Korean BL drama that spends enough time to develop friendships/relationships

Completed - 4/2/2022

Korean BL dramas tend to be pretty short, so I am glad to see that "Light on Me" is a longer one. And because of that, I feel that there's enough time for the drama to really develop the friendships and the love triangle well. The development feels organic and at a good pace. Most of the time, high school or college BL dramas focus so much on cuteness and fluffiness, that the romance develops way too fast and quite forced. "Light on Me" is able to spend time to let Woo Tae Kyung's character develop and really shows us how he grows from an anti-social loner, to one surrounded by close friends and loved ones.

Speaking of Tae Kyung, I am also happy to see a male lead that is not overly innocent and passive, a doormat or pushover. Although Tae Kyung is quiet, he's honest and will fight back. He's not afraid to speak his mind and thus, avoids any type of miscommunication or lack of communication, esp. when it comes to his relationship with Shin Da on. He wears his heart on his sleeves and really left the ball on Da On's court initially. The dynamic between him and Noh Shin Woo is different. He's not the smitten one, but one that holds the power to dictate how the relationship goes.

On the other hand, due to the longer length of the drama, I also would like to see other small subplots. I want to know more about Shin Da On's family and their family dynamics. What really prompted him to strive so hard to be liked and not be a disappointment. I want to see more about Noh Shin Woo's initial feelings towards Tae Kyung. We were only shown a few quick flashbacks of the initial attraction, but I would have loved to see more and know more of his background story. This drama did a good job in providing enough materials for Tae Kyung's character, but I wanted to know more about the other characters in general.

Acting and production quality seem to be decent. I would say Kang Yoo Seok (who plays Noh Shin Woo) might have the best acting performance out of the bunch. But then, I might also be bias as I think he's the most handsome one in this drama as well. LOL. Acting is not cringey but not always natural. They definitely act better with the more outgoing/friendly/fun scenes, than those that are emotional or require subtle facial expressions.

Leia Mais

Not bad but doesn't live up to the hype - a little too cringy for my taste

Completed - 1/29/22 - rating 8.25

"Hometown Cha Cha Cha" is such a highly rated drama in 2021 that I was hesitant to watch it during all the hype. I was afraid I will be disappointed. Now I can finally say that personally, I don't think it lives up to the hype. I enjoyed the drama for the most part but there are certain things that did bug me.

What I Enjoy:
1. Small town feel - It's a nice change to watch a K-drama sets in a rural area. I've always enjoyed the small town feel as there are way too many dramas that are featured in big cities, tall high rises and fancy decors. I get to enjoy the sceneries from the beach, to the mountain to the view of the ocean. I especially like the houses of our ML and Grandma Kim. I would love to have FL's office view of the ocean when I look out my office window.

2. Romance/Chemistry (first 10 episodes) - Before our leads got together, the romance was a lot more fun. I enjoyed the bickering between our leads and how they get to know each other through mishaps and arguments. Though I am not a big fan of slow-motion accidental falls, I do like side glances. The chemistry was great. During these episodes, we also see two mature adults in their 30s, navigating through life's challenges and communicating openly and somewhat sensibly.

3. Grandma Kim & Zone Chief Yeo - These two ladies are my favorite supporting characters in Gongjin. They are both tough as nails, strong and independent. They don't take nonsense from others and are caring in their own ways. They are the least annoying residents in the whole of Gongjin.

4. I really like the short but touching conversation between FL and 2ML in the coffee shop/bar. I always thought it was an unrequited love on Director Ji's side, but we found out it's actually mutual affection. If only one of them has confessed sooner and the timing is better, we might have a very different story. Anyway, I just like the feels I got when watching them and how kind and honest they are to each other.

What I don't quite enjoy:
1. Romance right after the leads got together. It seems like these 30-year-olds became hormonal and cringy teenagers. What happened to the mature adults we have in the first 10 episodes? Why all the baby talk and whining? Just because you haven't had a relationship in a while doesn't automatically turn you into such annoying people once you fall in love. The relationship could be done in a sweet and cute way without being cringy.
Sorry for the rant. I was really disappointed in the personality change, thus, I can't give this drama a higher rating.

