꧁ Shows I’ve Watched in 2024 ꧂

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‘Mother’ is deeply touching & resonant—told in a poignant narrative. Brilliantly acted by Lee Bo Young (Kang Soo Jin) &  Heo Yool (Hye Na/Yoon Book), their portrayal is nothing short of phenomenal, breathing life into their characters in a truly enthralling way—so much so that I can't imagine anyone else playing their roles any better. This is the first time that I think I’ve become a fan of a child actress; she’s definitely going places in the future.

For years, I have been eyeing this show due to its impressive 9.0 rating, but I lacked the motivation to dive into it due to its synopsis suggesting a heavy narrative that didn’t immediately pique my interest, or should I say, it does not exactly align with the top viewing preferences of most people, including me. Nonetheless, I'm glad I finally gave it a chance. Though the first few episodes weren't as engaging as I had hoped and didn’t really compel me to watch the next, I continued watching (with breaks), and finally in the second half, the story fantastically unfolded in a gripping and poignant manner, compelling me enough to binge-watch it in one sitting. I can promise you that the second half payoff will be absolutely worth it.

Among the Top 50 Rated dramas on MDL, many delve into the theme of motherhood/parenting. And as someone who has watched them all (this being the last), I can confidently attest that this one particularly executed it the best. It was such an intense emotional experience that profoundly moved me in the right way, and I can only deem it a masterpiece within the motherhood/parenting umbrella.

The catharsis it brings out for me, serves as a powerful emotional release, offering some sense of relief, so I hope it does for you too.

The tears were worth it, as was my time.
Highly recommended.

10/10.

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✵ Full Review ✵

◆Most genuine and natural romance with sizzling chemistry.

◆They give me butterflies just by them being in the same airspace.

◆An absolute treat that cures depression, yet causes diabetes.

10/10.

BTS | Interviews | Others | Etc

Episodes: 30
Runtime: 23 Hours

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Heartfelt & healing, I wouldn't mind if this series continued forever.

10/10.

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9/10.

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Entertaining dynamics among the main trio, accompanied by consistently sharp, witty, and funny comedy. The show also succeeds in presenting intriguing and emotionally impactful cases, each with its own compelling storyline that is well-executed. I particularly love how the show effortlessly transitions between moments of laughter and heartfelt emotion, truly a great blend of humor and heart.

While it took me until around Episode 3 to fully get into the show, it ultimately proves to be worth watching.

9/10.

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One of the best found family-themed dramas, with Li Haichao as the best dad the dramaworld has ever offered, hands down.

The drama spans across 3 stages of their lives—as children, teenagers, and adults.
It starts in 1999 in Ep 1, progresses to 2009 by the end of Ep 2, and finally reaches 2019 by Ep 12.
I’ll admit that it took me a week to finish the first 9 eps due to its rather slow pacing, which is necessary as it takes time to build the backstory of the characters. While it has its moments, it didn’t exactly drive me to watch the next episode. This was also partly due to the older setting and duller colors used to depict the past. However, Ep 10 was when it got truly good for me, and when I got interested & invested in the show, subsequently binging the remaining episodes when I had time.

There are plenty of well-written reviews, so I’ll just comment on the minor gripes I had with the show.

I felt that the romantic angle was a bit off. It could have benefited from a more gradual development, either by depicting LJJ having a crush on LX from the onset—even tho there were subtle hints during her teens, although not strong enough imo—or by illustrating LJJ’s gradual realization that her affection for LX extended beyond platonic sibling love. The show missed the opportunity to convey and delve deeper into her real feelings, and kinda jumped the gun of them being together, resulting in a somewhat forced or not as natural progression of their relationship.
Additionally, I believe that the plot involving Chen Ting (LX’s mum) could have been more tightly written. Fyi, she is the most annoying character in the series, even tho I empathized with her to some extent.

Despite all that, the found family bond & the trio girls’ friendship bond >>, making it worth a watch.

Standout Episodes: 10, 17, 25, 28, 29, 30, 33, 35.

9/10.

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Every once in a while, you come across a time travel story that is freshly executed and well done. This is one of them.

'Cause I'm falling slowly love with you~

8.5/10.

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“It’s strange, isn’t it? We get married because we’re in love. So why does that love disappear?”

I think what impressed me the most were the intense exchanges between the couple and their exceptional acting. Kim Soo-hyun, in particular, was simply phenomenal. His ability to convey emotions through his microexpressions and the way he pulled off crying scenes were nothing short of an absolute masterclass. I’m really glad that I got to experience those emotions I felt during those moments because it sure was cathartic for me. I also love the OSTs.

It has its flaws for sure, but I'm not going to nitpick on them, since I'm overall satisfied and entertained with the show.

8.5/10.

