Ate It Up!

Celebrity was an excellent binge.

Seo Ari was a rich girl who became a door to door cosmetics salesperson after her father went bankrupt. One day she ends up tangled in the world of instagram celebrities and finds herself gaining attention and lets her curiosity of the world get the better of her.

What I enjoyed:
- Every episode had a lot happening. Very fast paced which I love.
- The characters which may seem over the top but not unbelievable because I have actually come across such people.
- The production was clearly top notch on this.
- The intro (theme) is gorgeous.
- The story-telling is certainly intriguing and I am a sucker for mysterious hidden characters and trying to figure out who dun it.
- Having heard of a few friends turn into rivalries among celebs and youtubers, the plot was quite believable. The way people end up exposing each other. The following unfollowing drama. The rumours and the fans defending and trolling and the public reactions. It's all well known facts about these celebs. The plot was a good run-down of how some of these people act on and off-screen.
- Though there is no proper romance, there is some really fascinating chemistry between Seo Ari and Jun Kyung that made for a fun experience.
- I love me a bit of a revenge plot so this show was right up my alley!

What could have been better:
Although I have already rated this a 10, the one thing that was distracting was that a lot of the online comments and DMs were not being translated and so I would occasionally translate them myself since some of it was a huge part of the story. Obviously, this isn't an issue of the plot itself. Rather, for whatever reason, the subbing was lacking.

I would definitely recommend watching this show even if you are not fascinated by celebrities and influencers as it has a lot going for it.

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Amazing until you get to the end...

I have been let down so severely by what was a fantastic drama. Let's highlight the reasons why this drama is a 9 first.

The story is about a dedicated wife-mother-daughter-daughter-in-law who is encouraged to find more meaning to her existence beyond living for her family by once again working as a doctor. When she discovers that she needs a liver transplant, her husband of 20 years, further discouraged by his mother, is unwilling to save her life by giving her a part of his liver. Luckily she finds a donor just in time and becomes determined to live her life for herself for once.

Through the plot is quite serious, especially considering the fact that the wife is unaware that her husband is in fact cheating on her, the show managed to evoke a lot of laughter. The comedy is fantastic and I am never getting over the line, "My husband is dead".

The cast are incredible. You completely empathise with Doctor Cha and are made to root for her through each of her troubles. She has a good head on her shoulders. Her husband Doctor Seo is as pathetic as a cheating man could possibly be and the actor has not only managed to get you mad at him but is also much of the butt of the jokes in the show. His expressions add to the hilarity. Doctor Roy Kim is Doctor Cha's friend in need. He supports her exactly when she needs it. He cares for her and was the ray of light she needed during her dark times. Without him, her husband would never have realised what he was discarding. Doctor Roy is also the complete opposite of what the husband is. An upright man and a gentleman. The mistress and her daughter added the much needed drama for a proper cheating scandal and the entanglement that required Doctor Cha to wake up from what she thought was a perfect life. Doctor Cha's children had their own stories going and even though the daughter was annoying at first, both her kids were sympathetic to their mother's situation which also added to her courage.

Now coming to the let down.
Throughout the show, they teased a possibility of Doctor Cha leaving her cheating husband and moving on with Doctor Roy. If the writers wanted to show her happy on her own, this angle for this character was not at all needed. He could have just been a friend from the beginning. Yes, it's true that she never showed interest in Doctor Roy because she was still in love with her husband and reeling from the shock of his affair. Yet the writers continued to tease this love triangle that never would be. It feels like the writers are telling the audience that it is not appropriate for a woman in her 40s who is divorced with two kids and health issues to have a chance at real love. She should continue her life in service of others but this time as a doctor. At least that is what much of the audience has taken away from this decision where people are writing - "yes, she had too much BAGGAGE". Only men are allowed "baggage" even today and be considered worthy of a second, third, xth chance at love. Not women. And despite being a cheater and an incompetent partner in general, the husband gets to stay friends with his wife and his ex. It was unclear if he got back with his ex. Furthermore, they practically removed traces of Doctor Roy from her life. Thus my disappointment is in what the writers inadvertently ended up pushing.

For the finale alone, I wanted to give this show an 8.5 (it was also quite dull compared to the rest of the episodes) which otherwise was a 10 but I have decided to leave it at a 9 because at least the writers didn't force her to forgive her husband and allowed her to get divorced and live for herself for a change. Coz that would have been the absolute worst.

