Reviews

Did not Connect

I always go into dramas with an opening mind. I did not know what to expect with this one and thought it got off to a strong start with the refreshing introduction of a character with an interesting scar and job. In addition I liked how it looked dark which was different.

I did not like the shift to a different actress and while I generally admire the beautiful actresses in these dramas (hey that level of beauty usually takes a lot of effort from the actors) it seemed a bit tone deaf IMO and unnecessary. But I also know from what I have read about mainland Chinese audiences is that they are very demanding that their leads fit a certain standard of beauty while the US is more comfortable with different types of female lead looks. So I don’t know if it is fair to criticize the drama for this.

My score is based almost entirely on the story and acting. It injects light hearted comedy that does not seem to fit with its plot of shadowy manipulators and murders. It feels awkward and forced. The chemistry between the leads is lackluster. I have seen dramas where people want to marry someone for the reasons stated in this show and liked it but in this drama it was not executed very well because we had little time to see a foundation established for the relationship.

In addition I did not like that the main character was an expert in things that were not consistent with her before the face switch: why is she so skilled at make up, flirting, ect things that do not seem consistent with her personality. Why is she so comfortable jumping into danger without fully considering the consequences? And why is she so comfortable being near the male lead who she initially suspects is trying to kill her?

I don’t usually like comedy in Cdramas perhaps because it seems very childish and cringey maybe this is a cultural difference?

I fast forwarded through most of the show in the second half because I was that bored with the plot and pace.

However many people liked this drama so take my review with a grain of salt and remember you won’t know until you try to watch if it is for you.

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Best drama 2024

now it is going in to my favourite list
loving it so far ❤
now going to rewatch blood of youth ?

captivates with its ensemble of strikingly handsome young men, each bringing both charm and depth to their roles.
The dialogue is sharp and engaging, with a natural flow that enhances the realism of the interactions.
The attention to detail in set design and costume further immerses into the world of the show, adding layers of visual interest that complement the narrative.
captivating drama that offers a blend of emotional depth, realistic portrayals, and compelling storytelling.

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Loved It

The story mainly focuses on revenge. It doesn't focus too much on romance, which I loved the most about the story. It's all about revenge, planning, plotting, schemes. Also loved that the hero not always wins nor always the villains it's 50-50. The way Vincenzo Cassano took revenge & execute his plan is soo satisfying.

Loved the cinematography of episode 1, mainly the villa shot & the way Vincenzo Cassano & threw the lighter with so much attitude uff.

Poor Vincenzo Cassano getting robbed on the first day returning, then cursing in the middle of the road like a madman.

Hong Cha Young is smart but childish, so childish that she sometimes annoys me. She sometimes overreacts, which is too much sometimes.

Jang Jun Woo is all innocent but don’t fall for his innocence he nothing but cunning.

Loved how Vincenzo Cassano punished the teenager for smoking.

Loved how randomly Vincenzo Cassano woke up from coma as if he was never in a coma.

Loved how Vincenzo Cassano scared the shit out of that bitch in ep 4.

Yeah, the lab burned down.

Laughed how Vincenzo Cassano & Jang Jun Woo showed off in front of Hong Cha Young that they can handle spicy foods.

The surprised look on that bitch & everyone's faces when they saw the car that Vincenzo Cassano & Hong Cha Young drove to the court is priceless.

Loved episode 6 ending twist also loved ep 7 back to back twist & turns.

Laughed how the doctor’s wife beat him up in court.

Loved how the villain was a maniac after losing the way he reacted & took action against the leads.

Laughed my ass off when Hong Cha Young pulled the guy's hair off.

Poor Vincenzo Cassano & his reaction when Hong Cha Young asks him to seduce someone.

Loved how Ahn Ki Seok entered & took Vincenzo Cassano with style in ep 11.

Loved how Vincenzo Cassano took revenge at the end of ep 16.

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healing, cute and a bit frustrating

Summer strikes is a healing drama about leaving the terribly suffocating city of Seoul and instead coming to a small town to rediscover yourself.

There are many good things I have to say, so let's start there. The main characters were so incredibly cute, they had me kicking feet and giggling. Despite this, there were moments that were very touching and melodramatic. Although at times frustrating, the characters were somewhat relatable and had a good chemistry. I don't think I will ever shut up about how insanely good of an actor Im Siwan is.