Episodes Comments

Episode 7: Last scene broke me ㅠㅠ she swears the last thing she would forget is his betrayal, but the first thing she actually forgets is their fight, she only remembers how much she loves him and Hyun-woo giving her the umbrella years ago ㅠㅠ

Episode 8:  A very much-needed epilogue ♡ for such a politics-heavy episode. Hyun-woo really lived up to his promise to be by Hae-in’s side and take care of her even if she is poor, jobless, or in debt.
And I hope Hae-in’s desperation to live will turn out well ㅠㅠ  Hyun-woo really thought that provoking Hae-in would motivate her to live but he failed to realize that a simple statement expressing his desire to stay by her side would ignite her will to keep on living ㅠㅠ

Episode 9: Hae-in: “Do you think being together in this situation will make us happier?”
Hyun-woo: “We’ll be less miserable.”
Ooph, line hits hard. (っ˘ڡ˘ς)

Interviews | BTS | OST | Others

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Some adjustments to the viewing lens first: 
FL might be a bit annoying at the start, but it will get better (by Ep 3) as she slowly opens up to the ML. Cases are rather straightforward, so don't expect any criminal mastermind or complex cases, and I'd suggest not taking the cases too seriously (especially the Office Psychiatrist Case, imo).

The relationship and dynamics progressively improve throughout the episodes, and it's a delight to see. The show is fun and entertaining mainly because of the charming personalities of the characters.

Ep 12 best episode. Absolute cinema.

A very easy watch for the most part. Cast carried—Isoo & Ganghyun chemistry is too good!

Episode 1: Catching a Murderer on the Run Case.
Episode 2–3: Yacht Model Murder Case.
Episode 4–5: Painter Murder Case.
Episode 5–6: Elderly Case.
Episode 7–8: Office Psychiatrist Case.
Episode 9–10: Hotel Set Murder Case.
Episode 11–12: Oryun Community Case.
Episode 13–14: Dead Body at Jin Myungchul’s House Case.
Episode 15–16: Jin Myungchul Case.

8.5/10.

Interviews | BTS | OST | Others

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I initially found it challenging to fully immerse myself in this show due to its slow pacing, but by Episode 7, I was thoroughly drawn in. The plot proved to be intriguing, and I particularly enjoyed the smart, witty, and humorous main character (modern outlook), as well as the intelligence displayed by the majority of the cast as they continuously attempted to outsmart each other. The series maintains a consistently promising tone throughout, making it a compelling historical drama that I would want to watch the sequel of.

8.5/10.

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“We are all youths.
Not despairing in defeat, nor modest in victory.
With sword in hand, righteousness in heart.
The vastness of the sea gives birth to our heroic qualities.
The blooming blossoms make us show the world our joy.
The path ahead is perilous, but we shall not falter.
The company of friends calls for a toast to heaven.
Laugh when you feel like it.
Berate when you’re upset.
Wisdom of the world fills countless volumes, yet we only seek to follow one’s heart, and stay true to oneself.”

“ 我们都是少年。
输时不悲，赢时不谦。
手中握剑，心中有义。
见海辽远就心生豪迈。
见花盛开，也不掩心中喜悦。
前路有险，却不知所畏。
有友在旁就想醉酒高歌。
想笑了就大声笑。
想骂了就破口骂。
人间道理万卷书，只求随心，随性行。”

This show serves as a good example of a wuxia drama done right. 

Do watch the 5-min extra episode as well, it’s like the epilogue, but it’s a must watch.

8.5/10.

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Addictive start and strong chemistry between the leads. Both the ML and FL were sensible and intelligent, able to read between the lines and come to the right conclusions and understand each other's actions. They were consistently portrayed—their intelligence and rationality weren’t impaired just because they fell in love—which I appreciated. No tropey misunderstandings between them, and I enjoyed the strong trust they had in one another throughout. The romance was slow-burn, but in a manner that made you look forward to their witty interactions. If I have to nitpick, the ultimate pay-off to their get-together wasn’t as impactful as I expected, but I think that’s becuz I personally enjoy the more tense, ‘courtship’ phase more.

I think the show’s best aspect is its portrayal of the circumstances of the FL, Xue Fangfei (aka Jiang Li). The helplessness, pain, and injustice she experiences in her ‘double’ life evoke deep empathy from the viewers, keeping a grasp on the viewer’s heart so that one just can’t help rooting for her. She’s truly such a likeable character who is both smart and charismatic, a good representative of the qualities of a strong female lead (not martial arts). As ‘cheering’ plays a huge part in the enjoyment of a revenge-themed show, the show executed this aspect masterfully.