2. Shaky camera work when shooting close-up. There are quite a few scenes that I get dizzy just looking at the actors faces. This only happens on close-up shots, esp. in the beginning and end of the drama. Since I have bad motion sickness, I was quite sensitive.

3. Annoying side characters - The most annoying support character award goes to the loud-mouth gossipmonger, Cho Nam Sook. She's so loud and annoying and I really couldn't stand her spreading rumors about every one. The drama tried to paint a more sympathetic picture on her by telling us of her history. However, I don't buy that. Just because you have a sad past does not give you a pass in spreading rumors and hurting other people. The other Gongjin residents are quite annoying as well. They are just so loud and overly dramatic.

Other observations:
1. First shot/scene of ML - why is he wearing so much lipstick?
2. They overplayed the song "Romantic Sunday" in the first half of the drama.
3. I like the cute and awkward romance between FL's bff and the police officer.
4. I like the adopted family feel of Gongjin, despite the annoying characters.

Leia Mais

Skip the movie but watch Noble Aspirations (drama) instead

Completed - 1/8/2022

I watched "Noble Aspirations" 1 & 2 about four months ago, so I still remember the drama well enough. I noticed a movie adaptation and was interested in it. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, it's really difficult to pack all that happened in the novel and the dramas into a short movie. If you haven't read the book or watch the dramas, you might be confused. The scene changes often from one plot to another. There is just not enough time to develop the characters and their relationships in this drama. Because it's so short, if feel like everything is done half-haphazardly.

The saving grace might be Xiao Zhan's acting. He did well portraying an innocent boy to a vengeful villain. The other actors did fine as well. I am a fan of Li Qin and I like her portrayal of Lu Xue Qi here, and more so than Yang Zi's drama version.

This is Jade Dynasty 1, does it mean there's a Jade Dynasty 2? But since it's been a few years and we haven't seen one yet, it's very likely a new movie will not happen.

I would only recommend you watch this if you are a fan of Xiao Zhan, and you have nothing else to watch. I actually quite enjoy Noble Aspirations and would recommend you watch the drama instead. Here's my review: https://mydramalist.com/profile/voicelesslove/review/171507

Leia Mais

Great leads chemistry, disappointing second half

Completed - 1/3/2022

The second season continues the romance of our main leads, Shu Yi and Shi De, after they graduated from college and are separated for years. They finally meet again, and the leads' chemistry was amazing. I am happy to watch a BL drama that is not about high school students, but a more mature romance.

I wasn't a big fan of Shu Yi's character in the first season, and I didn't think YU's acting was on par with Sam Lin's Shi De. I am happy to say that I really like the more mature Shu Yi. YU did a good job in portraying the hurt and betrayal that Shu Yi is feeling. The internal turmoil of wanting to hate Shi De, but can't help but still feel attracted to him. The more mature Shu Yi is charismatic and gives off a very attractive vibe. He also looks really good in this tight suits.

The main reason I bumped my rating up to a 8.0 is because of Sam Lin's amazing acting at the end of episode 2. How can you not feel the heartbreak, the passion, the longing and all that he has bottled up inside of him in this "sexy" scene with YU. Actually, both YU and Sam Lin were amazing here.

I enjoy the main romance and how they reconcile with each other. Once the initial misunderstanding is cleared, they are both very honest and open with each other. The romance is sizzling and mature at the same time. I do wish to see more kisses and skinship between them. There are so many scenes where I can feel the sexual tension, but it was just a big tease.

On the downside, the other two romance storylines were quite disappointing. The dysfunctional romance between Zhen Xuan and Shou Yi took up a lot of time in the second half in this already very short drama. I was actually hoping they don't get together in the end. And the proposal at the end of the drama felt out of place as well. If I want a proposal, I want Shu Yi and Shi Den's, not someone else.

Leia Mais

Adorable Couple... NOT a sweet and fluffy romantic comedy

Completed - 12/11/2021 - 8.25 rounding up to 8.5

Before watching this drama, I was under the impression that this is a funny romantic comedy. Well, we do have a cute and sweet couple, but the second half of this drama is not light and fluffy. Is it good or bad that the story becomes more serious? That is up to the watcher to decide. Personally, I was looking for something different. I wanted to see Dali's growth and struggles in continuing with the management of the art museum in a more rom-com storytelling.

