This review may contain spoilers
A Heavy-Handed Exercise in Social Conditioning and Exhausting State Propaganda
The Heir starts with a promising premise, offering a rare look into the intricate world of Ming Dynasty Huizhou ink-making. Stripping away the usual instant-gratification tropes, the first few episodes dedicate real time to the childhood of the leads and the immediate, brutal fallout of the Li family’s exile. It feels grounded, the production design is detailed, and the emotional stakes of a fallen clan are clearly established. Unfortunately, whatever narrative potential the show possesses is quickly suffocated by an exhausting, heavy-handed ideological framework. By episode five, the drama completely ceases to be an organic human story and transforms into a glaring piece of state-backed social conditioning. Watching a top-tier actress like Yang Zi play a female lead who is forced to degrade herself, scrap and destroy her health just to beg for a single crumb of labor within a rigged ancestral system is not inspiring, it is deeply unsettling. Instead of fostering a genuine underdog story, the narrative operates as subtle propaganda aimed at reinforcing the status quo. It explicitly glorifies solitary, grueling hardship, sending a message to the audience that structural systems are absolute and that individuals must endure maximum exploitation without rocking the boat. To make matters worse, the show prioritises the tedious mechanics of national heritage over actual character dynamics, completely withholding the male lead for the first several episodes just to force the viewer to marinate in the female lead's isolated misery. What could have been a sharp, high-stakes business rivalry is instead ruined by classic C-drama fatigue and a preachy, mandatory lecture on enduring systemic oppression for the "collective good." If you enjoy watching an abusive establishment demand absolute submission from its leads under the guise of resilience, you might tolerate this. But if you value organic character growth and actual entertainment over civic conditioning, The Heir is a frustratingly difficult, exhausting watch.Following a gruelling childhood setup, episodes 6 through 14 of The Heir officially plunge the narrative into a bleak, disjointed industry nightmare. The production values remain visually stunning, the muted, slate-blue colour palette beautifully evokes a classic Chinese ink painting, and the physical grit of the craft is fully visible. The brief flash of chemistry when the undercover Male Lead (Elvis Han) finally enters the workshop provides a temporary, intelligent respite from the gloom. However, no amount of technical beauty or individual acting talent can salvage a script that functions primarily as an exhausting lecture on systemic exploitation and the glorification of "suffering as a virtue." The narrative choices across this stretch are deeply frustrating. The show actively punishes the viewer by completely benching the Male Lead for episodes on end after a violent blow to the head, choosing instead to use a three-year time jump exclusively to let the villainous characters instantly triumph and build an untouchable empire. Watching the elite branches of the Li family seize all the prestige of Li Zhen’s (Yang Zi) physical labor while keeping her eighth branch economically suppressed in a shabby house is not inspiring, it is a deeply unsettling exercise in social conditioning. When she is finally forced to cut ties and walk away from the clan in Episode 14 due to relentless internal sabotage and the bullying of the grandmother, it feels like a necessary reclamation of human dignity. Unfortunately, it is a hollow victory, as the entire framework of the genre heavily signals that her freedom is an illusion. I predict the trajectory for the rest of the show will go something like this.
Because this drama is built entirely on a state-approved blueprint that prioritises institutional survival over individual justice, it is completely obvious how the remaining 28 episodes will play out.
Despite the FL drawing a hard line and cutting ties by in Episode 14, she will inevitably crawl back to the main branch. The narrative will use the grandmother’s dying wish or the families fall from grace to guilt her into rescuing the exact same family name that destroyed her youth.
Once she steps up to save the brand from the rival Tian family, her toxic relatives will not experience a sudden moral awakening. The fourth aunt and the remaining uncles will immediately resume their backroom scheming, undermining her authority and attempting to steal her new formulas while she does all the heavy lifting.
I already know the show won’t do anything to deliver real, satisfying justice. Instead of throwing the villains into prison, the script will give characters like the wheelchair-bound Six Uncle a tragic, unearned sacrifice, while the truly vile fourth aunt will face a soft, comfortable suburban exile rather than financial ruin.
