K-lover61

Seasons 1~4 combined review

I'm a more mature viewer, but was so captivated by this story that I binge watched all 4 series, back-to-back.
The cast were so good and the overlapping stories of the individual characters' growth, development and experiences through every episode was very natural. Friendship, crushes, love, heartbreak, struggles, commitment and laughs, are all here.
Some great advice and lessons are delivered through each episode, from the importance of communicating and honesty, to overcoming feelings of inferiority, all by watching others go through it. I could empathise with so much.
I love that the characters are far more open in terms of their mixed gender friendships and the story is far more mature than many dramas aimed at slightly older audiences, which I've watched.
Sex isn't shameful, but at the same time not to be taken lightly, when young and contemplating a first time. This series handles it all so naturally and without being judgemental.
I'm hooked and hoping for another instalment!

Leia Mais

It's not real life, but an enjoyable drama

Quite an unusual story. Experiences and negative situations in their childhoods provide us with 4 main characters as adults who carry some baggage.
Broken families, white lies, naivety, tenacity, bonds, expectations and anchors in the past, are the mainstays.
I liked every character, as the well matched cast were so good.
Do San (NJH) is a drama typical geek; desperate as a child to not let his parents down, naive, self conscious, low self esteem, feels a failure, doesn't quite fit in and very soft.... but, somehow very likeable. His 2 best friends and business partners are great characters and their friendship is heartwarming.
Dal Mi (BS) family was split, with her childhood becoming a polar opposite to that of her sister's, which leads to fractured, competitive, cold and distant adult interaction. She wants to make her father proud, beat her sister and take care of her grandmother.
Ji Pyung (KSH) had a tough childhood, found guidance and support from Won Dook (wonderfully played by a favourite, Kim Hae Sook) and provided emotional support, as a favour to her, through letters to someone.
As adults the planets align and all these characters, plus some, are brought together.
We journey through shifting expectations as compromises have to be made for dreams to be fulfilled.
We occasionally come across characters that value their personal reationships, love and loyalty over money and there are several of those here.
There is a fast forward of 3 years in the story line, but I felt this drama was more about relationships, trust, consequences and the main characters' lives together, than their businesses, so I wasn't too bothered about that.
However, I felt the final episode was very rushed and the ending of it very crammed, however I still enjoyed the drama overall.
I laughed out loud and shed a few tears.
NJH's acting is very understated. He can play a cold, arrogant character (like in Bride of Habaek), attractive boyfriend (Weight Lifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo), 'out there' (School Nurse Files) and awkward/soft (this one), with ease.
Don't believe all the negative reviews, try it with an open mind and make up your own about it 😊

Leia Mais

Sexually Explicit, Raucous and Hilarious Ride

This is for adults. Anyone who does not like seeing sex, sex toys, nudity and love making on screen, DO NOT watch it and then complain!
This story is warm, open and often touching, as well as being achingly funny.
Relationships and people's lives are not always what they seem, as is shown here.
I absolutely loved how whilst funny and really quite explicit, it was never seedy or vulgar (at least not to me). The topic of women's sexuality is not often portrayed in K-drama and film at all. Women are too often doe eyed, coy and desperate for the love of a good man, which for me gets a bit old. Here they are assertive, clever and living life on their terms. The mother of the main female character is fabulous, as is her second husband.
Whilst not exactly deep, it is emotional enough for the good story to come through. Great characters and great fun.
Recommended if you want to occasionally gasp in surprise and then howl with laughter.
On a personal note, give me sex and love making in a normal, healthy, realistic setting like this, over blood, violence, foul language and sexual violence and abuse, any day. The ratings system is quite often completely twisted, as are the reactions to consensual, loving sex over murder, violence and gore.

Leia Mais

Gripping stuff!

