Historical cdramas are often dismissed as just lavish costumes, romantic plotlines, and cringeworthy “flying/fighting” scenes. And while there is nothing wrong with any of that, some go beyond that, a lot actually, they shine a light on the complexities of women’s lives, their struggles, growth, and their resilience in times when society tried to silence them.

So here are five pro-feminist, female-centric historical cdramas that explore themes of women’s freedom and feminism, challenge patriarchal norms, and make you root for the women who refuse to be sidelined. From legendary generals to women navigating their careers, love, and ambition in a world that sees women as less or nothing. Their stories show their bravery, cleverness, wit, and resilience.

1. Flourished Peony. 2025 (Episodes - 32 | Duration - 45 min.)

   

Flourished Peony, played by the beautiful Yang Zi, is set in the Tang Dynasty and follows the life of He Weifang or Mudan (Peony), a merchant’s daughter who’s forced into a loveless marriage with Liu Chang, and who’s ridiculously good at cultivating rare peonies. While in the marriage, she uncovers the betrayal behind her mother’s death, and decides she’s done playing by everyone else’s rules. She somehow forces a divorce from him despite his resistance and his family's attempt to kill her. She eventually escapes to Chang’an, the capital city, and teams up with Changyang, the male lead, played by the talented Li Xian, a morally grey official with hidden secrets, to start a flower (Peony) business.

Everything about this drama is exceptional and beautiful. The story will frustrate you, make you feel every bit of her pain, bring you to tears, it will have you rooting for her every step of the way, and also have you swing your feet in the air over the lead’s chemistry. The slow-burn romance between the main leads was nothing short of spectacular as well.

What makes this drama so inspiring is watching Mudan go from trapped and underestimated to fully in control of her life. She’s clever, resilient, and absolutely refuses to let a male-dominated and misogynistic society tell her what she can or can’t do. It was beautiful to also watch as she builds up beautiful female friendships along the way. One where they all learn to lean and trust each other along the way.

Flourished Peony will always be my top one female-centric cdrama. It’s inspiring watching the women take charge of their lives, be brilliant in the things they do, pick themselves over a man, and thrive on their own terms. Yang Zi embodied the character so well. Her acting was pure brilliance. Spectacular to watch. Li Xian also made sure his character complemented hers so well, enough to match her energy.

Ratings: A 10/10. Resilient!

2. Blossom In Adversity. 2024 (Episodes - 40 | Duration - 46 min.)

   

Blossom in Adversity, played by the talented Zhang Jingyi, is a story that follows Hua Zhi, a young lady who had to step up after a sudden tragedy strikes the Hua family. The men are forced into exile, leaving the women and children to struggle to survive. Hua Zhi, seeing as she needs to get her family out of their current predicament, is forced to grow up quickly and lead them through hardship. She starts a lucrative candy business that somehow keeps the family from starving, while also searching for ways to rescue the Hua family men from exile and bring them home.

Blossom In Adversity is exactly what it sounds like: women thriving despite the odds stacked against them. It’s the kind of drama that makes you root for every female character because they refuse to be sidelined in a patriarchal society. Watching the Hua women set aside their petty differences, learn to trust each other, and work hard towards their goals was beautiful.

Zhang Jingyi’s character is one of resilience and growth that feels empowering. She evolves from a sheltered, pampered girl to a strong leader as she guides her family towards a brighter future. The male lead, played by Hu Yitian, is a feared Commander of the Security Bureau, Gu Yanxi, and favoured by the King, who later becomes her beloved “Mr Yan”. Together, they built their romance to what I’d call ‘cute but complicated’.

The heart of Blossom in Adversity is and will always be the female lead. Watching her grow, navigate challenges, and lift everyone around her up is so inspiring. This is that one drama that makes you admire strength, resilience, and the way women can empower each other.

Ratings: 10/10. Inspiring!

3. The Glory. 2025 (Episodes - 30 | Duration - 45 min.)

The Glory, played by the beautiful Chen Duling, tells the story of Zhuang Hanyan, a woman who returned home from a tough, abusive past, only to face more challenges and rejection. The drama revolves around her claim to her space in a world that constantly tries to push her down.

Abandoned as a child, Zhuang Han Yan grows up in the southern countryside, where she is bullied, starved, assaulted, and humiliated, and had to fight her way through death so as to return to her family in the capital. She catches the eye of Fu Yun Xi, played by Xin Yunlai, a feared deputy minister with a mysterious illness, who sees her as an ideal wife. Their story is one of enemies to lovers as they navigate their relationship and realize they need to rely on each other in order to succeed in a world that wants them gone.

Zhuang Hanyan wasn’t just a character. She was a broken piece, a walking wound, both physically and emotionally. Her childhood was hell; it was a relentless episode of suffering. From the moment she was born, Hanyan’s world was one of darkness and violence.

The Glory isn’t your typical revenge story. It’s not even a romantic story. It’s a story about a girl who never got the chance to grow up in a normal way. It’s the story of a girl who was denied the luxury of innocence, thrown and forced to survive in a world that gave her nothing but cruelty—and somehow, she still stands. She survives. She wins. Somehow, she perseveres and triumphs against all odds.

Can’t help but appreciate Chen Duling and the way she bodied this character. She fully incorporated Zhang Hanyan’s pain and resilience, and every emotion she experienced was felt throughout the drama.

Ratings: 10/10. Liberating!

4. Legend of the Female General. 2025 (Episodes - 36 | Duration - 40 min.)

   

Legend of the Female General, played by the beautiful Zhou Ye, follows He Yan, the eldest daughter of the He family, who is forced to don a mask and disguise herself as the family’s eldest son, “He Rufei,” to protect the family’s noble title. As a general, she starts off as a young girl full of promise, only to be betrayed by the very people she called family. Instead of breaking down, she reinvents herself completely. Disguises as a man, rejoins the army, and works twice as hard to prove she belongs there and can be a general. He Yan proves that her story isn’t just about war or revenge; it’s about survival.

Xiao Jue, played by the talented Cheng Lei, is cold, brilliant, and suspicious of everyone, including her, after his parents’ death. Their relationship grows slowly and is built on mutual respect earned through trust, battle, and struggle. The romance takes a back seat to He Yan’s growth; she proves time and time again that she’s fierce, clever, and can outsmart pretty much everyone around her. She balances her feminine side with her skill in a male-dominated army. And for once, it’s nice to see a female lead who doesn’t need saving because she’s capable enough to save herself.

What makes Legend of the Female General one of the best pro-feminist dramas out there is the balance it strikes between vulnerability and strength. He Yan doubts herself, breaks down, and still shows up the next day ready to fight. She’s not painted as a flawless warrior; we see that she’s human, and that’s what makes her victories hit harder. Every scene where she faces the men who underestimate her feels satisfying, a reminder of how women have always had to fight to be seen, to be believed.

Legend of the Female General is everything you want from a pro-feminist story: a woman proving she’s just as capable, if not more, than the men around her, while staying true to herself.

I’ll describe Legend of the Female General as the extended version of Mulan, hehe. And cheers to the delectable Zhou Ye for embodying this role perfectly.

Ratings: 10/10. Empowering!

5. A Dream of Splendor. 2022 (Episodes - 40 | Duration - 45 min.)

   

A Dream of Splendor, led by the brilliant Liu Yifei, tells the story of Zhao Pan’er, a teahouse owner who refuses to let betrayal define her. When she learns that her fiancé has abandoned her for someone of higher status, she doesn’t break down or beg for answers. She takes her heartbreak, pride, and her ambition and heads for the capital, determined to build something of her own. Along the way, she rescues her two closest friends, Sun Sanniang, a divorcee who’s been humiliated by her husband, and Song Yinzhang, a talented musician exploited by men who see her as nothing more than decoration. Together, they form a sisterhood built on loyalty, shared struggle, and the beauty of choosing themselves over the men and systems that tried to control them.

Zhao Pan’er is the kind of woman who used her intelligence to win against a patriarchal society. She is strategic, determined, and soft in all the right ways. And she demanded respect everywhere she went. The romance between Zhao Pan’er and Gu Qianfan, the stoic commander, played by Chen Xiao, was one for the books. His character complemented hers. Their relationship was built on mutual respect and trust. He doesn’t try to ‘save’ her; instead, he stands beside her, he meets her where she is, as an equal. Which made their love story even more powerful.

