Reviews

Without ShiYeol this drama wouldn't have kept me interested for 18 episodes.

Surprisingly, the drama keeps u guessing all throughout the episodes. And there are new twists and turns every episode even though major ones are a bit predictable. There were some filler episodes in the middle but still the plot didn't falter. I loved how the story developed.
Now the characters:
So far every main character is likable. I know some people hated the fl's guts in the beginning for being willing to sell out Ok Jin but honestly I understand her. and Shin Ye Eun plays her role really well. Not her best role by far but still she is likable and does her role justice. But it is the boys who absolutely stole the show. Each of them have different personalities. and Honestly Kang San and Shi yeol dynamic is to die for. I love all their interactions with one another. Kang San's stoic personality but cute little smiles whenever Dan Oh's is near is amazing. Yoo Hwa and Dan Oh's interactions are pretty fun. But seriosuly my man Shi Yeol absolutely shine bright. His comic timing is amazing. and His personality is so cute. He is also one of the most layered and interesting character in this drama. I honestly started watching for him after the little women and I am glad I did. I don;t want to spoil anymore but yes he is amazing and the most interesting out of all. I would go on about him but Idk what to say without spoilers.
The supporting cast did commendable jobs too.

Music didn't stand out a lot.

I wouldn't probably rewatch it. But I might just go there from time to time to watch some of Shi Yeol's scenes.

What I dislike so far:
Some filler episodes
The first few episodes. Like I get that we are introducing the characters and the plot but it was still boring. I almost dropped the drama in the middle.
Later episodes also faltered a bit. Stupid choices.
I hoped that we would be able to get more background for all main characters and how they grew up and how they adapted to their role since childhood. Esp Shi Yeol. This would have made the drama more interesting and the plot would have been better. THis would be better than adding lots of filler scenes.
Last episode. It was rushed. EVen with 18 episodes I can't believe they didn't give a proper thoughtout and sensible ending.
I liked the action pieces for the most part but sometimes they are not good. Only some scenes stand out. For a drama that is esp focused a lot on sword fight scenes and stuff I expected variety. This one is just a minor gripe.

So far, I like the drama. This is one of the few dramas I am watching right now and honestly it is worth watching if you like mystery with light comedy elements.

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Was it too short or was there too much happening?

My feelings over this special are conflicted. It’s like they tried to make a season 2, but didn’t really know what to do, so they made a short series and slapped a “special” label on to it. But at the same time, they tried to cram a ton of stuff into it – the internship, the wedding, the idol thing. It was just too much going on for the four episodes that it had.

I also feel like they did Nuer and Syn dirty. Their scene shouldn’t have been used as a comic relief scene. I think the two are adorable and probably have the healthiest relationship out of all the couples from the Cutie Pie franchise. Their scene had a lot of potential, it could have been really sweet and fluffy. But no, they decided to make fun of Syn’s inexperience when it comes to intimacy. Which is a shame.

I was not happy with how Lian was handling Kuea’s request to wait for the wedding night. I don’t really get Kuea’s thinking as the two have been together before, but that doesn’t mean that his decision is something that doesn’t have to be respected. Lian was pushy on the issue, and I didn’t really like that. At least they learned to somehow communicate about things. They still needed some help, but progress is progress.

We don’t really get to see any progress in Hia Yi and Diao’s relationship, but that was kind of expected as the two are getting their own series. Hopefully, we got to learn more about their past. But that’s me going off-topic already.

I think this had a lot of potential, but the execution was not the best. They should either only focus on the wedding part or made it longer to really develop everything else they tried to include.

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LOVE this couple!

This drama is a ROMANTIC COMEDY with some action & schemes/secrets. It's become one of favorite dramas of all time. I lost track of how many times I've rewatched it. If you're expecting a serious dramatic love story or serious military heavy drama, I'm warning u now that this ain't it. The love between the FL & ML was deep, but more on the light hearted fun side. It also shows that they're just like other regular couples irl. Not just the "mature" types that most historical dramas portray. I notice a lot of ppl rag on the FL character, but I love her. She's a playful teenager who's been cast aside , bullied, neglected, & basically didn't care if she played w the "lower class" by half of her family members growing up & was forced into becoming a childbride to a rumored "devil general" to protect her mom. Many viewers love him more cuz he's more disciplined & mature than her, but u gotta remember his character is a few yrs older than her & he grew up in a very disciplined environment compared to her. What viewers tend to forget is that they're BOTH stubborn & petty. He's just more passive aggressive about it while she's more aggressive & wear it on her sleeve more about it. Tang Min & Caesar Wu did an amazing playing their roles. Their chemistry is what makes me rewatch this drama so many times. Thank u casting director for putting these 2 together cuz the wrong actor/actress woulda made all those beautiful love scenes cringy af. I hope they'll star in more dramas as a couple again.

