The genre shift was jarring, but it made me feel all the emotions.

Dong Gu is a North Korean spy who has been dispatched to South Korea, living a small-town life as an idiot country bumpkin, along with his other two comrades who live as an aspiring singer and a high school student. One day after years have passed with no order from the North, a sudden power shift in the North turned their mundane lives upside down.

"Secretly, Greatly" is a mixed bag. It starts out ridiculously foolish and funny... It's not until the midway point, that it turns into a spy action movie with an intense twist, none of those joyfulness was meant to last. Although this tone shift was jarring, it made me feel all the emotions, all the way to the end. The comedic and fight scenes were impactful and well-choreographed. Some of the jokes were so embarrassing that I feel bad for the actors, and there were times when I thought the stabbing/shooting went over-the-top. For the most part, though, it was entertaining. There were also some touching moments between Dong Gu and the villagers. The ending was really dramatic and memorable.

I never imagine Kim Soo Hyun could pull-off such gritty action sequences but wow, I was blown away! He was awesome fighting in his army uniform, and shirtless too! His acting ranges really the highlight of this movie. If you want to be gripped by his performance, I would recommend it.

thanks for reading :)
Find me on instagram @kdramajudge

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It's quite messy and frustrating but there are merits to it

Choi Sang Eun (Park Min Young) has a unique job as a single-life helper: where she contracts herself to be a wife. She is a master at adapting herself both to her clients and the situation she needs to be in. After 10 years, she decided to retire and leave the country. She easily ends all contracts except for one long-term client, Jung Ji Ho (Go Kyung Pyo), who she’s been visiting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for dinner together. Will she be able to end her contract with him and cut ties with no feelings?

I appreciated how quickly I got invested in the characters and the story from the first episode. Then I found out that the story wasn't all fluffy romcom, it has an unsettling dark mystery surrounding Sang Eun's past. Someone was also being portrayed to be potentially dangerous, but it was obvious that it's a red herring. Those twists gave an unpleasant and dissonant note, so I put it on-hold for months before being convinced by a friend that it gets better...

So I came back to give it a second chance, mainly for our stoic, awkward and endearing Ji Ho, I like that his speeches are really on point! I also like how his companionship developed, I even like how the love triangle played out. Both Go Kyung Pyo and Park Min Young were very well casted in their roles and I love their chemistry. Their relationship is one of the healthiests and their growth together was great. That being said, I never like the messy family story, uninteresting and too dramatic. I also disagree on some characters’ redemption and some did not getting what they deserved. So whether I like the drama overall, is questionable XD. I guess the romance and Go Kyung Pyo makes it worth watching!

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They got me squealing, grinning, toe-curling the whole time they interact! (>᎑<๑)/♡

When Hiro (Kaneko Shunya) passes out on the sidewalk after a stressful workday, his childhood friend Kai (Nomura Kota) finds and helps him to get home. Kai’s presence drives Hiro flustered, the way he put himself in Hiro's home so sincerely as if he had always wanted to be there… and Hiro quickly like this change, as Kai brings comfort to his life, but Is there any room for them going from easygoing relationships to spouses?

Right of the bat, the story flows well. Those small acts before episode 1 ends are genuinely cute, heart-fluttering, and that part really got me on board with our two leads, Hiro and Kai. I love Hiro's "Huh?" & "Matte!" so anime-like and attention-grabbing, hehe... Hiro is such a gullible young man and Kai's behave so kindly, slightly flirty, but never cross the line, so they both were comforting to watch.

There is almost no conflict here, but for this drama being only 6 episodes, I want it to focus on all their sweet moments, and they did. The more I'm watching the more I enjoyed. When they’re together at home, they really like husband and wife, aaah! so cute! The dinner, the bedroom, the bento scenes got me on dopamine high, cause I just felt chemistry! They got me squealing, grinning, toe-curling the whole time they interact! (>᎑<๑)/♡.

The story also highlights the realistically stressful workplace situation, which, at some point, created just a slight tension just before it was resolved neatly at the end. Hiro's work colleagues are all nice people and their presence fit well to the story. All in all, a very lovely watch!