A Dream of Splendor isn’t just about love or survival. It’s a drama about women reclaiming their dignity, their choices, and their futures. It’s a drama that celebrates women’s strength, ambition, and resilience. It’s about the beauty of starting again and finding strength in the very people society calls weak.

I’ll always praise the ever-graceful Liu Yifei for how naturally she carried Zhao Pan’er’s strength and grace. She didn’t play her like a woman who was simply hurt; she played her like one who learned, adapted, and evolved.

Ratings: 10/10. Empowering but underrated!

If you’ve ever wanted to see women take charge, every one of these dramas delivers! They all tell a different version of the same truth: women have always been powerful, and always will be! They remind us that there’s nothing women can’t achieve when they choose to rise.

Watching female-centric historical cdramas made me appreciate just how beautiful the genre is, and why more people should watch them. These stories aren’t just about love or revenge; they’re lessons in power, in friendships, in survival, and in feminism itself.

I fear I’ll always be a sucker for them, mostly because of how boldly they celebrate what it means to be a woman.

Hello Hello,

Welcome to the very first edition of Scene & Heard. It’s been an eventful week in the world of entertainment, and you already know I’ve been front row with my cup of vanilla ice cream in one hand, phone in the other.

Let’s get into it—here’s what went down in film, music, and on the net this past week.

📡 This Week on the Net: On Met Gala Monday, Concert Season, and a third baby on the way.

It’s officially concert season, and Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar/Sza are out here popping out and snatching souls. The clips flooding TikTok are enough to make me consider selling a kidney or a property for tickets.

Also, can we talk about Blue Ivy? I will always support a little nepotism when it serves. My girl is evolving into a performer right before our eyes, and she’s giving icon in training.

Bad Bunny is out on a world tour… but without America. Yep, he’s touring everywhere except the U.S. Bold move, but I love it. A world tour without the US, (oh look who’s on the map but not on the map… point finger and laugh). And don’t worry, Africa isn’t included either. We’re never included.

Now, to the big one:
The 2025 Met Gala happened just few days ago, and whew! This year’s theme was deep. Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the dress code was titled: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.

And listen... the celebs understood the assignment—well, most of them. Some looked like they got lost on their way to a different event entirely, but overall? One of the best Met Galas in recent years, for me.

Anyway, my top looks?

Gagged from the first look, because yes!

Idk but it screams black excellence. And she is black excellence. The best dressed of the night, too.

A lot of people had a thing or two to say about this look, but I loved it.

Lol hey, it’s DAMSON FREAKING IDRIS.

Also, can we get a good reason as to why Wisdom Kaye wasn’t invited? This theme was straight up his alley.

Third baby on the way for Riri. Not surprised, not mad. A part of me thinks she wants that baby girl so bad, and honestly? I can’t blame her. I’d want a mini Rihanna if it were me, too.

I do miss Pop Rihanna, but there’s something so divine about Rich Mom Rihanna. We’ll keep holding onto the album hope… maybe 2027? Please?

🎬This Week in Film: On Sinners, YOU, and Squid Game

Sinners, the new horror flick produced by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld, is cleaning up at the box office. It has grossed over $200M worldwide.

Also, not a single bad review in sight—which is insane. That kind of universal praise in this time and age? Rare.

Okay, maybe I might be wrong.

Meanwhile, after years of blood, bodies, and deeply questionable decisions, Netflix’s YOU has officially ended.

As someone who was never a fan of the show, because I felt it glorified abuse against women, I’m glad it has ended, and I’m glad he got what he deserved. But either way, it’s the end of an era. Say what you want, but YOU kept people hooked.

And in the light of it all:

Netflix just dropped the Squid Game Season 3 trailer, with a premiere date set for June 27th. I’m cautiously intrigued. The hype has faded a bit, but maybe they’ve still got some surprises up their sleeves. We’ll see.

Now, why would you watch a horror movie and get attached to a character?

🎵This Week in Music: On Davido and new releases.

Davido’s new album, 5IVE, is OUT and already doing numbers—over 30 million streams in the first week, topping charts not just in Nigeria but also in the UK and a few other countries. The general reaction has been good. And fans are loving it.

Also, Ayra Starr and Olamide blessed us with new singles—“Gimme Dat” and “Kai,” both featuring Wizkid. Add them to your walking-around-like-you’re-in-a-music-video playlist. They’re actual bops.

🔥Hot Take of the Week: Hear me out, okay?

Next year’s Met Gala theme needs to lean all the way into culture. I know they do that already, but I’m talking diversity. We have big stars from all over the world now attending the Met Gala, so give us culture-themed fashion from all around. I’m talking Nigerian extravagance, Chinese dynastic drama, Indian regality, styles that will shut the carpets down, the full ancestral runway. And if they’re gonna do it, I need them to call the Nigerian, Indian, and Chinese designers to the table. Bring them all in. Let us see gele sculpted like architecture. Let hanfu and sari fabrics glide down in slow motion. Give us Culture as Couture—with range, not watered-down references. I know they have the budget. I know they do!

📺What I’m Watching:

Weak Hero Class 1 & 2 – Listen, I’m obsessed. Like, can’t-sleep-watching-edits-on-TikTok-and-reels level obsessed. It’s gritty, smart, and violent in a way that makes no sense because they’re high scholars, but also, actually makes sense. If you love action with plot and some emotional damage? Open and watch on Netflix ASAP.

🎧What I’m Listening To:

• “Gimme Dat” by Ayra Starr ft. Wizkid

• “With You” by Davido (feat. Omah-Lay)

• “Stop The Rain” by TABLO X RM

• A random rain playlist I found on Spotify, that calms me (And I’m not even a fan of rain)

Let me know what you’re watching/listening to, and your thoughts on the Met Gala’s looks, and hot takes.

Until next week,
– Joy
From Scene & Heard.

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For my new subbies—hey, welcome—I’m a big lover of pop culture if you haven’t noticed. Scroll down a bit and you’ll see reviews of movies and albums I’ve written before. It happens every time I get too excited about a film or an album and feel the need to share it with the world. I genuinely cannot gatekeep.

And no, I’m not doing this because my friends and family love it when I talk about my latest favourite song or series, or because they ask for my recommendations. Absolutely not! (They do, but shh)

I think I’ve always watched the world with a tilted head, half curious, half impressed. Music, film, viral Twitter threads, the chaos in entertainment—I consume it because I sometimes find it fascinating. I find it interesting and entertaining.

So I’m creating a new publication, called “Scene & Heard,” because I’ve always had too many thoughts. About music. About film. About why that one album is the best thing ever made. About how a 10-second scene in a random TV show will live in my head longer than some of my relationships. About why booktok recommendations are never the best. And because I spend an embarrassing amount of time on pop Twitter.

I needed a space where I could pour all that out. Where I can rant, recommend, unpack, and scream into the void—but with people who get it.

So, what is this?

This is a newsletter for people who:

• Rewatch movie scenes just to feel something.

• Those who obsess over albums, books, lyrics—like it’s the best thing in the world. (It is!)

• Believe that pop culture isn’t “just entertainment”—it’s how we connect, cope, escape, and understand ourselves.

• It’s for the fan girlies and boys, who need somewhere to read and someone who understands their dramatics.

• Love being dramatic about things that actually matter (aka your current TV hyperfixation or artist)

This is your place.

So what’s Scene & Heard really about?

Each week (or whenever I don’t spiral), I’ll break down what’s happening in entertainment, without the gossip, the fluff, or the mindless noise. Just the good stuff.

You’ll get things like:

🔹 This Week in Film – Latest releases, movie reviews, hot takes, and box office wins (or flops).
🔹 This Week in Music – New drops, chaotic rollouts, lyric breakdowns, album reviews.
🔹 This Week in Books – Book-to-screen chaos, new releases, and whatever BookTok is yelling about.
🔹 This Week on the Net – Viral moments, Twitter debates, and cultural commentary you wish you came up with first.
🔹 Hot Take of the Week – An opinion that might ruffle feathers but never without receipts.
🔹 Underrated Gem – A movie, book, album, or artist that deserves more noise.
🔹 What I’m Watching/Listening/Reading – My personal recs, because what’s life if we don’t overshare?

Basically? If it made the culture shift—even slightly—I’ll talk about it. If it just made me scream into my pillow at 3 a.m., I’ll probably talk about it too. If it made me giggle while reading, watching, or listening to it, I’ll talk about it. And recommend as well.

