I feel like this had a lot of potential for good bromance, backstory, and personal character growth — but the thing they zoned in on was the love triangle. We spent so much time with the guys jostling each other and the girl debating who to pick, we didn't spend time on other topics I were really interested in: the guy who ran away from home, the ramen shop, ML's relationship with his dad, etc...I know tvN's Flower Boy series sort of always goes for that type of subtlety, but it also always seems to fall short of satisfactory closure.

There was also a lot of humor at the start, which I appreciated even though it wasn't my type of comedy and because I felt like the FL was acting so ditzy when she was supposed to be the more mature one. Even as someone who's not a huge fan of age gap romances, I really missed the power dynamic in that I liked how the teacher was in a position of power at school. I'm also a sucker for the school setting and kind of liked that part of the drama the best.

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This was a surprisingly wholesome and complete story, considering it was only 4 episodes.

It took a while for the main female lead to grow on me, as throughout a lot of the drama she really just felt like another cliche quiet, top-of-the-class good girl lead. The few scenes we saw her with her best friend made me like her a lot more and I wish we had more time to get to know the more talkative, smiley part of her.

Another character I really wanted to know more about was Brown Bear, and part of me wanted him to end up in the main ship instead, as his personality and backstory just seemed much more interesting than the main lead, who I didn't like as much. The few minutes of flashback we saw between Brown Bear and A-young's brother made him grow on me A LOT. Overall, I just wasn't a huge fan of the male lead, and I didn't think there was enough time for his character development.

Story-wise, however, the plot was really strong and I liked how we saw very subtle but well-paced character development in the side characters. The open ending (which is a style I'm not a fan of in general) left a lot to be desired in my view, but it can still be considered a happy ending, which I'm grateful for.

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Like most web dramas, Yellow doesn't have much depth to it and it was full of cliches, but it was still a fun watch anyways. HOWEVER, second lead syndrome really hit me with this one, and it was one of those situations where you just kind of knew one of the guys had no chance. The development between the main leads was kind of lacking, and I thought the ship with second lead was so much healthier.

I couldn't help but compare it to Shut Up Flower Boy Band in my head, and one thing I noticed was that bromance in that drama was so much stronger, and I wish Yellow had more of it.

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The main couple's on-and-off-and-on-again relationship started to get really repetitive, and to be perfectly honest I was rooting for second lead a lot more.

Now, the special episodes I loved, because NOTHING beats the friends-to-lovers trope and even though something about Pu-Reum doesn't quite sit right with me, I love Ha-Neul and I will root for his ship.

I'm also surprised about something else—I'd always thought Jae-In was the main female lead, but it's been three seasons and she doesn't have much plot. I'd definitely want to see more of her in the next season.

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This drama was super cute from start to finish, and I love how the relationship between the main leads was different from a lot of cohabitation relationships where they start off hating each other. It was refreshing to see a male lead that wasn't arrogant and cocky; right off the bat, we saw that he was compassionate and caring for the FL, not because he liked her but just because of his personality. The little easter egg scenes at the end of episodes were also super cute because we got to see more of this.

Si Tu Mo was a lovable main female lead as well. She definitely stood up for herself, was straight and to the point when it came to romance and friendships, and it was really great to not have to get frustrated at those stupid misunderstandings that too many other dramas have.

Sadly, the last few episodes of this drama really slowed down the pace, and I felt like it dragged without any real storyline—they seemed like filler episodes.

The OST is also okay, but I love love love Time For A Love Song by Luna!

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The aesthetic of Playlist Global is still so sweet and adorable, but I feel even less invested in the characters and plot than I did in Season 1. Just like in the first season, though, I really loved the friendships between the characters, and it was interesting to see new characters get introduced.

The main ship is starting to get a little on my nerves because of how wishy-washy they were being, and I actually liked the new character better. Other than that, I still had quite a good time watching this, and the fact that the episodes are short and updated frequently makes it easy to get addicted.

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So underrated

This was so cute! No love triangle, no second leads, no toxicity, no misunderstandings — it was just the main characters and their friends growing up together.

The most interesting thing about this drama is first and foremost the main female lead’s personality; she’s headstrong and stoic but still cares about her classmates, and even when she has a crush she doesn’t stop it from getting in the way of her dreams and goals. It was just super refreshing and different from the typical cdrama cutesy female lead.

