Reviews

Disappointed but not terrible.

O Han Byeol and Kong Tae Seong were a cute pair. I liked the history of their relationship and that they’ve always been a frenemies type of situation that care for each other. I also loved how puppy Kong Tae Seong is once he realizes he loved her. Just absolute cuteness and feels. I also like that O Han Byeol had a crush on him but was hurt so she built up her walls to his silly behavior. I also enjoyed Han Byeol’s friends - Park Ho Yeong and Cho Gi Ppeum - romances though I wished their stories started a bit sooner and where given a little more screen time. I also found it interesting that Baek Da Hye’s character has this super crush of the MML without it being a complicated jealousy love triangle. All of this is decent and enjoyable.

What I didn’t like? Basically every other secondary plot point execution. The rich maid storyline was weird and barely added anything to the plot, same with “smileboy”, and again with the 14 year old kid. All three of these “antagonists” exist for antagonisms sake without any rhyme or real reason. Even worse, there resolutions are simple and barely satisfying. I didn’t mind the message around “celebrities are hated for no reason” but I just think the way it’s executed was as if the show was a melodrama but it really wasn’t so these plot point land flat and annoying. Similarly, the college friend’s death was clearly part of the main leads’ dynamic and personalities, but still it wasn’t “tied up” properly. His death and his manager’s remaining anger about the death could have been a way better antagonist plot line to explore than the random three characters I just mentioned. In fact, I was waiting for a resolution on this and we never get one. Super frustrating. Minus points also specifically for the “Africa” depiction…

Overall, I really wish they had just leaned into the romcom and left out the melodrama because the melodrama parts flopped. My favorite parts were when it was just silly goofy – I was giggling, I was happy. But outside of that, it was so dumb that even the romance was held back by the nonsensical storylines.

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Just not my cup of tea

As much as I love Chen Xingxu I don't feel like wasting my time here. It was a sweet and light hearted romcom but the type thats more on the cheesy side. I could've sat through this during my teenage years but NOT now.

CXX's character was making me cringe so badly. At first it was cute but once the misunderstandings started piling up I could not sit through it. I think they have decent chemistry though.

I like how the lawyer portion of thet stories were quite interesting and how she cares about her job. I enjoyed the side characters plot but nothing about this drama stands out that much imo.

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SPOILER
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NETFLIX WHY???!!

The ending of Season 2 was good.
Sure, in the books there’s a “spin-off” with the Joker.
But I don’t think it was necessary.

Here, we find them a few months/years after the end of Season 2. They’re living their lives together, and then suddenly she starts thinking about her father and his suicide again. She was already thinking about it in Season 1 and 2, but now she meets this other crazy guy in a wheelchair, who manages to convince her to commit suicide so quickly, even though she’s living with Arisu. From that point on, I found it weird. How can one person mess with your head that fast after just one meeting?!
Plus, her following him into the games yes, he manipulates her, but if you look at the story from another perspective, it’s both logical and illogical at the same time.

On Arisu’s side, he learns he’s going to be a father and then commits suicide with Ann’s help (I KNEW SHE WASN’T DEAD AHAHAHAHA). Anyway… Then we get some really good games, I can’t lie I loved the games, the new characters we discover, and the really sad deaths. There are a lot of them in a row. In that aspect, it’s just like Season 1 and 2!

Then comes the first reunion, which is really touching but too short. Then the accident happens (I really thought he was going to die), but then I remembered that no series would kill off a main character in the middle of the season lol.

Then we get the real reunion, which is genuinely very emotional. They see their “future,” realize they’re not holograms, and then comes the famous scene where he punches her really hard I loved it. HE PLAYS HIS CHARACTER SO WELL THAT I HATE HIM. Then comes the scene I call “Squid Game”: the extra player, the baby. Yeah… we all saw that coming!
And then more sad deaths, and even sadder ones!
Then the ending where Arisu “sacrifices” himself even though the guy knows he’s going to be a dad. I didn’t understand that choice at all. How can you make that decision? I mean, there were older players at the end who could have taken his place logically, but no nobody moves. They just watch a young guy “commit suicide” even though he’s about to become a father. Totally incomprehensible!
Then comes the scene where he pulls out a gun but can’t kill her, so when they fall into the water, he decides to hold her so they die together. Honestly, this guy is a massive piece of shit, let’s just say it. He had no balls!
Then the final ending where she’s alive, he’s alive too, they lived happily ever after and had lots of children.

