Decent rom-com for fans of Xu Lu and Miles Wei

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

For the most part, “Hello, I’m at Your Service” is a fun and light drama. The best part about is the chemistry and the romance between Dong Dong En (FL) and Lou Yan (ML) and their story is the central plot. Mixed with this fun romance are the business side of things and the relationships of the different characters. Not a serious business drama, so don't be deterred if you don't like business stories.

Main Leads:
As mentioned, Xu Lu and Miles Wei have great chemistry together. They make this drama watchable with their acting and the healthy relationship that they have. Dong Dong En is an account executive that would do anything to please her customer, Party A. Whatever Party A wants and at any time of the day, she delivers. Miles Wei is a typical C-drama CEO. He was cool and calm in the beginning but slowly evolved into a great, warm and adorable love interest and boyfriend. Their fun interaction in the first half of the drama creates a lot of comedic moments (which to some might be a little over-the-top). But if you just go with the ride, you can see Xu Lu and Miles Wei have a lot of fun playing their respective roles. Once they get together, Lou Yuan is especially cute and adorable. They have honest and open communication. Lou Yuan is one of the rare CEOs who openly declares his love in sincerity to everyone, expresses his feelings and always says the right thing (though his words don’t always touch my heart for some reason). He’s the perfect boyfriend. Dong Dong En, on the other hand, is a little more reserved in this relationship and yet she’s the one with the supposedly bigger personality. She’s more cautious because of the disparity of their social status and their business relationship. She’s the one in the driver’s seat in the relationship. It’s been a long time since I saw such a dynamic in a romantic comedy, and I appreciate that.

Supporting Cast:
I enjoy the side story between Wang Zi Jian and Cao Ya. It’s nothing earth shattering because we’ve seen such second lead romance in many romantic comedies. However, it’s nice to see a pair of successful individuals get together when one is a supposedly playboy and the other is an independent, career woman. The different characters at both companies, Peony and 82, are fun and endearing. There isn’t anyone too annoying and most of them are very supportive and caring individuals. ML’s mom is fun and loud. FL’s parents are caring yet protective, but not too unreasonable. At least we have nice parents in a C-drama. The ‘villain’ is OK. The character is not very well developed as a ‘villain’ but I can understand the animosity towards the leads. The only side character I couldn’t stand was introduced towards the last ¼ of the drama. Let’s say she was introduced to cause trouble for our main couple, since everything is going so swimmingly well and we just need drama.

Acting:
Xu Lu and Miles Wei really have no trouble playing their respective roles. These are not difficult characters to play and they are both very experienced actors. Their performances are to be expected. Everyone else did their job right. I would not say there’s anyone that stands out for me to praise, nor anyone that stands out for me to criticize.

Business Plot:
If you don’t like business stories, this drama isn’t too bad. A lot does happen at the two companies, but business talks are minimal and not difficult to understand. The stories revolve mainly around the characters and their relationships in the business world. But towards the last ¼ of the drama, the business plot does kick up a notch to wrap up the ‘villain’s’ story. I was actually quite bored during this part of the drama and might have fallen asleep a little. For a 24-episode drama, the pacing is good right until the very end for me when I lose my focus. This is partly due to the business plot and the introduction of a character I don’t care for. But compared to recent office romance dramas, the romance is central to this drama, and not the business.


Overall, I would recommend this drama if you are fans of Xu Lu and Miles Wei, or if you are looking for something light and funny. The comedy might be a little too much for some in the beginning with Xu Lu’s character. But it tones down after a while. “Hello, I’m at Your Service” is not an exceptional drama and definitely not a must-watch. I have a good enough time watching this, except towards the end when I got a little bored and distracted. Because of this, I am rating this a 7.75 instead of a solid 8.0.



Completed: 10/6/2023 - Review #363

Leia Mais

Unique talent/focus of the artist is the biggest draw of the show.

Completed - 5/26/2022

I am not sure how accurate the portrayal of police sketch artists is in this drama and if they are really that smart and fascinating in real life. However, the biggest selling point of this drama is Shen Yi. I am in awe of his techniques, perceptiveness, and intelligence in solving crimes using his art. Can you really sketch someone's face by deducing what's behind a mask from an unclear CCTV footage? Or from skull and bone structures? Or from the restructuring of facial muscles and tendons? It's really fascinating to watch all of Shen Yi's scenes and to learn from him and what's going on inside that brain of his.

The length of each case is just right. Oftentimes, cases are either too long and you get bored, or they are too short and start back-to-back that I feel like I couldn't catch a breath. Some of the cases in the first 1/3 of the show are more exciting to me than others. I was hoping these cases will slowly provide clues of the main overarching storyline of the murder case 7 years ago. However, aside from that one case and the last arc, the drama seems to have completely forgotten about this general plot. Even though I enjoy most of the cases, I was never on the edge of my seat. I am missing mini climaxes throughout the drama. Because of this, the drama lost my attention in the middle.

A personal pet peeve, I was very irritated when the psychologist disclosed patient confidential information. How unprofessional is that? She's giving out both diagnosis and treatment information without the patient's consent. On another note, why was the crime scene medical examiner be called to assist another station with a rape patient? Don't they have hospital doctors to do that?

We also have a slow burn friendship/bromance going on. I was actually expecting better chemistry, as I saw so many feeds post about the male leads when this drama was airing. The development of the friendship happens towards the last 1/3 of the drama. Other than that, the leads are just like regular co-workers working side by side. I am not feeling the connection of the characters and am missing the human side of their stories. I don't dislike anyone, yet I don't particularly like anyone either.