I wanted to remember this show fondly. It's sad this finale won't let me do that.

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Enjoyable

The story might feel a little confusing at first but you catch up quite quickly. It was a fun ride! I had 0 expectations before starting this so it was a completely positive experience. It's not too scary either.

I almost didn't recognise Kim Nam Gil from Through The Darkness so that discovery was exciting.

I was a little doubtful that the pretty boy idol portraying Priest Yohan would make a good character but he added some humour to the show that is otherwise a bit dark. He emoted better than I expected.

The CGI is nice. One particular scene reminded me of a scene from Harry Potter as well.

I do wish they hadn't split up the season unnecessarily. Not happy about this trend but it was an interesting ending. Looking forward to part 2.

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Suddenly went downhill

When the series started initially, it looked like a good concept. A lawyer helping people solve cases for only 1 dollar (1000 won) but as the story progressed it seemed like there was nothing unique and special about this lawyer. Rather some things were plain luck. Still the highs were compensating for the lows.

I'll lightly touch upon some points without giving away major spoilers.

When we dove into the backstory, I enjoyed the slightly serious mood as well. When we returned to the current timeline, that's when things took a nose dive. The episode seemed so pointless and a waste of time. Ironically, the episode number was cut down to improve quality. It just makes me wonder how much worse and insignificant things had to be chopped out to still make the episode and story feel so stagnant.

I'm a little tired of shows with excessively long build-ups and then quick and easy take downs of the bad guys. But I am willing to understand the show wants to end on a dramatic finish IF it is done well. But when you lose all steam towards the end, the finale feels very flat. At least this is my perspective. I genuinely enjoyed the show initially and up until episode 10 gave it an 8.5 rating. I have to drop that to a 6 because I was bored beyond belief by the last 2 episodes.

As far as acting is concerned, I enjoyed Namkoong Min as Cheon Ji Hun. The female lead as Baek Mari's character isn't very notable or important and because of that her acting is not something I enjoyed much. In contrast, the other prosecutors Seo Min Hyeok and Na Ye Jin are the more interesting characters. The second female lead also has a very subdued personality and doesn't get much of an opportunity to shine.

If you're looking for romance then there isn't really much to speak of in this series so you might be disappointed on that front. The show's comedy is a bit lame overall. I wish I could say otherwise. Maybe if the editing/story-telling was improved and pacing were faster, it would be a fantastic show. It's a shame because the cast seems to have given their best. To watch or not to watch is solely at your discretion.

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Two cute couples for the price of 1!

Perhaps this show is not for everyone but I loved the concept. The couple was already established but now the FL is being asked to break up with her boyfriend. It was funny from the first episode. I was very curious how they will work through their issues. The FL has a strong head on her shoulders due to her background and can overrationalise things at times but she is a kind and caring person. The ML can be clingy but he is sweet and kind and who wouldn't love that. I also loved the second leads in the story. Maybe slightly more than the leads because their relationship didn't deal with too much workplace distractions.

Though thers ard a few serious moments, the show also makes you laugh and smile. And both couples have cute moments together. Though I wish there were more romance, a little less angst, and if the comedy was even better then I would have rated it a 9 at least.

In a way I am glad the writers didn't drag the background storylines too much. They were not ths point of the story. It was about the couples and some of the problems they dealt with are quife realistic. Even the nicest people have trouble in relationships because you aren't completely sure how to handle the situation.

The one good thing about the breakup trope was also that they didn't show both living separate lives. They continued to work together as they dealt with their emotions. I don't like when they completely remove the leads from each other's lives. So that was a plus for me.

The OST is also quite calming. I hope everyone gives the series a chance.

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Favourite of 2024!

The Judge From Hell not only lived up to my expectations but clearly surpassed it. I absolutely loved Park ShinHye as Kang Bitna. Even when they show her personality transformation, it is actually believable. Contrast that to the human Kang Bitna who died in episode 1 and how differently she was portrayed. You can see a real difference between the two personalities. That was just one of the beauties of this show.

The other aspect I loved is the punishments dealt by Bitna. The concept was simple yet ingenious. The CGI are beautiful. And if you love strong female characters as much as I do, you will especially love this one. It would have been so easy to mess this up because of some of the twists in the series and especially with the ending. But the series maintained it's strength and doubled down on it's portrayal of Kang Bitna as the judge from hell. Strength doesn't always have to mean physical. It can also come from within and that's what we get in those moments.

