Fangirl

Under the Queen’s Umbrella

This is a story about a mother’s love and how it can take different shapes and forms, though they don’t always necessarily put the child’s best interest at heart. In a place where all the princes and their mothers fight for the title of Crown Prince, the Queen only fights to protect her sons and their loved ones. Think Sky Castle but set in the Joseon era.

The metaphorical use of the Umbrella symbolizes the Queens protection and though she may get hurt, she would never allow her son’s to get hurt.

5 star review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flower Crew: Joseons Marriage Agency

The message of the story is that no matter who you are or where you’re from, you deserve happiness. When you find the one you love, the weight on your shoulder eases because you now have another shoulder to lean on and to share the burden.

A common blacksmith is kidnapped on the day of his wedding to become the next king of Jose-on. He recruits the help of the Flower Crew to make the lowly status girl a noble lady to be eligible for the Queen’s selection. New feelings and evil intentions threaten lives and the characters’ happiness.

5 star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mr. Queen

A comedic drama that indiscreetly tells the audience that love is limitless - it can transcend time and it is fluid.

A modern male chef is “saved” by being trapped inside a Queen’s body in the Joseon era. He tries to return but in the process changes some events to his modern life and the Queen’s for the better.

A similar yet different story to Reply 1988 but with happy ending version (because who else was frustrated about who duk-seon ended up with). Drama review at the very end!

Synopses: Xiao Ju moves to a new neighborhood and has to attend a new high school in her senior year. There, she meets a group of friends and they experience both the happy and the sad times together. As much as it is a story about unrequited and unconfessed love, it is also about friendship, the struggles of finding your path and career, and most importantly growing up and saying good bye.

Cast: Wang Rui Chang (male lead), Hu Yi Xuan (female lead), Chen Bo Hao, Jiang Zhuo Jun, Judy Qi

Drama review

If Reply 1988 was 8/10 (missing that 2 ⭐️⭐️ because of the ending), then this drama is also a 8/10. Even though it was a happy ending, I wish there were more moments of the couple together. Richard Wang (male lead) did an awesome job of portraying his heartbreak and it breaks my heart every time I see him do things for the female lead unconditionally. As he says, “when can you turn around and see me, who has been behind you all this time”.

baby naruto

child naruto

sage/teen naruto

hokage/father naruto

baby boruto

jogan/kama state boruto

Note: I am not here to criticize any actor, or director/writer, but sharing my personal opinion on these dramas.

Crash landing on you - brilliant cast with great bromance and chemistry amongst all characters. At some point, their romance felt hopeless because of where the two are from, but it’s your typical romance storyline, so of course they find a way. This is definitely an excellent drama that depicts life in North Korea (acclaimed by many refugees) but was too hyped.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Start up - since reply 1988, I’ve never had a worse second lead syndrome. The drama opened up really strong with lots of backstory and then it went downhill from there. The highlight of this drama was the relationship between Ji-pyeong and halmeoni (grandma won-deok).

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Itaewon class - accurately captures the privileges (or self-righteousness one has) that comes with your social status. Aside from a great diverse cast and meaningful messages, we know how the story will unfold because it follows the typical kdrama troupe of revenge.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The King: Eternal Monarch - whenever stories involve time travel, it usually gets messy and complicated (unless you’re the writer of back to the future or the avenger movies). I was expecting so much because of it’s talented acclaimed scriptwriter, Kim Eun Sook. I think this was a big flop due to it’s slow and confusing plot (and let’s not get started on it’s product placement). PS. I love you Lee Minho and Woo Dohwan.

Mr. Sunshine - powerful messages about women empowerment, identity, and patriotism. A story about a woman’s unwavering belief in protecting her country, and three men and a lady who are united by a common goal to protect her and help accomplish her goal.

“Gun. Glory. Sad ending.”

Rating (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Prison Playbook - personal stories of redemption, silent suffering, bullying, drug addiction, and hope. The drama shows life within the prison walls and it displays that not all people are inherently bad, but their current position in life threatens them to make certain decisions.

“I wanted to give up hundreds of times every day… but how could I give up?”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hi Bye Mama - a story about learning to let go. When faced with difficult decisions, there is no easy answer, no easy way. Slow plot but that’s exactly what makes this drama unlike the others. The agonizing wait of what is to come builds up as the main character makes her final decision.