Besides that, I felt part of the Jiang family arc/squabbles overstayed its welcome and were rather weak, tho I understand their importance for the closure of the ‘Jiang Li’ side of the story. Oh, and I did not like the ending, particularly with the unnecessary deaths, which reminded me bitterly of Tong Er’s death (apparently she did not die in the novel). The drama really did these few characters dirty, and it made me want to drop the ratings. But I chose not to do so in the end once I thought of the positives and the excellently beautiful Guqin performance in Ep 11.

8.5/10.

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8.5/10.

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Rewatched.

8.5/10.

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8/10.

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I'm not feeling it for this season. It's still nice to see how Fan Xian navigates all the political scheming, but I feel that this season doesn't really have the ‘highs moments’—it’s just mild enjoyment throughout, somewhat underwhelming even.

7.5/10.

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Personally not a fan of bullying/delinquents theme, but I must admit that the execution here was just brilliant and riveting. The tone throughout was very immersive and for the content it adapted from, this live-adaptation stood out due to the remarkable acting of the cast, resulting in a more poignant and emotionally charged narrative.

I believe my rating would have been higher had I not already completed the webtoon and possessed prior knowledge/familiarity of what was to come.

7.5/10.

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Earlier episodes weren't as good, and it takes time to eventually like the two new doctors since they will need to go through character development. I wasn't motivated to watch the next until Episode 7. Episodes 7, 8, & 10 were really good and executed well, and most of my marks go to these compelling episodes. The last four episodes seem to build or open for a potential Season 4.

7.5/10.

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It was alright, not that bad.
Finally the end of the series.

7.5/10.

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7.5/10.

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Entertaining and engaging enough, thanks to the exceptional acting of both Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee. I would say they contributed significantly to the show’s appeal for me.

7.5/10.

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7.5/10.

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The Good Bad Mother, such a fitting title.

“A mother can replace anything in this world. But nothing can replace a mother.”

Peaked on Episode 11–12, and I’m giving +0.5 points to that.

7.5/10.

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• Overall I think it was slightly more towards the plain side, but it’s alright.
• I like the secondary couple‘s love line (Reporter x Paramedic) more.
• Subjective, but at times, the banter between the main leads feels weak—coming across as childish rather than witty or entertaining. But I guess it did shape the couple’s dynamics.

7/10.

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7/10.

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I completed the webtoon a few years back and enjoyed both the original story and the changes made in this K-drama adaptation, appreciating its life-affirming message. However, this time around, perhaps due to having more time to process the story in a live-adaptation format, I thought that the ending was bad.

[SPOILERS]
I understand that ending on a more hopeful and happy note could be better for those struggling with suicidal thoughts, as it suggests they still have the opportunity for a "second life"—not in the literal sense, but in the sense that it's not too late, and they can still make better choices. However, while the intention is good, it invalidates everything that the ML has experienced and undermines the core message of the show. We follow the ML throughout his journey of coming to fully regret his suicide, emphasizing and driving home the importance of cherishing one's ONLY ONE life. But by granting the ML a literal second chance at life, the ending contradicts this message entirely and dilutes the impact of his journey. The show should've maintained the theme that "suicide is never the answer" without providing a literal second life for the ML, as it could send a wrong, twisted, counter-message across, imo. I personally think that a more somber ending, although desolate, would have conveyed a stronger message about cherishing one's life and being more thematically consistent with the rest of the narrative.
[END OF SPOILERS]

The plot twists didn't have as much impact on me because I already knew about some of them from reading the webtoon. But that’s just for me, it would probably have a much greater impact on others who are encountering them for the first time.

7/10.

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Not to my taste, but it’s nice to see the perspective of a wise queen diligently striving to protect her children at all costs while adhering to her moral principles, and demonstrating compassion towards others, such as the consorts and their children who deserve it. I particularly liked how the show adeptly captures the nature of a mother's love for her children.

However, I find the motivation of the Queen Dowager, the main antagonist, somewhat weak as it appears to be solely driven by greed for power and position. While this aspect serves to propel the plot forward, the motivation lacks depth and complexity. Nevertheless, I understand that this isn’t the primary focus of the show, but it is still worth noting since it does affect my overall enjoyment after all.

Favorite characters: The Queen, Seongnam, Cheong-Ha.

7/10.

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Despite the cleanly orchestrated and executed plan that gradually choked Park Yeon Jin socially and psychologically, I failed to experience the cathartic release and satisfaction from the revenge, especially given the degree of brutality inflicted upon Moon Dong Eun previously. The retribution administered to Park Yeon Jin felt too light, particularly considering that she emerged relatively unharmed physically, apart from the social ostracization by everyone she knows and her serving jail time, where she faced only slight further mistreatment. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but be impressed by Im Ji Yeon's acting as Park Yeon Jin; she truly stole the show even as a villain, and I do look forward to her future projects. As for the romance, it failed to engage me at all.