Now let me explain why I didnt give Summer strike 10 stars despite all this. While the story started off as a cute slice of life, towards the end it turned into a mystery thriller. It sort of reminded me of Like Flowers in Sand, which was in many ways very similar and also received backlash for the unnecessary crime plot line. In the end, the ending was very rushed and it left me feeling disappointed. I wish there were like 2 extra episodes..

Having said all that, I still consider summer strike a cute drama that is worth watching. If nothing else, watch it for theain couple cause they are cuties.

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Surprising Gem

Story
I have seen a number of ‘rebirth’ stories but this one is the most compelling and realistic of this genre IMO. In addition to the effort to inject realism the story creates a surprisingly human and well acted female lead. Although she does fall into the ‘bodhisattva’ category in her determination to seek justice for others she is not insufferable nor is she overly calculating to the point that one thinks ‘well of course she is going to win’. Her enemies are for the most part fair matches but for different reasons: some are physically strong, some are greedy, others are extremely selfish and bitter.

The male lead is well acted and supports the female lead, respecting her intelligence as their love blossoms slowly.

The story itself is not super unique but its execution is what I think makes it a great show: the good acting, attention to detail, effects, and chemistry with characters.

What I liked the most:
While some of the villains were a little flat I extremely liked the effort put into creating some of the more realistic villains for a costume drama. Princes Wanning especially had a very interesting backstory that is slowly revealed over the course of the show. Several characters are foils for other characters and showcase one of the major themes of the drama which is we are all responsible for our choices in spite of the hardships faced. Sometimes people are strong enough to make better choices and sometimes others are so scarred by what happened to them that they become terrible people and can never get away from the trauma.

Final thoughts:
Any person who researches China will understand that their media industry places several requirements on content creators that emphasizes morality, serving the nation, and evil doers never winning. That being said, I think the creators of this show did a great job of working around these rules. I have no clue if the version I watched in America is the same version that aired in China but the version I saw in America was pretty solid.

I did not give the show a perfect 10 because it isn’t the kind of show I would likely rewatch.

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One of the best J-Dramas i have watched of late...

I literally forgot to review this one since i finished it around last month, but here we are.

I have also seen the original version and i am glad to say this version of You`re Beautiful is so well done. I laughed, smiled and cried with all the characters. The actress portraying the female lead did a incredible job in conveying her emotions in wearing her heart on her sleeve and the actor portraying Male Lead Yuta Tamamori did so well with his cold exterior but added that touch of heart to his character that conveyed how deeply lonely and hurt he felt. Ah, he had a heart of gold.
They were so very lovely and beautiful together. Glad i watched this drama!!

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The Best Boyfriend in Modern Dramas

Leo Wu’s portrayal of Lin Yi Yang in “Amidst a Snowstorm of Love” undeniably stands out among the green flag men on screen. For Yi Yang, a former snooker champ, it’s love at first sight when he meets Yin Guo (Zhao Jin Mai), another snooker champ, on a stormy, snowy night at a bar.

Though he's at a loss for words to express his feelings, his actions speak volumes. Yin Guo is swept away by the sheer depth and purity of his emotions. His gestures, though subtle, leave a lasting impact—from booking her a comfortable hotel room before a game to warming her slippers on a cold day, and even traveling halfway across the world to wish her a happy birthday. He is stable, supportive, proud of her achievements, and happy to bask in her glory. This relationship is one of equals, and it’s his unwavering love and sincerity toward Yin Guo that drives him to go the extra mile in his own life.

Leo Wu has immortalized Lin Yi Yang as one of the dreamiest on-screen characters, setting a high bar for what makes a perfect boyfriend. Hopelessly devoted to Yin Guo, his patience and endearing charm, coupled with those heart-melting kisses, make Lin Yi Yang the epitome of boyfriend goals and the Mr. Romantic many seek.

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Fun Imperfect Series

I'm actually very late to this series so I had the pleasure to binge this in one go. It's not perfect by any means and I can think of a couple of tweaks that could've been made to the script but it was a fun watch that got me kicking my feet a little bit.

Let's start with the good:
1. Fun premise and plot, especially in the beginning.
To my surprise, they really nailed the initial world building and set up in my eyes. It's not easy to create an accessible romance set up in a multiverse, but I really liked how they introduced the two characters and created a space where they could fall in love believably.

