Reviews

The K-drama of the Year!

After all the disappointments in K drama this year, this drama is a redemption ... It makes me want to watch K drama again. It has all the classic elements: the humor, the time travel, the suspense, the chemistry, the good actors, the good plot, etc.. what it doesn't have is the abusive relationships and predictable stories that started creeping up everywhere starting last year (after the glory)!

I didn't know both lead actors when I first saw episode 1. Not knowing what to expect, I was very patient to watch ep 1. I think the lead actress makes this story so interesting! The way she acts is so perfect for this role. She makes it funny without being too overacting. This story was written for her.

The main leads have chemistry.
The story has logic and every time she travels, it changes accordingly.

Highly recommend this drama. If you haven't seen her in Extraordinary You (2019), she acted similar and made that story interesting too.

Read More

Cute...Interesting....Weird... and Creepy

What attracted me to watch “Memory in the Letter” is the interesting plot. What’s going to happen when you move into a new apartment and find someone living inside the mirror in your room? What’s even more weird is that a novel is detailing your experience with the guy in the mirror and you have no idea how that happens and who the author is.

The two leads, Parky and Beck, are pretty new to dramaland. I think their acting is decent for newbies. This is Parky’s first ever acting gig, and he’s done a lot better than others. Beck is adorable and is able to shoulder his first drama as a main lead pretty well. Can Atirut is quite a handsome guy, but he seems to always have a fake smile on his face with too much makeup.

There’s enough story to make this short drama into a full length one. Because there are only 6 short episodes, everything happens very quickly. In the first episode, not only have the leads met but they also fell in love right away. The first four episodes show us the quick romantic development, and they are really a cute and adorable pair. When a handsome stranger approaches you at a coffee shop and is super kind and helpful, one starts to wonder what his motive is. The mystery of the novel is interesting and is solved rather quickly.

Episode 5 tells us Songjam’s side of the story. Even though it’s important to learn of his experience, I miss Aksorn here. I think the best part of this drama is when Aksorn and Songjam are together and doing little romantic things. With Aksorn’s absence, I lost a little interest.

Spoiler……Episode 6
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
This is when the creepy part comes in. It’s an interesting twist that we finally find out the identity of this mysterious kind stranger. But if I do the math right, he’s at least 40-45 years older than Aksorn. I cannot for the life of me see him acting all smitten and lovey dovey with Aksorn. This age gap is quite hard to accept when he’s the one who helps bring Aksorn into this world, literally. The romantic feelings I have in the first 4 episodes are all gone. What’s left is a creepy old guy (who looks the same for the past 20 years with a fake smile) trying to rekindle old flames and flirt/court a 20 year old.



I am not sure if the drama follows the web novel well and if it also feels creepy in the end. It’s unfortunate as I really enjoyed the first four episodes despite everything happening at lightning speed. But this is a low budget Thai drama, so I am willing to overlook that because Songjam and Aksorn are adorable with good chemistry, and it has a couple nice songs. With that positive note, I am not rate this lower than 7.5.


Completed: 5/21/2024 - Review #441

Read More

Just Okay

Now I’m going to start this review by unequivocally stating that the age gap controversy in many other reviews is sheer nonsense. Kim HaNeul looks absolutely stunning at 46, and she is only a few years older than the male leads, (Jang SeungJo - 42, and Yeon WooJin -39), who in my opinion aren’t exactly the most handsome men in Kdrama land, though I do think they are attractive. These reviews out here acting like she’s wearing dentures and diapers, when the woman has literally no wrinkles and a figure to die for. What a disingenuous and garbage thing to bring up in a review. If there was any lack of chemistry perceived, it is probably because 2 of the 3 leads are married (to other people) and don’t let themselves go all in on passionate scenes. I can live with that. I came to this drama for the plot, not expecting a young adult romcom.

That said, the other points validly open for criticism, do carry some weight. This drama had plenty of potential, but it somehow kept slipping through the cracks. The story on its own is interesting, but the execution felt kind of low-budget and poorly directed. I’ve seen all 3 leads do better than this, and many of the supporting cast were not utilized as well as their talent is worth. Han ChaeAh being the exception - she was extremely convincing and I’m now a fan.

I felt KHN didn’t emote well in many scenes where some more depth was certainly called for. In contrast, YWJ and JSJ were quite good, if a bit limited in what they could do given the dialogue and directional style.

The two things I was impressed by was the disturbing dynamics when a power imbalance exists in friendship. And the unintended/ worst time possible event angle was tough, especially in their culture. I actually appreciated that the drama didn’t shy away from the discomfort those topics bring, and their wistful and incomplete resolutions, in the long or short run.

Anyway, I’m glad I watched it. It was a good vehicle for many things and showcased several memorable scenes. The ultimate product was lacking overall and I don’t see myself watching again, but it’s not a waste of your time, so I do recommend at least giving it a chance. Maybe not as a binge, but it’s a nice filler drama, especially if you like the mystery/crime genre.

