Reviews

in an industry where there is a lack of well-developed stories (because unfortunately we still haven't overcome the bls with like 6 episodes that lasts only 20 minutes...), "love for love's sake" debates important themes that are not usually portrayed in other korean bls, at least not with too much depth.

talking topics such as the fear of letting yourself feel and not letting yourself love and be loved, as well as addressing homophobia (finally!, because i particularly don't remember a korean bl talking openly about this), i believe that the bls industry, not only in korea, but also in the rest of asia, will have to work hard to be able to make something good as what "love for love's sake" was able to provide.

SPOILER (?) AHEAD:

and we had a bisexual main character everybody cheer !!!

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THIS IS A MUST WATCH!!!

This is a MUST watch ok. I kept seeing it on tik tok and stuff and i was like i gotta watch this and i finished it. It is so sad but so good at the same time. This is one that i would definitely rewatch again and again and again without getting tired of it. The plot is amazing but confusing. You will understand when you reach the end of the series, but both of the main leads are so good at acting. I just can't with it and I'm gonna go and cry myself to bed because I dont have a golden retriever boyfriend!

But if anyone does read this comment or review please help yourself and watch it! It's so good you won't regret it!

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If you’re expecting a tear jerker, this
isn’t it.
If you’re expecting ground breaking, this isn’t it.
Oscar winning, this isn’t it either.

If you want a series that makes your heart warm, puts a smile on your face, and make you realize that the world is indeed a beautiful place - this is it!

Cherry Magic, regardless of the iteration holds a special place in everyone’s hearts. It talks about the workplace. The relationship between different people. It tackles the mundane and the complexity of day to day living - Choosing love, career, friendship, happiness and self worth - it tackles all. How the production makes it look simplistic is its magic. Everyone would be able to relate and see themselves in some way of form.

Yes, I may have a bias since this series features my ship, TayNew. But I wholeheartedly can say that it be a disservice for you to not give it a shot. Never not happy watching each episode.

For anyone that believes in love, this is a must watch.

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i love this drama huhuhu

oh i love Liu Yuning and Liu Shishi in this drama. Their performance really captivated me when I saw this drama. I also like all the cast, they tell the story very well!

I watched this drama and finished it in 3 days.

acting, ost, production, story, visual effects, cinematography and other small details are really beautiful in this drama. I keep putting off watching this drama because I find it quite difficult to finish dramas with lots of episodes and heavy conflicts. but this drama refutes all my principles!

This is like watching the film Train To Busan, namely a storyline that leads to a place with various conflicts and obstacles experienced. I really like how all the characters develop and find their best point. However, in episodes 35-39 I didn't watch it because I couldn't bear to see the characters die one by one.

I hope to watch similar dramas like this again.

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Caution! This will mangle your heart.

I needed a few days to process what I had just seen before writing a proper review. My heart was way too invested in this and I needed some clarity before proceeding...

If you are a sucker for a good romantic melodrama, this one tops the list. The heat in the room gets turned up by the smoldering male lead, Jang Hyun, played by Namkoong Min. He falls for his lady the moment he set eyes on her and sets out to steal her heart by any means necessary. Our female lead, Gil Chae, is aptly played by Ahn Eun Jin (Hospital Playlist). Gil Chae has no interest in our ML, however, because she has her eyes set elsewhere. What is obvious to us, though, is that our FL has fallen head over heels for our ML but she is the only fool who doesn't realize it. What transpires is a delicious game of push/pull and how Jang Hyun would cut his heart out of his body for Gil Chae if she wasn't so self-absorbed to appreciate it.
We get a sweeping epic of historical fiction that will throw our leads together or tear them apart. We get lost in the intense gaze of Jang Hyun telling his lady he resents the hell out of her, while granting her the simplest of wishes. We are swept along in the tidal wave of their love and it is beautiful.

Unfortunately, this beautiful epic love story has its flaws. Most of the plot was taken from Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, in the first part and then riddled with cliches and sloppy writing in the second, leaving us confused and asking a ton of questions. There were time lapse issues, abandoned story arcs, and implausible scenarios. How is it that Jang Hyun can fight so well? He hates war and is a bit of a dandy, so when did he train to be so deadly with a sword? His past is alluded to but not clear. The storyline gets muddled and repetitive, so it would have been better to just stick with a simpler plot. After all, it was delivering spectacularly in the romantic aspect.