Ultimately, individual human dignity will be completely subordinated to the state-backed message of "national heritage." Li Zhen will merge her independent success back into the main family tree, proving that the drama values the survival of a corrupt, corporate institution over any actual emotional justice for its protagonist. The show initially sets up a gritty world of high-stakes business, but its core philosophy demands absolute submission to a rigged status quo. Walking away at Episode 14 is the only way to protect my sanity from a narrative loop that forces its characters to endlessly "eat bitterness" for an abusive system that will never love them back.
I hope somebody can tell me I got it all wrong after the show airs it’s last episode because I won’t be watching.
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Second chance romance supremacy!
The Turkish version of this drama has my heart and soul but I enjoyed this as well.
Big fan of second chance romance and I love seeing the ML openly pursue and flirt with his lady. He became more likable in the latter half.
The FL’s appeal was lost on me in this one that 2 eligible bachelors were downbad for her. The actress herself is very pretty but why’d they give her such a bland and clueless personality. Not to mention the bad haircut, makeup, and styling too😭. The turkish remake’s FL was funnier, sassier, and overall more iconic.
And while I root for the ML and FL to get together, the pain of love triangles is I ALWAYS get hit with second lead syndrome. This was not an exception.
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A slice-of-life sitcom
In the first few episodes, some misunderstandings occur that are resolved within the same episode, closely resembling a sitcom. There isn't much emotion so far, neither drama nor comedy. I found the series quite lukewarm. The supporting characters aren't very memorable or captivating. There's also no villain (this wouldn't be a problem if the series were more interesting, but that's not the case). The protagonists are good, the acting is also very good, there's nothing to say about that, and the editing and filming quality is excellent. Some conflicts escalate very quickly, in a forced way, and are resolved in the same rushed manner (in the first few episodes; I don't know if this dynamic will continue in the others). The music is generic, and for now, that's it: a rather uninteresting story.PS: I found the opening design very similar to that of "Love Design"; if it wasn't a copy, it was "inspiration."
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Feast for the eyes.
May 2026.Another epic watch, with some tragic opening scenes that lay the foundations of the story.
This is a Xianxia / fantasy and it's beautiful.
I did find myself getting impatient with the FL character, Yan Hui, at times, although she has a good heart. Her story is revealed gradually, but I found it all a bit drawn out on more than one occasion.
A leading villain who's totally obsessed, and the cause of much suffering, seemed able to do as they pleased. Those sitting in judgement were often far worst than the Demons they judged.
A large cast and selection of characters, a fair bit of tragedy, but also lighter, amusing moments.
Hou Ming Hao made this drama for me, to be honest. His other-wordly looks are perfect for these roles, and he's a good actor.
A satisfying ending, which felt somewhat 'bolted on', but still a decent watch overall.
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The main sibling trio was incredibly compelling to follow, and I have to say I've never related to a cast of characters as deeply as I did with this one. I truly believe the authenticity of these characters is something the majority of viewers would connect with, too.
The main romantic subplot -if we can even call it that- was awkward at first, but it still made me giddy to watch it unfold. I appreciated the subtlety of their interactions, the chemistry was off the charts with them. While the entire cast did a phenomenal job portraying these emotionally raw characters, Kim Ji-won really impressed me. Also, this is me being totally shameless, but Son Suk-ku was incredibly sexy for a man with few words and looked unkempt and sweaty 24/7.
Anyway, back to the point: the first chunk of the series made me connect with the characters. Combine that with highly emotional scenes and a beautiful soundtrack, and I was completely hooked. The payoff at the end, while not grand, made me look back at each character's journey under a positive light. It made me realize that not all stories need to end with a deep meaningful message or neat closure. Because, you know, life is just like that sometimes.
The verdict? Definitely recommend. It’s the kind of series that’s going to live rent-free in my head for a really long time, and I’ll absolutely be checking out more of this writer's work.
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This review may contain spoilers
Major Letdown
The first two episodes were gold! The introduction of the characters perfection, the village felt comforting and so beautiful that I a person who doesn't like the countryside would like to go there and hang out with the adorable grannies, and so funny I cried laughing (Mechoori is comedy gold that will never not be funny to me).When it started so good, so funny so wholesome, Why?! What happened for it to become such nothing, just plain nothing. What a waste of talent, oh my god! They got Kim Bum and wasted him, Eric does absolutely nothing in the whole drama, just smile and look cute, not even the slightest chance of winning over Dam Ye Jin it makes no sense for Mechoori to be so jealous of Eric, the man is like a puppy all cuteness and no danger.
