Beanie level: Errand boy

A plea to drama gods: please stop putting the 16 episode count on a pedestal. It is NOT sacred. Mom’s Friend’s Son is an absolutely perfect example of how drama suffers when you’re trying to force it into the 16 episode frame.

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    lol.. at this point i think even 2 ep were a stretch.. they should have just made a 90 min movie

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    As a general observation I think the 16 episode format is no longer sacrosanct. In one way you should be grateful MFS was only 16 episodes and not 20 episodes. I can remember in my early kdrama days having to plod through a number of 16 episode dramas bloated into 20 episode formats (2 in 2017 come to mind what were referred to as 40/20: SBS’s SUSPICIOUS PARTNER and MBC’s HOSPITAL SHIP).

    In an opposite way this year tvN’s QUEEN OF TEARS was a 20 episode drama squeezed into the 16 episode format.

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      There’s not much to be grateful for here on runtime, though – it was about the same as 20 one-hour episodes, just as QoT was.

      I liked Suspicious Partner fine, but it could have been twice as good at half as long.

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I have emerged from my semi-slump (still watching – or more accurately limping towards the finish line of – Mom’s Friend’s Son) just to say that I’m. In. Love. With. This. I smell an ending I will not like, but I’m all in, come hell or high water (made up of our collective tears I guess?) 💔
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Yellow card, drama. You made me feel annoyed with the one and only Jung Hae-in. Bad, bad drama. He had none of the drama’s schemes though, and promptly brought me back with this scene ❤️
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Encouraged by some Beanies, I gave Fake It Till You Make It a try, and well… Can’t say I like it more or less than You Are My Secret (Beanies mentioned Fake under my posts about it, hence the association), however, because these two couldn’t be more different!

This one had such a distinct style, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such unique directing in any drama (be it K, T, J or C); admittedly, sometimes I was a tad off-put by the The Office-like zoom-ins or bizzare fourth wall breaking, but it carried itself so unapologetically and with such gusto I couldn’t help but continue.

While directing and the vibe of the drama are definitely an absolute standout, the leads… They are a whole another story. Their effortless, playful, and oh so charged chemistry was leaving me entranced as much as they were with each other, annoyed with each setback between them, and desperate for as little as brush of hands. It was burning very slowly, but damn was it a spectacular flame.

Overall, this was an experience. I’m on the fence about it, unable to say with confidence that I liked it or didn’t (my other leg may be reaching towards the ‘like’ side of the fence just a liiiittle bit). Would I recommed it though? Absolutely.
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    What can I say? This is my favorite C-drama ever.
    I was fascinated by the mood, visuals, music, script, and of course the main couple.

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      It’s unforgettable for sure. The vibe is just indescribable.

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      This is my favorite cdrama as well. 👏🫰💯
      I really loved everything about it, even all the side plots. The main couple was pure 🔥🔥🔥

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    I found it far better than You Are My Secret.

    – No past connection, just normal people meeting by chance
    – They don’t work together, he’s not her boss (even if they shared a case once)
    – They act like normal adults who flirts, have feelings and desires
    – The chemistry between the leads was great!

    But otherwise, I found the little sister’s arc really weird and wasn’t really interested in her coworkers.

    For You Are My Secret, the second couple was my favorite part.

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      The sister/cousin can’t remember their relationship but she represents a type of character who pops up unnecessarily in romance dramas. In Remembrance of things past she was the odd one out in a group of really great down to earth female friends. These characters always leave me wondering why anyone would be friends with them as they rarely bring anything to any of their relationships regardless of whether they are a relative, friend or a partner.

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    What I liked about this is that it’s, as you say, a slow burn, but when it heats up, we get real payoff. And then, right at the perfect point, the drama ends. Very satisfying watch overall.

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😂😂😂
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    Was just going to screenshot it & post it lol. Hallyu wave enhancing its categories XD.

