Powerful, heavy message. Well balanced drama.

First off, this is not a comedy, so don't be fooled by some of the trailers. It's a drama that deals with very heavy issues, carrying a very serious message. There are comedic aspects that lead to lighthearted moments but the show is first and foremost raw, dark and saddening. It's hard-hitting from the get-go and doesn't pull any punches.

Its message is critical of the military and showcases some harsh truths, which was refreshing and wonderful to see. Most military-based media (in any country) is often so pro-military they happily sweeping away the darker truths hidden there whereas this storyline brought to light some very poignant issues. Very refreshing to see the military in a light that's not tainted with the usual romanticism and propaganda.

The whole drama is perfectly balanced. The comedic aspect (mainly provided by the character Han Ho Yul) gave a nice balance to offset the darker, more tragic storylines. He did a great job of being the comedic relief without it appearing disrespectful or out of place to the wider, more serious story and his acting transitions well to be more emotional when the comedic relief tapers out towards the end. Action/fighting scenes are thrown in to keep it exciting and fairly fast-paced. Yes, the drama is raw and gritty, at times the truths you're forced to acknowledge could be difficult to watch, but they've balanced the show perfectly so that you can easily do so. There is no pretty, happy ending tied up neatly in a "drama-land" bow - the events that eventually happen are fitting and realistic in the confines of the story.

The plot perfectly captures the issues surrounding all types of bullying, corruption and abuse of power. It didn't shy away from the truth that if you sit by and do nothing you are ultimately taking the side of the bully.

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A really good bit of fluff

This is the perfect watch if you're just looking for a lighthearted, non-serious bit of cute fluff. It's a really quick watch and it left me feeling quite content and relaxed. I didn't have to use any brainpower to watch it - just enjoy the simple, cliche set-up.

The main characters are pretty naive, but it's not done in an annoying way. Instead, the naivety is endearing and their personalities and likeable. Due to this, I think Bi Wen Jun portrays his role very well, as he blends the adult role well with the simplicity that's expected from his character and Betty Wu is just a cutie.

Plot-wise nothing major really happens, it's cliche and full of tropes but you can't beat a classic storyline and as long as you're not expecting anything earth-shattering then it's a very pleasant watch that's easy to follow along with. The side characters are relevant, well-rounded and have their own storylines which adds nice layering to the show to keep it a bit more lively and interesting.

The visuals were great - the scenery and cinematography were very pretty.

Again, this is pretty much just fluff so if you're looking for anything more exciting this isn't for you. Perfect for a bit of cute fluff to brighten the day and relax while watching.

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This is the best movie I've seen in the last 3 years.

The story manages to balance out a serious topic whilst including enough humour to make the movie enjoyable and easy to digest. It was excellent seeing current issues faced by women brought to light but also getting to see women fight back in a variety of ways, also including enjoyable fight scenes with badass women showing their power. The humour was funny and well timed and there was plenty of it to make for great viewing and doesn't drown you in the serious topic undertones.

The cast is excellent. Perfectly acted emotions and humour really bring out the enjoyment of the movie. Refreshing to see two talented female leads who don't have to serve as a means to prop up male co-stars. They show excellent chemistry and portray a fantastic "sismance" which is fun to watch.

The music was chosen wisely and served to enhance the scenes rather than distract.

While there are similarities to movies like Midnight Runners, if you approach it with a fresh mindset rather than comparing it, letting it be it's own movie, then you'll find it more enjoyable.

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A good prequel storyline

After a long wait for some more Kingdom content, I was eagerly awaiting this special episode and was fairly happy with how it turned out, if not a little disappointed with the number of zombies. It's a slower, more emotional ride than the main series but does a good job developing a backstory.

They managed to successfully keep the same stylistic choices and the quality was certainly on par with the main series. The storyline provides a lot of detail so it's a great prequel storyline but it felt a little dry and a little too long to get to the action. I liked the historical aspect and how we got to learn a little about the Jurchens and the build-up to a war rather than focusing solely on Joseon politics but I would have liked a little more depth on Ai Da Gan [Pajeowi's leader] as he only appears briefly yet is pretty prominent to the story. Certain aspects of the storyline feel a little underdeveloped but it's a 1.5 hour special so, considering the time, they answered the key questions while providing an emotional backdrop. Sadly, this means a lot of action was probably sacrificed and only really appears near the end (maybe like the last third/quarter?). I think it sets up the way for Season 3 quite nicely though, there's lots of characters and information they can play with.

Kim Si Ah showcased a lot of talent as young Ashin, especially during the emotional scenes; the facial expressions and tone really helped draw you in and feel the pain and hurt the character was experiencing. Of course, our beloved Jun Ji Hyun was also excellent, I loved the mercenary feeling she brought to the character near the end - anything goes until the revenge is completed. The zombie choreography is as good as the main series.