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8 episodes of sexy, fun, healing story that I highly recommend

After 5 year-loveless relationship with his boyfriend, Hee Jae (Hee Yeon) seeks advice to her best friend Mi Na (Woo Hee) who is a serial one-night-stand girl. Although being an expert in achieving physical pleasure, she doesn't have any romance in her life. When they agreed to host a sex and romance advice podcast, the two get introspective and desperately want to change their lives.

It goes all the sexy way possible and really not for children. Don’t be too alarmed by first scene - it's not all sex and desire. The story is deep and it is so good! It is short and gets right to the point. Each episode tells so much about the characters. I love how the writers truly emphasize and understand female gaze. It carries the subject of healthy sex between couples and partners respectfully and showed that sex isn't anything to be ashamed of.

The friendship between Hee Jae and Mi Na hits me with all the feels. Their backstory were heartbreaking. It was lovely to see how the male leads become a part of their lives romantically but also sexually. The only thing I am feeling icky of is one tiny, annoying trope at the end that I'm so over with, but overall I am so impressed with this drama and wish that this drama has more acknowledgement, for how well it handles the topic.

Mind you, it had nudity, just like the title hit the spot because that's the way the story is set up. But these scenes are well placed and it felt like character-driven moments. They were done very beautifully. So, if you don't mind it, you should definitely check out this.

-Feb 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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I love opposite attracts and this drama really bring the best out of them!

Dali, who runs her family's art museum in Korea, was in Amsterdam as a visiting art curator. She met a successful businessman Moo Hak by accident, and he falls head over heels her at first sight. The two part ways, but he intends to meet her again. Shortly after, Dali needs to go back to Korea because of her family emergency, while he’s looking for her all over Amsterdam. When fates finally bring these two together again, they ended up as as a creditor and debtor over the art museum.

“Dali and the Cocky Prince” is an art-inspired rom-com. Normally I’m not immediately sold on romcom, but this was a surprisingly heart-fluttering watch! I love how this drama really highlights our lead couple’s personality and quirks. Their journey as a couple so sweet, from them being open to each other, trusting, to them relying on each other. At times when Moo Hak doesn’t reply Dali in sensible ways, she’s not belittling him, but she smiles and it’s so heartwarming. It’s comfortable watching their progression and was satisfied with many romantic moments. Episode 14 is my favorite, where there was a super dreamy and beautiful scene of them, and also a bit spicy, I love everything about them! Kudos to our leads’ perfect chemistry and acting. Kim Min Jae is genuinely cute as the silly undignified Moo Hak, Park Gyu Young is so charming, genius and beautiful.

There was a conflict which was not my favorite part, but it didn’t take a dramatic soapy turn and the romance kept its’ fun and airiness and beauty throughout the episodes so it was super satisfying and memorable! Later, I found out that the director was Lee Jung Sub. He was also the director of Healer, btw, one of my favorites of all time! This is probably why I love the romance so much!

-Feb 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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Raunchy and spicy!

Defining the line between friendship and romance is frustrating. Through a series of hijinks, three pairs of youngsters each had tryst and left some yearning for more, while others simply want to have fun. What happen when different expectation and jealousy arise? Will they have their happy endings?

“Only Friends” is not the first Thai drama I started, but this is the first one completed and now it’s hard to find another one that is just as engaging. Watch this if you're looking for a raunchy and spicy BL! It hits the spot right from the get-go.

There was no boring moment and a lot happened in each episode. I'm impressed by how the plot is cohesive enough to keep me invested in all six leads. Beyond the excitement of watching BL relationships, I enjoyed the conflicts. Since everyone has flaws and complex feelings, it makes the angst feels so goooooood! Some twists and turns are soapy, messy and predictable, especially by the last few episodes when they introduced more supporting characters, but I am satisfied with how it concluded by the end.

Among the performances, Mark Pakin Kunaanuwit (Nick) stands-out from the start! He can ignite chemistry out of nothing, even without a partner he is hot. Also, Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan's (Ray) showed a great acting nuance. What could've been better is the production value in some scenes the music is too loud, shaky cams and bad lightning, but it's acceptable and did not detract me from binging it!

-Jan 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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Even when I know this drama is going to upset me, the journey and visuals are outstanding!