As a fan of Kim Min Jae (ML), I am glad to see him in a different role. I've liked him since Dr. Romantic 1+2, Flower Crew and especially in Do You Like Brahms? He has great comedic timing in his role as Jin Moo Hak, and I love his embarrassed smiles. I was initially afraid that JMH might be too over-the-top for my taste. But I love his character and his flashy suits. He might seem crude and uneducated, but he's such a smart, funny and caring guy inside.

I've seen Park Gyu Young (FL) in other dramas but she's only in a minor/supporting role. I have yet to watch The Devil Judge and probably won't see her in Sweet Home. I really enjoy her acting as our female lead, Dali. Dali appears shy, reserved and refined but there's so much inner strength inside of her. You can see that little tigress inside of her whenever she is at the police station. The teenage Dali is still there, waiting to come out at the right time. Dali has grown so much from the episode until the last episode.

Our main couple complements each other so well. I really like what Dali said that you should be with someone you love and not someone who is like you. Both of them are smart and actually think about what others said and come up with their own conclusions. They did not get bullied into a corner, whether it's because of business or love. The chemistry is great and they are so cute together(love the kisses as well) We don't see too many of lovey-dovey moments, therefore, I can accept the cheese and cringe when we get them. I also love that Dali, though refined and reserved, is not afraid to take the initiative to show any physical affection, and always catches Moo Hak off guard. You go girl!

As I mentioned, I do not quite enjoy the serious tone of the second half of the drama. I felt that the side story of Dali's cousin + Senator Ahn + Jin Family lasted too long. There isn't enough tension or suspense to keep me entertained, and it wasn't difficult to guess who the big bad wolf is.

However, I wouldn't say I don't like this drama. There's enough to keep me entertained and laughed out loud. Our leads convinced me in giving this a generous 8.5 but I was tempted to give it an 8.0. Dali and Moo Hak have become one of my favorite modern drama couples.

Other Observations:
1. They played the OST quite often, esp. in the first few episodes. The songs are played all the time to get you into the mood.
2. Love ML's amazing suits, thus, they do tone it down a little towards the end of the drama.
3. Most of Dali's dresses are quite unique and nice. But a few of them make her look like an old lady.
4. Why do they always make important phone calls out in the open for anyone to eavesdrop?
5. Definitely no second-lead syndrome here.

Leia Mais

A different kind of e-sport drama; lots of gaming content

Completed - 12/02/2021

I've watched my fair share of e-sports/gaming dramas and The King's Avatar is quite different from Love 020, GGS1, GGS2, Gank Your Heart, Falling Into Your Smile and Cross Fire (I am not counting Love Scenery and You Are My Glory as e-sports dramas). Though it did not surpass my favorite, Cross Fire, it is still a great drama to watch. There is no romance and the focus is on gaming and individual character's growth.

I would recommend this drama if you are a FAN of:

1) E-sports or gaming. Compared to the other esports drama that I've named above, gaming is featured predominantly. You cannot skip the gaming scenes to just focus on Yang Yang and the rest of the cast. If you do that, you would only be watching 20-30% of the drama. The CGI and the gameplay are very well done. I really enjoy the characters having their "faces" in the game. It really helps with distinguishing all the different actors and actresses, as there are many of them in this drama. Though the drama tries to explain the gameplay, I am still a little lost at times and need to rewind and watch certain parts again. I am not a gamer at all, but I do enjoy these dramas.

2) Yang Yang - I suspect the high ratings are partially due to Yang Yang's popularity. I wouldn't say his acting is amazing, but he's quite good in this drama. I just wish it's his own voice because he sounded very different (esp. after I finished watching You Are My Glory not too long ago). I see a different side of him, as his character is not the cool/stoic type as in Love020 or YAMG. He actually has a personality, will joke around and act silly and sarcastic. He should really branch out to more lively roles and not pigeon-holed into the cool and handsome roles. Well, he still looks handsome in casual wear. I also think his character is a little too perfect in this drama.