The main couple don’t have a lot of skinship but when they do it really gives you butterflies, and they absolutely sell the “innocent first love” feeling. I really liked how they went from butting heads to being partners-in-crime, and that even when they fought, they never stopped caring for each other and ended up talking things out and apologizing. I’m going to sound like a broken record at this point but I just loved how down-to-earth everyone was.

My only criticism might be that the ending seems a bit rushed; while I enjoyed the twist, I felt like the drama chose to go for the shock factor and time jump, while I’d rather have they spend more time showing the “in-between” for both our main leads and also for the side characters, whose arcs just sort of fell off. Some of my favorite moments ended up being in the special episode, which I’m so grateful for.

Ultimately, this was a really great watch — comforting, for sure. The side characters aren't that memorable to be honest, but the main leads are, and for that alone this drama is very underrated.

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Peak action

Oh that was PEAK CINEMA. It's actually not a new story — this kind of revenge drama and twist has definitely been done before, but the way it was executed, from the action/fight sequences to the soundtrack, to the emotional beats and tension...everything was just top notch.

Han So Hee is absolutely amazing in the role; the stunts (which I learned she did herself) are amazing and really make your heart pound, and she hits the perfect balance between being stoic but also being overcome with emotion. Ji-woo has to be one of my favorite female leads I've ever seen in a kdrama, EVER.

I absolutely loved Ahn Bo Hyun in the ML role as well; his role is not as heavy for sure, but he plays the part well and matches the emotional aspects perfectly.

With that being said, I cannot say enough about Park Hee Soon as Choi Mu Jin, who just absolutely blew me away. This is a drama that manages to keep its lines blurry and its antagonist characters morally gray, and I find that so impressive. The acting is amazing in both action scenes, and the quieter, tug-at-your-heartstrings ones.

While the ending was understandable and actually very fluid, I did think it was a tiny tiny bit rushed at the very end. I think I just wanted some of the other side characters to get the arc wrapped up, instead of just focusing on our female lead and nobody else. I get why the choice was made though, and in the grand scheme of how much I enjoyed this show it really is just small potatoes.

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A great short drama

For a show that's only 4 episodes, the cinematography and script are really impressive. The visual transitions are awesome, the main female lead is smart and able to hold her own, and the world-building is actually very strong and able to incorporate social commentary without being too heavy-handed with it. The additional layers of family expectations and peer pressure make the drama more grounded and relatable even with its fantasy elements, and the ending is satisfying while also setting up an intriguing season 2. I'm also really happy that we got elements of female friendship and I'm excited to see more of that in the next season.

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Great, but not as great as S1

This was still really great and captivating — I couldn't wait to see how the mystery would turn out now that we were getting into who was behind the killer, and it definitely felt like the villains and the good guys were going head-to-head and you didn't know who would have the upper hand and where. There was a lot of great tension whenever they had to sneak into places or were trying to work undercover.

I think the way the story plays out is just okay though; it doesn't quite feel as fleshed out, and there are reveals that I was looking forwards to that ended up being sort of underwhelming.

The best part of this season, however, is absolutely the trio of Ren Fei/Lian Yan Dong/Ji Si Qi. They hit this perfect balance of being in law enforcement and working outside of it, while giving off this "found family" feeling. I REALLY wish we got more of them, whether they were plotting or having an awkward meal together.

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The best short drama there is

For a short drama, this was amazing. I was impressed with the story, the production value, the OST…everything.

One issue that has plagued a lot of cdramas is draggy pacing — it’s hard to manage when a show has 40 or even 50 episodes. Being so short absolutely worked in Provoke’s favor. Not a single minute was wasted, and it felt like the show trusted its audience enough to pick up on the story fast. It was simply really convincing.

The actors should also get their flowers for this. This chemistry between the main leads is very good throughout every single step of their relationship. The tension, relief, playful banter — it was all there. I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic develop, and the show really hit the sweet spot between making them stubborn and strong individuals and still having them communicate and respect each other.

The humor is really clever and well-timed, and the side characters all played their roles too. Ultimately this was great. It’s probably my new favorite short drama out there.

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A nice watch

This had been on my list for a while, as someone who loved The Gifted. For the most part, this was enjoyable and well-written, and all the side characters were fleshed out.

