Reviews

Destined Love rather than Poisoned Love

The drama tells the love story of a man and a woman who are destined to be together no matter the odds. The female lead is a voice actor who suffers from a rare illness (similar to sleepwalking). She meets the male lead who can help her cure her illness however she mistakes him for his brother.

The first half of the drama is very lighthearted with tons of rom-com vibes. I was smiling all the time while watching. The second half of the drama is more angsty and deals with male lead’s darker past and the female lead’s illness. It felt a little draggy and boring at times.

"We met each other the first time
It was a coincidence
We met each other again, the second time
It was inevitable
If we meet each other again, the third time
I’m sure that it must be destiny"
- quote from Poisoned Love

Throughout the drama, the theme of destined lovers is always referred to and we are shown many times that the main leads are meant to be together. I’m scratching my head why the title has the word poison. The romance is soft and the male lead is the only person who can cure her illness. A big part of the plot is the involvement of the second male lead (who the female lead initially believes is the person who can cure her). He is a bit of an obstacle between the leads. But I wouldn’t call it a love triangle since the female lead only likes the male lead.

POSITIVE:
- Fun rom-com vibes.
- Nice and supportive male lead/second male lead.
- First half of the drama made me smile all the time.
- Sweet and soft romance between the leads.
- Romance is the main focus.
- No filler scenes with stupid work stuff.
- Sweet kiss scenes.
- Support cast was good.

NEGATIVE:
- Second male lead’s love for the female lead can get annoying towards the second half of the drama. It's not a love triangle for me but he does get in between them. But he also gets redeemed in the end, so there is that.
- Second half of the drama felt draggy and a little boring.

OVERALL:
If you are looking for a fun rom-com that shows two brothers who are kind and caring towards the female lead and help her heal from her illness, you will enjoy this drama.

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Why r u so short?

The biggest flaw of Korean BLs is their lenght. They put a lot of stuff on the table but don't take the right time to develop anything.
The scenes pass from one to the other without a real connection just to speed up the plot and that's a real shame. I hope to see a 16-episode K-BL soon with episodes lasting at least 45 minutes like classic kdramas.
If you have already watched the thai version you can't help making comparaisons and, even though the basic story is the same, there are a lot of differences in managing the plot that almost make of them two completely different series. The lack of sexual tension in the Korean version is balanced by the astonishing acting when it comes to showing the feelings.
While I watched the thai version only for Tutor/Fighter storyline, in this Korean version I enjoyed Jung Lee Won story the most because it felt like the K versions of Zon and Saifah did justice to their relationship and somehow filled the gaps of the thai plot.

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Painfully Slow and Dull

I discovered this show after seeing the FL in Boss and Me. I'm 10 eps in and I think I'm bailing. The ML is stiff as a board and is playing the same character he played in Boss and Me, only he was more likable because of the rest of the cast.

This started off really well, I loved the premise and in the first few eps the FL was pretty feisty, knew her self worth and didn't let anyone walk all over her. But 4 or 5 episodes in, all her feistyness disappears and she becomes a milk toast. The main bad guy, Feng her ex boyfriend drove me crazy and not in the he's a great bad guy way either. He was a whiny, gaslighting jerk. Everytime he saw her, he went out of his way to publicly humiliate her and get her fired. Then in the next breath claim he loved her (after destroying her life and marrying someone else) and then concluded each scene screaming her face saying "I can't believe you are coming after me! Are you trying to destroy me?" This happened in nearly every single episode. She wasn't even thinking about him.

Worst part is he destroyed her life, indirectly got her to cause the death of 2 people (one person had a heart attack because she falsely accused the guy), but somehow Feng (the BL) is the victim? She keeps saying she wants to clear her name and the guy she slandered and caused to have a heart attack, but she doesn't do anything towards that goal. I understand she didn't have the resources and was too busy just trying to find a job but still. This is where we get into the ML.

The ML spent the first 5 episodes bullying her every chance we got. We eventually find out that the man the FL testified against was the ML beloved Uncle and his Aunt died 2 days after her husband so now he's left with his B of a mother. So he blames the FL. However he KNOWS Feng was involved but never once expressed any kind of interest in finding out the Truth. Not once. Even when the FL repeatedly said "it's my goal to clear my and your Uncle's name." Not once did the ML say, I will help you. And he's filthy rich.