3) Individual character growth - Most e-sports dramas focus a lot of team building and teammates don't get along with each other. There are still some in this drama, but the majority of the storylines are about personal growth of individual characters. I especially enjoy the story of Qiao YiFang (played by Fang JinWei). He started out as a very shy backup player, and then worked really hard to become a vital part of the team. This is my first drama of Fang JinWei and I really like him. He's adorable but when he cries and I see snot coming out of his nose, I appreciate it :) Each of the team members has their own unique storyline, though not long, but you've seen how far they have come - from first introduced to the last episode.

Other Observations:
1) I also like the friendship and camaraderie of all the team captains. It's great to see even though they are competitors, they are professionals and have an unspoken mutual admiration of each other.
2) Took me a while to get into the personality of FL/Chen Guo (played by Jiang ShuYing).
3) There are a few pretty loud characters who talk non-stop! LOL
4) Are internet cafes really that big and fancy in China?
5) Do esports teams really have so much money that their complexes and dormitories are so grand?

Leia Mais

Good acting, great OST but Average drama

Completed - 11/24/2021 - Rating 7.75 rounding up to 8.0

It's hard not to compare "The Castle in the Sky" Season 2 to Season 1, even though you can watch this as a standalone. Maybe because I watched the first season not too long ago (10/3/2021), so when I am watching Season 2, I have a hard time with not comparing. Here's my review of Season 1 if interested (https://mydramalist.com/profile/voicelesslove/review/168551). I quite like the Novoland universe, I just wish the dramas are better.

What I Like:

1. Acting - I think the overall acting of all the actors and actresses are pretty good here. It's definitely better than Season 1 where a young Zhang Ruo Yun carried that show on his back . Most of the actors here are quite seasoned and have a few dramas under their belt. This is my first time watching our ML, Jeremy Tsui. At first I thought he was Vengo Gao. Even though for about half of the drama, he has this cool, serious teacher look on this face, he really does have very expressive eyes. When he has to act embarrassed or flirty, you can see how his eyes change. . I just finished "Once We Get Married" with Wang Yu Wen (FL) and Wang Zi Qi (2ML). I enjoy their very different roles in the two dramas. I have to say, Wang Zi Qi has improved and he was better in OWGM than here. I realized I've watched several of Daisy Li's dramas (2FL) but don't recognize her at all. Her acting is among the better of the bunch, as she has a more complicated and interesting character than the other leads. The other supporting cast, both younger ones and veteran actors, all did a decent job.

2. Feng Ru Che (FL) - The character development of Ah Che is a big part of this drama. She started out as a street smart and happy 18-year old girl, to become the Queen. I am glad that she's not annoyingly innocent and doesn't lose her intelligence. From street smart to being able to see through lies and schemes, to gaining the wisdom of war and battle strategies, to finally become the rightful queen - she has come a long way. Most importantly, she didn't lose her wits when she falls in love, even though she does need a lot of saving.

3. OST - The drama does play the theme songs quite often, almost every episode. But personally, I really like all the songs. They all complemented the drama well and they are all lovely. I bumped my rating to 8.0 because I enjoy the songs so much. The ending theme song "風雪嘆" is my favorite and they do play this song quite a bit in the drama.

4. ML Comedic moments - though not often and could be out-of-nowhere, I enjoy the few funny scenes of our ML. Whether he's "exercising" before he first met FL in the palace as her teacher, or the fake cough that he does - these are the rare funny moments that break the icy personality of our ML.

5. Costumes - Compared to Season 1, this season definitely has better costumes and accessories. It's not big budget quality, but for a lower budget production, we see many beautiful dresses and headpieces. Everyone looks beautiful and handsome in their battle gears.


What I Don't Like:

1. The Main romance - Personally, I don't feel a lot of chemistry between the leads. They both acted well, but I am just not feeling it. I am also a sucker for ML who would sacrifice and do anything for FL, but this romance is not giving me the feels. I guess my biggest complaint of this romance or even this drama, is the constant push-and-pull between the leads. ML keeps on wanting to leave FL for her own good and so she won't die. I am fine with this. But then, why keep on showing up in front of her again and keep on saving her in crisis? *SPOILER ALERT* Towards the end, why would you wipe out her memory, and then become her teacher again and stay in the palace? You can tell she's falling in love with you again and you see the flower sign, what's the point? Additionally, our ML is always stalking FL either using his magical mirror or by being invisible.