The beautiful drawings/paintings, and the uniqueness of Shen Yi's talents are what kept me interested in the drama. Unfortunately, I don't share the same excitement of this drama as other watchers.

Leia Mais

"I Like You" - the words you want to hear the most but can't

Completed - 4/20/2022

"Shining For One Thing" is a dark horse drama in 2022. A drama without a hugely popular cast or promotion, but wins the hearts of viewers due to its storytelling, acting and moving plot. I have seen my share of high school teen dramas and after a while, they all look the same. Time-traveling and alternate universe plots can be a hit or miss. But I am happy to say that "Shining For One Thing" is a great combo. It's like "Someday or One Day" + "Reset" (high school romance version).

What I Enjoy:
1) Plot/Storytelling - This drama does a fantastic job in switching between the two timelines/universes. It keeps me interested throughout and I wasn't bored when the story resets itself. It also keeps me guessing along with our FL, the secret of going back and forth. What really triggers it? Is it the high school exam? Is it the death of a character? Is it a magic word/phrase spoken? What really happened to ML on that fateful rainy day at the tower? In addition to the mystery and fantasy components, the love story between our leads is both sweet and heartbreaking. I was enjoying the ride of a sweet romance up until about episode 12. Then my anxiety kicked in and I started to worry about ML. I like his character so much that I really, really want him to have a happy ending. But with the way the story goes, deep down, I know the second half of the drama is going to hit hard. With only 24 episodes, the pacing of the drama is great.

2) Qu Chu Xiao as Zhang Wen San (ML) - In "Bloody Romance", Qu Chu Xiao played a stoic, reserved character who would sacrifice himself for FL and showed his love for her through actions behind her back. Qu Chu Xiao plays a similar character here as Zhang Wen San. ZWS is shy, sweet and reserved. Similarly, he also would do anything to protect FL and does A LOT behind the scene for her. Qu Chu Xiao plays this role so well. I love seeing ZWS's shy, little smile, or glance at FL here and there. ZWS is mature, supportive and thoughtful. Although he's shy, he also will speak his mind if needed. I love the way he speaks and I really like Qu Chu Xiao's sexy voice. Personally, I just have a soft spot for a male lead who does a lot behind FL's back, and if he's shy and sweet, extra brownie points for him!

3) The Cast - I enjoy the acting of everyone in this drama, especially our male and female leads. Both successfully display a range of emotions as the tone of the drama is quite different in the first and second half. Even though none of the actors are teenagers or in their early 20s, they do look the part. Karina Zhang is 32 (in real life) yet without makeup, she looks like a teenager and acts like a teenager. I also appreciate the fact that we only have 1 somewhat childish character in the whole drama. Since there are different universes/timelines in the drama and what happens varies each time, it provides the cast opportunities to act differently. A special mention to the class teacher who likes to recite poems. He’s sweet and funny. I actually don’t find him including English words here and there in the way he talks annoying.

4) Main Romance - I like the somewhat slow-burn romance between the leads. We already know early on that ML likes FL. It’s an enjoyable process to see how FL gets to know ML from the scratch, finds out what he’s done for her, and slowly falls for him and wants to be the one to protect him. There’s so much sweetness in the first half of the drama. The second half is heartbreaking, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like it. To know that the words that she wants to hear the most, are the exact words that she can’t hear. Normally, what FL has to do would be along the lines of noble idiocy (which I dislike) but in this case, she really can’t help it.


I don’t really have anything I dislike in this drama. But there are a few things that I have mixed feelings about.

1) Lin Bei Xing (FL) - I am lukewarm about the female lead. I don’t dislike her but I don’t consider her to be one of my favorite female leads as well. At times, I think she does act like she’s 30, other times, she acts like a teenager (when she’s not really one). But I like how she’s grown at the end.

2) The music and songs are not bad. However, I feel that the drama overplays the songs. Each time there’s a romantic scene (a hug, a close-up glance at each other), you can bet your money that a song will be played.

3) Childhood connection - I have already professed my love for ML. However, I find it just a little hard to believe that ML will do so much behind FL’s back to protect her, just because they had that one childhood connection at the zoo when they were in elementary school. I just want a little more to justify his love for her.

4) Secondary romance - Well, should I even consider that romance? It’s more like an unlikely friendship between Gao Ge and Yang Chao Yang. Their romance is unnecessary. I do like the alternate plot of Zhang Yu chasing FL.


*SPOILER*
Ending - Let’s talk about the ending. I am not satisfied! I wanted more! I was expecting ML to show up in the last episode. Throughout the drama, no one actually confirms his death. We only knew he fell and the family moved. Therefore, I was expecting him to reunite with FL at the end. I don’t need a full-on episode of them getting married and living happily ever after. But I want more than what the drama gives us. We didn’t even see a face!

Leia Mais

Flashback Galore + Hot Guys with Hot Abs

Completed - 1/15/2022

The reason I picked this drama is because I want to watch a William Chan modern drama. Having seen him in "Lost Love in Times" and "Novaland: Pearl Eclipse", I am not convinced in his acting. I hope to see him in a different role (not the cold/bland type) and in a modern setting. I am glad that I watched "Only side by side with you" as now I have a small crush on him.

As for the drama itself, what the reviewers and commenters said about flashbacks are totally true. Let's address what I don't like in the drama first.

What I don't Like:
1 Flashbacks - You need the fast-forward button with you to watch this drama, esp. if you are binge-watching. For the first 12 episodes, the flashbacks aren't bad as they are telling the history of the two male leads when they're in military school. So, there's a purpose and I am fine with that. After that, the flashbacks happen every single episode multiple times. These are long flashbacks and sometimes what happened earlier in the episode. This drama is really testing the audiences' patience and it's the main reason I can't give a high rating.