“Perhaps the most beautiful thing we can feel in life is telling someone that we love them and thanking someone whom we’re thankful for. I realized it’s a great joy to give and that you end up feeling sorry if you always receive.”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reply 1988 - part of the reply series, but this one emphasizes on the familial relationships between the characters which is an important aspect of this story. The ending will either satisfy you or disappoint you 🤫 but you know what they say, can’t please everyone. PS this is how I fell in love with ryu junyeol ❤️‍🔥

“Time will always flow. Everything will pass by. That might be why youth is beautiful. It shines, blindingly bright, for just an instant. But you can never go back to it.”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo - a story about the power struggle within the palace walls. The plotting and betrayals will lead to dire consequences. Once you have lost something, there is no going back in time, once you have lost someone, you can never bring them back. There is no second chance.

“A place that’s hard to enter and even harder to leave. You end up dying if you trust anyone. You’ll live if you remain alert and wary of those closest to you. It’s a place like that.”

“PLUS ULTRA!” -Boku no hero Academia

“Hey hey hey!” -Bokuto, Haikyuu

“In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!” -Sailor Moon

“Prodigious!” -Izumi Kōshirō, Digimon Adventure 1+2+Tri

“Dattebayo!” -Naruto, Naruto

“What a drag” -Shikamaru, Naruto + Shippuden + movies

“I’m simply one hell of a butler” -Sebastian, Kuroshitsuji

“I’m all fired up!” -Natsu, Fairy Tail

“ROLLING... THUNDER!” -Nishinoya, Haikyuu

“Pikachu! I choose you!” -Pokémon

tohru is always looking out for yuki (and other people) because she wanted to imitate her father. she genuinely cares for yuki and loves yuki, but not in a romantic way, because she is the kind of person that puts others well-being above her own.

kyo sees through tohru and he’s someone tohru never knew she needed. her mother understood tohru and tohru felt that replacing her would be a sin, as if to say, “Im forgetting you”. everybody relies on tohru and looks to her for light and warmth, but no one could ever be just sunshine and rainbows. kyo sees that and understands it. to tohru, kyo is her warmth and fills a gap her mother left behind. kyo helps tohru understand that just because there is someone else does not mean that her mother is replaced. it is ok to love and have more than one person you hold dear to your heart. kyo is what tohru is for yuki but in a romantic way.

kyo has experienced the pain and guilt of losing kyoko as well since he was there during the accident. with this guilt, he didn’t feel worthy enough to love and to protect tohru. ever since he met kyoko, he’s felt nothing but warmth and love that radiated from a stranger. he was also intrigued by young tohru who was always home alone waiting for her mother. he felt this need to repay kyoko somehow and promised to take care of tohru. when he realized that yuki was the one who saved her when she needed someone the most, he felt inferior and ran away from the mother and daughter. years later when fate brings kyo and tohru together again, he relives the moments he feels most guilty for. however, tohru’s presence heals kyo overtime and he eventually finds someone who will accept him for who he is and will willingly stand by him through all the challenges because of love. eventually, tohru’s pain of losing her mother is also eased because kyo replaces that sadness and loss with gentleness and love.

1. hinata x kageyama

they started out literally HATING each other but they started to respect each other through volleyball. honestly, ALL characters in haikyuu have such amazing relationships with each other and that’s what makes this anime so great 🏐💜

2. emma x ray x norman

ps. if you haven’t watched this already, you should! the biggest plot twist you’ll ever get 🧐

3. gon x killua

survived the hunters exam together, trained together, almost died together, and still stayed with each other until the end ☺️ *SPOILERS* their goodbye was the most emotional scene in this anime 🥺

4. levi x erwin

super excited for season 4!!! 🤩🤩🤩 ALSO, MAJOR plot twists in the manga 😧

5. deku x bakugo

i am so glad that this didnt turn into a naruto/sasuke plot because it would have been so redundant. Thank you Horikoshi for developing these characters so well💕

SuperM concert was so lit ❤️

But remember Kakashi’s first lesson?

“In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, that’s true. But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.”

And it was Obito who taught him that.

Naruto smiled and he never lost hope in his best friend, Sasuke. He believed their bond was strong and could not be severed as easily as Sasuke thought.

He never abandoned Sasuke even if Sasuke abandoned his morals. Naruto protected him.

Your waves are screaming

Why do you feel such regret in this graveyard?

It’s chaos

Tohru and Kyo touch

Tohru and Kyo being embarrassed

Suffocated Yuki

Tohru blushing

Tohru trying to change the subject

Kyo not knowing what to do

Grocery shopping = a date (FINALLY!)

Kyo being obvious

Kyo not being able to hold in his affection for Tohru

Re-confirming Tohru x Kyo ship

*iKON knocks on Hanbins door*

iKON: please, I know you’re in there. People are asking where you’ve been. They say have courage, and I’m trying to. I’m right out here for you, just let me in

*iKONICS knocks on iKON’s door*