Expected a better payoff but was kinda let down.

7/10.

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Just action-packed, really for the leads at this point.

6.5/10.

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Slow-burn revenge. Part 1's storyline continues to build tension and lay the groundwork for forthcoming plans, yet the actual revenge has not yet come to fruition. For now, I'll focus on commending the good acting performances, particularly those of young Moon Dong Eun, both young and adult Park Ji Yeon, and adult Son Myeong Oh. Others also played their respective roles well. I don't believe the romance was necessary, though it's just peripheral at this point to the main plot, so I'll just look past it.

Part 2 will ultimately determine whether the payoff is worth the anticipation built up in Part 1.

6.5/10.

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I decided to give this series a chance because it’s by the same writer who originally wrote Amidst a Snowstorm of Love, a work that I absolutely loved and enjoyed. However, I found myself disappointed mostly.

The writer really did the FL dirty, rendering her as passive, bland, and devoid of any real personality. Apart from her talent in composition and singing, she lacked depth beyond the typical shy and beautiful archetype. Her interactions with the ML felt one-sided, with her merely receiving his advances plainly rather than engaging in any witty conversations or playful teasing. It's clear that the writer aimed to create a love story tailored to younger girls, epitomized by what she perceived as a swoon-worthy all-rounder ML—a doctor who is also somehow a professional dubbing voice actor, an exceptional cook, and an outstanding singer. While I don’t mind escapism and idealistic romance, this goes way too far for me, coming across as superficial and contrived. It’s a portrayal of a perfect dream guy trope, who is utterly besotted with the FL and does everything for her, and the FL is just a blank slate that receives everything and does nothing else. It feels shallow and lacks the depth I crave in a romance. Perhaps there is some surface-level fluff that some people can enjoy, but this doesn’t scratch enough for me now.

While the initial episodes held promise, my enthusiasm for the main couple waned within just 9 episodes, but somehow the fluff magically got back from Ep 28 onwards which truly saved the show. The music performances (Ep 5 & 17 my fav) helped as well, and also the good portrayal of friendship. This series definitely could have been shorter.

TL;DR: I’m quite indifferent to the main couple dynamics, due to the poor character writing of the FL (script issue, actress acted well).

6/10.

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Love Like the Galaxy truly peaked between Ep 47 and 49. Ep 47 lays the groundwork for an epic climax, which unfolds with breathtaking brilliance in Ep 48 & 49. Wu Lei's portrayal during these pivotal episodes transcends excellence, showcasing a depth of emotion and nuanced that defies expectations, especially considering his character's typically cold & composed demeanor. While I had always known he was a great actor from his other works, I was genuinely impressed by the range and subtlety he brought to his performance in this climax. The direction, cinematography, atmosphere, music, emotions, and overall execution of these episodes are executed flawlessly, earning them my utmost admiration and praise. All my marks are given here.

However, the subsequent five-year separation time-skip and certain questionable plot choices, left me perplexed. Specifically, I struggled to understand CSS's choice to remain with the empress and remain estranged from her family for such a prolonged period. While this gap did aid in repairing her familial relationships, I couldn't help but question its necessity. Similarly, Buyi's extended period of reflection and repentance over five years seemed excessive—was it truly warranted? These lingering doubts and frustrations ultimately diminished my investment in their eventual reunion, and I could no longer feel the sparks by the end.

I also found myself grappling with the series' pacing issues and I strongly believe that the series could do without the unnecessary drama caused by 1-dimensional noble characters (as previously criticized in my Part 1 comments). CSS’s character is a little inconsistent as well; while she has moments of strength and depth, there are times when her actions are frustrating to watch, especially when it seems she has regressed rather than matured as a character.

I struggled to get through most episodes.

6/10.

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Peaked during Episode 8–9, where the interactions and communications were good, and Park Shin-hye acted really well then.

However, I lost interest on around Episode 10–11 and it was truly a slog to get through the remaining of the episodes. I felt that the psychological takes on issues like depression or PTSD were explored rather poorly—at least it did not seem to be in good depth.

Overall, a forgettable show that failed to leave any impact on me.

5.5/10.

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While I understand that the premise centers around middle-school romance, I found it to be too puppy love and slightly excessive in its cheesiness for my liking. The main couple's dynamic felt too simplistic, featuring a stereotypical stoic male lead and a bubbly female lead. Their portrayal felt too shallow, making it difficult for me to invest in their relationship. I’m actually more drawn to the secondary couple's relationship, finding it to be more engaging and enjoyable.

I generally have a preference for more nuanced, mature, and authentic portrayals of romance. But given the established premise of middle-school romance, I hope my critique is valid enough of a point.

5.5/10.

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Also known as The Founder of Diabolism and Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.

