cute..

Castaway diva is a coming-of-age Korean drama. It deals with heavy topics such as domestic abuse but pursuing dreams despite such hardships. While it only has 12 episodes, each episode is about 80 minutes long amounting to a standard drama.

What I liked:
• character development- Most characters seemed to go through a character development. Both Woo-hak and Bo-geol (Kiho) learned to express their emotions and not take people for granted. Mok-ha matured and stopped running from her problems. Yoon Ranjoo started trusting others and became less concerned with money and fame. And I could go on.
• solid acting- I had relatively high expectations for the acting performances, since I knew all the actors are fabulous. I think it is safe to say that they didn’t disappoint though the real applause goes to the child actors, who did an incredible job.

what I disliked:
• highly unrealistic- This drama tries to be somewhat relatable and showcase various obstacles one has to overcome. However, it fails to do that because of the situations that are just way too difficult to imagine. Additionally, this results in several plot holes as well. The idea of someone surviving on an abandoned island for 15 years in it of itself is already absurd, but the fl is shown wearing various kinds of clothes. Where did she get them, when she jumped in the water without any things on hand? Personally, I found the plotline with the male lead’s father a bit over the top, too. This is a shame, since it discredits aspects of the drama that were actually really well done and relatable.
• the murder attempt (ep 11)- I thought this was so unnecessary, cliché and unrealistic. I understand that it was supposed to be a way of giving the characters’ development, but neither did I find it interesting nor touching.
• Yoon Ranjoo- I just found her really annoying a lot of the time.. In my opinion, she was even more reckless and immature than Mok-ha..
• low rewatch value- This isn’t a huge setback, but I don’t really see myself ever rewatching Castaway diva, as it feels like a one time watch. I don’t think that rewatching it would give me anything new.


Overall, Castaway diva was a nice watch full of both emotional and cute moments. Having said that, I don’t think it was too memorable and there are better kdramas out there.

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Lived to expectations and made it easier to cope with life

I watched this show at a strange point in life. There's less than 20 minutes left until New years and I am over here writing this..

As i watched the fireworks on my screen, I also heard them outside. I completely related to the characters- might want to mention I've been having a sort of existential crisis lol.

This show is difficult to rate, but it is the first thing to make me happy in so long. I enjoyed the process of watching it- I loved the action and suspense that kept me on my toes.

Sure, you could critique the 'protagonist' bias or some plot holes. However, I believe the show was well made nonetheless. There was certainly effort put into the acting and film making.

I think I needed this philosophy right now. In a way, it was a bit cliché, but still so needed and truthful.

I waited sooo long for this. I dont think I am disappointed. So thank you, Alice in Borderland, for providing me with a great deal of comfort :) Just questioning if there will be a s3?

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So wholesome

When I started Like Flowers in Sand, I didn’t think I would enjoy it, but I was so wrong!! Lately, I have been struggling with finding a kdrama that I would truly enjoy, something cute and lighthearted that isn’t too long or cringey. I am glad I came across LFIS.

I want to start by talking about the characters. Baekdu was super cute and likeable, he really grew to my heart! Jang Dong Yoon did an amazing job from the dialect and ssireum to the acting itself. That’s not to say others did a bad job! The entire group of childhood friends was too cute to dislike. Each character felt like an actual individual rather than just an archetype.
The synopsis didn’t really intrigue me, but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved that it wasn’t unnecessarily long, and that the focus on romance was subtle. I think it’s great that many people can learn about ssireum this way, as well as life outside of Seoul.

I am glad to have watched Like Flowers in Sand and I highly recommend it to everyone!

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Truly dark

Through the Darkness is a crime drama that is particularly unique for being adapted from the book of Korea’s first profiler. In this sense, it isn’t only focused on the crimes, but more so on the work that goes into solving them. It managed to capture the struggles of, at the time, still developing field of crime profiling.

Not every aspect of this show is actually based on real happenings, but the characters and their stories make the viewer feel more included. It doesn't strack you as fiction or merely distant reality, it rather showcases itself as the everyday reality we face.

As for the acting, there isn’t anything I can criticise. Kim Nam Gil did an extraordinary job and his acting performance is memorable. This can be said about all the other characters, too. It isn’t quite common to see actors portray serial murders this well.

This drama was not the fastest watch (though it was rather intense), but it would feel wrong if such stories were easy to watch. That’s, of course, something one has to account for. On that note, I would argue that the rewatch value may not be the highest, which in this case is not a drawback.

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interesting enough

Rookie historian Goo Hae Ryeong is a cute romance with a historical twist. I want this to be succinct so let’s talk about the goods and bads of RHGHR.
-what I liked:
• the historical aspect- I’m not a huge lover of historical dramas but it was nice insight into Korean history of the 19th century and empowerement of women.
• entertainig

- what I disliked:
• the age gap- It is not a huge deal but a six year difference didn’t really feel right with me.
• bad execution- There were many great (often historically supported) scenes that were just terribly executed. Like the genuine issue of historians not being allowed in certain court rooms just turning into a fighting gimmick.
• the chemistry was weird- The male leads were cute but I didn’t really see any chemistry, their acting was quite bland.
• some parts were unnecessary- For instance the whole plot line with the French guy wasn’t really interesting nor important.