Gripping from the first episode. Excellent characters with perfectly fitting cast of actors. I really liked that they chose an actor who had similar features to Dong Jin, to play his father.
I loved the camaraderie between them as soldiers and the relationship between Dong-jin and both his canine partners was very believable and realistic.
There was no overacting, but lots of tension and mystery. Tiny bit of romance, which didn't get in the way of the main plot, but actually added to it.
I also really liked actress Moon Jung-hee and her more mature but tough yet understated character. We need more like that!
I feel it's a shame there were only 10 episodes though, as I am not clear on exactly what happened to the item being searched for. I thought it was found and handed over, yet it eventually appeared not.
An investigation should have been filmed to at least round up things a bit more clearly, which would have benefited the drama as a whole. The ending was quite abrupt for some of the story line, which is a shame.
Having said that, I found the 3 different elements of the story really intriguing and binge watched the whole series! There was far more I loved than didn't and it's one I'd happily sit through again.

Leia Mais

Gripping stuff

Excellently written, directed and acted.
Fab cast who all portrayed their characters so well.
I loved the dynamic between the leads and also the sibling relationship between Hyun-soo and Hae-soo.
The story twists and turns, is gripping, sad, but also humorous at times.
Moon Chae-won's portrayal of Cha Ji-won, I thought was excellent. Her trust in her husband was harshly tested and even though she had moments of self-doubt, she was determined to uncover the truth. She was sometimes vulnerable, but also strong willed and very emotional. I felt she was an anchor for her husband and a massive part if his emotional development. Her investment in him and their family was, I felt, one reason she was easily brought to tears when all might be lost.
The only reason I didn't give a 10 for re-watch value is because being a thriller, I now know what's coming and who's who. However, I would happily revisit it one day.
A definite one to watch.

Leia Mais

Too long a promise

March 2024
A cursed yet fated love, scheming and treachery within Royal families, clans, strategic alliances and marriages, a higher realm, cultivation, tragedy, Merfolk, and Gods, kind of wraps this up in a nutshell.

The title is very apt. This drama went on for way too long, being really drawn out at times.

However, the sets were gorgeous, as were the costumes and the main cast. I loved the idea of the story, but goodness me it was chaotic at times.

Xiao Zhan's (aka Sean Xiao) character as male lead, Shi Ying, reminded me a little of his co-star's role in The Untamed, at times. In honesty, he was what got me through this drama. A tragic and wronged childhood, leading to a monastic life cultivating his spiritual power.

The female lead (Ren Min as Zhu Yan) character, whilst exuberant, stubborn and spoilt, but kind hearted, I unfortunately found REALLY irritating. She was also too immature, clueless, had the usual childish voice and always thought she knew better. Many of her antics were devoid of any thought process at all and, frankly, eye rolling. I wasn't keen on the actress either, finding her kind of amateur at times (her dancing was beautiful though). Zero chemistry with Xiao Zhan.

The supporting cast and characters were rich and varied. Besides XZ , I had some favourites... Fang Yilun (Alen Fang) as Zhi Yuan. He was captivating and portrayed his part really well, I thought. Marcus Li as Chong Ming was amusing and lent the drama a fair bit of light heartedness. Wang Zi Qi as Qing Gang, had the patience of a saint and was a really steadfast and humble character that I liked.

The more mature females were strong characters, but as fitted with the times, the younger ones were powerless pawns really; only 1 stood out to me and it wasn't the headstrong lead.

There were lengthy and contrived build-ups to quite a few of the storylines within the plot, almost all of which culminated in rushed conclusions, that I found disappointing and unsatisfying.

There were also a number of occasions when continuity was lacking and the plot was poorly adapted to move the story forward. The FL's character was all over the place.

It's a real shame, because this could have been excellent; it had all the right ingredients to be.

The ending was unexpected. I wasn't entirely happy with it either, but that's a personal taste thing.

I found the music didn't always match and the C-drama habit of dubbing the actors for accent purposes, was very 'breathy' in this.

If you can overlook these things and enjoy a quite sumptuous, melodramatic romance Xianxia, then you may well love it.