In short: the games are perfect! But the story is incomprehensible!

The acting is very good, and the visual effects are great too.

You can very well stop at Season 2 for a logical ending! But if you want to see an alternative ending, go ahead and watch Season 3.

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A Mature (Not Really) Urban Romance

Read the novel that it comes from (Records of Sweet Romance) and thought that it was an okay read. Unlike a lot of current novels and dramas out there, it explores the path of a divorced woman who (despite the odds stacked against her) succeeds in the hotel industry.

The plot is fine in both the drama and the novel. There are moments of cheesy scheming but the villains are not OP and their plans are easy to foil. My real bone to pick really is with the ML. Many didn't like the novel because of the ML and I think a lot of drama viewers might not either because he is not the 'ideal' ML. The ML is someone who's portrayed as an elite (the best in the industry) that begrudgingly helps FL and then falls in love with her. But the real issue is his attitude. Novel ML is a jerk. Drama ML is not much better. While we see that he subtly starts to fall in love with FL and protects her, we also have random moments where EQ and emotional regulation flies out the window. Every 5-6 episodes we get the ML lashing out at FL with lines like "I have the ability to help you out, but why should I?" and it really makes you want the FL to pick the 2nd ML because he's always supportive of her. Keep in mind that this line came at about 25+ episodes in and as a reflexive/defensive mechanism to him realizing he's falling in love and is getting jealous. For a 'mature' romance with a 'mature' cast, it comes off as really childish.

In a world dominated by Hidden Love, First Frost, and Pursuit of Jade, the standards for how a ML should behave and treat FL have changed from the early 2010s tsundere/macho man. While there may be some who like this type of ML, I think Epoch of Miyu may not be able to compete with this sort of dated character.

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MORE HARDCORE

Spoiler
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Here’s my review for Season 2, just like I did for Season 1:

We stay in the same vibe with the iconic group that we all know. First of all, let’s talk about the games — just like in Season 1, I loved them. Brutal, intense, gore… everything I like!
Deaths everywhere! Tatta’s death was really sad but logical for his character.

A great ending where we finally discover what happened and why they all ended up there.

The visual effects are still perfect.
The acting is still incredible, just like in Season 1.

You get hooked on Season 2 very quickly if you liked Season 1. Very well done, bravo!

I also recommend Season 2!!

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Thank you for your love journey, Yumi

Disclaimer

What I am writing here are my views and thoughts about this series. Some of you may not like it. That does not give you the right to try to come at me with your opinions on why this series should get a higher or lower score and why it is better/worse than I think it is. You have your own opinions, and I have mine. Kindly respect that.

I started this journey of 'Yumi's Cells' from the year 2021. And here we ae in the year 2026, her story told in three seasons. Now, the thing is, I didn't expect to become emotionally attached to these cells, but I did (heck I even got a little teary-eyed at the end of the final episode of season three). Yumi went through a lot in the name of love, and I believe that she needed these two exes as they did make her stronger on the aspects of going after what she loves (Babi in encouraging her to be a writer) and in learning to opening her heart again to fall in love. All of this was needed for Yumi to finally get the happy ending that she deserved, although she did go through painful break-ups with them.

Kim Go Eun shines once again as the role of Yumi and i actually felt that Kim Jae Won as Sin Sun Rok was a good choice (although I was seeing some negative reviews about him due to his main role in 'Hierarchy'). I thank the director and all the team who worked on this and was able to give us a third season (although a short one) as we are able to see the happy ending of Yumi and her cells.

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A drama where you laugh a lot but don’t really pay attention to the story (my opinion):


I’m not going to talk about spoilers, just my overall thoughts on the series.

From the very beginning, I was laughing a lot. Their relationship makes absolutely no sense, but I found it had a certain charm. It’s a messy, random relationship that somehow manages to create something. However, the overall story didn’t really mark me. If someone asked me for a summary, I wouldn’t really know what to say about the plot. I just spent my time laughing at the awkward and funny moments.

I thought the acting was very good, with great chemistry between them!

The OSTs didn’t particularly stand out to me, but they weren’t bad either.

