This Siti Never Sleeps At Night

Up all night so you know what to watch, read, and hear


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🌈📺 TV Review: Sammy’s Children’s Day (2026)

Here comes the Enemies-to-Lovers trope

🔢 Seasons/Episodes Covered

Season 1, Episodes 1-9

Quick Spark

He Chu San is a top student – the first in Kowloon Walled City to succeed, attend university and graduate. His dream is to escape the chaos of the place that is run by triads and corruption. However, while running an errand for a stall, he crosses path with Xia Liu Yi, one of the triads’ deputy leader. His life is not the same again when he’s forcibly pulled into the triad’s criminal scheme. What was meant to be a forced, temporary allyship, they became partners in revenge.

🪝 The Hook

I have to just admit that the reason I watched this series was He Chu San. I obviously have a thing for guys who look incredibly cute in glasses. Help me! But I continued watching because despite him being such a nerd, that man is smart enough to know how to survive a triad. Typically, someone like him would have gotten eaten up (maybe literally) by the triad. But nope, this man survived. I’m pretty sure it’s 80% intelligence and 20% Liu Yi finds him cute, even if he denied that for 8 episodes out of 9.

🧪 Character Chemistry

This series is an irony of sorts. You have Liu Yi who is the triad leader, one of the most wanted and vicious in the hood. But actually a softie and a little immature. Then you have Chu San who is a nerd. But actually dominant. Chu San is the pursuer, not Liu Yi. Throughout all 9 episodes, you just witness Chu San trying hard to show how he’s into Liu Yi but resisting because he didn’t want to lose him and Liu Yi just being oblivious to it until he almost lost Chu San. When it comes to such shows, it also boils down to how good they look together. You have a cutie patootie and a handsome chiseled-looking man. It’s so good and they look kinda believable, some people are shipping them in real life, based on my TikTok FYP.

🚶🏽‍➡️ Pacing Check

It’s not bad but I also think it went a little too fast and a little too short. The ending is open so I feel like it can be longer because it does have a whole back-story with the second couple. And the novel itself (yes, there’s a novel) didn’t end where it ends in the series. So, while I think it’s not bad, it can slow down and make it longer.

💤 Final Sleepy Rating

🦋 Heart-Flutter – It’s cute when Liu Yi figured out his feelings for Chu San. I was like, finally, bro!

🧐 Status

Completed

✍🏽 Notable Mention

He Chang Xi, who acted as He Chu San, was an idol 😮


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🌈📺 TV Review: Love For Love’s Sake (2024)

Press [Start] to reveal: Spoilers

🔢 Seasons/Episodes Covered

Season 1, Episodes 1-8

Quick Spark

Tae Myung-ha, a 29-year-old, was transported into a virtual game as a 19-year-old. He was tasked to bring happiness to a seemingly-cold school athlete Cha Yeo Woon. To help him navigate this world was the innocent Ahn Kyung Hoon and the one who had a major crush on Myung-ha, Chun Sang Won.

🪝 The Hook

At first look, this is like any BL drama with two school boys that gets right into any BL fans’ fantasies. But once the episodes go by and especially towards the end, it became much deeper. It is a second shot in life for Myung-ha. Of course, the thing that made me stay and continue watching was the concept of a virtual game and Myung-ha having to work so hard to make Yeo Woon happy. While that was the mission of the game, eventually, Myung-ha was also at his happiest, with new found friends and falling in love.

🧪 Character Chemistry

We all have to admit that one of the factors for great chemistry is also looking good together. Lee Tae Vin and Cha Joo Wan definitely did. Both are absolutely adorable. Myung-ha couldn’t help himself from falling in love with Yeo Woon. And it’s so adorable watching him just fall for him no matter how much he tried not to. In turn, Yeo Woon knew Myung-ha cared for him and he tried his best to do what he could for Myung-ha. As much as Yeo Woon needed Myung-ha to give him hope, Myung-ha didn’t realize he needed Yeo Woon as much and he’s the person he wished for in his first life.