Han DaOn was also a nice character. A bit too nice and emotional to be a cop yet you want to root for him even when he is opposed to Bitna. He certainly doesn't take the attention away from her. Bitna is the shining star and the show never loses its focus! Credit to the writers and directors on that.

There are quite a few secondary characters that are enjoyable and the true villain was not easy to guess as there were many inaccurate theories by fans. That also made it more enjoyable guessing what the true nature of people was.

The only other supernatural justice plot I can think of is the Thai drama Girl From Nowhere which is more gruesome and serious. In contrast, The Judge From Hell keeps a balance between the seriousness of the cases and the punishments being entertaining due to the way they are recreated. Besides that TJFH has lighter moments and comedy that makes it a fun watch versus GFN is heavy. I loved both shows and there are aspects that are comparable so I would definitely recommend both.

The OST Boomerang, Crossroad and Gehenna are worth listening to.

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Packed with action, bromance, and thrill!

I absolutely devoured this show! It was heart-racing level of good! Full of adrenaline! Small spoilers towards the end.

Geon Woo meets Woo Jin as rivals in a boxing match but they quickly become friends. Geon Woo's mother falls for a loan scam and thus starts the journey of both men trying to take on a dangerous group of men.

The bromance is impeccable and fun with a bit of jokes thrown in here and there. It reminded me a bit of Midnight Runners. Though Bloodhounds has a lot of violence and blood and a bit of torture. I had to speed up some of those parts but mostly I was filled with an adrenaline rush as the show went on.

Episode 6 made me anxious and I was sweating. So be prepared for that. It's not a very easy watch.

There is no romance in this series. It's pure grit and testosterone. But they didn't forget to add some badass females. I was delighted by them not simply depicting women as helpless or eye-candy. Nope. You'll love them!

I only have two small issues but it's not something that would make me like this show any less.
SPOILER
- Why did they (writers) send Hyeon Joo away? I was so ready for her to be there at the end.
- The ease with which Kim Myung Gil kills the deadliest killers felt a bit of a stretch. Especially since he says he was scared of them.

SPOILER FREE
This series deserves at least a one time watch. Especially if you saw Woo Do Hwan in Joseon Attorney, then watch him in this different avatar in Bloodhounds. He is spectacular!

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A PROPER ROMCOM!

I hope everyone ignores negative reviews and give No Gain No Love a fair chance because I have never enjoyed the comedy and heart fluttering romance as depicted by the main leads. Shin Min Ah is the life of the show and brings so much chemistry to this pairing that you'll never notice the age gap. And the humour is on point!

There have been 2 other romcoms airing simultaneously (Cinderella At 2 AM and Love Next Door) but none of the comedy has been on par with No Gain No Love. It has been so much fun watching this. Though the plot is not unique with some typical tropes likes fake marriage and opposites attract, the direction and the dialogues catch you off guard! You predict the FL to say or do one thing and she completely surprises you which makes it so much more entertaining. The chemistry between the main leads is sizzling and my only complaint is that I wanted to see more of them because of how much I enjoyed their romance. And I also loved that for once the female lead is the bolder one in the relationship besides also being smart and quick on her feet. The male lead is kind, at times shy and aloof and gentle. They really complemented each other.

We also have 2 other couples. Though I wouldn't say I was fond of them and sometimes I even found them annoying but it definitely presents something for everyone. The second leads also have a 18+ spin off which I will be watching to see if I enjoy their chemistry better in that. However don't let my preference dissuade you because I was fully entertained and it gave me lots to talk about.

Another thing I liked about this show is that even in the low moments of the characters, it never got too depressing and tried to maintain an overall happy and light moments so this is great for watching when you need an escape. All the actors stayed true to their characters with room for some character growth as well.

The "weakest" of the episodes were the last two because they had more serious aspects to deal with and I would have liked 2 more episodes to depict more of the main duo. And that is why I can't give this a full 10. I still loved enough about the show that I can't be too upset with it.

The main theme song is nice and upbeat. It suits the vibe of the drama.

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Greed leads to Evil

Although the plot is not unique, it is certainly interesting and a fun journey. It makes you want to keep coming back for more. I started Evilive for Shin Ha Kyun who I enjoyed seeing in Beyond Evil. However, Kim Young Kwang is a total treat to watch and is perfect as a gangster that keeps you guessing.