I am well aware that these dramas follow their own logic and trying to apply real life logistics is impossible, like wearing a crisp white two piece skirt set and high heels to visit the countryside is perfectly logical in Drama land you just have to accept it and go with it, but this drama made it so hard for me, wow! so dumb!! How is it possible that Dam Ye Jin an employee in a big company does everything from promoting and selling the products to research to customer service to repairs, I wouldn't be surprised if she also cleaned the bathrooms and drove the garbage truck, she probably did but it was edited out, just nonsense and then there's the fact that mechoori drove from his house in the countryside to the city in what? 20 minutes maybe, when Dam Ye Jin called him and then the next episode it is shown that the GPS calculated 2hrs from a halfway point in the middle of the night!! Make it make sense please!!
I'm ranting, I'm fuming, I am so upset! I was sure this was going to be a good one!!🥲 It's not entierly bad, there are some funny jokes and cute moments but it is not worth the 12 hours I wasted watching it. At least I was able to finish it so I'll be a little generous with my rating.
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Love born from mutual respect.
May 2026.I really enjoyed this intelligently written and enthralling drama that kept me engaged from start to finish.
The FL character, Qiao Man, is incredibly bright, an ace strategist, and very determined. Raised differently to most women, by a doting grandfather who recognised her sharp mind and capabilities.
What starts out as a marriage of necessity, however, becomes far more.
There are many obstacles, grudges, and mistrust, but those things, when overcome, can lead to the strongest of bonds.
The ML character, Wei Shao/Zhong Lin, is extremely stand offish, does not trust anyone from her clan, and shoulders a lot. He's also intelligent, brave, and can be ruthless. His mother is awful (I didn't like her from start to finish ~ well played by the actress, though), but his Grandmother is excellent, and they are close. There's also a delulu female who wants our ML for herself.
There is action/battles, but this story isn't swamped by them. The romance builds gradually, with mutual respect sparking it. However, it's more about overcoming grievances, letting go, and moving forward. The overall pace is relatively gentle in comparison to some, but that fits, and I never got bored.
I also loved many of the supporting characters, especially the Wei generals /personal guards, who were so funny at times and had great camaraderie.
Definitely worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
As good as expected
GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7600/love-class-2026Since prior to this I watched and really enjoyed the previous 2 seasons of this series, I was super excited for the 3rd season. Due to previous experience with Love Class, I had pretty high expectations, and they were actually fulfilled.
My biggest problem with this series is definitely how short the episodes were, especially since there are 16 of them. They could've made it so much better by just doing 8 episodes with double the length per episode.
Things I liked:
1. Jae Min and Khun as a couple. They are so cute and adorable together. Their storyline was excellent, and I really enjoyed watching all of their moments together.
2. Khun. He himself as a character was definitely my personal favorite.
3. Good chemistry between both couples.
4. Great acting.
5. Ye Eun and Stella as a GL side couple.
6. All of the cute and funny moments with the couples. Genuinely had me giggling and kicking my feet.
7. The kiss scene with Jae Min kissing a guy after he kept harassing him really gave me a flashback to "Love for Love's Sake."
Things I disliked:
1. Short episodes. As I already said, I think 8 ep. 30 min. would make far more sense than 16 ep. 15 min.
2. It's quite exhausting how they switch from one couple to another. Because one of them is going through all the drama and another is just two cute guys having fun. There has got to be a better way to switch between couples without making it feel so choppy and chaotic.
3. Classic misunderstanding over seeing a person you have feelings for interacting even remotely friendly with other people.
4. I don't really like how they keep dragging out all the drama till the last minutes.
5. Ending. I didn't necessarily dislike it too much, but with the time skip and everything else, I kind of hoped for more. The ending felt quite rushed.