🚶🏽‍➡️ Pacing Check

It is just nice. Though maybe if it has an extra episode or scene or something to explain why Choi Jin Jo was the only one in that world who remembered Myung-ha when he disappeared, it would be better. There were lots of theories from the viewers but it would be good to have an explanation for it. Some theories was that she was his ex-girlfriend and from his previous life and the disappearance might not have an impact on her, but I don’t find that theory plausible. My own theory? Myung-ha did want her to take care of Yeo Woon so I’m guessing she had to remember Myung-ha because one of the reasons that Yeo Woon was happy was Myung-ha, which he himself didn’t realize.

💤 Final Sleepy Rating

🦋 Heart-Flutter – I was literally punching my soft toys and kicking my blanket and giggling

🧐 Status

Completed

✍🏽 Notable Mention

I just found out that Tae Vin is 30-years-old. Hello what? He looked so young that he looked unbelievable acting as a 29-year-old than a 19-year-old.


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The Siti Finally Sleeps: But ‘The Time of Fever’ was the Perfect Awakening

This Siti finally caught some sleep. For more than a month, I traded my late-night shows for some spiritual reflection and quiet moments. It was a reset that I totally needed. But now the lights are back on and I found myself with the first show that got me staying up all night.

The show that got me thinking all night long was The Time of Fever. From the get-go, I knew the show is a blast from the past – the colour palette and the cinematography feels like a memory and not something that’s present. What I did not know was that it was a prequel to Unintentional Love Story. Thus, I watched both. But my focus would be on The Time of Fever. I was skipping through the story of the main couple in Unintentional Love Story to form any thoughts about it. My intention of watching it was Ho Tae and Dong Hee. Watching both made me understand the relationship of these two better. The vibes of the two shows for this couple is different. Because Unintentional Love Story was not focused on Ho Tae and Dong Hee, it was less aching and intense and more light-hearted. But it still made sense for their story considering the years that had gone past.

Rating: If Unintentional Love Story is more ☁️(fluffy) for this couple, The Time of Fever is 🌧️(bittersweet)

The Verdict: I stayed up till late night not because I was busy, but because I was so emotionally attached to this show that I couldn’t move on.

⚠️Spoilers ahead⚠️

The moment Ho Tae came back from the funeral of his father and Dong Hee from school, I knew there was something more than just childhood friends between the two. There is so much intensity in their quietness than the words exchanged. The way Ho Tae acted around Dong Hee is like a clingy puppy that wanted his attention. Dong Hee though was more matured in his actions. Ho Tae was just too playful to realize Dong Hee’s feelings for him. He himself had not realized (until later) that his feelings for Dong Hee is not brotherly at all. So, when the skinship happened later on, it was so intense but also so heartbreaking. Dong Hee’s trauma from his father and his gratitude for Ho Tae’s mother made him want to distance himself from Ho Tae, despite his own feelings for him. On the other hand, Ho Tae couldn’t care less about what the society will think about his feelings for Dong Hee after he came to terms with it.

I have to applaud Won Tae Min and Do Woo for playing these characters. For Tae Min, Ho Tae’s character is more playful with the hint of pride and ruggedness. Do Woo had to be more reserved and restrained in his actions but also insecure and calculated. While words have an impact, actions speak louder and the chemistry between these two is off the charts that, to me, they are easily the top 5 on-screen couples overall.

Watching the prequel made their story in Unintentional Love Story made sense. Why Ho Tae acted the way he did in the show: Not wanting Dong Hee to touch him after he was injured (the hurt he felt when Dong Hee went away for college); his never-ending perseverance in wanting Dong Hee (his constant pursuit, while light-hearted, made sense after The Time of Fever). Even Dong Hee’s own reservations to pursue his feelings for Ho Tae (his gratitude for Ho Tae’s mother – someone who was there for him when his own parents didn’t).

I also have to give credit to the directors and producers of both shows. The directors of the two shows are different. Usually when this happens, the stories would not align. But in this case, or more so for this couple, it surprisingly did. Maybe because the director for The Time of Fever knows how much the audience love Ho Tae and Dong Hee so they tried not to butcher it and gave it so much thought and love to the story of these two.

The only thing that’s bugging me right now and making me stay up thinking about the show is how open their ending is. They are neither together nor separated. I, as an audience, am in a limbo!

So, here’s my open letter to the producers of The Time of Fever:


Dear Producers,

I’m officially the Siti who can’t sleep because of Ho Tae and Dong Hee.