Truthfully, it was exactly what it said on the tin, a story focusing pretty much solely on Ashin with a little sprinkling of zombie origins thrown in nearer the end so it's my fault for putting my own expectations onto it. It left those who were hoping for a speedy season 3 but getting a sidequel feeling a little unimpressed with the amount of action. If I were to watch it again, with my now renewed expectations for the storyline and content, then I would probably rate it a higher (maybe 9?) however, this is the rating for my first watch that carried all of my hopes and expectations.

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Simple and enjoyable.

Keeps you engaged, with sweet moments and an interesting mix of gameplay/tactics and personal relationship aspects.

A gaming plot is nothing new but I think they executed it very well and managed to add in some fresh aspects. Refreshing to see a gaming drama where they can work towards the same dream together. It was nice that they attempted to bring to light the issues with sexism and cyberbullying/problematic fan behaviour in the industry. The gaming terms may be a little confusing at first if you’re not familiar with them but over time you get used to them. The gameplay sections are well-balanced so you can fully enjoy the drama even if you don’t enjoy the tactics. The intermittent CGI gameplay was a nice touch so you can even enjoy the scenes even if you don’t understand the game.

What was fresh and enjoyable was that the FL was offered some opportunities for her to grow/solve problems on her own merits. Yes, she received emotional support and advice or even team support, but that makes it real. The FL is a little bit physically fragile and has a few white-knight protection moments but it’s a C-drama so it’s unsurprising. It strikes a good balance.

The romance is pure and believable and the witty personalities are a bonus. There wasn't really any unnecessary angst or dragged out/prolonged issues, so you can enjoy the show with a light and easy feeling.

A few side characters were lacking a little depth but for the most part, they seemed well-rounded and added another dimension to the story.

To sum up, it was a well-balanced drama that I think has a nice flow/pacing with lots of simple, enjoyable scenes. There wasn't anything earth-shattering about it but it was good and very easy to breeze through with well-acted, believable characters.

As to what I didn't like: The subtle anti-Korean sentiments and the obvious and awkward Korean dubbing dulled my enjoyment somewhat and it didn’t seem necessary. I thought the same rivalry effect could have been achieved while keeping it domestic. However, as someone who is English and not part of the gaming scene, there may be more subtle intricacies, or political strife, that I’m unaware of that make this necessary or valid? I would also have liked for them to explore the sexism angle a little deeper. While the issue was touched upon and started out strong at the beginning, it wasn't really a central plot issue and some of the meaning seemed to get lost along the way.

A potential for S2 if they really wanted to. Perfect as a stand-alone series as well though - a well-rounded, pleasing ending.

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Surprising depth for a web drama

It's an interesting, balanced storyline featuring what you'd typically expect from a high school drama but with hidden depths where it touches upon some deeper topics. The emphasis on challenging who you are, what you know and whether you need to change and grow really added a surprisingly good depth to the web drama that was enjoyable to watch with a satisfying ending.

The characters are well written, realistic and well-acted with their own issues, backstories and arcs for character growth. Some of the acting of the physical motions like the clumsiness are exaggerated and a little cringe-y but it's a web drama so it's to be expected. Other than that the acting is very good, emotions are clearly shown and easy to follow. It's easy to get invested in the emotional journey.

The storyline showcases varying types of homophobia (casual, blatant and internalised) and how that's dealt with and overcome. It provides a very realistic backdrop for the issues the characters face. In turn, this is nicely balanced with supportive friends/characters and allies so the drama is easy to watch - it doesn't make you feel bad.

The music is featured at appropriate times and fits the tone of whichever scene it's in.

Also, the setting is an all-boys school so it provides an explanation as to why there are few girls present, unlike a lot of BL.

An extra part I noticed and extremely liked was that Tae Kyung is an ASD coded character (difficulties interacting socially and following social cues/norms, slower speech, difficulties making eye contact/handshaking, brutal honesty, rigid morality, separating beans from the food, and more). While this was probably unintentional on the writers' side and most likely a coincidence, it stood out as obvious to me and personally added an extra layer of enjoyment. It was refreshing to see that this kind of character was liked (and even loved) for who he was and that he was the one bringing about positive changes in others as he learned to travel the unfamiliar social landscape. ASD coded characters are usually depicted as "lesser", as "missing" something, whereas in this case, Tae Kyung was the one humanising everyone else, helping them become more rounded, happier individuals which filled my heart with joy. He even got to keep his "quirks" at the end, they didn't change the quintessential parts of him.

Nothing but praise for the web drama, I enjoyed every part.

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