2. Product Placement - It's been a while since I watched a drama with SO many products featured. Is it because it's an older 2018 drama? Or because they need a lot of money to purchase drones and create fancy white offices? I have no idea. Products include: face creams, insurances, mobile apps, delivery service, drinks (OJ and bottled drinks), different types of alcohol, and of course, Macbook Pro for everyone. But the worst product is the cold medicine. Because the medicine has a sticker, the characters are not necessarily taking the meds, but use them as sticky for notes, like post-its. I have to applaud how creative they showcase this cold medicine.

3. Secondary Romance - I am not quite interested in this romance. I do not like Rachel Wang's acting as Ou Yang Qi (pet store owner). I don't feel the chemistry between Ou YangQi and Hao Jie, no matter how much Hao Jie tries and tries. I also don't see a reason for this love-at-first sight.

What I Enjoy:
1. Nan Qiao (FL) - It's so refreshing to see a smart, sensible, hard-working, independent woman CEO in a C-drama. Oftentimes, CEO are portrayed either as super cold or super bitchy. Nan Qian might be a little nerdy in the beginning, but she's never rude or dumb. I enjoy her character being slowly revealed as more than a nerdy engineer. Even when she fell in love, her sensibility did not go out the door. She's honest and direct when expressing her her feelings to the ML. I enjoy Bai Bai He's portrayal of Nan Qiao. She's not particularly pretty but she gives off a genuine vibe that fits this role.

2. William Chan - As I mentioned, I watch this drama because of William Chan. I am so happy to see him in a role where he can flex his acting chops. Shi Yue is a character that has a fun side and a dark side. William is able to portray the funny, adorable and flirty side of Shi Yue. And then in another scene, he's boxing and fighting and turned into a boss. When he smiles, I melt. So much better than the blank look I get from watching him in Pearl Eclipse. And there are so many scenes where he's topless or showing his muscles. He also looks dashing in all his clothes, whether it's casual wear or a 3-piece suit.

3. Fashion - Aside from Nan Qiao's earlier dorky fashion, all the leads have a wonderful wardrobe. Even Nan Qiao dresses a lot nicer after the first 1/3 of the show. It's nice to see an office drama where people dress appropriately to their age, and their work environment. Both An Ning and Wen Di have sophisticated and fancy outfits throughout the drama, and both women look beautiful and smart. Nan Qiao's early dorky fashion eventually evolves to a more sophisticated office look and more fashionable casual wear when she's on dates and not in the office. Our two male leads look super handsome in shirts/pants, or suits, or casual sports wear. They are both tall and lean, and basically look good in anything.

4. Plot/Pacing (minus flashbacks) - If I take the flashbacks out of the drama, the story has pretty good pacing. Although there isn't anything too unpredictable in the plot (a couple common tropes), the story keeps me engaged. There's a good mix of drone engineering/romance/rivalries/dark pasts to keep me entertained. I was never bored or felt that the storyline dragged for too long. It's unfortunate someone decides to use so many flashbacks. This drama could easily be a 30-episode drama.

5. Dads Unite - ML and FL's fathers are so funny together! Individually, they could be overbearing for their children. But when they are together, they are hilarious. Their conversations, banters and attempts in getting their kids together. The scene at the dating show registration is so funny!

Other Observations:
1. The bromance is pretty good in this drama.
2. I feel the rivalry between the two MLs resolved too easily and quickly without much fanfare.
3. Watch this if you are a fan of William Chan and Li Xian.

Leia Mais

Sweet, Fluffy, No-stress watch

Completed 12/31/2021

Normally, I would not pick this drama to watch. However, I want to end 2021 on a sweet and stress-free note. Therefore, I intentionally choose "Sparkle Love" because I know it's going to be cute and sweet and fluffy. The premise seems interesting enough.

I would recommend this drama to those who like:
1. Super sweet and cute romance
2. Cliches - slow motion glances, accidental kisses, accidental hugs, accidental falling into someone
3. Pikachu!
4. Hot guys with nice bodies with a decent number of topless scenes
5. Decent amount of decent kisses
6. Male chases Female romances

Most of the characters in this drama are pretty likable. There isn't anyone annoying or frustrating. The acting is not bad either. I've seen Zhang Ling He (ML) previously in "Maiden Holmes" and "Love Crossed" and also Ling Mei Shi (FL) in "Love by Hypnotic". I would say their acting are on par to those previous roles. They are cute together and I root for their little romance. If you like kisses, these two leads do kiss quite a bit in this drama, before and after they get together. However, having seen their previous dramas, I am slightly disappointed in the kisses. I know they can do better than that! LOL.

For a quick 24-episode drama, the pacing is not bad. If you cut away the intro and ending themes, each episode is only about 30 mins long. It's a easy binge-watch to kill time. I would say most plot lines are pretty predictable. There are multiple couples/romances in the drama, and I don't think there's enough time to spend on each to make them great. I also question the fashion choices of our female lead. She's the one that dresses the worst out of everyone.

Overall, if you want something a simple, cute, and sweet, and doesn't mind cliches and a predictable plot...then go for it! Sometimes, we all need to watch one of these dramas to make us feel good and loved.

Leia Mais

Leo Wu carries this drama...don't watch this for Sean Xiao

10/9/2021

As I continue to search for great martial arts dramas with amazing fight scenes, I stumbled onto "Fights Break Sphere". This is actually not a traditional wuxia/martial arts drama, but more of a fantasy drama. The drama ends with a small cliffhanger as to what would happen to our ML next. But don't worry, it has a good enough closure that I think it's safe to watch Season 1 and patiently wait for Season 2 with a totally different cast.