We’ve seen their beginning and we’ve seen their present but we have not gotten our closure. We need to desperately know what is their future. You have brought us Won Tae Min and Do Woo together and we are eternally grateful for that. And we know, deep in your hearts, that you want to pair these two together again. We can all admit that they have given life and soul to these characters and they work well together on screen.

So, please, we need more of Ho Tae and Dong Hee. We need our closure. Please give us more of this fever.

Signed,
The Siti Who Still Never Sleeps (because of them)



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🌈📺 TV Review: Love Begins In The World of If (2025) – 🦋

Sugar, spice and everything nice is under wraps. Click here to read the full review!

Season/Episodes Covered: Season 1, Episodes 1-6

Quick Spark: Kano was holding a technical position when he is unexpectedly transferred to the Sales Department. There, he meets Ogami, who is seemingly strict and cold towards him. Kano was having a panic attack when he passes by a shrine and makes a wish. A wish that got him into a parallel world where Ogami is not the strict, cold man he knew.

The Hook: This is the few BLs that I know of that actually depicts the height difference that most BL readers know in the mangas. Ogami is H.U.G.E. Man literally towers over Kano. But aside from that, I like how both of these characters are complex. And the director or writer fitting the complexities of these characters and touching on parallel worlds in six episodes is a feat. You can easily butcher it but they didn’t. While I wish it is longer, and there is room for it to be longer, the length of the drama is short enough for me to finish this in one day. Fine by me. Girl needs to watch other shows too. What I also like about the show is how what you think is ideal may not actually be a good one. In a way, the grass is not always greener on the other side. And it takes one to go to that so-called “greener side” to know that it is not what you need or want.

Character Chemistry: Aside from looking good together and the height difference, I like how the two of them feed off each other. I don’t mean THAT way. Although that is also there and that scene was a little spicy. The way Ogami tried to help Kano in his own way and Kano did not realize that until he went into the parallel world. Kano learning that he was also the one driving people away rather than attracting them and changing his attitude and behaviour.

Pacing Check: It is just 6 episodes. Easy to finish in one day.

Final Sleepy Rating: 🦋 Heart-Flutter (the height difference, guys 🔥)

Status: Completed

Notable Mention: The guy acting as Ogami is so cute and he looks like one Korean actor that I can’t remember for the life of me. But if you think the same, let me know.


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🌈📺 TV Review: I Hear The Sunspot (2024) – 🦋

It’s so wholesome I’m kicking my feet in the air! Click here to read the full review!

Season/Episodes Covered: Season 1, Episodes 1-12

Quick Spark: Due to an illness, an introverted boy, Kohei, is slowly losing his sense of hearing. Then comes an extremely loud, carefree boy, Taichi, who quite literally lands in front of him. His voice is the only voice that he’s able to hear clearly.

The Hook: To be honest, the first half made me think it was bromance. It looked like a sweet, coming-of-age story of growing up and friendship. An extroverted guy who befriended that introverted boy in school who was treated differently because of his disabilities. Cute friendship. Yeah, right. Not in the second half of the show. Especially not when Kohei showed very obviously how smitten he was with Taichi. And Taichi was flushed everytime he thought of Kohei or when he felt jealousy when girls started talking to him. What got me to stay and continue watching is just how wholesome their whole story was.

Character Chemistry: The way Kohei spoke of Taichi and his face just lit up like he found his sun. If my man isn’t like that, I don’t want it. And let’s talk about how Taichi would stand up for Kohei. And how Kohei could only hear Taichi’s voice. He was so scared of losing his hearing because he was scared of not being able to hear Taichi’s voice again. I love that scene so much.

Pacing Check: The BL shows I’ve watched so far is more of less 10 episodes. But this one has 12 and it’s not enough. I need a Season 2.

Final Sleepy Rating: 🦋 Heart-Flutter (you will be kicking your feet in the air and giggling into your pillow)

Status: Completed

Notable Mention: Well, not really. Remember how I mentioned it looked like a bromance in the first half? Apparently, the producer called it bromance when the source material is BL genre.


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📺 TV Review: Idol I (2025) – ☕

Season/Episodes Covered: Season 1, Episodes 1-12

Quick Spark: A successful lawyer was a secret fangirl of a popular idol boy group. But when her bias became a murder suspect, she had to tread the line between being his greatest supporter and defending him against the court of law.

