soo isn't a fearless, empowered martial artist; life in Goryeo quickly weakens and threatens to destroy her. In a world of ruthless politics, Hae Soo holds no power at all; she mediates between people who do, and speaks prophetic truth to them, usually to her own cost. While TTEOTM ultimately could find little use for Li Susu in the final act, throughout SCARLET HEART RYEO Hae Soo remains a ray of light illuminating the dark world into which she has been plunged. In the end, despite her different predicament, the character Hae Soo most resembles is Daisy Ridley's Ophelia in the film of the same name. Like Ophelia, Hae Soo is an outsider to politics, partly because her sex and rank disqualify her but mostly because she comes from the future and believes that all people are equal. This sets her at variance with the world of Goryeo. Accustomed to western media, I'm used to seeing a facile take on this sort of story, where the modern heroine is rude to everyone and saves the day. Accustomed to kdrama, a friend of mine predicted the opposite - that the modern woman would be demeaned in the name of historical accuracy. Neither of those things happened in this story. Hae Soo is a tragic Cassandra figure, whose egalitarian values, historical insights and skills as a beauty therapist quickly gain her a reputation for wisdom beyond her years but are not enough to destroy the corrupt systemic injustices of medieval Goryeo. Her arc is a deeply painful one: she starts out full of life, standing up to the royals for their ruthless disdain for those below them and their desire to climb the greasy pole of power at court, but years of trauma take their toll and she becomes quiet, grave, and frail; IU's tiny frame is constantly bowed beneath the terror and grief that beset her character. Where OPHELIA gives its heroine a bittersweet ending, losing the man she loves but managing to find peace and happiness raising their daughter, Hae Soo wakes in the real world to no lover, no daughter, and only painful memories and regrets. My headcanon is that our girl now has a chance to move on and find happiness, knowing that although she was unable to redeem ancient Goryeo she did, after all, influence its king to do a limited amount of good. But I'm not sorry that they chose to end Hae Soo's arc in this way. She's one of my favourite character types, the one who has almost no agency but continually has the courage to wield what she has in the few ways she can. Throughout the series, she continues to do just this, and it's beautiful.

WANG SO is our male lead. Don't let the bangs and the Zuko mask fool you - he's so much more than a tormented bad-boy love interest trope. I got to know this actor through his role in FLOWER OF EVIL, and I'm delighted to note that SHR allows him to display all his considerable acting chops. In SHR Lee Joon Gi doesn't just get to flex his action skills - he also imparts a real desperation, gentleness and vulnerability to So that helps to sell the romance. Then he brings the crazy, the paranoia, and the unhinged grief to the final act. It's the perfect match of actor and role.

One complaint is that So’s facial scarring is a huge issue for him in the first half of the story, but after our girl uses her cosmetics skills to cover them up they disappear almost entirely from the story. For instance, the scars are completely missing in the scene where the two of them become lovers, even though Wang So has been knocked out with a fever and probably hasn't had the chance to apply perfect makeup. It felt as though the show wasn't bold enough to mess up its hero's pretty, pretty face at the romantic climax, and therefore undermined its own point about beauty standards.

Although I often feared the show was going to let Wang So get away with bad behaviour, I was thoroughly impressed that they didn't. Wang So gets a sort of arc that I think is incredibly rare - a disillusionment arc. So is someone who's been treated as lesser all his life: his scars and his mother's resentment make him less politically valuable than his brothers, so he's raised as, fundamentally, the Crown Prince's Evil Henchman. He and Hae Soo connect because she is one of the few people who actually values him as a person, and it's thanks to her giving him the means to conceal his scars that he's able to gain any power at all. He knows, far better than any of the other princes, what it's like to be an underdog in this world and how power corrupts, and he wants nothing to do with it. But then he begins to see power as a way to protect the people he loves. So falls for the lie that he can play the same game as his father and all his brothers, without going down the same path of tyranny, insanity, and blood. The final act is his disillusionment: he learns that he was wrong, and even does some good for Goryeo under the influence of Hae Soo's ideas, but he's lost her forever, together with everything that might once have made him a good person.