Leo Wu, not Sean Xiao - First, watch this drama because you are a fan of Leo Wu. His acting is great and carries the drama on his back all by himself. Do not watch this drama because of Sean Xiao, Li Qin or Xin Zhi Lei. This drama is all about Leo Wu's character and how he developed from a 15-year old without any great martial arts skills to be the savior of the world. Sean Xiao has a very small part in this drama. He's only one of the side kicks. Li Qin also has a very small role and only appears in a few episodes. I even find her character quite annoying and she appears a little too old to act young and naive, and definitely looks too old to be Leo Wu's love interest. Xin Zhi Lei's part is even smaller. I don't think she has more than 30 minutes of screen time.

Strong female cast - Even though all the female characters are only in the supporting cast, I am happy to see that they are all strong women with great martial arts skills. They are no damsel in distress and are not whiny and naive. They get stronger throughout the drama as they themselves continue to learn and develop their skills. Our FL supports ML in his fight and is always ready to come and save and help him.

Romance - Romance plays a very small part in this drama. I was hoping to see more developed between Xiao Yan and Xun Er. After the side story of Xiao Yan and Xia Yi Xan, I was waiting for Xiao Yan to realize that he truly loves Xun Er and not only sees her as a sister. I never get that satisfaction. Even up till now, I don't really know if Xiao Yan loves any of the girls. Maybe I have to wait for Season 2 to find out.

JianNan Academy/Hogwarts - Jian Nan Academy reminds me of Hogwarts (from Harry Potter). Students learn to fight, to cultivate and to make medicines from different teachers specializing in their crafts. Doesn't it sound like the different lessons in Hogwarts? They also have different colored uniforms, like the different Houses. JianNan Academy is protected by a seal cast by the Fight God, just like how Hogwarts is protected from enemies. There is even a marketplace for students to buy and sell, just like Hogsmeade. The snake that they fought against reminded me of Nagini, the sword that ML uses is like one of Voldemort's Horcruxes! Isn't the big bad guy Voldemort? Ok, maybe it's just me because I love Harry Potter so much.

Fighting/CGI/Music - I was excited in episode 1 when I saw our ML practicing his martial arts skills, the Fist Techniques. I was impressed with Leo Wu's movements and can see how much he's rehearsed. His movements are full of strength. I was cautiously optimistic that I found a good wuxia drama. Unfortunately, this is not it. The rest of the fight scenes are full of CGI and not actual fighting. The CGI is ok, nothing to write about. Music is not memorable. Well, except for the ending theme sung by X Nine. The ending theme is so upbeat and modern that it felt out of place. But then, the more I listen to it, and think about the drama about a bunch of teenagers trying to make it into the world, I start to enjoy it more. I then looked it up and realized 4 members of X Nine are the side kicks of our ML, including Sean Xiao.

Leia Mais

Training for mental toughness vs Abuse/Bullying - Amazing Acting

9/9/2021

I see Jung Hae In, and I am there! He's the main reason why I watch D.P., as such drama is usually not my cup of tea. Jung Hae In does not disappoint. His acting here might be his best yet. As much as I love seeing his adorable smile and his soft/romantic roles, I am happy that he's taking on more serious roles like this. I hate for such a talented actor to be typecasted only in romance dramas. We have seen a glimpse of him in a military uniform in "Prison Playbook" (I strongly recommend!) and our favorite second-lead syndrome police officer in "While You Were Sleeping". This role is more serious, more gritty, and raw. He did an amazing job, esp. in Ep 6.

However, the rest of the cast shines as well. Dare I say, at times, they outshine Jung Hae In. Every single actor/actress did an amazing job, no matter how big or small their role is. The acting in Ep 5 and 6 will stay with me for a while.

I don't know anything about Korean military service, and my knowledge all comes from watching K-drama. But it seems like issues depicted here are quite similar to what the US military deals with as well (knowledge from American shows/movies as well). What is the necessary training for soldiers to be mentally tough, so that they could fight in a war? What is going overboard with inhumane treatment and bullying? This drama tries to convey a more human side of the deserters stories. Aside from one deserter who left because of his grandmother, all others left due to mistreatment in the military. As they say in towards the end of the drama, someone got to do something about it.

One criticism - how could these guys be so beaten up and yet they don't die, and can get back up time and time again to run and chase? Isn't that a little too unrealistic? I guess they need to show all the violence and can't kill off anyone.

This drama is not for everyone. There is no romance. It's full of blood and hitting and abuse. But it's a great drama.

p.s. Oh.. don't miss out on the little epilogue in Ep 6, after the first song was played at the end.

Leia Mais

Everyone Frames WeiYoung + Beautiful Shades of Blue

8/22/2021

I really want to like this drama more and I am rounding this up to 8.5 (I debated to keep it at an 8). However, the repeated framing and dragging of the show prevented me from doing so. If this drama is about 40-45 episodes long instead of 54, the pacing would be a lot better. It has all the right ingredients: good general plot, great acting and characters (love strong, smart leads), beautiful costumes, decent background music and songs.

Negatives:

1 . Repeated Framing - The show is basically someone framed WeiYoung and tried to kill her, then she got out of the crisis due to her own wit or saving from others, then repeat again and again. I was bored from Ep 20-30 and lost my attention. It's so predictable that it's not fun anymore. It's unfortunate because I really like the general plot of the drama, but the pacing was off. This is my biggest critique of the show and why I did not rate it an 8.5, since I am judging it against other big historical drama.

