Funny first half but a more serious tone in the second half.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I was quite surprised that I had a pretty good time watching “No Gain, No Love”. I wanted something fun and this fits the bill as it’s funny enough without going overboard, but the tone of the drama changes in the second half. I was also a little hesitant in the beginning because I am not a fan of noona romance. Luckily, the age gap was not mentioned much in the drama.

Shin Min Ah shines in her role here. This role reminded me of her character in “Oh My Venus” in a good way, as I didn’t like her in “Our Blues” or “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha”. But her chemistry with Kim Young Dae is not as good as with So Ji Sub.

The first half of the drama is hilarious. I like how the leads dislike each other, yet their interaction is funny. I enjoy the contract marriage trope, and how they come together in creating this fake wedding. When watching wedding scenes, I often have happy tears because I am moved or happy for the couple. This fake wedding moved me to tears because I am sad. The whole reason behind it is not funny at all, despite it being an interesting and exciting event.

The chemistry between Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae is decent. It’s cute at times but not sizzling. I actually think the portrayal of them falling in love could have been written better. There are a few kisses but nothing earth-shattering (maybe a slight disappointment because I expected more?). We don’t really see too many cute and fluffy scenes of them before the drama goes down a more serious path.

There are quite a few mentions of other dramas and guest appearances. The supporting cast did fine and I’m glad there’s no one evil or annoying. There are rave reviews about how cute the second couple is. They are OK to me but there isn’t enough screen time for me to truly fall in love with them. I guess I’ll just have to check out their drama special. The third long-time couple surprises me with their setup, but their story is boring. I do not miss them at all when they’re not on my screen.

The second half of the drama, especially the last few episodes, feel rushed and jam-packed with more serious side plots. Knowing the story of how FL’s dad died is enough for me. I don’t really need to know about the other father. I wish the drama could have tied up the sisters' stories without wasting precious screen time on him.

Lastly, there is a lot of product placement in this drama - all the snacks and Kopiko coffee candies, Subway, Banaespresso, cars, and beauty products. With all the revenue from advertising, they could have dressed the female characters with better clothes. They all dress like old ladies.

Overall, I did have a pleasant time watching “No Gain, No Love”. It started off very strong but only ended on an average note. But 12 episodes zoomed by in a jiffy!


Completed: 10/29/2024 - Review #506

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Obsessive, Possessive, Toxic, Passionate and Manic!

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

This is probably one of the better acted short-length dramas I’ve seen. Female lead, He Xuan Lin, is an experienced actress and I last saw her in the very popular “Starry Love”. Her character, Gu Jun Yao, has gone through so much in her life that this is such an angsty watch. You can’t help but root for her freedom and happiness.

“Love & Bid Farewell” is a tale of revenge, obsession, love and toxicity. There are many reviews going into the details of the drama, so I won’t go into that. I’ll just write a few quick thoughts of the drama.

1. As mentioned, the acting is great. He Xuan Lin really is the shining star. Apparently, I’ve seen male lead, Yan Zi Xian, in many other dramas before when he had a supporting role. I don’t remember him at all. But I will now for his role as the obsessive and possessive Yue Jin Chen.
2. I appreciate a strong female lead, who once she realized what happened, did not go back at all. She never fell into the trap of romance, no matter how much the male lead tried to entice her.3.
3. It’s amazing how Yue Jin Chen can get stabbed so many times and not die.
4. Great, passionate and forceful yet realistic kisses. Probably one of few C-dramas (mini or full-length ones) where the male lead and the female lead are both going at it and not being shy.
5. I appreciate there’s no evil and annoying secondary leads.
6. For a low budget production, the drama doesn’t feel cheap.
7. There are times I did feel like I wanted to fast forward, as the plot became a little repetitive. 24 episodes at about 20 mins each, might be too long when the plot only revolves about the leads.
8. A great drama for those who want a real red flag ML.
9. The ending is not surprising and you can’t really go any other way. I am glad the drama sticks to its dark theme and didn’t try to please the audience and gives us a different ending.

If you are looking for a toxic romance with an obsessive and possessive red flag male lead, then I strongly recommend this drama for you.


Completed: 10/26/2024 - Review #504

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Fun and emotional self-discovery journey with an interesting love triangle on the side.