2. The chemistry really did it for me. This might be controversial but I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jimmy and Sea. I didn't expect this to be their debut series because of how comfortable they looked with each other on screen. They really nailed the casual intimacy with the casual hugs, hand holding, and cheek kisses.

3. P'Dol is hot.

4. The romance was romance-ing hard. I'm a sucker for good romantic stories and honestly I was a guaranteed audience for this series just based off the whole "I will find you in any universe" theme. There's also something intensely romantic about Jimmy's gaze and I think it's his lashes. I kinda fell in love.

5. Product placement was so obvious that it's kind of funny. It did make me crave KFC for a hot 5 minutes so mission accomplished I guess?

6. Friendship group + AouBoom's cute. I love found family so again, they really found an audience in me.

7. Music was gorgeous.

Now unto the bad:
1. Pacing is bad. This is a common problem with GMMTV series except for a select few, but this one annoyed me because how they put a pivotal plot point in the last ep which was really jarring. GMMTV needs to do better fr.

2. They kind of lost the plot in the middle of the series, then jumped back on the multiverse ship in the last quarter. It's a shame that they wasted half of the episodes not really touching on the interesting part of the plot which is the multiverse aspect of things. The whole movie making thing and rediscovering your passion should have been linked better with the multiverse theme because the flow of the series was seriously stalled in the middle.

3. There were a few plot holes such in the switching back part. I think the fiction part of the writing got a bit lazy and dependent on the romance.

4. Missed opportunity on having double main leads. This was literally the best series to have two main couples but they just didn't elaborate on the OhmNon story and honestly made Tess sounds like a horrible person. There were so many unanswered questions that it led me to think that maybe they were intending to make a sequel.

All in all, fun watch for me. Wouldn't recommend this for someone who can't turn off their logical side of the brain a little bit but if you can mindlessly watch things, you'll love this as much as I do.

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Why season 2 is worth watching

This is not a detailed review, because a lot has been covered by others. Mostly, it is a justification for why, despite the lackluster editing and the clumsy plot, it is worth spending time to watch the second season. Readers beware, there are spoilers and a bias due to personal preferences for happy endings.

The best thing about season 2 is that all the main characters get a closure congruent with their past and their personality. Season 2 is a long winding road to reap what was sown in season 1. There is no surprise, but still many shining moments with deeply moving scenes and great dialogs. The psychological journey of the main characters is beautifully crafted over the two seasons.
The horse I bet on to meet the happy ending requirement was Jing. He is the kind of man with whom you can build a life both joyful and productive. The drama understated how YX and him contributed to the greater good by working on the medical encyclopedia. It is a homage to Li Shizhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica and more could have been done with it to showcase Jing genius in logistics. Thankfully, Yang Zi acting was on point on key scenes to justify her choice, and she explained it in the ''dream sequence'' with CX. It goes all the way back to that moment when Jing sheltered her from the candle wax. She realized that what he endured did not destroy his compassion and kindness. The two other MLs came out of their past able of great ruthlessness and brutality, and XY was at the receiving end many times.
Deng Wei did the best with the material given to paint a resourceful, kind and nurturing man. His own closure comes when he affirmed with conviction that he is the better man, despite loosing the physical fight with his brother. He is beaten, but not humiliated. The two others leading actors, especially Zhang Wan Yi, had more intense and complex scenes to showcase their acting skills. Plot wise, the dream scene when CX confronts his obsession with YX was clumsy, but his acting was fantastic. It is only when he is driven at the edge of sanity that CX realized how selfish is his obsession. It can only destroy the happiness of XY.
The only genuinely tragic ending in a classical sense is Xiang Liu. It is congruent with his inflexibility, which he confused with loyalty. The choice him and his foster father made is a suicide pact, ending also with the pointless death of all their soldiers, rather than letting go of the past. As it was said in the first season, they had no territory to defend and no people to protect. He had his chances at happiness, but he refused to take XY hand when she offered it. He could survive and get out of the fighting ring physically, but he never escaped it psychologically. By contrast, the Great Emperor and the King of Haoling knew what the changing times demanded for the greater good, and they were able to move on and lead fulfilling life out of the limelight. In conclusion, despite all its flaws, season 2 brought successfully all the characters at the end of their journey.