It’s more like bringing the fun part of pop Twitter to you, without the toxicity.

So stay tuned.

First real post drops soon.

Sikeeeee

You thought! I’ve become so comfortable in my loneliness and realized that I can’t stand men any longer.

You talk anyhow, block.

You make me laugh for too long, block.

You breathe as a man, block.

(If this annoys the men reading this, sorry, not sorry sjskjsjs)

Some of my friends still think I’m lying and probably dating a man somewhere secretly. Now, my dear, why on earth would I do that?

Well, maybe I am. sips hot coffee and burns tongue

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Anyway, that’s not what I’m discussing today.

While the two titans of Afrobeats were having a brawl on Twitter like high school students, I finally took the time to watch A Tribe Called Judah on Prime Video.

(I still suspect Wiz and David are playing us because how do you go from planning a tour to giving gbas gbos on Twitter? I’m suing them both if they end up announcing a joint album.)

So, let's dive into the review of A Tribe Called Judah because that movie is beautiful.

First off, kudos to Funke Akindele for her work; she truly deserves all the credit. She's an inspiration to many women. We see the work she puts out, we see her dedication and relentless work ethic, and we're all proud of her achievements with this film.

“The first Nollywood movie to hit 1 billion naira at the box office.” It's pretty insane if you ask me.

The storyline of A Tribe Called Judah isn't groundbreaking, but what sets it apart is its simplicity, diverse characters, absence of unnecessary romance plots, lack of plot holes, standard comedic scenes, and superb acting.

Funke Akindele is undoubtedly versatile, she knows how to deliver any role, but the standout character for me was Pere Judah.

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Pere Judah, played by Timini Egbuson. Timini is popularly known for his playboy/romantic roles in movies and series, so it was a delight seeing him bring life to a different character. A chronic pickpocket who does nothing but steal at any given chance but is also devoted to his mom.

Ejiro Judah, portrayed by Olumide Owuro, was also a delight to watch—a natural-born actor. His chemistry with Testimony, played by Genoveva Umeh, was hilariously weird. Their relationship was written so well, nothing too much just two trenches lovers fighting all odds to be together.

And can I add that Genoveva is an amazing actress.

Shina Judah, played by Tobi Makinde, was my second favorite. The dynamics between his character on the outside and his inner softness towards his mom were a joy to watch. The constant bickering between him and Pere but sudden bromance when it is time to commit illegal activities is humourous, to say the least.

Emeka Judah played by Jide Kene Achufusi, was written as the morally-righteous and responsible son amongst the other crackheads. Choosing to return the bundles of dollars as someone wallowing in poverty, instead of pocketing them and deciding to go along with his brothers to steal cash from his boss, for his mum's declining health, even though he was initially against it, shows the beauty of his character. His death came as no surprise to me because as a writer, of course, I’m going to kill off the only good character in the drama to spew up some emotional rage among my viewers.

And finally, Adamu Judah played by Uzee Usman, was also well-crafted—a semi-righteous son, teetering between good and bad. Leaning to any side as long as it benefits their mum. As the second child, it’s no doubt that his character was written that way because just like every second born in the real world, their purpose in the family is either to be the black sheep or hold the family together.

Overall, this movie gets a solid 10/10 from me. Watching a well-written, neatly produced Nollywood drama with excellent actors gives me goosebumps. For someone who watches a lot of movies from literally every country that makes good movies, I have to say that we have so much potential in Nollywood, and it's great to see films like this showcasing our diversity.

The first scene alone is enough to hook you, showing the beauty of family despite how dysfunctional everyone might be. It also highlights Nigeria's cultural diversity, having five sons from five different fathers from five different tribes is quite wild but it’s great to point out how irrespective of the tribe, they are united under one mother's love.

I recommend it to fellow late watchers like me, though I'm sure almost everyone has seen it by now.

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Nollywood is rising and I’m glad it’s been led by a woman—because why tf not?

Ignore the fact that I just spoiled the entire drama and go watch it. It's worth it, I promise.

Thanks for reading!

By the way, I stumbled upon "El Chapo" on Netflix and got hooked by his story. I’ve got a lot of things to say but I won’t.

Druglords are wild, bruh.

If you’ve seen A Tribe Called Judah, what do you think about it and how would you rate it?

I am writing this with a lot of pain and anger. I can’t call this constructive criticism because I'm really upset😭

This review is long af but I promise you it’s a good and funny read.

Personally, I don't think the plot of the drama made sense from the beginning because why are you sending kids to fight aliens in exchange for points for their college exam? The script was just terribly written from the start.

I get the message they were trying to convey about how humans are evil, but it still doesn’t excuse the insane plot holes the drama had.

Who writes an ending like that? There is a reason why everyone in the Kdrama fandom is calling it the worst ending in the history of Kdrama because it is!

Personally, I think the drama should have been named “All of Us Are Dead” instead of “Duty After School” because it suits it better.

Let’s talk about the plot a little before I dive into the characters…

It is basically a typical alien drama with the same plot of them coming to destroy every human on Earth, but the only difference with this one was the government sending kids out to fight the aliens in exchange for extra points for their college entrance exam. The funniest part was their parents signing them off without thinking twice. Why are you signing your kids off to go shoot guns? At Aliens? THEY ARE KIDS! But I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.

It’s interesting how brave they got later on and decided to fight back against the spheres even after seeing their classmates get killed. I loved their character development a lot. It would have been great if the drama ended on a good note instead of the traumatic ending we got.

I personally think the directors of the drama decided to release Part 1 first because they knew how bad Part 2 was😭

Let’s talk about the cast (Can I point out that I had no idea who the main characters were, so I’m just going to select a few and talk briefly about them).

• The Spheres (Aliens)

The main characters! They were just too smart. The way they think and attack is scary. They’re criminals! They have criminal minds lmao.. too bad they didn’t get enough screentime💀

• Lee Chun Ho

The best platoon commander! He was literally the only sensible adult in the drama that saw no reason as to why they had to send kids to fight aliens. There was no reason for him to die the way he did. I don’t know, but the writers could have changed his storyline a bit so he could live and maybe focus on giving us a better ending. He trained them so well though, their growth as individuals is all thanks to him. He will forever be hot to me skjskjsk.

• Kim Chi Yeol

He was my favorite from the beginning, light as the sun and calm as the sea. All the time he used to contemplate whether he should ask Kim Na-ra out pissed me off more than the spheres killing everyone. It was only natural that he was one of the few who survived in the end. He has a kind heart.

• Kim Na-ra

The coolest one out of all of them. I am so glad she survived because all that bravery she had would have been for nothing. She was the only character who wasn't annoying from the beginning. I know she liked Kim Chi Yeol back, but she was just waiting on his stupid ass to speak up first… he never did.

• Do Soo Cheol

The visual of the drama! I had to go look for his other dramas after this because I needed to see more of that pretty face. His death pissed me off, but at least he died in the hands of spheres and not his classmate. 💀

• Kwon II Ha

He annoyed the hell out of me in Part 1. I really can't stand bullies, to be honest! But I loved his growth in Part 2. He became one of the strongest characters in the drama, and it's sad how that led to his death. Maybe, just maybe, if he had stayed a bully, the massacre wouldn't have happened. (I don't support his attitude, but I kind of needed that attitude in the last episode).

• No Ae Seol

To be honest, when Bo-ra kept complaining about her in Part 1, I was on Bo-ra's side because, as demeaning as those words were, Bo-ra was right. Ae Seol is slow and pure, and it’s that pureness that almost led them to their death. There’s no reason for anyone to be that gullible, especially when facing the end of the world. But that aside, she ended up being the one saving a few of them at the end, so cheers to character development.

• Yeon Bo-ra

Literally one of the coolest characters. As annoying as she was at the beginning, she was very realistic, and most of the things she predicted earlier came to pass. I hated how she bullied Ae Seol, but she was being realistic. Her death hurt me.

• Jo Jang Soo

Y'all! I'm still mourning. His death hurts me so much! I had to pause the drama after he got shot. There was no reason for him to have been killed by his classmate that way. No reason! After everything he had done for them and him. Nahh, the writer messed up on this one.

• Kim Ju-Yeong

She was their mother, literally! I don't think they would have gone far without her. She handled them so well because if it was me, I would have slapped them numerous times for always screaming and complaining.