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Ah, this was a good one! While I felt it got a teeny bit draggy towards the end, and would benefit from having 3-4 episodes less, You Are My Secret was nevertheless so much fun! We got a good script, nice directing, cute score and two absolutely lovely couples who spoke their mind, worked through their issues and grew stronger in the process (despite some voices pledging their loyalty to the secondary couple, my heart still belongs to the OTP; they were just too amazing for words). How refreshing is that? No unnecessary drama, just ordinary happiness made up of small things and sweet moments.

It seriously was such a pleasant watch; I feel like C-dramas really can do low-stakes, everyday romantic stories so well ❤️
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    @feenah9895
    (as per the request 😊)

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    Agree on everything (but I ended up loving the secondary couple as much as the main one)! It has been a very enjoyable show. And the parents! Most of them (not all) were lovely people too.
    This series is full of people I’d love to have as friends.

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      💯 The ensemble was lovely indeed! And the main romance was so good, too. 🫰 Yay for the best parents!
      The second couple (🫰🫰🫰) helped to move the plot along later, but I also agree the last episodes could have been better paced.

      „Very good everyday romantic stories“ – yep! I’m currently watching „Love me, love my voice“ (which I ignored before because of the title, lol, I sometimes have aversions I cannot explain… 🤪), and I’m in a state of constantly wanting to pinch everyone’s cheeks, because they’re all just as adorable. 😆

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        Oh, thank you for the rec 😆 You Are My Secret seems to have triggered my recurring C-dramas binge (that usually lasts for 4-5 titles) so I’ll add it to the list!

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    That was what I felt, the everyday romantic story which I enjoyed immensely. And now I am on the hunt for another Cdrama. I recently watched a mini cdrama Embrace you in the dark night. A fun steamy spicy drama where you leave your brain cells at the door to enjoy watching it. Check it out if you are interested and let me know your thoughts when you do.

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      Oh, I had a phase with those mini-dramas! They are so palatable and fun – very campy, but fun nonetheless. I discovered my beloved Dai Gao Zheng through them (still waiting for that full-length drama breakthrough for him…), so they do hold quite a special tiny place in my heart. Will check it out!

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        I recently stumbled upon them and I am immensely enjoying them. If you have more recommendations with happy ending please let me know. I have watch Forever love and Dusk love

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          Ok, this will not fit your criteria 100% (I still hate them for it), but I have to mention Maid’s Revenge. It obviously stars my one and only Dai Gao Zheng and bonus, his leading lady is the same actress who was with him in Forever Love, so that may give you an idea of what chemistry they have (absolutely electric, if I do say so myself). This one got me super hooked on the mini-dramas, which was unfortunately short-lived, cause I’m yet to find one which would give me the same amount of enjoyment.

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            I heard about but because of the ending, I did not watch it just clips.

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Being this cute should be a crime. Why isn’t this illegal? They are killing me here!
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    They are so lovely!
    But fortunately this C-drama isn’t too oversweet to be annoying (as others where the level of “sugar” in the couple was too much).

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      Yes! They are very, very sweet with each other but it’s this mundane, everyday kind of sweetness. A cup of warm milk before bed, a secretive brush of hands, a meal prepared after a day of work, a grocery shopping date – these are so down to earth yet make you melt at how in tune and comfortable and attentive they are with each other. Domestic bliss ❤️❤️❤️

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        Exactly!! Here it’s this kind of common gestures which are sweet but not cloying.

        When I mean oversweet I think of something like My love, enlighten me 😅

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    This is so me. I also so said they are killing me with the whole sweetness. I just finished watching it and to the end, they are still as sweet. I have been busy recommending this to everyone on reddit. So good to see the post here.

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      I’m at episode 26, so I’ll definitely post about it at least once before I finish 😀 Let’s spread that You Are My Secret love!