Don't let the 18+ rating turn you away from this. Although there is some gore, it doesn't drag into the series once it starts going and it is more to do with the journey of the two leads and how they impact each other. Although, Shin Jae Ha doesn't have a huge role, you will find yourself concerned for him and feel connected with his character within this complicated situation. His brother plays an exceptionally smart character that has a knack for quick thinking in difficult and dangerous situations.

This series doesn't represent the fight between good versus evil but rather how one defines greed and whether there is room for an acceptable evil.

All actors have done a remarkable job. Bae Na Ra is another eye candy and I will be looking out for him in future projects.

The opening theme for Evilive, In the Darkest Night, is lovely and the other OST, Prayer, is quite soothing.

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Great start. Lost me with the cheating.

The first half of Destined With You was great. It was funny and I was enjoying the fantasy element as well as the creepy bloody hand. In fact, I started to miss it later.

My biggest issue was that the ML despite having a girlfriend, kisses the FL. This was clearly a red flag for me so much so that I was angry with the character for a good few episodes and couldn't enjoy the story.

The other issue I had was that by the end, it isn't completely clear if anyone was acting under the power of the love spell or not because of the twist. I'm not sure why they made it seem so confusing. That's a plot hole.

Third biggest problem I had with the show is the father being verbally abusive to the mother as well as negligent towards her needs and the writers made them patch up after teasing a caring younger guy as a potential love interest. There was one more female character that was divorced and found love. Not sure why ML's mother didn't deserve better as well? Is it because they didn't want her to find love with a younger man? The father was so horrible towards the FL as well. All the more the mom should be with a nicer man. This is the second such drama that disappointed me in this regard. First being Doctor Cha.

I still have a few doubts related to the story. Towards the end, I decided to speed it up because the story was moving a bit too slowly.

The best thing about this drama was the SML. I wish FL had ended up with him. He was a really decent guy. FL and ML's chemistry was nice except for the weird cheating aspect. SFL was stunning but unbearable. Acting wise, everyone did great. It was the story that let me down in the second half.

The OST of the drama is beautiful.

I would say the first half of the drama is a lot more fun than the second half. It's not a bad drama but it could have been better with a bit of tweaking.

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Sweet and Satisfying

Loved the drama from start to finish! Minor spoilers.

Ji Eum has the memory of all her past lives but the person she most wants to meet is Seo Ha from her 18th life which was cut short. Meanwhile he is still reeling from the loss he suffered from the accident years later. Though I am not sure how much of it was taken from webtoon, I hear it's not an exact replica. Irrespective of that, it is cinematically beautiful with captivating performances by all actors and beautiful OST to set the mood.

The added mystery was a nice touch towards the end which kept things fresh. The pace might feel a little on the slower side but every minute was enjoyable. Loved the way the story portrayed all the relationships that Ban Ji Eum had and both the highs and the lows of carrying the burden of past lives. It was also interesting to see how she used it to her advantage in the present life.

Loved the completely different character portrayed by Ahn Bo Hyun compared to the one he had in Military Prosecutor Doberman. I love when actors can convincingly perform different types of roles well. The child actor Kim Shi Ah also stood out for her performance as the young Ju Won. This was my first proper introduction to Shin Hye Sun and although I had my doubts at first, I fell in love with her character when she is standing outside her mother's mom and reminiscing about the relationship they shared. Such a tragically beautiful moment that it brought tears to my eyes.

I also loved the back and forth between Cho Won and Do Yoon. Will they? Won't they? And the late but memorable entry of Minki to add some spice to the plot.

"Juicy Juicy" by Jo Yuri has become one of my favourite OSTs and it got stuck in my head almost as soon as I heard it!

This is a perfectly binge-worthy show that I hope finds more viewers.

If there is something to complain about, it would be that Seo Ha's dream was to renovate his mother's hotel which we didn't quite see finished. And I wish we would have seen some development in his relationship with his father just to tie up everything neatly.

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A mess

I enjoyed the first 4 episodes but the 5th was bizarre. That's when I realised, this show has disjoined stories and many times those plots are just left without explanations of what is going on.