“Nagi’s Long Vacation” aka “Nagi no Oitoma” is a lovely drama of growth, self-discovery and healing. Feeling suffocated from the demands of everyone and unable to show her true self, Nagi had a breakdown. She packed up and left her work and home in Tokyo, and took a breather in a small town. There’s a strong emphasis on ‘reading the room’ and noticing the atmospheric change in moods, and then acting accordingly in the best possible way (but not necessarily how you truly feel).

At first glance, Nagi is sweet and likable. But we only see the ‘surface’ of who she is in the early episodes. As the drama goes on, she slowly discovers who she really is. She might not be as nice as we thought. I am not saying she's mean but someone who is flawed like all of us, and may not be as sweet, kind and caring to everyone she meets. Slowly getting to know the true Nagi is a joy in this journey.

Nagi will need to credit the neighbors, friends and her love interests in her self-discovery. This drama has a lovely and fun supporting cast (except for a couple bullies at work). She finally has real, true friends who she can share her hopes and dreams, failures and worries with. Not only is she getting a lot from those around her, she also has a strong influence on them as well.

As a romance lover, I was pleasantly surprised at how this love triangle pans out. It’s really not what I expected and it was a fun journey to follow along, and guess who Nagi will or will not end up with. I think this is one of the few dramas where I am happy with either option.
I want Nagi to not end up with any man, but be the independent, mature woman that she can be. I want her to continue to grow as a person, to learn from her past mistakes and be the best person she can and want to be.
I also want her to fall in love with the sexy and dreamy neighbor, who is sweet, kind and gentle. Someone who brings in the delicious air/atmosphere for Nagi to indulge in. We all want a neighbor like that. Hey, he is a good kisser and good in bed. LOL
I also want her to get back with her ex-boyfriend. Someone who loved her past and present self. Someone who is very similar to who she was and can grow and mature with her. I want them to finally see each other without their masks on.

“Nagi’s Long Vacation” is a heartwarming drama with some pretty emotional scenes. It’s a lovely watch and I will recommend this if you are a fan of healing/growth/self-discovery slice-of-life drama.


Other Random Observations:
1. Nagi definitely looks cuter with her bushy hair than the wig.
2. The little girl is so smart and much more mature than most adults.
3. I love a J-drama with good kisses. Too bad we don’t see much in the latter half of the drama.
4. I love the analogy of a pull-apart bun to describe the dreamy and irresistible neighbor, and the funny sexy middle school girl taboo.
5. This is one of the more creative confessions I’ve seen with keys.
6. Ex-boyfriend is really not likable in the beginning, but he grew on me.



Completed: 10/23/2024 - Review #502

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Lack of romantic chemistry, low production quality and repetitive plot

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.25

I really wanted to like “Fateful Love” and I thought I would. Who wouldn’t like a kickass female lead who can beat anyone up and is as physically strong and powerful as the male lead? Unfortunately, that fact alone is not enough. I anticipated that this is not a super popular drama since there’s no idol actors. This drama was filmed in 2021 but broadcasted in 2024. 3 years isn’t that bad but unfortunately, the low budget production makes this drama feel more dated than it should be. I thought Zhang Han would be able to pull in more resources as a veteran. Oh well…. I quite like the first half of the drama, especially before the music scavenger hunt. Ultimately, it failed to hold my attention for all 40 episodes and I was quite bored in the last 10 episodes.

Here is my quick rundown of likes/dislikes.

What I like:
1. A badass female lead, who complements a strong male lead.
2. A good-looking 2ML in Yao Chi, who played Xuanyuan Li Ge. His handsomeness keeps me going.
3. Creative fight choreography. Aside from a few slow motion scenes, I really enjoy and am very pleasantly surprised. The actors also do a great job in those moves.
4. It seems like, actors are really riding those horses. No fake CGI horses and I was quite impressed with Zhang Han’s horseback riding skills.
5. I like the focus on music and it’s cool to see music so prominently featured as a weapon.


What I have Mixed feelings:
1. A badass female lead who still needs saving quite a bit.
2. Looks like low quality fabric in costumes but the drama has beautiful headpieces for the women. The designs are beautiful, if only it has money. Props to the costume designers.
3. As much as I like the 2ML, it’s hard to keep on watching him trying to sacrifice himself. Where’s ML when FL needs him? He’s always a step behind.
4. The mermaid fight was hilariously BAD!
5. Acting is decent but not excellent. I was glad to see Zhu Xu Dan not playing the evil 2FL role, but her acting seems inconsistent.