• Jo Hyeong Shin

A GREEN FLAG! That's just what he is. I would have called him FATHER, but HUSBAND is a better word *brings out wedding ring*

• Cha So Yeon

Really wished she would have spoken up earlier maybe it would have prevented the massacre but she was in shock and I can’t blame her. I blame the directors and writers.

• Kook Yeong Soo

I have words! Words I can’t say here because it would be too vulgar and Substack might have to send me a warning. I have curses in my head that I would like to pour onto this character but let love lead. Right from the first episode, I knew he was going to be an issue, I knew he would cause big problems for them but I didn’t know it would be that BIG. He got scared he was going to get found for killing II Ha and sexually assaulting So-Yeon so he decided to kill every one of them. That scene broke my heart to pieces, I couldn’t move for minutes after watching the scene, like what just happened? They were so happy that they were going home and he decided to just end their lives like that? I’m so mad at him, and that just makes him a good actor for bringing that kind of emotion out of everyone. This is all the writer’s fault btw.

I have searched for ways to sue the writers because I'm so mad.

What makes it more annoying is that the drama never ended like this in the webtoon. They all survived in the webtoon, but the writers felt they were smarter and decided to change the storyline. It hurts! I shouldn't have watched it, but I was looking forward to it so much.

I hope the writers know I'll never forgive them. I'm overlooking every other plot hole, like why is there no mention of the second platoon commander in Part 2?

I would have preferred it, if they had died at the hands of the spheres because that is what the drama is all about - the spheres!

Why not just follow the webtoon? What is wrong with you?

Duty After School had so much potential, it's a shame the writers messed it up.

I recommend watching Part 1 though. It was really good. The drama should have ended there… pfft.

First of all, the audacity of men! They’re literally the same in all centuries omg. The audacity of the Queen too… why not stay with the sugar daddy that loves you instead of running after/with a greedy lover? I mean that’s a better decision to me than following Saro who can’t keep his stuff in his pants (like I should just knock his head)

P.S Yoruba culture is so beautiful!

I studied and loved history so much in school and watching this movie made me smile a lot, I felt I was in that era with them (No, not really because if I was there with them, I’d have mistakenly poisoned everyone’s food starting with Saro) I loved it so much though.

Ahhh… Saro did not get the treatment I wanted, they should have first beaten him up and then seize that thing from his hand, broken it on his head, and then ask him to chew it.

Personally, if I was there, I would have slapped Queen Arolake for giving a man that much power because you don’t do that girl… these men will cheat on you if you do that!

Let me be serious…

The King that cannot talk? Why? Is his mouth smelling? Is he trying to be a special king or what? My friend open your mouth and speak. Has he maybe tried one day to speak to the public and check if he will really die? Is he shy? He is an ungrateful King, although I don’t like Saro but he has done a lot for his kingdom by resurrecting his people, just one time he fails, and he is crying. No wonder he can’t talk.

My favorite has to be the old woman that was brought back from the dead… She has lived so long and needs to rest so why are you bringing her back? So the white slaves can take her? Don’t be an ungrateful person.

I commend Bimbo Adeoye and Kunle Remi. These roles must have been so hard to portray, I felt bad for them every time they ate without washing their hands or drink water from a dirty river, or walk on dry grass. But did they really drink that water? Eeeww run them that cheque.

The 17th Century must have been such a tough era to live in. Imagine not having rice to eat on Sunday. Oh, they lived in such a primitive way.

Just so you know, there’s a probability that we all lived during that time and may have been reborn…

All in all, this movie has one lesson, one simple lesson… which is STAY WICKED LADIES!

Do you know what irks me? if she had used that gourd to raise the dead instead of him, she would have been tagged a witch. The world is so unfair to women.

On a more serious note, I enjoyed watching Aníkúlápó and I hope the movie, the cast, and Kunle Afolayan get the flower they deserve. He spent 6yrs working on this and it came out as a masterpiece. Greediness leads you to destruction irrespective of how nice as a human you are. If you lack contentment, you’re just in one way calling death to yourself. Saro was a greedy man and I have no idea why that bird woke him up but I need him to stay dead!

Queen Arolake's story is very typical of what women go through today, especially African women. They sacrifice a lot to keep a man and their household up all because of love but men are never satisfied. They would cheat with anything just to satisfy their horny side.

Also not to be partial but both Saro and Arolake were greedy and that’s why they both got tragic endings. It doesn’t hurt to stay faithful. If you can’t, just stay single like Awarun and cheat with no attachment.

Be a woman like Awarun, run when you see a man that screams danger. Don’t be a woman like Queen Arolake that sees danger, invites it to her bed, caresses it, loves it, and allows it to step on her. You’re too much of a Queen to do that.

P.s I saw Kunle Remi's ass… why?

Hopefully, I’ll be back soon because so many good series are in the works and I need to be prepared to watch them but before that, let me recommend a few to watch.

Omitting Alchemy of Souls because I doubt if there’s any Nigerian that hasn’t seen it but if you’ve not, you should! It’s a good one. S2 will be out in December.

LITTLE WOMEN

This is literally one of the best Kdrama released this year. The suspense, the sisterhood, the family drama, the secrets, the investigation, the humor. It literally has everything a suspense-thriller-filled Kdrama should have. At first, when I saw the trailer, I assumed it would be one of those fun, exciting storylines of the bond of three sisters until I watched the first two episodes lol. It screams drama and suspense. I knew it was something I’ll have to watch after they’re done airing because right now? I have enough drama in my life and do not need a tv one. You should watch it though, it is really good. One thing about KIM GO-EUN dramas? She doesn’t disappoint. Add it to your list if you’re like me that prefer to wait until they’re done releasing all episodes. Available on Netflix

Narco Saints

This series is based on a true story. I enjoyed watching this and although it was slow at the beginning, I was patient enough to watch till the 3rd episode when the drama finally began. It’s a 6 episode drama and all episodes have been released on Netflix. Basically, the whole plot feels like a Mexican/drug cartel kinda movie. Dealings with drugs, wrongly imprisoned, CIA involvement, undercover work, and all that. I actually learned a bit of history from the series lmao. It’s a good watch. Rating it an 8/10 because everything was on point. The action, drug dealings, betrayers, and hustle for money lol. One thing about me? I’ll watch any drama that has PARK HAE SOO (the man from the squid game drama) in it. Available on Netflix

BIG MOUTH

If you’ve not seen big mouth then what the hell are you doing? Lmao… Or you’re like me that saw the first four episodes and took a step back because of the DRAMA in it. Big Mouth just ended and it was the talk on “socio-medium” lol. Everyone was raving about it and that made me enjoy the spoilers more than the movie itself. Big mouth was Lee Jong-Suk's comeback drama after his return from the military and one thing he knows how to do is pick a good script. Like he always delivers! It’s an action-packed drama that’s also filled with intellect and suspense. “WHO IS BIG MOUSE? The famous con man in the country. No one has seen him but for some reason, an incompetent lawyer gets dragged into a murder case and lands in prison, now he has been framed as the big mouse. How will he get himself out?” Trust me, this is a good one. I enjoyed watching it from all the spoilers and theories I got from TikTok and Twitter lmao. Rating it a 7/10. Available on Dramacool

MY LIBERATION NOTES

This is my drama! I loved it from the first episode. Although most people didn’t like it because it was slow and sad, I did because I could relate to the characters so much. In a world where extroverts live their life in a happy way like they have no worries even though life is depressing, introverts accept that life is depressing and live that way. No faking smile, no struggle to be socially acceptable. Just living life like the sad, depressed humans they are lol. I cried so many times while watching it because most of the time, it’s okay to just feel those feelings and not want to associate with anything or anyone. I enjoyed the romance so much, their chemistry was so good. A countryside girl asking a rich dangerous man to fall in love with her, oh the boldness! Available on Netflix

LINK: EAT, LOVE, DIE

Watch this if you enjoy watching dramas about serial killers. It has a little bit of supernatural plot in it and the romance is kinda giving and also not-giving. Basically, “his sister was kidnapped when they were younger and it’s been 18+ years yet no one has found the killer or her body. The whole community looks suspicious. Now he is back in the city and is determined to find who is responsible for his sister’s disappearance and where her body was buried.” The plot alone gives you an idea of what the drama is going to be about. Oh, he can also feel every emotion the sister is feeling, he couldn’t feel it again after she was kidnapped and he knew she was gone until years later… There are lots of loopholes in the drama but it’s still good. You get to see how evil humans are, especially adults to kids. Also, the romance in the drama was not needed. Available on Dramacool

Cafe Minamdang

It’s basically an investigative drama with a touch of romance and deep comedy. The comedy kept me hooked on the drama. It’s like your everyday “who killed who” kinda storyline but it’s funny. “A detective disguises himself as a fake shaman while he gains money from the shaman business and investigates the murder of his best friend.” P.s… the female lead is really really annoying so watch out. Available on Netflix

Few heartwarming dramas you can watch if you need something warm, calm, and drama-free.