I would like to say I'm enjoying the acting but let's be fair, what exactly do the main male leads have to do? The museum owner just looked worried and Dome looked like a deer in highlights or spaced out. The only exception being 1 episode where they were more free to emote. I would say the secondary characters had more range and possibilities because all the action involved them. Again, this is on the writers.

Even though at the end, they explained some of the main mysteries like why Khatha hired Dome and the source of his abilities, it doesn't explain Dome's origin. I can't tell if the story is meant to end here or they are suggesting a continuation. Then again, I won't watch part 2.

There is a real issue with the writing and directing of the show. I honestly don't know how so many gave this show anything above a 7 with such massive problems. This show is also not interesting enough for me to try to rewatch it in order to understand what I missed.

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This Is How You Make A Show!

Not a SINGLE dull moment! Loved Crash Course In Romance from start to finish! The only flaw, so to speak, is that this is a mixed genre show with A LOT happening and that might not be appealing to everyone who love pure Romance or Rom Com dramas. But there is so much realism and amazing (as well as toxic) relationships and a wholesome storyline that you will be missing out on if you skip this drama.

What I loved:
The main plot revolves around a 30s-40s couple, their connection, their enemies to lovers journey, and their supportive nature towards each other. It's a couple that is perfect for each other. It's a bit of a slow burn romance.
The female lead's relationships:
- First with her sister's daughter who was abandoned and has been raising her in such a pure and loving way. And that upbringing has made her daughter a strong person.
- Secondly, with her brother who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. He works in the store along with her best friend. Again, it's such a supportive and understanding relationship. One can imagine how she would have had to also raise him after their mother passed early on.
- And thirdly, her friendship with her amazing and supportive best friend who runs a side dish store with her. Both are super-caring towards each other and this is a friendship we all wish we had. The best sismance!
We also see the daughter's friendships and how much they care for each other. But we also see insecurity because of the unusual family she has and has been judged in the past for.
The rivalry to bromance between the students was heart-warming.
The crazy competitive education system and how it drives students but especially their mothers bat-**** crazy.
The mystery element and the whole back story. It's a tragic one.

Normally I would write about what I disliked but I genuinely can't think of anything wrong with this show. I don't know what to criticise which is RARE. Maybe more romance would be my only expectation.

The show is a 10/10 for me! I would definitely rewatch and recommend to others!

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Sweet couple with lots of family politics

Since I found the English subs, I thought I should add a review. The drama is cute. I enjoy dramas where the female lead is strong, intelligent and capable. The chemistry between the male and female leads is sweet. Although the story is not ground-breaking but it is still enjoyable to watch. There are many twists and turns due to family politics. The male lead has remarkably expressive eyes. I enjoyed his character quite a bit. The female lead has also done a wonderful job.

The drama also has a few flaws. Both the husband and wife are hiding a secret. The female lead gets very angry with the male lead for his secret. That aspect didn't make any sense to me considering she has her own. There is also something both are investigating but nothing comes out of it. I don't know why that segment was added in the show and then forgotten about. It is not dealt with in the second season either.

These are the only reasons why I have deducted from my total score. Overall, it's an enjoyable watch. Very engrossing.

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Surprisingly good

When I read the title, it had immediately caught my attention and curiosity but watching some promo clips made it feel very cheesy. I thought it isn't something I could possibly enjoy. But because I've liked the Male lead (Dylan Wang)'s work in the past, I decided to give it a go and binged the entire show in 3 days.

The story isn't very complex which is a good thing for first timers like me being introduced to a new fantasy world. A devil (Dong Fang Qing Cang) is held prisoner by fairies for 30,000 years. An ordinary orchid fairy unintentionally gets locked in with him. The fated meeting results in both escaping but unable to part ways. Thus beginning the journey of their love.

The opening theme has stunning illustrations with hauntingly beautiful music. The wardrobe, sets, CGI, all add to the beauty of this show. The work gone into producing this shows. The cast have performed brilliantly especially while varying their emotions and depicting different personalities. The male lead did do the superior job in this regard. The second Male lead is also astounding. The plot moves fairly quickly and the episodes are edited to cut off at a critical point in the conversation or story which makes you want to jump from episode to episode.

The OST is wonderful. The only issue being that it's hard to read the lyrics and the dialogues at the same time. There are a few points where the story slows down considerably for effect and I had to forcefully move it along due to my impatience.

I don't have experience with this genre in cdramas but I definitely want to give more a chance thanks to Love Between Fairy and Devil.

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