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I decided to start You Are My Secret enticed by a clip from IG, and omaygosh I’ve never been more thankful to my broken algorithm. The ML lead is the most intense shade of green flag (one of the things he does in one of the first few episodes, and what turned me into a puddle: he googles how to break in shoes, and proceeds to do so because she off-handedly mentions that they gave her blisters, and don’t even get me started on the others, cause I will tell you how during shopping he immediately switched the colours of some bathroom accessories from white to green when he noticed that she chose green towels for herself – little things like that are driving me crazy, I tell you!) and the FL is just as amazing as him. And together? They are absolute perfection; they work though issues so goddamn well, and have the sweetest slow burn I’ve seen in a while 😍 I’m at episode 7, and I have to say: I’m in love with almost everything here 😍😍😍

P.S. After ruminating on it, I think I know why it clIcked so well with me. It reminds me of Hi Venus, another spectacular C-drama with close to no conflict, and absolutely winning leads. Even the MLs look kinda similar (had to do a double take, cause I thought I was seeing Joseph Zeng, lol). I reallyyyy hope it remains as good as its (almost) first third. Fingers freaking crossed…



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    I’m about to finish it. I have watched 30 episodes (out of 32) and I only can tell you the show keeps getting better.
    They are a beautiful couple. They talk things, misunderstandings don’t last, they act like real people most of the time…
    This C-drama has been a very good surprise.

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    It still befuddles my mind why it feels like Miles Wei (ML actor’s name) hasn’t “made it big”. He keeps getting— and choosing— typecast to do these small budget modern city dramas 🤔 Maybe he thinks it’s what works for him and has a “don’t fix what’s not broken” mindset 😊

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      I think he gained even more recognition after joining Call Me By Fire S3. Hmm also I feel like it’s hard for me, as a pleb, to tell what an artist “gets”.
      Maybe he is already choosing the best scripts out of all the options he has. And he has had a few different roles just this year! The spirit in fox matchmaker, the editor in my marvellous fable (albeit this was 2023), the assistant professor in a suspense-ish show (19th floor), another few costume roles and a couple of CEO-types role 😆 Glad that I have something to watch of him constantly tho haha even if it’s an array of CEO-types role!

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        Maybe you’re right! Maybe his popularity picked up after his participation in Call Me by Fire and the networks of his dramas decided to take advantage of it and push out more of his dramas rather than let them sit in stockpile purgatory. I’m happy for him that things seem to have finally picked up, because he’s been acting since 2012 but didn’t seem to get a standout role (imho) until Unforgettable Love

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        He was great in Call Me By Fire S3, it was such a nice surprise that he can dance so well and having a ballroom background. So happy that more people get to know him after the show. He always has steady work since his debut and feeding his fans well. Can’t wait to see more roles in the future. Having a bias that has work out is better than one that doesn’t.

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    Yay! So glad you are enjoying it. I like the leads but it’s another couple that has me shooting heart eyes. 😍 you will get there.
    I am at ep 28 and it stays good till now.

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      I think I know who you mean… They sure are beginning to give the leads a run for their money, hee. For now though (ep. 16), my heart is yet to be stolen 😆

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    I loved these initial episodes when their romance was growing. It remained pretty sweet later on too but another couple stole their limelight. Having completed it, I’ll say it’s a solid watch overall.

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    Also confirming that You Are My Secret stays drama free until the end. I haven’t seen Hi Venus, but if it is similar, I will check it out.
    Amidst a Snowstorm a Love also has the lovers working problems out and staying together. Falling Into Your Smile has some immaturity and green acting, but the tone and relationship is pretty even. I really like a long C-drama that is just mellow and pleasant.

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    I like it but I find it a little bit bland.

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    I am really liking this too! I’m saving the last three episodes to binge together hehe.
    Also, besides the leads, I enjoy almost everybody in it including the parents!

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I have only one thing to say: the chemistry! Is! To die for!
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He tilted the umbrella… And the scale of my loyalty to Choi Jin-hyuk tilted right with it.
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    😱🙈 Andwae … say it isn’t so My Lady. 🫰

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      Okay, I’m not won over completely, after all the ML is the ever amazing Choi Jin-hyuk. But our 2nd male lead here did get a few squeals outta me, lol + makes me wanna see the actor as a lead in some nice rom-com 😊

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        I gotta say that Gene Kelly style dancing complete with jumping over benches seemed endearing.

