Reviews

one of the best drama of 2021

I don't care what people said but just know I didn't start watching this drama because of Hyeri or Ki Young. Honestly, I didn't know them much before this series. I don't like how people that we watch this drama just because of the leads. I watch this because of the interesting storyline and Gumiho :) and maybe because of Kang Hanna too. And pls this series is soooo much better than DAYS. This series wrapped up their storyline so perfectly and the purpose of the storyline was there. Ki Young and Hyeri chemistry was hella cute!! I FREAKING LOVE THEM. Shin Woo Yeo is literally one of the best Gumiho omg!! I want him!! And I love that the second lead couple had a lot of screen time. Even tho there are things that could have been better like Kang Hanna's character's past story. I wish they explain further and deeper on that. Anyways, the chemistry between all the cast were so perfect. I really freaking love everyone well maybe except the second male lead. I'm never fond second male leads. Anyway, this is worth the watch anytime!! So watch this and you won't regret it <3

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Deserve the Baeksang Award

I can't asked for a better crime thriller drama. Beyond Evil, honestly exceeded beyond my expectations. Both Yeo Jin Goo and Shin Ha Kyun gave their best performance. Not only that, I love the flow of the storyline. The show had two parts divided equally and perfectly. Episode 1 to 8 contains the first part while episode 9 to 16 holds the 2nd part. And how they relate both parts so perfectly is really amazing. Would have give them a 10 if only they didn't hinted the loveline between Han Ju Won and the girl (can't remember her name) towards the end. I just think that it wasn't necessary for them to put it in but nonetheless it was really good and amazing.

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A Delightful Sweet Fluffy Romance

If you want a romance that is sweet from the beginning till the end, this is it. Since their first meeting in episode 1, our main couple holds hands, sleeps together and hardly gets separated. There’re hardly any moments they are not together, and when they are not, they miss each other dearly and cannot wait to get back into each other’s arms again. This drama is easy to watch with very little angst though the last few episodes become rather tensed. All the characters are lovable, an antagonist that is revealed from the beginning, and an ending everyone loves.

Ji Dinglan (Wang Xingyue) is a prince born with no taste buds nor emotions. He cannot feel pain, happiness nor sadness. No one knows about his condition because if exposed, he is deemed a demon and would be persecuted. He becomes a hermit, changes his name to Mo Qingchen (meaning strange light dust), and lives far away from the palace and everyone else. When he accidentally touches Lin Chi (Bu Guanjin), all his senses come back temporarily. For the first time in his life, he experiences a new world which he has never known before. Since then, he attaches himself to Lin Chi and they quickly fall in love and inseparable from each other. They also realize they can transfer their power to and fro via each other’s tears. Lurking under this romance is Ji Dinglan’s ambitious and vindictive half-brother, Ji Dingyue (Nie Zihao). Time and time again he tries to expose Mo Qingchen’s secret, and he tries to hurt the couple to achieve his goal. Again and again he fails because of the unyielding love and devotion Mo Qingchen has for Lin Chi and she him; both do not hesitate to sacrifice for the other.

I have watched some of Wang Xingyue's previous dramas and find him an excellent actor. This drama is his first drama as a main lead, and his acting here is believable and again outstanding. At the tender age of 19, Wang Xingyue has a chisel good look and mature in his demeanor. He has a great potential ahead of him. Bu Guanjin on the other hand is a lot older than Wang Xingyue, but the pairing doesn’t look awkward because the couple has great chemistry together. Her acting is natural without trying too hard making the Lin Chi character very lovable. As with most young actors, Wang Xingyue is not stingy with his kisses. Nie Zihao has been acting as antagonists for several dramas I have watched. He has a very good-looking face with a sliver of hideousness in it and he is perfect for this tormented role as Ji Dingyue whom I’ve come to empathize. His acting here is applaudable.

I like the second couple and all the side characters. The acting by the whole cast is solid with an intact script and commendable editing. The background props look authentic and the costumes are carefully designed and made. The official soundtracks are some of the most impressive ballads in recent historical dramas.

My Verdict

This is such a delightful drama that has a very clear plot with very few visible plot holes or flaws. The flow is good and the pace is on spot. Despite the couple spending a lot of time conveying their love and admiration for each other, this doesn’t feel draggy because there are other things happening simultaneously. The acting is solid by the whole cast. The comedy is light and dialogues are humorous. Though rather predictable, I find this drama a great de-stressor that gives us a make-believe world that perhaps such love and devotion do exist. If you’re a romance buff and want something easy to watch with no angst, this is it. This is a story well told and deserves a bravo!

