Index

Siren’s Kiss ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2026 | Episode: 12 | Channel: tvN, Prime Video

Cast: Park Mi Young & Wi Ha Joon
Plot: Han Seol Ah works as an auctioneer. Behind her beautiful appearance, she hides a chilling secret: all the men who loved her have died. Cha Woo Seok is an investigator for an insurance company. He begins to investigate Han Seol Ah as a suspect in a series of insurance fraud death cases.

Review: Siren’s Kiss started off quite strong for me. It was full of mysteries, secrets and there was this cold, if not creepy atmosphere that added to the weird charm of the drama. I liked how Han Seol Ah was a grey character, impossible to read. For more than half of the drama, you doubt her and wonder if she’s the actual ‘siren’ responsible for the deaths of all these men or if she’s just the victim of bad luck. The thriller/murder part was also compelling. However, I think the drama lost its magic in its last episodes. I’m not saying it was bad, but they chose to develop the storyline differently than what I would’ve wanted. I understood why they made that choice, prioritizing the romance for example, but the drama lost its spark by doing so. It had so much potential to blow our minds with a final good twist. Unfortunately, they didn’t go there. Nevertheless, the ending was correct and well delivered. But I was left unsatisfied.

The Practical Guide to Love ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2026 | Episode: 12 | Channel: JTBC, HBO Max, Viki

Cast: Han Ji Min, Park Sung Hoon & Lee Ki Taek
Plot: Lee Ui Young is a 30-year old woman whose love life is not going well. So, she resorts to blind dates in hopes for romance. Through these, she meets 2 men: Song Tae Seob and Shin Ji Soo who are total opposites. Who will she choose?.

Review: If I were to judge the first 8 episodes of the show, I would’ve definitely rated the drama higher. From the get-go, I was really into it and liked seeing Lee Ui Yeong go on dates and try to find the most compatible partner. Just for that, I would say that the drama should be renamed the practical guide to dating. We get to see a good number of encounters and blind dates that go well or not. And it’s not just the female lead, but also all the secondary characters going through that. Moreover, the love triangle was super compelling. Both Ji Soo and Tae Seob are decent guys and potentially good boyfriends. It was so hard to choose between these two, which is pretty rare. I generally tend to pick a side quite fast. Later on, Ui Yeong makes her choice and that’s when you finally get into the love part of the relationship (and the title). Unfortunately, this is also where the drama starts to become more bland. There’s no tension anymore, no choice to make. You just get to see the main couple enjoy their relationship. As for the last 2/3 episodes, we have a broader overview on the different forms love can take through the lenses of other characters. You have those who divorce, those who move in together, those who start dating and those who get married. If I just take the title of the drama into account, then the plot does its job and presents various configurations of love. But I lost the spark I had at the beginning in the last episodes. A shame considering how much I appreciate the concept and romances. Nevertheless, this drama is still a good romcom to watch.

Where Does the Sea Begin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Japan | Year: 2024 | Episode: 12 | Channel: Fuji TV, Viki

Cast: Ren Meguro & Kasumi Arimura
Plot: When he was in college, Natsu Tsukioka met Mizuki Nagumo. Everything was going well until Mizuki suddenly disappeared. Years later, Natsu learns that she’s passed away, leaving behind her daughter Umi. Turns out he’s her father.

Review: This drama is a hidden gem. It was so beautiful, painful, melodramatic and poetic. I can’t tell you how many tears I’ve shed. And that’s normal because the show tackles some tough and serious themes like death and grief, as well as how the loss of one person impacts everybody around like parents, children, friends, distant acquaintances and even strangers in this case. Despite the tragic of the situation, the drama depicts Natsu’s journey as he learns to become a father. He’s confronted with choices, makes mistakes and discovers parenthood all at once. I loved how no character is to blame. Natsu, Mizuki, Yayoi and even Umi make their own choices that obviously have consequences. Yet, they always take the time to analyze and reflect upon the situation before making life-changing decisions. The atmosphere is not that of emotional outbursts and rash actions. On the contrary, everything is thought about, deeply introspected and carefully done. Characters respect each other and the pain they carry. But the best part was to see how loved and cared for Umi is. The link between the sea and the plot is also so well explained, but my biggest surprise was the connection between Mizuki (Natsu’s ex) and Yayoi (his present girlfriend). It moved me so much! Where Does the Sea Begin is a must-see, but prepare tons of tissues!

In Your Brilliant Season ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2026 | Episode: 12 | Channel: MBC, Disney+, Hulu

Cast: Lee Sung Kyung & Chae Jong Hyeop
Plot: Song Ha Ran has a seemingly perfect life, but she has locked her feelings away after the loss of her loved ones. She accidentally meets Seonu Chan who has a bright and cheerful personality. They start developing romantic feelings.

Review: I loved this drama so much! It contains so much poetry and melodrama at the same time. Some may find the lack of communication or the failed attempts to tell the truth quite frustrating, but I think this is what makes the ambiance angsty and tense. There is a beautiful parallel between the leads’ lives that makes their connection deeper. Clearly, the male lead lives and breathes for the female lead. He only has her happiness at heart. Their romance is like a nice spring coming after the harsh winter, and you’ll see that seasons are important in that show. The way the plot is built is also quite captivating. Just like the male lead who has bits and pieces of his memory following the accident, you are given the puzzle pieces episode after episode. By the end, not only the characters but also the viewers are able to reconstruct the whole picture. But I think my favorite part is the web of characters gravitating around the lead couple, particularly Ha Ran’s family. Each sister and her love interest were cute to see, each couple has its own issues to overcome, and the grandmother was just the best. I wish mine were like that as well, such a Queen!! All in all, I recommend the drama, but beware the tears and suffocating lies.