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A mobster who likes it rough, but has a heart of gold. or does he?

This is my second time watching...but my first review
Overall: This series if awesome if you are NOT looking for sweet, fluffy, or darling romance. There's red flags, bd**, codependency, violence, murder (off screen), and general chaos. Lots of reviews say it's cringy. For me, it's not. It's got some sweet and adorable moments that made me smile, and lots of messy, chaos which I also enjoyed.

Acting: I love an actor who is a good cryer. When they are able to actually bring real tears, don't cry too loudly, and let out these heartbreaking little sobs or soft crying noises. This always connects me to the character, and I can immediately feel their pain. I'm invested. I found myself wanting to hug Kim (Ton) throughout much of this series. He does some emotions very well.
Yoon is a terrific bad guy with selective tastes in the bedroom, and plays the character of Kamol perfectly. Their chemistry is sometimes awkward, but at the same time, undeniable. Skinship and spice moments are plentiful. Permission is asked, so that's always a plus, but the pain is also a given. I love how whispery Kamol's voice is when he speaks to Kim. If he looked at me with that intense look, I'd be a puddle. Just saying....But when he's ticked off, watch out! I love the swag in his walk, esp in ep 6. For me, he could have shown even more fury and that would have been just fine. lol
Love the girls, Sammy is her usually humorous self -it's nice seeing her in a grown up, office role. Baitoey is not someone I'm familiar with, but I really love her. Her character Metawee (Mai, Mei, May) defends and tries to protect her boss in a non-crush kinda way. She's also his go-to for advice.
Kuma Punnathorn Pornprasit who plays Salmon did a spectacular job especially for a child actor. He's simply adorable.
Really enjoyed all the side characters.

Cast: the boys are crazy built, and hot, the ladies are pretty. what more do you need?

Story: It's different. lol...the business parts of the story are full of lies, double crosses, chaos and violence. The mobsters are mobstering, so keep that in mind before you watch, this may not be for you. From ep 6 on the total chaos is real. Danai is over the top. I do wonder just how many phones and ipads he goes through. lol
The romance part of the story....oh my. One night stand becomes more, even if one of them isn't sure what he wants. But since he does some personal research after his first night--Methinks he doth protest too much. lol
If you like the enemies to lovers trope (they aren't really enemies-just that the one being chased is running very hard) , keep watching. But beware, there are plenty of red flags, and forceful behaviors. (he doesn't use force per say, but his personality IS forceful and determined to get his own way). I actually loved the way they developed their relationship over the length of the series. Kim says no with his mouth, but yes with his body and expressions. So there are a lot of mixed signals.
The ending is soft, and sweet, with an unexpected surprise. lol
The tigers? well, for me that's a big NO. They should be in the wild, or a refuge. Not someone's home. Everytime Kim sticks his hands into the cage, or holds onto the bars I'm like NO NO NO....lol

Memorable quotes:
Kamol-I can be whatever you want me to be.
Mei-The didn't try to kill you, did they?
Kamol-He's so stubborn, just the way I like it.
Lop-I am so dead.
Kamol-A person like me doesn't threaten.
Danai-If you love him so much, I'll send you both to hell.
Kim-I know who I am, and what I am doing.
Kamol-What past? There's only the present and the future...

Wardrobe: I LOVE the styles in this series. The jackets were really on point. The turtle necks, the suits, the glasses....They did a great job with all the cast. The assistant girls (Metawee and Jin) clothes are SOOO awesome! I did feel that a lot of Cherry's clothes looked more like she was going clubbing, and not really dayware, or rather ready for her attempts at espionage. lol

Product placement: without it, there's no series. lol...for the most part, they do a good job blending them into the story in the early eps. gets to be a bit much as the show progresses. But it is what it is.

Music: the score often increases the dramatic value without overpowering the dialogue which is great. and it's not constant noise. I appreciate some down time from the music.

Filming/Lighting: most of the time it was fine. But the dramatic flashes for some of the scenes were a bit much.

Timeline: Yeah, don't ask me. Supposedly, the first half or so happens while Kim in on his 1 week vaca. But this makes no sense, considering everything that happens. So don't stress too much over it.