What I Don’t Like:
1. I have to suspend my belief that a modern girl does not need time to adjust to the new world at all.
2. Poor dubbing and often out of sync.
3. Too many spoiled princesses
4. Not a fan of all men falling for FL and all women falling for ML. Adding to that, the women are usually jealous and evil, and the men are caring and will die/sacrifice for FL. Enough of these cliches.
5. Repetitive sabotage and trying to hurt FL becomes boring. The plot seems to run in circles in the second half.
6. Romance is not romancing. I don’t mind the slow burn, but I am not feeling the chemistry. I think Zhang Han tries his best, but Zhu Xu Dan is not feeling it.
7. What happened in the last arc with 2ML’s sudden change? I don’t think it was written and explained well.

Due to the lower production value, repetitive plot, lack of romantic chemistry and some other annoying factors, I am not going to recommend “Fateful Love”. This is very subjective as it seems like many others like it. I think there are other better quality dramas out there.



Completed: 10/4/2024 - Review #494

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Beautiful & Courageous Journey to achieve your Dream with lovable characters

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (rounding up to boost Jdrama average rating LOL)

“My Second Aoharu (Youth)” is the perfect title for this drama. The drama never loses its focus on the courageous journey of Sayako (FL) to achieve her dream to be an architect. Though this dream was 12 years later than anticipated, the drama gives us an uplifting journey of perseverance, hard work and guts. And this is what I like the drama the most. Misfortunes happened to Sayako, but she never drowns herself in self-pity. Instead, she takes the plunge to go back to college and achieve her dream.

The drama has a lot of lovely characters. Sayako was a little too much to handle in the beginning, as I am not a fan of super loud and over-the-top acting (anime-style). But she grows on me and never veers towards the super annoying side. It’s impossible not to be influenced by her positivity and as viewers, I am rooting for her 100%. The house she lives in is also full of friendly and lovable housemates. It would be a dream if you have housemates like that. It’s all fun and games, and helping each other night There’s no animosity or chaos.

The romance is a mixed bag for me, and it’s not because it’s a noona (aka older woman/younger guy) romance, which is not my jam. I actually quite like how the leads meet, develop into good friends before lovers. The chemistry of the leads loses its spark when they first get together (about the ⅔ of the drama). There aren’t enough cute or romantic scenes between the two. Skinship is limited to a couple OK kisses. They also feel more like best friends or siblings, instead of lovers. However, I really like how Taku (ML) understands Sayako. He admires and appreciates her charms (good and bad) and is the only one who keeps on reminding Sayako of her initial goal. Whenever Sayoko is confused and lost regarding her studies or future, Taku is the one to shed some light and clear the fog in front of her. Taku is portrayed as such a mature young adult that the age gap is not as prominent. Sayako often acts very young with her crazy antics as well. Towards the last ⅓ of the drama, decisions need to be made between career/love. Those were the episodes that tug my heartstrings the most. The plot is predictable and some might not like how the drama tackles that, but these episodes are much better than those in the middle of the drama.

Sayako’s family members have very little screen time, but they are fun. I love that they’re so positive despite growing up poor. Sayako’s best friend provides additional comic relief. She has just enough screen time to add some more fun to the drama without getting annoying. The step-parent/child relationship is also interesting and beautiful to see.

I was unclear on a few storylines (or plot holes) and I wasn’t sure if I just missed them. With the rules of the house, how did everyone end up living together again? I thought Kanta had a girlfriend. What happened to her? Did I miss something between Kanta and Sumika? Also, I thought Kanta is a year or two older and should not have graduated with the rest of the guys, am I wrong?

Despite these plot holes (?) and mixed feelings about the main romance, I had a very enjoyable time watching this. I’m glad Sayako’s journey has always been front and center, despite the romance, family, and housemate storylines.


