Reviews

Waste of time. disgusting behaviour that was normalised and made to be romantic.

I found this in my notes from when i watched this drama sometime last year and decided to make it into a review. I enjoyed the beginning of the show I guess. It was the classic cliche rich boss and helpless woman and they fall in love after they have a meet cute and enemies to lovers etc etc. SPOILER ALERT BTW,,,,,,,,,,,,, BUT THEN, EP10 THIS MAN GETS REVEALED THAT HE FAKED HER WHOLE ASS BONE MARROW THING TO GET MARRIED TO HER AND THEN HE TRAPS HER IN THE HOUSE AND THEN SOMEHOW SHE FORGIVES HIM. i REMMEBER the being trapped in the house thing so distinctly because I was so shocked that he was like this is for your own good babe <33 its all because i love you so much like no stfu... very very very toxic relationship, i tried to watch past it but it completely ruined the show and i couldn't see how much affection he tried to show her after this because of how disgusting the situation was and how they actually ended up marrying. Like how he stalked her for two years prior and then made her believe she was going to die and stuff. It was very machiavellian type beat like the ends justify the means but no, it was just a toxic relationship and she shouldn't have forgiven him because he a psychopath.

Also I gave mans a 7.5 for acting because I guess he made me really hate him and the show after the big reveal so go him for acting his part. Also how does this series have a 7.6 rating when all these reviews are giving out ones. make it make sense.

Read More

IF YOU'RE THINKING OF WATCHING THIS, DO.

This drama hits hard. It doesn't pull any punches. It is true to human nature and it is true to the nature of evil. People want certain endings to evil, but evil is irrespective of our expectations. Evil must be overcome and that is all there is to it. This drama is well worth your time. There will be some moments when you can't believe that the characters are behaving so stupidly, but that, again, is life. People make stupid decisions and when they could turn the tide by making a wise decision, they don't and evil wins another battle. All in all, this is one of the best dramas I've watched. I cared about the characters, I was invested in the plot, it tugged at my heart. This drama is not formulaic, so prepare to be shocked. But if you want something fresh, this is it.

Read More

Could it have ended better?

I watched this season expecting to treat it like how I treated the first season, just meh. I enjoyed the storyline of the first season but this second season made me actually wait for each week and look forward to the progress of the character's lives.

The problem (for me) with the first season was that only two love stories were really highlighted, everyone else had someone we shipped them with but it did not seem to be going anywhere. I liked how this season really wrapped everything up nicely although it would have been nicer to see a wedding with at least one couple (again this is just my preference).

Read More

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures or do they?

I really liked how this showed some realities of the lengths that people would go for the allure of money. Yes, even risking their lives despite not knowing much of what would happen with each game.

Each game really kept one at the edge of their seat or hugging a pillow as I did for the most part of this show. I think a reason why this is a show that is really trending is not just the story line which is really well-written by the way, it is also because of how the different characters are portrayed. You see their backstories and understand the desperation that fuels their drive to complete each game. Kudos to the actors who really did a good job at making us love or hate their character!

Something I didn't like though was how they made me think differently of the waltz that I used to dance to. Hehe. All in all, it was a good show although I don't think I can handle watching it again unlike with Alice in Borderland for some reason.

Read More

i think i just wasted my time. at first i just watch thinking it would be rom-com. well it did, in the first half. but idk no chemistry? feels rushed? strange love triangle? cringe 2nd and 3rd couples? it was super cliche at first. honestly i dont mind cliche, as long as it was executed nicely and beautifully to draw me in. but sadly this drama dont. and the next half? it's like the writer trying to put together whatever sad and heartbreaking scenes there is. i skipped a lot cause it was so hard for me to focus ;')) basically, the script, was terrible. i just cant enjoy it sadly. but their acting was great anyways.

Read More

Done with Squid Game and to be honest I was really disappointed.

Watched too many films/dramas until I can guess almost all plot points/twists most of the time now... Could see plot twists coming from a long way out and character motivations were not convincing at all either from the get-go. Even the amount of prize money at stake was not convincing to me. The westernized scenes were really unnecessary. Objectively speaking, the religious references were also highly unnecessary? We really do not need such references to flesh out humans' self-righteousness. Satire throughout the drama could have been done much more tastefully but everything just felt like they were afterthoughts.