Final note: The 3 main body guards are all gorgeous, and deserve their own story. After about ep 7, you start to see more of their personalities. I love that they know ALL about their boss's preferences, root for him, and seem to love him. lol Oh ep 10 will live in my mind forever. lol
The side romance well...I love this little crush, and since they are both of age more power to them...irl they are only a couple years apart, although the younger seems SO young. lol

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I will change to love someone who loves me – to what extent?

Arranged marriage? Age gap? Childhood crush? Yes, please! I feel like the series had incredible potential. I can’t think of any other arranged marriage BL series, so I was really looking forward to watching this one. It’s definitely a trope I really like, especially when it’s done with a well-done age gap romance.

Lian & Kuea: I know Hia Lian was supposed to be cold and kind of emotionless, but it felt kind of overdone at times. Kuea was fun and rebellious yet decided to show a completely different self to Hia Lian. I can understand why he did what he did, he wanted to be the perfect person for the one he truly loved. He took that very seriously. I liked the initial conflict between the two of them, but as the story progressed, things got a bit repetitive at times. I feel like something that many failed to realize is that the only person Lian has to blame for the disaster that happened in episode 11 is himself. He knew all about Kuea’s true self, yet he kept quiet about it. Understandable, he was giving his boy the chance to confess on his own. But because Kuea still thought that Lian doesn’t know who he is, his reaction was the only correct reaction he should have.

Yi & Diao: Diao is a cutie pie as well. He is a bit too clueless at times, but he is ana amazing friend to Kuea. Even if that means getting dragged into his schemes. Yi is another tight-lipped man. I see a pattern here. I do think the two of them are cute together, but Yi felt extremely controlling at times. Like the whole curfew thing. Diao is an adult; he should be allowed to make such decisions for himself. When he is or isn’t Yi’s boyfriend. It just didn’t sit well with me. It felt like a parent – child relationship at times instead of the pinning-after-each-other kind of relationship.

Nuer & Syn: The two of them are so adorable! The way Syn would not admit his feelings for Nuer throughout the series was kind of fun. He kept insisting that Nuer makes him mad, yet he could never take his eyes off him. And Nuer knew what buttons to push. I am certain that he was never actually interested in Kuea, he saw him as a potential friend. His focus was always on Syn. And their kiss scene? It was so sweet!

Saying that the chemistry between the actors is amazing is an understatement. They all seem very relaxed around each other, and I feel like we can see that through the way they interact in the series as well. The OST was done really well, I wouldn’t expect anything less considering the fact that Kuea is a musician. Nunew’s voice is incredible soothing. And the songs they used really fit the storyline well. They carry a lot of meaning too. Change made me shed some tears. Nunew delivered this one so well. I think I am not the only one that could feel Kuea’s pain through the song.

However, there were some not so great things. The first being the first kiss of Lian and Kuea. It was a great kissing scene, don’t get me wrong, but the fact Kuea was incredibly drunk didn’t sit well with me. Also, the fact that both Kuea and Diao are terrified of their partners is not fun. If anything, it should be concerning. I feel like we don’t get enough backstory on a lot of things, which makes it difficult to put certain things into perspective. But my biggest pet peeve was the lack of communication between both Lian & Kuea and Yi & Diao. Do you know how much better things could be much earlier on if they just talked? I know that lack of communication tends to be a favorite plot maker in BL series, but there is such thing as it being too much.

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Unlike the OG s1&2 (which I loved), I had a love/hate relationship with this remake. I didn't even bother watching the OG s3, but let's be real, I'm sure many of s1&2 fans didn't either. What I liked about this remake was that consolidated all OG seasons into one & kept the same cast. I guess they also had to tweak & add some new storylines & love scenes to make this remake somewhat different too. I also liked that they chose an actress who kinda looks like one of the FL (Zhao Wei) from the OG. Bonus was they also had Ruby Lin from the OG played the perfect small cameo role in this remake. Thank goodness they didn't make her maid as clingy as the OG one too. The costumes & quality were obviously better being that it was newer so the tech was better. Younger looking cast to resemble closer to their characters' ages as well.

Onto the cons: some of the main the characters themselves weren't as lovable as their OG versions. The writers made Xiaoyanzi & Yong Qi way more immature & irrational than the OG ones making these lovable characters kinda annoying half the time. I also dk why they added in a love triangle character for them, but this 3rd wheel new character (Benjiman) in this one was basically the rational more mature versions of their OG selves. As for the other main couple, I didn't feel as much chemistry from them as I did the OG (who was my fave couple of s1&2). My favorite couple in this remake was actually the side one: Qing'er & Xiaojian. They looked the cutest together compared to the main ones. I'm sure if they had kept the same cast in the s3, I would've loved them too since they hinted at it at the end of s2. The OG actor/actress for those roles would've looked cute together too. All in all, I've only rewatched this remake a couple mainly for this side couple & the more exciting scenes while skipping thru some of the other couples' love plots or tantrum scenes. Plus, Zhao Wei's Xiaoyanzi felt more authentic & funnier.