WANG WOOK is the second male lead, a gentle and scholarly prince who is the biggest flaming egotist in the whole story, which is saying a lot. I hated him with the fire of a thousand suns, but all the horrible decisions he makes through the middle of the story are actually just foreshadowing for the path Wang So goes down later. Where So is a kicked puppy, Wook has only ever been loved and supported by everyone around him. Yet, when faced with the decision to make a bid for the throne or lose the people he loves, Wook turns coat without blinking. Cunning, cowardly, and selfish, Wook unhesitatingly sacrifices the woman he loves for the throne, all while complaining about what a toll it takes on HIM. This makes it really hard to watch when So ultimately makes all the same decisions, and then begins to speak with the same egotism. In the end, Wook is able to give up his ambitions, stop talking about himself, and actually manipulate So into letting Hae Soo leave the palace to die in peace. This is painfully maddening. Congratulations, So: you outdid the worst man in the entire show.

THE ROMANCE
There was so much about the romance that stole my heart. The way So silently, happily waits for Soo to return his love and initiate their second kiss; the way he chooses to trust her, with the words "I am yours", when she first offers to cover up his scars; their standoff outside her bedroom door when he knows she's hiding his brother Jung inside, and she threatens to kill herself if he intrudes; the way the two of them talk through their misunderstandings afterward and he actually APOLOGISES; the way Soo tries to give him unconditional trust, even as he tears it down…it was SO GOOD.

Which isn’t to say that there weren’t elements that made me groan – a forced kiss, declarations of ownership, that moment where he Breaks Her Heart To Save Her. That said, in hindsight I can see how all these things fit very well into So’s character arc and the larger thematic picture. Take the moment where he Breaks Her Heart To Save her, for instance. Much as I dislike this trope, it was extremely well played. For one thing, it wasn't overplayed the way it usually is, and for another, this is the very first decision Wang So makes after deciding to take the throne. From the moment it happens, this is clearly the first step down the long path in which So will lose more and more of what makes him a decent person and allow the throne to come between himself and Soo.

Ultimately, Soo only wants to escape the tyrant So has become, and she is only able to do so when Wook reveals that Soo had once promised to marry him. This enrages So, who never quite stopped claiming Soo as belonging to him and has only done so more insistently since claiming the throne. It’s this that finally makes him cast her aside in rage. It was never romantic: it was only ever the seed of the relationship’s destruction.

THE THEMES
The show's thesis statement is delivered by Wook and Yeon Hwa's mother, the not-so-evil-(but-still-moderately-rubbish)-queen: to gain the throne, one must throw away love.

A monarchy, see, is fundamentally an unequal system. Even the most liberal, constitutional monarchy today is still fundamentally corrupt. In medieval Goryeo, or in the version of it depicted in the show, things are even worse. The king has conquered multiple kingdoms and enslaved the inhabitants. He strives to keep power by marrying dozens of women from noble families. He fathers large numbers of sons, wielding absolute power over their lives. They murder each other for the chance to succeed him, terrified that if they refuse to play the game they will in turn be murdered by their brothers. Women can gain power only through proximity to the throne and to powerful families. The whole system preys upon those enmeshed within it, and it's almost impossible to leave, because everyone else you know and love is trapped inside it.

There was a point, I think in episodes 12-13, when I got quite angry at the show because I didn't realise how nuanced it was being. I thought the horrible King Taejo was being let off the hook for presiding over this corrupt system while the show blamed all the problems on scheming women. When Taejo dies I was ready to gut the showrunners for giving him a misty-eyed recap of his love for Lady Oh, the court lady he treated like dirt and finally executed as a scapegoat for a crime she didn't commit. I still feel that Taejo was treated more gently than he really deserved. In hindsight, though, maybe that wasn't so much pulling punches as recognising that the system makes victims of everyone, even the ones at the top, even those who genuinely want to change it (which is something I’ve also seen in history). In short, the antagonist of this show isn't so much the kings who benefit from the system as it is the system itself, which is upheld by the entirety of society.

The drama pulls no punches when showing how the systemic injustice of this society poisons absolutely everything. It isn't just the bad female characters: they are sidelined for long periods while the men go on playing the game and upholding the system. This is driven home mercilessly when So decides to play the game, expecting a different result because of his pure motivations. But the game is the game, and if you play it, you have to follow the rules.

