Colorful clothing and sweet romance

I've been looking forward to this for a while because I like Cris, Toptap and am a fan of noona romances. For me the wait was worth it. Don't expect a groundbreaking plot. It's much more a fresh and light breeze of nice entertainment that puts you in a good mood.

The series is about Rin, a seemingly cold-hearted fashion designer who has no one that cares about her. She meets the young college student Ray, who wants to do an internship at the fashion company with his two friends. Ray has a secret ability: when he touches people, he sees their last few memories. However, it causes him huge pain. Except when he accidentally touches Rin. With her, he feels no pain which makes him curious. He tries everything to win her heart.

I love the fact that this series, which focuses mainly on working life as a fashion designer, added a supernatural element. There's also a BL side couple (with Toptap and Fame). It was nothing too special, but still a sweet extra.

The noona romance was cute. I think Cris (Rin) and Blue (Ray) have good chemistry. Also, they are both really charming and their smile is adorable.

What stood out for me was the colorful scenery, the soft and bright lights and the interesting and colorful clothing. The first half was more exciting than the second. The last episodes were a bit draggy for me. But overall I still liked it. And the kiss scenes in the end were amazing!

If you enjoy a simple and sweet plot, combined with noona romance, some BL, working life, fashion and very colorful scenes, you should give this series a try.

[finished watching on 27 February 2024]

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You can reach a better, a Wonderful World

This series is now one of my favorite thrillers. Every episode was exciting, full of emotions and tears. It's sad, heartbreaking and bittersweet. It makes you hopeful that good things can arise in the midst of pain and suffering.

The plot is about the mother Soohyun who loses her little son in an accident. But was it really an accident? After that her whole world falls apart and she makes a decision that has many terrible consequences for her an others.

Even though the twists were mostly predictable, it didn't change the fact that I was excited throughout. The pacing was okay. There are a lot of quiet phases, don't expect too much action, but to be honest... it doesn't need action to be memorable and thrilling.

The main characters are morally grey. I often hated their actions and decisions... but sometimes I understood them. I cried with them and for them. Romance doesn't play a role in this series, but that's okay because it's really not necessary.

I'm so glad that the story didn't feel rushed. Everything was put together naturally. I was very pleased with the happy ending. In my opinion, Wonderful World is a heavy, cruel and sad thriller series that leaves you satisfied in the end!

On a side note... I really love Seonyul's apartment.

[finished watching on 26 February 2024]

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Learning sign language because of love

I started this drama sometime last year but only watched one episode and then kind of forgot about it. Shame on me. But this year I thought about it again and watched it on two evenings. It was worth it!

The drama is about the 35-year-old gynecologist Suzu. On a starry night she meets Issei, who is ten years younger and works for a packing company that clears out houses of deceased people. Issei is deaf. So the two communicate through gestures and text messages.

The love story is very heartwarming and positive. Issei is such a cheerful young man. His smile is contagious, his charm is enchanting. However, the drama doesn't focus on the couple all the time, but rather on the working lives of the two and their friends.

I wanted to see so many more interactions between Suzu and Issei. They really captivated me. Especially their kiss scenes. I want more. I was happy that Suzu was motivated to learn sign language so quickly. She did great!

What I didn't like was the fact that they didn't call the police during some scenes. I think the villain should have been held more accountable.

Nonetheless I enjoyed this series. It's a wholesome age gap romance about deafness, work life, friendship and healing.

[finished watching on 13 January 2024]

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Sweet and soft like a cherry

It was my first TayNew series. I couldn't wait to experience their dynamic. Before that, I only watched series where one of them played a role, but not both together. TayNew did not disappoint me. I enjoyed their couple and Cherry Magic TH in general very much.

I have to say that I neither know the manga nor have I seen the Japanese series adaptation, so I can't make a comparison as to which version I like better. Overall the plot is veeeery sweet. It's stress-free, happy, without angst and with many wholesome moments.

Karan and Achi are very cute together. At first they were colleagues and then slowly became more than that. While Karan had a crush on Achi for a long time, Achi was surprised and overwhelmed by it. But Karan's smile and charm quickly became irresistible. The kisses were so soft, I'm still spellbound.

Besides I like Jinta a lot. He is loud, overdramatic and can be annoying, but that's exactly what I find charming and very entertaining. Such a sweet and chaotic dork. I want a bookstore date like JinMin. It looks like so much fun.

And I really like Tanaka! Sometimes I thought he was going to have some kind of nasty surprise for his employees, but in reality he is just funny, nice and understanding. Best boss!