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Sold out on the drama
First of all, if you're into rom-coms, don't be swayed by the reviews. This drama is freaking underrated(in my opinion). Not a single episode was boring. It's been a few months since I was so obsessed over a drama, but this one kept me hooked. One of the most things I loved is the perfect couple pairings even beside the main couple. The main couple's chemistry was undeniably good, but I really enjoyed the support character romance stories. I'd definitely recommend to those who love romcoms like me.Was this review helpful to you?
He chengxi excellent profomance and is his co actors in the series [ Sammy's children's day ]
I honestly did not expect Sammy’s Children’s Day to affect me this deeply, but this drama completely exceeded every expectation I had. From the first episode to the last, everything about it felt emotional, cinematic, and unforgettable.What makes this drama so special is that it is not just another romance story. It feels like an emotional journey set inside a dangerous and broken world. The 1980s Hong Kong atmosphere, the gang setting, the emotional tension, the loyalty, and the sacrifice all come together beautifully. Every episode carried emotional weight and felt meaningful.
The chemistry between He Changxi and He Yanchao is honestly one of the strongest chemistries I have seen in a BL drama. Their acting felt incredibly natural, and many scenes did not even need dialogue because their expressions and body language already said everything. The emotional connection between them felt genuine, deep, and powerful.
One of my favorite things was how naturally the relationship developed. Nothing felt rushed. You could slowly feel the trust growing between them through small moments — the silent protection, the worried looks, the jealousy, the vulnerability, and the quiet care they showed each other. Watching them slowly become each other’s safe place in such a cruel world made the emotional scenes hit even harder.
He Changxi gave such a calm and emotionally layered performance. He made his character feel gentle, intelligent, and quietly strong at the same time. Every expression felt meaningful, even in silence, and you could feel the emotions underneath every scene.
He Yanchao was incredible as well. He balanced danger and softness perfectly, making his character unforgettable. His protective nature, emotional vulnerability, and deep attachment to Chu San made many scenes genuinely heartbreaking because his emotions felt so real.
The cinematography also deserves huge praise. The neon lights, rainy streets, dark alleyways, and vintage Hong Kong atmosphere created such an immersive world. Every frame felt carefully crafted and emotionally meaningful, making the drama feel far more cinematic than a typical series.
What I loved most is how emotionally mature the story feels. The romance is not only about attraction — it is about trust, healing, survival, loyalty, and finding comfort in another person while living in darkness. That is what makes the relationship feel so much deeper and more memorable.
The soundtrack, storytelling, pacing, and emotional atmosphere blended together perfectly. There were so many scenes that stayed in my mind long after I finished the episodes because the emotions felt so genuine.
What truly made this drama unforgettable for me is how human the characters felt. Both characters carry loneliness, fear, pain, and emotional scars, but through each other they slowly begin to heal. Watching that journey felt beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
Sammy’s Children’s Day is emotional, intense, beautifully acted, visually stunning, and deeply memorable. The actors gave incredible performances, and their chemistry created something truly special.
This is not just a drama you watch and forget. It is one of those stories that stays with you long after it ends.
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A Win For Reciprocal Love!
This drama started out pretty cliche for me but completely won me over by episode 3.What is truly commendable is how they've taken a lot of cliche creative decisions and made them uniquely theirs in the best way. From love triangles to the cold man x sunshine girl dynamic to the generous villagers and small town romance tropes, everything works well within the context of the show and they make it feel very lived in and real. The theme of homeshopping hosts, influencing, faulty products and the real damage all of these can leave when careless was explored with sincerity too and not treated like a plot device.
But outside it all, what stands out the most is the main couple, specifically how the FL Dam Yejin is just as into the ML Mechoori. Their dynamics are so healthy, natural and reciprocal from the beginning that rooting for them simply felt like the easiest thing to do while watching this drama. You could even say that Yejin falls first for the goodness she sees in Mechoori and Mechoori quickly follows suit seeing Yejin's sincerity. Both of them feel like real individuals with their own lives who choose to build something together without becoming codependent in an unhealthy way. Mechoori's kindness exists outside of Yejin and Yejin's sincerity exists outside of Mechoori, and yet these same traits that define them are exactly what they also extend to each other which ultimately makes them fall for one another.
