Reviews

Ji Hun - you can do better!

Overall: follows a couple who dated for 5 years and then broke up. Aired on Shortime as part 1 with 3 episodes about 8 minutes each. My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) which should get you a bonus.

Content Warning: vomiting in episode 3

What I Liked
- visuals
- acting

Room For Improvement
- Ji Hun needs to leave his ex in the dust and get with a nice boyfriend. When he ex filmed them having sex and then left right afterwards it was so gross. His ex couldn't even say "I love you" when he knew it was important to Ji Hun? Trash behavior. Really hope in part 2 Ji Hun ends up with a boyfriend who expresses his love.

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First Review cause need to bump up the score!

These days I have been watching a lot of the k-drama at 1.5 speed, just so that I can get to the good part quickly, or sometimes so that I can finish it and move on. However, I am so pleasantly surprised that these drama is so entertaining, funny, believable, heart warming, soul wrenching, beautifully shot, kept me on the edge, and everything else good all at the same time!

Been a long time that I wanted each episode of a series to be as long as possible and that the show can continue forever.

Give it a try, it could definitely be one of your fav k-drama

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When criticism stops being fair: My thoughts on Perfect Crown

I just finished watching Perfect Crown, and honestly, I need to say this because some of the discourse surrounding this drama has been driving me crazy.
Before watching it, I saw countless comments criticizing the drama, the actors, and practically everything associated with it. Some people were acting as though it was one of the worst productions ever made. After finally watching it for myself, I can confidently say that I do not understand the level of hostility directed at this series.
Was it perfect? No. No drama is. But the amount of criticism it received feels wildly disproportionate to its actual flaws.
The acting was excellent. The story kept me engaged from beginning to end. For the first time in a long while, I found myself genuinely eager to know what would happen next. Every episode left me wanting more, and that is something many dramas fail to accomplish. No drama has made me feel this invested in a while. Since watching The Manipulated and King the Land, very few Korean dramas have kept me constantly wondering what was going to happen next. Perfect Crown had me looking forward to every episode and wanting answers as the story unfolded.
What frustrates me most is seeing people attack the actors' abilities. Criticizing a storyline is one thing. Disliking a character is another. But claiming that talented actors suddenly cannot act simply because you dislike a drama is where criticism starts to lose credibility.
I have seen people dismiss performances that were clearly emotional, convincing, and well-executed. At some point, it stops being an honest review and starts feeling like people have already decided they want to hate something regardless of what is actually on screen.
The historical complaints are another issue. This is a fictional drama. It is not a documentary, a history textbook, or a government record. Viewers are free to dislike the creative choices, but acting as though every fictional deviation completely destroys the value of the entire production feels excessive.
What I find particularly frustrating is how selective some people are when it comes to outrage. A fictional drama changes a historical detail, uses one term instead of another, or changes a ceremonial element, and suddenly people act as though the entire production should be condemned.
Yet for years, viewers around the world have watched films and dramas rely on stereotypes without seeing this same level of backlash.
As an international viewer, one thing that has always bothered me is how casually people use "Africa" as though it is a single country. Africa is a continent. It is made up of dozens of countries, cultures, languages, and histories. Nigeria is not Kenya. Kenya is not South Africa. South Africa is not Ghana. Ghana is not Mozambique. Yet many films and television shows still talk about "Africa" as though it is one place with one culture and one experience.
I have also watched countless productions where Africa is portrayed almost exclusively through poverty, suffering, and hardship. Likewise, I have seen dramas use "America" as a convenient explanation for rude behavior, rebellion, smoking, drinking, or disrespect, as though these things are uniquely tied to one place. These portrayals are often exaggerated stereotypes, yet they rarely generate the same level of outrage.
That inconsistency is what stands out to me.
If we are going to have conversations about accuracy and representation, then those conversations should be applied fairly across the board. It seems strange to ignore countless stereotypes and oversimplifications in entertainment, only to become intensely focused on a few details in a fictional drama.
At some point, it begins to feel less like constructive criticism and more like people searching for reasons to be angry.
One thing I have always believed is that not everything is meant for everyone. If a drama is not your taste, that is perfectly fine. Watch something else. Move on. But there is a difference between saying, "This wasn't for me," and trying to convince everyone that it has no value whatsoever.
For me, Perfect Crown was engaging, emotional, well-acted, and memorable. The cast put in tremendous effort, and it shows. You do not have to love the drama. You do not even have to like it. But some of the reactions surrounding it feel completely disproportionate to what was actually shown on screen.

