Completed
The Glory
2 people found this review helpful
by L C
Jan 1, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
I couldn’t stop myself from watching this after reading the synopsis. I’m due for a good revenge drama, and this did not disappoint. Only problem is I didn’t know this was split into two parts, and now I have to wait for the second half after that AMAZING first.

The torture that Dong Eun went through just because a couple of rich kids are bored. Yes. Bored. The usual reason we get is they’re either bullied at home, repressed of some sort but no. These entitled rich fucks were just bored.

There are two things that separate The Glory from other revenge dramas that I've watched.

1. I started this for the revenge but was not expecting the other characters coming into her life and caring about her the way they do. They all know her story, and no one is telling her that what she is doing is wrong. Instead, they understand, support and help her. The kindness they show her really are precious moments in the story. From the girl tip-toeing to her room while Dong Eun is studying to the abused mom, turned spy, who makes her break out in that ever so rare smile.

2. The ML is such a sweet guy and has his own story. At first, it didn't make sense to me why he was drawn to Dong Eun, but once his story is revealed, it made perfect sense. Usually in these revenge dramas, the ML comes from this happy environment and is telling the FL to stop her revenge, but not THIS ML. Hopefully, we'll get to see more of him in the second season.

Song Hye Kyo is totally slaying as Dong Eun along with the rest of the cast. They’re all bringing their A-game to their characters.

This is SO GOOD. If you like revenge dramas, give this a try.

Can’t wait for season 2!

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Completed
Missing You
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 1.5
Don't know what to say. I didn't have much expectation from this drama and I'm glad that I didn't expect much. Although the plot seemed interesting at first but felt it was too cringe for me. First few episodes were really catchy, but then suddenly the story went down. Also there was no character development or the type of characters we expect from a melodrama can't be found in this drama. The story development was really weak. And the actress wasn't a good choice for the female lead(at least I thought this, she is undoubtedly great at acting, but could've done much better here). The music was quite good for this drama. And if you ask about rewatch value, I would say that I ain't gonna watch this drama again.

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Completed
One the Woman
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Cliched Writing failed to live up to my hopes

I could not MAKE myself like the FL – despite having certain "strengths" (damn good in a fist fight, good at interrogation – so long as she can use illegal tactics, successful prosecutor working on her wits – but merrily taking bribes), she is crude, insensitive, corrupt and I can't particularly see how she is supposed to be 'elite'. Even though she is beautiful, I started to even find her face annoying because she used a lot of overly animated expressions – but repeated the same ones all the time. Frankly she was a bit of a slapstick character for me. And unfunny. She has friends who have been nothing but loyal, but – without being abusive – she mostly just uses them, including her colleague and old college pal and her 'uncles' from her dad's old gang.
ML was engaging enough, but a bit dull. We know he is here (from the states) to try to clear up his doubts about his father's death, and that he has some business nouse (and money), but we don't really get to see much personality. In fact perhaps that's the crux of this drama's weakness for me: if a character can't be played really broad almost like a panto character, they seem to be very bland. It's too much focussed on the FL who is herself rather one-dimensional. Even though we get her backstory and motivation, there's not much to her character except self-interest and a pretty hefty dose of selfishness as well.
The writing is full of cliches and thus pretty poor. Poor-but-driven (and deeply smug) prosecutor, conglomerate exile back-to-make-good, toxic family and in-laws, thug gangs running round in crap clothes beating people up with big sticks, underlings either passively allowing or actively supporting wrongdoing, Hanju using underlings' family to keep them in line, police routinely arresting no one or the wrong one, and either making no investigation or total incompetence, corrupt officials openly accepting bribes and doing no work in the pay of the super rich. Also too many apparent debacles for the 'good guys' later revealed as actually strategies they have set up so that the 'triumph' is overturned ... but even after that the Hanju group drop another bombshell, etc etc etc.
I managed to finish this, but the ending was a bit odd. The FL, at first feisty, has to modify her feisty half way through in order to seem to conform a bit, but at around that point (which is also when she and ML start to get closer) the plot gets a little odd, with lots of what I can only call filler because it doesn't move things forward very much. And it's a bit boring. Eventually everything comes more or less right, but the decision of ML to go back to the states, and the FL to follow him leaves me a bit flat. And the final scene of the whole shebang quite frankly confused my last brain cell quite a lot. But also I didn't really care by that point.
By half way through I had to use the Netflix speedup button to take me through this – still, that is a better result than having to abandon it outright.
Most of the cast acted very competently, with some tried and trusted familiar faces doing sterling work. Sadly I was disappointed with the FL though I suspect she was doing what she could with the material and the direction
Sadly, for me, only a 6.5 out f 10