1. From now, Showtime

2. Love all PLay

3. Extraordinary Attorney Woo

4. Yumi Cells

5. Todays Webtoon

But those tricks? Those tricks? Who do they think their audience was? Some two-year-old? What was that?

Ngl, this is the first Korean movie I watched, and I almost fell asleep mid-way.

Every time the action scenes pop up, I and my sister would pick up our phones and go online to distract us from the craziness they were about to show.

The storyline was good though. I mean it’s not a new script, it’s literally the only action script Hollywood has in their store room😒

The race mixture in the movie was excellent. They always bring a not-so-good white or black actor in their movies but this time, they brought an actual talent and the conversation was clear enough.

I personally don’t have any issues with the storyline or their acting scenes but those film tricks… those damn film tricks.

There were so many unrealistic scenes that made me almost shut down my laptop.

The scene that left me speechless was when the plane blew up and they fought in the air with no parachute attached to them. They were fighting in the air for more than 30min with no plans of actually crashing.

I don’t mean them fighting in the plane before it was blown up, I mean the plane had already blown up and they were fighting in the sky like birds.

For a second, I thought I was watching a Bollywood movie.

I can bet that the bullet that was shot at him was more than 200 and not even one touched him or the girl. I mean, what is he? An invincible man?

The train scenes…😭 so many bullets shots at him and not even one went through his skin. Did you see the number of North Korean soldiers he was fighting with? They were jumping from train to train and only the soldiers kept dying. Who is he? Thanos?

The scene where he jumped from a motorcycle to a train on a very high mountain was giving Bollywood.

All those killings? The blood? The naked humans? The trick scenes? What was the reason? Do we look that stupid?

Who else saw the ending? The bridge that collapsed? I want you to know that they survived that bridge collapse, I’ve not seen part two but I can promise you no one died.

My source? Dude trust me.

If he can survive all those bullets and knives and explosions and that weird thing in his head, then he is definitely going to survive that bridge collapse.

Funny enough, I always enjoy the actor’s drama, he does action series so well but this one, it’s just not it.

Anyways, let me give you a Korean movie to clear your mind.

“The Witch Subversion - Part 1.” and “The Witch, the other one - Part 2.”It’s not available on Netflix yet but you can find it on Dramacool or probably Netnaija. Part 1 was released in 2018 and Part 2 came out this year. It’s a 10/10.

I’m a sucker for survival dramas.

Especially the ones where they have to struggle to stay alive on a deserted island with no food or chances of getting rescued. It’s intriguing.

“Keep Breathing” is a little bit different than most of the survival movies I’ve watched because it tells the story of a lone survivor. Imagine being the only person that survives a plane crash, on a deserted island, and the only food(chocolate) you survive with, gets eaten by a bear. I’ll riot!

The amazing thing about this series is not the fact she’s a lone survivor but how she kept pushing herself to survive. Her fighting spirit is admirable.

The interesting part about it was how she kept reminiscing on all the heartbreaks and pain she has been through and how she survived all those. It was a driving force for her survival.

The storyline was sad nonetheless, because PARENTS. It showed how terrible a parent can mess up their kid based on the way they treated them or the environment they grew up in.

These were the part that made her strong to the end. She remembered all the pain her parent put her through and how (why) her mother left her. She needed answers as to why she was treated that way as a kid and why she was neglected. Those questions needed answers and the only to get them was to stay alive.

Back to my Ted Talk…

I know parents are humans too. I know they get hurt too. I know most times, life gets overwhelming for them with the whole taking care of their kid’s thingy. But involving or treating their kids like they are the reason why they are mentally unstable is a pathetic thing to do.

Whether they like it or not, the actions they portray to their kids would definitely reflect on their character and the way they treat other people when they grow older.

It affects them a lot.

You see the way most of us in this generation have no plans to get married or “produce” kids, and you wonder why? A lot grew up in a toxic environment and even though in reality they “might” be good parents to their kids, the fear is still there. They are scared they might treat their kids the way they were treated, thereby recycling the pain. The memories of what they went through with their parent are still there.

Not me going into deep talks😭

Anyways, I enjoyed watching keep breathing a lot. I kept rooting for her, although I was unsure if she would survive or not.

Personally, I know my fighting spirit and I know if I was alone on an abandoned island, I’ll definitely survive… or not.

Rating it a 9/10. The storyline did a number on me, I’m sorry.

What do you think?

If you were stranded on an abandoned island, rate your survival strength from 1-10.

Let’s talk Glamour Girls?

So I just spent the last few hours watching this and first of all, I watched it because I was sick, bored, and restless. I wouldn’t normally put myself through this much pain on a normal day.

30 min in and I’m still trying to understand what the storyline is?

50 min in and I’m still lost.

Took me more than an hour to understand what the movie was all about?

The casting was not so great but let's ignore that. The acting? I don’t know how to describe it but it’s a little bit… bad or good? or bad?

So basically, the movie is about a group of ladies hustling for their daily bread in their own way… wait, hold on, I have no idea what else to write because that is how confusing the movie is.

Let me see if I can summarise it… Nse Ikpe-Etim is the lady in charge of the business, her friend and old partner came to her asking for financial help which Nse refused but accepted only on one condition, the friend comes back into the business by attending a party with billionaires. The friend refused but accepted later on because she needed the money for her sick husband, who later died after she got a new boyfriend then something happened and she “mistakenly” killed the new boyfriend. For what reason? We don’t know. Unluckily for her, the new boyfriend is the financial “bank” of the billionaires. They needed him and most importantly they needed their money but he was nowhere to be found.

That is how far I can go because, from that point, nothing in the movie made sense.

I have questions…

What was the man doing to the little boy that made Jemma kill him?

How did Toke meet her husband that makes him collect so much money from her?

What made them play that lullaby song at the club?

How did 1 flash drive turn into 3?

Who gave Sharon Ooja that role to play?

What was the whole point of the movie?

Who was the main character? Was it Sharon or Nse?

Who directed this movie?

I’m giving it a 9/10 because I was glued to my tv all through the four episodes and the only time I had to pick up my phone was when the suspense was getting heated up.

Let’s dive in

I loved the storyline because it touched on so many aspects. From domestic abuse to child trauma to addiction to self-defense to corruption and to broken homes.

From the directing to the acting and, the storyline, they did so well.

To the casts

Nancy Isime as Kemi: Get you a bestfried like Kemi! But truth be told, Kemi was exhibiting the characteristics of a ritualist😂 killing someone was not enough, she had to chop off his head, bury his body and kill the photographer. God abeg😫That asides, cheers to her for standing with her friend till the end because, without her, I’m not sure Sarah would have left that marriage. Her zeal and will to survive are what kept them out of jail and alive. I still think they could have come clean after killing him but his family wouldn’t have let them live so I guess they had no choice.

Ini Idima Okojie as Sarah: Pretty sure she annoyed everyone but then there is always that one person in the friend group who is always sluggish and annoying. She has a fighting spirit but without the help of her friend, it would have just been a sleeping spirit.

Deyemi as Kola: He deserved that gruesome death!!

Kate Henshaw as Madam Uduak: The Cersei Lannister of Nollywood. She was born wicked. She is the definition of a horrible mother, that is why all her children turned out the way they did. That aside, I loved Kate Henshaw for delivering this character so well. The way she talked, walked, and acted… It was phenomenal.

Genoveva as Timeyin: Another actress that did justice to her character. I loved how she played the character of an addict and was still the only sensible child in the family. By far my favorite character.

Kehinde Bankole and Gabriel Afolayan as The “woto-woto” couple: As they call them on Twitter… those ones didn’t know anything more than sex. Once their scene comes you just know they’re about to have sex. May God help them😫

Uche Jumbo as Sarah’s mother: Never knew a day would come when I would watch Uche Jumbo act a mother’s part in Nollywood…lol. She played the role of most Nigerian mothers when you tell them your soon-to-be husband slapped you days before your wedding. I watched her say those hurtful words to her daughter and it hurts because that is our reality in Africa. Most parents will tell you to go into an abusive marriage rather than leave and disgrace their household. Tragic.

