Tomboy chaos at its finest

'Coffee Prince'- a legend in its own right. It truly works, in my opinion, by putting a spin on the flower-boy concept, making it fresh. I think it's a mixture of believable acting, funny characters and slight angst that makes this drama so good in my eyes. It's by no means perfect, but by today’s standards, and if you are a fan of tomboy characters and 2000s kdrama romcoms, it's a classic and I highly recommend it.

I loved Eun Chan’s boyish charm, their morals, their loyalty and that they had personality and weren’t just the love interest. I also liked how they actually passed as a guy. Han Gyul came from a place of heartbreak and self-importance but bettered himself by the end. He learnt to except himself and loved Eun Chan no matter who they were. I appreciated how hard working he became and how much he generally loved the café.

I immensely enjoyed the chemistry and family bonds between the characters, I really got the sense that these were real people. The actors did a great job!! I think this was helped by the down to earth script, and the use of many grounded sets and shots that added to the atmosphere, it really sold the drama's tone and humour, which made the watch that bit more immersive. Some of the characters were outright messy, they could be interesting, good people but selfish at times, driven by their need for company, love or money, but it worked because that's real life, no-one’s perfect. Everyone has their battles when it comes to needing connection and resources - this drama did a great job at highlighting that. Not everyone has the luxury of being like the Choi family; Cheabols with money to throw at their problems. In real life, sometimes you’re pulled into difficult situations.

This is a 2000s drama however, meaning it does come with some of the annoying tropes of the era, like dramatic miscommunication, love triangles and the ~classic~ rich guy doesn’t know how to be nice, but the nostalgia and realistic acting diluted it’s substantial-ness for me. It switches from comedy to raw and impactful believably. I really like its message of love who you are, your job and who you want to become - which I would argue are very important ideals to have in your life and makes for a great take away/shower thought.

The songs were stuck in my head for weeks. This has certain re-watch value for me, I always smile when I see its icon on Netflix. I sincerely enjoyed the journey this show took me on and I can't wait to watch it again soon ^^

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'Cherry Magic’ – is a BL that blends the supernatural genre with office life in the perfect way. It takes all the good traits from those genres and discards or subverts the less favourable ones. This show feels nostalgic to me, it comes across like a good 2000s ‘slice of life’ manga. There isn’t too much conflict, there’s the right amount of work and free-time scenes, the “Will they? Won’t they?” isn’t harsh and the lack of a lot of settings helps keep it feeling quaint and like it comes from Adachi’s point of view [especially with the cinematography]. The characters were archetypes, yet they didn’t feel stale through the actors’ stylistic choices, making them feel human and relatable. They made an already good script, sing.

Adachi Kiyoshi could've easily been written as a stereotypical weak character, but he had so much personality, compassion, and love in him, that only grew when he gained confidence in himself. His ability [psychometry] allowed him to come out of his shell and help others, even if it wasn't always smooth sailing for him personally. These powers also didn’t magically fix all of his personal qualms, he’s still a nervous 30-year-old, after all. He had to self-reflect and evolve. Kurosawa Yuichi; The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Kurosawa was a team player through ‘n through. He’s love language was commitment with a capital C. He’s a genuine stand-up guy. He wasn’t rude nor was he overpowering of Adachi’s boundaries, he listened and tried to be the best version of himself. This also meant he held himself to an incredibly high standard. I liked how the writers also made him just as complex as Adachi. He had his weaknesses and strengths like anyone else. Every time his eyes lost their spark but he kept smiling, I felt it deeply.

This was a really interesting, well executed part of the drama, aided by the flashbacks and narrations of their thoughts. I love their relationship, it felt so right and that they had room to develop together. Their romance had the classic rom-com lack of skinship but with Adachi’s personality, it didn’t feel out of place at all. Through their caring words, actions, and gazes, I could tell those two truly loved each other.

The supporting characters. Rokkaku Yuta was a fun inclusion, I liked how determined he was, and he complemented the others' chiller vibe well. Fujisaki Nozomi was a great depiction of how a women character doesn’t have to be threat to a mlm couple and can just exist with her own life. Tsuge Masato was a very wise and caring friend … when he was calm. I thought he really lacked depth when he’s emotions got the best of him. He wasn’t annoying enough for me to skip his scenes, but for a man his age, it was a bit disappointing. Minato didn’t do much, but he danced well and was played by Yutaro, so I have no complaints.

I highly recommend this drama, to those who want to watch a show that they can both; enjoy and get them in the feels. It’s also good for those who like the smaller details and easter eggs. This drama is great for being calm, subtle and comforting. The music is also straight bops. Anyways, Udon is best boy, that is all.

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