I'm looking forward to more TayNew content in the future!

[finished watching on 3 May 2024]

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A game that tests your emotions

This series is really good. I finished it in February. I'm still very much in love with the concept. A group of people end up in a VR game every night and have to pass dangerous levels that take them to different places. They have to fight against beasts and solve riddles. This alternates with events outside the game where the characters have to deal with personal problems like their imperfect family life. At the same time they have to figure out why the VR game was created and how to escape and - more importantly - how to survive it every night.

Unfortunately, the suspense wasn't quite balanced. There were very exciting phases and then very calm and perhaps rather boring phases - but I actually liked this duality. It worked for me.

The plot is very character-driven, and it's done well, which is a BIG PLUS for me!

One of my favorite characters is female lead Chun Yu. She's smart but not very talkative, seems cold and unshakeable at first. I love her tomboyish style. Her hair is usually slightly disheveled and her lips rather dry. It felt so natural to me. And she rides a big motorcycle!

My other favorite character is Zhang Tian Qiang. I didn't like him at first. He was so annoying. But that changed quickly. Well, he is still annoying but at the same time such a dumb and lovable cutie. He has the best character development. Very believable and heartwarming.

I cried happy tears because of all the good teamwork in the end.

P.S.
The outro song of 19th Floor is such a banger~!

[finished watching on 17 February 2024]

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Most chaotic high school

For HiGH&LOW fans this mini drama is definitely a must-watch. The story takes place between the 2nd and 3rd HiGH&LOW movie. It focuses on the students of Oya High School. Conflicts arise after new boys arrive and try to become leaders of the full-time students. And most importantly, it introduces Fujio - a boy who will be of great importance for the following movies.

What can I say except that HiGH&LOW is simply fun and puts me in a good mood. After watching and loving ~The Story of S.W.O.R.D.~ and the movies, I really enjoyed this little extra series as well. Especially because Murayama gets more time to shine.

The series also has a large amount of bromance. But this isn't a surprise. HiGH&LOW can't exist without bromance. My personal highlight: Tsukasa constantly thinks about Fujio and longs for him, which ultimately ends in their pretty hot fight in the rain.

[finished watching on 13 January 2024]

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Be ready for a heartwarming and emotional journey

This drama is about the college student and ex-convict Mhok, who desperately needs a job and ends up becoming Day's caretaker. Day is also a college student and was a passionate badminton player before he became partially blind due to infectious keratitis. The two get off on the wrong foot, but soon build up a great deal of trust... and finally fall in love with each other. But Day continues to struggle with his failing eyesight and Mhok tries his best to support him. Can they overcome the challenges together?

I was really impressed by JimmySea's acting! They both portrayed the characters very authentically. I had tears in my eyes almost every episode, I was so moved by Day and Mhok's conversations, actions and emotions.

The two had their flaws, especially Day could come across as unlikable in many situations, but his sometimes negative behaviors were mostly understandable to me - considering his eye-trauma and the difficult relationship with his brother and his overprotective mother.

Mhok is my personal highlight of this drama. I just love him! He's so warm, caring, empathetic, funny and creative. Truely the best caretaker and boyfriend for Day.

Overall, I liked episodes 1 to 9 the most. For me it was a real masterpiece that made my heart beat faster, made me smile, laugh and cry. Sadly, episode 10 to 12 had some disappointments in store for me. In my opinion, the break-up was too sudden and too incomprehensible in its intensity. In particular I mean the complete standstill in their communication for several years. And I think they didn't pay enough attention to Mhok's personal trauma (the death of his sister).

I'm very happy for Day that he got his sight back in the end. However, this scene in the hospital had nearly no emotional impact for me and that makes me really sad. After the unnecessary time skip everything was too rushed and kind of bland.

Since I experienced a "high" in the first nine episodes like I haven't in a long time, the disappointment with the rushed, kind of bad plot and the often weird behavior and decisions of the characters in the last few episodes hit hard. I experienced a huge "low".

Nevertheless, this series has a place in my heart and I still think about many of the beautiful messages, the amazing and interesting side characters, and the sweet moments between Mhok and Day.

[finished watching on 26 January 2024]

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Pending Train to character development

The drama is about a group of people who board a train that ends up in the middle of the wilderness due to mysterious turbulences. With no civilization in sight, they must try to survive in extreme conditions and figure out how to get out of this place. Don't expect an overly action-packed survival adventure. Most of the drama is rather quiet, with slice of life elements, friendships and a little bit of romance. Sometimes people make stupid decisions until they realize that it can't work that way. I also really enjoyed the nature setting. It's beautiful.