2. Plot Holes/Plot - The writing is not very tight. There are also lots of convenient eaves dropping throughout the show by the villains. There are also some illogical/impractical plot holes and I noted down two incidents but there are more: 1) ChangLe tried to burn down the lantern shop but how could she walk in without anyone noticing? Where's the shop owner? Was TuoBaJun (ML) really so far away that he didn't notice anything until the store was half-way burnt down? 2) When WeiYoung (FL) and TaoBaoYu (2ML) were stuck in the secret room, why didn't FL shout out the location of the secret ring to open the door to ML? They apparently could listen through the wall/door with no problem. 3) How come all the doors of the rooms in the Li family are see through? Everyone can hear your secrets!! There's no privacy!!!

Positives:

1. Acting - I enjoy the acting by all cast members. Our main leads and secondary leads are great. You can feel their love and obsession, their pain and evilness. This drama has a large supporting cast and no matter they are veterans or the younger actors, they are did a pretty good job.

2. Romance - One minor criticism I have is that I want to see more scenes and romantic development between ML and FL before they officially fall in love. Their love story is so strong, romantic and heartbreaking that I wanted a stronger foundation or evidence. Having said that, I love their relationship - their undying love and trust. I love seeing their banter and their open communication. I was pleasantly surprised that ML is quite funny and outgoing, and not the cold-on-the-outside-but-warm-on-the-inside type. You can feel the chemistry between the two leads and believe in their romance. The other romance/obsession storylines are pretty well-developed (though a little draggy). It's so sad that in a way, none of the significant relationships ended well. I am not as interested in the romance between the Little Princess+Prince and the two bodyguards.

3. Costumes - Blue is one of my favorite colors and I LOVE the different shades of blue in the costumes. You see light blue, royal blue, navy blue, indigo, dark blue, etc. Most of the time, Chinese dramas are dominated in gold/red/white in the palace, and blue/yellow/pink for the ladies. I am so happy to see that it's different here. Aside from that, their costumes, jewelry and head pieces are elaborate. Not only does the royal family have elaborate head pieces, but the ladies have beautiful hairpins and flower arrangements that match each of their outfits. I love seeing the different designs and patterns on the male characters outfits. The ladies dresses are all beautiful and multi-layered. Aside from the color palette that I enjoy in "Legend of FuYao", this is the only drama that I am so obsessed with the costumes and really pay special attention to each outfit.

4. Music - I would like to praise the use of background music in this drama that did not overpower the drama itself. I've seen too many C-dramas where the music is so loud that I couldn't hear the dialogue, or the songs are played over and over again when a romantic scene occurs. The music in this drama complements the scenes and let the acting speaks for itself without the use of music to manipulate viewers' emotions.

Overall, I like this drama. I wish it had a happier ending after what the leads have gone through, but I am satisfied with it. If I watched this drama before the many historical dramas I've watched, I might have given it a solid 8.5 or higher and be less critical.

Leia Mais

Good chemistry, cute couple but slower pace in the second half

“25 Ji, Akasaka de” is a 10-episode drama that I think could have been shorter. The first half of the drama is fun. It was great watching two people who are clearly attracted to each other play fake boyfriend/boyfriend. The chemistry is great and their scenes together are sweet and cute. However, in the second half, the pace slows down, especially when the misunderstanding happens. Not a whole lot happened.

The acting is pretty good and not overly dramatic. Komagine Kiita is attractive enough for me to believe that Hayama Asami is a very popular idol. Initially, I thought Shirasaki Yuki is just another passive and shy male lead (similar to Adachi in “Cherry Magic” or Hira in “Utsukushii Kare”). I am pleasantly surprised that though shy, Shiaraski does speak up and take initiative to pursue what he wants. He’s not as passive as I feared. The earlier kisses were meh but the last ones are a little better and their intimate scene was sexy and sensual.

I enjoyed the ending. The scene of Hayama Asami chasing after Shiaraski Yuki, worrying he did something wrong after their night together, was sweet and satisfying. I finally see some emotions from him, and he’s not holding back in expressing his feelings. Finally!! It did take 10 episodes for that to happen.

This is a sweet, nice watch, especially if you like faking relationships (though this one is not that fake) and the guessing-if-he-likes-me trope.

Completed: 6/22/2024 - Review #453

Leia Mais

Love the poems and ML, but too many insufferable characters on repeat.

The concept of “ A Poem A Day” is really lovely. The poems chosen for each episode are appropriate and provide a great epilogue. Some are more touching than others, but generally speaking, they’re chosen well.

Lee Joon Hyuk is really dreamy. His character, Dr. Ye, is the best part of the show (aside from the poems). He comes off as cold and inflexible in the earlier episodes, but he’s the one with the most character development. His starting point might be because of his girlfriend, but he has become a better person in the end. He’s mature, calm and only has eyes for Bo Young. I was impressed by his maturity especially when he faced the childish second male lead, Hin Min Ho. There were a few times I thought he might lose his calm but he didn’t.

I like Bo Yeong as the female lead who is trying her best at work. A big part of the show is her journey to obtain full-time employment at the hospital. Bo Yeong is a likable female lead. She’s sweet and kind, bubbly and not too childish. I’m impressed with her patience when dealing with her annoying co-workers. At times, I wish she would break character and start yelling at them more often.

Even though I like Bo Yeong and Dr. Ye individually, I do not like them as a couple much. The chemistry is just OK, but not enough for me to root for them. Bo Yeong might not be immature, but I feel Dr. Ye is just at a different level. He’s just way too mature. Is it opposites attract? Possibly and I can see why guys would like Bo Yeong. I wish there were more intimate conversations with substance. Their conversations revolve around work, daily lives and the superficial get-to-know-each-other. It’s not until the last episode when Dr Ye wanted more.