Completed: 9/28/2024 - Review #492

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Only for fans of Ishihara Satomi and Kamenashi Kazuya

Watching “Destiny” without any expectation probably contributed to a decent rating and watch experience. Currently it has a MDL rating of 7.2 which is quite low, but also not really THAT low for a Jdrama. “Destiny” tries to be a thriller/suspense romance. I am a fan of lovers reunited and second-chance romance. But is this really a second-chance romance with a cheating aspect, because FL already has a boyfriend? Well, you’ll need to watch to find out.

My favorite parts of the drama are the acting and the chemistry between Kanabe (played by Ishihara Satomi) and Masaki (played by Kamenashi Kazuya). Not only are they a fine-looking couple, they brought out many emotions from me. I smiled when watching their college days, and wanted to cry when they reunited under unfortunate circumstances. I love the longing and the pining, and I can accept their actions as I like flawed characters. I would have liked to see a little more of their college days and a stronger foundation of their romance (also the friendship of the 4 characters). Otherwise, it’s really hard to believe these feelings hold true even after so many years.

As a crime/thriller/suspense drama, it might not be very successful. I was never on the edge-of-my-seat anxious to find out what would happen next. Instead, the twists are somewhat predictable. There’s not a lot of background story about FL’s assistant, or the ‘villain’. I also do not agree with some of the decisions made by the characters. Another reviewer commented on the actions by FL’s father. It’s quite incomprehensible the reason for his death and the results of the investigation of his case.

Additionally, the music choice of the ending theme song is interesting. It’s a good and catchy song, and it sounds like it’s from a Broadway musical. However, it totally doesn’t fit the mood of the drama at all. Weird!

I’ll only recommend this if you are a fan of the main leads. Otherwise, it’s not a particularly good romance or suspense drama.


Completed: 9/25/2024 - Review #490

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Thai female characters really need to stop screaming.

The premise of “Love You My Arrogance” is actually quite interesting. I knew going into it that I have to lower my expectations because this is really short - 8 episodes of 15 mins each. Unfortunately, I still came out frustrated because the execution is really not there.

My biggest complaint, and the most subjective complaint, is how loud these women are. My ears were bleeding when I was watching the first couple episodes. Brownie can’t stop screaming at the top of her lungs, professing her love for Sun. Then she yells and cries and I want to stop watching so badly. I persisted, thinking it will get better and it’s only a short drama. Then Anna keeps this annoying tradition going. She can’t seem to speak normally and raises her voice even when she’s not arguing. She also acts like a know-it-all and is very argumentative. I know this probably only affects me and I understand Thai dramas can be like this. My tolerance is just not there, especially when I don’t like the two female characters.

Luckily, the boys are better and they have a cute little brotherhood going. How they like to grab and hug each other is funny. Sun is handsome but Pete is the MVP.

Acting wise, it was OK. I expected a little more from Nine and Mild. Plot wise, they spend too much time on Brownie screaming and apologizing. I wish they had spent more time in the Anna-helping-Sun part. The final twist in the end is interesting but it’s so short and casually mentioned that I couldn’t grasp the full impact. This short drama also seems like a tourism promotional production.

I heard season 2 is a little better and I might check it out. As a standalone, I am not sure if I will recommend it, and definitely not fellow viewers who are sensitive to screeching and screaming.




Completed: 9/22/2024 - Review #488

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An OK simple watch that is comforting but not unique.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

“A Breeze of Love” is a short Korean BL about two students reuniting in college after their friendship was halted and parted ways in high school on an unhappy note. There’s tension when they reunite again in college. The story is simple and easy to follow. Don’t really expect plot twists or anything out of the ordinary. In a way, this is simple and comforting. There are some cute and sweet scenes of longing looks and shy smiles. The chemistry between the leads is pretty good and the acting is decent. There’s a very small supporting cast which doesn’t take away screen time from the leads.

I enjoy finding out their high school days through flashbacks and didn’t think they were too confusing. However, I would have loved to see more depth to the present-day relationship. Do Hyun is obviously upset with Dong Wook when they reunite, and for legit reasons. But he seems to have forgotten all these reasons after the basketball game. Even though Dong Wook tried to barge into his life, Do Hyun didn’t seem to put up much of a fight after the initial episode or two. I wanted a little more resistance. The time they spend together doesn’t involve much talking or conversations of substance. I guess they communicate through 1 vs 1 basketball scrimmages, and being next to each other is enough for them. I am the one that wanted more. And what is the cause of Dong Wook’s insomnia? Why is Do Hyun the sleeping pill? Is it just because Dong Wook likes Do Hyun and feels comfortable and relaxed around him?