The Hook: It started really well. As a fangirl myself, I feel that Maeng Se Na is relatable. At work, we are professionals in our industries. Once we remove our professional suits, we are fangirls, cheering for our fave group, streaming their songs, voting for them, splurging our money on their merchandises, their photos all up in our rooms. When our bias was embroiled in some dating “scandals”, our hearts will try to deny that it’s true. We put our biases on a pedestal but we forgot that they are also humans. This is something that the show touched on with Do Ra Ik. He’s doing what he loves, which is music. But doing so, he had to sacrifice his freedom and privacy. Due to his fame, the public also easily brought him down after he was being put as a prime suspect for a murder. That aspect of the show is something that I like. Not so much the love story. I would love for the show to touch on the similarities between Do Ra Ik’s case and Se Na’s own dad’s case. They did touch on it but we didn’t get to see her trying to clear her dad’s name at the end, which is a shame. Some people might find the real suspect for the murder case to be a twist. It wasn’t for me. I was able to guess it. But still, I give it a ☕ rating.

Character Chemistry: Some people might not like this but I find Se Na having more chemistry with Chung Jae and Byung Gyun than with Ra Ik. For Chung Jae, probably due to him knowing her before she became a successful lawyer. Seeing her grow to be who she is and got inspired by her. Also, seeing her fangirling side and still not leaving her side, supporting her all the way. That is a green flag, honestly. For Byung Gyun, I might be a bit biased – I like myself an enemy-to-lovers trope. It would have been interesting. To me, I just can’t get past the fact that she is a fangirl. Sure, a fangirl doesn’t know everything about her idol but how that plays out in a relationship – it can get weird. If she’s just a fan of the music without being too involved in the fandom, sure, I guess it might be more believable.

Pacing Check: It is actually quite good. It has its comedic moments and then the writer would pull it back and it got serious/deep/mysterious. It makes the viewers keep watching, clicking that next button. I don’t really like the ending though it ties it off real smoothly with no loose ends, except Se Na’s dad’s case. But it is otherwise a show that is perfect for binge-watching.

Final Sleepy Rating: ☕ Wide Awake (Binge-able)

Status: Completed

Notable mention: The main actress is Sooyoung who is an idol herself from Girls’ Generation. So, I wonder if the stalking part is something that she’s familiar with being from a famous girl group herself.


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🛑[Drop Report]: Can This Love Be Translated? – 8/12

The Breakup Moment: If you have read my Weekly Watchlist post, I gave this show a 🦋 rating. I had to pull the plug at Episode 8 when I felt that the mental health issue of the female lead was taken too lightly for me to continue.

💤 Why I’m Choosing Sleep Over This:

  • The “Wait, What?” Factor: The use of dissociative identity disorder (DID) as a plot device for a romantic story or even a rom-com is incredibly insensitive. What happened in Episode 8 really made zero sense to me!
  • Character Chemistry: I don’t have a problem with the two main characters – Joo Ho Jin and Cha Mu Hee. They actually look good together. It’s the usage of Do Ra Mi appearing for no reason at most times is what pissing me off.
  • The Pace: Okay, it is way too slow. When you see the main couple about to get it together, plot twists – it’s either Shin Ji Sun, Hiro or Do Ra Mi. There’s only so much that I can take as a viewer.

📉 The “Sleepy Scale” at the Time of Death:

  • Rating: 🦋 Heart-Flutter (Well, it was heart-fluttering until it was absolutely not. Instead, it became 😠)
  • Verdict: Not worth my blood pressure going up.

🌙 The Deep Dive (Why it went wrong)

Spoiler Alert: This section contains details up to Episode 8.