A young man moved to a cheap but in poor condition run-down building, planning to stay just until he can save up for a better place. Right away, he experienced strange occurrences in his corridor, around the neighbourhood and he starts suspecting there's some weird stuffs going on. He has a growing suspicion that someone has been entering his room...

Everything on screen is super unsettling and mysterious. All characters, including our male lead Jong Wo (Yim Si Wan) are creepy, sweaty, and they’re interacting in a weird way in this dirty old building. At first, I kept wondering whether they are truly strange people or if there’s something evil within the walls. This whole set up is so masterfully directed and it kept me guessing between reality and imagination even after the end.

Trigger warning: this drama might potentially distress you, as there are very explicit torture and gruesome killing scenes. I was ready to peace out by ep 4, but one character kept me super damn curious; He’s our creepy cool-headed Moon Jo (Lee Dong Wook), who is a friendly professional dentist and seems to be obsessive towards Jong Wo. Moon Jo is goose-bumping but also hilarious when he’s being a stalker. Anytime right now, he appears nowhere, catching people red-handed, like “Boo! I see you!” and I got jump-scared and giggly. Jong Wo has no idea that Moon Jo loves watching him all the time through a pin-sized hole in his claustrophobic room. As the story reveals more and more facts, I enjoyed how Jong Wo's point of view gets me psychologically engaged. Both leads’ performances were incredibly impactful, especially when the stakes are heightened, they played each other in a really powerful way but yet so refined.

On a personal note: I met Lee, another fan of SFH and since we relate with their bromance a lot, we immediately got so giddy talking about them. Any edit or meme of SFH are now a laughing drug for us. The free eggs, sashimi and the teeth that we can't yet get over with. Oh, we’re so messed up! XD

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It's an excellent drama with a balance mix of fun, seriousness, pace and depth.

Go Ah In (Lee Bo Young) is an ambitious woman whose only purpose is to do her job as a creative director in an advertising agency in the most perfect and flawless possible. She gets promoted as the executive director (Chief Creative Officer/CCO) at her company, which is her ultimate career goal. However, her superior, Choi Chang Soo (Jo Sung Ha), has another plan in mind. Furthermore, behind her obvious workaholic nature, she is also struggling with family and mental health issues.

I had a blast watching Agency. The story went all in on showing how a mental health problem can influences work performance negatively, and how challenging it is for someone with a position, like Go Ah In, to survive in a cut-throat work environment, where employees are exploited merely for profit. Despite handling the topic on mental health, it wasn't depressing at all. It is cool, fresh, fashionable and fast-paced. Each episode increases tension between the leads and the rivalry makes the plot interesting. The plot didn't go extreme, there's no makjang elements, but it's still engaging especially the last four episodes. The characters have strong personalities, showed good humour and teamwork. No romance as the main plot but there are great romantic tension between the second leads.

Agency cleverly delivered a feminism-sting through their female leads. I like how competent Go Ah In and her way in managing her team. Then, there is Kang Han Na as the privileged young woman who wanted to break free from her chaebol family expectations. I also enjoyed Jo Eun Jung, she is a working mom who is dedicated to do her job, despite her son's disapproval for her to work and resign instead. Her story showed the stigma against working mothers in a conservative yet competitive Korean society refreshingly.

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Enemies-to-lovers and also a friends-to-lovers story

Why is "I Am Not a Robot." a must-watch?
Because the hero has an allergy to human contact and throws birthday parties with his gadgets. It's an enemies-to-lovers but also a friends-to-lovers story. An absolute Robot Romance with laugh-out-loud moments as well as emotional ones.

After Kim Min Kyu lost his parents and betrayed by people around him in his childhood, he develops a severe allergy to human touch. One day, he was approached by an AI team who made an advanced robot looking like our female lead Ji Ah, offering the robot to be his personal assistant. But the robot breaks just before being delivered to him, so Ji Ah is begged to fill in to be a robot. She can't tell him she's human because he's allergic to humans, but until when?

Thus, an absolute robot romance ensues, with laugh-out-loud moments as well as emotional ones. The plot is surprisingly dynamic because both leads have their own rich and interesting story. Min Kyu, he’s just a lonely man who lives alone in his mansion and throws birthday parties with his gadgets. I love how Ji Ah’s personality is still shown even during pretending to be robot AG3. Even when he was practically her boss, she made her own choices and finds her way to his heart. Because of her, the romance works naturally.