It’s weird how I feel that the drama is too short and couldn’t explore more of the relationship, yet most of the last episode also feels like a filler. Why introduce the water boy in the very end and try to pair him up with a supporting character? Is there going to be a spin-off about them?

If you don’t think too much and just go with the flow and the feel of the drama, this is a very lovely watch.


Completed: 9/15/2024 - Review #486

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Unique plot with taboo subjects but with busy and messy storylines.

Subjective Gut Rating: 6.75

Wow… was this drama really a production from the Philippines? I would have never thought such a dark drama with all these taboo topics and red flags would be from a Catholic country. I really applaud the effort in producing a dark BL amidst all the rom-coms out there. It’s dark from start to finish, and maybe with 5 minutes of sweetness and fluffiness. Unfortunately, I couldn’t love it more, so I'm giving it a 6.75-7.0 for its courage and creativity of the plot twist.

The drama features a pretty good-looking cast but some amateur actors. “Cheat” is the inaugural project for the actors. The acting is OK for first-timers. It wasn’t too cringey but there’s definitely overacting.

The drama is really short but it jam packs with soooo many different stories and schemes. It was fine in the beginning, but at mid-way point, I was exhausted. There’s no room for me to breathe before another crazy person stirred up shit again. Witchcraft was not used to its full potential. Instead of a stronger focus of witchcraft, it introduces jealousy, blackmail and evil schemes and lies every step of the way.

This drama is full of hormonal and horny teenagers who don’t know how to love properly. There is only one sane person in the whole drama. Everybody else is insane and twisted. In a way, the ending is satisfying and unpredictable. I was feeling so bad for Vee and I only wanted happiness for him. I was thinking to myself that I just want Vee and Dong to live happily ever after. I wanted more sweet scenes with them, but this is not the type of drama.

In the end, the smirks make sense and I also hope I interpret the lack of a smirk in the last scene correctly.

Would I recommend this drama to you? Mm.. it depends if you are up for something dark with taboo subjects and twisted individuals. If season 2 comes out, I don’t mind checking it out again.


Completed: 9/15/2024 - Review #485

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Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

It’s nice to have a peek into the beauty advisor world in “Cosmetic Playlover”, since this is not a profession that’s prominently featured in many Asian dramas. I actually would have loved to see a deeper dive but with only 4 hours of playtime, the drama doesn’t have the luxury to have a good business romance. Instead, we get a very shallow look into the industry and the drama focuses more on romance.

I quite like the initial setup of the romance. The leads have good chemistry together and the acting is decent (but not great). I enjoy the straightforwardness of Toma and his brave declaration of love. It’s not surprising that Natsume is taken back by this sudden confession. But Toma’s bravery seems to have subsided after initial episodes. He didn’t really aggressively chase Natsume, but acts more like a lovesick, jealous puppy.

I personally like the development of this short romance and how the leads finally get together. They have some sweet and flirty scenes together, and a couple good kisses (though the camera pans out and you can’t get a closer look). Unfortunately, the lack of a plot with substance affects the second half of the drama. It becomes repetitive when Toma has to constantly fend off guys who he perceives as interested in Natsume. And Natsume constantly displays low self-esteem before and after they get together. I would have liked the drama to have better writing and not dwell on these two issues.

This is a light and short watch. If you need a palette cleanser from a serious watch or want to know a little bit about beauty advisors, this is a good one. But I feel that there are stronger JBLs out there.



Completed: 9/4/2024 - Review #481

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Could have been great with better writing, acting and execution

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I can’t help but compare “Century of Love” a little bit with “I Feel You Linger in the Air”. Even though they have completely different plots, the historical context and the main house give me a very similar feeling. Unfortunately, IFYITA is so much better in every single way - acting, writing, chemistry, production quality and cinematography.

“Century of Love” is unique and a breath of fresh air among the sea of Thai BL’s with a focus on high school or college students. The plot is interesting but unfortunately the writing is not. There are so many plot holes and unexplained storylines. You will have to suspend reality to truly enjoy it. How can a 100-year old man who couldn’t ‘perform’ have grandchildren and a family? How come Vee can help reduce San’s pain when he first moved into the house, yet never ever repeat that again? Who are those villains? What is their background story? How did the sick guy come to know of the stone? Is the reason for the betrayal due to debt and nothing else? How come the other character does not have the same healing aftermath of the stone? I have so many questions and I can’t seem to calm my brain to ignore them.

