babyraccy

[ai-innova7ions]

The Future of AI: Unseen Innovations

NeuralText AI is revolutionizing content creation and SEO with its AI-driven capabilities, as highlighted in a review by FatRank, which rated it 6.1 out of 10. This innovative tool excels at streamlining the writing process while boosting organic traffic and Google rankings. With advanced keyword research features, NeuralText AI identifies high-performing keywords along with insights into search volume, competition, and trends. Additionally, it offers tailored content templates for various industries to enhance efficiency and consistency. While there’s room for improvement in customization options and CMS integration, NeuralText AI shows great promise in transforming digital marketing strategies.

#NeuralTextAI #ContentCreation #Shorts #digitalcontentcreation #airevolution

[aetechdesigns-54]

Online Reviews and Local SEO

In today's digital age, the significance of online reviews and local SEO is undeniable. As a professional in this field, I've seen firsthand how online reviews can make or break a local business.

They are more than just feedback; they are powerful tools that shape a brand's reputation and visibility.

Moreover, their impact on local search rankings profoundly influences how easily potential customers can find your business online.

The Power of Online Reviews in Local SEO

Building Trust and Credibility

Trust and credibility are the bedrock of any successful business. In local SEO, online reviews are the cornerstone of building this trust. When potential customers search for services, they are more likely to choose a business with numerous positive reviews. This is not just about numbers; it's about the real experiences behind those reviews.

Influencing Consumer Decision-Making

A staggering 93% of consumers say online reviews influence their purchasing decisions, according to BrightLocal. This statistic alone underscores the influence these reviews have. They are not mere comments but powerful drivers of consumer behavior, guiding them towards or away from your business.

Impact on Local Search Visibility

Local search visibility is crucial for any business aiming to attract local customers. Online reviews play a pivotal role here. Businesses with a high volume of positive reviews are 76% more likely to be noticed by potential customers than those with few or no reviews. It indicates that online reviews are not just feedback but essential tools for enhancing your online presence.

Strategies for Acquiring Positive Online Reviews

Proactive Review Request Tactics

To build a strong portfolio of positive reviews, proactive strategies are key. It's not about waiting for reviews but actively encouraging your customers to share their experiences. Simple tactics like sending follow-up emails or asking customers in person can significantly boost your review numbers.

Utilizing Email Campaigns and In-Person Interactions

Email campaigns and in-person interactions effectively encourage customers to leave reviews. Personalized emails can be powerful, expressing gratitude for their business and inviting feedback. Similarly, a friendly request for a review during a face-to-face interaction can make a significant difference.

Leveraging CRM Tools

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools are invaluable for streamlining the review collection process. They can automate the process of asking for reviews, making it more efficient and less time-consuming. This systematic approach can significantly increase the number of reviews your business receives.

Responding to Reviews Promptly

Response time matters. A prompt and professional response is crucial, whether it's a positive or negative review. It shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to improving your service. This kind of responsiveness not only appeases unhappy customers but also impresses potential ones.

Addressing Negative Reviews

Negative reviews, handled with empathy and a resolution-focused approach, can be turned into opportunities. They offer insights into areas where your business can improve and demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction to potential customers.

Optimizing Online Reviews for Local SEO

Prioritizing Google My Business Reviews

Google My Business (GMB) reviews should be a top priority. They have a direct impact on your local search rankings. Encouraging customers to leave reviews on your GMB profile can significantly enhance your online visibility.

Encouraging Detailed Reviews

Detailed and specific reviews highlighting customer experiences are more valuable than generic ones. They provide potential customers with a clearer picture of what to expect and can improve your search rankings by including relevant keywords.

Public Response to Reviews

Responding to reviews publicly is an effective way to demonstrate your engagement and commitment to customer satisfaction. It's a visible way of showing that you value customer feedback and are actively involved in the customer experience.

Managing Reviews Across Multiple Platforms

Monitoring and managing reviews across various platforms is important, not just on Google. This comprehensive approach ensures a consistent online reputation and maximizes your visibility across different search engines and review sites.