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Ongoing 8/12
Between Us
9 people found this review helpful
by CrisHE
Jan 1, 2023
8 of 12 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 3.5
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 4.0
Music 3.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers

Most dissapointing bl

This series only has commercial value, it was created due to fan's responses, but really, it doesn't have that much deep value.
I loved Until We Meet Again, the story was interesting, and the music was top tier(which Between us completely ruined for me, the music effect are the most annoying thing in Between us, I really don't understand how their music got that much worse).
In UWMA the main leads were a bit too cheesy for me and without the second leads it would have been overall an ok series. Because of Team and Win it became a great one.
Team and Win really shined in UWMA, they brought to the table what Dean and Pram didn't and they really balanced the whole series. If they gave them a bit more screen time in UWMA they wouldn't have needed this series and it wouldn't have ruined them.

The plot in Between us is excruciatingly slow.

From the eight episodes I have watched, this is what has happened:

-Team and Win had a one-night-stand on their first meeting
-Team goes to sleep to Win's room basically every night
-Team is traumatized because he accidentally drowned someone when he was young.
-Win has lot of family problems

The same thing happens every episode: Team "rejects" Win, neither of them can figure out their feelings for each other, Team has a bad dream- with a flashback- and Team goes to sleep to Win's room. And most of this information we already knew from the prequel.

Honestly, the whole eight episodes could have been only two, which makes me feel like if they gave them enough attention in UWMA this series wouldn't be necessary.
It's like they are exploiting this relationship to the maximum for profit but there's not that much to give.

Also why so many second-lead couples? I don't care about them and they take a lot of screen time

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Completed
Love with Flaws
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

What a highly underrated healing drama …

Such a good surprise. The first 6 episodes may not give the best idea of what the drama is about: healing drama with a beautiful love story. Some situations are extremely funny, while at the beginning of the drama, other may go a bit too far in tackling the digestive issues of the ML when under stress,. Extreme stress can cause that, which may deter some viewers from going past that. Good thing, after ep. 6, there is no more of this ;) and it is really rewarding.

This drama is Not a revenge drama. But truly a great healing drama with a lovely romance between the leads. Oh yeon seo and Ahn Jae Hyun make a perfectly believable couple, they have great chemistry, with outstanding comedic skills: a great watch, if you can go past ep. 6, which will leave you with a smile.

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Completed
Love in the Air
0 people found this review helpful
by CrisHE
Jan 1, 2023
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Toxic bottoms

The story and the acting were mostly ok.
The tops, Payu and Prapai were mostly perfect.
But overall very cringy. The bottoms, Rain and Sky (who were supposed to be best friends but don't interact which each other except to talk about their boyfriends) are whiny at best and exasperating at worst. I could excuse Sky because of his trauma but Rain doesn't get any excuse: he's so annoying, and there's not one moment in the series where I liked him.
After watching BLs like Bad Buddy, I expected romance that was, well, not toxic and somewhat realistic, but Love in the air has romance straight out of a fairytale, written by a 13-year-old girl. (Not hating this genre because I do enjoy it every once in a while but I was expecting more out of this series)

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Completed
Cutie Pie
2 people found this review helpful
by CrisHE
Jan 1, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 2.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

One of the worst bl i have watched

Both the main leads and the second leads are the blandest characters in the series. Sure, they are "attractive" but they're not a bit charismatic, they don't have a personality outside the cliché. Kuea is supposed to be a "bad boy" that likes bikes and music, his worst fear is that Lian won't love him because he is "different", excuse me different how? literally, his personality doesn't change, he only has a few hobbies that are "not the norm".If he was similar to Payu from Love in the air I would have understood the point but he's like every other bottom out there except he likes bikes.
The plot is what I dislike most about this series. In the first episode, Lian rejects Kuea saying he doesn't love him and doesn't want to marry him. First, when I watched this i was like, okay, he does love him but he has a secret, that will be revealed in the last episode, that is the reason he has to say that. But he doesn't really have a reason for rejecting him, Lian expends the rest of the series trying to get back together with Kuea, so what was the point in rejecting him?
He explains that he doesn't like him acting like a doll (which he does because Lian doesn't pay any attention to him), but you could just expend more time getting to know him. Not saying you don't want to marry him just to be chasing him, begging him to marry you just a couple of days later?