But I am not surprised there are plot holes. After all, it’s hard to do that with a supernatural/fantasy plot. I might overlook some of these shortcomings if the acting is good. Unfortunately, I find Daou and Offroad’s acting only average and somewhat inconsistent. I think Offroad performed a little better, except for a few crying scenes. He looks great as the fox demon. Daou’s grumpy personality is a little awkward and his acting is not subtle enough. The exaggerated ‘thinking’ is all over his face. However, I do think he got better as the drama went on, especially when he doesn’t have to act like a grumpy old man anymore. Among the cast members, I am most impressed with Pond (Doctor Third) and he gives me a little bit of second-lead syndrome. Pond almost made me want to check out “180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us” just for him. Cookie (as Wat) also did pretty well. Luckily, there aren't any annoying characters. I like San's descendants. The 3 generations are quite fun and provide some pretty comedic and heartwarming moments.

The chemistry between the leads is decent with a few good kisses. I was more interested in the first half of the drama before the leads are officially together. The pace starts to slow in the second half, especially the last few episodes. The plot becomes predictable and there’s more repetitive crying. I think the drama will benefit from a couple episodes shorter.

It’s unfortunate that an interesting general plot was not executed well. The drama seems to be of a lower production value (maybe that’s why there are so few product placements), with poor CGI. Luckily, the fight scenes are decent, even though they are not of good C-drama or K-drama quality, they are better than other Thai dramas.

“Century of Love” is not a horrible watch due to its more mature and interesting plot. If you have time and are fans of the actors, it’s worth checking it out.


Completed: 9/1/2024 - Review #480

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A rare anti-heroine with an interesting plot

We often fawned over anti-hero male leads, what about an anti-heroine female lead? “Fortune Writer” has an interesting and unique way of portraying a common fantasy plot of characters recognizing themselves being in a novel/story. I was actually quite surprised that the writer actually committed to giving us a female lead that’s ruthless and selfish, almost all the way till the end. She persisted on following her original plans, and did not let being in love derail her (as much as possible). I wish there are more dramas out there with these smart anti-heroines.

“Fortune Writer” makes fun of itself and common tropes, and doesn’t shy away from doing that to itself. I thought to myself, how come our female lead keeps on getting hurt and needing healing and saving from our male lead. And then, the doctor in the drama expressed what I was thinking!

Daisy Li is a good actress, and she’s probably the best web mini drama actress out there. She performs really well here. I hope she gets more roles in bigger productions and not stuck with these 10-min episodes. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the male lead. Ye Sheng Jia looks too young for the role, and when playing opposite Daisy. He is not quite up to par and his acting is a little bland. He’s very baby-faced cute though. The acting of the rest of the cast is not horrible, just average.

Since this is a mini drama, one can expect some usual shortcomings when it comes to the production. The dubbing was average but tolerable. The costumes and hair accessories are not bad and Daisy looks really pretty. Music is fine but not too memorable. It’s somewhat hard to judge the editing since these are short episodes. I wanted to watch the complete version on YouTube, but the sound quality is really bad and muted. So I have to resort to binging this by clicking ‘next’ every 10-15 minutes.

Overall, I had a great time watching “Fortune Writer”. The interesting and unique plot deserves a higher rating than other mini dramas I’ve watched, even though the acting is just OK (except for Daisy).


Completed: 8/30/2024 - Review #479

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Cute couple with honest communication, yet slow-paced and uneventful

“Kare no Iru Seikatasu” aka “Living with Him” could easily be a movie instead of a short drama. The plot is very simple - childhood friends-turned-lovers + cohabitation + unrequited love. It’s a comforting and predictable watch, but it was too uneventful. Nothing much really happens in this drama, therefore, I feel that the pacing is quite slow, even if there are only 8 short episodes.

The leads are cute together and have good chemistry. Both of them are very likable and they actually communicate openly and honestly. However, I do find Kazuhito’s character too perfect. I guess that’s the whole premise, to find out why such a perfect guy doesn’t have a girlfriend.