Wale Ojo as Detective Chicago: Loved his accent so much and loved the fact that they made reference to his character coming from Chicago PD back to the Nigerian Police force. It was not like he borrowed the accent from the backyard.

Ramsey Nouah as Uncle B: Why must there be blood in all the movies Ramsey Nouah acts in?😭 He said so little in the series but let his body do the acting. That is what you call a good actor. It was also nice to see him branch into a different role.

Maurice Sam as Blade: Someone called him a Sharpener on Twitter and for once I agree. How can they send you to kill someone and you stand staring at the person eye to eye? What is wrong with you? He was there breathing like he had an asthma attack😭 no wonder he died so easily.

There were indeed so many potholes and answers we need but for a drama like this in Nollywood? It was great.

There was so much criticism on Twitter last week but I’m just going to say that, sometimes it is nice to watch a drama and just enjoy it without trying to look for potholes because it was made in Nigeria by Nigerians.

There are a lot of potholes in most of the American and Spanish series we watch and if we can overlook them then we can also overlook these ones.

Anyways, I know there’s going to be a season 2. It is Mo Abudu… she loves shooting a second season😂

Cheers to Nollywood. This is growth and i cant wait for us to take over the movie industry worldwide.

P.S This is a sign to plead with you that if you are in any kind of abusive relationship/marriage, please leave. It is never too late to leave. Leave for yourself and for your life. You deserve better.

What did you think of the series?

In the history of terrible storylines, this makes the top 3. No front, no back, no center, nothing… they literally had no direction.

First and foremost, how is everyone? I believe we’re all doing great and if you’ve been having the shittest of days, hold on… you’ll get through it with time.

Let’s dive in…

Truthfully, I stopped watching this after the first 40min and had to see the rest of the movie from a reaction video Tayo sent me on Youtube.

The Youtube link

They must have thought they did something with part two… omg who is going to tell them?

To summarise the whole movie, it was just porn with a touch of terrible acting.

I’ve never felt so cringe in my life. I kept fast-forwarding every 2-3 min because what?!?!?!

Now, I know it has been a year or more since they released the first part and even the first part was not that good either but I remember it ended with her dying or getting kidnapped… so why did the second movie start with them having a wedding?

You know what…? I’m not interested.

The whole movie was just sex and then some lame arguments, sex again, then some excessive weird friendship bond at the beach, sex again, cheating and then a runaway wife, some music videos, and then the weirdest argument between some relatives and shoot outs… ????

I actually never realized how bad the acting was until now.

Then the Gardener…

Who brought him there?

What was his purpose?

I can never get over the scene where she said she loves his hat… cringe

I hear the 3rd part is in the work, please someone stop them. Let’s not do this again.

If you still decide to watch it after this review I just gave, you are on your own.

Again, the movie is so bad… DO NOT WATCH!

Who has seen it?

First of all, I’m going to be a little biased because I’m a very huge fan of Ryan Reynolds. I watch any movie he is in. Literally!

Now, I love some time travel movies because I always wished we could do that in real life. So many things I want to say to my younger self. Most importantly I want to beat her up and tell her to sit up straight. Stand up for yourself lady!

On the Plot…

Set in the future, in years 2050 and 2022, Adam Reed(played by Ryan Reynolds) crash-landed back in time accidentally and teams up with his 12year old self to fight an enemy and save the world.

On the Storyline…

Not to be that guy but the storyline is pretty much an American movie storyline. It always starts and ends the same way so I wasn’t expecting much. It always goes like this… the villain has some crazy ideas about destroying the world, might kill people in the process of trying to do that, there’s a good guy trying to stop him/her and in the end, the good guy wins. Pretty much the same shii every time. The only difference here is the time-traveling and the cool spaceships.

On the casts…

It was basically a Marvel cast set-up because I kept pointing at my TV “Oh, see Gamora…” “Look at Hulk…”

As much as I love Ryan, in this movie, the little boy that played little Ryan was more Ryan Reynolds than Ryan Reynolds… it is not every day that you see that. Not everyone can pull off a Ryan Reynolds humourous acting but he did. And he was really good at it.

I’ll never understand Ryan's slander because as much as they are right that he always plays the same character, it doesn’t change the fact that he is very good at it and that before the movie ends he would definitely put a smile on your face. Whenever I want a good laugh, I always switch to his movies.

It was nice to see Gamora again. I would never forgive Thanos for killing her. I’m just glad she is alive and now dating Deadpool…😭

While watching Hulk(Mark Ruffalo) play the father of Ryan, I could just imagine how much they laughed it off behind the scene.

Should you watch it?

It is good, I would rate it a nice 7/10.

Besides, you will love the little guy that played little Ryan.

If you’ve seen it, how was it?

Pretty sure everyone is confused about the ending just like I am but here is my theory.

I think some of the Zombies are not dead, maybe some that are like Namra, so it is possible she’s trying to bring them all together while also searching for a cure. We never saw what she was doing for four months after the whole city was burnt down she maybe found a way to control her urge for human blood and while doing that, she found others just like her.

Also, I think our main lead is not dead, remember they showed us On-jo’s name tag and it wasn’t burnt? With a fire like that, it’s supposed to get burnt but it isn't, so Cheong-San is probably alive and also, it took a lot of time for him to get turned into a Zombie after being bitten by Gwi-Nam. In fact, till the fire got to them, he was still human. We only saw him fighting with Gwi-Nam but we did not see him turn into a Zombie. Also, all the people that got bitten by Gwi-Nam when he was not hungry for blood turned into a half-zombie instead of a full-zombie. So I guess we will see Cheong-San in Season 2, hopefully.

This is just my thought.

The Plot

I waited a month for this to be released and now that it is out and I’ve seen all 12 episodes, I don’t know how I feel about it. There are many potholes, unnecessary scenes, and even characters that I feel they could have skipped. Nonetheless, I enjoyed all 12 episodes despite how draggy it was.

I love how the setting and storyline are centered on high school students who are just trying to attend classes, fall in love, and prepare for college. It was very realistic to me. I’ve seen many saying that the romantic scenes were not necessary but I feel different about it. It is the end of the world and as a high school student who still feels hyped about love and romance and probably believes that there is a way out of this mess, telling your crush that you like them is one of the things that will pop into your head when you see people dying.

Also, the way the whole Zombie virus was created by a father who couldn’t watch his son get bullied day in, day out so he tried to create a drug that will make his son get stronger screams a serious “psychopathic” behavior. I mean you hate the world and your son so much that instead of finding a fatherly way to get your son out of the school, city, or country, you decide that creating a drug that would make him strong was the best way? As much as it doesn’t make any sense, it is also very realistic.

Bullying is bad, it gets people killed, makes them lose their self-esteem and it breeds the worst kind of people. Bullying people you think are lower than you or weaker doesn’t make you a cool person, not for a minute. It just makes you think you’re stronger meanwhile you lack love and discipline. It screams insecurity and you are obviously the weaker person, you need therapy because if you have to bring someone low just to feel cool, then you need help.

The Cast

Chan-Young Yoon as Lee Cheong-San

I haven’t seen him in many Kdrama but he is good. He played this role so well that I don’t think anyone could have played it better. A high school student in love with his childhood friend and hates the new name of their family restaurants. He has the spirit of a fighter and that was why he was able to lead and protect them well in the drama. Loved how he protected not just On-jo but everyone else, always standing up to lead and take charge. The most heartbreaking scene for me was him leading his infected best friend away from his other friends and the ending scene. The writer did him bad but I’m pretty sure he’s not dead. He doesn’t deserve that ending. I refuse to accept that he is dead.

Park Ji-hoo as Nam On-jo

Personally, she was the most annoying character for me at the beginning. I didn’t like her character that much but she got better became one of my favorite. Her storyline was the most tragic, she lost so many people. Her best friend, father, friends, and Cheong-San. Loved the relationship she was able to build with Namra towards the end. Hated the scene where she rejected Cheong-San's proposal.

Park Solomon as Lee Suyheok

Just like the main lead, he did so well in protecting the team and putting himself first when danger arises. At least, he knew how to fight and was able to kick some zombie ass. I love the chemistry between him and Namra, literally one of the things that made me enjoy the series. He protected her so well. I’m hoping to see them in a romance kdrama soon. They make a cute couple.

