First half felt formulaic and repetitive, second half got better

I was actually slightly disappointed by this because the ratings were pretty high in MyDramaList. But I found the first half slightly to the boring side aside from the first two episodes. It's always there is a patient, and then the overconfident doctors tried to be smarty pants and operate the patient but failed terribly in the end and Tokai saved the day. If this is what happens in real life where there is so much politics and pettiness and so many incompetent doctors, I would have just choose to not be saved LOL.

I also would have like more development screentime for Dr Sera. It felt like his development as a doctor was accelerated without context. The second half of the drama got better as the mystery behind Dr Tokai hatred was slowly revealed. Music was pretty solid and the actor who acted as Tokai was top notch.

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Great chemistry, hampered by underwhelming mystery reveal

The show is a mix of romance and mystery. The FL is high functioning autistic while ML is a son of a criminal wrongly blamed by company politics and someone who also took his own life. The two leads had their life intertwined because by fate, they are also victims. of the company politics.

From the get-go, I think both of their chemistry are really amazing. And I really love the way they communicate and try to understand one another. Their family/company mystery is also a nice touch to the story because it makes the drama not like your typical romance show and it also keeps me invested to continue watching. But I felt that the mystery is quite anti climatic in the end and was quite annoyed by that (Shall not spoil it). Not to say it’s a bad show, just that you shouldn’t have high hopes when the truth is revealed.

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Commendable Attempt to Adapt

Flowers for Algernon was actually one of my favourite novel during my teenage years as I was given this novel to dissect for my literature class. I remembered the story was very thought provoking though I forgot a lot of details as I have lost the book. But this was a commendable attempt to adapt the literature text as the ML did justice to his role. I really felt for him in all his struggles from someone who has lower IQ to become a top genius.

However, my issue with the adaptation is that a lot of the side character development got neglected. But I guess I understand its hard to develop these characters as the original text was very protagonist driven too as it was written in a first person account. I think its not an issue if its a novel but for a drama, I wish there were more development for the side characters. Also, I feel that the turning point for ML from being cold hearted when he first became a genius to realising his inner warmth felt very abrupt too. Perhaps, the drama would benefit from a longer episode span. I was kinda meh with Haruka's acting too, felt that the actress is having issues with embodying and relating to her character.

The choice of OST was really good, I think it fits the story and a nod to nostalgia since the original text is pretty old. But like many Jdrama, I wish they would have more OSTs for a drama.

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Straightforward Romance Drama

I have to admit that I did not watch the original Korean drama, so I am reviewing this work independently. I think its an enjoyable romantic drama with a straightforward plot where the FL who lacks confidence works her way up and finding a goal to what she wants to do. Nothing special.

I think the problem I have with the plot is when the 2FL got into a love triangle with the main leads and there was one whole episode where the FL just kinda not talk to the ML because she felt bad for the 2FL who is her best friend. The lack of anger was quite weird to me as the 2FL was seeing the ML being her back. I would feel kinda piss tbh if that happens to me as I would have expect the best friend to be truthful to me at least. The ML not finding out the 2FL real identity after so many hints also doesn't make sense too. But I do like the 2ML a lot and felt bad for him when FL didn't have feelings for him. But the chemistry between FL and ML is still good and thank goodness he was only mean to her for like the first few episodes. I don't think I will rate so highly if I seen more episodes of ML verbally abusing the FL... And I was also kinda skeptical of the ending for 2ML, I don't think he really needs to quit the company because he reviewed that he is a famous ghostwriter.

Beyond these plotholes, I think he was a nice watch. But some of the acting was a miss to me especially the FL and 2FL. I can't relate emotionally in their crying scenes which I normally can since I cry very easily. The music was also quite forgettable and a wasted opportunity to have a good and touching OST song. I would rewatch this though as it's a feel good show overall.

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You won't like this if you are not into cliche plots

To be honest, I was quite disappointed with this as my friend strongly recommended me to watch this. But what I got was a very cliche plot. FL got into an accident, conveniently got amnesia and forgot all the memories with her first love seriously??? It does not help that the FL mother was being such an ass and prevented the ML from contacting her? Like there's really no reason for her to do that. Also, I feel really bad for the ML fiancee, like she's just there in the show to be a substitute and nothing else. And also, the FL son giving me stalker fan vibe with the celebrity crush tbh, idk maybe its the acting.

But I still gave the story a solid 6.5 as the chemistry behind the main couple is on fire and the nostalgia was done pretty well and not overdone. Satoh Takeru is fine af, The really good acting between the the main leads were probably the reason why I continued watching. Music fits the nostalgia vibes but I wasn't very into it. Personal preference.

But as I was typing this review, I thought that maybe the big cliche was intentional as it wants to fit the nostalgic genre. Probably but who knows. Overall, it was a nice watch but I wouldn't watch it again. But the ending was great though.