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healing, cute and a bit frustrating

Summer strikes is a healing drama about leaving the terribly suffocating city of Seoul and instead coming to a small town to rediscover yourself.

There are many good things I have to say, so let's start there. The main characters were so incredibly cute, they had me kicking feet and giggling. Despite this, there were moments that were very touching and melodramatic. Although at times frustrating, the characters were somewhat relatable and had a good chemistry. I don't think I will ever shut up about how insanely good of an actor Im Siwan is.


Now let me explain why I didnt give Summer strike 10 stars despite all this. While the story started off as a cute slice of life, towards the end it turned into a mystery thriller. It sort of reminded me of Like Flowers in Sand, which was in many ways very similar and also received backlash for the unnecessary crime plot line. In the end, the ending was very rushed and it left me feeling disappointed. I wish there were like 2 extra episodes..

Having said all that, I still consider summer strike a cute drama that is worth watching. If nothing else, watch it for theain couple cause they are cuties.

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Should have been shorter..

100 days isn’t exactly a kdrama with great depth, however it manages to be entertaining. The acting makes up for what the storyline lacks. Perhaps my biggest problem with the plot is the unnecessary dragging. This could have easily been a 12 episode drama.
The show actually starts off well- it manages to be funny without being over the top. After that, the focus starts shifting to political affairs and becomes somewhat melodramatic, with the main couple not talking to each other for a lengthy time. This is all resolved in the final episode, which - in my opinion - was slightly disappointing.

I am having mixed feelings, because despite this, I did enjoy the acting. I don’t think it was necessarily out of the world, but it felt suitable for the kind of drama 100 days my prince is. I think that it might even be worth rewatching, but I think I would skip through many unnecessary scenes.

Overall, you might enjoy this if historical dramas are your cup of tea, or if you’re a big fan of Kyungsoo. 100 Days My Prince didn’t amuse me, but I did feel all sort of emotions while watching it, which, I feel, should be the end goal of any series.

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Let’s make things clear

The synopsis alone is very telling as it doesn’t try to hide the fact it is largely based on recycled tropes. Approaching it with this awareness can prevent disappointment, as the series doesn't strive to be more than a brief and easy-to-enjoy watch.

The drama commendably portrays the challenges of being a musician, especially within the K-pop industry, shedding light on the sacrifices idols make, such as compromising their privacy and love lives.
The music aspect is remarkable. For me, this is what I enjoyed about LMBYK the most. I listen to the songs still after completing it.

However, certain elements seemed less believable, though given the drama's premise, this isn't entirely surprising. The characters, especially the main lead, were often insufferable, possibly conforming to the bad-boy cliché. The female lead didn't fare much better. The side characters, though not seasoned actors, brought a cute and funny dynamic, understandable since many are retired idols. I wish the couple got a better closure.

In conclusion, Let Me Be Your Knight" can be an enjoyable experience if you approach it with the right expectations.

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Forgive, not to make other's life easier, but to make yours easier

My name was a brilliantly done dark thriller focusing on the theme of revenge. It proves that, if done well, it can be an entertaining focus of a show. It can also goes on to show how revenge is not something so desirable or glorific.

The story itself keeps making turns and adding plot twists, which certainly adds to the suspense. In this way, it feels like watching a crime drama trying to find the suspect.

Above everything else, I was the most pleased with the acting. Ahn Sohee portrayed Ji woo exquisitely. The pain, self hatred and ferociousness felt so real, it really had me emotionally attached. The same can be said for Ahn Bo Hyun (Pil Do). Neither of them were necessarily likeable characters, but I wished the best for them until the very end still. Choi Moo Jin was just perfect for this drama. He portrayed such a complex character with so much charisma.

The editing, production and cinematography were top notch. Action scenes can often get quite messy and surely are difficult to film, so I applaud the movie makers. Also take a notice in the darkness of this drama, and I mean that literally. The color scheme is, for the most part, on the darker side.

Alright, this might be biased, but I loved the OST's! I love swervy, so naturally, I listened to the soundtrack long before actually watching. It was perfect for the show and I really enjoyed that the music was somewhat.. distant? It wasn't overwhelming or repetitive, which is unfortunately the case with many shows.

After some consideration, I decided to leave this drama 10 stars. It left me feeling very bittersweet, but isn't that the perfect portrayal of revenge? From a psychological perspective this makes so much sense. I can not blame it for my own naivety of hoping for a noble ending.
I am happy to have watched My name; I can now understand why so many talk about it. I reccomend it to almost everyone, perhaps with the exception of those who don't like seeing blood or watching darker shows.