They are truly the highlight of the show for me. Two genuinely wonderful and kind people who found their way to each other and keep spreading the same generosity around them! A match made in heaven, truly! They didn’t even need a confession scene to announce the beginning of their relationship...that's basically unheard of in kdramas and the most interesting thing is that it works here because the transition from being strangers to lovers felt *that* effortless and natural.
Ahn Hyo Seop was as usual a delight to watch and Chae Won Bin was very impressive as a newcomer. Their chemistry felt very natural and easy from ep 1 with a lot of the subtext filled tension that makes onscreen chemistry work for me. Chae Won Bin is definitely someone I'm looking out for from here on out. She is the perfect romance lead. She gives the best heart eyes and looks at her ML with so much love, exactly the kind of performance that makes a romance worth watching coz sincerity and genuine affection from the FL just makes your ML look that much more attractive to the audience. Likewise, I hope Ahn Hyo Seop keeps doing more of these romcoms. He has amazing chemistry with all his costars and it shines here too. He plays a restrained, traumatized young man who opens up with the help of genuinely good people around him very well.
The supporting cast make their world feel more alive and so many of them stand out. The SML love triangle arc doesn't linger long enough to leave a bad taste either.
So this has definitely become my third favorite romcom this year after Spring Fever and Our Universe.
Very thankful to the makers of SOOY for this amazing show!
Highly recommend for fans of dramas like Spring Fever, Hometown Cha Cha Cha and Summer Strike.
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This review may contain spoilers
This miniseries is like a war.
This miniseries is like a war, because the protagonists have to endure an impossible number of emotional blows!First (01.), a young man confesses his feelings for his best friend (Ryu). It’s incredibly distressing. What are the chances that these feelings will be reciprocated? Answer: virtually nonexistent.
02. As expected, the feelings are initially just being processed. During this time, however, rumors start spreading, and the young man jumps out the window and ends up in a coma.
03. The pressure on Ryu is immense because he feels guilty in so many ways. He is not allowed to visit his friend, whom he seems to care for in some way.
04. Ryu "flees" to Berlin, Germany, where a childhood friend works and studies. Lost and adrift, he enters a church that is the target of an arson attack.
05. Ryu is rescued from the flames by Jo Han (or Johan/Johann). He now feels guilty about this, yet he can’t even properly thank him, because Johan is a typical loner who believes he shouldn’t show his true feelings. He is completely incapable of accepting gratitude.
06. To cheer him up, Ryu’s childhood friend takes him to a boxing match. How crazy is that decision? There, Ryu realizes that one of the boxers is Johan, who gets knocked down. I know a lot of people enjoy this sport. It would weigh heavily on me. We also learn at that moment that the boxers have been bribed, which weighs heavily on Johan.
And we meet Johan’s sister, who is studying medicine in Germany.
07. We learn that Johan and his sister grew up practically without parents, and that Johan supports his (clever) sister in any way he can.
08. Back to Japan, Ryu is still so shaken by his friend’s accident/suicide that he gives up his career as a college ice hockey player. Here we meet Seiichi, who’s always in a good mood and spreads cheer wherever he goes.
09. Meanwhile, in Seoul, Johan is giving up his boxing career.
10. Johan visits Ryu in Japan, where he meets Ryu’s parents, and we learn about the death of Ryu’s uncle 13 years ago. An artist whom Ryu obviously enjoyed spending time with as a child.
11. Ryu’s best friend wakes up from a coma, and the two talk. Ryu apologizes—and, as I suspected, the one who came out about his feelings suddenly doesn’t want to understand Ryu’s feelings, who feels responsible. And then we don’t see anything more of the “best friend” for the rest of the series.
12. Johan completes his military service. He spends two years in squalor, is bullied for being a former boxer, and has to endure hardships for which no one takes responsibility.
13. After finishing his military service, Johan goes to a bar whose owner he knows well. Some patrons arrive who behave badly, provoke trouble, and unleash raw violence on the bar owner. Johan puts a stop to it and learns that the whole thing was a setup, an act of revenge by a scoundrel.
14. The press finds out from the former boxer in a gay bar, which ruins Johan's potential career as coach.
15. Of course, Johan can’t think of a better solution than to hide away. Until Ryu pulls him out of a tight spot and takes him to Japan.
16. Ryu’s high school girlfriend is now back in Japan; she meets Seiichi through Ryu, they get married, and she’s expecting a child.