Don't miss it!

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Decent watch, but a little underwhelming

Not as thought-provoking as Sky Castle, not as addicting as Penthouse, and not as intriguing as Mine. There is a lot to be desired in terms of writing and character development. Given the premise and genre of this show, I thought this show would get way more ratings, but maybe people are starting to grow tired of these over-the-top dramas that air out the dirty laundry of Korea's top .0001%. With the oversaturation of dramas it becomes harder to stand out, even if you manage to draw viewers in. And the first episode didn't really do a good job of making you interested, but once you get to the end of episode 4 things get a lot more interesting.

The cast is okay. There seems to be more than what meets the eye when it comes to the characters, but the execution of revealing intentions could've been executed better. I really like the FL. She is seemingly perfect like those around her but she too conceals secrets that are yet to be revealed. She has a lot of likeable qualities. She is kind and empathetic towards others. She is humble. And admirably, she is trying her best to adjust as a single mother and giver her child the best support she possibly can for both their sakes. My favorite thing about her tho is that she is no pushover. She seems like she has no fight in her but if you rile her feathers her talons will surely come out. In a lot of ways she reminds me of Woo-joo's mom from Sky Castle. Overall she is just very well-written. Gong Hyun-joo is okay. Kind of annoying at times but then again that's her character. I also like Danny (he low-key fine asf) despite him being shady.

{I'll post my final thoughts her once the drama concludes}

UPDATE: The ending def didn't go the way I thought and things did get a little ridiculous. Bringing the FL's character back from the dead was unnecessary and imo took away from the story. I mean he faked his death for what really? The second wife's storyline could've been handled better and she started to get on my nerves, but I did like her and the FL teaming up together. I think the strongest part of the show is how their relationship evolves and come to see each other as victims who were played by the same guy. My biggest gripe with this show is that it wasn't compelling enough and I found it hard to care or really get invested in any of the characters. This one has a lot of potential but it fell short sadly. 7/10

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Too Pedestrian

This was a slightly entertaining BL series with nothing specular about it EXCEPT it did have a bit of a creative ending to it that was fun to watch and added something different to this rather mundane series. The ending give it a bit more creativity and I was pleasantly surprised by it and it was not expected. It is not that they all are not deliciously handsome; they are, It just that this was not enough to make it that entertaining. It is good; just not great for me. However, the scene between the mother and son is worth noting and is superbly done. Sorry, I found it rather ordinary in story with an occasional twist and turn.

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I love this sm

I honestly loved the whole concept, all the eerie vibes and the tension built from the start to the end! Manner of death is one of my top if not my most favorite BL drama so far! I just love everything in it and I’d rewatch it again anytime just because of how good and indulging it is! If you’re a fan of mysteries, crime and crime investigations but also like a side of goofiness and romance then this is the drama for you! It just has a great amount of everything needed to make for an amazing story and plot. The acting isn’t all that bad as well. When I tell you it had me so invested, there were moments when I’m literally on tenterhooks crying then at the next scene I feel extremely relieved (you’ll see for yourself ) so with that being said … 11/10 recommend!!!

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Surprisingly mature, with incredible depth

Based on the show's poster, you'd think this kdrama features silly, immature people in over-the-top situations, which does not suit my taste. If you are like me, I've got great news for you: Ignore the posters. Mad For Each Other has surprisingly mature, well-developed characters and relationships, as well as one of the the most tightly written screenplays in kdramaland.

Jung Woo was made for his role as Hwi Oh, the tormented but ever-responsible cop with anger issues, while Oh Yeon Seo plays the suffering Min Kyung with just the right touch of anxiety-ridden ice that warms up layer by layer as the story progresses. The humor as well as the bumpy interactions are heartwarming, not crass or slapstick. They work off an impressive screenplay by Ah Kung who deserves an award for her genius. I am wowed by the way in which the script gets to the point so quickly, yet expresses endless depth in each interaction. I have never seen a show pack so much into just 13 episodes of 30 minutes each. Furthermore, the supporting characters featuring a snooping band of ahjummas, an over-worked part-timer, Hwi Oh's cop friends, and a mysterious young person in the neighbourhood, are fleshed out as much as they are in many shows that take up more than double the run time.