I'd like to preface by stating that I have a dislike for BL content. Even though The Untamed is under censorship, and one could technically interpret or pretend it all as 'bromance,' the romantic undertones are too obvious to ignore, which greatly diminishes the enjoyment I had.

While there's undoubtedly more to the story, given its heavy focus on their interactions and relationship dynamics, which I have zero interest in, this series is a miss for me.

5.5/10.

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I thought I had a higher tolerance for noble idiocy and miscommunication, but the constant cat-and-mouse between the leads throughout the show left me exhausted for a large part, and not in a positive way.

This show is relentlessly brutal, filled with suffering and angst, suffering and even more suffering. Yet, there are too few relieving moments to offset the gloomy tone (except last 2 episodes). Sure, it’s expected in a war-themed show with historical commentary, but the imbalance just leaned too much for my liking, making me struggle to finish the show.

As for whether Gil Chae was raped/abused — I understood what the writer & directors intended. Whether she was raped or not truly did not matter in the end. The abuse she underwent did not need a name. The way the husband and even her sister harped on it drove home the point poignantly. Somehow her return is completely overshadowed by was she-was she not. To Jang Hyun it did not matter. And to Gil Chae, it never was the point. This was highlighted by the strongest dialogue in the entire series spoken, and executed brilliantly by Jang Hyun (Namgoong Min’s acting >>) on Ep 17 (Ep 7 of Part 2). FYI, I did not think she was raped — the cultural and social context of that time period was drastically different from now, as seen in one scene of Eun Ae’s reaction to being touched by a foreign invader on her wrist, where she initally deemed herself as ‘tainted & has lost her chastity’, as her husband too, so the fact that Gil Chae said that she was ‘abused’ did not imply that she got raped imo. Still, props to the production for skillfully selling the idea that it matters not.

5.5/10.

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Jeez, this has a depressing tone throughout, and the FL is real annoying when it comes to communicating with the ML. I felt so much angst for the ML, and he’s just way too underappreciated in the show.

I hope Part 2 will have more moments to compensate or at least balance off the angst so far.

5/10.

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Brutally slow-paced, one of the slowest slow-burn romances ever.

This first part irks me. 3 potential love interests—LBY, Lou Yao, & Yuan Shen—for CSS were bearable until the decision to pull a marriage arc between CSS & Lou Yao that lasted from Ep 14 - 21, a terrible move imo. Lou Yao‘s character is plain asf; he’s your nice, kind, obedient, yet uninteresting guy, and we all know he’s not the endgame. It feels pointless, providing character development for CSS by subjecting her to a toxic family dynamic. Surely there’s a better way? It’s frustrating that LBY has to watch from the sidelines, appearing indifferent yet silently jealous as CSS & Lou Yao progress. I felt that the series is heavily geared towards the female audience; second-lead syndrome, multiple suitors vying for CSS,  powerful & handsome LBY putting in all the work but totally one-sided (entire Part 1), etc.

I dislike overly complicated love relationships that tangle with multiple parties, but if all this sounds fine, you might like the ‘growth’ of the smart, strong & independent, yet immature & stubborn CSS in the process.

Oh, there’s also a bunch of bitchy, spiteful spoiled nobles who serve nothing more as a foil for CSS to leave them speechless with words or for LBY to swoop in and ‘save the day’. It might be satisfying to see them being ‘face-slapped’ by the guy they like, and for him to do so for CSS whom they despise and belittle. For me, while they drove the progress of CSS & LBY relationship forward in Ep 24 which is good, their shallow presence is still more annoying than rewarding overall. I’d prefer more complex & nuanced characters that appears to be smarter writing, if you know where I’m coming from.

CSS finally realizes that LBY is good to her in Ep 27.
I’ll probably enjoy Part 2 more.

5/10.

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“Five minute extra episode of the group's return to Snow Mountain Villa after years of being away and an unexpected guest arrives to join them. A reunion of Xiao Se and Wu Xin is also inevitable.”

I won’t be rating extra or special episodes.

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Special Episode 1 — BTS stories from the filming set revealed by Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Lee Joo-bin. Q&A, NGs, vivid behind-the-scenes and highlights of the famous scenes. Unfortunately, the main cast couldn’t gather together and they have to do the interview separately.

Special Episode 2 — Reveals the making of <Queen of Tears>, which captivated viewers. From the stunning visuals of the German locations to the cutting-edge virtual studio, and the four seasons captured by <Queen of Tears>, a 390-day journey is depicted vividly. The power of CGI.
It also shines a light on the extraordinary cameos by Oh Jung-se, Song Joong-ki, Kim Shin-rok, Hong Jin-kyung, Jo Se-ho, Nam Chang-hee, and others, which have never been seen before, as well as the memorable scenes that moved viewers’ hearts. In particular, it adds to the curiosity by showing the real-time reactions of fans that stirred up the community with each episode.
Furthermore, the stories of fans still yearning for <Queen of Tears> even after the drama has ended will be revealed. As <Queen of Tears> gained immense popularity worldwide, viewers from all over the globe are sending warm regards regardless of borders, adding even more warmth to their final farewell.