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Good fantasy storyline

This drama follows Ming Yi, a female warrior who had appeared to others as a man using a magical disguise. During a broadcasted tournament, she was defeated by an opponent's new hire, Bozai, During their fight, she sustained a critical injury. To find out about the truth of any sabotage during the fight as well as a cure for her injury, she tries to get closer to Bozai. Over the course of their partnership, they reveal more truths about each other and themselves.

The main draw of this drama is the creative storyline and cinematics, which were well crafted and easily transported the viewer into a magical world. Spirit beasts were also a big plus!!! While the romance is not physically intense, we can feel love and heartbreak through trust and sacrifice. The vibes of the drama are lighthearted and youthful, not a serious or intense drama (no routine palace gossip and schemes) -- so it easy to watch and enjoy.

I would recommend this for viewers who are looking for a captivating story and pretty cinematics, and not requiring romance

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YES YES YES.

1) Perfect Cast - honestly, each person was extremely fit for the role played!! Every villan and sub character fits so perfectly for their character; phenomal choice of actors and honestly absolutely amazing acting, chemistry, and synergy!!!

2) Solid Plot Line + Story - loved it!! Extremely entertaining, good humour, the BONDS? Almost felt like anime feeling; the bonds between a friendship, BROTHERHOOD. Truly was left HANGING each episode. JAM PACKED information since it had like 8 episodes, so you know it will be good.

3) ACTION. - RESPECT. You can TELL these actors, staff, directors, EVERYONE PUT IN WORK. It LOOKED AND FELT so real! Really put you INTO the drama. I am not for all the gore but man the fighting scenes were still SO good!!! I felt every punch... and was punching air in some scenes myself LOLLL

4) Emotion/Mental - phewwww, roller coaster in a good way! Felt some really inspiring, heart-felt, motivating moments!!! Also felt sadness, despair, anger, frustration!!!

GOOD character development + a training arc for people?? Legit was this an anime LOL?

Totally would recommend and worth the watch.

Not all dramas or movies need this but no romance, just bromance :o) haha

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Infuriatingly Realistic Age Gap Drama

Find Yourself Will Test Your Patience But Make You Think

Find Yourself is an age gap drama that stars Victoria Song and Song Weilong. The story is about He Fanxing, a successful 32-year-old career woman who falls for Yuan Song, a 22-year-old intern at her company. As she navigates this secret relationship, she faces immense pressure from society and family to choose a more "appropriate" partner, leading to a love triangle with an older executive.

This is one of the most infuriating dramas featuring an age gap that you will ever see — and rightfully so, because the themes, the characters, and the situations are all extremely realistic.

In Defense of He Fanxing

I see a lot of hate for the female lead online, but as someone who is also no longer young, I can say with certainty that if a woman somehow missed out on dating in her twenties because she was building her career, she would absolutely act and behave the way He Fanxing does. People who are too preoccupied with working and building their future in their twenties tend to go all out and be silly and irrational in their thirties. I lived through that myself so I can relate a little bit too Victoria Song’s character. She did fairly well portraying a woman falling hard for a man she shouldn’t be falling for, and I did not have any problems with her acting despite what some people say.

Now that I've finished all forty-one episodes, I can say that most of the frustration and hatred toward her character comes from viewers who are probably younger or haven't lived in the same part of the world with the same type of family pressures she deals with. If you put yourself in her shoes, she is actually quite easy to understand. I think a lot of women want her to be a stronger character, but in this particular setting, she didn't need to be. She did what she thought was right for herself, her future, her family, and her reputation. I think a lot of us probably hate her because she reflects how the majority of us would behave if we were dating someone much younger and were put in the same situation.

My One Major Gripe With the Premise

This drama doesn't strike me as romcom-y or suspend-all-your-belief story enough to justify the premise of a thirty-two-year-old highly successful career woman being a virgin. Having no dating experience and never having been with a man are completely different things. I really wish that given the serious tone of the drama, the premise had been a little more realistic — because the drama itself is fairly compelling.

I would have taken the story more seriously if He Fanxing had relationships before, even ones that weren't serious. I wouldn’t mind if she dated, had actual intimate partners, but just never learned how to truly be in a committed relationship possibly because of the demands of her job. Writers really need to stop portraying modern successful women as someone who is waiting for their one true love and saving themselves for that one man. It's an outdated concept, and it was the first thing that didn't sit right with me. I would never believe that a successful woman who is surrounded by men and constantly socializing has never been with a single one. Usually curiosity wins anyway, plus peer pressure.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest — moving on.