Its biggest drawback, I’d say, is the pacing. While it may be consistent and steady, it’s SLOW. Especially in the first few episodes, it feels like it takes the characters a very long time to figure things out, and it also gets a little repetitive with all the characters acting similarly in how they question the Masters. Even Maki wasn’t doing much with her backstory.

As the drama went on, and Run played a bigger role, I think that was, for the most part, fixed. I enjoyed gradually getting the backstories of all the side characters and learning about the school’s origins. The pacing was still a little slow, but I didn’t mind it as much.

I, however, do wish the drama was a little braver with its themes. The “don’t sink to their level” and “be a good person” theme has been seen in a lot of Thai dramas, like The Gifted. While it’s definitely a valid worldview in the real world (and one I hope many people follow), it unfortunately makes for boring television. Our main characters are tossed around by the antagonists who are actually willing to do things that move the plot forward. And the stakes also feel lower because we know that nothing is going to end up happening to them — after all, they have to be rewarded for their goodness in the end.

Ultimately, I still enjoyed this one a lot. Though I think it could’ve been a bit more compressed and more extreme, the themes are good, the ships are subtle but cute, and the story is well-written.

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The main couple is the best part

Oh dear. This one is so universally beloved on the internet that I’d been saving it for a long time; as a lover of the zombie genre (the fast ones) and of healthy, best-friends-to-lovers romance, I felt like this had everything I could ever want. In the end, though, I felt like it was just okay.

The best part of the show is the main couple — I loved every scene they had together, and I loved how much they communicated and supported each other through everything. But I felt like they were very underutilized.

Even though this drama is filed under Action and Thriller, there’s actually very little of each. Compared to most zombie outbreak shows, this one is relatively contained: for most of the episodes there’s one or two that pop up, but they’re fought off or pushed outside the building, and everyone retreats to their apartments and their food rations.

I don’t mind a bit more organization and government response, and Han Tae Seok is actually one of the most intriguing characters in the show, but I feel like the show needed to escalate much more to make the stakes feel higher and for us to see the main leads in a more raw and desperate state. We got a little bit towards the end, but it felt very late and the scale just never felt as big as it could’ve been.

Additionally, when the plot started expanding, there were a few unnecessary plot elements that were included. The “people are the real monsters” theme is very common and I enjoy it, but it didn’t quite feel cohesive. Sometimes the character decisions didn’t really make sense, and the “zombies” ended up being pretty underutilizedwith the final resolution being too quick as it jumped to the epilogue.

Ultimately, I think this is a very character-driven drama, which is good if you like that sort of thing. I think the side characters were all very well done and there’s adequate commentary through them about human greed and selfishness — I just wish the drama moved the plot forwards while it was doing all that.

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Amazing vibes, intriguing story

Japan has got the horror vibes down because I absolutely had to take a break between episodes — it was just so dark and heavy. And yet, by the end of the season, I was surprised at how hopeful the drama made me feel despite how much paranoia and anxiety the show also gave me.

Overall, I'm really impressed with how this was written, and how it really gave itself time to develop and set up the story. There are some common horror elements like the main character's backstory, but it still feels really original. I don't know where the plot is going and I'm excited to find out.

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Good premise but confusing

This was barely coherent.

My order of how much I liked the acts goes 3 > 2 >1 of appearance, but everything really did not have to be in reverse chronology in the first place. It was confusing and the film basically asked me to care about all these unlikeable characters before it showed me why I should.

Act I. There was no reason for the genre to be dystopian sci-fi. It was a pretty interesting set-up in the first act but started to feel forced, not thorough, confusing...and by the time we got to the other acts it was forgotten anyways. The film showed nothing about how society became that way and why it mattered.

I actually enjoyed the dark and grittiness of the film (especially in the later acts) and the setting in the first act should've just stuck with being in a world with lots of corruption and wealth inequality (like Gotham). That would've been a lot more believable.

The acting in the first part was also the worst in my opinion. I already mentioned not really liking the characters, but I also found the performances all just very blah.

Act II.Lee Hong Chi was the only good part here. The acting was great but there was really no good story to work with. The cliche of the Unforgettable Girl You Meet One Sad Night And Then Lose Contact With Forever is cliche and boring.

Act III. This one was actually my favorite because it actually did have a story and decent character writing — until it all devolves just like the other parts.

Generally, all the parts had something going for it until it tries to do something violent for the shock factor. It makes every sub-story end on an unsatisfying note and it sucks because I think the cinematography is pretty good.

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