Leia Mais

Hugely disappointing writing & directing compared to S1

4 Sep 2023
The last 2 episodes were the best of series 2.

The cast have, again, been brilliant and if not for them, I would never have finished this, as for me, the direction and writing have all but killed what was a fabulous series 1.

S1 saw great characters, who all grew with each episode. From So Moon, his grandparents and his 2 best friends, to the other Counters. We got background stories on all of them. We got support from and friction with, their Guides. We got a variety of possessed bad people, with the story(ies) of the souls they consumed and then their release, enabled by the extracting of the evil spirit, which was unmasked and sent to its swampy prison. The humour was genuinely funny, usually coming from natural interactions between characters.

We got next to nothing of that in S2 at all. Everything has focussed on one group of evil spirits, with extremely little about their history. The Counters aren't stronger, or better, but often disorganised and ill prepared.

Gelli's OTT cackling and unhinged personality, both became really irritating. Paired with Joo-sook's demon that was like a bad Gollam (Lord of the Rings) rip-off.... a long sigh.

The most awful character annihilation has to be that of Ga Mo-tak, who has gone from tough outside/soft inside, cheeky but serious about his 'work', strong and agile; to becoming a ridiculous, thick, clown-like figure, on too many occasions.

There were several shocking scenes, which were too often criminally smothered by inconsistent writing and woeful plot development.

The intrigues and arcs of S1 were all but forgotten... how So Moon was able to accept Wi Gen was never addressed. The aging effect Mae Ok's healing power has on her every time she has to exert herself to do it, suddenly just made her a little tired; and, no one avoided getting seriously hurt, to try and prevent her having to use it. We almost never see So Moon's friends (they were randomly reintroduced in what felt like an after thought) and have hardly any meaningful interactions with their Guides.

The humour, instead of being a natural response to deadly situations to lighten the story (which people actually do), or the previously mentioned banter between characters, is instead contrived, childish and often totally inappropriate...

For example, someone bizarrely sitting on a toilet having a pooh, whilst having a go at his lacky, who's stood outside the wide open door, holding his nose. YUCK! So out of place... like why include that?!

Don't even get me started on the new recruit, Jeok Bong... very little help at all, weak, stupid, childish; basically made to act like a stereotypical country bumpkin, who smells-out evil spirits in such an obvious and clumsy way. Absolutely dreadful. His Guide is as bad, another character that stereotypes, this time gay/effeminate people, as shouty, bitchy and flouncy.

I am so utterly disappointed in all this, especially after having waited so long. I've never before gotten so upset when a S2 can't quite equal a brilliant S1.

However, S1 was one of my most favourite dramas and the stark contrast between the two, is just too great. The director and writer should be apologising to the cast, crew and fans of S1 that are as disappointed as I am.

Where was Treasure in the end?  What on earth did the scene in Germany have to do with anything of relevance to any part of S2 and so what was the point?

I really missed S1 after it finished, but whilst I love the actors, I won't miss S2 at all.

If I had never seen S1, then as a stand alone drama, maybe I would not have criticised this one so harshly. However, S1 does exist and is SO much better.

Leia Mais

Even a great cast could not save this failure

Aug 2023.
I was really looking forward to this , but found it so disappointing, apart from Taec-yeon and some other cast members who kept me watching, it was pretty poor.

Great idea, but such lazy writing and poor direction, ruined it.
Such childish humour, that frankly I see starting to pop up in too many K-dramas where it doesn't fit, and woeful plot failures...
No heartbeat means no breathing is necessary, so stuff getting up their nose and making them sneeze just would not happen.
Sensitivity to the sun was completely forgotten from one episode to the next, depending on what the story needed from the scene :-/

Both female characters were the most irritating of all. The FL veered from doe-eyed and mushy, to petulant, spiteful, loud (lots of shouting that was way more than necessary for the scenario) and aggressive. I get she was meant to be cold and distant as a form of protection, but her reactions were overdone. There was a mace/pepper spray incident that was like, WHAT?!!! So not funny, at least not to me.