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        But … and that’s a huge but uri ML *also* jumped over the fence effortlessly while chasing that gamer lady’s drug dealer bf. So still it’s Choi Jin-hyuk FTW!! 👋

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    my heart just skipped a tiny beat there… he is sooo concerned towards her but then i see CJH being dashing handsome and poor chap disappointed at his hand.. am just sooo excited when actually his hand helps him in completing the task 😄

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Best. Cameo. EVER!
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It was by no means a bad drama – the entire cast had some pretty great performances, and it was shot very well, but somehow… I could not get into it until the very end. The latter half of the drama became almost a chore I stubbornly stuck to with barely a half-hearted interest. Maybe this was just not the time for a pensive, and introspective story such as Graduation for me (I refuse to call it by its English title because I consider it to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen, but let’s not go into details lest I get triggered and it turns into a full-blown rant); maybe it should’ve been a story that one watches on long winter evenings, snuggled under a blanket, when mood is as somber and unhurried as the one in the drama. Or maybe I am simply trying to justify the use of ff button with flowery words 😂
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    Oooh! I’ve never read such strong words from you my lady even in that disaster of a drama which led to a most exciting fun series of “What is he emoting”!?

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      I have strong feelings only in regards to the atrocious English title; the rest of my tirade is just an elaborate version of what could simply be summed up by “meh” 😂

      Ah, good times… That drama at least gave me something to work with, lol.

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    Graduation is a way more appropriate title for the last two episodes of the show. With the “give me my diploma,” promise and all.

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      “Graduation” is a way better title in general. It leaves some room for interpretation while encompassing the story and its themes. Viewers don’t need to be spoonfed everything, yet in English version we literally got 3/5 of “wh” questions answered, downright elementary style.

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        Yeah, it is. The original titles are always better.
        Especially because the English title mislead people. I bet many people started this thinking it was about the romance. The same way I started Lovely Runner thinking it was a sports drama.

        In other cases they give away info and change the focus for no reason. Like “The Woman Who Plays,” became “My Sweet Mobster.”

        I personally prefer my own title “It’s always dark in Hagwon,” because the most prominent thought while watching the show was “I can’t see shirt,” but for the final episodes I would choose the OG “Graduation.” 😆

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      ^^ “That drama at least gave me something to work with”

      Well, as Tabong says
      #It’sAlwaysDarkInHagwon
      so its a wonder if you can actually see anything.

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This was fun! By no means anything spectacular, but a cute, nice and easy fluff of a drama nonetheless. Bonus points for perfect chemistry between leads, and more bonus points for writer’s (and Jun’s!) fresh take on a “chaebol ML” type of role. (Even more bonus points for just Jun? No? Ok, I’ll stop with the points now.)
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    My Lady how about 💯 bonus points for the moral of the story about the forever Prince Cha-min in your life!?

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+the GASP that escaped me when I saw this gorgeousness…



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    He is so genuinely handsome!! I thought I had seen many handsome men in my K-drama watching career 😅 but he takes the cake, baker and bakery!!

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      Comment was deleted

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      He is incredibly handsome indeed 😫
      Worse, he has duality; one moment you almost get cut on his sharp features, and his cool guy charisma overwhelms you, the next he blinds you with this kind of smile and renders you a puddle of squees with his earnest goofiness.

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        IKR!? He’s totally scary as the Gang leader, protective mother hen with the deerlings and an absolute teddy bear with the FL.