Using Online Review Management Tools

Online review management tools can streamline the process of monitoring and responding to reviews. They can help you keep track of all your reviews in one place, making it easier to manage your online reputation efficiently.

Leveraging Online Reviews for Local SEO Success

Integrating Reviews into Local SEO Strategy

Integrating online review acquisition and management into your local SEO strategy is essential. It's not just about collecting reviews; it's about using them strategically to enhance your online presence and attract more customers.

Tracking Review Sentiment

Tracking the sentiment of your reviews and analyzing trends can provide valuable insights into your customers' experiences. This analysis can help you identify areas for improvement and adjust your strategies accordingly.

Improving Customer Service

Online reviews are a direct line to your customers' thoughts and experiences. Using these reviews, you can pinpoint areas where your customer service can be enhanced. It's about listening to your customers and evolving based on their feedback.

Showcasing Positive Reviews

Showcasing your positive reviews on your website and social media can be a powerful marketing tool. It's about turning your satisfied customers into ambassadors for your brand. When potential customers see these positive testimonials, it builds trust and credibility.

Sharing Reviews with Local Media

Remember to underestimate the power of local media. Sharing your positive reviews with local newspapers, magazines, or even community blogs can increase your visibility and reputation within the local community. This approach boosts your local SEO and strengthens your connection with the local market.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the importance of online reviews for local SEO cannot be overstated. They are an essential component of your online presence, influencing your search rankings and reputation. The ongoing management of these reviews is crucial for sustainable success in local SEO.

To further enhance your local SEO and online review management, consider AE Tech Designs. Our local SEO services are tailored to meet the unique needs of your business, ensuring you stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape. 

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Google reneged on the monopolistic bargain

I'm on tour with my new novel The Bezzle! Catch me TONIGHT in SALT LAKE CITY (Feb 21, Weller Book Works) and TOMORROW in SAN DIEGO (Feb 22, Mysterious Galaxy). After that, it's LA, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix and more!

A funny thing happened on the way to the enshittocene: Google – which astonished the world when it reinvented search, blowing Altavista and Yahoo out of the water with a search tool that seemed magic – suddenly turned into a pile of shit.

Google's search results are terrible. The top of the page is dominated by spam, scams, and ads. A surprising number of those ads are scams. Sometimes, these are high-stakes scams played out by well-resourced adversaries who stand to make a fortune by tricking Google:

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/phone-numbers-airlines-listed-google-directed-scammers-rcna94766

But often these scams are perpetrated by petty grifters who are making a couple bucks at this. These aren't hyper-resourced, sophisticated attackers. They're the SEO equivalent of script kiddies, and they're running circles around Google:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security

Google search is empirically worsening. The SEO industry spends every hour that god sends trying to figure out how to sleaze their way to the top of the search results, and even if Google defeats 99% of these attempts, the 1% that squeak through end up dominating the results page for any consequential query:

https://downloads.webis.de/publications/papers/bevendorff_2024a.pdf

Google insists that this isn't true, and if it is true, it's not their fault because the bad guys out there are so numerous, dedicated and inventive that Google can't help but be overwhelmed by them:

https://searchengineland.com/is-google-search-getting-worse-389658

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Google has long maintained that its scale is the only thing that keeps us safe from the scammers and spammers who would otherwise overwhelm any lesser-resourced defender. That's why it was so imperative that they pursue such aggressive growth, buying up hundreds of companies and integrating their products with search so that every mobile device, every ad, every video, every website, had one of Google's tendrils in it.

This is the argument that Google's defenders have put forward in their messaging on the long-overdue antitrust case against Google, where we learned that Google is spending $26b/year to make sure you never try another search engine:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-27/google-paid-26-3-billion-to-be-default-search-engine-in-2021

Google, we were told, had achieved such intense scale that the normal laws of commercial and technological physics no longer applied. Take security: it's an iron law that "there is no security in obscurity." A system that is only secure when its adversaries don't understand how it works is not a secure system. As Bruce Schneier says, "anyone can design a security system that they themselves can't break. That doesn't mean it works – just that it works for people stupider than them."