It was exasperating, like the whole point of the series is the PDA.

The second leads more or less have the same plot, like nothing really different here.

The only charismatic characters are the thirds leads, Syn and Nuer, but they have five minutes of screen time in the whole series.

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Completed
Devil Inspector
0 people found this review helpful
by Ciepao
Jan 1, 2023
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 2.0

The acting was icky

I'll rate this a 4.5/10.

Found Pyo Han Eum (Yoo Sun Ho) and Seol Oh Sung (Ahn Hyung Sub) adorable, but the acting was so unrealistic. A lot of scenes makes me wince and cringe, the problems that they tackle/show in this drama was okay it's just the delivery of the actresses and actors that is not very well. Though the chemistry of the 3 detectives was good.

But since this is a mini drama, I won't heavily criticize it. I watched this for Kim Namjoo (Ok Jin Kyung), but unfortunately I didn't liked it. If you are finding a kdrama that is light and short and can be finished within the day, then you can try this. Although personally, I would recommend you to pass this drama and just find another mini drama to watch.

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Completed
The Fabulous
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5

Binged it in a day

Story:
Not gonna lie, the story is pretty predictable. However, I still liked it. The characters in the show were likeable; honestly, I wanted to see some of the side characters more (ahem Thiery! love his sassiness. This actor is super versatile!!)

Acting/Cast:
This cast is STACKED. Honestly never watched Seonho and Joseph appear on screen before (understandably so since this is Seonho's first drama) but the cast is HELLA STACKED. Looking at the cast, I knew there wasn't going to be an issue with bad acting. I love Chae Soobin so I may or may not be biased here but :)

Music:
I like Jo Yuri's OST A LOT. The OSTs were appropriately played throughout the series.

Rewatch value:
oh please, even though I just binged it, I don't mind rewatching it HAHA.

Overall:
The romance + friendship theme and the likeable characters made the show binge-able af. Plot and character development are present and honestly satisfying IMO! Give this show a try, I think it's a rom-com that's not too heavy on romance so it will be palatable even for people who don't usually like to watch romance dramas.

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Completed
Who Are You: School 2015
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Worst Case of Second-Lead Syndrome

I did really enjoy this show overall and it was a good filler show when I didn't know what to start. I will say though, Tae-Gwon would have been a wayyyy better suitor for Eun-Bi. Yi-An was in love with Eun-Byeol for 10 years and has all these memories with her so it doesn't feel as satisfying that he switched teams after Eun-Byeol came back. On the otherhand, Tae-Gwon and Eun-Byeol were not even friends at any point and Eun-Bi was the first to understand him and he was finally able to be himself around someone, not just the person they expected him to be. Eun-Bi was also able to open up to him first and she met him first so it just doesn't feel right that she ends up with Yi-An??? Like, I thought it was weird when Eun-Byeol was still 'dead' because he would see Eun-Byeol whenever he looked at Eun-Bi but it was so much worse when she came back because they literally were "more than friends" for like 10 years?? I don't know... I liked the rest of the show but that aspect really bothered me.

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Completed
Flash Marriage
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 2.0

It's like eating vegetables without seasoning

Have you ever eaten vegetables without seasoning? There are salty, sweet, sour, but the taste bears it all. It can be eaten to simply relieve hunger. But I don't want to add.

That's the impression of watching the Thai drama: Flash Marriage. Since the beginning, we have been treated to beautiful women with sexy bodies, so sexy that they even come to the office wearing mini and open clothes. The sexy dress that reminds me of the party dress shows Lady Diana Spencer's bare chest and shoulders.

The late Lady Diana? Far away? Hehehe besides him, I don't think I've ever seen a celebrity as elegant and perfect as Lady Diana in sexy clothes.

The idea of the story is also cliché. Contract marriage for the sake of getting the chair of company president. Strangely when Lalin (Pooklook) finally managed to get married, the president director chair was still not given.