Thirty minutes may seem short, yet the story itself takes steady breaths, with expert pacing and balanced emphasis that focuses first and foremost, on the personal growth of the leads. We see their healing and learning as individuals rather than focusing on romance as an end goal. On top of this, we are given visibility into our leads' internal mental states and changes in their perspectives, rather than simplified, preachy messages about the injustices they face. This is the only drama I've seen in which a man learns how to become a true ally to women. Min Kyung pointedly explains to him why she couldn't just "stand up for herself" and he understands.

I highly recommend Mad For Each Other, a deftly executed gem where screenwriter Ah Kung and director Lee Tae Gon mix together well-known kdrama ingredients into something so slick, tight, and thoughtful that you feel like you've spent an hour in-depth with the characters each episode. This may be the best kdrama of 2021.

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Entertaining show about teamwork

I came into the show originally for TO1 and was disappointed when I found out that another group (EPEX) was involved. However, after the first episode, I was quickly convinced by the show's good intentions. Combining two rookie groups is actually a really good idea - it was really entertaining to watch how they mesh together and have all of their belongings, the food they cooked and videos they filmed "synchronized". Because there were 18 members combined, it was hard to learn a lot from each member, but this show is still entertaining regardless! I hope that through the memory created from the show, the two groups will make a lasting relationship with each other in the industry.

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Summary of the Show:
This show is divided into 3 days

- Day 1 (Ep. 1-3) focuses on introduction. Each group shares a house by themselves and the activities between them are indirect (swapping luggage, lunch, dinner, etc.)
- On day 2 (Ep. 4-5), they split everyone into 3 separate teams, mixing up both TO1 and EPEX members together. They were also given separate houses and will proceed to compete in a series of challenges and races. Day 2 challenges will take place within the housing location
- Day 3 (Ep. 6) is filmed somewhere outdoors in a field. The day offers a variety of physical challenges and a performance from each team. Lastly, the series ends off with a dinner meeting, featuring the winning team having a fancy 5-course meal

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Rewatch Episode Summary:
Ep. 1) Luggage synchronization, member profiles pt.1
Ep. 2) Member profiles pt. 2, team leaders, one-ingredient telepathy, lunch synchronization
Ep. 3) 100-second meeting, word dive mission & dinner synchronization, baby photos, lullaby
Ep. 4) Silent breakfast mission, team split, house floor challenges
Ep. 5) Kpop riddle battle, final day performance preparation
Ep. 6) Final day performances, sports battles (3-way tug-of-war, balloon volleyball, linked feet race, giant baton delay), final dinner

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Spoilers - Discussion and Analysis

First off, I sign-up to Mydramalist to review this drama. Second, I really get this drama, or at least I thought I have. Third, this was condensed into 12 episodes because of low ratings but to those who get this drama, it's gold. Fourth, the soundtrack is superb. And lastly, I hope you enjoy the roller-coaster ride of emotions.

These are my thoughts on the matter, I hope this would give you a better understanding of the drama.

1. Ha Won's mom died during snowstorm. She died because In Wook misinformed her of the whereabouts of Ji Soo and Ha Won. In Wook's wife Ji soo died the same fate 10 years later when she returned to apologize on his behalf on the tomb of Ha Won's Mom.

2. When Ha Won was grieving his mom, Ji Soo made him look out the ceiling where the shadows on the trees are reflected, soothing him. Years later, when Ji Soo dies in Norway that same night, Ha Won looked the the sky with trees reminiscent of that fateful night when he was soothed after his mother died.

3. Seo Woo first had a memorable first meeting with Before Dawn when he was at the studio. While Ha Won had his memorable moment when she was looking out the window on the studio, eventually meeting her when Ha Won went in the studio to look around. Ha Won noticed her first. And he also readily know that Seo Woo suits Ji Soo... thinking the two can become friends because of their personalities.

4. Before Ji Soo died, she was "gifted" with a friend, Seo Woo. In less than 5 meetings, the two have become close enough for Ji Soo to give Seo Woo a gift. A plant. She also inadvertently have given Ha Won someone to love in Sae Woo's person.

5. That plant that Ji Soo gave symbolizes the feelings Ha Won and Sae Woo have for each other... at first it was dying, which also reflects why Seo Woo even mentioned that she only had 1% chance of Ha Won's Love. When the plant was thriving after Soon Ho took care of it, it was later on destroyed or the pot was shattered because of In Wook. In Wook also shattered Sae Woo's feelings for Ha Won when he told her that no one can come between Ha Won and Ji Soo. (Planting a negative seed in which is one of the factors that broke down Sae Woo's resolve later on.)