My praise goes to the actors’ performances; Yoo Seong Hoo whose emotions touch me beyond my expectation. His backstory is painful and his climax was really powerful. I'm always a sucker for actors who play multiple roles well because they’re literally changing on screen, just like what Chae Soo Bin did with her 3 roles; the robot, herself and herself pretending to be a robot.

This would have been a stagnant drama if it was only Min Kyu's story. Min Kyu has a ranking system for the electronics in his house, so when AG3 / Ji Ah, first enters this house, he tells her that the floor vacuum is actually her Sunbae (which means her senior), because she's the newest. And he calls only his favorite electronics "lovely." Ji Ah had a rich and interesting story that was all her own, and she had agency even during her pretense in AG3. Her Friend Mode is one of the reasons the romance worked because Friend Mode was actually Ji Ah's personality. She was responding to him as she normally would, and that's who he fell for. Even when he thought she was the robot, he didn't treat her like an object. He didn't treat her like an appliance. He treated her like a human, like a friend. She made her own choices, even when he was in charge. When she wanted to just close down an argument or when he was trying to make her clean, she would be like, "I have to go in power save mode, or my battery's gonna die." And she would just drop her shoulders, and her head, and close her eyes, and it was hilarious. And he'd be like, "Oh, I'm going to get you better batteries. I'm going to get you the best batteries in the world." Oh, it's so cute. He was the reason the romance worked and her storyline was the reason why the overall drama worked.

Why my rating for this drama is not so high is me not enjoying all of the tertiary characters and some boring subplots. However, I still think it’s a good watch for its’ unique premise and amazing performance by the leads!

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Great friends-to-lovers with internal struggles story, with a "Who's done this?" saggy plot.

No Ji Wook is a workaholic no-nonsense type of prosecutor whose career is on the rise. When a rookie attorney Eun Bong Hee becomes the suspect in her ex-boyfriend's murder and Noh Ji Wook is assigned to her case, their lives become intertwined.

This drama really had a little bit of something for everyone, slice-of-life, court debate, mystery, and a natural friends-to-lovers trope. There's a lot of humor, and Bong Hee is one of the funniest endearing female leads I've ever met. The show switches tone between light-hearted scenes and very creepy and suspenseful scenes. What happened in the first eight episodes kept me engaged because I didn't know what's gonna happen next. I wanted to see them catch the bad guy and I wanted to see the leads together. There is also an interesting discussion about stalking, it brings up the question of where obsession begins, where is the line between a harmless infatuation and an unhealthy obsession

I enjoy watching Gi Wook and Bong Hee together in their chaotic work meetings. Their dialogue is really snappy, it's really fast and both have clear motivations for why they decided to take the judicial system as a career path. Their characters are very fleshed out. Both of them are flawed and they see each other's flaws and they still care and respect each other. He is a prosecutor but then messes up, loses his job, and has to start his own home office. Bong Hee was a mess too and then she's an even bigger mess when she gets thrown into jail. But she could fight and I love her portrayal of being realistically in a mess, she doesn't look perfect yet still gorgeous. I love how Ji Wook falls for her even though she's a mess, he has to take action as her prosecutor and put her in jail, but he is still fighting for her at that point even though he doesn't quite understand why. I appreciate the slight time jump done early on, as it catalyzes our lead's relationship progression, it's very believable.

If you're a Ji Chang Wook fan you need to see this. He is hilariously grumpy, He screams "IC!" all the time and he shows a lot of spice to his role as Ji Wook. He's also damaged from his childhood, and he needs skinship so badly that he's touching the walls. I had to mention that his behavior of dragging his fingers across the walls was because he is so lonely so he was like seeking touch... this part really lasts in my head.

Although I have many pros, my minor con is that there are very cringy scenes. My main con is the saggy middle. This part did annoy me, they filled a lot of episodes with the villain playing a whole guessing game back and forth, and I wasn't as invested because it kept repeating, my mind wandered while watching. I prefer some more development with the secondary romances instead because their relationship was interesting to me and I thought that they had the potential to be interesting.