Many Korean stylistic elements that I enjoy which make up great Korean productions' scripts so far were sadly missing from Squid Games' script which I am also disappointed about. Character motivations and development are so important for such survival games genre so this was really shocking for me since most of the time Korean dramas do not fail in this aspect... Especially shocking for a K-drama this hyped about.

Performances by Park Hae Soo and Heo Sung Tae and the production value were the only redeeming points. Lee Jung Jae was good as usual but his character was not as distinctive as Park's and sometimes felt sidelined in comparison even though he was the main character? His character was really a wasted opportunity in the script. I also felt the series could have been shortened by 2 episodes.

The final plot twist was bad too in my opinion. Trying to pull a Christopher Nolan Joker world view but again it did not work for me or even felt convincing.

Minor spoiler - And also, what is with the lack of diversity among the VIPs?

Expected much more from the critically acclaimed Korean writer/director Hwang Dong-hyuk who directed and wrote the impactful and disturbing film Silenced (2011). Netflix probably had some influence over the creative work here I feel... But I did enjoy the cameos though.

Beyond Evil is really so so much better in comparison. The Hunger Games films too.

Squid Game - 6.5/10

Read More

One of the best kdramas that you'll have the pleasure of watching

Man, I was blown away with everything that this drama had to offer, and I just wanted to talk about why this kdrama was a work of art. I had severely underestimated what a ride this drama would be. I'll make this review as spoiler free as i can, because to anyone reading this whose a fan of mystery, suspense and humour, I'd heavily recommend it.

Firstly the storytelling : The drama was compelling from start to finish. Because of the runtime, many dramas (at least, a few of the ones that I've watched ) tend lose lose a little bit of traction when it reaches the mid season, specially dramas that are centred around mystery and suspense. But this drama kept me on my toes from start to finish, Even when we reached the finale, we didn't really know exactly what was going on and it was absolutely glorious to watch. The suspense remains an undercurrent through all episodes, even when they are solving individual mysteries and that helps it from becoming a standard crime procedural.

Also it is very unexpectedly emotional at times these moments centred around family bonds. I usually don't cry in dramas, but those unexpected moments caught me. It also doesn't shy away from showing very real events like adoption, abuse ,exploitation and it does so in a very sensitive manner. Despite all of the dark issues it handles, it manages to be warm at heart, centred around love, family and friendship.

Talking about friendship, this show provides a hilarious and heartwarming friendship between 5 people (though I do dislike one of them, it doesn't take away from the dynamic ). We see the main character starting on the wrong foot with almost everyone and we see how all of them start to care for each other. It's se sweet to see how close they get by the end of the show.

The MC is a little unusual of a choice when compared to other dramas. This type of character is usually relegated to a side character as they grow closer to the warm hearted mc. But here, the MC is very blunt, a stickler for rules to the point of dislike and very introverted. Despite his outward appearance, he definitely cares for people with all heart. You can see him putting all his effort into cases, even if other think they're closed. He's actually very gentle and sweet, something i'd like to see more from ml in kdramas

Three actors really stood out to me. Jung Kyung Ho is incredible in this role, playing the MC. The closed off nature of the MC requires a lot of subtleness in his expressions and he manages to capture that perfectly. It's amazing how much he's able to say without actually saying anything. He's definitely on my list of favourite actor, very few could pull of this role well. Park Sung Woong is hilarious in this role and he added so much heart to the character. His character is warm, crude, sometimes dislikable, but still such an incredible character in his own right. He bounces off very well with Jung Kyung Ho, their banter is incredible. I Go Ah Sung, I hadn't heard of her before, but she's definitely on my to watch list now. Her character could be boring or cliche, but she brings such charm to the role that she ends up being the most wholesome and yet badass part of the drama.