The supporting female character was dull as dish water, not to mention psychotic/delusional, which we see far too often in poorly written K-dramas.

Inappropriate reactions, drawing out parts of the story until they were so thin they were transparent and a woefully weak baddy.
The humour this show craved was witty dialogue, subtle looks that can speak a thousand words and make us laugh, not the overreactions, characters getting hit, shouted at and generally acting stupid, which is what we got.
Also, there's a guest house that never got a guest, which would not have been a profitable business, me thinks :-/
Lots of clichés too, which again were not necessary; there was far more that could have been done with those moments.

The sets were nice.
The cast were nice to look at and did their best.
I honestly could have done without watching and not once did I shed a tear, when there were times I should have, as the story was definitely aiming for that.
I never tell anyone not to watch something, as we're all different and you might love it; many others did.

Leia Mais

A romp!

I honestly feel this can be watched independently of S1, which had a very different feel. It was far more fairytale like and romantic.
The character of Lee Yeon was subtly different too, being more serious and detached (not that there wasn't humour).

In S2, we find Lee Yeon sent on an urgent mission, back to 1938, where the story sees him reunited with other Mountain Gods he's known since childhood and his brother, Lee Rang.
We are introduced to lots of new and diverse characters; his strained, but witty (in this series very much so) relationship with his brother; and a rather sweet romance (which didn't spoil the action).
The action is far more a feature this time and a lot more explosive.
It's a real romp, often very tongue-in-cheek and LDW looked like he was having lots fun, as did the entire, and very large, cast.
There's edge of your seat moments, some sad/tragic scenes and a fair bit of bloody violence.
There are some truly silly parts to it, but this is entertainment and fantasy, so that didn't bother me at all, even though I acknowledge the fact.
The ending is left very obviously open for a S3.
A lovely touch, is the brief guest appearance of Jo Bo Ah, reprising her role as Nam Ji-ah. She apparently did it for nothing! Me thinks this must have been a great drama to work on, with the cast getting on really well together and it shows.
I loved it.

Leia Mais

Why split into 2 seasons?

This is actually pretty tough to review, as my reactions and feelings about the drama are split so far (kind of like the airing).
WHY OH WHY did the makers, or Amazon Prime (whoever is responsible), decide to air in 2 halves?! It's not like it's 32 eps long...if S2 is also 6eps, that's less than a normal K-drama length of 16eps.
I am loving the supernatural element and characters.
Kim Nam-gil is so good as Van (although his name seems to be pronounced as Pan). I so like this actor and how he can still manage to convey emotion while marble faced.
Cha Eun Woo is a revelation; love his Italian ~ very authentic ~ and he seems both comfortable in and enjoying of, his character. The personality of Johan (reason for the name is made clear), is double-sided... he is cocky, witty, sometimes narrow minded, but also gifted in his area of expertise, caring and will do what has to be done.
I love the older lady who is Van's shelter and ear, too. A really good actress.
The FL I have mixed feelings about. The actress plays the part well, but the character is really irritating. I love strong female roles, but there's a fine line between confident/assertive and arrogant/know-it-all who doesn't listen. This character comes down on the wrong side of that line a little too often. It is just sits all wrong, how she often treats Van like a servant, when she's seen his power and must feel he's no ordinary human.
There is also something too comedic about the way she approaches several of her demonic encounters and she takes everything a little too much in her stride. It doesn't always work. I'm a fan of dark humour, but not when it jars with the credibility of the plot.
In its entirety, S1 feels choppy. There are too many frayed edges, questions where answers aren't even hinted at and a lack of substance.
But, the action when it happens, is exciting and exhilarating. There are some really moving moments too.
S2 should never have existed, unless needed and following a 16-ep S1. That would have been far more beneficial to the feel of the story and its continuity.
I await S2 (airing Feb 24th I've read) and am really hoping that all the muddy parts of this drama will become clear and my 8/10 doesn't
drop 🤞🤞

