Reviews

why you should watch this

so if you have read the webtoon you already know that jiwon and yihyuk will end up together and so far it's a really good drama but I want to tell you why you shouldn't watch it because if your for example if your sensitive you maybe should choose another drama because it kinda does have sexual content but also not because they kiss and sleep together in it so if your sensitive you shouldn't watch it but also the pros of this series is that if your a big fan of revenge drama's this is the drama just for you because it has everything from business love to flashbacks of them together in the past it almost have everything we love (for me) so if you don't have a series to watch you need to watch this drama and I promise you won't be disappointed with it please like my review and I hope it was helpful if your wondering to watch this drama

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my curiosity makes me finished it!

I super like this suspense-thriller drama, very dark but I like the flow of the story. I like how Lee Tang becomes a murderer by accident but turns out that he killed does who deserves to die, he has the ability to detect if the person is bad. I like the detectives potential and skill to catch the real suspect. The detective is trying to catch Lee Tang where the real bad guy is Song Chon.

I like the main actors in this series they really did they job effectively, the reason why I got hooked because of their effectiveness in portraying their roles.

** Not recommended for kids because of the brutality of the killings.

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I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece, but it was pretty close.

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Overall, this was a very interesting series. The general story concept was great, but the script quality was not consistent. However, it successfully connects multiple story lines and characters together. The ending of the whole series was ok, but it was a little lack luster. However, I liked how they tied up everything in the end.

The positive: The series had a very strong beginning and really knew how to draw you into their world. The areas that the script did very well in were the supernatural and suspense thriller elements. The actors were incredible and did a great job with their characters. The cinematography was stunning and had incredible special effects.

The negative: The big miss for me was the comedy element. It would have been fine if this was your usual series with a high school or college setting. Considering this was supposed to be a more mature series with the police setting, the comedy seemed very out of place. A lot of the humor came across as very juvenile.

The in-between: The romance element was a hit or miss for me. There was just something off with the romantic relationship with all of the characters. The relationship development between the main characters in the beginning was also a little off, but it did get better as the show moved forward. The only two characters I didn’t like were Yai and Dao. The character Yai was very annoying, immature, and unlikable during most of the series. As for the character Dao, she was very irritating.

Random Note:

Don’t stop watching after the ending credits in episode 12 because there is a bonus scene after it.

The location used for the coffee shop scene in episode 4 is the same location used for the restaurant scene in episode 8 of “Step by Step”.

I did not take point off for the obvious money grab maneuver they used for the last episode. I like how all of the series they made at this point address many social issues, but this has tarnished my viewpoint about Idol Factory a little.

*****Spoiler Alert******

Although the ending had one of my most hated story element (time jumps), this is one of those times it made sense and served an actual purpose.

The reunited scene with Tharn and Phaya was a little anticlimactic for me. I would have liked to see a grander way for them to meet again.

The bonus scene is open to interpretation. I don’t know if it was a hint of a second season or the only way for Saint to find a way to make his usual guest spot. Either way, it was cool.

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Captivating from start to finish

I stumbled on this series after watching an edit of it and I’ve been captivated from episode 1. It has some really high quality CGI, great acting, an amazing storyline and great directing. Babe is a brand new actor and had a few consistency issues but other than that he has great acting chops. Billy is a seasoned actor and he really brought Phaya to life. My only complaint is that editing seemed a little choppy here and there, but honestly it didnt take anything away from the series for me. Now the ending was one of the best, it wrapped everything up perfectly, explained everything and gave PhayaTharn a really nice ending. People were worried about plot holes at the ending but I think they did a great job with the ending.

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I have mixed feeling about this drama

I had higher expectations considering the cast and plot in general. But it turned out to be a bit disappointing. At first, series seemed to go slow and to be honest I did not mind that at all. But suddenly in the middle of the episodes, it rushed so bad I could barely keep up with.
Woo Shik did an amazing job playing Lee Tang. He portrayed the character so well. Emotions and actions were on spot. But I don't think that character was written that well. He killed people by accident, he was feeling guilty and mortified. But then we discover that he actually has some kind of power!? We never got hints about that in the beginning as it all seemed accidents. I'm still confused about that; was it actually because of the power or was Lee Tang just lucky that happen to have a gut feeling?