And yet, Google operates one of the world's most consequential security system – The Algorithm (TM) – in total secrecy. We're not allowed to know how Google's ranking system works, what its criteria are, or even when it changes: "If we told you that, the spammers would win."

Well, they kept it a secret, and the spammers won anyway.

A viral post by Housefresh – who review air purifiers – describes how Google's algorithmic failures, which send the worst sites to the top of the heap, have made it impossible for high-quality review sites to compete:

https://housefresh.com/david-vs-digital-goliaths/

You've doubtless encountered these bad review sites. Search for "Best ______ 2024" and the results are a series of near-identical lists, strewn with Amazon affiliate links. Google has endlessly tinkered with its guidelines and algorithmic weights for review sites, and none of it has made a difference. For example, when Google instituted a policy that reviewers should "discuss the benefits and drawbacks of something, based on your own original research," sites that had previously regurgitated the same lists of the same top ten Amazon bestsellers "peppered their pages with references to a ‘rigorous testing process,’ their ‘lab team,’ subject matter experts ‘they collaborated with,’ and complicated methodologies that seem impressive at a cursory look."

But these grandiose claims – like the 67 air purifiers supposedly tested in Better Homes and Gardens's Des Moines lab – result in zero in-depth reviews and no published data. Moreover, these claims to rigorous testing materialized within a few days of Google changing its search ranking and said that high rankings would be reserved for sites that did testing.

Most damning of all is how the Better Homes and Gardens top air purifiers perform in comparison to the – extensively documented – tests performed by Housefresh: "plagued by high-priced and underperforming units, Amazon bestsellers with dubious origins (that also underperform), and even subpar devices from companies that market their products with phrases like ‘the Tesla of air purifiers.’"

One of the top ranked items on BH&G comes from Molekule, a company that filed for bankruptcy after being sued for false advertising. The model BH&G chose was ranked "the worst air purifier tested" by Wirecutter and "not living up to the hype" by Consumer Reports. Either BH&G's rigorous testing process is a fiction that they infused their site with in response to a Google policy change, or BH&G absolutely sucks at rigorous testing.

BH&G's competitors commit the same sins – literally, the exact same sins. Real Simple's reviews list the same photographer and the photos seem to have been taken in the same place. They also list the same person as their "expert." Real Simple has the same corporate parent as BH&G: Dotdash Meredith. As Housefresh shows, there's a lot of Dotdash Meredith review photos that seem to have been taken in the same place, by the same person.

But the competitors of these magazines are no better. Buzzfeed lists 22 air purifiers, including that crapgadget from Molekule. Their "methodology" is to include screenshots of Amazon reviews.

A lot of the top ranked sites for air purifiers are once-great magazines that have been bought and enshittified by private equity giants, like Popular Science, which began as a magazine in 1872 and became a shambling zombie in 2023, after its PE owners North Equity LLC decided its googlejuice was worth more than its integrity and turned it into a metastatic chumbox of shitty affiliate-link SEO-bait. As Housefresh points out, the marketing team that runs PopSci makes a lot of hay out of the 150 years of trust that went into the magazine, but the actual reviews are thin anaecdotes, unbacked by even the pretense of empiricism (oh, and they loooove Molekule).

Some of the biggest, most powerful, most trusted publications in the world have a side-hustle in quietly producing SEO-friendly "10 Best ___________ of 2024" lists: Rolling Stone, Forbes, US News and Report, CNN, New York Magazine, CNN, CNET, Tom's Guide, and more.

Google literally has one job: to detect this kind of thing and crush it. The deal we made with Google was, "You monopolize search and use your monopoly rents to ensure that we never, ever try another search engine. In return, you will somehow distinguish between low-effort, useless nonsense and good information. You promised us that if you got to be the unelected, permanent overlord of all information access, you would 'organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.'"