6. When Ha Won confronted In Wook of his misgivings, he mentioned three things. Do you know what you took from me (his mom), what you trampled on (Ji Soo, In Wook's Wife, his friend) and what you crushed? (Sae Woo, Ha Won's beloved).

7. When Ha Won discovered his AI's point of reaction, he thought it was because of his regard to Ji Soo. Ji Soo was afraid of lightning and thunder. It was later on revealed that Ji Soo was not his point of reaction. It was his mother who always plays the piano when there's thunderstorm brewing. Perhaps, he associated Ji Soo with his inability to move on even after 10 years but in reality, it was his grief for his mother.

8. This grief was also factored in with Ji Soo's sudden departure in his life. He was left without a family and the one person he considers family has also been ripped away from him. Hence, his moving on was slow and painstaking.

9. Seo Woo and Ji Soo phone call when the latter was in Norway ended in a tragedy. While Seo Woo in South Korea and Ha Won in Norway phonecall gives hope of their love. Ha Won came home to Seo Woo.

10. When Ha Won was finding crumbs and clues of where Ji Soo have been before she died through her IG account, it was as if Ha Won was slowly finding all the places. And at the same time, ending the journey of loving Ji Soo and finally giving Seo Woo's love a chance.

11. Through the course of the series, they had their fair share of having just to let the other go if they can't be together due to work or to personal reasons. The willingness to be with each other is there, but they don't dominate each other to stay.

12. Ha Won's mother died of snowstorm, did you notice him being cold? Seo Woo's parents died of forest fire, you can see her as a warm person... thawing Won's heart in the process. O_O.

13. The first act was sold-out by Ha Won confronting him about previous' mother's death. This was a show of power and boldness (Ha Won had it in him from the start... I'm just amazed at how powerful he is and rich). In Wook in his recital at the near end proved that he's a gifted pianist also. He was able to channel all his frustrations and regrets in his craft and was awarded by applause from the people from the second act.

14. When Seo Woo went home to her hometown near Misiryeong, she played the recording of Ha Won's mediocre recital as a tribute to her dead parents. When Ha Won went home in Norway to visit his old home, he played Seo Woo's average performance in the piano as an homage to his dead mother. Both are orphans.

15. When Ha Won told Ji Soo to call, Ji Soo did not call or even plan to call. When Ha Won told Seo Woo to call when she sorts herself out, she called him. =)

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Good Film Bad Ending

I remember watch this movie but with different actor and version, the series i watch at the past the actor star is jimmy lin, and after i watch this movie, i feel i hate the ending where is duan yu actually married with three girls and xu zhu married with xixia princess but in this version of series the ending is like a $h*t, it make me regret wasting my 5-6 day for watch this movie, it's still far better jimmy lin version than this $h*t version, and i hate bao bo tong actor, too loud and too much mouth but useless, and if you watch carefuly this movie still has too many fail like when duan yu and wang yuyan in hole, there is story where is finally wang yuyan accept duan yu as her boyfriend and in this version there is no such a moment and duan yu suddenly call wang yuyan as yuyan but yuyan call duan yu still using young master duan, don't kidding me, and where is gaibang bad sect leader quan guanjing? If want make different version then let Xiao Feng live at the ending, lol i myself regret to watch this and thats why i hate remake series like condor heroes have 1001 version

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Fast and different plot !

I started watching this drama because of the FanFan couple (from drama Be Yourself) and I was not disappointed.
The story was different from the typical c drama and it was fast pacing but well executed tho. It had flawed and pretty realistic characters and a very different storyline.
A homebody with social anxiety and a rebellious girl find mutual healing and salvation while on the run. Through each other, they find themselves again.
The music and main lead's acting were really good.
The plot has a lil bit of romance, action, dark comedy, bonding and keeps you engaged through out.
This drama is definitely underrated, it deserves more.

So if you're confused about whether to watch this drama, just give it a shot. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Besides it's just 8 episodes and that too 20-22 mins each episode. You could binge watch it in one sit itself.

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Pretty good drama !

I started watching this drama just randomly cuz I was bored and ngl I kinda enjoyed it.
It's a slice of life/sisterhood kinda college drama and each episode talks about stuff like friendship, childhood crush, family, loving your parents etc.
As of the acting, it was not bad pretty decent. The plot was nothing interesting but it wasn't that boring too. The drama revolves around 4 main characters and all of em are given pretty much equal screen time. There wasn't any toxic relationship/friendship or irritating characters.

So, in short if you like college/slice of life or just a light hearted drama, give this a shot !