Roh Bin's character did not make much sense neither. How did he find Lee Tang, why was he so ambitious and confident and why he never got caught especially when Nam Gam and the police kind of knew about his past with Song Chon. He mentioned having 2 other partners, one Song Chon but we know nothing about second person. His explanation why he had bad blood with Song Chon did not add up. Roh Bin having everything planned was unexpected and that was the only moment I was surprised. I do understand him taking all the blame tho.

Second part seemed a whole different drama and it focused more on Song Chan. I couldn't understand his character. He came back to check whether Lee Tang was just like him or not. And why was there even possibility of these murders having something in common? It was a gut feeling for everyone including Roh Bin, Song Chan and Nam Gam. There was no evidence nor any other connection. Song Chan's past made me feel empathy towards him but I'm not sure that was necessary.

Nam Gam was pretty messed up. He wanted to catch a culprit, then decided to avenge his dad who turned out to be a bad person. I understand why he stayed silent about Lee Tang tho. He did not mind about legal consequences because he knew his dad had sinned and from his point of view, everyone deserved a chance including himself, Lee Tang and a dog.

I think, it will have a second season as there are so many unanswered questions. And the ending was open. I finished the drama because of the actors and cinematography, otherwise I would have dropped it.

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Gripping but sensitive show

This is not a show for weak hearted or people looking for causal watch, it is in fact thought provoking and thrilling ride where you will grow to question many values you have in your own life.
it follows a very charming coincidental story but in the end it all make sense and gives you goosebumps, now this show is based on question - does murdering wrong people make our main character a murderer or a hero ?
this question is very essence of each and every episode where main character continues to gives you signs to figure out the answer, I think the acting was very natural and great.

things I didn't like as such was unnecessary dark scenes in some episodes and some plot holes.

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An unexpected drama

A very underrated drama which is really good, i can say it's drama about slice of life in office , you aren't gonna stuck with the carchter but or have the past of the characters
What i really love about the drama
. Every episode is dependent not every espoide is a detached but it have it's own story
.the actors were in thier place
. The story is sometimes funny and there no deep dark side
. Its a light drama so it doesn't make you in rush to watcn other espoide
Fisrt i didn't understand the drama or it's type then i really love the way of it
The drama doesn't have any really romantic relationships

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very disappointing

i had huge hopes for this drama. in the middle the plot got really messy and i was bored to death. the last 2 episodes were pretty good but the ending was… not it. looks like it will get another season and i just wonder how bad it will be.
the music and production were amazing - there were many moments where i was really scared, uneasy and could feel the genre.
the actors DID NOT disappoint! amazing cast that executed their roles amazingly. to be honest it was the only reason i pushed through it…
overall - horribly made plot and script but perfect cast. i just hope they got paid well for this hot mess!

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Solid action with suspense, left on a cliffhanger

Popular actor (Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Goblin) Lee Dong-wook shines in this gripping thriller drama as he smoothly transitions from a morally gray character to a man of ethics and family. He might have been killed off in the first episode, but the use of flashback sequences is enough to influence his magnetic presence on the screen. 
With multiple villains and arch rivals, A Shop for Killers begins with chaos and a slow pace but quickly piques the interest of its audience with a flashback monologue. Despite some vague sequences, loose ends or unexplained actions by the characters, this suspenseful drama is well rounded and executed when it comes to intense drama and vengeance. The dynamic uncle-niece relationship reflects a deep bond of trust and unspoken love between two lonely family members as they fight back the unscrupulous killers in their own way. Whether it’s the fight scenes or emotionally driven main characters, this thriller will keep you hooked and wanting for more even when it concludes Season 1.

My Rating : 8/10

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Feb 2024 Recommendation Challenge

Watch this for Recommendation Challenge month of Feb 2024. Long time hestitate to watch this one cause not too fond of shooting game.

This drama told story about struggle of 2 young man in their own time. The struggle of achieving dream when no one believes in them. The story of friendship between teammates. The story of persistent did bear fruit. And overall just the story about how beautiful youth is. Haha...

As usual there's bad & good thing about this drama. But some weird plot make me have to lower the score of this drama. And there're a little bit spoiler in the weird plot. So save review first..