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Light Historical that deals with a lot of interesting stuff

I'm not so sure about the blooming youth but this is an easy to watch well balanced historical drama.

The story is complicated, but not nearly as complicated as many other historical dramas, and while some twists are more predictable than others I did enjoy the level of suspense as well as how the story tied together.

The main villain of this story is the perfect villain, so greedy, smart and evil that there is no way i hell anyone would ever wish for anything other then a slow and painful death to this person, however that person is not the only villain in this story, and that is what I love about this that even if we get some pure greed and evil we also get the "It's complicated" side to this plot.

Park Hyung Sik is the perfect prince, vulnerable, smart (a bit like his character in Suits but with power and fame), he thinks beyond himself and even acknowledges that women are not object, odd but true (which kind of makes this not so realistic after all), His acting is spot on, his charm is all over the place and yes I may be bias but I had been looking forward to seeing him in this and was not disappointed.

Jeon So Nee (the female lead) got a really lovely character to portray (most of the time), smart, funny, forward, had great lines and though there where some inconsistencies with her character (she could be impulsive and stupid at times) I truly loved her character. However acting wise I think Pyo Ye Jin (the female leads maid) as well as the princess (Jung Da Eun) did a more convincing job.

Overall I would say the female characters in this drama may not have been very realistic but I fell for them all.

There where some annoying overacting parts in this but they did not take over or diverge from the main plot of conspirecys, greed and equality. As the crossdressing is used in an appropriate well written way. As a girl no one will tell you "try it, you can do it, go ahead... + Hiding... As no one could ever guess these very feminine looking people dressed as women are actually men... (yes I am being sarcastic)

The romance is beautifully subtle yet slow and by slow I mean painfully slow (for obvious reasons), so for the romance lover out there you are going to have to be patient, really, really patient and you may just may have to settle for the subtle hints of romance you get or I assume you will find yourselves kind of frustrated.

I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend this to those who want to watch an historical that is kind of light without being a ridiculous mishmash pop culture historical. If you want something more heavy I would recommend you watch something else like Under The Queens Umbrella or maybe The Red Sleeve...

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Surprisingly interesting and new

First of all, my expectations weren't high for this series - and I'm surprised how good it is!

Since the end of very first episode the plot caught my interest. It's not the typical drama where one's cheated on and acts out of anger as a consequence. Especially the female lead role shows interesting ways of understanding life and acts unpredictable. I liked it very much to see such a strong female character. She doesn't depend on her husband and her husband appreciates her a lot. This creates a unique dynamic between them.
The story focus not just only on their relationship but also how the society set standards and norms for relationships. The series breaks free some of those but to make a change you need a lot of courage.
I think series like these are very important to show other possible forms of love relationships and create an idea how to love. And it's okay either way as long as you're happy.

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Very mediocre drama

Mediocre.
-Nonsensical title and kinda misleading poster.
-The plot was too dragged out, I'd say about 6 episodes too many.
-The plot was mostly about politics and full of beaten to death cliche tropes seen in practically every saeguk out there, nothing fresh. If you can't write a captivating period drama story then go fantasy, or at least throw some zombies into the mix to spice things up!
-A very slow burn romance and lack of romantic chemistry between the main leads.
-Misrepresentation of FL's character. She was presented as a fighter and genius detective in the beginning, but then was degraded into a passive sidekick to ML, who along with another male detective character basically solved all the mysteries. They took inspiration from the og novel, but def no wheels were reinvented here.
-SML was so boring and lacking presence compared to ML, FL didn't even give him a good second look after meeting ML. I guess no one was having second lead syndromes here.
-Some ridiculous bs about the immortal fish and queen's rise to power, don't even want to go there further.
-Obligatory and as always unnecessary time skip and rushed ending! This just triggers me all the time in kdramas. ML wasted 10 minutes of the last episode literally digging holes. Should have showed more scenes about what happened to everybody in the end, most of the stuff was just alluded to or announced and then it was the end.

Secondary couple was the only highlight, they were funny and cute together all the time. So i guess 6.5 overall from me.