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I agree, Hyun-woo. 100% 😍
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I really liked first two weeks of this one. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the leads, and I’ve always enjoyed them in their projects + the hijinks are just the best 😍 I don’t even mind the murder mystery since I’m having enough fun with the story in general. Or maybe after murder plots became attached at the hip to the romance genre I’ve become desensitised?
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    Haha it’s funny you mention that, because I think I’m becoming desensitized to it, too 😅 “What’s a sugary sweet romance without some serial killer tension?” 👈 Kdrama writers, probably

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      Well, we have to deal with what we get; if we were to stop watching rom-coms solely because muder subplot is introduced, our watching schedule would be completely empty, lol

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    only drama that makes me excited to watch new epis… its simple yet endearing, and CJH is the cutest trying to be shocked n star struck by Lim Sun’s antics…. and such an adorable OTP.. murder mystery i can bear with it while enjoying the rest of quirkiness

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    They are cute together. ❤
    Your choice of screencaps is perfect, as usual. 👌
    #2 reminded me of Sound of Music.
    #3 Is 💯 how I see Choi Jin-hyuk. 🫶

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He may be a petulant weirdo, but his meltdowns are a riot, and when he changes the gear… Swoons for days, I tell you. If the scene in ep. 7 wasn’t a big, nasty fakeout, he may have climbed to the very top of my ranks. But alas…

P.S . I love that despite being absolutely gorgeous, Jun’s not afraid to make a face and lean into the comedy (or more like dive in head first). He’s being funny before he’s handsome, and honestly? That makes him hundred times more attractive.












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    Your Face-of-the-ML series is always the best-est. ❤ 🥰

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    Jun’s a good actor and not afraid to take on dirty roles! I hated his deadbeat, drunk, and abusive character in Mask Girl – forever scarred lol, don’t know if he’ll make a comeback for me – but I recognize he’s good.

    Also enjoyed his BDSM role in Love & Leashes.

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The plot is… there somewhere. I’m paying attention, I swear.












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    That last pic reminded me of @seeker Cera’s
    “Er, Ryu Sun-Jae who!?” 🤣🤣

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    Thank you for sharing the most perfect screencaps. Between his voice and pretty pink cheeks and that milky overcoat I doubt any of us are complaining about *plot*.

    The way he hauled the FL over his shoulder “like a bag of rice” is my new favorite swoony move. Although it may just be the blood rushing to the head from hanging down. 😂💖

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    Thanks to UTG, I seem to be getting over my LR hangover. Thank you gor the Screecaps🥰

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    🤣🤣🤣🤣

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It’s absolutely unapologetic in how silly, campy, and full of clichés it is, and I… absolutely love it. The leads’ chemistry is off the charts, the episodes are short so it’s a breeze to go through them, and did I mention the amazing chemistry between the leads?

(Why did I discover the pure delight that is Jun this late?!)









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    Be happy that you discovered him in a positive role! 😁 He is perhaps unfortunately way too good at evil roles too!

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      To clarify, I really really love him too! Pure delight is such an apt description!

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      It is always best to approach him with caution. I have been known to be pretty traumatised by his seemingly nice roles when he has turned on a dime. 🤣

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    This is my first time seeing him too and it’s been insta-love. It’s also my favorite role for PYJ. They are both a perfect fit for their roles 😍

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    You probably have met him in something better than me (the movie Love and Leashes, which I didn’t like at all).

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      Even Love and Leashes is better than some other dramas which are best not mentioned. 😂

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        There’s also a movie where he is so good he gave me nightmares for quite a while 😶‍🌫️

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          Same. 🙈

          Even in May I Help You where he’s the ML I kept on wondering if he would turn out to be the villain.

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            Even Please Don’t Date Him tried to keep him an enigma for as long as possible! 😆 I call him the devil, poor boy! He is simply too good! But I really really love him, despite everything!

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            @midnight I was only *mildly* skeptical of him as the Prince Cha-min to Cinderella. Given the tone of the show he should stay good. 😊🤞🙏

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Managed to give the premiere of My Sweet Mobster a watch! The drama is cheekbones, I mean cheekbones, I mean jawline, I mean…

What was I talking about?
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