There isn’t any annoying character, or over-the-top acting. The supporting characters, friends and family, are actually supportive of the leads.

I want to like this drama more, especially when it has all the tropes that I like. But the pace is slow and there’s not enough pining and longing looks for me to keep me interested and not feel bored,

Completed: 8/28/2024 - Review #478

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Cute and Sweet - a Perfect stress-reliever

“My Little Lover” is the perfect dose of sweetness and cuteness that I needed. There are many different adaptations of this drama, and this is the only one I saw. So, I am unable to compare to see which adaptation is better.

The plot is very simple. Close childhood friends grew apart for unknown reasons (to the girl). Due to some conflicts, the girl woke up and found herself to be only an inch tall. Luckily, she was discovered by the boy, otherwise she would be so lost. The rest of the story is very predictable and you can probably tell how living together means growing feelings.

I am usually not a fan of over dramatic acting, and Japanese dramas are known for them especially when it is an anime or manga adaptation. Luckily, I was not annoyed with the acting. Instead, I found the leads super adorable and likable. The drama started off on a perfect note showcasing a very, very cute version of the leads when they were young. The young actress is cute as a button and reads her lines very well. The adult leads are handsome and pretty. I gotta check out other dramas of the handsome Nakagawa Taishi. They make a good-looking pair and I was really rooting for them. On another note, I don’t find the secondary leads very attractive, so definitely no second-lead syndrome here.

The only thing that annoys me in this drama is the trespassing. No one seems to think barging into someone’s home and bedroom is a problem. Worse than that, they are snooping around and invading people’s privacy. This also makes the side plot of ML’s father a little weak for me. Even though this is a 9-year old drama, it doesn’t feel too dated to me.

I had such an enjoyable time that I binged all 10 episodes in one go. I might be a little more lenient in rating this a high 8.5 because I am in need of a cute and fluffy drama.



Completed: 7/23/2024 - Review #464

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Great women bonding and empowerment; Several anger-inducing characters

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Revenge seems to be a popular theme recently. However, in “Alliance”, it’s not a central plot or at least not the main reason for Lin Shuang (FL) when she started out her journey of re-discovering her former self and becoming independent again. We have two strong women who bonded because of an extramarital affair: the wife and the lover. Throughout the drama, we witness how they break free from the chains of men and families, and grow to be self-reliant and be the best person they could be.

What I Like:

1. Lin Shuang/Jiang Xi Unlikely Friendship - Most of us are probably drawn to this because of their friendship. From enemies to scheming partners, and finally becoming each other’s support system, their unlikely bond is front and center in this drama. It’s lovely to see how they support each other without sugar coating anything. They are there to provide encouragement, constructive criticisms and celebration of big and small accomplishments. They would not have become the person they are in the last episode without each other.

2. Jiang Xi - I especially like the story of Jiang Xi. Midway through the drama, I pray that she will have a VERY happy ending. Not only does she not have a happy childhood and loving parents, she also gave her heart for a man who is evil on all levels. If this is not a women-empowerment drama, I would love to see her be spoiled by a rich sugar daddy who loves her to death. But I will settle and wish her a guy who treats her right. Jenny Zhang plays the character so well. She has this beauty that is alluring and sexy, even if she’s not doing anything intentionally sexual. She has an aura that makes her very attractive just by the way she holds herself. Jenny is perfectly casted for her role as Jiang Xi.

3. Strong Women Cast - Although not all the women are lovely in this drama, there isn’t any weak damsel in distress in this drama. Women portrayed in this drama have a very independent and strong light shown on them, and not only for our leads. We have supporting characters who are opinionated with strong and explosive personalities, and even minor roles as computer engineers and programmers. However, most of the CEOs and executives are still men in the drama, except for Sister Wei (Ark CFO),

4. Acting - Strong acting from the four main leads. They are all experienced, so that does not come as a surprise. “Alliance” also has a very strong supporting cast of other veterans (parents and executives) and the younger cast also does not disappoint. I have no complaints with anyone’s acting performance.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

1. Little Apple (daughter) - This little girl is really cute and she speaks her lines very well. I adore most of the scenes she’s in, especially with her mother and Uncle Gu. But gosh, she screams so much that it hurts my ears. Every time she calls out her grandparents, her high-pitched scream would kill me. There’s an episode when she was crying for her mother at the top of her lungs and I had to fast-forward it. It’s a personal pet peeve. She does act really well and major props for her ice skating and ice hockey skills.