They broke the deal.

Companies like CNET used to do real, rigorous product reviews. As Housefresh points out, CNET once bought an entire smart home and used it to test products. Then Red Ventures bought CNET and bet that they could sell the house, switch to vibes-based reviewing, and that Google wouldn't even notice. They were right.

https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/welcome-to-the-cnet-smart-home/

Google downranks sites that spend money and time on reviews like Housefresh and GearLab, and crams botshittened content mills like BH&G into our eyeballs instead.

In 1558, Thomas Gresham coined (ahem) Gresham's Law: "Bad money drives out good." When counterfeit money circulates in the economy, anyone who gets a dodgy coin spends it as quickly as they can, because the longer you hold it, the greater the likelihood that someone will detect the fraud and the coin will become worthless. Run this system long enough and all the money in circulation is funny money.

An internet run by Google has its own Gresham's Law: bad sites drive out good. It's not just that BH&G can "test" products at a fraction of the cost of Housefresh – through the simple expedient of doing inadequate tests or no tests at all – so they can put a lot more content up that Housefresh. But that alone wouldn't let them drive Housefresh off the front page of Google's search results. For that, BH&G has to mobilize some of their savings from the no test/bad test lab to do real rigorous science: science in defeating Google's security-through-obscurity system, which lets them command the front page despite publishing worse-than-useless nonsense.

Google has lost the spam wars. In response to the plague of botshit clogging Google search results, the company has invested in…making more botshit:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/16/tweedledumber/#easily-spooked

Last year, Google did a $70b stock buyback. They also laid off 12,000 staffers (whose salaries could have been funded for 27 years by that stock buyback). They just laid off thousands more employees.

That wasn't the deal. The deal was that Google would get a monopoly, and they would spend their monopoly rents to be so good that you could just click "I'm feeling lucky" and be teleported to the very best response to your query. A company that can't figure out the difference between a scam like Better Homes and Gardens and a rigorous review site like Housefresh should be pouring every spare dime it brings in into fixing this problem. Not buying default search status on every platform so that we never try another search engine: they should be fixing their shit.

When Google admits that it's losing the war to these kack-handed spam-farmers, that's frustrating. When they light $26b/year on fire making sure you don't ever get to try anything else, that's very frustrating. When they vaporize seventy billion dollars on financial engineering and shoot one in ten engineers, that's outrageous.

Google's scale has transcended the laws of business physics: they can sell an ever-degrading product and command an ever-greater share of our economy, even as their incompetence dooms any decent, honest venture to obscurity while providing fertile ground – and endless temptation – for scammers.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/21/im-feeling-unlucky/#not-up-to-the-task

[kpopscatterbrain]

Kdramas/Movies with strong female characters

Dramas

Eve (2022): Lee La-El (Seo Yea-Ji) When Lee La-El was little, her father died unexpectedly. Powerful people were responsible for his death. After her family was destroyed, Lee La-El prepared for the next 13 years to take revenge. Starting by targeting Kang Yoon-gyeom, one of the main culprits who orchestrated the death of her father. Along the way she becomes torn between her desire for revenge and her feelings for Yoon-gyeom.

It's Okay To Not Be Okay (2020): Ko Moon-Young (Seo Yea-Ji) Ko Moon-Young is a popular children's book author with antisocial personality disorder. She had a troubled childhood and a turbulent relationship with her parents. She develops romantic feelings for a psychiatric caregiver after a coincidental encounter and often goes to extreme lengths to get his attention.

Hotel Del Luna (2019): Jang Man-Wol (IU) Jang Man-Wol is the moody owner of Hotel del Luna. The hotel catering to the dead has been bound to her soul in order to atone for the sins she committed 1,300 years ago. Through the new manager Gu Chan-sung, the mysteries and the secrets behind the hotel and its owner are revealed

My Name (2021): Yoon Ji-Woo (Han So-Hee) Yoon Ji-Woo’s father gets murdered suddenly. She wants to desperately take revenge on whoever is responsible for her father's death. She starts working for a drug crime ring that her father was a part of. Ji-Woo joins the police department as a mole for the drug ring.