(Spoiler part)

I want to give Dong Ha a shout-out for his role as a great complete villain. He was hard to pin down until the very end. He doesn't look scary, but rather a very unsettling one. A worthy opponent who is truly calculating, manipulative, and delusional. He did some impactful little quirks on Hyun Soo like he whistled and his whistling tune, which I thought really elevated the creepiness level. Overall, I really enjoyed how Dong Ha played the character and it made me want to see him in a romantic lead.

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It's a coming-of-age, very slice-of-life story of friends to lovers.

Fight for my way centers around two childhood besties Ae Ra and Dong Man, who are chasing after their dreams in their 30's despite their lack of the best resumes. Dong Man is a retired Taekwondo fighter and Ae Ra works the information desk at a shopping mall but her dream is to become an announcer.

The first thing I want to mention is the heartful performances of all the cast. The characters are so well suited for one another that I forget that they're acting. I think this is another best performances I've ever seen from Park Seo Joon since Itaewon Class. It's not over the top but it's just so believable and realistic and subtle, really brilliant! Each character is written to be very loveable, everyone is very flawed and they make mistakes, which makes me eager to watch their journeys.

However, the storyline around the first quarter of the series seems to have no reason to be there, I didn't feel its urgency and they have no arc at the end of the series. Because of the pacing and progression of the plot and all of the subplots is very loose to me. Had it been tightened up a little bit I think I would have enjoyed this much more. I wish they would spend more time maybe focusing more on the impact that Dong Man's sister had, knowing that he's losing the competition for her health because I was so interested to see this storyline being developed a bit more. I feel the ending is rushed and thrown out there, so it doesn't give a satisfying conclusion.

I ended up watching all of it because I really like the characters and their chemistry, both between the leads and also between the side characters. They're undeniably very interesting and fun to watch. I like how they emphasize the start of their relationship, their cute childhood scenes, and then the ending or potential ending of one. I love when shows do that, it reminded me a lot of "Because This Is My First Life". This is not a high-stakes romance drama, but more about the adorable romance of characters with big personalities and big goals of theirs. The true progression of friends to lovers is one of the best I've seen. So overall, this was a really entertaining watch, just expect some plot detours. :)

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This drama follows a really bumpy relationship between a dating coach and her editor at a publishing company as she is in the midst of writing another romance / self-help book while dealing with a really harsh breakup. I will say that it did take a two episodes for me to warm up to these characters as they're not initially super likable off the bat. But I get totally got on board with all the characters even the side characters are so fresh, bubbly and funny. Also the fashion is an eye candy and OSTs were sweet.

This series does give you a nostalgic kdrama formula: being a very modern and a breath of fresh air in the way that it depicts a really sad breakup and portrayals of people dealing with heartbreaks in their own ways, One moved on way too quickly, one felt like the world was ending, one didn't even care at all, and one was suffering alone. But the post break up part drags too long. The part when she announced her break up news in public, who viewed her as a dating coach, and made a show was over-the-top. They show so much of her spiralling down and jeopardizing her career and health. Later on, I got so bored and frustrated, when they go back and forth with old relationships. I also wasn't a fan of the second lead romance, they seem to young for this story. I put this drama on hold for months, but after a long pause I finish it to support Yoo In Na. Overall, it has its' flaws but I appreciate them showing that communication and boundaries are important and that though time shall pass.

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Great acting but not gripping enough

Na Moon Young’s (Lee Bo Young) husband, Cha Sung Jae (Lee Moo Saeng), goes missing and is discovered to have died in a car crash, leaving problems to his family. The more Moon Young investigates her husband's past, the more conflicting stories are revealed, leaving her unsure of whom to trust.

The first two episodes sets up a good momentum; it was intriguing with the fast-paced plot. It was thrilling when most characters were suspicious, that I couldn't trust anyone besides Moon Young. It was also nice to see Moon Young was a strong female lead who fights back with her smart and cheeky moves, that led towards few satisfying winnings for her early on. But with that early twists, the suspense plateaued it was not exciting anymore. Every moment, every motion that the characters made, it was obvious on how everything was going to work out, even if there was some major twists. I'm tired with the plot and I'm tired with everything that happens around the husband. Despite everyone's great performance, I did not connect at all with any of the characters. In the end, I don't think it was worth it for all the predictability and tropes.