I won’t be rating special episodes.

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6-min special episode.

Xiao Heng narrates how they've been married for 8 years and a daughter is shown.

I won’t be rating special episodes.

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TV Show instead of Drama/Movie so I’m separating it from the rest.

Participants from the top 1% of students from five prestigious universities in Korea (Seoul National University, KAIST, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Korea University), and students from Harvard University.

Pros:

• Most deserved winners.
• No social politics, betrayals, and deceptions, meaning there’s less-to-no drama, making it an easy watch for those purely interested in the problem-solving aspects.
  The competition relies purely on brainy aspects such as arithmetic, calculations, logical thinking, memorization, creativity, visual-spatial intelligence, etc.
• Apart from the initial introduction, there are no intermission or filler-like screentime, going straight to the games, which is great imo.
• Likeable cast, all displaying a certain level of competency and able to pull their own weight to some extent, with rather fun personalities. There are like no clear deadweights or free-riders (tho, if I had to name one, it would be Sky from Harvard University).

Neutral:

• Just a bit too maths-focused imo, but at the same time, I guess it showcases their brilliant minds well.
• Harvard University was a little disappointing, I’m not sure if they are also in the top 1% of their school or just top Korean students studying at Harvard. Don’t get me wrong, they are definitely smart, but they just feel somewhat outclassed here tbh.
  Janice is my favorite from the team btw.

Favorite Player: Hyunbin (Seoul National University).
Least Favorite Player: Sky (Harvard University).

9/10.

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Four actresses take on the challenge of a triathlon.

Very inspiring and also educational for casual viewers. Heartfelt final episode.

9/10.

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• Very entertaining and strong start. The 1st half was genuinely a solid 9 and above, peaking at Episode 5. Unfortunately, it fell off a cliff in the 2nd half (around Episode 7/8 onwards) due to the repetitiveness of the games. It was clear that the production ran out of ideas, and a lot of the games in the later episodes were either versions of previously played games with minor tweaks or exactly the same games.
• The semi-finals and finals were the most underwhelming and anti-climatic show I have ever watched out of any similar Korean survival game show. Repeating the same games was just not it, and it was way too simple considering that it’s a best-of-one. Hong Jin-Ho and Xitsuh played excellently throughout but underperformed in the end, so both the games and players ended up disappointing. As for the winner, he wasn’t that likeable since he did not have any good results throughout despite his slimy plays and subtle manipulation. It is what it is tho—a win is a win since he played well when it mattered most at the end.

Definitely an upgrade from Season 1, whether in terms of the smartness of the games or the general competency of the players. However, I think the 1st half set such high expectations for me that I was even more disappointed by the end. 

Still worth a watch, considering the great experience I had in the 1st half.

Favorite Players: Hong Jin-Ho, Xitsuh, Dex, Yurisa.
Least Favorite Player: Ha Seung-Jin.
Wasted Potential: Yurisa, Hyun Sung-Joo.

8.5/10.

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• I like the concept of the twist, and it makes you want to cheer for the underdog a lot.
• It's entertaining, but most games depend more on their social political games (betrayals & mind games) than on being smart about the actual game itself.
  
  

Favorite Players: Yeonseung (from The Genius) & Nayeong duo.
Honorable Mentions: Taekyun (most skillful, but has loose lips), Jimin (shrewd and had the right mindset of what the game is and should be, even though her actions can be very polarizing), DEX (mid-game interviews showed his general understanding and self-awareness).

Others lowkey weren’t skilled and didn’t exactly have the right mentality of what a survival game should be (Jae-il on loyalty, blah blah). The worst was Queen Wasabi, who had a poor understanding of the games and was also thirsting for DEX (brief screen time, but it was still cringe asf). She had zero individual play and was just strung along by Jimin.

Hopefully, Season 2 will have less politics and both smarter players and games instead.

8.5/10.

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NewJeans having their own variety show right at their debut.

8/10.

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8/10.

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Better than I expected. Cast themselves add a lot of personality to the show.

Favorite Cases:
—Team Leader Lee's Murder Case (Episode 5 & 6)
—Actress Murder Case (Episode 10)

8/10.

Completed

Min-si is a great addition to the team with her competence and hardworking nature, and she responds well to Woo-shik's antics, which makes it fun. However, this season was so busy that it might not feel as healing and relaxing as before for some viewers, especially during the first two days when things got a bit hectic as their system wasn't in place yet (it became less chaotic afterward). Other than that, I wish there had been more rest time for the cast and more of their interactions, but most of the time, they were busy working.