The OST...what an OST!! It was sonorous, sweeping, simple, and unforgettable. It conveyed the romantic emotions, the angst, the desperation, and the deep longing of two people who can't live without the other. Bravo!

Then there are unforgettable lines like, "I tried to hate you when you left me, but I couldn't, So, I hated myself instead." "I never left you, I just couldn't bring myself to have you." Add these to the stellar acting and breathtaking cinematography and you have yourself a noteworthy production despite its flaws, deserving of its many awards for best actors and best drama of 2023.

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interesting?

I saw the drama trailer and I thought it was interesting.
The first episode looks good for the shooting, the effects in the drama and the cinematography, but I have to say FL's acting really bothered me

FL's gestures were awkward with an unconcealable expression in her expression. the plot in the first episode was also not strong enough for me, it seemed like something was missing in this episode with the plot when FL and her friend were on the bridge, I found that scene to be strange. especially then the next day FL changed into really nice, neat and fashionable clothes and went back to the bridge, isn't that strange?

During the ML scene it was also strange, I thought his friend had just entered the operating room (?) but he had already been taken to the rooftop? This is what I also find strange

in episode two I tried to survive, but couldn't. Maybe if I have the intention to continue, I'll try watching it again

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Mr. Queen (2020)

An intricate tale of unorthodox romance layered underneath a veil of silliness and exaggeration.

As with all stories involving the olden days, there's always the twists and turns involving hierarchy, politics, corruption, et cetera. Mr. Queen, despite having comedic roots, still managed to fulfill those roles quite well. The show kept viewers engaged to the story progression and knew exactly when to alleviate the tension with lighthearted comedic bits. While largely entertaining the show's script did carry a bit of bloat. Bloat that, when combined with the historical context, did make the show feel draggy at times.

And then we have the ending. A tricky thing to approach and ultimately one of the rare weaknesses of the show. The way the ending sequences and the penultimate moments where the "all's well ends well" pieces start falling into place were a bit... weird. It was unfortunate that some parts of the show felt unnecessarily fleshed out whereas the vital ending moments were anything but.

The cast. Just wow. All of the characters, leads and supporting, were all enjoyable to watch; performances that were over the top yet well executed. Of course, Female Lead Shin Hye Sun puts on an absolute gem of a performance and really gave life to her character. Actors that are tasked to portray characters that pull double duty can be challenging but when they get it right it sure is a sight to behold. And her majesty did not disappoint. Her majesty, Mr. Queen.

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Absolutely Amazing

I loved this Drama! I will watch anything Yang Zi stars in. She is incredible and never fails to deliver an amazing performance. I love her, She killed it in Lost you forever! She’s funny, charming, sweet and Bold! She always invokes so much emotion in me. i loved her role here, she starts off impersonating a young man in a village just trying to live an honest and easy life. Trouble always finds and she was meant for so much more! I devoured this Drama in 2 and a half days! I loved is so hard! How can you not love it! There are 4 male leads and ofc I loved the RED FLAG the hardest! He’s my Roman Empire! Xiang Liu is played by Tan JianCi, I’ve never seen him before but i fell so hard! He’s mean and a pain in the a22! But you know what he’s always there for her and their relationship was everything! Gah! I need that season 2 immediately! Our first male lead is her long lost cousin/brother CangXuan, i had mixed feelings about him from the start! He’s gorgeous and made something of himself in his ambition to get the crown. I believe deep down he has such a deep love for XiaoYao, but he keeps it hidden to get to the top and protect her. I love that through it all he backs her, and her decisions. I really didn’t care for ShiQi/Jing. To be honest, he got on my nerves from the first time he let let our girl down. I should’ve know he was gonna be full of issues from then on. He really disappointed me and it killed me even more how much XiaoYao held on to him. CangXuan should’ve handled that from the beginning. I honestly don’t really count FengLong. lol he gives major golden retriever energy and he’s adorable but just didn’t rank high on my list, I would take him over Tushuan though. I loved the episodes of FengLong and XiaoYao bounding, when XinYue said “you turned your crush into a buddy” i died! They had such great fun together. now as for my Love, Xiang Liu. He keep me on the edge of my seat! He was so temperamental and he gave me whiplash. But you could always see his sincerity in his devotion. I think the only one who never saw was XiaoYao. He really keeps everything close to the heart and has major issues sharing. he’s a little bit psycho but i think he tried so hard for XiaoYao. The ending left you in such a good place. You want more and know there is so much to come, and things are finally happening. I’ll just be here fantasizing over XiangLiu and thinking of these characters and what’s to come!