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One of the better BL shows but there’s room for improvement

The show started out strong as I love the chemistry between Kohei and Taichi. The plot development was great too considering how their first kiss at the staircase was early in the drama. But it kind of goes downhill from there especially with the appearance of Maya. The story also gets unnecessarily draggy. Some episodes felt like it gives nothing to the story development. I kind of understand the struggles that Maya felt but because the episode was short, it just portrays only her bitchiness, which naturally, lends to more people hating on her.

Acting wise, the one who portray Kohei was stronger in my opinion. The actor who did Taichi did well in the beginning but he kinda falters because his expression felt one-dimension when he tries to do the reflective expressions. And I was also kind of annoyed with his passiveness in acknowledge his feelings, like it takes too long in my opinion.

Music was really good. Love the ending song. Overall, enjoyable watch but also agonizing too.

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Premise and story is promising but execution fell flat.

I had really high hopes for this because I am a sucker for sad and melancholic movies with a deep message but I finished the movie disappointed. The message of the movie is deep, I have to give credit to but I can’t get pass how there are so much lack of context to what exactly happen to youngster doctor that made him depressed and traumatized. Without sufficient time to explain his traumas, it just makes his suffering hollow.

In terms of music, I understand they trying to go for the least obvious, by using not so melancholic music but the use of more upbeat tunes just makes the emotional part very distracting for me.

Also, I just feel that the side characters (particularly the hospital members) are wasted in this show. I don’t see a need to have them in the plot tbh, they add nothing much substantial to it. Overall, meaningful message but badly executed movie.

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Leads saved the show

I had so much expectation for this because it’s a Japan-Korean collaboration but the story just fail to deliver. My biggest issue with the story is how the big challenge to overcome revolve around the fate of the picture book. To me, it just doesn’t make sense why everyone is so concerned about the main lead becoming the fate as written in the book. It can just simply be brushed off as a coincidence that some other girl with the same power met with misfortunes. Everyone life path is different, why would the characters assume that same thing would happen to the main lead?? If the story was some mystic guru foretelling the main FL that she will have misfortune happen to her bf, I would take the main challenge more seriously.. and also the plot didn’t explain how the old professor link the picture book story to the Tae-o and Yuri and assume for the worst?? I find it hard to believe he can make the far association. And in the end, the reveal that the Korean girl’s bf died because of a childhood condition rather than the girl’s power felt so underwhelming. It felt like everyone is making a molehill out of a mountain. The chocolatier relationship with the researcher was also unnecessary imo.

The only plus to this is the main leads. They are so cute!!! And yea I love their interactions and chemistry. Though I like the other male character who like the FL as he was really nice and not an asshole but I felt he gave up too easily like as if he don’t even like her… overall it’s just a show with a lot of plot hole saved by the leads.

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Emotional Rollercoaster

I would rank this as one of the top Jdrama I have watch so far as I am a sucker for tragedies. Plus, I relate to the story a lot because like the classmates, I also lost a dear friend of mine when I am around their age because of an accident. So, it is even more heart wrenching when I watched this. The only part I would probably hate is when the FL was being so dumb by wanting to abandon the chance to hang out with the deceased ML who miraculously resurrect because of some comments by the ML. Makes me so angry because I would want to talk to my late friend so badly. The drama became really meaningful after the ML's mother arc. That scene really broke me with the ML's breakdown...

Acting wise, I think Sano Hayato did a phenomenal job because I can totally feel the age differences between him and his friends. His emotional scene was great too. But I think the main highlight to this drama is really the OSTs. They are really memorable especially the one from Ace Collection. I get so emotional every time I hear that song even though I don't understand most of the lyrics. The two Maco songs were also great. I highly recommend this to everyone if you want a drama to cry for.

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Warm, fuzzy, heartwarming that brings a smile when feeling down.

To be clear, the story wasn’t very revolutionary or new as there were a lot of cliches used and many themes have been explored. But I can’t help to feel happy whenever I watched a new episode. The vibe of the entire series is just so wholesome and warm, which is something we need in this depressing time and age. While I do agree that the drama tends to be draggy but it doesn’t really stick on any particular conflicts and drama for long, which helps. Everyone’s performance are really top notch, but I do feel that the parents performances tend to be overtly exaggerated for my liking. I also like how the heavy themes were cleared before ep 10/11 as the writers really don’t hold back in giving all the sweet stuff that fans deserve. There were a few plot holes that made certain parts underwhelming. For instance, Dan Ho initial vehement rejection to be with Mo Eum was because of insecurities. But I legit thought it’s due to something bigger based on his reactions… Music was the biggest letdown here as I expect better songs for a kdrama, but most of it were forgettable except the Wonstein song which grew on me.

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