V wasn’t in this season, but hopefully, he will be back next season alongside Min-si.

8/10.

Completed

Se-chan + Mi-yeon

Episode 6 was the funniest for me. It gets better in the second half once they've figured out the show and grown closer to each other. Dong-won and Geon-hee are unexpectedly entertaining in their own way, while Se-chan and Mi-yeon are obviously great at variety.

8/10.

Completed

• Casts: John Park, Karina, Lee Hye-ri, Kim Do-hoon, Lee Yong-jin, Lee Eun-ji.
• By Jung Jong-yeon PD — The Devil’s Plan, Girls High School Mystery Class, The Great Escape, Society Game, The Genius. I think among these shows, it is most similar to The Great Escape.
• I think everyone would agree that 2 cases (6 episodes) were too short. Apart from that, it was entertaining, and the casting was good as well—they each have their own respective charms and fun. I would love to have a Season 2 to it, as the show has a lot of potential that can be explored.
  
  

Episode 0: The agents gather for a pre-meeting.
Episode 1–3: The Followers of the Evil One.
Episode 4–6: The Deep Sea Mystery.

Harper’s BAZAAR Korea’s Contact Free QnA (Full Cast)
Salon Drip 2 (Lee Hye-ri & Kim Do-hoon)
Salon Drip 2 (Karina)

8/10.

Completed

I was already spoiled about who made it far or who the winner was due to some of the Korean variety shows or YouTube shows I’ve watched, which made the tension less impactful than what it should have been.

8/10.

Completed

• Main hosts: Yoo Jae-suk & Yoo Yeon-seok.
• Hosts visit ordinary citizens during their brief moments of free time to play games and win prizes for them. The game consists of three rounds, each increasing in difficulty but offering better prizes. The team has a total of 10 tries to complete all three rounds.
  • Rounds and Tries:
    - The game consists of three rounds.
    - The difficulty of the rounds increases progressively.
    - The total number of tries for all rounds combined is 10.
  • Decision:
    After successfully completing each round, the citizen must choose to either:
    - "Go": Attempt the next round with the remaining tries.
    - "Stop": Secure the prizes won so far and end the game.
    If the citizen chooses "Go" and the hosts fail the subsequent round, all previously won prizes are lost.
• Guests:
  • Episode 1: Lee Kwang-soo
  • Episode 2: Jo Jung-suk
  • Episode 3: Ahn Yu-jin
  • Episode 4: Ahn Bo-hyun
  • Episode 5: Kim Yeon-koung
  • Episode 6: Cha Tae-hyun
  • Episode 7: Kim Hye-yoon
  • Episode 8: Ji Suk-jin & Jo Hye-ryun

7.5/10.

Completed

Yoo Jae-suk + Kwon Yuri + DEX.

The missions felt mostly bland, so you shouldn’t expect much from them. Most of the fun comes from how the cast reacts and interacts with each other. I enjoyed the Horror episode (EP 3) and Money Hunt (EP 8) the most, with the horror episode standing out more due to its impressive atmospheric setting, which I really liked.

• Episode 1: AI Zone — AI Universe, Yoo Jae-suk World.
• Episode 2: Break Zone — The House of Paper.
• Episode 3: Fact Check Zone — Horror.
• Episode 4: Bug Zone — Follow-up plot from previous zone (Guests: Key, Agent H, Cha Tae-hyun).
• Episode 5: Four Minutes Zone — Tower of Four Minutes.
• Episode 6: Line Zone.
• Episode 7: Memorize Zone — Library & Test. | Money Hunt (1st Part).
• Episode 8: Money Hunt (2nd Part).

7.5/10.

Completed

• Jung Jong-yeon isn’t the PD for this season since he left CJ ENM in 2022 (and also correspondingly tvN). He passed the baton to his junior PDs—Im Soo-jung (co-directed Girls High School Mystery Class S1 & S2) & Kim A-rim (worked on The Great Escape). This marks Im Soo-jung's debut as the main PD of the series.
• "In previous seasons, we received feedback that the stories weren't realistic. As such, if I were to take the lead, I wanted to address and improve the (plot of 'High School Mystery Club' series)", said Im Soo-jung.
• As much as I want to show my support to JJY’s successors, this season was kinda disappointing. It was less exciting and thrilling and wasn’t as fun compared to the previous seasons (this was after I finish the show and not knowing that JJY isn’t the PD btw). Idk, on one hand, I love seeing the girls together, but on the other, I also have higher expectations for their interactions and banter. Still, I‘ll watch them anytime if there’s another season.

7/10.