2. Slow Motion scenes - There are just too many slow motion scenes in this drama, like in a rom-com. You can see slow gazes, slow spinning, slow walking/running and worst of all, slow fight scenes. Although there's fighting in this drama, you can't say that it has great choreography. The sword-fighting scenes are passable but I feel that the actresses were having trouble with the fights.

3. They never die - So many characters got beat up badly. Swords and arrows flying through their bodies, bones broken when hitting cement, but they all managed to survive! Magic! There are also some other illogical scenes here and there.


Other Observations:
1. If you watch this drama on YouTube like me, the sound goes out quite often.
2. What is up with the funny-looking, flying big bad villain? Is it a bug? A bee? It looks like a Pokemon.
3. I miss the steampunk elements in Season 1.
4. I think Season 1 has a better general plot.
5. Do they really not want to tell Ah Che why she's left an orphan?

Leia Mais

Watch for the crime investigation but not the romance

Completed 11/7/2021

The title of this drama is quite misleading. It gives off a romantic comedy vibe, but in actuality, it's a crime investigation drama. The drama revolves several crime and murder investigations and how they are woven intricately together into the big crime by the masterminds. I enjoy this type of crime investigation as it usually takes a few episodes to solve one crime. I watched another show before where the investigation is completed in less than 2 episodes and I feel exhausted from the never-ending episodic investigations (looking at you "My roommate is a detective"). However, I might still be a little confused about how the masterminds are behind all the crimes in this drama. I am not sure if it's me, or it's the drama's fault.

I enjoy the story and the development of our two female leads. They are both new interns in the violent crimes investigation unit and have very different strengths and weaknesses. I breathed a sigh of relief when we get a supportive sismance, instead of jealous and hatred between the ladies.

The romance plot is a very small part of the drama. Do not go into the drama wanting great romance. Both main and secondary romances are slow-burn and almost non-existent. *Spoiler* I am not satisfied with the ending of both romances, as the happy endings seem to come from the left field. They are rushed and illogical in a sense. I don't see how a romance that never really blossoms can end with a casual marriage proposal, esp. right after the ML wakes up from a coma. They should have spent more time developing the slow burn romance, or just not give us this proposal.

On a positive note, the acting is pretty good all around. Wang Kai looks really good in a suit and in his police uniform (though he's a little too skinny). He has quite a few action/fight scenes and they look believable. I watch this drama in 2021, it doesn't feel dated. The makeup looks really natural, esp. for the guys who are not covered with white foundation. I love the natural tanned look.

Leia Mais

Above-Average fight scenes + Good acting by Young Cast (before they're famous!)

10/19/2021 - 8.25 rounding up to 8.5

I have not read the novel so this review is solely my take on the drama itself. I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoy this drama more than I thought I would. Being an 55-episode drama, I am prepared to experience a long and draggy storyline. I am actually engaged through about the first 30 or so episodes. At the time of writing this review, I've watched the first 6 episodes of season 2, and I strongly believe that they should have combined both seasons into one, and then cut down an episode or two from each of season 1's arcs. It's quite pointless to split this into 2 seasons, and then have a third season planned.

Acting: It's quite interesting to see all these big stars before they were famous. All of their acting is quite good. This is my first Li Ying Feng drama and he did a pretty good job as the male lead. I really enjoy seeing his character development from a young, innocent, and kind-hearted teenager, to become a loyal, stubborn and noble hero. The only criticism I have is that I don't quite see love in his eyes when he's looking at FL. Other than that, his portrayal of other emotions is good. I've seen quite a couple Zanilia Zhao dramas (Rookie Agent Rouge and Story of Ming Lan). I am not a big fan of hers, but I do think she did a good job in this drama as well. She looked so young and with such a baby face. Similarly, I've also seen a couple Yang Zi's dramas (Ashes of Love and Go Go Squid) and I do not like her characters in these dramas. However, I finally found her likable here and can see why she has so many fans. She looked beautiful and I like her portrayal of this calm, serious and level-headed character, yet still showing her very reserved admiration for ML. For the other two male leads, Cheng Yi and Qin Jun Jie, I am definitely a fan of them and their other works. I already know they can act and they don't disappoint here. Oh, I think Qin Jun Jie ages like fine wine :)