Vagabond (2019): Go Hae-Ri (Bae Suzy) Go Hae-Ri is an NIS agent and is currently working undercover at the Korean embassy in Morocco. She is tasked to help the bereaved families of a fatal flight. She helps Cha Dal-Geon whose nephew was on the flight uncover a darker and more sinister conspiracy than they expected.

Sisyphus: The Myth (2021): Gang Seo-Hae (Park Shin-Hye) Gang Seo-Hae is an elite warrior. She can take down the biggest men with just her bare hands. She is a sharpshooter and a bombmaker. She learned these skills to survive in a world that is dominated by gangsters and military cliques. One day she time travels to save a genius engineer.

Mr. Sunshine (2018): Go Ae-Shin (Kim Tae-Ri) Go Ae-Shin is an orphaned noblewoman and a member of the Righteous Army. Her parents were independence fighters who died in Japan due to their colleague's betrayal. She trains as a sniper. An american soldier Eugene meets and falls in love with Go Ae-shin. 

The Glory (2022): Moon Dong-Eun (Song Hye-Kyo) Moon Dong-Eun was a victim of high school violence. She waited for the bully ring leader get married and have a child. Now she is the homeroom teacher of her tormentor's child. Her cruel revenge plot begins.

Tomorrow (2022): Koo Ryeon (Kim Hee-Seon) Grim reaper Koo Ryeon is the leader of a crisis management team. The teams objective is to save suicidal people. Choi Jun-Woong (Ro Woon) is a young job seeker who is unable to secure a job. One night, he accidentally becomes a new member of the crisis management team.

Remarriage & Desires (2022): Seo Hye-Seung (Kim Hee-Seon) Seo Hye-seung who lost everything in an instant after her husbands affair and su*cide. She signs up to a matchmaking company Rex for the upper class, and participates in the race of her desires for her revenge.

Under The Queen's Umbrella (2022): Queen Hwaryeong (Kim Hye-Soo) Queen Hwaryeong is supposed to act with grace and dignity, but she has troublemaker sons. The queen decides to abandon strict protocols to transform her sons into deserving princes through education and personal growth, all while navigating the complexities of motherhood and royal life.

Juvenile Justice (2022): Sim Eun-Seok (Kim Hye-Soo) Sim Eun-Seok is an elite judge with a personality that seems unfriendly to others. She hates juvenile criminals and gets assigned to a local juvenile court. There, she breaks custom and administers her own ways of punishing the offenders.

K-Movies

Kill Boksoon (2023): Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-Yeon) Gil Bok-Soon is a single mother and a contract killer working for M. K. Ent. Highly regarded by her peers, she has a 100% success rate and is one of a few killers rated "A" by her company. Right before Gil Bok-Soon is set to renew her contract, she gets involved in a kill or be killed confrontation.

Ballerina (2023): Jang Ok-Ju (Jun Jong-Seo) Ok-Ju used to work as a bodyguard. Ok-Ju is friends with Min-Hee, who is a ballerina. Min-Hee asks Ok-Ju for a favor. She wants Ok-Ju to take revenge.

The Witch: Subversion (2018): Ja-Yoon (Kim Da-Mi) A young girl escapes from a mysterious laboratory where she was trained to become a murder weapon. 10 years later, the girl, named Ja-yoon, is living a normal life, apparently without any memory of her past, she becomes involved in a crime.

Special Delivery (2022): Eun-Ha (Park So-Dam) Eun-Ha is a special driver for deliveries. She delivers anything or anyone for the right price. Her success rate is 100%, but she gets involved in an unexpected delivery accident.

Brave Citizen (2023): So Shi-Min (Shin Hae-Sun) So Shi-Min used to be a boxer in her student days. She now works as a contract teacher at a high school. She confronts a school bully, who frequently torments other students.