I also do not like any of the supporting cast. There are many complaints about Shin Min Ho (2ML) and now I know why. He was an immature, childish, spoiled brat through and through. He’s used to getting what he wants, won’t take no for an answer, and doesn’t care much about others feelings. He was insufferable in the beginning. But then, I saw a glimpse of hope that he has grown and become a better man. Unfortunately, his petty and selfish personality just won’t go away, especially how he treated Bo Yeong in episode 14.

I don’t care for the radiologists and the rest of the physical therapy staff. They are not very likable and their antics are repetitive and annoying. There’s only so much indecisiveness, selfishness, gossip and nosy behavior I can take. It’s worse when all these behaviors are on repeat throughout the drama. Those young guys are all spoiled brats. They have to learn the hard way in order to grow.

Lastly, the repetitiveness of Bo Yeong’s disappointment and second-hand embarrassment never ends. When you show her getting her hopes high and then disappointed once or twice, I feel bad for her. But when you keep on writing this trope over and over again, it becomes predictable and I don’t care about it anymore.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this drama, unless you are a fan of Lee Joon Hyuk and poetry. A slice-of-life drama of characters I don’t like is a tough pill to swallow. I also wish the medical cases are more interesting and have more weight on the character development. But they are just an afterthought.

Completed: 6/20/2024 - Review #452

Leia Mais

Decent acting and great leads chemistry, but lost steam in the 2nd half.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I don’t remember how I came across “Dear Mr Hermitage” as it’s definitely not a popular one and the leads are not played by idol actors. I think we can classify this drama as a romantic comedy with a side of business.

I actually really liked the first half of the drama and thought I might rate this an 8.0.. The acting is pretty good for a cast full of experienced but not super popular actors. Tang Min plays the female lead, Su Shi Yu. I’ve seen her previously in “Chef Hua” (I really like) and “General’s Lady” (I dropped this one). Her acting here is pretty good as a go-getter, straightforward, kind and independent woman. I didn’t quite like her shenanigans in the first couple episodes, but she grew on me. Apparently, I’ve seen Chen Jing Ke, playing the male lead Lin Wei, recently in “Amidst a Snowstorm of Love” but I don’t remember or recognize him. Maybe it’s the short hair. I have to say, I am quite impressed in his portrayal of the cool, calm and monk-like Lin Wei. I wasn’t sure if he would pull it off and just looks emotionless and bland. However, he actually was quite expressive with his eyes and micro-expressions.

Because both Tang Min and Chen Jing Ke did pretty well and have great chemistry, their romance is the favorite part of the drama. They started as strangers, with FL annoying ML to no end, then becoming frenemies, friends and lovers. The pacing of their romantic journey is good, and both characters are mature, honest and communicative. That makes it easy to root for their success, despite a couple of admirers.

Unfortunately, the secondary and tertiary romances are a little lacking. I am glad that the secondary leads are not annoying but pretty good people. So, no need to worry about evil characters trying to sabotage the main romance. But their romance is not developed very well. Bai Ruan’s romance is even more lacking. I think her story could have been interesting as she has an interesting dynamic with her man,, but not enough time is given. Instead too much focus is on the business side of things.

In the first half of the show, I was fine with the tea business and Lin Wei’s determination to grow this special tea. The villagers are decent people and not too irritating (annoying villagers and towns folks are my pet peeves). In fact, they are kinda cute in a way, meddling in the leads business but also very supportive.

However, in the second half, the business plotlines become boring. The tea business was forgotten for a while, and then picked back up in the end to integrate with FL’s vlogging. It really doesn’t seem very realistic for FL to move her business to the small town. There are some minor plotholes that don’t necessarily affect the big scheme of things, but they just seem unrealistic and too easy to create ‘drama’. The downfall of ML due to the villain's evil plan seems too easy and not written well. The family animosity was so secretive for too long. I would have liked to know why ML’s uncle is so angry and putting the blame on ML. Once that was revealed, the resolution came too quickly and easily.

Ultimately, the drama lost its steam in the second half after a pretty good start. I don’t think I will recommend this drama unless you are fans of the actors. It is an easy watch and I do like the main romance quite a bit, and it’s essential to the whole drama. But don’t watch this for the business part of the plot.


Completed: 6/12/2024 - Review #451

Leia Mais

A second-chance at being a Good mother, but still ended being a Good Bad mother.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I wanted to like “The Good Bad Mother’ and I did until I started losing interest towards the second half of the drama. In short, this drama has excellent acting from the youngest to the oldest. The mother/son relationship is the central focus and takes me on a rollercoaster ride. Unfortunately, the revenge plot lost me in the second half and I just don’t care for it anymore.

The title of the drama aptly describes what this show is all about. It’s tough to be a good mother. You want your child’s best interest but how you show your (tough) love and convey that message to your children are the most difficult part. We witness how hard Jin Young Soon (mom) tries to be the best mother she could be, after her husband passed away. As a single mother, she worked hard, cared for her son, ensured he had the best future as a prosecutor. But it was hard watching her executing her parenting plans. You can even say she’s an abusive mother. When she was given a second chance to do it all over again, she seized the opportunity to right the wrong and be a better mother. It was heartbreaking to watch her interaction with Kang Ho (son), when he expressed the same frustrations as not being able to choose what he wants, that he’s always pleasing his mother and doing what she asks him too. The shock and traumatic experience on Jin Young Soon’s face said it all. History repeated itself.