The whole show, I was on tenterhooks to see how things would go down. Hae Soo is clearly an Ophelia-esque figure, who consistently desires to opt out of the game altogether and find happiness in a humble life outside it. I've seen murmurs online that some people think she should have showed more ambition, had more agency, and become a queen who could support So, but this overlooks everything the show is telling us thematically about what the game does. Power is a devil's bargain that you take in order to protect what you love, but which takes your love anyway in the end. The only way to win is not to play at all. Soo does not have the power to play the game, but neither does she leave when she gets the opportunity, because she wants to save the people she loves. As a mediator, she refuses to inflict violence on others, instead following in Lady Oh's footsteps and absorbing the violence into herself: she cuts herself to make herself unfit as a wife for the king, she threatens herself to protect Jung from So; she refuses to marry So when he asks her, throwing herself aside so that he doesn't have to. This has no salvific power: ultimately, it kills her.

The princes, meanwhile, especially Yo, So, and Wook, fall one by one to the temptation to play the game because they are fitted by birth and disposition to play it and do it well. When So does decide to play the game, I hoped he would find a way to do it without being corrupted. Having been used ruthlessly himself, he identifies with the underprivileged. (Just as he did with his child niece, and let me say right away that I never dreamed this show would actually make me OK with a grown man marrying his underage niece, but it is very careful to establish that So actually follows through on giving her as much freedom as he can in this context - he immediately sends her off to live without him and she becomes a Buddhist nun). So justifies his ambitions by telling Hae Soo that he believes he can make things better, not just for himself and the people he loves, but for all of Goryeo. Unlike Yo or Wook, he actually has an unselfish motivation: but can he redeem the game?

THE ENDING
The answer is that no, you can't play the game of power and remain a good person. The final quarter is what makes this show so horribly painful. So can take the throne quite easily, but in order to hold onto it he is forced to give up one piece of his humanity after another. Soo loves the person he used to be, which is what keeps her in the palace, a pawn in the game, absorbing its violence and dying by inches, until it's too late for her. Unlike Daisy Ridley's OPHELIA, she doesn't flee soon enough to save her life; perhaps she never could. Perhaps her choice to act as a mediator, to absorb the game's violence, was the dramatic choice that doomed her all the way back in the first act. Certainly, just like in any tragedy, So's dramatic choice occurs at the end of the second act, when he decides to take the throne. That's the thing that seals HIS fate, and the rest of the story is simply the unspooling consequences.

There are many who wished the ending to be different - who hold out for a second season or want to see the deleted scene in which So makes his way from Goryeo to the modern world and finds Soo there. I would actually have been horribly disappointed if that scene had made it in. Once So kills Chae Ryung he and Soo were over for me - I would have been wildly upset if the show had tried to put them together again or soften the consequences in any way. Chae Ryung is the embodiment of Soo's ethics - that even a slave girl is as important as a prince - and by killing her, So ceases to be someone whom Soo can have a relationship with at all.

I was SO IMPRESSED that they didn't try to soften this, that they let it be the tragedy the whole show was set up to be. Of course they do this in a distinctively kdrama way. Soo leaves partly because she wants to be alone with the So she remembers, the So she loves, rather than staying until her love turns entirely into disgust and hatred. She softens enough to call him to her bedside as she is dying, and when she awakes in the modern world, she's left sobbing that she's sorry. I didn't mind this too much, however, because it didn't come across as the show trying to tell me that Soo was wrong to leave. I could imagine someone like Soo feeling regret that she couldn't save the people she loved. What counts for me is that the show itself justifies Soo's actions: So is now so proud and angry that he misses her letters simply because they have Jung’s handwriting on them.

I would call the ending bittersweet rather than a tragedy. So becomes a slightly better king and a better person, not just because Soo loved him, but because she had the moral courage to leave him. I could have done with more hope for Soo, too, but obviously the only way they could think of to make the ending better would actually have made it worse, and so I am content with the way it stands.

MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO is one of the most mature dramas I've ever seen and one I'll be thinking over for a very long time. 10/10, practically perfect.

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“If I exist, my love for you exists.”

When I Fly Towards You is a delightful youth high school drama that left me absolutely captivated from start to finish. Its unique diary-style storytelling and endearing cast of characters created an unforgettable viewing experience that I'll cherish for years to come.

The diary format used to convey the story was a stroke of genius. Each episode was titled and had its own epilogue, giving it a personal touch that made me feel intimately connected to the characters. It allowed me to witness their growth, aspirations, and challenges through their own words, making the narrative feel raw and authentic.

One of the standout elements of this series is its undeniable cuteness overload. From adorable interactions to heart-fluttering moments, the male and female lead chemistry was simply magical. The female lead's bubbly and vivacious nature brought a vibrant energy to the story. Their evolving relationship was a joy to witness.