The storyline is so messy. The only scene that stands out is the parade of sexy clothes by Lalin (Pooklook) and his two stepsisters: Nat (May Pitchanart Sakhakorn) and Phrao (Suzana Renaud) as well as the fight scenes that Pokpong (Tono Phakin Khamwilaisak) always wins.

But what annoyed me the most was the kiss scene between Lalin and Pokpong. It's just lip to lip. Meanwhile, it is said that the two of them were drunk so they did not realize they were doing a "one night stand".

If the bed scene isn't good, just pretend to be writhing behind the covers, hehehe …😭😭

A good ML scene without an audience feeling uncomfortable is played by Ji Jin-Hee as Kang Tae Wook and Kim Nam Joo as Go Hye-Ran in the Korean drama: Misty.

In the drama, Ji Jin Hee fondles Kim Nam Joo's neck so that the actress seems to shake. Even though it's possible that Ji Jin Hee just put her face on Kim Nam Jo's neck, but because it was done under a blanket, the audience's imagination was everywhere.

Another annoying scene in the Thai drama: Flash Marriage is the angry faces of the antagonists. It's like a soap opera scene where the actress glares angrily and takes too long, huhuhu.

So many negative values, why isn't there anything good? Yes, here! The music is not bad, but how come it is very similar to Zia's song “Only One” in the Korean drama ‘Cinderella with Four Knights’.

This is indeed a fatal error. I compare every drama I watch to a good Korean drama. Definitely lose.😀😀

Full review here: https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2023/01/flash-marriage-wiwa-fah-laep-drama-thailand.html

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Completed
Arsenal Military Academy
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
48 of 48 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

A drama tackling the seldom told history of China under Japanese influence

This is a drama tackling very serious topics that affected China in 1911-1912. Following the Xinhai Revolution and the end of the Qing Dynasty, there is political and civilian unrest. Hence, as Viki states, this is a drama. Not a comedy. Not a romance. A real drama. And a very good one.
(China lost against Japan in 1895, and since then, Japan and Russia gained some influence in China…, for Japan esp. in Manchuria, Mongolia and Shandong , which significantly reduced the Chinese people's trust in the empire, fueling Chinese nationalism. The sentiment was strengthened by the failed political reform, where the desire to form a constitutional monarchy resulted in the establishment of the Prince Qing's Cabinet with the majority being part of the imperial family in May 1911)
The « 21 demands » mentioned was signed between 1915 and 1916. It would result in a long-lasting animosity nationwide towards Japan. (Resulting in boycott etc)

That is the context of the drama.
It isn’t clearly told at the beginning, but I believe foreign viewers will gain in appreciation of the drama if they know that before starting to view it.

Because of that, the drama does show violence, and deaths.
Very smartly, the underlying dark tone is counterbalanced, as the drama follows the events and topics of importance at that time through a group of military students in their daily lives at a military academy, bringing some light and funny moments, esp. since they introduced a FL disguised as a man as part of the military students…

For me, the drama starts showing its true Colors and intentions starting ep. 15. From then on, it is very well paced.

The production and cast are outstanding. The storyline very well thought.
Special shout-out to Xu Kai who brings life to a welcome witty and shining character, very smart and caring under the presence of being carefree, self boasting and mischievous,…(he proves his versatility with this drama, displaying the wide range of emotions and expressions required by his character and his growth along the drama)
My second shout-out to the 2nd main FL playing the role of the singer/actress, awesome Wu Jia Yi, who stole the show in an unrequited love with Xu Kai.
I normally love Bai Lu (esp. in « one and only », « forever and ever », in which she’s just perfect. Here, she’s good but not the star of the show, wincing a bit too heavily at Xu Kai. I would have loved a bit more subtlety in her acting expressions in these moments, Also I am not fond of the indecisiveness of her character pertaining to her love interest between the 2 ML. She makes XK’s character suffer and I surprised myself thinking at some point that she doesn’t deserve his love… the good thing is that it happened in the very episode where she ultimately realised her true feelings (ep. 38)

Because the love stories are all unrequited during majority of the drama, however lovely it is often tackled, for those seeking first and foremost a fully blossomed romance drama, this is not for you.