Read More

I'm dissatisfied and disappointed with the outcome

I was really looking forward to season 2 and I was actually quite disappointed with the outcome. I found it boring (no offense) compared to the first season which I hope would have another season for more Tong Nian and Han Shangyan scenes. I was not totally satisfied with this season and I somehow found it dull and pretty boring. Idk if it was just because of the pandemic that they had to lessen the cast but it did not really seem as lively as the first season. The old K&K was very lively and fun unlike this season's K&K. 97 and One were the only one's left from the original cast from K&K except for Han Shangyan and Wu Bai. I missed the times when they would always put Demo into trouble or put him as a bait because they were all afraid to approach Shangyan. I was also quite disappointed that Han Shangyan had only a few appearances in this season. To think that he's the boss of K&K. I know that this season is revolving in DT & Appledog's love story but he needed more appearances but all there was was his voice through calls and all. Even in the competition, since he was the boss, he had to be there. The other Solo members were there, they got together but he wasn't in the picture which actually made me sad.

Not to be rude but tbh, I just forced myself to finish this one because I was looking forward to Tong Nian and Han Shangyan's appearances plus 97, One and Grunt's crazy antics. Though I was also disappointed with the changing of casts. Honestly, during the first episodes, I was actually lost with who was who because most of the casts from season 1 were already gone and they had different ones in this season. I actually needed the guide first to know who the casts were portraying so that I could cope with the story, plus the plot was somehow different so it was really hard to know who was who. It felt like a guessing game for me.

Also, I don't mean to offend Yi Tian but I was dissatisfied with his performance here. I was actually looking forward to Li Xian's guestings than his parts. I felt like HTY's role here was so boring and awkward. I know that DT's personality was really like that but since season 1 he seems to have been in a very very very awkward position. I felt like he was very stiff and I did not really feel their chemistry all that much compared to the one I felt just by looking at Li Xian and Yang Zi. Even if it was just a glance, I felt butterflies, but with Yi Tian, I did not feel anything at all. I dunno if the butterflies I felt for him in A Love So Beautiful have faded or I just got sick of him?

But overall, I was really disappointed with the outcome though I'm still rating it with 7.5 for a job well done and for the effort. I just wish there will be a season 3 that may focus on K&K and their married lives and I wish that they could relive the old lively spirit felt in K&K during season 1.

Read More

THIS IS REALLY A MUST WATCH E-SPORT THEMED DRAMA!!!!

I SO LOVE THIS DRAMA!!! FROM THE CASTS, THE PLOT, THE PRODUCTION, EVERYTHING! THIS IS REALLY A MUST WATCH DRAMA AND I REALLY HOPE THERE WILL BE A SEASON 2.

I have watched this drama for over 4 times already and i still can't get enough of them. Xu Kai and Cheng Xiao's chemistry is no joke!!! They will surely give you 100000% of sweetness that you'd feel that you want to pee on your pants. I'm not kidding. I literally rolled over my bed while watching the two of them. What i also love about the two is that their acting was really natural. Like they said in their interview before, this was their first team up together (HOPEFULLY NOT THE LAST) and they really just got to know each other better on set. And somehow that helped with their characters bc Tong Yao and Lu Sicheng did not know each other before as well. They started as strangers then friends who were always bickering with each other (seems like xk and cx irl tho HAHAHHA) before their love started to blossom. It came out naturally bc the leads also just got to know each other better on set.

OVER ALL, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TO WATCH THIS DRAMA!!!!

Read More

One of the best historical dramas of all time!

I started watching this drama as the synopsis and trailer reminded me of "Princess of Weiyang", and I'm a fan of the female protagonist ^^ The drama starts off fast-paced and the story/plot is clearly set from ep1. All episodes are meaningful and there is no drag to the storyline. What I really love is that the female lead is smart, witty, and can stand up for herself. Because of this, she is able to make everyone who disliked her eventually come to respect/like her and becomes famous due to her top-notch doctor skills and hardworking/kind personality. Through the drama, she is constantly thinking and coming up with strategies to get closer to the kingdom to take revenge, and looking for ways to protect her siblings at the same time. Lastly, both the male and female lead are strong in their own ways, and they both are able to help and protect each other during critical times, which makes them suitable for each other as well.

Read More

You will love this series as much you love Steven Zhang. No regret!

I hardly watch this kind of genre. Usually, I will watch light drama to chill around the weekend. Honestly, I start watching this series because of Steven Zhang. I admired him through his previous drama (The day of becoming you). He is a talented and versatile actor. He nailed it in any role!