Martial Arts/Fight scenes: A big reason for me wanting to watch this drama is because of the fight scenes. I continue to search for dramas who will give me great fights with no slow-motion, spinning/twirling, and actors who couldn't hold a sword steadily. I would say I am quite satisfied with the fight scenes in the first half of the drama, esp. when the leads are still students. Even though there are quite a few zoomed out fight scenes and you know those were body doubles and stunt(wo)men, the overall visuals and choreography are good. However, in the second half, the use of magic and CGI increases and the actual fight scenes diminish. We got a few more good fighting towards the end of the drama. Overall, I personally think this drama has above-average fight scenes and it's a big reason I bumped my rating from an 8.0 to 8.5.

Plot/Characters: I enjoy the general plot of the drama and the different storylines. I do think that some of the arcs could be shortened. But there are enough action and events going on to keep be engaged through the first 30 episodes. I do feel that the drama slows down around episodes 30-40. I am also happy to see that our male leads, Xiao Fan and Jing Yu, continue to have this great friendship throughout the drama. Often times, you have one brother turns into an evil character. I am relieved to see them both continue to be the persons that they were as kids, and the bromance/friendship continues on when they are adults. I am also happy to see strong female characters who could fight and might be better fighters than the male characters. There's enough self-sacrifice and saving each other in this drama that I wouldn't characterize the female characters as damsels in distress. They do seem to be strong and intelligent throughout the drama.

Romance: Our main leads have a Romeo & Juliet-type romance. Even though I enjoy their scenes together and all the hardships that they go through, I only find their chemistry OK for the majority of the drama. As mentioned earlier, I am not feeling the love from Li Ying Feng. I expect more emotions if you are Romeo. I would say the turning point would be in ep. 52 when Xiao Fan heartbreakingly confesses to Bi Yao. That scene is when I can feel that chemistry. However, in the last 10 episodes, the romance seems to be running in circles - ML not wanting to see FL, FL went to see him and asked him to leave with her, ML said no - repeat a few times. The secondary romance between Jing Yu and Jin Ping Er is even weaker. There aren't enough scenes between them, and they don't have that many alone time together. I don't find it believable that Jin Ping Er would fall in love with Jing Yu. There's not enough buildup and it's not a love at first sight. There are also quite a few unrequited loves in this drama and they are decently portrayed.

CGI/Music - I have very low expectations coming into this drama regarding CGI and special effects. For a 2016 C-drama, it's decent. I laughed out loud at the appearance of a weird and slippery-looking snake though. This also might be the first drama that I've enjoyed the background music more than the songs themselves. The songs aren't that memorable but the BGM complements the different scenes appropriately.

Other observations:
1) The guy with the dice as a magical weapon is quite funny, esp. in fight scenes
2) A grown-up Jackson Yee is more handsome than a teenage Jackson Yee :)
3) What is up with the medicine product placement?!?
4) Weird directing where actors just stand there and stare at each other for 5 seconds before speaking - forcing the viewers to feel the attraction?

Leia Mais

Japanese traditions and beautiful desserts

10/16/2021

I saw that this drama would be leaving Amazon Prime Video in a few days, so I decided to not hesitate anymore and watch it. It's a relatively short drama, even by Japanese standards. Compared to "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru", this drama focuses on romance and choosing your own paths, instead of a thriller/mystery/romance. "Kyoto Love Story" is lighter and also not as good at "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru".

I enjoyed the first half of this drama more than the second half. The pace of the second half got slower and I felt like the plot was going in circles. The banter between the main leads was quite good, and it's a good development of the romance. However, once we approached the second half and FL confessed her feelings, it went downhill. I got annoyed with the ML and his reason for not reciprocating FL's feelings. The second romance is even worse. I want to punch the 2ML in the face. He's such an annoying jerk. I don't feel the chemistry of the secondary couple and I really can't tell if they do truly love each other. I don't know what is up with the male characters being so wishy washy and not straightforward. The female leads are honest about their feelings, but the male counterparts just evade the questions. The little sister's romance seems like an afterthought. It could have been better but screen time was limited.