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Nothing to write home about

This drama had the beginnings of an interesting premise, but nothing much was done with it. There were too many different story threads, and so no one storyline was developed enough to be satisfying. Vigilante dramas are nothing new these days, and I don't think this one did enough to stand out.

Acting was generally okay, with Kim Hee Jun being far and away the best and most engaging performer of the cast.

Production-wise, there was some effort to create some interesting and quirky cinematography, but it didn't go far enough. It would have been better if the show could have sustained a unique visual style throughout rather than just in one off moments.

Overall, this is quite an entertaining watch if you have nothing to do over the weekend. But I don't think anything from this drama is going to stay with me for long.

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Atsuhiro Inukai Deserved Better

I mean, it's not like this show was incredibly bad. It's just there could have been more to it, it had lots of potential.

I was really expecting an amazing revenge for Noburu and the other victim (I can't even remember her name) because they deserved so much better. The wife's revenge was sort of satisfying but I wish she slapped him in the face because that's what I'd do for sure.

I think if this drama focused more on the plotting of revenge more than Aiko and that horrific man's 'events' every time they met up then:

a) I'd be more comfortable watching
b) It'd be more interesting

I have to say though, Aiko's actor did an amazing job. Aiko infuriated me with every single action she did. I felt nothing but pure rage everytime she was on screen, I don't think I've ever hated someone more and she's not even real.

I watched for Atsuhiro Inukai and I stayed for Atsuhiro Inukai. If he wasn't there, I'd have hopped into my phone screen and pushed Aiko off the rooftop myself and then immediately stopped watching.

Do I recommend this? I hate to say it but no, this was mid.

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is it what we expected it to be ?

this show is still on going so my review is limited to ep 13 .

So i d like to discuss the plot, or what was revealed of it untill now:
The story of going back in time , being reborn, getting a second chance in life , is very washed out , specially in asian shows, however i wouldnt say it s a disadvantage to the popularity of the show , but i personally wasnt drawn to watch this serie because of that , so it wasnt a plus to the popularity of the show either.
Also , marriage , affairs , and revenge are elements that form a classic combination, but a veryyy attractive one . we all like a saucy show. so i d say that this was the magnet point for me . i was anticipating how Ji Woon would establish justice and use her second life to turn the tables around to a more fair destiny, but as i was watching , i was overwhelmed by Soo Min s attitude and schemes, so i started to look forward to that even more. i m being very subjective here by the way , i could b feeling this way because i m more inclined to villain roles , or because Soo Min overpowered Ji won .
Honestly speaking , Soo Min managed to get a strong reaction out of me every time she was in the camera frame, whilst i felt that Ji Won was too slow to transition from the pathetic victim to the strong vendetta character. ...Which is understable , but as a viewer i couldnt help but be disappointed by her fragility. ...Now , dont get me wrong , i m not all against a soft fragile character, but episode 1 came off so strong , it summed up a vey miserable life and a very pitiful death , which i think was enough to fuel Ji Won s anger and toughen her as soon as she got her second chance in life. for example , after the school reunion , Ji Won found out everything that Soo Min did, but her reaction was so poor.

The toxic dynamics between So min and Ji won is the best part for me. Soo Min acting creepy , despicable and just dirty made no sense from ep1 to ep12, we had to wait till ep 13 to understand her motive, which was a typical overstretched motive , a very kdrama style motive if you get what i mean. Yet , i d like to congratulate whoever wrote that , because instead of settling down with the jealous friend scenario , they went a little deeper and introduced a new link which is stepsisters , this highlights the notion of " other half" that was repeated throughout the episodes.

Ji Woon and her cheating boyfriend didnt get much attention from me , maybe because the cast didnt seem to have chemistry? We werent heartbroken to see him cheating on her because it felt very expected seeing how he was a terrible boyfriend since the begining .
But the boyfriend and Su Min r a verryyy entertaining pair, as a forbidden relationship, then as the puppets in Ji Won's master plan, then finally as crime accomplices .They r very enjoyable to watch.