Cho Yi-Hyun as Choi Nam-ra

My pretty Yi-Hyun. This is her third drama I’m watching. She was in Hospital Playlist and School 2021. I love her cute face and amazing acting skills. I watched her smile so much in the other two dramas that I never knew she could pull a character like this. She had the best character development. From having no friends and being the most hated in the class to fighting Zombies, getting bitten by a Zombie, and sitting around a bonfire with friends. I was scared when she got bitten but when she didn’t turn fully into a Zombie I was okay, I wanted to see more of her. She was so helpful to the team. Again, I love her chemistry with Suyhoek.

Lee Yoo-Mi as Lee Na-Yeon

I loved her in Squid game but here? Not so much. You could easily put her in the same room with Gwi-Nam and they would fall in love. Two psychopaths. I mean how can you do that to someone just because you wanted to show the team that you are right. That’s devilish on another level. Playing the victim card? I’m glad Namra stood up to her. I was expecting to see more of her in action but the rest of her scene was just her locked in a room and then getting eaten by Gwi-Nam, not enough screen time for me.

Yoo In-Soo as Yoon Gwi-Nam

Every time I saw his face, it made my blood boil. I mean the writer couldn’t just kill him off? He’s literally the villain, why does he have to have his happy ending? He just refused to die. He kept resurrecting like a dough. It wasn’t necessary at all. The writer had one job, just one, kill him off and let Cheong-San live. No, they refused. It makes no sense how he ended.

The Rest Of The Team

They made the drama more lively and less scary. I personally loved the singing part on the rooftop. They stood for each other and made sure they survive till the end. Not all though.

Kim Byung-Chul as Lee Byeong Chan

In all the Kdrama I’ve seen this man in, he has never acted a good role. He is always a psychopath or something dangerous and annoying. Always trying to destroy the world. I have nothing to say about him, he is the reason why the whole student of Hyosan High School turned into Zombies. He is just weird.

The Archer Team

I loved their resilience and the chemistry between the girls. They fought and ended up becoming best friends. They wanted to live and they fought to stay alive. Except for the boys.

The Comedy Team

I always look forward to the scene between the detectives and the influencer. It was hilarious and they made the drama lively. The influencer made me laugh because he is just weird and what he did is relatable to the social media world we live in now. He wanted to show his subscribers the truth about the Zombies so he traveled all the way to the city? When there was an ongoing Zombie apocalypse? You’ve got to be kidding me. I laughed when the detective almost slapped him like what the hell are you doing?

Oh Hye Soo as Min Eun-Ji

Who else was expecting more from her character but got nothing? I waited all 12 episodes to see if she would go take revenge on Gwi-Nam but she never did. It was disappointing.

Ratings

It’s a 9/10 for me. I enjoyed each episode. It has been a while since I saw a Zombie drama so this will be the first I’ve seen in years. I loved it. I’m with the crowd that said it could have been squeezed into 9 episodes especially from the scene where the helicopter left them on the rooftop, it felt like they were dragging the show and it could have just ended there.

Another unnecessary scene was the one with the pregnant girl. I could not understand the message they were trying to pass. Hopefully, we’ll get an explanation in Season 2.

Not satisfied with the ending? Let’s hope and pray for Season 2. Maybe next year or two years after.

I somehow understood the storyline because let’s be real this is something that might happen in the real world, I don’t mean the comet threatening our planet, I mean the carefree attitude towards situations like this.

I mean see what happened with Covid? Everyone was locked in their homes all through 2020 but somehow the virus still found a way to spread throughout the world. Countless jokes and memes were made about it on the internet and at some point, it was a thing to laugh about, even with people dying.

Nonetheless, I feel us laughing and joking through a pandemic is more like a coping mechanism, we’re all locked up in our homes with no cure in sight, and Covid cases increasing daily, we needed a lighter diversion. What isn’t cool is us not taking the issue seriously because it is, it’s not so hard to wear your mask and stay safe but then we’re humans and we kinda don’t listen.

On Don’t Look Up…

Don’t Look Up is a Netflix movie starring Leonardo Decaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, two astronomers who found a comet approaching earth that will wipe away the planet. It was a thing of concern and so they began to inform everyone, the white house, the media, and anyone that cared to listen, and all they got in response was “meh” and an internet world that was more focused on creating memes. To Americans, it was a joke and nothing of that sort would happen… or so they believed.

The white house was more focused on politics and what would help them retain their seat in a country that might not exist again in a few months.

The Media saw it as a joke and instead made memes out of it and found ways to sexualize one of the astronomers.

The billionaires saw it as a way to make more technology and make America great again🙄

Six months later, the earth was wiped off with only one man surviving.

On the plot and cast…

Now, the whole movie makes no sense and at some point, I felt they lost the plot. Unlike other movies/series I’ve seen about the end of the world, I could not feel this one. It felt like they were preparing for war or another sad Monday. No fear or desperation to find a way to avoid it. It was all fun and games even until the end of the movie. I was expecting a twist at some point.

I lost it when they started the “Don’t look up” and “Just look up” agenda. Felt like two politicians campaigning for office.

• I expected more from him at the beginning of the movie. “Oh, he is a genius scientist that only thinks from his glasses, he will find a way to save the earth” or at least that was worth I thought until I was confused about his role. Is he trying to save the world or is he just trying to screw the journalist and become a hot politician? A hot-last-minute-dying-world-politician.

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• Felt like she was the only one worried about the end of the world. I still couldn’t feel the fear in her but I loved the fact that she was the only sensible one in the movie. Loved how she kept ranting about the general that charged them for the free water and snacks. It was hilarious.

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• I love him. I am a big fan but I have no idea what his role was. A praying gangster? I’m sorry I don’t understand.

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• Honestly, she has to be the most useless President character I’ve seen in a movie. Wait, she comes second after the president character in The Devil Judge (A mind-blowing Kdrama). I lack the words to use to describe her. Undeserving? Incompetent? Selfish? Unnecessary? Typical politician? Name it. A president that was more worried about her seat in the office than the lives of people who were about to be scraped out of the earth. Seems like politics is the same everywhere. In the real world as well as in movies.

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• Seriously? He was the only one that survived on earth? Why? Was his character that great? I’m not too pained though, he is probably going to die alone. I had no pity for him when his mother left him. They deserve each other.

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• All I can say is BILLIONAIRES. They are always weird… everything is about money to them. And they think with the last brain cells in their body.

• Oh my Ariana! I love you. The scene where she sang was my favorite. She is such a talented musician. Had no idea what she was doing in the movie but I was grateful for the song.

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• I have no words for both of them. No words! Loved Tyler Perry's humor though.

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My ratings for this? 5/10. Nothing less, nothing more.

They probably thought if they put in lots of big names in Hollywood we will be able to ignore how bad the storyline is. It was bad. Really bad.

Upcoming Series

All of us are dead on Netflix coming January 28

I’m loving all the thriller series Korea has been giving us lately. The recent one is SILENT SEA. It’s really good and I might do a review on it. HELLBOUND was also good.

Squid Game

Let’s talk about Squid Game, the hype that came with it, along with the storyline and cast.

When I saw the trailer of Squid game a few months back, I decided this is something I would watch but not now. I added it to my Netflix list of series I would watch later because I was tired of suspense and thriller series. The hype about it when it came out pushed me to watch it.

After the first episode, I knew it would be a crazy series even though I did not expect anything brutal.

After taking 10years to plan, write and film this series, I can say that it deserves every hype it’s getting. I used a day to watch it and it was worth my time although I was pissed off at the end. If you want to overlook other things in the series, you can’t overlook the message it passed across; people would do anything for money. However, my stance on the saying about money changed long ago, which was “money isn’t the root of all evil, instead, finding money is the root of all evil” this series defined that so well.

Poverty doesn’t help anyone but gives you an unsettled mind and crazy ideas on how to get money through the fastest and easiest way. No one likes being in debt, but sometimes people can’t help it.

The casting of this series was perfect. Everyone fitted and played their roles so well.

There are two reasons why the ending and this man pissed me off:

1. The money shouldn’t have gone to this man. Others deserved it more than him. The girl especially, she had a legit and emotional reason. She would have been able to get her mum out of North Korea and give her brother a good life. The man, on the other hand, is just lazy and irresponsible and addicted to betting. He doesn’t deserve the price.