I must admit, I watched this survival drama for Yamada Yuki and it was worth it! He plays one of the main characters, Kayashima Naoya, a charming hairdresser who has trust issues and problems to speak about his real feelings. He was by far my favorite character.

The other two main characters are Shirahama Yuto, a selfless firefighter, and Hatano Sae, a kind-hearted teacher. The three developed a wholesome friendship. However, I wish Hatano would be a bit more interesting. She was often too bland for me. The character traits of the two male leads stole the show for me.

I really liked that the supporting characters received enough attention. Over time, you learn more and more about their personal history, problems and strengths.

In addition to the friendship and detailed information about the supporting cast, another strong point of this drama is the character development. For example, let's look a bit closer at Kayashima. At first he wasn't into "buddy-buddy energy", wasn't open about his emotions, prefered to only rely on himself, but that changed drastically. Kayashima and Shirahama, who were hostile to each other at the beginning, supported each other very much after some time. Same goes for Hatano. She became Kayashima's safe zone! The other characters have also necessarily undergone a development.

Actually, I would be very happy about a second season of Pending Train. Let's see what the future holds.

[finished watching on 17 January 2024]

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The falling in love of two lovable dorks

Exaggerated and playful humor is my weakness, I just love it, and this series was able to make me laugh A LOT. For that reason alone I can't help but give a high rating.

Let me introduce you to the two main characters:
Hajime, 25 years old, unpopular actor, he is always associated with the orange juice commercial he starred in as a child.
Yuichiro, 23 years old, popular actor, seems cold at first, but is actually Hajime's biggest fanboy.

The two have landed the lead roles in a BL drama that is being adapted from a famous manga. Since the characters they play move in together in the story, Hajime and Yuichiro are also supposed to share an apartment for promotional purposes. Great idea? Yes, the best idea!

Over-the-top comedy is mixed with some seriousness and a simple, but very entertaining plot. There are lots of funny, creative and crazy ideas here, combined with two extremely amusing main characters who have a special and interesting personality.

I always stared at my TV screen during the scenes they shot for the BL drama and during their private rehearsals. Between all the funny things, they also had intense moments. Seeing their interactions just puts you in a good mood and makes you hope for more than 3 episodes.

What really made me feel connected to Hajime was the indoor climbing scene. Yuichiro was already at the top, while Hajime was still struggling at the bottom and ultimately flopped down from a height of just a few centimeters. I LOVE HIM!

What convinced me that Hajime and Yuichiro are meant for each other was the scene in which Yuichiro runs up a ramp (like a madman) with the Hajime standee in his arms, closely followed by the real Hajime. They filmed the whole route. Really, the whole route. It's perfection.

If you're a fan of over-the-top comedy and cute romance, you should watch this series.

[finished watching on 3 January 2024]

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Two hearts, two different times, one epic lovestory

I can't believe what a wonderful journey this was. My heart is still beating fast from the events of the final episode. I would like to go back to this story immediately and find out what happens in the past and also in the future of Jom and Yai. At the same time, I have to take a deep breath and process everything.

What impressed me right from the first episode was the beautiful cinematrography and the good acting of the main and supporting roles.

After a car accident that throws Jom into the water, he reappears in a different time, 1928. Suddenly being in a place almost 100 years in the past has triggered a chaos of emotions within him. He was stunned, shocked, afraid, overwhelmed, sad... I was impressed by how believably and detailed his initial problems were shown. It doesn't take long before he meets Yai. From the first moment they lay eyes on each other, it is clear that they are meant for each other. That they are somehow connected. That they have history.

Yai is so loving, gentle, considerate, kind and concerned towards Jom... and also confused and fascinated by him. The actors did such a good job. Every scene they shared felt natural, impressed me, made me excited and made me blush. One of the biggest highlights for me was the kiss in the rain. The passion and love between them was breathtaking, I can't stop thinking about it.

I loved the music. It fits beautifully into the historical setting. The songs reflect the feelings and thoughts of Jom and Yai, with tender and soulful sounds. At the same time the songs show their pain and sadness, their spark of hope and their love that transcends everything.

I'm so happy about the GL side couple. When the two women were first introduced, I was already hoping that they would have deeper feelings for each other.

I also became particularly fond of James and especially of Ming. Jom and Maey really couldn't have a better friend. I'm glad that Ming provided a lot of support for Jom as he struggled to come to terms with his difficult situation. Ming is definitely a new comfort character.

I'm grateful for this fantastic series.