Beyond the main couple, the supporting characters were equally compelling. Each had their own unique storylines and personal growth, making it feel like a close-knit group of friends navigating the ups and downs of their school days together. I found myself emotionally invested in their journeys, experiencing laughter, tears, and everything in between.

The underlying theme of friendship, dreams, and the bittersweet nature of youth resonated strongly with me. When I Fly Towards You beautifully captured the essence of that brief period in our lives, reminding us of the importance of cherishing every moment and pursuing our passions with unwavering determination.

Without a doubt, I will revisit this series in the future. It's warmth and genuine portrayal of young love and friendship are timeless, and I know I'll find comfort and joy in rewatching it. I wholeheartedly recommend When I Fly Towards You to anyone seeking an enchanting, feel-good drama that will leave you with a smile on your face.

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IDK what to tell you

the casting was too good for this to play out the way it did. the characters had tons of personality it felt very realistic and relatable when it comes to life. now the plot--- the plot was most definitely there, it just lacked structure when it came to the outline and the editing. I felt like it was a lot of "ooouu's and ahhh's " from me while watching but I had to infer a lot of the time for the story to connect. It most definitely was rushed, I think the series would've been more successful with 10-12 episodes cause the finale leaves you more confused than any other episode. Nothing was really resolved you literally have to come to your own conclusion.

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A STEP UP TO LOVE

Probably the best Chinese BL Drama adaptation of the year 2023 so far. Addicted Heroine had issues back in 2015 after the NRTA stripped it down from airing before it was even concluded for having way too many bed scenes which was very tragic and since the beginning of the year didn't go well for shows like A League of Nobleman and Justice in the Dark which suddenly stopped airing without any news, Stay With Me has not only taken me by surprise but I'll highlight everything that makes the show splendid.

This time round, Stay With Me has a much darker tone attached to it than the original series and not to mention the longer run time gives us a more deeper understanding of the series since a lot of more scenes have been included to make it more interesting.

Secondly, the chemistry of the main leads is second to none and they have a more realistic evolution from enemies to lovers the fact being that each of them is a lonely and broken individual that eventually ends up finding refuge in the other, as the show progresses we can feel there compatibility becoming more and more intense.

Thirdly, boyslove is boyslove and we'll keep it at that, very much like the untamed, despite the fact that the series was deficient in kissing scenes one could literally read the sincere affection of both characters, Su Yu and Wu Bi have delivered it best yet again as I last felt the intensity of such a lovestory back in 2021 with the dramas KILLER AND HEALER and WORD OF HONOUR which I find to be the most appealing construct taking boyslove to a whole new and more humane and meaningful level as something more than casual sex between boys to a development of sincere and intimate feelings.

The wuxia fighting scenes were pretty much unexpected for a modern drama but as it wasn't overdone, I found them slightly more interesting to take in. While the Characters played by Su Yu and Wu Bi are more captivating since aside from being scripted, there is that understanding that can be seen on the screen instantly and felt that the actors opened up more sincerely to themselves and embraced their characters to give them the best reality. This for me is the most intense forbidden true love weathering the storms of life and standing the true test of time.

Finally, besides not being an overdone romantic show, Stay With Me is mature with very many heartwarming scenes, clear character development and growth, unrestrained compassions and bitter moments, feelings of regret and reserve which narrate the common, unseen hardships of life which make it a more realistic coming of age drama as we have gone through most of this in real life and watching the show is like a therapy that enables us best understand the characters played on top of just enjoying them.

Ultimately, Stay with Me has that urge that keeps you wanting more and more of the show, not boring at all but every scene only suspensive will have you on edge worried about what will happen next to keep you fully indulged which makes it so far my favourite Cdrama of the year 2023 having set a milestone in this industry and even perhaps my drama of the year but most importantly because it impressed me in more ways than I could have imagined.

At this rate, nothing can stop me from longing for a second season.

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Speechless

Production - paid a lot of attention to details and set was appropriately in synched with the scenes.
Story - Light and simple that makes viewers reminisce about their youth: first love, family and school. This series madenme feel sorry for not having an older brother to bicker with and love me the way the sibling relationship was shown here.
Directing - well directed, smooth transition of story, stayed faithful to the origonal manhua story. It is well balanced romance, family, friendship and colleague relationship. It isnt just a story about first love but also family dynamics, cultural & societal impacts, relationships, struggles, and much more that were interconnected.
Wardrobe - this isbthe area that is most times producers limit the budget. It throws viewers for a loop when wardrobe doesnt match the scenes [next day or another day scene but same outfit worn by casts]. Appropriate wardrobe shows honest goal of providing best portrayal of story that assist viewers in being able to follow the story.
Artists - the entire casts worked harmoniously together. Zhao Lusi's versatility as an actress got shown here.
I paid for Youku subscription to watch this then found out thisbjs available in Netflix which I already have.
I dont regret it because the series is worth the subscription I paid. It is very good and worth watching. I plan to watch again in Netflix.