Despite a tumultuous relationship, there’s a lot of joy in this drama. It was lovely seeing an adorable Lee do Hyun. He might not be the most handsome actor out there, but every time I see him (no matter what role he plays), you can’t help but like him. He plays an excellent Choi Kang Ho and is a worthy partner to Ra Mi Ran’s excellent and heartbreaking portrayal of Jin Young Soon. The cast is full of veterans that we’ve seen in many Kdramas. Their acting skills are undeniable and make you love and hate them at the same time. The villagers are not as annoying as I worried, but a few of the side plots or characters don’t really contribute much to the general plot. I have to say, the kids are adorable! Such smartypants and they do provide some great comedic moments when the drama gets a little more emotional. Oh, how can I forget about the cute little pigs! It’s rare to see a drama about a pig drama and I like this uniqueness.

Unfortunately, the revenge plot is not exciting enough. We’ve seen enough illegal dealings by the two villains. There’s no suspense and them trying to kill and scheme against each other become repetitive and boring. I would have liked to see the amnesia go away sooner. Then the drama can focus on healing, rekindling romance, re-adjusting to new life, and better writing in revenge.

The romance is a very small part of the drama. There are some sweet moments. I just would have liked to see more complicated feelings from Lee Mi Joo when he met Cho Kang Ho again. I want more semi-avoidance, more confusion and more interaction between them. When the secret is out, their resolution is too quick and too anti-climatic.

I do like the ending after the trial. It was emotional and bittersweet. A fitting ending to a drama that gives us such an emotional rollercoaster ride. I can see why “The Good Bad Mother” is so highly rated, but it’s just missing the mark a little for it for me personally. I was going to give a solid 8.5 in the first half, but will end up giving this an 8.25 instead.


Completed: 6/7/2024 - Review #449

Leia Mais

5 unique stories of second chances intertwined into a touching drama.

“55:15 Never Too Late” connected 5 strangers from all walks of life in a new universe and transported them back 40 years, to when they were 15 years old. This is a beautiful drama about second chances in life and correcting any regrets that they had when they were 15 years old.

I personally found the introduction of all characters a little slow, as it took a while to introduce all 5 of them. Not all their individual stories are interesting to me on the same scale, but they are unique and touch on normal folks' everyday life decisions and regrets. In that, I found them relatable (except probably the teen idol/diva).

What I like best about this drama is how each story is intertwined. Once all the characters meet, they develop a camaraderie and help each other out. We didn’t really go through any conflict within the group or any animosity towards each other. It’s comforting to see how strangers can collaborate and be there for each other. The pacing is good and I enjoy how they switch between storylines to give everyone equal screen time. I like the switch to the older actors during some important moments and it doesn’t cause confusion. One of the funniest scenes is when the older actors in their high school uniforms lament their challenges in this new life. Seeing how they adjust to teenage life is a highlight of the show. There are many comedic moments, but it’s not over-the-top like most Thai dramas.

The acting is great among the 10 main cast members. The veteran cast, of course, is experienced and did a fantastic job. But the younger generation performed just as well. I am most familiar with Kaotung and Nanon, and they don’t disappoint. Piploy as the sassy Jaya is awesome (though her characters can be annoying at times). View and Kay are not bad either. It’s weird to say that the acting that I find less impressive is the actor playing Mathee, and the veteran actress playing Prim. The rest of the supporting cast did a pretty decent job. I especially enjoy the actress playing Noinae.

There are 5 main storylines but my favorites are Teacher Jaurnee (View) and Cafe Manager Paul (Khaotung). I like theirs the most and the ending to their stories are most touching to me. I cried so much in the last episode! Boxer Thep (Kay) and Idol Jaya (Piploy) stories are not bad but there are a couple minor things that keep me from loving them. My least favorite storyline is Voice actor San (Nanon). I do not see why he is still so in love and obsessed with Prim. The flashbacks are not setting up a good foundation for the whole storyline to be based on that, no matter how great Nanon is in portraying San. The confession in the end was not very believable to me.

I would recommend this drama if you are into time-traveling and second chances. The individuals are lovely and it doesn’t really have any villain or annoying character that you want to strangle. The acting is good and the stories are engaging. I do get irritated when the main theme song gets overplayed, no matter how lovely it is.



Other Random Observations:
1. Mathee looks the same when he’s 20 all the way to when he has a teenage son and remarried a second time. I want what he’s having!
2. I love Paul’s relationship with his niece, Noonae. I’m glad someone is on his side and rooting for him without judgment.
3. Line app aka the green thing on your phone.
4. I am still not quite sure how the female student knew of the teacher’s secret. I thought only Noonae knew. Did I miss something or is it a plot hole?
5. They found the smallest and skinniest actor to play a teenage boxer!




Completed: 5/28/2024 - Review #446

Leia Mais

Know your triggers before watching - Appreciate its rawness when watching in 2024

I don’t think I would appreciate “Addicted” as much if I were to watch this in 2016 and not in 2024. “Addicted” is one of the first uncensored gay romance C-dramas and we all know everything is censored now. There is a full on gay romance, and not the subtle bromance or implied gay romance. Additionally, this drama is starred by two big stars now, Timmy Xu and Johnny Huang.