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Enjoyable and cheesy, a guilty pleasure of randomness

As you can guess by the title, our male lead is an alien who landed during the Joseon Dynasty period. Three months before his return to his star, he met and fell in love (?) with the biggest Hallyu actress in Korea.

I want to start off by saying that the set up is very well done, I get invested with the leads instantly with iconic personalities. I was very invested with the concept with this drama, being opposite attracts.

At first I wasn't sold on Jun Ji Hyun's character, I feel she's a bit overacting. But as the story goes on, I really settled in with her character and her acting is so charming that i don't even feel it's overacting anymore. She's just this really comical really kind of cheesy actress. She really disappears into this role and contribute to most of my enjoyment. I also enjoy Kim So Hyun's stoic character, even though he's not doing much. I love his forth wall breaking scene in the latter part of the story. However, the romance later on was lackluster, I dislike how he treated her and being ridiculously secretive towards her about his identity

Besides the leads, the suspense elements within the show actually really surprised me. I think there are many moments where I'm genuinely hate our main villain. Although I wasn't appreciative that this villain was really one note, I don't understand the motivations for being a villain. Without giving any spoilers, the ending is very weird, I believe they can do better.

PS: The OST is very good, especially the main song "My Destiny" is beautiful but it's very overused in the later episodes.

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Just me passionately waxing poetic on The Devil Judge:

The Devil Judge is a dystopian legal drama starring Ji Sung and Park Jin Young as judges Kang Yo Han and Kim Ga On. Dystopian means that chaos settles upon society, drawing a stark line between the rich and the poor. There’s an open distrust and hatred toward the leaders of the nation. In an attempt to quell this, a live reality court show is born with Kang Yo Han becoming the chief judge for the people. Citizens have the agency to cast judgment on the defendants as the trials and verdicts are broadcast in real-time. Behind the scenes, a bitter rivalry is growing between Kang Yo Han and the seemingly benevolent Social Responsibility Foundation.

Sexy, shiny, and unapologetically cruel, "The Devil Judge" tells the story of broken souls yearning for revenge within their shattered dreams. Mind you, the trials are so over-the-top and can be illogical, but stay calm; that is dystopia. "A trial is a game; fail to serve evidence, you lose," said Kang Yohan. This is not only true for these trials but also perfectly describes our leads' arcs. The evil scheming is fun, ridiculous, and never boring as we’re constantly rewarded by thought-provoking and intense twists. I also appreciate the cinematic sets and aesthetics in this drama.

Of course, I have to talk about the masterfully-written characters. First, the complex, well-spoken Yohan, brought to life by Ji Sung with his arrogance, elegant sensuality, his smirk, and his wink that is worth A-Million-Dollar-Swoon. Just as impressive as him, Park Jin Young as the feisty and smart Gaon is an appropriate match for Yohan. Whoever cast them goes to heaven! Also, Kim Min Jung as Sunah is one of the greatest femme fatales whose presence dominates everyone. Her motivation is intriguing and a delight to see.

Beyond a law-revenge drama, we have a subtle but deep romance that keeps you thrilled throughout the entire drama (and I am not lying). Shrouded in the shades of Beauty and the Beast, Yohan is like a loner Beast who wants Gaon by his side even when Gaon hates him, while Gaon is obsessed with Yohan, at the same time he hates Yohan since he is such a hypocrite, but Gaon still finds truth in his words. They have the best chemistry beyond their dialogues and gestures, in silence and behind the scenes. They are constantly skating on each other's vulnerability while playing out power roles in fascinating ways.

TL;DR: Yohan and Gaon are made for each other, and I stan by them forever, till death do us apart. It's just beautiful to watch their bonding together, Gaon giving warmth to Yohan's family, which story I won't delve into to prevent spoilers... There's just so much love in this dysfunctional family; and I think without this found family aspect, the drama would not be as wholesome.

Honestly, I could go on, and it wouldn't be enough to express my passion, but I will stop here and I hope you won't miss watching this drama if you haven't seen it. I would recommend “The Devil Judge” to all.

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