Song Weilong as Yuan Song

I previously saw Song Weilong in Shine on Me and thought his acting was pretty stilted at the beginning of that drama, so I wasn't sure I'd like him in Find Yourself. But I was extremely impressed with his performance, considering he filmed this when he was probably around eighteen. I'm also quite surprised at the level of intimacy he was able to pull off with his co-star. His acting was extremely natural and exactly how someone his age would behave. I truly appreciated his effort here, and I think he was probably the highlight of the drama for me.

What to Expect

In the first 10 episodes, things progress pretty fast between Yuan Song and He Fanxing, which I had neutral feelings about — didn't hate it, didn't love it. But the writers set the bar very high for their romance with quite a lot of skinship. So obviously when they break up in the middle of the show and the writers choose for her not to take action earlier than she did, it puts a damper on her romance with Yuan Song because there’s literally not a single kiss until the last episode. This is the kind of romance storyline I hate. Because there is absolutely no tension here. I mentioned this before, and I will mention this again: if you are developing a romantic storyline, it needs to build towards something and not blow up at the beginning and then trickle little by little toward the last episode. You don’t really feel much satisfaction at the end once the romantic storyline concludes despite the conclusion being a happy ending.

I also couldn't entirely understand what attracted Yuan Song to He Fanxing initially. He explains it a little bit later, but I think it would have been beneficial to include that information earlier. However, as I continued watching, I enjoyed how the drama explored the fear and anxiety our female lead experienced due to the possibility of being stigmatized if she told everyone about her relationship with a twenty-two-year-old intern. This right here, if this was set anywhere in the western world, could have been interpreted as abuse of power. It is a huge no-no in the corporate setting where I work at, which in itself makes it a compelling watch.

The drama also makes some valid points toward the end about how women are looked down on for dating someone younger while for men it's perfectly acceptable.

Although the characters in the drama are dynamic, because they do go through transformation they feel static for the most part of the drama. I think that’s another flaw with this drama. Writers should have developed everyone through action instead of lengthy psychoanalysis through conversation with friends.

That said, if you're diving into this drama exclusively for the romance, you will probably be a little disappointed. This is more of a family drama than a romantic one. Yes, there is romance, and yes, we're watching several love and marriage stories develop in different directions — but understand going in that this is not purely a romantic show. A lot of scenes are very drawn out and long, and I'll be honest, I skipped through quite a bit. But some of them are interesting and compelling, and dialogues shed a lot of light on how different characters feel about different things happening in their lives. Some viewers may enjoy this slice of life take.

There are some genuinely fun laugh-out-loud moments though — particularly Esther Yu's character trying to win over He Fanxing's twin brother. Their relationship was extremely cute, and Esther Yu was a delight to watch overall.

Production & Quality

The camera work and production quality are pretty high for something that came out during Covid, which surprised me. The performances across the board are solid, and the side stories are interesting — they make you think about something real. Draggy scenes. Check. This was 2020, after all. Ridiculous premise of a 32 year-old virgin. Check. Uneven pacing for the romantic storyline for both twin brother and twin sister. Check. I wish writers developed both romances differently. Yuan Song and He Fanxing start flaming hot, then crash and burn, and then she spends 2/3 of the drama with another man until the very last episode. Her brother and Melon take half the drama to get together and we don’t even see them sharing a proper romantic kiss.

Final Verdict

If you're into serious sensitive but important topics, interesting family dynamics, and multiple characters with multiple storylines, you'll probably enjoy this. I would say keep an open mind about the main female lead and try to put yourself in her shoes. Yes, she is indecisive and at times unlikable, but I think most of us in her situation would behave exactly the same. If you're watching this for Song Weilong — and I know many of you are — just have some patience with the pacing and know that his performance here is well worth it.

Overall, this is not a bad drama. Find Yourself is a little bit different from typical romantic comedy but the drama does explore interesting and important topics. I say give it a try and if you still don’t like it after a few episodes, don’t bother. I liked certain parts and certain parts were frustrating but overall, I am glad I watched it. It did leave an impression on me.

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