My first impression: I will watch this because of Steven and drop the drama anytime if the storyline is so-so.

But Nah, my first impression of this series is "out of scope" (Sorry, I can't find a good word to describe this). THIS DRAMA HAS ADDED TO MY BEST DRAMA PLAYLIST! I will rewatch this drama again and again.

From the first episode, you will love the storyline, the characters, and the settings of the drama. I love how each character is developing from episode to episode. I love how beautifully everyone portrays their role. Each character is perfect for actors and actresses especially, both ML and FL.

ML is so lovable. I love his ambition and determination. At first, you will hate the FL, but along the process, you will love her. She is a smart and reliable person. They are destined for each other. All the supporting character has their own story, and you will love it.

The storyline and script have perfectly done by the production. Each scene relates to the other. There is narration behind the story, which helps in highlighting the characters' emotions and inner thoughts. But some is lacking in the story, which they never mention how many years fly from scene to scene. As an international viewer, I am not familiar with the history. But it doesn't ruin the series at all.

The previous episodes have many heartbreaking scenes. I can't take any heartbreak. This series will reach the end, and I was hoping the ending be great. I will take some time moving on from this series.

Please give a try to this drama! You will love it.

Edit: I wish it has an extra episode. I really can't over this series yet. Please, help me! I fall for all actors and actresses in this series. And I fall twice with Steven Zhang. This time even harder. Cheng Yizhi is the best character. Wu Lizi too. They already secured a place in my heart. It will take some time to recover from this.

Read More

GREAT DRAMA with quality plot, romance, friendship themes and OST!!!

Hilarious and amazing main/side characters! The plot starts light-hearted, seemingly just about the students' school lives, but a deeper and more mysterious plot emerges, whilst keeping the comedic aspect the whole way through still. Although the students are young, because each of them is connected to families of power, different trouble arises and not everyone is as innocent as they seem. The friendship theme of the drama is really heartwarming to watch, as you see how the female protagonist influences the male students at school and becomes friends, and how she forms friendships with her elder brothers' friends too. I also love how the female protagonist can stand up for herself, and how straightforward both protagonists are about their romance as well and not beating around the bush.

Read More

Easy watch when you want to feel good

Main leads both are fantastic. Allen Ren is trying different roles and his acting is very nature. He is not dashing but a cute type. Bai Lu is one of my favorite, she got good acting. She does not over do or under do and this role fits her the best. I liked the drama where there were no unnecessary misunderstanding or villainous monstrous enemies. I liked how main leads understood each other. It was not a sizzling chemistry but not too bad also. Every thing about this drama is what it should be. I haven't watched one and only becoz of the sad ending but you don't need to watch one and only to watch this. This story was able to carry itself. Also i liked that the FL had a good dressing style unlike other dramas. All and all when you are feeling down go watch it, its easy to watch and predictable.

Read More

The ML is despicable

The show starts of okay, with a decent story in a refreshing setting.
Most of the characters and story continue like that, with a not amazing but nice progression.

And then there is the Male Lead ( the character, not the actor. The actor is perfectly alright).
He starts of on the wrong foot, sith various actions towards most other characters that are generaly dislikable and bad. But it thought that he might just have a rough patch at the start of the drama, especialy as it's hinted/shown that he is under external pressure and stress. But every episode that i watched he didn't get better, instead he grew worse.
He treated the FL like shit, which was bad but acceptable at the start when they were strangers. But then they started to grow closer and get to know each other, and he kept treating her worse and worse. Same with other characters.
And the stress excuse kept getting thinner as well, as the show depicts him getting time to relax in the countryside and kalm down. Yet his behaviour didn't aprove even the tiniest bit, quite the opositte.

I decided to drop the show when i watchdd the show and it suddenly occured to me that the best, most enjoyable scene that could come next would just be the ML getting hit by a car and dying, or something similar.

TL;DR: in all my time watching western and asian shows, this is only the second time ever where i actively wished the ML ( character, not actor) would just die. I rarely get that level of obsolute disgust, dislike and spite from villains, and they're supposed to be the bad guy. The ML should never be this disgustingly despicable.

Read More