Completed

• Season 1 games were more fun and creative (mythology-themed >> underground-themed). Here, some of the games were reused, and I still dislike the 1 vs. 1 Ball-Snatching game. Season 2 games, however, felt more physically demanding overall in some sense than Season 1, and really, there should be a female version of Physical 100 because it’s literally impossible for females to win under this format, and this season just proved it more.
• Most deserving finalists, in the sense that both are extremely well-rounded in all aspects, but the final game could have been fairer if they had fixed the height of the pole so that it wouldn’t move vertically. There was already a weight difference (which is fine since it can be overcome with strength), but a game-changing element like the pole tilting heavily favors the heavier party gravitationally and shouldn’t have existed. Still, a rather deserved winner, although I’d prefer the other guy winning due to his better story and attitude.

Well, I’m still entertained, though not greatly.

Season 3 will likely be more international with its allegedly Asia format.

6.5/10.

Completed

Each episode’s premise is based on real events that happened in South Korea in the past, but people and events were recreated. Casts have to uncover and figure out the incidents and mysteries happening in the apartments.

• Apartment settings (except for the last 2 episodes, which are School settings). Given such limited space and setting, the show did well in making it somewhat interesting, although I felt that there were more downtimes for the most part.
• Spy/spies were inserted in some stories to spice things up.
• Casts separated into 2 teams each time. Games are played twice in each episode to obtain hints, but the games are not relevant to the story at all, so they can get boring—have to be heavily dependent on the casts to make it entertaining.
• Takes time for each story to build, usually only gets better during the 2nd half of each story.
• Jennie was a surprise; she did well, showing her wits and smartness, making it more entertaining overall.
• Jung Cheol Min PD — Sixth Sense, Running Man (Past).
• Episode 5 has the best twist.

Episode 1: The Buried Secret (1998 Setting)
Episode 2: The Missing Girl (1986 Setting)
Episode 3: The Suspicious Neighbor (1999 Setting)
Episode 4: (1970 Setting) | Guest: Choi Yeon-jun (TXT)
Episode 5: Broken Conscience (1991 Setting)
Episode 6: Weak Person (1984 Setting)
Episode 7: Trapped Youths (2011 Setting) | Guests: Aiki, DickPunks.
Episode 8: You Are Mine (2003 Setting) | Guests: Cho Sae-ho, Choi Yeon-jun (TXT), Kim Si-eun.

6/10.

Completed

Very hit-or-miss depending on the guests.

5/5/10.

Completed

• Deserved winners. Better than Season 1, this is now the best mafia game I’ve ever seen. Everyone played decently well but the winners just played excellently.
• Mafia Game.
• 10 Participants.
• Every night the Mafia (Accomplice) can kill someone. 
• Every day there will be a voting to vote someone out.
• On the 2nd day, the 1st Accomplice will recruit 1 more Accomplice and 1 Spy, while the Citizen Team will be assigned a Doctor, Police, & Private Detective as additional jobs. 
• The affiliation and identity of the deported (due to the votes) and the deceased will not be disclosed. The deceased can leave a dying message of 6 letters for the survivors to see the next day, the dying message can’t be manipulated or changed.
• On the 5th day, if the number of people in the Citizen Team > Accomplice Team, all remaining citizens will win. Conversely, if the number of people in the Accomplice Team > Citizen Team, the Accomplice Team will win, and is considered a joint victory even if only one player wins.
  
  

Not rating this since it can only be compared with mafia game-type shows anyways.

Completed

Mafia Game with 8 contestants.

Disappointing. True to its title, they hired a bunch of sheeps that were clueless and had no idea what they were even doing or deducing.

• Players A and F had the most sheep-like behaviour.
• Player B was vocal but way too emotional when things turned against him. He literally could not separate his feelings from the game (taking it personal), which impeded him from thinking logically (like his pride was hurt or something lmao).
• Player C, who gave off the most sheep-like aura at the start, turned out to have pretty decent judgment of the people and how the overall situation was being influenced, but I just couldn’t believe the ending—it was extremely stupid, and also showed how sheepy in nature the rest were.
• Player D (Kyunghoon from The Genius) had a decent social game with his slimy ability to manipulate the people and situation. Definitely the most logical one along with Player G. But I can’t help but think that his relatively good play was actually due to how terrible the others were. Things would have turned out differently if others were slightly more competent.
• Player E did not stand out but did played her part.
• Player G, the most logical and rational one among the white sheeps, figured out the Black Sheep (Mafia) Code. But I’m absolutely dumbfounded how badly the others fumbled even after knowing that information. Like wth? Did they not consider that he had 4000 contacts on his phone? He was right in calling them idiots.
• Player H, at least she tried, was an earnest player but just unlucky.

The casting was bad. It needed more competent, intelligent, logical, cunning, persuasive, deductive, or charismatic players.