  • The Do Ra Mi Problem: I understand that Cha Mu Hee had a traumatic experience that led her to have DID. Do Ra Mi is her alter. I get it. Do Ra Mi appearing to protect her during overwhelming experiences like the event with her horrible family. Understandable. But why did she just appear when Cha Mu Hee ask into the mirror? “What will Do Ra Mi do now when I close my eyes?” or something along those lines. What? And Do Ra Mi proceeded to strut her way to Hiro and kiss him? Look, I don’t have DID but what is traumatic or overwhelming about the so-called date with Hiro? Cha Mu Hee already apologized for not remembering and partly not being able to understand him. Maybe it is overwhelming for Cha Mu Hee. But as a viewer of a drama, it is too light-hearted of a situation for an alter to come out. In this case, I felt that Do Ra Mi is just being used as a plot device to make a romance story between her and Hiro. That makes no sense!
  • Plot Twists: I am okay with slow burn. And most people who like this show commented about the slow burn. Sure, totally understandable. But the amount of twists and turns of this show is like that road that Joo Ho Jin drove in Canada in one of the episodes. Everytime the two main characters looked like they were about to get it together, someone or something would just come up and spoil the plans. And then it’s back to these two just staring teary-eyed at each other. Like really? I signed up for a rom-com and not driving down the winding roads of the relationship of these two.

🔄️ The “Watch This Instead” Recommendation

Since we’re not watching this anymore, here is what you should put on your screen instead:

  • If you want to watch a show that treat DID in a less light-hearted way: United States of Tara (though do note that it is more on the extreme side and realistically, such extreme cases are rare) or It’s Okay, That’s Love (one of the side characters have DID and the show did do a little more justice to people struggling with mental health).
  • If you want to watch Kim Seon Ho: The Childe. I know it’s a not a drama but a movie. But he really surprised me here.
  • If you want to watch Go Youn Jung: Moving or Sweet Home.

💬 What do you think?

Am I being too hard? Does it make sense after Episode 8 or was I right to save my sleep? Let me know!


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📺 TV Review: Wind Up (2026) – ☕🦋

Season/Episodes Covered: Season 1, Episodes 1-50

Quick Spark: A promising high school baseball player struggled with yips, putting his sports career in jeopardy. A mysterious transfer student appeared to help.

The Hook: It’s an almost 2-min duration for each episode. There are 50 episodes, which makes the whole drama to be 100 mins. Not even 2 hours. Very easy to consume with it’s TikTok/YouTube Shorts/Instagram Story format. The only problem? You have to pay to watch all 50 episodes or you will wait. Fortunately, for those who are reading this, yours truly paid to watch all 50 episodes. That’s the hook. If you set your settings to the default, the next episode will just play automatically. This format works for me. Though, I wish it’s longer. The director is the same one for Move To Heaven. That might clue you in on what to expect for this bromantic drama. I will not spoil it.

Character Chemistry: Both Jeno and Jaemin are members from the K-pop group, NCT or the sub-unit, NCT Dream. And they have both been known by fans as best friends and even twins. So, there is no doubt about their chemistry. But how’s their acting as their characters? They are not Jeno and Jaemin here. But Woo Jin and Tae Hee. It’s Jeno’s first time as an actor. On the other hand, it’s not Jaemin’s first foray in the acting world. For Jaemin, he’s also been known as the doppelganger of Nam Goong Min. And he does prove that he should be getting more acting offers. Jeno, for a first-timer, does quite well portraying his character. As fans would know, this man does not have an angry bone in his body. But Woo Jin is almost always angry. For good reasons. He does well in acting with his eyes. On stage, he has been known to be quite expressive. And he does the same here. And both of them together? Heartbreakingly sweet. This is supposed to be a bromance drama. Honestly speaking, as a BL watcher, this is toeing the line between bromance and BL. It’s a very thin line.

Pacing Check: It’s 2 mins each episode for 50 episodes. It’s not slow and it’s definitely very quick. I really wish it’s longer. If it’s a full-fledged drama – 12 or 16 episodes – I think the director would be able to flesh out each character more. Delve a little deeper with their back-story. But even with this short drama, the director did manage to touch a little bit of it without it being awkward. Each one makes sense. The flow is actually quite okay as well. I hope that if it does really well in Kitz app, the director would consider doing a full-fledged drama of it. It is a good coming-of-age youth sports drama that is worth to be shown outside of the Kitz app.

Final Sleepy Rating: ☕🦋 Wide Awake and Heart-Flutter (It’s a bittersweet drama that’s good for a late-night binge)

Status: Completed

Notable mention: The director mentioned that this work comes full circle for him working with SM Entertainment. He was the director for EXO’s music video, For Life. And worked with D.O. from EXO for Bad Prosecutor. Wind Up is his third work with SM’s artistes.