Spoiler: Xu Kai’s love for the FL remains unrequited almost until the end (watching him falling in love and expressing his love is nonetheless a real treat. You will root for him)…. All other love stories are also unrequited during the majority of the drama. Because this is first and foremost a historical drama that chose to alleviate its darkness by balancing it with lighter moments, I get it that Fully blossomed romance would have been out of place. We however get good closures in the end, as two couples mixed in unrequited love go to their « right » partner in my opinion (they were too blind and immature to see and understand during the majority of the drama however …)
A great watch.

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Completed
My Holo Love
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

it's good

well this was one suspenseful kdrama but it ain't that bad. lets me break down it so we got our FL whom have face blindness u know the chick of only recognizes 1 person's face will the AI ain't the ML sadly but it has ML's face so the AI is like a copy of ML but like a better version but the AI along the way start to actually gain human emotions but he doesn't actually love FL in any romantic way he loves her as a friend well that's what i think. i seriously did cry in this Kdrama because the AI had to be deleted for the betterment of humanity but that's the most messed up shit i couldn't agree on like the AI did nothing the actual human that's garbage lives his whole life without any regret like anyways the actors and actress are good at portraying the characters. this drama is actually good. i would like a season 2 with the MCs bringing back holo but seriously dude the AI only frecking did hacking cause he wanted to know the reason behind the ML mother's suicide oh and a spoiler she has actually murdered by the mirror old CEO dude at first it seems like an accident causes the fell but naa the dude suffered her to death. the CEO also got away for murder for like over 10 years. so yeah but the best part was when the AI broadcast the CEO confession now that was actually genius cause i was like he should broadcast the confession and it did the best scene ever honestly.

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Completed
Descendants of the Sun
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Best Drama Ever!! Highly Recommended!!

Actually I watched this drama mainly because of my cousin. But when I started watching this I was like I HAVE TO finish it. The leading characters, second leads; all did an AMG job. I have watched it so many times. OST, Story, Casting and everything else was perfect. Overall it is the most AMG drama I've ever watched..❤️❤️Song - Song couple was my favourite. I always ship them..🥺🥺 In the drama, from the beginning to the end, there wasn’t a simple change in their feelings. the drunken scene was my Most favourite one.
After her confession, his reaction was amg.😳😳

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Completed
Meteor Garden
1 people found this review helpful
by LynnLy
Jan 1, 2023
50 of 50 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Waste of a good start

I started writing this review on episode 30 something and it had a higher rating, then the show just went all crazy and made no sense to me.

First I have not seen the original show so I cannot say if this is better, and I have no idea of the source material so I cannot say of this is just following the material. I had heard the bullying aspects were toned down, which is good for me since I cannot imagine any female should find that attractive.

My biggest issue is like the last 10 episodes.... I mean the break up in London made no sense, then the day together in London was cute but again they keep breaking up and it was annoying at that time, then there was the fake kidnapping and the deserted island, I guess cause everyone has one. Then there was the next "break-up" this time forced by the mom and then the starving to death. In the end the most horrible mother of the year - who should be in jail for letting her son starve to death almost, is suddenly sympathetic, and the female lead outside in the rain for days is fine and nothing happened - in reality she would have been dehydrated and gone into kidney failure and caught pneumonia... and you really do not even see what happened to her after she collapsed, Unless the stupid last episode with the dream and the weird wedding was really she was dead - then that would at least make sense. After writing this I feel like I should lower more score more.

The acting was fine, nothing great. Dylan Wang was fun and cute as the male lead and probably had the most growth, but let's face it no one had any growth and development. In fact I found the lack of growth from the female lead disappointing. Maybe that is acting since she seems to play the same character all the time at least from what I can see. The friends were generally annoying, her crying clinging best friend and his group of friends. I did like Hua Ze Lei bit even he got annoying after awhile. Plus was he just always going to be the third person? I mean in the end everyone is doing something and he is just with Dao Ming Si and Dong Shan Can? Just odd since he had potential to be an interesting character and was definitely well acted.

The music was fine, until the one song played every time anyone in the show had a break up - which was twice every episode I think. So even the music was annoying by the end,

I will stop writing or I will lower my score even more. Just sad cause it started off fine, just a fluff show and that is all I expected, but then it kept getting worse.

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