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Really problematic and overall dated plot that does not hold up

I guess it is clear to say that this drama had an insane amount of hype due to the popularity of the webtoon. The webtoon itself is also poorly written so I didn't expect much from the drama. The only positives were that the cast matches the characters in the webtoon really well! That being said...... the rest is a trainwreck. The drama is problematic as the FL is deemed "ugly" because her cheeks are red, she has some pimples and she wears glasses. This plotline is too tropy so it doesn't make any sense that she gets so severely bullies just for that. I also hate the character development of Suho, he straight up becomes her stalker towards the end. He seems to have these obsessive tendencies which just don't sit well with me. In my opinion, the support actors were more entertaining to watch. If you like the actors or the webtoon then you might be able to get through this but it was pretty difficult for me.

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Some supernatural elements, but the story offers a light-hearted take on serious issues

A supernatural-themed series with little to no actual horror. There are lighthearted and comedic moments, but the series has a story that can be taken seriously too.

Xiao Lu, a ghost whose duty is to take the souls of those who have just died to the netherworld, intervenes and saves Stone when he is supposed to die. As a result of her transgression, she has to guide a certain number of souls to reincarnation so as to make amends. From here, the series can be divided into segments of different ghosts. Some of the ghosts' stories are more striking than others, like the one about bullying and depression leading to suicide and the LGBTQ-themed one involving a young man who enjoys cross-dressing (I hope I'm not getting it wrong here as I'm not sure whether the character identifies as a female an dresses in female clothes or identifies as male but likes wearing female clothes). There are also some interesting twists in the story involving Xiao Lu and Stone though the twists may not be entirely convincing.

This is quite a fun and entertaining series. There is humor, but don't expect a nonsensical horror-comedy (whether it is your cup of tea or not). It can also be serious and moving at some points, but these are nicely balanced with the more light-hearted moments, so you don't really get a series that will make you cry episode after episode.

The main characters are mostly likable. Interestingly, I did not find the character of Stone likable at first because of how silly he seems, but the character is like a person one grows to appreciate upon knowing him better. Ultimately, the series is not really heavy on supernatural elements despite what it may seem at first, it is more a story about love, friendship and life/death than about the supernatural without being excessively sentimental.

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I Liked It!

Everybody’s a critic! You know how lucky we are to even have BL movies and series to critique? I know most take these little gems for granted, but not I! I am grateful for each one, except maybe The Shipper, but even that, despite my review, was still liked by many fans.
I think the problem with this was the mismatched leads. On the one hand you had the devastatingly handsome Boat, and on the other the goofy Gun. But, I think one of the messages of this story was that you can’t pick who or why you fall in love. I have seen some odd matches, and this was no different.
But, despite this, I disagree that Gun is a bad actor. He actually did a bang up job. Of course, he had most of the opportunities for animation: laughing, tears, anger, despair, joy. Poor Boat was so restricted by his character he hardly got to compete. Again, Gun is not your typical handsome lead; although, there were times when I thought him quite attractive. Most of the time, however, he was twisting and contorting his face into some fairly unattractive configurations. But, that is just who he is. Gun got to exercise his acting skill here, and he did admirably. Let’s face it, it’s hard to convince the audience that you are the handsome dramatic leading man when you are paired with such a looker! I think Mark was a better pair for Gun, and that doesn’t mean that Mark isn’t a looker. They just seemed more suited to each other. Actually, Mark might have made a better choice than Gun for a love interest, but what is done is done, and it is nice to see that Gun is not being over-looked. In fact, I can see a bright future for him.
As for the series, the music was very good. The story was good, too. I pretty much take all of these BL stories at face value. I am just glad they keep making them, and I love them all. Tea and Bun were a little annoying at first, but I grew to love them. Jane and Apple didn’t need to be in the story at all, but it is always good to see Apple. It flew by. It would have been ok if it were 12 episodes, but it had a happy ending, I guess. I really don’t know what those two boys are going to do in the future. Gun has a degree. Boat still has nothing, and six years have passed. I suppose he won’t go to college. I guess he will just live off Gun, which doesn’t make for years of contentment. Oh, well.
The last thing I want to mention is Gun’s wardrobe. Those clothes were fabulous. I couldn’t wait for the next scene just to see what Gun was wearing, and he wears clothes very well. They really helped make him appear handsome, and his hair cut wasn’t bad, either. Oh, one or two more, the sets and locations. Sky's bed! French provincial cane! To die! And, who wouldn't want to live in Sky's house?
Ok, now that I am finished, I am going back to watch the whole series again.

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