Reviews

Makoto is NOT Worth the Trouble

In the initial episodes, Hotaru was rather endearing and “real,” but she was often a caricature of herself. I mean why does she need to have her track pants’ pockets inside out like it’s a requirement for her dress code? And then she misses her first date because she’s so stupid that she chants “Beeru! Beeru!” All the way home? Wtf kind of stupid reason is that? Is she that dense? Halfway through I started to not like her because she just seemed to be annoying just for the sake of being annoying.

But my bigger issue with this show is, the director has a chauvnistic streak where there is a “ideal woman” type called Yuka, and anyone who doesn’t fit that incredibly narrow definition of a perfect woman is basically discarded as trash. And Hotaru is called a Himono Onna or dried up fish woman and it’s a way to scapegoat and attack women for not being some dreamt up ideal by a misogynist. No good. And why is everyone obsessed with this BOT called Makoto? Yuck. He’s this dud that “returned” from London probably on a 3 week vacation and acts like he’s all that. But his acting and his lines are like a bot. He doesn’t know how to communicate- in the beginning, all he could say to Hotaru was “hai” “hai” and “hai.” I’m like which idiot wrote his dialog? And the actor plays the character with the most grating lack of expression ever. He looks like he’s not even interested in being in the show. On top of that, Makoto is a male chauvinist. He goes up to Hotaru and kisses her without her permission while she’s taking a nap, then decides that he likes her and calls all the shots. He decides when the relationship starts, and when it ends. It’s all on HIS terms, even though he literally has nothing to offer her. He never makes conversation with her, and just looks bored when they’re together, making Hotaru anxious and she starts compensating for his lack of effort. But he keeps saying he likes her as a way to keep her hooked in. Then he decides on a whim that she should move in with him. Then when he gets insecure and jealous like the usual fragile ego misogynist, he dumps Hotaru via email and says one morning “It’s over. Pack your stuff up and leave.” Wow what a cold bot this Makoto is. Hotaru would have been happier being in relationship with AI! When he was living with Hotaru, half the time he communicates with her by writing notes, or text messages. He doesn’t try whatsoever, and meanwhile Hotaru is bending over backwards. And where is she supposed to go when Makoto kicks her out on a whim? The manager’s house is about to be demolished- where is she supposed to find an apartment on a moment’s notice? And why is everyone including Yuka initially in love with Makoto? He’s not good looking, is incredibly dull as a personality, and is a chauvinist and has an extremely fragile ego. Poor Hotaru. She went through all that trouble for this disgusting person. She should have seen right through him once she saw that the whole relationship was only on his terms, and based on his whims and mood swings. He crosses her boundaries and clings to her when he wants to possess her, and then when he feels threatened he throws her away like trash. What a bad character she got involved with. At the end about a month later when she’s living in a weekly apartment, Makoto who strategically says he wants to get along with her at work (especially since she has moved up the ladder and has more influence now), is working at his desk when Hotaru comes up to him and says thank you and bows to him and says she fell in love with him and she’s changed a little. He has no expression, never initiates such meaningful conversations, and looks like he couldn’t care less about her heartfelt gesture. The manager, though he was a chauvinist in his own way, calling her a dried up fish woman, and saying her life is done as a woman, at least grew to appreciate her over time. But honestly, none of the men in this series were worth the trouble. There is nothing loving or romantic about any of these relationships. But as the men - the manager, Makoto, the other guy that likes Yuka, and the other guy that’s the manager’s divorce buddy are all talking, they discuss how Hotaru is living alone and Makoto said he thought she would go back to living with the manager. And they interpret it as a great thing that she lives alone and doesn’t go to the next guy (the manager) as soon as she is dumped. Then the manager calls her selfish, and then the other guy says “we always attract such selfish women don’t we?” They are all red flags. Hotaru is better off alone.

In the end, Hotaru doesn’t join the Christmas party of bots, but is sleeping alone at home. She tried the relationship thing that everyone harped on about, and it ended up being a disaster. And when she’s back at home, the bots go back to criticizing her. That’s why they’re not worth her time. Hotaru IS the light. She doesn’t need any bot to complete her. In the end she looks much more confident.

In the end, she comes back to the manager, well they have more chemistry together than Makoto bot.
Now I realized there is a season 2! Will it go up or downhill from here? Will find out….