Leia Mais

Great leads

There are many comparisons made to The Untamed, which is a shame, because this adventure is an enticing watch in its own right.
I loved the main 2 characters and their chemistry was excellent. The emotions conveyed by Gong Jun as Ke Xing, through his eyes alone, were stunning; I also loved his different smiles, from forced to genuine to smirks. My favourite actor and character in it.
Zhang Zhe Han was great too and he portrayed his calmer, slightly more mature character, really well. They complimented each other perfectly, I thought.
I found the story a little confusing at times, mainly because with all the characters and sects, I got a bit lost.
I also found some of the dialogue from supporting characters a bit drawn out in some scenes.
Lots of action scenes and the stunts were pretty good. I loved the sets too.
Some quite moving moments throughout, but it didn't make me cry.
Many of the characters were very fickle and would believe lies over people they'd known for some time, which really frustrated me!
I also felt sympathy for several, including Scorpion, who whilst responsible for his own outcome, did basically hanker after affection and approval from the wrong person, ultimately getting massively let down.
I found the outcome of the armoury a bit odd, especially after what everyone went through and the obsession around the glazed armor.
Soundtrack was mostly good, but I found a lot of the electric guitar stuff intrusive and a bad fit.
I really did enjoy the series though and will probably watch again some time.

Leia Mais

Overly sentimental

This was way too melodramatic and gushy for me.
Started off not bad at all, with Mama of the title and the ghosts she hangs out with, at the columbarium her ashes reside in, providing some light hearted and touching moments.
They are kept in line (with difficulty) by a no nonsense Shaman, Ms Mi Dong. There are no real vengeful inhabitants, most stay to watch over family, or because they have unfinished issues.
I found these characters and their stories the best part of the drama.
Once Cha Yu Ri inexplicably comes back to life, the story started to quickly nosedive.
It's a while since I've found a lead character as selfish and hopeless as her.
She's belligerent towards many other spirits, even though she's now in a position where she could help them.
She had been fixated on her daughter from the moment she passed and when she returns to the living, it transpires that being around her all that time came at a price.
She inserts herself into the toddler's life, with no care about her husband or his current wife, let alone the little girl. At this point, she has no idea how she came back, or whether it's permanent.
Instead of being extremely careful, she is eventually found out. On learning that she has 49 days on earth, after which she will leave again if she cannot resume her pre-death place on earth, she still carries on regardless and keeps it from everyone.
The emotional scars her death left on her widowed husband are deeper than the ocean, but she still spends most of the time concentrating on herself, whilst what I felt was using her daughter as an excuse.
The expectations she raises in her parental family, husband and best friend, cause so much more hurt and pain, it's infuriating.
Characters take ages delivering slow and overly paused dialogue, not answering questions, not saying what they should, and there is a LOT of wailing and beating of chests.
This story could have been so much more. The main character could, on being discovered, have come clean and used her time on earth well, instead of achieving very little until the last couple of episodes.
Instead of feeling sad for her, I was relieved when it was all over.
Definitely not one I would watch again, as I struggled to finish it first time around. So disappointing. If you like mushy, sentimental, melodramatic shows, however, you'll love it! (Not judging; each to their own.)