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not my favorite

Skate into love was a very light hearted and cheesy drama about young people trying to fulfil their dreams.

I want to start off by saying that it took me like a year or two to actually finish it. This isn't entirely the drama's fault, but goes to show the the length of it, if nothing else.
There were a lot of moments in which I thought: "top 10 things that would never happen". This was more bearable spmomewhere down the middle of the show, when things got quite interesting and I could overlook all the flaw this drama has. However, just like the first few episodes, the last few were really unnecessarily long. This is something about the plot I have to critique.

To my surprise, the production was actually quite interesting? The way Yu Yan's struggles were portrayed made me cringe, but I thought it was quite impressive regardless.
This brings me to the acting itself. I think that in terms of fitting into certain archetypes, all the actors did a good job (bold Tang Xue, strong-willed and teasing Li Yubing, shy Yu Yan..). Their acting didn't seem affect me emotionally. Apart from some of the cute scenes, I didn't care for the charactes all that much.

The OST's were a nice addition! Not every single one seemed to amuse me, but these were overall rather catchy and fitting!


Overall, this dramas was just alright. If you feel that this might not be your jam, I reccomend watching it as a background show while dodging something else. I don't think I will ever rewatch it, but I belive there are many people who could enjoy it.

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cheesy and cute

I am a bit unsure of how to rate this drama.

It was unbearable at times- if you don't enjoy the cringy kdrama tropes, do not watch it. The female lead (joo ah) was really annoying to watch at times and although jaehyun did a relatively good job, the male leads character was a bit bland.

The second couple really got on my nerves, I thought it was an aspect of the drama that was quite unnecessary. Gil Mok Jin and Bo Young, however, were super cute.
I think they were the most unique and likeable characters- with Gil Mok Jin having OCD and Bo Young diabetes, which isn't commonly see in kdramas.

The story is quite interesting, showcasing different struggles one might face as a university student. If that's not what you're into, don't watch it. Otherwise, it is a solid drama, but I likely won't watch it again.

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disappointed..

This drama was quite promising, so I had big expectations. The first two episodes were really boring but it became super fun! However around episode 8 it just became soo boring again I. I finished episode 9 and never really came back to it. I might finish it one day, who knows.

Honestly, for a drama full of famous actors, the acting wasn’t too amusing. Especially the FL.. it wasn’t just her acting, but the character as a whole. Some of the side characters were quite funny and the second couple was pretty interesting, that’s the only reason why I gave them this rating.

The story seemed really great, but as the show progressed, the plot got too messy and repetitive. Most kdramas tend to get a little boring after the second half, but this was just unbearable.. not to mention the second male lead syndrome. The main leads were technically siblings (at least the FL thought so from what I remember), so the romance was just kind of weird.

One good thing about this drama were the OST’s. One of my all time favourite soundtracks.

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bittersweet .. just how it should be

Immediately after finishing, D.P. became one of my all time favourite dramas. Naturally, I highly anticipated the second season. Not one bit was I disappointed.

The second season shifted from the comedic aspect, resulting in a more intense experience. Knowing the true events D.P. is based on, I didn’t mind much. Unlike the first season, the focus here wasn’t so much on catching deserters, but more so on fighting the corrupt military. When facing such heavy topics and injustice, one is filled with utter despair and anger. Still, the fact that they tried- and there are indeed people doing their best- gave me a sense of solace and hope.
This was reflected in the acting, too. Jung Hae In once again proved just how amazing of an actor he is. He exquisitely expressed the all-pervasive melancholy of being part of the military. I applaud the entire cast, it is more than obvious that thanks to them, this drama is receiving so much appreciation.

I don’t usually care too much for OSTs, but D.P. is an exception. ‘Crazy’ from Kevin Oh is perhaps my all time favorite OST. I cannot imagine a song that would better express all the emotions D.P. evoke in me. Same could be said about the production.

All in all I really enjoyed watching D.P. It left me feeling somewhat sad, but that’s exactly what I expected from it. While it certainly was entertaining, it didn’t alter reality and stayed true to itself. I highly suggest watching it.

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Epitome of slice of life

I finished My liberation notes almost a week ago, but I only got to write a review just now.

This drama took me a while to finish and I am not entirely sure whether it was due to me being busy or bored. Watching MLN felt like seeing the human life from the eyes of a different being- acknowledging the petty struggles, as well as the passions, humans have. It is most definitely a slow burn. There is a great focus on the romance, yet it manages to be somewhat subtle. The focus of the story is more so on the individual characters and their development. This aspect makes it likeable. What truly helps bring the characters to life are the impeccable acting performances. There is not a lot to say here, every actor did such a good job.

With that being said, watching it, with so little happening, was difficult at times. I can certainly appreciate My liberation notes for its message- learning to come to peace with yourself and your life, to embrace struggles, to love others, but that's essentially all it has to offer.

If I was to sum it up, I loved My liberation notes and I do not regret watching, but I don't see it making on the list of my favorites- or as of right now, at least.

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