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Surprisingly poignant comedy series

My score may change as the series goes on, but I'm really in love with what I've seen.

The show so far is nicely structured (I love the repeat of the tractor vs car standoffs and the contrast of umbrella moments) as well as creatively and tastefully filmed/edited (the "daily routine" sequence in the first episode is excellently put together).

I'm a fan of "city person in the countryside" themes (e.g. Once Upon a Small Town, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Love Take Two, Summer Strike, When the Weather is Fine, etc.), so I'm naturally biased toward this type of comedy. But what I really love is the way the show swerves between unhinged silliness and melancholic vulnerability.

I've seen some comments from people who find the sleepwalking/talking far-fetched, but my son sometimes has episodes very similar to hers, so I can assert that it's very believably portrayed. The details are great too, like her slow-blinking at Mechoori and bumping her head on doors.

Edit: I bumped up the rewatch score to 10/10 for two reasons: first, I'm having to force myself not to rewatch the first 4 episodes because I'm trying to finish other series; second, I'm presently addicted to YouTube clips of highlights and have watched certain key moments several dozen times.

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Cute comedy

I keep coming back to this series to watch th cute moments over and over again, so consider that a big recommendation if nothing else.

So here’s the deal: we have four hot medical students that I have taken to calling the Avengers, as follows:

- Asian Elvis, he of the Very Good Hair
- the Aura Master, able to stun anyone with the sheer force of his presence and money
- Doctor Dangerous, seemingly nice but will 100% wreck your shit if you cross him
- the Tattooed Henchman, a classic bad boy.

And on the other side of this equation are the Super Friends, a group of new students who are best buds and also each other’s wingmen, and who also get into hijinks and, indeed, shenanigans on a regular basis due to their various love interests. And they are:

- the Drama Llama, a grown man seemingly inhabited by the soul of a hyperactive teenage girl
- Mr. Game’n’Slack, a certifiable idiot who does vidya games and little else
- the Short King, who has waaaaay too many issues and not enough access to therapy
- the Quiet Artist, who we don’t see much of in this season but hoooo boy does he ever have Stuff Going On.

Listen: we all know they’re gonna get together, we’re here for the journey and not the destination. But I found the journey to be HELLA worth it in every case. First up, we have Asian Elvis finding out that the Drama Llama, his sort-of-ex who he is still HUGELY into, also goes to this university and from then on we are treated to some high quality yearning and some verrrrry nice chemistry.

Second up is the Aura Master bumping into Mr. Game’n’Slack, who he has a longtime unrequited crush on, and his total inability to pursue a normal relationship with the guy. Somehow they’re into each other (although I’m not sure why, chemistry is a bit lacking IMO) but I’m here for the comedy alone. Their relationship is largely defined by the Aura Master admitting to himself that he did indeed fall in love with a complete idiot, but that is no reason not to be the bestest boyfriend ever and spoil him and love on him etc etc.

The other two relationships are in the later seasons, Beside the Sky, and The Sun From Another Star. Can’t decide which I like more. It’s cute stupid romantic comedy and all the relationships, whether it’s friendships or romance, are 100% worth a watch. This is probably staying on my rewatch list forever (fourever lol).

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Loved it.

I absolutely love this series. The characters are quirky and fun. The plot is light but emotional. This little special had me swooning and cackling. The whole 'Daddy' part made me giggle. And how the boys tried to enjoy their impromptu vacation but couldn't was tooooo cute.

omg, and how Rain wanted Payu in cosplay. Hilarious!!! And while I prefer R+P, S+P have a much deeper connection. The way Prapai lets Sky lead is impactful.

I like to say Sky is a power bottom and Rain is more a submissive bottom. Payu likes to dominate Rain but Prapai lets Sky lead because of his past. That is AMAZING.

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the first gl series that made me cry

This is the first drama that actually made me cry. I don’t know why... I just really felt it. My tears wouldn’t stop, and it honestly felt like my heart was being torn into pieces. I kept holding my chest while watching.

The actresses are truly great; they completely pulled me in and kept me entertained the whole time. Especially Loft, she’s so funny.

Overall, this is a great drama. I’ve never cried over any drama before, so this was a first for me.

