Reviews
Reviews · 22. July 2026
The East Palace is a horror inflected, historical action/drama. The show follows Gu Cheon (Nam Joo Hyuk) and Saeng Gang (Roh Yoon Seo) as, having been instructed by the King (Cho Seung Woo), they move between the living world and the Gwi (ghost) realm in an attempt to solve a series of unexplained murders at the Royal Palace. Over its eight episodes, The East Palace successfully combines shamanism and traditional Korean folklore with palace politics and power grabs. I’ll admit, as a horror...
Reviews · 16. July 2026
I was really enjoying The First Jasmine… until I realised that I wasn’t. This drama was among my most highly anticipated shows of 2026. Who could resist Cheng Lei and Bai Lu together on screen? Not me. Add an impressive supporting cast and an intriguing premise and I was in. I was all in. The story follows Ye Li (Bai Lu) after her marriage to Prince Mo Xiu Yao (Cheng Lei). Their wedding takes place on the same day as her stepsister, Ye Ying (Yang Shu Yi), marries Prince Mo Jing Li (Cai...
Reviews · 09. July 2026
Watching the opening episodes of Thai drama, Ticket to Heaven (Viki), I thought, wow, this might be one of the best bls of 2026. The show’s story, performances, cinematography and score were all stunning. Impressively, Ticket to Heaven’s first three episodes (out of six) also appeared willing to explore the conflict between undeniable physical attraction and the constraints and expectations of organised religion. Set in a Thai seminary, the story follows Tanrak ("Fourth" Nattawat...
Reviews · 30. June 2026
Psychological thriller, Notes from the Last Row (Netflix) features a truly stellar ensemble cast. The show’s impressive line-up includes Choi Min Sik, Choi Hyun Wook, Kim Yoon Jin, Huh Joon Ho and Jin Kyung. Talk about your embarrassment of riches. However, this proves to be both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it is always such a joy to watch these actors. A curse because their presence raises expectations that the drama’s story cannot quite reach. Notes from the Last Row is a...
Reviews · 24. June 2026
My Royal Nemesis may go down as one of the kdrama surprises of 2026. I started this show with no real expectations, and it quickly became a must watch favourite. My Royal Nemesis was successful for two reasons. One, Kang Hyun Ju’s writing, while embracing many familiar tropes, zigged when we expected it to zag (more on this later). Two, Im Ji Yeon and Heo Nam Jun’s performances were brilliant - comedy gold from start to finish. Directed by Han Tae Seob, My Royal Nemesis is a 14 episode time...
Reviews · 24. June 2026
Dazzling is an endearing slice of life youth drama set in the fictional coastal town of Zhazhating. Staring Guan Xiao Tongm and Li Yun Rui, the show features a slow, slow, slow burn romance between a fish out of water city girl and an outwardly cold but inwardly devoted country boy. Throughout the majority of its 30 episodes, Dazzling is a low angst healing watch. While serious and dramatic events do take place, the show remains light with an optimistic, almost fairy tale lens. If you are in...
Reviews · 10. June 2026
As a found family/slice of life gal, I knew that I was going to enjoy Go Ahead. And I very, very much did – particularly during the show’s first half. Released in 2020, Go Ahead is a 40 episode Chinese drama written by Shui Qian Mo and Wang Xiong Cheng (who also wrote Meet Yourself and Find Yourself) and directed by Ding Zi Guang (who also directed Meet Yourself, Find Yourself and Flourished Peony). The drama’s main cast includes Tan Song Yun as Li Jian Jian, Song Wei Long as Ling Xiao,...
Reviews · 03. June 2026
Sniper Butterfly is a beautiful slow burn slice of life Chinese drama that uses the age difference between its leads to explore gender norms, familial expectations and societal pressures. This 30 episode cdrama written by Xu Yi Tian, directed by Huang Tien Jen and Yu Bo and starring Michelle Chen and and Zhou Ke Yu tells the story of Cen Ji and Li Wu, a student she sponsors. On paper, Sniper Butterfly seems as if it could fall into dangerous territory. No one wants to see a romance develop in a...
Reviews · 07. April 2026
Pursuit of Jade had me hooked from the start. Phew, this cdrama certainly did not mess around. No pesky exposition here - we meet our FL, Fan Chang Yu (Tian Xi Wei) and our ML, Xie Zheng (Zhang Ling He) within minutes and, immediately, each character feels incredibly compelling and, my goodness, everyone and everything is shot so beautifully. And breathe. Cdramas are so good at creating impressive, competent FLs and Fan Chang Yu is a particularly entertaining character. She is incredibly strong...
Reviews · 10. March 2026
After some pesky set up in episode one, Boyfriend On Demand (Netflix) was a lot of tropey, swoony fun (think Spike Jonze’s Her via Singles Inferno). Seriously, there were moments in episodes two and three that made me straight up cackle! The cameos and scenarios are everything. If you are a kdrama fan, you will feel so seen 😊 Episode four then took me by surprise and became my favourite part of the show (and not just because of Seo Kang Jun, but also, yes, absolutely because of Seo Kang...