At the end of the day, I am glad I watched it and formed my own opinion instead of relying on the loudest voices online. Sometimes the best thing a viewer can do is ignore the noise, watch the drama for themselves, and decide what they think. After doing exactly that, I can honestly say that much of the backlash says more about online outrage culture than it does about the actual quality of the drama

SECONDLY
Another thing that crossed my mind while watching the reactions to this drama is how differently people treat actors once they become successful.
When an actor is struggling to gain recognition, many people cheer for them and want them to succeed. But once they finally break through and reach a new level of popularity, it sometimes feels as though people start waiting for them to fail.
I cannot help but wonder whether some of the hostility directed at the cast comes from the fact that they have become more visible and more successful. The larger an actor's profile becomes, the more intense the criticism seems to get.
That is part of why some of the comments about the acting feel so strange to me. You can dislike a drama. You can disagree with creative decisions. But acting as though talented performers suddenly have no acting ability simply does not make sense.
At times, it feels less like an honest evaluation of their performances and more like resentment toward their success. Whether people want to admit it or not, there are moments when criticism begins to sound less like constructive feedback and more like a refusal to acknowledge that someone has earned their place through hard work and talent.

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could've been better

i had saw this trending and was interested in watching but no matter how much I searched i couldn't find it I had actually seen the scenes of highschool only and thought it's highschool drama later I found out they're not main but support characters because of that I quit and now I tried watching seeing if I would like but drop because I read the reviews and no point in watching

why I dropped

the highschool story and cast is probably more interesting
the older cast both don't match even visually though? and their moment from starting feel dull ?
FML is clearly casted tall for highschool and as older she's been casted as short ? ml i don't know is not right cast too I think
poor writing,- this could've been a hit as only school romcom than breakup and meet-up in future
if the older version part didn't existed and only highschool romance then I would have liked it definitely I'm also dropping because they're not gonna be shown till the end
many reviews say the same I tried watching I had avoided because of older cast I thought I should atleast try maybe I like it but no I feel like skipping, highschool part is more interesting but sadly that's not the story or they could've played the older version too that would've been better then new cast

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Cliche story and lackluster execution

The title ("Business Marriage: If We Fall in Love, We'll Divorce") says it all. Anyone who's seen one of the many dramas based on that silly premise can guess what's going to happen...
Indeed, the story is utterly predictable. Which could be fine.
The issue is, the execution feels lazy and cheap. No fun/cute side characters to root for, low production value (most of the drama is shot in that one horribly decorated apartment), no side story to distract us from the tedious flow of the main one.

This drama felt formulaic and impersonal.

For those learning Japanese: it is on the easier side. Day-to-day Japanese spoken at a normal pace. Full Japanese subtitles on Viki.

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The chaotic team I didn’t want to say goodbye to

I knew the day would eventually come when I’d genuinely enjoy a character played by Cha Eun-woo, and here we are! He can absolutely pull off a superhero role. His laid-back, introverted, and quiet personality was perfectly balanced by the female lead’s chaotic energy and enthusiasm. Their dynamic worked because it felt natural & he didn’t need to be overly expressive or do anything over the top to make his character stand out. That said, I do wish other MLs’ Ro bin and Son Un had gotten more screen time. Since they’re an important part of the team, it felt like there was still so much more to get out of their characters.
I do have to say Eight episodes weren’t enough for me to fully connect with the characters.. It felt like the show ended just as it was hitting its stride, leaving me wanting a lot more.

Plus I also have to say I’m glad romance wasn’t the main focus of the story. While there were a few romantic moments here and there, I never really felt the chemistry between the leads as a couple. They worked much better as teammates than as a romantic pairing, so I was happy the show didn’t force a bigger romance storyline.THANKGOD 🙏

The comedy, however, was a solid 10/10. These wonder fools had me laughing out loud in every single episode. The humor landed perfectly, and the group dynamic was easily one of the show's strongest points.

One thing I couldn't help noticing was how similar the backstory felt to Stranger Things. The whole concept of scientists experimenting on orphaned children, followed by a lab accident caused by the main character, immediately reminded me of stranger things. At times, the parallels felt a little too obvious to not mention.

Overall, this was a fun, lighthearted watch with plenty of laughs, lovable characters, and just enough action to keep things interesting. And honestly? I think this is exactly the kind of show that deserves a Season 2. There’s still so much potential left, and I’d happily watch another season with this crew.

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Boring to death!

I watched it because of the good reviews and the 2 actors. My first drama with Dilraba was “Love in the Turquoise Land,” and I liked her so much. I knew YangYang a long time ago, and apart from his undoubtedly attractive face, I like his acting.