[finished watching on 3 January 2024]

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Adventure is in the air

I finished watching Ultimate Note this year in February and it still leaves a lasting impression and brainrot to this day. It's the first series I've seen from the Daomu Biji universe - also called The Lost Tomb. Ultimate Note is an adventure series. It focuses on the three men Wu Xie, Xiao Ge and Wang Pangzi. Together they roam through forests, deserts, caves and many other beautiful but dangerous landscapes. They are always looking for graves, treasures and secrets.

Chronologically speaking you should actually start with a different series. But it worked for me to start with Ultimate Note. You have to be prepared to be thrown into the story without being introduced to the characters and their backgrounds. You only get a quick recap. After a few episodes, it helped me to read some guides with general information about the Daomu Biji characters. It may contain a bit of spoilers, but it's good if you want to understand more without watching the previous series or reading the books first.

The highlights of Ultimate Note are without a doubt the exciting adventures amidst breathtaking landscapes, the heartwarming bromance and the great teamwork. I was rooting for the characters and really felt the thrilling sense of grave robbing.

The bond between Wu Xie and Xiao Ge is strong and emotional - #PingXie. Even though Xiao Ge is not a man of many words, his eyes are showing all the important feelings. Both deeply care for each other. It really touches my heart.

The friendship between Wu Xie, Xiao Ge and Wang Pangzi was also beautiful. Together they are known as the Iron Triangle. Their team spirit is impressive and very wholesome.

But despite loving the Iron Triangle, my favorite characters are Xiao Hua and Hei Xiazi - #HeiHua. They stole my heart! Their dynamic is funny, crazy, warm and always puts a smile on my face. This constantly bickering couple is now among my top 3 bromances of all time.

[finished watching on 6 February 2024]

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Badass street fighting, crazy gangs, great bromance and amazing music - best combination!

Okay, first of all: This series is so much fun!

The story takes place in a town whose territory has been divided into 5 parts - each part belongs to a gang. Together they form the S.W.O.R.D. area - each letter represents a gang.

S: Sannoh Rengokai (Hoodlum Squad)
They protect the people of the Sannoh Shopping Street. Their leader is Cobra - intimidating but actually soft and selfless. He originally belonged to Mugen but this gang no longer exists. We learn more about Mugen in season 2.

W: White Rascals
They fight to protect defenseless women. This gang always dresses entirely in white and owns a nightclub - so stylish. Their leader is Rocky - I love his teeth.

O: Oya Koukou (Oya High School)
A school that is pretty much in ruins and without teachers!? The gang consists of full-time and part-time students. They refuse to graduate and prefer to fight - best attitude. Most of them are over 20. Their leader is Murayama - best boy.

R: Rude Boys
They are orphans who live together as a family on the very dilapidated and dirty Nameless Street. Their leader is Smoky - what does he use for his hair!? This fluffiness can't be from this world.

D: Daruma Ikka
This gang is all about revenge on former Mugen members. They stay in the Daruma Temple and wear red haori - I want one too.
Their leader is Hyuga - another man with beautiful messy hair.

In addition to these gangs, there are other interesting groups. You'll get introduced to a lot of characters, which can lead to confusion, but once you've made the jump and become amazed by HiGH&LOW, you'll quickly find your way around this chaos of gangs and action.

It's very important to emphasize that every gang has its own song. And all these songs are awesome. Listening to them immediately evokes this unique HiGH&LOW vibe. They make the fights even more fun!

I'll list a few of my favorite things of HiGH&LOW Season 1:

My favorite gang: Naah, I can't choose. Each of the main gang has something very interesting.
Most wholesome: Sannoh Rengokai
Most respectable: White Rascals
Most amusing: Oya Koukou
Most heart-wrenching: Rude Boys
Most mysterious: Daruma Ikka

My favorite song: The theme of Daruma Ikka (= DJ Daruma from PKCZ® - "Voice of Red feat. GS").

My favorite fighting style: The specialty of the Rude Boys: parkour. They are so agile, nimble, skilled and take advantage of their surroundings - it's just epic!

My favorite fight scene: Murayama vs. Cobra. I could watch them flirt... ehhh fight like that forever.

My favorite fighter: That's easy because he stole my heart in an instant. Murayama, my little crazy cutie.

I finished watching this series this year in the beginning of January and then finished watching the second season as well as the movies and mini-series in the months that followed. The HiGH&LOW franchise is now definitely one of my favorites. It just puts me in a good mood, it's light entertainment and I can't get enough of the songs. I absolutely recommend it!

[finished watching on 5 January 2024]

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