The main positives of this drama are the beautiful sights of traditional Japanese desserts, the different kimonos worn (though they're not as exquisite as those I've seen in other dramas), and learning about Japanese culture. It's great to see temple and scenery shots in Kyoto. Aside from the 2ML, I enjoy the acting of the main cast.

Leia Mais

Short and Sweet!

10/2/2021

This is a very short and sweet drama. I would recommend this for someone who wants to watch something light-hearted and short. It's also a good palate cleanser after watching something intense or tragic. There are not villains, no jealous ex or love triangle, and no misunderstanding. It's an easy watch.

Since it's an adaptation from a webtoon, you will need to suspend reality and know that this is about the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) Protection Act. A NEET is basically someone unemployed and not contributing to society. Our FL is a NEET and our ML is a government official who is assigned to marry our FL as the first trial subjects of the NEET Protection Act.

Even though our FL is shy and innocent, she is not dumb. She's just not used to socializing. She is not afraid to ask questions or speak up if needed, and is not so naive that she would make stupid decisions. She's sweet and kind. A lovely girl that you want to root for her happiness. The leads look good together and they have many cute and heartwarming scenes. The whole drama revolves around their marriage and how they fall in love with each after getting married. I love the happy and sweet ending.

Because the drama is so short, I feel that there are elements that weren't explained or explored enough. I would like to see more of the struggles and uneasiness in the beginning of marriage. The acceptance from FL and the falling in love seem to happen too fast. ML supposedly doesn't believe in marriage and wasn't really in love when he was in a 4-year relationship with his ex. Yet, he seems to fall in love quite fast with FL. I also feel that the issue with the magazine resolved too quickly.

I personally enjoy the marriage contract trope, so I will give it a solid 8.0 and because it's what I needed at the moment.

p.s. why are Jdoramas ratings always so much lower than K-dramas and C-dramas??

Leia Mais

Hilarious and Heartwarming

9/23/2021 - 8.75 rating - not quite a 9.0.

Hospital Playlist 1 was one of the first K-dramas I watched during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because I was so new to K-dramas, I didn't know what to expect from a slice-of-life drama. Maybe that's why my expectations were too high and I was a little disappointed. I did not quite get the hype of this drama, since it's so beloved by all.

Now that I have over 150 K-dramas under my belt, I think I know what I want and like. This drama needs to be reviewed as a slice-of-life drama, but not a plot-driven medical drama like Dr. Romantic. It's not about the medical cases and patients. With that in mind, I am able to enjoy Season 2 a lot more. I also forgot most of what happened in Season 1 ;)

Episode 1 started off great. You see the beloved characters and their tight friendship. Their friendship is the selling point of this drama. This episode was hilarious and heartwarming. The story of the mother who lost her son, and visited the hospital often, touches my heart on a personal level. The drama showcases people and relationships surrounding the patients and the medical cases. It talks about the unsung heroes, e.g. nurses and ER staff. If you have stayed in a hospital before, or accompanied someone, you know it's the nurses who do all the hard work. They are the ones answering your call at all hours. They really need a show dedicated to the hard working nurses. On another note, even though there are show about ER doctors, I appreciate them highlighting the importance of critical care in the ER, before all these hot-shot surgeons get a chance to operate. A side note, the ER in Hospital Playlist 2 is the calmest ER I've seen in drama-land.

There are so many funny interactions and moments. Just seeing two of the male leads sprinkling water on each other cracked me up big time. They acted so silly when all the BFFs are together. Top moments for me: The off-key singing of our FL, the cute son, father-son adorable relationship, siblings love, all BFF moments from our leads to our supporting cast.

However, I think I am most disappointed in the romance storylines. I know it's not a show focused on romance, but they are all not very satisfying. I also think the last episode is anti-climatic and boring.

Leia Mais

Light drama without tackling any serious teenage issues

"Our Secret" is one of the lighter coming-of-age teen dramas that I have watched. It is very romance-focused and doesn't tackle serious issues, and even the pressure of school/studies isn't that bad. The romance is very slow-burn and is nicely paced and done. You can say the relationship has a pretty "realistic" development. The leads do have some pretty sweet moments.