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Typical rom-com office drama

Basically, there is nothing special or super interesting in this drama. It was so popular when this drama aired. What makes this drama well-liked? I believe it is because of Park Seo Joon (Lee Young Joon). But sadly, I didn't like his character in this story. I believe that he suits a funny and unserious type of character more.

The first episode was great, but it didn't even last long. I was excited to see Kim Miso (Park Minyoung) out of that company and see her live her life to the fullest, but there is not one episode where she is not in that company. It just gets boring seeing them act like a secretary-boss duo when they are already in a relationship, and because of this I don't feel any chemistry to both of them as a couple. The family of Miso just randomly pops out of nowhere that they don't seem like a family.

What makes this drama a typical rom-com office drama? You know those overly successful narcissistic male leads with the girl he likes who is always beside him and keeps telling her what she should and should not do? A traumatic past experience? The family of the male lead is always awkward with each other because they don't have a good bond either with the parents or one of the siblings, and the list goes on. I could literally enumerate the K-dramas with the same plot.

Overall, I'll just give it a 6/10. Not bad, but not good. The only thing I loved in this drama was Kim Miso's outfits.

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The most rewatch value ever

I feel like I have to come back here and say how much this drama worth it, starting by the exciting and INCREDIBLE history that Chai Jidan written and going by the PERFECT acting of the main role, you cannot watch this and not have a big and wide smile while some scenes, you will fall in love, I always fall for them. I watch this drama a long time ago but I always rewatch not because I love all about it but is it because its super hard to find such a good love and act theses days. I remembet to search a lot some similar but never find. Like Addicted Heroin, this beautiful story is more than amazing. I just to say that I miss them a lot and hope for more.

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A Rare Gem

Their story is so beautiful. Their love is genuine. Their fight for love is worth it. Her encouraging him in his lowest, and him supporting her dreams is so heartwarming.

Hidden Love is truly a gem. It's the drama you want to watch after going through a hard/stressful day and watching an episode of it can immediately wash away your tiredness.

The cast are casted perfectly. Victor Ma portrayed the role of an older brother that truly cares for his little sister. He might not be showy on his care but you can see it through his actions towards Sang Zhi.

Duan Jiaxu, he remained strong and steady to prove the world that his family matter wont affect his accomplishments and eager for success. The way he fought for his love for Sang Zhi and how he is willing to give up his career on Yihe, just to make Sang Zhi's parents relieved and for his build a future for Sang Zhi without staying far away from her parents is such a rare trait for a man nowadays. (I AM CRYING YESSS)


Sang Zhi, Zhao Lusi, I truly love her character. The drama displayed her progress from a little kid to a mature lady and how her persistence paid off, not only for chasing her love for Jiaxu but also for her own achievement.

All I can just say is this drama truly deserved its hype and high rating.


Also PS,

The proposal is not grand, but the emotions are rich.
Damn I cri again.

"Lifetime, One Person"

/punches the wall and cries/

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Started Out Better Than It Ended

I was loving this show up until about ep 10 or 11. It reversed some expectations. It was funny, it was light, it was heartfelt. The cast is brilliant. Jung Kyung Ho knocked it out of the park from start to finish. That being said, I didn't really feel much chemistry between him and Jeon Do Yeon... She's a good actress, but their relationship had "mommy issues" vibes. Anyway, the whole cast was great. The guy who played Jang Hui Jae, for someone who barely had any lines, was stellar.

I was really enjoying the humour, the plot, everything. I was invested in the stupid scandal being solved. I was invested in the education system plot. I LOVED that the "villains" (the mom group) had a strong motive and were believable.

So, what went wrong? Three things. It kind of went off the rails in 3 different directions in the last quarter of the show.

1. I felt the murder plot was unnecessary. That time would have been better spent fleshing out characters like Su-ah. They had so much material that they could have worked with in an engaging way... but they went the murder plot route, which cheapened the storyline.