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📺 TV Review: Pro Bono (2025) – ☕

Season/Episodes Covered: Season 1, Episodes 1-12

Quick Spark: A beloved judge was framed and demoted to work with a pro bono team, fighting for the voiceless.

The Hook: At the very beginning, it is kinda slow. But once it hits Episode 2, it gets interesting. Kang Da Wit was at the top as a beloved judge. Now, he has to lead a team of pro bono attorneys. Pro bono, if you don’t know, is voluntary and free. So, essentially, he was doing free work after earning a lot possibly as a judge. Each case the team takes on is intriguing. Initially, the cases seem simple. But the moment Da Wit digs deep into each case, simple is not it. And most times, they are fighting against the powerful people in the society. From having a stray dog as a client, to a child that’s trying to fight against God. From a pretty foreign wife who wants a divorce to a K-pop idol. Each case looks silly on paper and not worth Da Wit’s time. But once he and his team get into each case, it’s more complex than it looks. And with all of that, he is also trying to figure out who frames him. So, you just want to keep clicking on that “Next episode”.

Character Chemistry: I love the growth of each character. Each member of the team has a presumption of Da Wit being an attention seeker. But once they work with and learn from him, he’s not what he is made out to be. And what they learn from him is what helps him in the end. Despite their presumption, they use what they learn from him to help him dig the truth. Which is honestly cute. At the same time, working with them, Da Wit remembers the reason why he wants to be an attorney – to help with the less powerful and the voiceless. The part of society he was from. You can clearly see the teamwork and how Da Wit brings out the best from each of them. What I’m actually really glad of is that there’s no romance. There are some moments between Da Wit and Jung In but that was due to their past relationship. I’m also glad they didn’t make Da Wit and Gi Ppeum into a romantic couple and just keep it as a team leader and the smart right hand woman.

Pacing Check: Was it slow in the beginning? Yes. Did it pick up after Episode 1? Yes. So, you just have to endure one episode before things get interesting to watch. There are only 12 episodes and each case, aside from Da Wit’s own, takes about two episodes max. So, each case does get enough time for you to get into it emotionally. The one about the child who was suing God was quite heartbreaking. I was sobbing.

Final Sleepy Rating: ☕ Wide Awake (Just makes you click that “Next episode”)

Status: Completed

Notable mention: Someone said this somewhere and I agree. Jung Kyung Ho does not have your typical leading man looks but he sure can carry off male lead roles well.


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📺 TV Review: Taxi Driver 3 (2025) – ⚡

Season/Episodes Covered: Season 3, Episodes 1-16

Quick Spark: Our Rainbow Taxi gang is back again to save the world. One cosplay at a time.

The Hook: This is the one TV show which I watched while it was still ongoing. I’m the usual gal who likes to binge a show. But this one? This one I can’t binge. I had to watch it as it airs because it is that good and deserves all my patience. The show really knows how to grab the audience’s attention. The cases are interesting and some are inspired by true crimes. The way they resolve these cases are creative as well. In one episode, Kim Do Gi pretended to be a manager of a K-pop idol girl group and danced during the rehearsal for a music show. This famously happened before with Apink when one of their members had another schedule and their manager replaced her during rehearsal.

Character Chemistry: The characters and the cast members are like a family. The cast said so themselves. As a viewer, their chemistry can be seen through the screen as well. You can’t think of anyone else acting as their characters. You wouldn’t want to replace Lee Je Hoon as Kim Do Gi. You probably can’t think of anyone else fitting to play Mr. Jang other than Kim Eui Sang. And I know someone else was supposed to be playing Ahn Go Eun. But Pyo Ye Jin fit that role so much now that I don’t think viewers can see anyone else playing her. If there’s another season (which I felt there will be), it will always be these 5 cast members.

Pacing Check: Each of the cases that the gang took on has 2 episodes each with the exception of one the cases. That one had 3 episodes. And it’s enough for me. The writer did a good job in ensuring that the cases are resolved as quickly as possible. As a viewer, our attention span and interest is quite short. If it drags on longer, we can get bored.

Final Sleepy Rating: ⚡Electric (Keep the binge going!)

Status: Completed (or waiting for Season 4)

Notable mention: The cast members won awards recently while the show was still ongoing. Not only them. Even the guest actor won an award. That’s how good this show is.