What i like about this drama:
+ The friendship. The friendship between the member of one coin team & continue team.
+ The fighting spirit that Xiao Feng (XF), Lu Xiao Bei (XB) & Chu Ge (CG) have
+ They use the actor themself to play the inside game. A little interested to see how it unrevealed...
+ The slow & silly growth relationship betwen XF - An Lan (AL) & XB - CG. Especially XB & CG, really typical teenage romance... :)
+ How to let go of ur ghost. Like XB finally let go the ghost of his brother & finally focus on himself. Or S + 1 to finally let go her online face & reveal her trueself.
+ The bad side of human. Human is indeed selfish. Like what Qi Lin & Xu Wei did.
+ The most reliable support always ur family. No matter how angry XB's parent to him, it's his dad that in the end help & support him
+ Finally another prove u can't change human fate... Like XB try to change his brother death, just to be proven once more u can't change what God already written in destiny book.

Overall i quite like this. The game, the plot quite interesting. But unfortunately they gave quite massive weird or hole plot that I can't turn blind eyes...









================================
SPOILER ALERT!!!
================================

The weird plot:
- The game machine... Ugh... Really random & weird. Just create to trap XF. It's gonna be more interesting if XF trap inside the game where he & XB connected, instead just making new one...
- The inconsistency in memory. XB & XF a few time try to change something, like CG pendant. And the problem raise when in the future the pendant did back to CG, but she has no memory of it, it just like some magical thing she experience over night.
- The exit of Wang Kai. That's one of the most absurd thing happen in the whole drama. If they cut this plot we can have shorten episode...
- The sickness of S+1. I mean it's written half-baked. It's like they want to show how bad the effect of playing game too much, but it feel not give too much impact too... If they cut this plot too we can have even more shorten episode... Or they can use the 'erase' duration from the exit of Wang Kai to deepent this issue, like how to manage/balance it...
- How 'invincible' XF really are. Haha... He just wake up from 11 years coma, laying still in the bed. And he can instantly walking & eat anything he want. No physical therapy what so ever. Haha...

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Terrific Actors. Riveting Story.

After watching this, I realized that Bai Lu is actually a good actress. I have watched her in two dramas before this and didn't really think much of her acting skills. Its not that she didn't stand out, she is terrific and charming, but the scripts just weren't right for her. Kunning palace was such a terrific script, with a lot of plot holes and missed potential, regardless it was riveting until the very end.

And after watching Zhang Ling He play the role of Xie Wei / Xie Ju'an, I have come to realize that he was made to portray historical characters. He is so unrecognizable from his modern day roles, where he reminds me of a teenager. In his historical roles, he bring us a different aura, just like he did with his role in Love Between Fairy and Devil. I'm going to check out few of his other dramas as well to see more of him. In some scenes in Kunning Palace, he kinda overdid it and we have to ask the directors what were they thinking. For example, the first scene where they introduced him, they gave us a close up of his neck. It just looked so damn funny. But apart from some of these weird instances, he did a phenomenal job with this character.

You'll Keep Guessing Who The FL ends up with until the last few episodes (Spoilers below)
Let's begin with the adorable Yan Lin, he brought light to Ning's life. While she never showed any romantic affection for him, she cherished him a lot.
With Zhang Zhe, the story was so complex that it wasn't fully explored. Even though it seemed slow paced, it felt like there were a lot of missed opportunities to make their story flow. After claiming to like him so much, Ning seem to have given up way too quickly on what could have been between them and so did he. Despite her being a stranger to him, he was attracted to her and we can see in his expression that it was not just because of her looks.
Xie Wei / Xie Ju'an, the reason I was glad that it didn't work out with Zhang Zhe. While Ning would have had a sort of peaceful life with Zhang Zhe, he would never truly have understood Ning as a person. He was a bit too rigid for her, sometimes that makes a good choice but the chemistry between Xie Wei & Ning was just too strong to notice anything else.

What really pissed me off was the story between Jiang Xuehui & Shen Jie. Shen Jie seemed like such a powerless character that it was hard not to feel sad for Jiang Xuehui and kind of curse Shen Jie for not having spine.

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LIVƎ

"Hell is empty and all the devils are here"

Dear lovers of the dark side,

This is a tale that not everyone can stomach.

Boody, disturbing and daring, this doesn’t follow the typical routes.

Don't spoil yourself (and don't rush to judge it), because you will miss the fun.

It may not be perfect, but you will enjoy the dark elements and the twists and turns.

Just be careful not to gaze too long into the abyss.

Don't miss it (if you can take it)

Sleep safe,
Dark Side Cult Member

P.S. You better be watching or I will be watching (you)

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My first drama that based on games so I will review it purely based on the story only.

*** Spoiler Alert (PERSONAL FEEDBACK)
Title : Sword and Fairy 6 – 2024 (Complete 36 Episodes)
Personal Rating : 8/10

Yue Jinzhao (Played By Xu Kai) is a clever guy with a mysterious origin. He is brave, caring and with a will to protect the mankind.