I highly recommend it, and I really hope the cast gets more projects in the future. 🥹🙏

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No storyline

The drama is good and definitely watchable, but it’s not as great as the hype made it out to be especially all that talk about how amazing their pairing would be. I think the chemistry also feels a bit off,it’s not as perfect as expected. However, if I talk about the acting, everyone has done a good job.
But the story isn’t anything special. I mean, what even is the story? It just shows how the two characters fall in love and that’s it. I dont know about coming episode but its 6 episode shory shold be unfold but now ...There should be a proper storyline, right? Instead, it feels like the same cliché, copy-paste scenes that we see in every drama. So far, I honestly can’t figure out what direction this drama is going in or what its main point is.

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I rarely write reviews

My Take on Love of Nirvana

I went into Love of Nirvana expecting a strong, character-driven journey with emotional payoff—and while the show absolutely delivers in some areas, it falls short in others that matter just as much.

Let’s start with what worked.

The strongest element of this drama is, without question, the evolving dynamic between Wei Zhao and Lord Pei. Their relationship is layered, intelligent, and deeply respectful, even when they stand on opposing sides. There’s no petty rivalry—just two capable men who recognize each other’s strength and carry the weight of their choices. Watching their mutual understanding grow, especially in the final episodes, was far more satisfying than the central romance. Lord Pei’s confrontation with the Grand Prince was a standout moment—bold, earned, and reflective of real character growth. He didn’t just change internally; he acted on it, and that made all the difference.

The show also excels in its themes. It explores the tension between power and morality, loyalty and justice, and what it really means to lead. It doesn’t give easy answers, and I appreciated that. The emotional weight is real—the war, the losses, the suffering of ordinary people—it all hits hard and lingers.

But where the show loses momentum for me is in its female lead, Ci Jian’e.

She starts off as a bright, witty, free-spirited character—someone who feels capable of navigating the world on her own terms. But as the story progresses, that spark fades. Instead of adapting to the harsh reality around her, she becomes increasingly reactive and emotionally driven without translating that growth into meaningful action. She feels the weight of the world, but she doesn’t use what she learns to gain agency within it.

And that’s the core issue: her intentions and her actual influence never fully align.

Compared to a character like Second Lady Jiang in The Double, the difference is stark. Jiang evolves visibly—she learns the system, adapts, and begins to shape outcomes. Ci Jian’e, on the other hand, endures more than she transforms. She remains morally grounded, which is admirable, but without strategic growth, she often feels overshadowed by the men around her.

At times, she comes across less as a driving force and more as an ornament—someone the story revolves around, but not someone who actively moves it forward. And that’s frustrating, especially because her character wants independence and agency. The show just doesn’t consistently allow her to claim it.

The romance also didn’t land for me. It felt secondary for most of the story, then suddenly pushed forward near the end without enough buildup to make it fully satisfying. Wei Zhao, in particular, comes off awkward in these moments—not in a charming way, but in a way that highlights how underdeveloped the romantic thread is compared to the political one.

Overall, Love of Nirvana is a strong drama with compelling themes, emotional depth, and excellent character work—particularly on the male side. But its slow pacing and lack of satisfying growth for its female lead keep it from reaching its full potential.

Final rating: 7.5–8/10
A story I respect and appreciate—but not one I fully loved.

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Grows Into Something Special

I really enjoyed this series. I thought it ended strong and was thoroughly satisfying. That said, it might be the kind of drama that takes time to grow for some viewers.

For me, the early episodes felt a bit uneven. The premise, with its transmigration twist, offered a compelling blend of comedy and intrigue, though the plot lines were obvious. And for every episode that drew me in, there were a few with lighter, less substantial storylines. Still, they didn’t overstay their welcome, and I found myself increasingly engaged with the main narrative.

Overall, I felt the cast gave solid performances. While a few characters could have benefited from more development, I thought the acting carried the story well. I was in tears by the final episode, which speaks to how invested I became.

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Heartbreaking

I would discourage anyone from watching this drama because it is incredibly sad and heartbreaking. The entire storyline is quite depressing in a way. Looking at how much abuse Sachi went through is so heart-wrenching, and seeing how only her kidnapper shows her mercy and kindness is incredibly saddening. This is not a drama with any type of happy ending; it's thought-provoking, challenging, one of those dramas that you just don’t want to talk about because it’s a reality that most of us try to avoid confronting. It's so hard to watch; everything was heartbreaking, and seeing how adults failed her, and even knowing what she was going through, still did more harm. Once I finished this drama, I just felt empty; I was just there, I couldn’t process anything except keep sighing!

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