2. You are telling me that after getting the price and getting a Rihanna haircut, this man decided to go back to the game instead of going to meet his daughter? Disappointed is not the word meant for him, disgusting is what fits him. There are many people he could help with that money. I mean, 455 people died just so the money can get into his account, and he chooses to go back? For what? Greediness is a disease.

I don’t cry in movies, but my girl’s death brought tears to my eyes. Never for once did I think she was going to die, even when she got injured. I kept telling myself that there must be a way for her to make it out of there. She is fearless and has a brother waiting for her. She deserved that money. She was the only person that deserved it. Her death hurt me😭 Let me also add that she’s breathtakingly pretty. I loved the freckles on her face. I can’t wait to see her in more dramas.

In Ali’s case, I have mixed emotions concerning him. He was too foolish to be in the game. He had a valid reason, but people like him shouldn’t be in the game. My man was scammed in broad daylight. It was his fault for trusting too much. Come on, you don’t trust anyone in a game like this. It is a do-or-die event which means standing on your own should have been his motto. I have to say his death did nothing to me. I knew the man would play on his brain since the beginning of the marble game.

Another scene that made me tear up. Oh, I loved her. She was fearless, but for someone who watches movies a lot, I knew she was going to die. I didn’t know when but I knew she would not make it to the end, but the way she died hurt me. She was a brave fighter to the end.

Our hot guy detective. For someone who has watched lots of Kdrama, I can bet you this man is not dead. As long as you don’t see his dead body, he is still alive. One way or the other, he would survive because he was shot in the shoulder. It’s Kdrama. I found his role brave, tough, and lucky. How he found his way into the island and the game without been found is crazy. It was heartbreaking to see his brother shoot him, but I know my man is coming back. That is if we get season 2.

Contestant 218 annoyed me mainly because of how sneaky he was. You can tell he was the only one playing the game though. He knew he could not trust anyone or act like a good person. There is no time to be a good person when people are dying around you. He knew he was greedy and he stood by that fact. I still hate him for killing my girl, but it’s a game, and only the greediest wins.

I guess I’m the only one that had no pity for the old man. In the beginning, I had my doubts about him especially his number being 001. Also, he kept smiling while playing the first game after the mass killing (creepy much). I knew he would die when they tagged him with the main lead for the marble game. He had nothing to live for anymore. He has lived his life and had death knocking at his door. Let someone else win the game. I was not surprised when I found out he was the BOSS. It felt stupid and wicked that he made people die because he wanted to play games and feel young again. He’s weird. I hope he doesn’t rest in peace.

Her character was funny to me. Too loud and stupid. I loved the way she died. At some point, I thought she was controlling the game. It turns out that she is just stupid.

The squid game gets an 8/10 from me. I was not satisfied with the ending. Also, they could have done better with the Americans in the series. They were disappointing. Kdrama is not popular with having second seasons, so I doubt if we would get one. I love the hype it’s getting. They worked so hard to release the series.

The whole series proved how far people would go for money. Taking the highway and easiest way seems better for most people. As long as they’re rich and comfortable, nothing else matters. The society isn’t favourable to the poor and as long as the rich keeps getting richer, the poor would keep dying trying to get rich. The most disgusting part was when they fought each for the money. That scene speaks a lot.

List of interesting Kdrama movies/series you might like:

1. Train to Busan (Horror. Suspense. Thriller)

2. Sweet Home (Scary. Dark. Suspenseful)

3. Alice in Borderland (Horror. Dark. Suspenseful)

4. Mouse (Serial Killer. Action. Murder). It’ll mess up your brain. Literally.

5. Vinscezo (Comedy. Action. Fight the system). This is so good. My best drama this year.

6. Vagabond (Exciting. Action. Thriller)

7. Devil’s Judge (Detective. Law. Corruption). This is among my top 3. 10/10 for me.

8. Hospital Playlist (Comedy. Relaxing. Medical) Watch it if you need to take your mind off stress. It’s relaxing.

9. Crash landing on you (Romance. Worlds collide. Mature. Action)

10. The Uncanny Counter (Fantasy. Action. Exciting)

“By the time I’d become a high-end gin, you were little more than tap water. By the time I was in the streets, you were just a toy for sugar daddies. You are small. Too small for my level. Little sister, ma-fo!” Few lines capture the spirit of Kings of Boys: The Return of the King better than this one. It’s audacious and layered with the same intensity that defines the series. The King of Boys’ leading character, Eniola Salami's venomous delivery sets the tone for a beautiful production that thrives on power plays and psychological warfare.

I recently finished Kings of Boys: The Return of the King, and I can still feel the goosebumps. Alhaja Eniola Salami, brought to life by the incomparable Sola Sobowale, delivers a performance that’s nothing short of commanding.

Kemi Adetiba’s follow-up to the original Kings of Boys cements her as one of Nollywood’s most ambitious storytellers and directors. The series picks up after Eniola Salami’s fall from grace, tracing her return from exile as she navigates grief, politics, and vengeance. It’s a story about redemption, one told through the lens of power.

Sola Sobowale’s performance as Alhaja Eniola Salami is electric. She isn’t just an actress, she’s a force. She embodies the weight of power with such emotional pull that it’s hard to look away. The way she carried Eniola’s grief, rage, and raw ambition was indescribable. Opposite her, Toni Tones delivers an equally compelling portrayal as young Eniola, a haunting reflection of the woman she once was and the monster, or rather King, she’s becoming. Their dynamic is the emotional spine of the series.

Is it safe to say we’ve come a long way from the days of Aki and Pawpaw, where we might have stumbled somewhere in between, to Kemi Adeitiba, who is perfectly dragging Nollywood to glory with sheer vision and grit? I’d say yes.

Every scene of the drama was dripped with intensity. From Sola Sobowale to Toni Tones, Illbliss to Reminisce… each cast delivered with a kind of conviction that makes you forget they’re acting. While some of the performances (particularly from the guards) occasionally falter, the overall ensemble delivers with conviction. Beyond its aesthetics, the series succeeds because of its writing. Kemi Adetiba crafts a narrative that is both political and personal, exploring how grief can distort morality. Eniola’s internal conflict — between reclaiming her throne and seeking peace — anchors the series in something deeply human.

When she finally reclaims her identity in the closing scene, declaring,

“The skull of an elephant is too massive for a child to carry. No one can seize my crown. Yesterday I was, today I am, and I remain the one to fear. The dreaded one. I am Eniola Salami… KING OF BOYS.”

It feels less like dialogue and more like a coronation. A woman returning to her power. It is easily and personally one of the most powerful scenes I’ve seen on Nigerian TV.

The production quality, cinematography, and score elevate the storytelling, reminding viewers that Nollywood can, indeed, hold its own on the global stage.

Still, the series isn’t without flaws. As much as I loved the series, a few things didn’t sit right with me:

Eniola and Makanaki’s reunion: It felt rushed and underexplained, especially considering their violent history. How and when did all that happen? We saw that he had a hand in her children’s deaths. Death that left her destabilized and in grief for so long. Yet somehow, they turned out good.

Aare Akinwande’s death: Too quick. Too easy. Though satisfying, it deserved a more emotional conclusion. He deserved a more painful downfall. Maybe strip him of everything he valued first. Watching his empire crumble would have been far more satisfying.

Makanaki’s survival: How and who stitched the man’s head back together?

The First Lady’s fall from grace: Ending up in a 2-bedroom apartment? How hilarious! A fascinating character, but painfully shortsighted. A visual payoff to her two-bedroom apartment punishment would have added satisfying irony.

Boxer’s loyalty: Traitor or not? Still a bit unclear.

Although the loyalty of Ade-tiger to Oba cannot be overemphasized. A splendid role and actor, I must say.

Yet, even with these shortcomings, Kings of Boys: The Return of the King remains a cinematic beauty. Its pacing, tension, and emotional weight are perfectly balanced. The writing is ambitious, and its commentary on corruption and power in Nigeria hits a bit close to home.

The journalist subplot, though tragic, is a sad reminder that in this country, integrity rarely wins both on and off-screen.

Kemi Adetiba has created something rare: a Nigerian political thriller that feels both grand and intimate. And if read between the lines, feels mythical and real. It is storytelling that doesn’t just entertain, it asserts itself.

Ratings: 9/10. The suspense, storyline, acting, and actions, I must say, were bold, emotional, and unforgettable.

I am in awe of you, Kemi Adetiba!

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