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Cute and fluffy conclusion

Looking at it from a story perspective, nothing much actually happened. And that’s okay. It was a special episode meant to solely show some cute and fluffy moments between the two couples and their interactions between each other. I especially enjoyed the Kluen and Fah moments – I know they say they don’t like each other much, but I think the two have become much closer than they would ever admit. They radiate sibling energy, and I am here for it. Prince and Dao are two cuties, especially when put together. But they have the power in their relationships. I think that’s especially obvious in the way Prince keeps Fah in line when it comes to Kluen. All in all, it was an adorable little episode that showed how the two couples have settled in life after their series ended.

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An Empty Can of Coffee in an Empty Coffee Shop...

This is the story about the girl who wanted to learn how to make great coffee... or more like got a crush on a barista so she used the oldest trick in the book "learning" to get close to her.

The girls are kind of sweet, and the chemistry is fine there is not a lot of plot, but there is som smooching and fluff. I gave it an extra 0.5 points for the fluff, but I guess it did not really touch me.

If you do watch it I would recommend you watch an episode a day without a big gap, as I thought it had 4 episodes but it turnd out to have 7 so I started it to early and got a big gap between the first 4 and the last 3 which I binged.

So as long as you prepare yourself for some fluff, cliche talk and not so much substance and all should be fine.

P.S There is nothing wrong with watching something that lacks substance.

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Good season 2 that doesn't take itself too seriously

This is a sweet and enjoyable mini-show - and a second season that is just as good as the first season. The storyline based on amnesia and a lot of distrust and misunderstandings is interesting even if it is a bit cliché. Normally I skip shows with the amnesia-tag because I dislike that kind of stories. Since I watched season 1 and know that the show doesn’t take itself too seriously, I decided to watch it anyway. I’m glad I did because it is both fun and interesting without any fillers (one of the things I love most about these mini-shows). I did miss the second child we were “promised” at the end of season 1 but I can live with that, LOL.
So, if you want something that is fast, funny, romantic and a bit dramatic - without being too serious - this is definitely worth watching.

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The best part of our lives

I love this! It captured that moment when we were in High School (Grades 10, 11, 12 in South Korea; Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 in the Philippines).

It was a very good throwback to the best day of our lives. When we were so young, innocent, brave, that part of our life where we were trying to carve a name for ourselves, trying to be independent, yet reality is pushing us back. That point in our lives when we start to hate our parents/guardians because of this and that.

But, today, as adults, we are saying the exact same thing to the kids of today. Go study. GO STUDY! It is not the time to be in a relationship. Or, us adults find it hard to trust kids because WE KNOW EXACTLY what is going on in their minds and what they are and will do. Why? Because we've been there ourselves.

To some, relationship became the reason their grades fell. While for some, it became the reason they became the top of the class. Some got distracted because of it, some it was a source of inspiration.

That is what this show is about, High School life, and how we were poking into the world of adulthood, yet too afraid to face make a stand. Where we thought we knew better, only to realise, often the hard way, what we know about ourselves and about life is nothing.

EVEN SO, it is that point in our lives that many of us wants to go back to. The fun. The feeling of being sooooo muuuuch in love. Laughing with our friends. With absolutely no care about the world.

To kids out there, enjoy your school life. Play hard. Live it. Laugh all you want, cry all you want. Be in love. Feel all the pain of break-ups. Because, trust us, once you are an adult, you will never have time to play, you will never experience that kind of life ever again. You will never have time to laugh, NOT EVEN to cry. And all the pain you will experience as an adult, you will lock it away. And all the love in the world, you will learn to ignore it.

It sucks to be an adult. So, enjoy your High School life. Make the best of it. Make a lot of good memories, and learn from all the bad memories. It will shape you. It will be the source of your strength and success one day.

You may hate your teachers, those subjects, but they will become useful in your adult life.

At that age, you think you know what you want to become and what job you will apply to, but no, more than half the time, things doesn't go according to your plan.

You hate math? Who doesn't? You are thinking you don't need to learn history, or English because it has nothing to do with the job you want? We all assumed that, too.

But, you know what, kids? We were wrong. Even in the type of jobs where it's 99% not needed, there is always that 1%, and you will wish to paid attention to your teachers.

Enjoy your life at eighteen, or you will regret it later.

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A few things to say

The story does move at a slower pace than the other shows I’ve watched but overall I loved it the music, acting, was just amazing I’d rewatch it but some of the episodes are a tad bit long but it’s still amazing!

A few really good actors in the show the main cast was truly extraordinary, it just starts from we’re season 1 left off and it goes from there the actors did a really good job at making it look as real as possible and making the show definitely worth rewatching some people may have difficulty watching it if they like a fast paced story but it’s still my favorite and it showed me some really good actors/actresses.

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