Yue Qi (Played by Esther Yu) is a mythical beast from Yu Clan but raised in Heng-Tao sect by Bian Luohuan. She has a childlike attitude and thoughts, but she is not foolish. She is strong, powerful who values friendship and relationship.

I think this is my first drama that based on games so I will review it purely based on the story only. Honestly, I am very reluctant to finish this drama. Maybe because it is not my kind of drama. I can honestly feel why some viewers dropped this drama because it was childish for them and sometimes, I also feel the same. I am a big fan of Esther that is why I tried to understand and finish this drama. Some of the viewers find Esther's voice and character to be irritating maybe because she is playing a 13 to 16 years old character. I am used to Esther’s baby voice so its fine for me.

The story line is okay. I can feel the undying love of Jinzhao for Qi and Qi’s love for Jinzhao. Love the friendship of the 6 of them. They are always supporting each other even its not related to them but because of their love for their friendship they are always willing to go anywhere together and fight. Luo Li Ming stands out for me because even he is bad, he did everything for Luo Zhao Yan – to keep her alive. His love and affection for her is not just because they are both from LUO clan. He really loves her and care for her because she is someone who is willing to die with him and protect him every time. I even like story of Bian Luo Huan and Qi. It is short and sweet but deep. I thinks I like the later episodes more because the storyline is becoming serious. One thing is I don’t understand the ending. I thought Qi is dead because she used her life bring back Jinzhao but why is she even there? How did it happen?

Overall, I will rate it as 8/10 because Xu Kai did a great job portraying both Jinzhao and Luohan who have opposite characters. Esther is always adorable. Great second leads too! Xu Kai and Esther Yu has great chemistry. I wish I can see them again both in different drama/story maybe a bit matured romantic comedy drama because the I just love the chemistry of Luohan and Qi!

FAVORITE OST – Resonance by Zhou Shen & Search by Yu Jiayun

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Dare To Take Risks!

This is a series that finally looks through the looking glass from the other side. Instead of having one or more characters coming from wealthy, prominent families, we have four people in their late 20s struggling to make ends meet, just like most of us. What makes this series work so well is that you can relate to the characters.

If you want to get anywhere in life, risks are necessary. Vulnerability is necessary. Those who play it safe never truly get anywhere, and this series is about fulfilling your dreams and taking that big first step outside your comfort zone that just might lead to something great. Complacency and settling are the only true enemies to success. If you have a dream, you have to go for it and let nobody stand in your way. Teddy Roosevelt once said, “far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” This series emulates this truth.

Ko Dong Man is a disgraced MMA fighter, who finds himself doing odd-jobs just to make ends meet. Of course, he hates his jobs, but perhaps not as much as he hates his abusive boss. Still, he knows that he’s not doing what he loves: being an MMA fighter. And he finally decides to go back to it. His best friend is childhood friend, Choi Ae Ra whose loves for Ko Dong Man is only matched by her overbearing, temperamental demeanor. She often acts more like a mother than a friend. Choi Ae Ra is a woman who is also stuck in a rut, working a thankless job at a department store. Her dream is to become an announcer.

Kim Joo Man and Baek Seol Hee are in a six-year relationship and are basically living together as well as working at the same company. However, they aren’t married yet as Joo Man believes that he needs to be able to provide a better life for Seol Hee, even though it’s apparent that Seol Hee doesn’t care about that. Joo Man and Seol Hee share a sweet relationship that has, perhaps, gone a little stale. This leads Joo Man to make some unwise decisions when a female co-worker shows interest in him. Unable to see the situation for what it actually is, he falls into the traps laid out for him by the co-worker.

All four characters find themselves navigating the pitfalls of jobs and romance as they struggle to eke something out of the dreams that each of them has for themselves. Is it possible? Isn’t it safer to just continue to work in a meaningless occupation where neither passion nor fulfillment exist? You might be surprised how many people actually believe that it’s better to play it safe. I’ve even heard parents tell their children this.

There is only one Adrian Balboa. I’m talking about Rocky Balboa’s wife who hated the fact that Rocky was a boxer and routinely got hurt. However, after going through her own fears, she understands that she hasn’t the right to stand in the way of her husband’s passion and dreams. Nobody has that right.