But I can only say: what a waste of time!! In the last episodes, I used the fast-forward button because I couldn't stand it anymore.

There is no plot. Just 2 people who meet again, fall in love, and whose daily lives unfold. But without good photography, a good script, or good acting. We assume their love is “true” because of the childish voices of the FL and the grimace of the ML. Of course, you will not find it in their kiss scenes. They couldn’t be more false and cold.

The only purpose of this drama, I imagine, is to praise the Chinese Aerospace Academy and their recent achievements. It’s just an exercise of nationalism and insists on the right virtues: family, humility, solidarity… Otherwise, It has no sense to film this drama.

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Soul Crushing!

Overall, this is a series steep in the imagery of ferocity, harshness, and seemingly emotional intensity. But it is a ruse; a gimmick. You do not get to witness that fervent intensity until the VERY last scene when the very last line of the series is finally delivered. And even then, we never see our protagonists – our heroes, the emotional nonpareils – deliver the words: we only hear their words. I cried. I found that so profoundly sad. That, sullenly, I felt. We had to literally wait until the end to find out that they were deeply in love with one another. I cried because I wanted those words to be spoken much earlier. They never did. Or at least inferred. They never were, and thus they never were. The only emotion that this series gets undeniably correct is sadness. Unfathomable despondency. This is by far one of the saddest, if not the saddest, series I have ever seen on all appraisable levels. If you are wanting or expecting it to be emotionally passionate, you are going to be disappointed. Perhaps it might be better, ironically, to watch this series from its end to the beginning. Then the whole picture is made clearer. They got the editing all wrong. The saga tries too hard to convince us it is a story of intrinsic feelings. Sure, we are overwhelmed with ardencies, but we have no time to feel them. The story continuously takes us on along a journey into a world of hurt, leading into forks in the road that only lead to other levels of affliction. As if somehow, all this represents the only way life is for them. It does not. This odyssey became corpulent with deleterious effects and therefore hard, at least for me, to know what to sense and thus, I shut down. I saw and felt no real connection between the two of them. This is a soul-crushing series full of pain and sadness. Nothing more.

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Good idea, Bad execution but at least they tried

What can I say about GMMTV's most anticipated series? Personally, I really enjoyed it. Even though I think 10 episodes would have been enough, I became genuinely attached to the characters and their different life journeys.

My favorite characters were Bambi, Shasha, and Gorya. They all had strong and interesting personalities, but what also stood out to me was their fashion. Their outfits felt fresh and innovative for a GL series, and I really appreciated that because we don't usually see characters dressed like that in this genre.

Despite all the complaints and criticism on social media, I enjoyed Girl Rules. It was entertaining in many ways and gave me exactly what I was looking for, so thank you to the series for that.

As for the couples, I really loved Shasha and Gorya, as well as Prim and Bambi. By the end, their relationships became quite similar, even though they started off completely differently. There was sexual tension, some cheating, a little bit of craziness, but not enough arguments for my taste. I would have liked to see more conflict between these couples to make their dynamics even more compelling.

I'm sorry, but I really didn't enjoy Min and Praew as a couple. Their dynamic was frustrating to watch. I didn't find Praew's persistence cute at all. It's such a shame because Min's storyline about discovering and coming to terms with her sexuality was genuinely interesting, but this relationship took away from that for me.

I also appreciated that the series touched on queer (lesbian) themes, women's issues, and mental health. Even though these topics were only explored on a surface level, I think they deserved much more development.

In any case, don't let social media opinions decide for you. Form your own opinion. The series is nowhere near as bad as some people make it out to be.

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Heartwarming Coming-of-Age BL Series

When Oranges Fall is such a heartwarming and comforting BL series that beautifully captures high school romance, friendship, and youth. I genuinely love the main cast, Almond and Progress — their acting feels natural, emotional, and full of chemistry. They truly bring their characters to life in a way that makes every scene feel sincere and memorable.

I also adore the side characters portrayed by Ken, Paul, Justin, and Keaton. Their presence adds so much charm, warmth, and fun to the story, making the friendships feel genuine and lovable.

What makes this series special is how it perfectly balances romance, friendship, and coming-of-age moments. It reminds you of the beauty of growing up, finding comfort in people, and experiencing young love for the first time. Every episode leaves a warm feeling in my heart.

I truly hope When Oranges Fall receives all the love and success it deserves. These talented young actors are undoubtedly part of the future of GMMTV, and I’m excited to see them grow even more in the industry.

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