2. Why bring back the mom for a brief moment? And why did Hae-e need to end up in a coma? This all felt so unnecessary. I would have really enjoyed if they used that time to better flesh out the dynamics of the teen group. That felt hurriedly wrapped up, which brings me to my last point...

3. Not everyone needed to be paired up in the last 10 minutes... that was awkward and unnecessary. Also, Nam Hae-e and Geon-hu had good chemistry, and it would have been sweet to see his hard work in school pay off with a kiss from Hae-e. Conversely, Sun-jae and her never had anything other than friendship vibes. Having Yeon-ju hook up with Jae-woo was just unrealistic. That whole last episode was bizarre and unnatural.

Actually, 4 things.

4. Not everyone needed a redemption arc and a happy ending! I was looking forward to seeing Su-a's mom unmasked for the jerk she was by her friend group. Yes, she had a messy scene and was shamed, but it's not the same. Instead, everyone ends up with their happy little ending, everything neatly packaged and wrapped up and tied in a bow. Su-a's mental/stress issues magically vanish and school is fine. Hui-jae goes into the army, etc. you get it. It just felt very hallmarky and kind of undersold how nuanced the story could have been.

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en of love: love mechanics

okay, okay this thai bl drama. I love the actors with all my heart but they just didn't do the boys justice like mate did they have to make him so damn fucking toxic. like bro it makes no sense and all the toxcity wouldn't have happend if he hadn't kissed him at that bar. we he was thinking of bar. like oh my days all of this toxicity is vee's fault. and mark deserves a happy ending and i'm scared to watch the second love mechanics because apparently vee is a lot worse. and that girl i think her name is ploy is the biggest pick me girl. and poor mark he waited and waited for vee to break up with ploy and then vee got made at him it just doesn't add up mate, like mark had the right to get mad at vee every single step of the way. and vee should've just shut his mouth when it comes to dating.

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The Four Musketeers of Emergency Medicine

Wang Yang Ming and Liu Fei are two newly graduated doctors who compete for one full time position at the prestigious An Kang Hospital. Liu Fei is taken under the wing of even-tempered and careful Dr. Zu while Wang Yang Ming is shoved at the curmudgeonly Dr. Lu, who is minutes away from quitting for a much better paying private hospital job. Under the tutelage of these mentors, Wang Yang Ming and Liu Fei grow their skills, learn to overcome hospital politics, and become top emergency room doctors.

My favorite character is Dr. Lu Yi (Louis). He's both an old grouch, extremely dedicated doctor, and the comedian of the group. His character growth really stems from empathy. He starts off as a brash, highly skilled but hard to get along with doctor with a massive chip on his shoulder for not getting promoted, to an understanding, confident man who is willing to sacrifice his career but not his morals for those he cares about. Wang Yang Ming and him make a dynamic duo, but Lu Yi always felt realistic while Wang Yang Ming felt a little too idealistic. All four main characters and the supporting characters were all solid, thought Dr. Guan (Big Boss Guan) is worth a particular shout-out. She was an teacher and manager to the four, giving life lessons and pushing at the right times to make these four better.

This drama could have cut down 10 episodes, as it started dragging around Ep 26. They inflated the story by adding three side romances and varying degrees of drama. My biggest criticism is that Meng Jiaoyang, Dr Bao, and Wang Huan didn't become their own strong characters - they just helped push the storyline forward and became enablers to the men in their lives. I would cut most of the romance because the medical drama and brotherhood between the four main characters really didn't need it to sustain interest in the story. The medical cases themselves also became less interesting in the second half of the drama.

Overall, one of the best medical dramas I've seen since With You (2020). Highly recommend for a pleasant mix of lighthearted comedy, drama, and brotherhood.

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There are many different kinds of love - and they are all love

I really liked this series. A thought provoking look at love, self sacrifice and betrayal, and the many shades of grey that blur the lines in between until one turns into the other.

I liked the characters and the actors who portrayed them. They were perfect choices. The chemistry between the leads was beautiful and felt genuine, and the side characters were developed nicely too. I found the story compelling.

I totally disliked the cringey whining of the main song, and found it annoying as it was played so often, but I turned down the volume and overlooked that weakness because everything else worked so well.

Yes it has a lot of the typical drama tropes but there was an extra level of thoughtful character development that made it feel relatable and real.

This is certainly the best Taiwanese drama that I have watched, and will likely rewatch., so I do recommend it.

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