[survivalistghost]

watching my demon feels a lot like watching doom at your service - the themes seem repeated with the addition of jeong gu won and do do hee’s cuddliness.

but watching welcome to samdalri feels a lot like watching hometown cha cha cha - it’s a similar setting, and we all know what’s going to happen, but they both feel like coming home.

[shhhsoftnwet]

No worries everyone! They’re just having a bloody good time and spilling ketchup everywhere 😀🥫

[namjhyun]

DRAMA REVIEW | Lovely Runner (2024)

Lovely Runner it's undoubtedly one of the best dramas of 2024.

It has all the elements that make a drama a mega hit: comedy, romance, time travel, well written characters (both leads and supporting ones) and an engaging plot line that never bores you. Starring Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok, adapted from the web novel The Best of Tomorrow by screenwriter Lee Shi Eun and directed by Yoon Jong Ho and Kim Tae Yub, the Lovely Runner team achieved a perfect execution in front and behind the camera.

I think the true star of this drama it's the writing and on this I can't commend Lee Si Eun enough. I had already seen her potential in dramas like True Beauty but here she really manages to shine through a well crafted, smart and cohesive story with no loose ends. I'm incredibly impressed by her talent.

The writing was perfectly complemented by the directors's outstanding work in leading a film crew that was on every detail of each part of the story, in each timeline, never missing a beat. Always delivering their A+++ game. But there was also great work done from the directors part in helping the actors get the comedic timing exactly right, the more emotional scenes to deliver and the team work among cast and crew to be flawless.

Lovely Runner might be a big hit now, but it's actually a sleeper hit. The lack of promotion this drama had was embarrassing and if it wasn't for the devoted fans, studio executives would have never realized they had a gem in their hands. So, it's not only a great drama with a super fandom that really fought for this story, it's also becoming yet another prime example in the list of films and tv that achieved all of it by themselves because artists delivered nothing short of excellence.

On this point I can't ignore the incredible performances given by the entire cast. Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok are definitely the standouts, they stole the show, this is their story and the actors chemistry it's electrifying. But the way supportive actors would show up in a scene and push the story forward in a coherent way and even make it better, it's wild to me. The chemistry this cast had it's a rare feat for an ensamble cast and how they managed to transition seamlessly through different phases of their characters's lives and relationships when events, in each timeline, were changing because of the things our leads did they still remain truthful. So, not only the leads are well developed in this drama but also every single character that shows up, no matter how small the role is.

The best example of this it's actor Heo Hyeong-Gyu who has been working for sixteen years, playing very minor characters, finally having a breakthrough in the industry because of his role in this drama. And while his presence was prominent and important to the story, he barely had lines. So his entire performance is mainly based on micro-expressions or physical stunts.

I also fully expect the actors like Song Geon-Hee, Lee Seung-Hyub, Song Ji-Ho or Seo Hye-won to receive a lot of what korean entertainment industry calls "love calls" aka commercials, dramas and films, among other things.

Experiencing watching Lovely Runner alongside the fandom, waiting every week for a new episode, it's a big part of what made this drama so good. Healthy and good loving fun people, clowning, poking fun at our faves and crying at heartbreak. It's been a long time since I have been able to engage in this way with other fans and I am thankful for them, the cast and crew for all these amazing weeks of fun.

Rating: 10/10

[keehomania]

and if i SAID fight for my way is one of the best friends to lovers kdramas...yall STILL wouldn’t listen

[wusopiejung25]

— "I think Hwi and Seon-ho were the sun and the moon in their past lives. That's why they seem so inseparable in this lifetime."

[somanykdramas]

A SHOP FOR KILLERS

GENRES: Action, Mystery

SUMMARY: A hacker, a recluse, a muay thai killer, a young woman, her uncle, and his mercenary colleagues learn about their pasts and what the future holds for their careers.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Fridge post-its, aphasia, boring funerals, cheetah documentaries, explosions, hostages, secret armories, spy gear, bulletproof closets, part-time jobs, motorcycle dates, giant cleaners, CG robots, and familial trust.