Then there's a 3rd guy who seems pretty smarmy and hates the ML so he's using the FL for reasons not explained in the first 10 eps. He hates the ML, again, reasons not explained. The character is like watching paint dry and he looks way too freaking old to play this part. Horribly miss casted. Or maybe if we ever find out this characters back story I'll care, but they already lost me. This series is 48 episodes and it feels like it's spinning its wheels and there's nothing that justifies the length. Literally nothing has happened in these first 10 eps that justify 38 more. The worst part is after redaing the comments it looks like the ending is really depressing. So I'm out. And I hate bailing on shows that I already invested so much of my time in.

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This Drama Uses Every Element Deliciously

“Dali” puts every element of itself to good use, and absolutely nothing is wasted. The design of a character’s office or home tells you a lot about who they are and what’s important to them (as befits a show where the significance of art and emotional connections to art are running themes). Subtle shifts in a character’s wardrobe indicate how they’re changing as the story progresses. Some object that seems like a joke or a gag always turns out to be really important later. Most of the characters aren’t as simple as they seem to be when you first meet them, and your opinion of them will completely change by the end of the drama.

There’s also something from the first episode that you might think the scriptwriter totally forgot, but don’t worry, it comes up in the last episode. The attention to detail is just astounding.

This drama also does something fairly unusual with camera work by using split screens instead of cutaways and reaction shots in order to capture the facial expressions and reactions of everyone involved in a scene. So it’s a bit more like a live performance where you can see everything happening at once.

It’s definitely worth a rewatch: it’s so richly layered that you’ll definitely pick up some things on a second viewing that you didn’t notice before.

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Não crie expectativas

* Não vou entrar no tópico atuação pela maioria dos atores serem novos, então claramente a atuação deles não se compara com a atuação de um ator/atriz de elite.

A história é interessante no começo. Porém, do meio pro fim se torna cansativa. Os protagonistas principais são bons, msm pecando ao entrar no clichê de bonzinhos imaculados. Temos personagens (horrivelmente) interessantes como a So Mi e os bullys. O final, é PÉSSIMO. Completamente horrível a ideia de "tudo era um jogo criado pelos pais da garota", isso foi mal trabalhado, mal executado e completamente insano. Qualquer explicação seria muito, muito mais interessante. Poderiam ter usado a ideia de que aquilo era purgatório real, pq pouparia os furos de roteiro que englobam o paradeiro dos adolescentes. Todos eles tem responsáveis, e onde estavam esses responsáveis? Duvido que eles concordariam em ver seus filhos torturados pra vingar uma garota qualquer. Onde estava a polícia, se de acordo com a mãe de Eun Seun, os adolescentes viveram aquilo dezenas de vezes? A ideia de que na verdade eles apenas viviam aquilo repetidamente sem estarem vivos nos pouparia dessa pergunta. De qualquer forma, é um drama que entretém o espectador e que deve ser visto sem criar uma expectativa muito alta em cima.

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regarding the adaptation

I was very interested in watching this, as I am a big fan of the original manga, and was curious on how they'll adapt a story that had 3 volumes when the show first aired. My guess was that they would either stretch the plot out or expand the story, and they went with the ladder, which can sometimes lead to the adaptation straying too much from the source material, or in this case, risking the possibility to include any future material in sequel seasons.
While I haven't watched the second season yet, the first one managed to blend the original pieces and side stories wonderfully with the main plot, expanding the overall universe and characters in a way that doesn't ruin the story, but makes the fans of the manga feel like they received bunus content (if that makes sense).
What also helped the show keep that "Minato Shoji" feeling was the main cast's ability to perfectly portray our lead characters, as well as the editing and music that kept the summer nonchalant, slow life type of vibes.
Can't wait to watch season 2!!!

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Melodrama, stock characters and not even mediocre writing

Beautiful visuals are probably the only positive aspect of this show.