Read More

Love this drama, and the on-screen chemistry and acting are undeniably awesome with main CP

Will Love in Spring is a melodrama about two people who have known and loved each other since high school. Life curve balls separated them, and now they want to rekindle their love as they face life's difficult moments and support each other to overcome them.

My Reviews:
1. I love this drama. The dynamic duo of Li Xian and Zhou Yu Tong was fantastic and awesome. Their on-screen chemistry was great, and their acting was exceptional.
2. The supporting cast is awesome, especially Liu Lin and Fang Fang, who played the mother and grandmother, respectively.
3. The story's flow is good and engaging. It shows the main CP's insecurities and how they leaned on each other for emotional and moral support.

I give it an 8.0 rating for good script and good acting.

Read More

Story about life choices of being content vs career driven in a fast-paced big city.

What If is a melodrama about life choices that Xia Guo needs to face and accept between being content with her current life in a small town or being a career-oriented woman in a fast-paced society in Shanghai. Does the grass seem greener on the other side?

My Reviews:
1. The plot is okay. It is about life choices, and it does test one's ability to be content or to chase the dream of living a fast-paced life in a big city.
2. The acting is good from the entire cast, especially Elaine Zhong. She is a good actress who can play both emotional and strong-minded girls.
3. It is predictable because, in the end, I know that her character is content to be married to her childhood sweetheart and build a family with her.
4. The bottom line is her character is more family-focused rather than career-oriented focus.

It is a decent drama with good acting. I am giving it a 7.5 rating.

Read More

Wow what a mind boggle

To what I initially thought would be a boring crime story, ended up being quite a thrilling and well tied together story.

This would not be considered a comedy, as it focuses more on the dramatical aspect of the crime scene. It does have its few little comedic moments which relieves tension from the mystery unravelling at hand.

As you watch, more elements are added, and perspectives shown. The reveal in the end was quite the shocker. The actor Lao Li does a brilliant job acting, especially considering his character who's will to live is motivated by his son.

It's hard to not say much, definitely at the beginning it was kind of slow and you wonder what was the point of it all, but at the end all characters are explored and made sense as to why their fate's met in this one room.

Read More

This Republican Era genre had less propaganda, good script and acting, especially from Li Zhi Mo.

Shooting Stars is another Republican-era melodrama genre. I wish China stopped producing so many dramas for this era. The plot is pretty much the same for every Republican-era drama. This one focused less on the communist party and more on the relationship between the Unit 4 police station and their friendship.

My Reviews:
1. If you are looking for romance in this drama, you will be disappointed because there is very little romance between the main CP and 2nd CP.
2. The gits of the story about espionage and the intro and recruitment of the communist party.
3. I adored Li Zhi Mo, who plays Li Qiu Shi / Meng Duo Ci's character. This young actress has great potential. She acted so well in the first 10 episodes.
4. In this drama, she acted better than Ren Mi, the FL. I don't like her acting ability, so I dropped most of her dramas where she is the FL.
5. It has an interesting twist about Li Xian's character as he discovers his own journey and how his family was involved in smuggling weapons and selling them to the Japanese. It went against what he believed and eventually went against his brother and family joining the community party.

I give it a 7.5 rating for decent scripts and good acting, especially from Li Zhi Mo.

Read More

A tale of love and loyalty only on ML's part.. Dropping it the second time

I watched this drama a month ago and dropped it on the second episode ..cause honestly the type of pick up of the story is not something I enjoy watching. Second reason is I absolutely don't like ming Jia Jia .. her looks her acting doens't appeal to me at all and for someone like me who gives equal importance to FL she just doesn't serve the purpose.
Now coming back to the ridiculous plot ..the character who are dead or dying are more influential than those who are living ..a crafty dead woman traps her own sister for the sake of her husband's power and her child's safety while her sister the FL is just the opposite she gave up on her potential family/lover to fullfill a promise from a sister to whom she owes Nothing .. and this doesn't end here even after betraying her lover she shamelessly calls him to save her ... Pathetic
This was my limit but then I promised I give it a second chance so I started watching it again after a month ... To my surprise she character turned more selfish as she promised her so called husband that she will win the lover's trust and will manipulate him into things ...
Now this was the threshold of my patience .. I don't mind selfish characters ..but there is a limit the hypocrisy..this character is well made to be an anti lead ... Keep it that way ... What is the meaning of portraying such a pathetic character less character as the core of the show ...
Anyways this crap is not worth my time

Read More

Mediocre about marriage story, but the acting was fantastic, especially the main CP

Queen of Tears is a melodramatic K-drama about the love story of Baek Huyn Woo and his wife, Hong Hae In. A boy meets and falls in love with a girl from a well-to-do family, and the dysfunctional dynamic that their family embarks on ruins their relationship.