Personally, I don't like FL's character. I don't like loud female leads nor super shy ones either. FL here is the shy, quiet and super introverted type. Comparatively, I like the quiet but strong FL in "My Huckleberry Friends" more. I also don't like FL's voice and the way she speaks. On the other hand, ML has a more normal personality (though he's a genius) and not the typical bad boy or cold-outside/warm-inside type.

I think 24 episodes is more than enough, and it could be one or two episodes shorter. Because the drama is very "slice-of-life", personally I find the pacing OK (not great) but also not too slow. I watched this drama on YouTube and it affects my viewing enjoyment because some songs and music were blocked due to copyright issues.

Leia Mais

Strong male characters but female characters drove me crazy

6/15/2021

I decided to watch this drama because of the male leads. They are definitely good-looking and I like all 4 of them. However, even though I enjoy romance storylines, I feel that the drama should have focused more on crime investigation and fighting, instead of romance. Aside from the main FL, I do not like any of the female characters. They are all annoying, immature and petty. They make the MLs weaker and not as heroic as they could be. It's especially worse with the female deputies who keep on bullying the FL. They are so unprofessional and petty and should never be allowed to continue to be deputies. I do enjoy the slow romance of the main FL and ML and would have loved to see them more. The acting of the 4 MLs are good and they look good in their uniforms and in fight scenes.

I enjoy the fight scenes as they are more of the traditional wuxia fighting than the modern xianxia fighting with slow motion and spinning. The music is fine and I do enjoy the opening and the closing songs, sung by the two cast members. The costumes and CGI were just OK (well, this is an older drama afterall). Not a fault of the drama, but from watching on Viki, it seems like they re-did the color of the drama and everything looks so HDR+ and fake. The drama is decent, but still has many plot holes. If the female characters are less annoying and the romances are more mature, I would have liked this drama more. The drama could be a little shorter by cutting repeated conversations about romance and revenge.

Leia Mais

Mature drama with a good combination of romance and thriller

7/31/2021

Saw a MDL article recommending this show and I thought I would give it a shot. This drama does not seem to have big stars in it, and not being talked about a lot. However, I quite enjoyed it and thought it has a good combination of romance and thriller. This is a very short drama, 16 episodes and about 30 minutes each. I am glad to see more recent modern C-dramas that are shorter. This contributes to a much tighter plot and no dragging. I even felt that the drama should be a little longer to give us more of the story that happened 5 years ago.

What happened 5 years ago was introduced through flashbacks in the beginning of each episode. Though the flashbacks were not in chronological order, I didn't find it confusing. I would have liked to see more and longer flashbacks, to see what really happened and how the love between ML and FL developed. Since they still love each other 5 years later, they must have a pretty amazing past for that to happen.

This is my first time watching any of these actors and actresses in a drama. I felt that the acting is pretty good (not amazing). I enjoy FL's portrayal of a mature and smart woman, who despite being in love with ML, did not make stupid decisions but somewhat rational ones. I always have a soft spot for MLs who are cold on the outside but warm on the inside (but not acting like a jerk). Our ML here is quite handsome with nice abs (LOL). His acting isn't bad but also not amazing. I do enjoy those smiles and loving looks he has for the FL. He looks especially handsome in suits and when he's fighting. Actually, I felt that this drama has many good-looking actors and actresses. 2ML is especially adorable and it's a good contrast to the cool-looking ML.

I enjoyed the romance development of the leads. There's a decent amount of push-and-pull but you can feel the chemistry.
They also have great and realistic kissing scenes. Their love feels mature. However, it took me a little while to get into the secondary romance. I do not like the stalker-ish and persistent behavior of how 2FL is chasing 2ML. I really wish dramas would stop doing that. On the other hand, I understand it takes a character like 2FL to break through the walls of 2ML.

I also enjoy the OST and the background music. I am so glad that the music did not appear at inopportune times, or played extremely loud. I also like the wardrobe selection here. Actors look dashing in suits and actresses look great in the respective outfits. Oh, and the little girl is quite cute and sassy. She is quite a scene-stealer!

Leia Mais