2. Lin Shuang - As the main lead of this drama, I empathize and sympathize with what she is going through. Afterall, she IS the drama. But for some reason, I am not connected with her emotionally. Do I feel bad? Yes. Does her experience move me to tears? No, not really. As mentioned above, I feel for Jiang Xi more, even though I can’t relate to her experience. With Lin Shuang, I can relate to her on a more rational level since I am a mother myself. But emotionally, something is missing. Is it Zhang Xiao Fei’s acting? The writing? Most likely, I am the problem.

3. Wei Ming/Li Ze Feng - I have a love-hate relationship with Wei Ming. I HATE everything he does and he makes my blood boil. But you can’t deny the writers did an amazing job in writing out his lines (or shall I say lies). You have to give him props for being cautious, detailed-oriented with a great memory. Li Ze Feng does such a fantastic job in playing this slimeball and he just spits out these ‘beautiful’ lies so convincingly. I love the acting but I hate the character.

4. Plot/Pacing - In theory, there’s a lot going on in these 36 episodes. We started from the happy family to the discovery of cheating. Oh, by the way, did I miss Lin Shuang feeling heartbroken because her husband cheated? Like she loved this man and now she’s sad because he doesn’t love her anymore? All I get is that she felt betrayed and she regrets her decision to give up her career. Then we have women bonding, fighting and growing. Don’t forget the family drama and child custody. We throw in a slow-burn romance and another side romance. Add to the drama is the business side of things, a start up, and corruption. It took Lin Shuang less than a year to discover the cheating to start her business. That seems really fast for anyone, let alone someone who hasn’t worked in years. All of this is covered in 36 episodes. YET, for some reason, it felt repetitive in the last 5-8 episodes for me. The scheming back-and-forth doesn’t end, the same lies are told and it’s no fun when you know who the villain is, and his tricks from the very beginning. The romance isn’t fun or angsty or fluffy. The drama loses my focus in the last few episodes (maybe the tech and coding talk) and I didn’t like the last episode either (especially the proposal). I like where the female leads end as a person, but I don’t like the writing of the last episode.


What I Don’t Like:

1. Frustrating Characters - One of the main reasons I did not watch this drama initially is because I heard of the frustrating characters. Gosh, there are so many and they make my blood boil. If I am only watching Wei Ming’s lies, I can deal with that. But his parents, Jiang Xi’s mother and the spoiled brat Joyce? They never go away and stay for the whole drama. I want to jump into the TV screen and beat them up so badly. If you do not like these frustrating and anger-inducing characters, don’t watch this drama.

2. Make-up - Who approves the make-up for these male characters? Huang Xiao Ming looks absolutely horrible with the white, cakey thick foundation on his handsome face. Has he aged that much that he needs such makeup to make him presentable? The other one with bad makeup is Zhao Shun Ran (Martin). He’s so handsome but he has uneven makeup on. At times, you see makeup on the face but not the neck. Huang Xiao Ming’s makeup distracts me whenever he comes on screen.

3. Lin Shuang/Gu Xu Romance - I hate to say this, but this slow burn romance is not working for me. I am not moved by Gu Xu’s dedication and I can see why he’s the perfect guy for Lin Shuang in my head. But the writing of the romance plot does not convince me that Lin Shuang feels the same way as Gu Xu. Did she like him when they were in high school? Or did she only see him as a rival this whole time? When did Lin Shuang fall in love with Gu Xu? Was it love or gratitude? Unfortunately, I am not feeling the chemistry between them.


Despite my rants, I do feel that “Alliance” has a lot to offer. I’ll recommend this for those who are looking for a women-centric, empowerment drama. As a working mother, I reflected on my personal experience while watching this. It’s hard to balance career and family, and you do need to give up some. If you are a working mother, you might be interested in this as well. However, if you can’t stand frustrating characters (those you want to punch their faces), it’s best to skip “Alliance”. You might get angry and it wouldn’t be fun, except, of course you are looking to be angry. LOL



Completed: 7/7/2024 - Review #457

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