My Reviews:
1. The main CP acted awesomely, especially the ML, Kim Soo Hyun.
2. The story is okay, nothing special. Typical Romantic Comedy with a melodramatic twist.
3. I didn't like many of the side characters in this drama, where I FF their scenes and only wanted to focus on the main CP.
4. The story started slow and draggy in the first 7-8 episodes. It gets more interesting when FL is diagnosed with a brain tumor; through the matter of life and death, she and her husband rediscover their love for each other.
5. It is a good drama, and the acting is exceptional, especially the main CP. I wish they had more screen time instead of too many supporting casts who steal their screen time.

I give it an 8.5 rating for exceptional acting from the cast.

Read More

Not happy with the ending

The story begins with an immortal man whose responsibility is to stay near the forgotten river and monitor the activities of demons, punishing them if they cause any disturbances. However, living there alone made him bored, so he created a humanoid shadow to keep him company. Despite this, he was still unhappy because the shadow could only listen to him; it couldn't move, talk, or have proper facial features like eyes or a nose.One day, a devil offered him a deal: in exchange for something, the devil would tell him how to transform his shadow into a beautiful girl who could keep him company. The immortal agreed and followed the devil's instructions, but this led to chaos. The devil unleashed numerous demons as part of the deal, and as punishment for his greed, God separated the immortal and the girl.Amid their story, there are two other subplots involving troubled characters whose problems solved by the immortal. These subplots add depth to the narrative.The story has many beautiful scenes between the main leads, showcasing their amazing chemistry. However, the beginning is a bit dull, and I am not satisfied with the ending.

Read More

Main CP is horrible both with on-screen chemistry and acting. 4th CP had better plots

Men in Love is a romantic comedy about four men who have befriended each other since college and supported each other through the ups and downs of life, especially when it comes to love relationships with women.

My Reviews:
1. The production quality could be better. The screen on my ultra 4K HD TV is too blue.
2. The script is non-original, nothing extraordinary. It is predictable and boring.
3. There were some funny scenes when the 4 men were doing childish behaviors and their interpretation of Love.
4. I like the 4th CP the best because they are funny and are the most solid out of the four CPs.
5. The story of the 3rd CP is more believable and convincing.
6. I am disappointed at the 1st and 2nd CPs, where the on-screen chemistry for these CPs could have been better, and the same goes for their acting ability.
7. I like Liang Jie and her acting skills, but her character was annoying in this drama. Her on-screen chemistry with Hu Yi Tian was awkward and unpleasant to watch.
8. It is also a predictable ending. It does not need to be 40 episodes. I could be better in 24-30 episodes.

I give it a 6.0 rating.

Read More

Cringey. Unnatural performance. Weak storyline. Too long.

Plot [-]

The concept of the story is alright, but the plot and storyline are weak. There's not much substance at all. There's absolutely no need for 6 episodes. They could just make it into 1 episode. Making it a 2-hr movie would be enough.

------------------------------------------------------------

Acting [-]

The worst acting goes to the FL. Her performance is exaggerated and unnatural. While the genre may require some level of exaggeration, her portrayal goes beyond what is necessary for the context. It seems like she hasn't found the right balance between delivering a performance while still maintaining some level of believability.

Apart from FL, FL's friend also delivers an unnatural performance in some scenes. As for the FL's younger sister, she is cute and natural in appearance, but the words she uses in her dialogue seem to come from 20 years ago. I strongly feel that the writer of this series belong to Gen Y as their slangs are from that era. (For example, who still says เพื่ออออ? (The FL uses this word a couple of times.) And you make the younger sister who is an early teen says ตายแล้วววว... 😑)

------------------------------------------------------------

Music [-]

This series is quite silent when it comes to music. They hardly use any soundtracks or backing tracks apart from the main opening song. I usually admire a series/movie that can captivate viewers without relying on music, which often plays a significant role in evoking emotions. However, the way this series avoids using music seems somewhat out of theme. Firstly, they are unable to engage viewers emotionally without the aid of music, so incorporating it would be beneficial for them. Secondly, considering that the series has a futuristic and dystopian theme within the fantasy genre, using music would help immerse people who haven't experienced such environments before. While it would be impressive and ingenious if they could achieve this without music, since they cannot do so effectively, they should take advantage of what music can offer here.

------------------------------------------------------------

Art Direction [~/-]

I quite like the art direction for most part of the series. The light, the colors, the props and camera angles are align with my taste, but they seem heavily inspired by Hunger Games + Squid Game. The colors and staff uniform used in this series appear to be direct copies from Squid Game. Though copy, they still did it quite alright, but there's one aspect that stands out negatively, which is the costume of the actors in the last scene, including the ML's costume and hairstyle. The world of the commune lacks imagination and creativity. It's simply a copy of hippie style but ends up feeling fake. Just look at the ML's hairstyle, it feels overdone. They seem to have run out of ideas on how to differentiate that community.

------------------------------------------------------------

Above all [~/-]

It's super cringey. I got goosebump and second-hand embarrassment watching this 😳 I usually feel that this is a negative score, but when a good-looking guy is involved in the cringe, sometimes it's acceptable

------------------------------------------------------------

Read More