Leia Mais

Princess Hours

In many respects this 2006 drama has aged well (some funny bedroom scenes and a welcome lack of childish reactions to physical contact), but in others it's a little dated.
I liked the plot and characters, but the story became a bit laboured at times and pretty far fetched.
It's another case of what could be clever /sharp / witty dialogue between characters, being sacrificed to move the scenes into the scheming and under hand plans of those with their eyes on the throne.
The character of Chae Kyung was initially quite feisty, bright and no-nonsense, and whilst young, as the story progressed, she made some pretty dumb decisions, ignoring advice and what to most rational people, would be obviously bad choices. That was a shame, as she could have been so much more.
The Crown Prince was the usual aloof, cold and misunderstood character, with the third member of the love triangle being sensitive, romantic and warm. I see where many of the ideas for Boys Over Flowers might have came from.
Emotionally, between the leads, there was too much to-ing and fro-ing for me, which is what made the series a bit laboured.
I'd like to have seen less of the same falling out, getting back together and behaviour leading to misunderstandings and chaos, when it really needn't have; and more of their later relationship that was terribly condensed into the final scene.
The scheming that played such a large part of the story, was also wrapped up very quickly and didn't fit with the amount of time and scenes spent unfolding it.
I did like the cast and honestly would never have recognised Joo Ji-hoon's almost 15-year younger self. He is still a very attractive actor, but really has changed (not in a better or bad way, just very different).
I'm glad I watched it and if, like me, you enjoy seeing older dramas, it is a mostly fun watch overall.

Leia Mais

The characters made the story even better

May 2025
I really enjoyed this, from start to finish.
The love/ hate feelings PBY's character has with film and the industry, paired with CWS's, who is obsessed with it, clash at times, yet balance at others.

It's a gentle pace, kind of slice of life in some ways, witty, touching, and occasionally sentimental.

I liked all the characters, especially Ko Gyeom's (CWS) older brother, Ko Jun (great understated acting by Kim Jae-wook), who is pretty deep, with some suppressed emotions, in part due to past responsibilities. I just wanted to wrap him up.

Whilst Ko Gyeom (desperate to act) is incredibly positive, with plenty of self-belief, Kim Mu-bi (PBY), who is working toward becoming a director, is more introverted, passive to a point, and somewhat cynical.

Ko Gyeom grew up in a home rented from a video store owner, Park Sang Sik (actor Kim Young Woong), and I ended up loving his character. He is incredibly supportive of both brothers (throughout; and of KG's friends), and his friendship with them is one of the nicest aspects of the story, to me.

KG has 2 close friends; Hong Si-jun, a talented and aspiring song writer and his girl friend, Son Ju-a, an aspiring script writer. The latter is the only character I disliked, for reasons you might get, if you have already, or eventually, watch this. Nothing could make me like her after a pivotal episode. Not what, but how, and later, her general seemingly ostrich-like approach to some things.

Loved Woo Jeung-hoo, Mu-bi's childhood friend, and the dynamic his character brought to the story.

A zany director with a heart, Ma Seong-u (actor Ko Chang-seok), was very amusing, and another who, for all his complaining and harshness, liked and supported KG.

Characters converge, it is sad and emotional at times, but mostly positive. I thought the story flowed nicely.

Leia Mais

Don't be put off watching

May 2025

This is a really very poignant drama, beautifully acted by its young cast.

Kim Min-ha is not your typical K-drama FL, and neither was her character. Gong Myung's character was her polar opposite, but they clicked over time. He fell for her no-nonsense attitude, and often bare faced cheek! She dragged him, inwardly kicking and screaming, out of himself.

I can't say much, without giving away even more than has been in the synopsis, which makes a review slightly difficult.

It might seem sad and melancholic on the surface, and yes, there are some very sad and painful moments, however, overall, it is a surprisingly uplifting and positive watch.

I did cry, I certainly felt for the characters, and the message I took from it, that life is precious, and even when we lose loved ones, we should seek support, and live on; for them, too.

The impact of being stuck in the past and not being willing to let it go, and of the effects depression has on family, on life, and simply trying to navigate day-to-day living, is very well interpreted.

I would like to have had a bit more about Ko Yeong Hyeon, who befriended Hui-wan in College. There was more to her character, but it wasn't fully revealed.

I would recommend this; it isn't long, and the episodes flew by for me. I didn't feel miserable at the end, either!

Leia Mais