Timmy and Johnny had awesome chemistry and their acting is great considering “Addicted” is both of their first drama. As much as I enjoy them, their romance is problematic and toxic. Gu Hai (Johnny) is obsessed with Bai Luo Yin (Timmy). His way of courting and showing affection has red flags all over. At first, he’s acting like a typical high school kid who only knows how to show affection by being mean to the person he likes. If you are triggered and bothered by dubious consent to intimate acts and forced kisses, I do not think you should watch this. I am aware of these triggers, so I won’t fault this drama (too much) on some questionable actions/scenes.. I know what I am getting myself into. Having said that, I do not agree with Gu Bai’s method of keeping Bai Luo Yin in his apartment after they found out they are step brothers.

This is a decent low budget production. The acting of the main supporting cast is OK. But the acting of the minor roles, e.g. Gu Hai’s ex-girlfriend and cousin, is pretty bad. Those two characters are annoying. There are some weird plot holes. I am still not sure what’s going on between the other two friends, Yang Meng and You Qi. I thought You Qi likes Bai Luo Yin. So, what’s the deal with him harassing Yang Meng? Also, the ending…..that’s not how I expect the drama to end, and there’s no sight of a season 2 after 8 years.

There are quite a few scenes of the leads showing off their nice bodies/abs. Well, Johnny Huang has been keeping fit all these years. He looks just as good as I last saw him in “Bright Eyes in the Dark”.

The drama’s name is “Addicted” and also “Addicted Heroin”. At first, I thought it must mean Gu Hai is addicted to Bai Luo Yin like a druggie is addicted to heroin. After watching the drama, I realized their names together “Hai Luo Yin” = “Heroin”. What perfect names!

Lastly, there’s a quote from Gu Hai that sticks with me and pretty much describes how much he loves Bai Luo Yin - “No matter how much I hate your mother, it wouldn’t even be a fraction (1/1000th) of what I feel for you!”

I would only recommend this drama if you are aware of the triggers. It’s great to see a younger Johnny and Timmy, and how courageous of them and the production team to create such a raw drama. I’ve also watched the newer adapted version, “Stay With Me” and I would recommend that one if you want a tamer, sweeter and more romantic version of “Addicted”.



Completed: 5/23/2024 - Review #444

Leia Mais

Interesting Plot but Annoyed with all the slow-motion scenes

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75


“Hard to Find” is a mid-length drama that actually has a very interesting and attractive plot. With 28 episodes and about 20 minutes each, I would not consider this as a mini-drama, like most of the dramas that male lead, Zhao Yi Qin, is known for. There’s a lot to like, yet quite a few areas that annoy me.


What I Like:

General Plot - I really do find the general plot/story of this drama interesting. I especially enjoyed the first half of the drama when the leads reunited, up until she regained her memory. The story is easy to follow, yet not overly simple. It has a good mix of romance, fantasy plot, mystery, revenge and a little bit of palace politics.

Shen Yu Jie (FL) - Shen Yu Jie plays the female lead, Feng Yuan. The costume designer and hairstylist got brownie points from me for dressing her up so beautifully. Her acting is also the best of the cast. Checking out her profile, I realized she’s only 22 years old but has been in quite a few bigger budget dramas. I thought she is also one of those mini-dramas actresses. I see a lot of potential in her.

Great visuals & production - For a lower budget drama, “Hard to Find” is beautiful to watch. Not only is the whole cast good-looking, but some of the scenes are shot beautifully. Costumes, hair accessories, set designs and props, all look pretty good and not cheap. I also enjoy the songs played, even though they are overplayed.

Wang Ze Xuan - Without spoiling too much, I just have to say I enjoyed his acting in the last 5 episodes of the drama. He looks so ‘pretty’ and portrays the character in a dramatic fashion, but not over-the-top. I’ve seen him in “A Familiar Stranger” and I guess he’s got a knack for playing the bad guys convincingly.


What Bothers Me:

Slow Motion Everything - This is very personal, but I generally dislike the use of slow-motion in dramas for extra dramatic effects. I especially detest fight scenes that are sloooow moving and have actors posing during a fight. The first comment I wrote down in my notes is slow mo fighting (yuck!). There aren’t even that many fight scenes, so to not be able to enjoy a few good ones is disappointing. Not only the fight scenes slow, there are sooo many scenes that are shot like that. I get more and more annoyed towards the second half of the drama. It also drags down the pace as well, and I lose my focus slightly in the second half because of that. Additionally, they also change the voiceover to this slow echoey voice, and add in non-stop background music during these slow scenes.

Zhao Yi Qin (ML) - I have seen Zhao Yi Qin in quite a few mini dramas and have generally enjoyed them. For some reason, he seems to be trying very hard in this drama and appears overly dramatic. When he’s acting angry, he looks exaggerated. He frowns more than I’ve seen in his other dramas. For some reason, his acting is just not clicking with him. He’s a good-looking guy, but if I have to compare what he looks like in his MDL profile picture and him in this drama, he looks a little gaunt and exhausted, even during the honeymoon phase of the romance. Is he overworked?

Over-the-top Dramatics - Not only is Zhao Yi Qin’s acting a little over dramatic, there are many elements in this drama that are like this. The drama is trying too hard to stand out, yet comes across as trying too hard. I think the drama would be so much better if it is a little more grounded and tones down on all the dramatics (constant background music playing, shining light on faces, wind blowing at hair, etc.) The drama has a solid script but lacks perfect execution.



“Hard to Find” has such a strong start and I was willing to give it an 8.5 rating, until all the slow motion scenes accumulated and annoyed the heck out of me. The second half also loses some steam and the pace slows down. Unfortunately, in the end, I will have to give a lower rating of 7.75. I might rate this lower if this is a bigger budget production. “Hard to Find” is still a decent drama if you want something short with an interesting plot. But this is definitely not a must-see.



Completed: 5/5/2024 - Review #436

Leia Mais