HOT TAKE: This show is a rough watch in all the best ways. Its got great John Wick-style action, a simple enough plot to not distract from the character movement, and some great, low-key acting chops. Although it hasn't been announced, I CANNOT WAIT for a Season 2 of this show.

Also, as usual (and forever) Lee Dong Wook looks amazing in literally every scene he's in, no matter how many bruises or bandages he carries with him.

[noonecaresaboutmyreview]

The Return of High School Gangster - Kdrama Review

Hi everyone! I just finished this very short 8 episodes web drama called The Return of High School Gangster and wanted to share my thoughts.

Before I start, I want to say that I know that this is based on a BL manhwa but as we know about mainstream media in South Korea - the director had to remove the BL elements (not really tho).

I understand that people might want to boycott the drama for removing the BL plotline but I genuinely think that you should give it a chance. The drama doesn't suggest romance but two episodes in, I could tell that it was from a BL plotline. so....

Anyways, this is about Deuk Pal, a Gangster (second in ranking) who died while saving Song Yi Heon, a High School Student who was bullied in school. Song Yi Heon was bullied in school to the point he wanted to off himself. Deuk Pal's body sadly died and somehow his spirit entered the body of Song Yi Heon.

This drama is where it's at if you're in a drama slump. It's short, funny, filled with actions (duh, gangsters) and heartwarming scenes.

Deuk Pal as a character is a caring yet a fierce gangster. I love that the moment he entered Song Yi Heon's body, he immediately vowed to protect Song Yi Heon upon realising the abuse he had endured. Throughout the 8 episodes, his focus was to set things right for Song Yi Heon. Though we know that he is sad that his life ended, he still focused on studying hard, ending the school violence and even protecting his mum so that when Song Yi Heon comes back to his body, he gets a second chance at an easier life. Truly such a selfless character and it is understandable why his loyal underlining boys were so upset when he died.

And in Song Yi Heon's body, he build relationship with his classmates, ensured that his bullies stayed in school and graduate and protected his mum from getting hurt by his dad. He was an adult, in a 19 year old boy's body.

We also meet Choi Se Kyung, a boy that had history with Song Yi Heon (in the manhwa, he was the love interest). Choi Se Kyung is a broken boy with daddy issues yet so caring toward his friends. The chemistry between the two main characters are off the chart. Like I said, 2 episodes in, I had to check if this was BL. His eyes are always looking at Song Yi Heon (Deuk Pal) with care and concern. But he is still sassy and feisty towards those he doesn't like.

Can we please take a minute to appreciate the beauty that is Bong Jae Hyun (Golden Child). I first saw him in Twinkling Watermelon (another recommended drama!). He played the mute brother of the main character. But here, hearing his low soft voice makes me wonder why they muted him in that drama haha! He is such a good actor that I am excited to see how he will grow in the future with different roles.

But my main MVP for this drama is Yoon Chan Young. He was able to embody an ajusshi (he is only 23!) to the point that I could see Lee Seo Jin (the actor that played Deuk Pal) in him. And his voice doesn't sound awkward saying these really deep and mature sayings.

Ok I am rambling. But the most important part that I want to talk about is the ending. SPOILER. Song Yi Heon ended up not wanting to go back to his body and instead gave Deuk Pal a chance to live as him. I thought about it and I think I can get behind that ending.

(This is solely based on drama plotline and not the manhwa.)

Shin Se Kyung and even the repented bully Hong Jae Min really needed a proper adult guidance. With Deuk Pal remaining in Song Yi Heon's body, they will be able to remain friends (same age, not ahjusshi and young adult). He will be able to protect and guide them. And Deuk Pal will be able to live a different life this time. A second chance at life.

And I understand, why can't real Song Yi Heon get a second chance in life? The boy had a hard life, he is depressed enough to off himself. Deuk Pal may have bettered his high school life but Song Yi Heon is still Song Yi Heon. He might not be able to be better in college. Whatever Deuk Pal build is never Song Yi Heon's because they are not the same person.