We learn that the high school girlfriend was neglected by her parents and was raised by Ryu’s parents.
17. Seiichi, the cheerful, life-affirming guy, is hit by a truck while singing and doesn’t survive the accident.
18. We witness Seiichi’s funeral and the accusations hurled by a parent at Ryu’s heavily pregnant school friend.
19. And as if all this shit weren’t enough in terms of challenges and failures, Johan has to suffer from an incurable disease.
20. Johan does NOT confide in Ryu and does what he does best: run away.
21. Johan pretends to be interested in someone else, moves out, and leaves a mess behind.
22. A few years later, Ryu’s school friend finds out that Johan is sick and doesn’t tell Ryu until a year later.
23. Ryu and Johan meet again in Germany, where Johan is in a wheelchair and has essentially made his final video testament.
Sorry, folks, this is just too much for me. A bomb carpet of 23 impacts.
There are many wonderful moments in the series.
But there’s also a constant lack of communication. I’m German, and I’m often seen as rude... addressing things head-on—both what’s going well and what isn’t. And if a script can only work because people talk past each other, don’t say what’s on their minds, and out of misplaced concern don’t want to be a burden to anyone, then to me that’s a disaster for me.
Of course, you shouldn’t just brutally throw the truth in someone’s face. But… make up your own mind. How many movies and TV shows would have lasted if the characters had just come clean with each other relatively early on?
I think a script like that is incredibly weak—it would be much more sophisticated if writers could find a solution for it. I think either the writer is trying to make a point so that you say, “HEY, WHY AREN’T YOU GUYS TALKING TO EACH OTHER?” or he's just being lazy to find a solution.
The series is well made. The writer must have done a tremendous amount of research, or perhaps he lived in Germany himself. The scenes set in Berlin are very well chosen. The details are almost spot on.
The basic story is good, too. Two people in "need" meet and heal each other. And together they are strong and weather a few storms.
But does it really have to be 23? Three would be enough for me. Or if we want to be generous in judging negative events, let’s make it 10. But please, not 23...
The actors were excellent. I fell in love with every single character. I’d take them all home with me and take good care of them.
The music was not too bland, but not overpowering either.
This series is not a BL series!
BL is a genre of its own. A world lined with rose-colored velvet that makes hearts race when a man seduces another man. The male lead cannot simply be replaced by a woman, because part of a BL story is the “Oh my, I’m a man—why do I have feelings for a man?” moment, and I submit to my male-male partner without any sexual submissiveness.
So, BL fans, this series is NOT in the BL genre.
This series is about as far from being BL as Tokyo is from Berlin.
This series is a battle zone. Unfortunately.
Dear Shunki. Please show me your next piece.
I’ll gild that for you then. Promise.
The best part at the end was the confession. Those redeeming words: “I love you.”
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Sus actuaciones son hermosas
La serie es hermosa, te atrapa desde el primer episodio, las actuaciones de Ling y Orm son tan buenas que hasta puedes sentir el dolor de Lada y Earn, sus momentos románticos son tan dulces que te harán querer vivir un amor tan profundo y sincero como el de ellas.La recomiendo totalmente si estás empezando a ver GL, es una serie que puedes ver en familia.
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Have some FUN
This is a good show to watch when you want to unwind at the end of the day, without using any grey cells. It's fun, it's sweet, it has the right amount of drama - and it makes no sense at all. The business aspect of the show has way too many plot holes to be believable, but the show doesn't take itself seriously 99% of the time anyway, so I simply ignore it. I would have liked some more romantic scenes between our couple, but the show has made me laugh and cry exactly when I needed it, and that's all I wanted from it (+ the music added so much to the comedy, I LOVED it lmao). Turn your brain off, and have a laugh, have some whimsy in your life!Was this review helpful to you?
Bad voice overs
This was a good drama to watch. The story was good, the visuals very beautiful and the music was good too.Unfortunatly the voice overs weren't very in sync.
Most actors did a good job, the ones who did a bad job were mostly the fans..
The mains did a good job and they had great chemistry. Unfortunatly the kisses were just lip touches and the rest of the kiss was hidden by hands or filmed from far away.
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