Choi Ae Ra is a woman who loves Ko Dong Man, but she hates the fact that he is an MMA fighter. It’s understandable. How can someone stand by and watch someone they care about continuously get hurt? She can barely watch the fights that he’s in, and most of the time, she is paralyzed with fear that she’s left in tears. It’s not for everyone. However, Choi Ae Ra makes the mistake of giving Ko Dong Man an ultimatum: give up fighting or lose her. This is an unfair and completely selfish demand. If a person can’t handle being around someone else due to their job (military, policeman, etc.) then that person has every right to step out of that world, but don’t ask that person to give up being who they are. I was thrilled when Ko Dong Man refused to give in to her ultimatum and stuck with his dream. After all, he’d already quit on his dream once. Understandably, he can’t do it again.

The cast is first-rate, with Park Seo Joon (Ko Dong Man) and Song Ha Yoon (Seol Hee) being the standouts for me. This is the fourth time I’ve seen Park Seo Joon, and he brings his boyish charm and great sense of humor to his roles. This one is no exception as he virtually steals every scene he’s in. We laugh and cry with him. Song Ha Yoon is the same for me. As much as I like Kim Ji Won, Song Ha Yoon has a veritable sweetness and childlike vulnerability that is captivating. When she is crushed due to Joo Man’s betrayal, she makes us feel it. She is also the more mature of the two female leads.

The series is quite light without any serious drama or any ridiculous love-triangles. We do have Park Hye Ran who keeps trying to get her ex-boyfriend, Ko Dong Man back, but after already been burned once by her, he shows absolutely no interest in her at all. I was relieved. I nearly cringed and said, “Oh, no! Not another love-triangle!” As much as I like K-dramas, they do tend to milk the “love triangle” a bit too much.

I was also pleased with the more mature approach to the relationships. After six years together, it makes perfect sense the Joo Man and Seol Hee are living together. And while we have just a few awkward moments between Ko Dong Man and Choi Ae Ra, it also made sense that they would have a desire to spend the night together. “We’ve known each other for 20 years! How much slower do we have to go?” they ask. It added charm and realism to their situation, which always felt natural rather than awkward. I also tend to cringe in dramas where any act of intimacy (even just hugging or kissing) is treated like a crime is about to be committed. I will say that the scene where Ko Dong Man and Choi Ae Ra accidentally fall asleep in the hotel room together was absolutely hilarious!

I absolutely love how expressive Korean actors and actresses are, especially when you get really good ones like these four performers. You feel everything they feel, and there is no shame in the expression. We see just how crushed Joo Man is when he breaks down in tears after realizing that his naivety has disastrous consequences, or Choi Ae Ra’s reaction to Ko Dong Man getting seriously hurt in his fights. I love how these actors are able to tap into those emotional wells as it makes it all so real and poignant.

If you’re looking for something light and fun as well as something that you’ll likely relate to, you really can’t go wrong with this fun and delightful series!

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A paradox indeed

First the positive:
None of us can deny, that the mains delivered what we knew they would deliver. Especially Son and Choi both bring a nuance to their characters that honestly I wouldn't have gotten from the writers.
Cinematography and editing are immaculate. This probably can also be hugely due to very good direction. I thought I would get dizzy from the match cuts after a while but they continued to be se interesting I didn't (the fact that the cuts actually added to the storytelling is a big plus).
All in all very pleasing to look at.

However the unwillingness to decide on a tone was hard to ignore. Is it trying to be gritty? funny? melancholic? what is going on
Messaging is also quite muddled.
This is all due to the writing I must say.
And it all goes wrong with the addition of a character (actually two but one is dependant on the other). The moment we meet RoBin this kind of falls to pieces for me. And as soon as that happens our story shifts from whom I assumed to be the main character for the first 4 episodes. Tang kind of runs around grabbed by his strings throughout the rest of the story. Seeing how his character conflict from the beginning is his inability to decide on what to do and just going with the flow I felt like we threw all of his chances on changing that out the window. Unless I am missing something his character gets stuck right there and it is frustrating.
Personally I couldn't bring myself to be interested in Cho whatshisfaces story. That might be just on me. But each time he occupied the screen I was wishing for Tang and NanGam back.

All in all this story failed for me. On one side due to my expectations of this being a sharp cat and mouse game a la Heat or Catch me if you can (to be fair that is what the promo made me believe). On the other side losing us due to the writing in the second half.

That being sad I enjoyed our mains and again technical aspects of this are brilliant. The drama is a solid middle tier for me.

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