The main issue is the subpar writing - basically just haphazardly stitched together tropes with abundance of melodrama. The intention, i think, was some sort of star-crossed lovers & with bad-boy-saved-by-love story, the result makes cheap day-time telenovelas seem like quality tv.
Honestly, the only criteria for the plot seemed to be over-the-top angst and the absence of logic. The emperor? The scared brother with parental issues? The amount of torment dished out to ML? And what about the clothing - if you make a storyline about ML not having warm clothing in winter, can´t you let everybody wear warm clothes? How am I to take it seriously when half the cast is in chiffon?? And for godsake, can´t you let them sleep without the ridiculous headpieces? (I know this one is truly silly, but given the overall problems, it irked me so much).
The FL in the first few episodes is painfully stupid, her decisions driven by nothing else but topping up the already exaggerated situation (example: XY explains what has to happen and how she needs to go and do this and that, FL says ok and stops and watches bad things happen so you can have here cry and shout uselessly - otherwise we would not get that this is a severe problem, oh no, just world ending, without the crying heroine, how would i know?!). And then suddenly she turns into the perfect actress - and competent fighter and responsible member of society without any issue despite the fact till that point she was a spoiled idiotic villainess.

All (main couple included) the characters are paper-thin stick figurines, driven by the magical plot-said-so-shut-up without any personality, stable traits or logical motivation. A scene to scene their behaviour changes for no good reason aside from what sort of trope the scene had to convey.
The show tried to cover up the lack of care for the characters by the tragedy and melodrama and... a sense of forbidden fruit, i guess (psychopathic male lead, the steamy scenes - ah, another plus, the kissing scenes are realistic not the usual barbie dolls), but it´s not enough - definitely not for this type of show. Instead of taking time to develop them, to make me as a viewer care about the story and its inhabitants, they just rushed to epic fights and emotionally hightened moments (where the stakes are so high, it´s almost laughable) for a momentary entertainement but without any substance. (I think i would enjoy it more, if the ML stayed evil and just went around murdering anybody).

The subpar writing is probably a reason why the acting seemed... less than idea (ML switching from besotted to trademark evil to constipated to blank model face randomly; a character talking suddenly in deep voice and being all powerful and suave just because she turned evil). But i will admit the choice for the ML was great - the actor looks like tragical heroine suffering from consumption with just the right amount of decadence, so at least they had that going for them.
As for the main couple - yes, their chemistry is nice to watch, as long as you forgot the ridiculous plot (the weriters surely seemed to - early happy frolling in the snow and then hurray, our main guy is emotionless psychopath again) and take them as generic FL and ML in tropey situations.

Can be used as background show for the pretty visuals and brainless nonsense.

Or even better - if you enjoy xianxia and are deseprate for something good, go watch Love between fairy and the devil, this one is really waste of time. (Did they make LBFD as an angry response to this drivel? It does sound like that.)

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BORING BORING

I only watched this drama because I am an svt stan. this drama was so boring, the pacing was bad as well. The acting was okay, I didn't care for any of the characters, the fl was okay but the ml was something else, it was so boring to watching him. The second couple was also so boringgggg to watch, the reason they even broke up was so stupid. which brings me to the next point the fl best friend is soooooo annoying and adds nothing to the story/plot. I felt no excitement when the main couple or the second couple got together or when they had major moments. There is basically no character development, all characters are the same from ep 1 to ep 21. It is not even a calm drama about youth, it was lacking in everything (romance, drama, etc). Why does drama even have a high rating it is so misleading, if you consider watching this drama.... don't!

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Fun light heart series

I enjoyed the series a lot. It's a nice change of pace from the normal schoolboy loves that we get a lot. I enjoy the beautiful cakes and pies. The chemistry was nice to see, and the cast was great. It was a great cast to bring together. I do wish it had been a bit longer to show the storyline and character development more. I hated the mother, she was so annoying. I loved the Grandma support she always gave. The store has a lot of potential and a nice flow with each character making mistakes, but owning up to them to fix them, wish they focused a bit more on the growth of the relationships at the end. Overall, I did enjoy the series and the wonderful sweet ride it took us on. I hope to see the cast together again. It was a joy to see. Love Ohm!

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Dumbfounding…

The way this kdrama’s potential and momentum was wasted leaves me dumbfounded.

They got Rowoon perfectly cast and yet didn’t properly use his comedic timing, nor the comedy of errors narrative. That’s when The Matchmakers shined. Sadly, it took another route.

The stories between the couples the leads were interesting enough but so underwhelming, underdeveloped and unfinished, I can’t help but feel we didn’t spend enough time with them to engage or care.

The wildest part was when, somehow, the scriptwriter thought it a good idea to match a literal underage child with a grown woman. I don’t care how historically accurate this is, ew. They marry and we don’t see anything happen but she’s literal a older sister/mother figure.

And the resolution for the leads… I can’t. Just, wow.

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NOT RECOMMENDED or RECOMMENDED TO BE WATCHED ON 4x.