Being depressed doesn't go away even if your life is all better now. He is afraid of his tomorrow than death, hence he chose death and I respect that. Like he said "He is happy to see at least see a smile on his face."

Overall, I think both Deuk Pal and Song Yi Heon have their own happy ending. And that is what's important.

Rating: 4.75/5

-- Fary

[stephreviews]

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016-2017)

This drama follows the stories of the men of Hwarang, an elite warrior group loyal only to the king of the Silla era. However, a twist in the story is that the current king is in hiding. The previous king was assassinated when the current king was a child, so the king is in hiding until he is powerful enough to protect himself. Until then, his mother, the Queen Regent rules. The story predominantly follows the king, Kim Ji Dwi/Sam Maek Jong, an orphan commoner who doesn't know his own ancestry and assumes the identity of his best friend (Kim Sun Woo), Gae-Sae, and Kim Sun Woo's sister and doctor of the Hwarang warriors, Kim Ahro.

Phew. 😵 That was a long explanation. And that's not even spoiling anything. Now, to the ratings!

Extremely complicated political drama: 10/10

Hilarious wise old man mentor: 10/10

Adorable side couple: 20/10

THEY ARE UNJUSTLY UNDERRATED AND YOU CAN'T TELL ME OTHERWISE! BAN RYU AND SOOYEON FOREVER! 💘

Love triangle that isn't infuriating: 8/10. Minus 2 points for being predictable.

Morally ambiguous queen that I'm not sure if I like or not: 10/10

Sexy Shower Scene: 10000/10

I'll leave the shower scene with a cast like Park Seojoon, Park Hyungsik, and Shinee's Minho up to your imagination 😉 Check out this underrated gem and give it the love it deserves!

Just look at these two!!! Ban Ryu x Sooyeon my beloved ❤️❤️❤️

[gimyung]

diggin whatever ptj's mood was when he made these ansan panels. the pink lighting all over?! cmon now that's hella pretty ♡_♡

[becomingmina]

I think you guys should search up changbin salon on google maps

[survivalistghost]

whatever interpretation of god kdramas seem to have looks right

first we had the little girl god from doom at your service

then we had the multiple MaGos from hotel del luna

now we have the old beggar lady from my demon

[alifelivedtwiceover]

Myul Mang lived, after death. He lived. That is all that matters.

I love doom at your service so much😭 I'm rewatching it and I think I'll post think pieces on it after each episode.

I've seen so many reviews about people not enjoying the second half of this show and how a stellar cast was wasted on bad writing but for me, this show works even though I agree that the writing really was lacking in places.

It's funny how sometimes the things we like best are not the things that are perfect, but the ones that are flawed and imperfect and slightly inadequate.

It's so hard to define what brings us joy and comfort and what we find irresistible sometimes.

It's like, why do I adore this show even though there are so many shows out there that are so much better? Why do I think so often of these characters in particular? Why do I keep coming back here?

One of my favorite aspects about DAYS is Seo In Guk as Myul Mang. His character is the bedrock of this show from which everything else springs. I love his cynicism, his pessimism, his pain, his intolerance, his indifference, his quiet, simmering anger, his inability to outgrow his annoyance at the world. I love his audacity, his attitude and his insistent desire to destroy everything. I love that he doesn't hold back and that he doesn't try to be other than what he is. I love how the world slowly enraptures him, how it quietly grasps him into its folds, and doesn't let go. I love how he slowly discovers the world.

Myul Mang's entire existence is in nothingness, and then he is slowly brought into life. It is the opposite of what humans experience, for him it is actually life after death.

Myul Mang is hands down my favourite thing about DAYS.

The only thing I wish for was I wish we could have gotten more of his backstory. I wish he had been given a tangible past, a story that would have made the audience aware of where he was coming from, and thus would have made his motivations clearer, so that we know where he is heading.

Myul Mang lived, after death. He lived. That is all that matters.