Ji Won and Mr Yu 's romance is average really, typical kdrama style, male lead loves female lead since younger years , then they reunite and so on . But of course, just like every one else, i look forward to their moments together, and root for Mr Yu to defend and miraculously save Ji Won everytime, which eventually does happen , because again the love line is very classic so as not to say expected .

Mr Yu 's fiancé is a newly introduced character . Was she necessary to the progression of events? i cant say until the show ends. But i m curious to see , whether she s the variable in Ji Won 's second life , or she embodied the role of someone else from Ji Won 's first life . Because from what i understood, the fate of the people doesnt change, it just gets swapped with someone else's, So whose fate does this fiancé hold now?

What bothered me though, is JI Won giving up on Mr Yu when she found out he was engaged. which again accentuates her weak personality, and pisses me of as a viewer lol. She has seen the blue heart on his chest, why is she ignoring a crucial sign that indicates how strong their bond is? instead she went back to square one, victimizing herself and villainizing Mr Yu , as if he betrayed her ?? i think Ji Won had enough reasons to hold onto him no matter what the consequences were going to be.

Not to forget the supporting roles and their sub plots , who in my opinion , were definitely a positive addition to the show, with a wide variety of emotions , from humorous to sad,

Ms Yang being the receieving end of the tragic fate of Ji Won was the perfect turn of events. The way i see it is , Ji Won was giving the second life to make decisons and actively act upon them to prevent the tragedy . She was not meant to inflict or cause the tragedy , which is why it wouldnt make sense if Su Min was the one who gets her fate. So , now that Mrs Yang is the one concerned, Ji Won will get the chance to make the moves she couldnt in her previous life, she now can correct those sad events as if they were hers, which we can see in the preview of ep 14, where she ll possibly stand up for Mrs Yang and prevent her death.


Overall, despite how generic the plot may sound, it has a few interesting twists .The end of the show can either boost up our favorable reaction with an unexpected closure, or keep our feet on the ground with a common finale.

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came for the m/m romance, stayed for the rest (need a spin off/season 2)

Overall: I heard about the m/m romance (I was worried at the beginning but then really enjoyed), but overall liked this series that looked at love, sex and our complicated relationships with other people. 8 episodes. Aired on Netflix.

Content Warnings: death, grief, past parental abuse, homophobia, beaten up/fight, sexual harassment, non con video recording/sharing, cyberbullying, drugging, body shaming, alcoholism

What I Liked
- mix of comedy with poignant parts, there are some truly breathtaking moments when nothing is said but everything is felt, not even sure how to describe this
- realistic problems (though it's definitely fictional since a family wouldn't have all those issues at the same time)
- some mystery/characters thinking they know everything, but not having the whole perspective/information
- production value (music was excellent, interesting camera shots)

Room For Improvement
- I found myself bored by some of the plots, in particular the younger sister
- the fact that everyone was pretty awful at communication, wanted at least 1 or 2 characters who said what they wanted

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Embarrassing In a Good Way

This show is so positive and heartwarming! The plot is great. I mean, this guy thinking you have a crush on him when you're tryna help out your 'friend who does'? It's a great story and the actors Michieda and Meguro play it very well.

Michieda's over the top expressions really top this off. It can be cringe but it's funny and to be honest, with all the embarrassing stuff he goes through, he has appropriate reactions. Ida's chill personality is portrayed very well by Meguro. He's super cool and definitely the right guy to play this character. I mean, just compare him to the manga - a spitting image! Don't get me started on his dog, how adorable!

I love everything about this show, it's such a vibe. The friendship with other characters aswell and how they develop their own relationships is lovely to watch.

There's nothing you can go wrong with when watching My Love Mix-Up!

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Short and Sweet So Savour It All

This story is so heartwarming and the way it's carried out is amazing. You see a new person every day and learn their story, you grow along with each customer and really feel for the characters as they get down to their last canned foods.

Keita Machida, as always, does an amazing job at acting. Actually, all leads are great! The relationships they have with eachother are sweet and easy to watch. It's so lovely to see their fondness for eachother develop as you go through this show.

3 Star Bar is only a short series but it's one of the nicest you'll ever see. Consider watching it, I'm sure you won't regret it!

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