Premise: A romance story about a photographer meeting a fellow traveler on a beach and slowly falling in love over the course of a few days.

GOOD:
- CINEMATOGRAPHY: Very beautiful location. The show also had an almost dream like quality to it.
AVERAGE:
- ACTING: Acting was okay. There weren't any awkard moments but the show is just to bland to allow the actors to show off any real acting.

BAD:
- PLOT: The show feels pointless. Nothing seems to be going on and at the end of the show, we are left with a "that's it?" feeling. The show spends most of its runtime showing the photographer taking photos or the two of them eating or walking around. This show just feels extremely incomplete and makes you wonder if it had been meant as a pilot.
- LACK OF BL: Everything here seemed to be heavily implied. The characters aren't together at the end of the show and no confessions has taken place. If you wanted, this could be counted as bromance.
- PACE: The pace of this show is so slow it can be considered boring. As mentioned before, nothing seems to be happening and there are no character development to speak of.
- CHARACTERS: The characters themselves are so bland that it is difficult to comment on them. The show doesn't spend much time building them up.
- OPEN ENDING: The show ends with the characters promising to travel together from now on but we have no idea how long that will last.

CONCLUSION: NOT RECOMMENDED or RECOMMENDED TO BE WATCHED ON 4x.

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cute, homely romance

__*Once Upon a Small Town (2022)*__ 8,5/10 -kdrama

ok story is pretty basic and even its same rating from me I think Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) did a bit better for this theme. At least even it got tag comedy at MDL I didnt found much of it here + it was almost one man show. Meanwhile hometown got excelent support roles.

this drama was very much carried by main female lead[Joy], like through drama I think I grew affection for women in uniform which I am sure I never had.

Ok enough joking truthfully her cute, klutz, smiling image doesnt really fit for policewoman work[like who would respect her?] still for work in small village it may work. Still her role was most enjoyable to watch in this drama.

__*plot*__ - ML works as a veterinarian in Seoul. He is popular for his face, but he is classic introverted guy which hates hassle. One day he got serious call from his grandfather from countryside. In hurry he arrives there just to discover he was pranked into being director of vet clinic in that countryside for half year in stead of his grandfather which goes on trip around world with his grandmother. In this countryside he meet super nosy pokicewoman which for some reason shows alot around him but at same time seems to have beef with him.

__*genre*__ - romance

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Annoyingly bad play by female lead - amateurism makeup artists

It's downright frustrating to witness a stagnant, juvenile narrative and a constant portrayal of women as helpless beings in distress. This drama is anything but charming or appealing. It perpetuates a foolish stereotype of women being dependent on men for their protection, which is unacceptable. The fact that it's supposed to be a romantic comedy does not excuse its ineptitude.

The plot was severely lacking in substance and was unnecessarily repetitive. The female lead's constant injuries and near-death experiences were excessive and tiresome. It was frustrating to see her consistently behave like a child despite being an adult character. Overall, these aspects of the story detracted from the viewing experience and were quite frankly irritating.

I have to be honest, I absolutely detest the actress's one-dimensional performance. It's as if she's incapable of portraying anything beyond a ridiculously childish level. On top of that, there was absolutely zero chemistry between her and her male counterpart. They couldn't even manage to kiss properly! It was downright ridiculous. And although the male lead's acting was good, he didn't appeal to my personal taste. Of course, everyone has different preferences. But in my opinion, his performance and that of the other actors deserve a 5-star rating, while hers is a total zero.
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The acting was subpar, and the casting was off. The makeup artist's inability to replicate the location of the pimples and the inconsistencies throughout the show only added to the flaws. Despite the sensitive topic of racial discrimination, the show managed to avoid acknowledging skin color, which was good.

To put it bluntly, there's nothing much positive to say about this show except there is a happy ending… somehow.

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This quite short miniseries is a delightful romantic comedy with a hot-blooded male lead and a cute and mischievous leading lady. The drama is short so it has a fast paced evolution plot but the story is well developed and everything falls into place at the right time in the plot. The main cast did a good job bringing their characters to life but some of the supporting cast’s acting was exaggerated. The leading couple has great chemistry mostly because of the leading male whose facial expressions really get the audience to understand his emotions. The nice twist at the end explains why he was so fascinated with her and it really makes their love story credible and super cute. This miniseries is a breath of fresh air and it leaves the viewer with a great feeling at the end. Enjoy it!

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