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Four Episodes of Pure Emotion

So, I went into this drama blind, and let me tell you, it was like opening a mystery box with no idea what’s inside. And oh boy, what a ride it turned out to be! I watched the entire series in one sitting because, honestly, I couldn’t tear myself away. It’s that kind of drama that hooks you from the start and doesn’t let go.

Despite being only 4 episodes, the narrative is surprisingly emotional and complex. I found myself nearly in tears at multiple points—something that doesn’t happen often with short dramas!

The acting is phenomenal. I was genuinely impressed by Kim Do Hoon and Kim Hwan Hee. They’re both young, but their performances are anything but amateur. Kim Hwan Hee as So Hyun is a revelation. She’s this mix of cold, calculating, and unexpectedly vulnerable. You’ll find yourself sympathizing with her even when she’s making questionable decisions. And Yoon Ho? Absolutely adorable. His kindness and genuine concern for others are so endearing. They have chemistry that makes their interactions feel real and heartfelt.

Despite a few hiccups with some slightly unrealistic moments, "Here's My Plan" is a fantastic watch. It’s short, sweet, and packed with emotional depth and character growth. Don’t let the mediocre score fool you—it’s worth your time. So, if you’re in the mood for a drama that’s a bit of a tear-jerker but also a ride of thrills and revelations, give this one a shot. You might just find yourself rooting for So Hyun and Yoon Ho, and maybe even shedding a few tears along the way.

Trust me, it’s a fun, heartwarming experience you won’t want to miss!

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Xu kai and Tan Songyun did a great job, their chemistry is on fire.

I have been following this drama since before it's release. I only read half of the book, only till our leads ONS 'coz i didn't want to be spoiled while watching the drama am glad i did that. It's a slow burn romance and the ending is so overwhelming i cried a river. I am glad i watched this drama. I am a fan of Xu kai's and watched his dramas before, he's always a treat to watch, his acting in this one is really good. I liked him here more than i did in Best choice ever. His take on Han Ting is spot on 10/10. And this is my first drama of Tan Songyun. I must say i became a fan of her. Their chemistry is off the charts. Hope they get paired again soon.
Goodbye for now. I will catch up Xu kai's "Moonlit Reunion" and "Firefighter" when they release. Hopefully soon.

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This was an overall best medical drama from some of the chinese medical dramas I've watched.
I 've watched last year so I dont really remember some parts but still this drama deserves so much praise.
It was my first drama of Lin ShiJia and during the first few episodes he really did got in ny nerve. As for Ma Xiaotong, I loved how she acted cute in front of his brother and always bicker around. From my opinion on one could have portrait Xiaoran better than Ma Xiaotong. And I loved how they didnt got too much romance in to this medical drama or it would have been a mess.
U actually watched this because of Zhao Youting and as always he never disappoints me. I loved the relationship between the trio. Especially the double standards of Xiaoran towards Lin Yi and Xiaofeng.
For Chen Yue and Xiaofengs's relationship; I am glad they ended it. I didnt like Chen Yue from the first place, but indeed the actress played her well. But I think even though thier relationship didnt last long Chen Yue was a major reason for Xiaofeng's charachter development.
Overall this drama didnt disappoint me. Chances of rewatching this is ofcourse 99%

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sorry but the character development was too slow

at first, i watched this because Puen and Foon, my couple from Hormones, and i also like Art. tbh, the plot is kind of annoying and slow, i can't imagine if there's friendship like that. but what keeps me interested, despite the slow character development, is the everyday life of the O - Group, esp when they chat on group was quiet fun. for some reason, their sometimes silly behavior is enjoyable. i'd say the MVP of the series is Art. he doesn’t want to lose his friends so he hides his feelings well, stays calm, and can be blunt, but that’s just him. he’s really loved, he always thinks about his friends’ feelings.

Poon is actually the most sensitive to her friends. the debates between Art and Poon are the most enjoyable for me. Prim is the one who initially set up the group chat. i’d say she’s the kindest, but she can be annoying because she always runs away. Foon is the sweet rich kid who can be frustratingly slow at solving problems, but he really cares about her friends. it makes me sad seeing her feel like everyone is leaving her. then, her birthday is the only thing that gets celebrated repeatedly in the series, like maybe 5 times (?) and Puen is the most irritating jerk. his expressions are actually sometimes funny, but his indecision makes me want to punch him.

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