Reviews

Ladies and Gentlemen - Them

Watch out for this new BL sensation. Featuring:
- Two softest, cutest, nicest leads
- The first male lead is shy but sweet and true to his feelings, yet will give you whiplash and nostalgia regarding every crush
you've ever had in the past
- The second male lead is surprisingly more aware of his surroundings than all drama leads put together. There is
obliviousness but the sheer fact that it is much less than usual is so refreshing, it'll have you cheering on the scared, funny idiot
- A highschooler wise beyond his and his friends' ages combined, who is a well-meaning bestie we all deserve
- Another high school bestie who unintentionally tries to ruin every possible thing
- An emo sweet sister
- Additional side characters who are, thankfully, not horrible people

A sloooooow highschool friends-to-lovers story that burns oh so good. Take me back to the good old days for Yamato and Kakeru have all my heart and memories and I wish them nothing but the best. They healed the memories of my unrequited crush. I just want to wrap these two in a bubblewrap and protect them from all possible harm. My cutie pookies <3

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I don't wanna watch Xu kai doing such horrible drama ever again

The story is crap ..not gonna lie this was one of the weakest plots that I have ever seen. Why I say so ?? Cause you will watch 3/4th of the drama still won't feel attached to the story ... The feeling of excitement to watch the next episode was totally missing ..just imagine the amount of disappointment.

Xu kai is a fantastic actor He delivered best on his part but in the end he can only play his own role .. I feel bad for him as don't know for what reason but his chemistry with his co-actors has been compromised in last couple of shows ...in best choice ever it was the same .. I hope he gets some beautiful and talented co-actress who will bring out his charisma again ...

Esther yu was terrible like she is in most of her dramas.she was the same in 'Love between devil and fairy' two years back .. her acting skills haven't improved at all,she is hopeless. In fact the rest of the cast performed way better than her. I don't know how chinese casting works but she has no chance to sign even a junior artist role for the third class acting skills she owns.she is the only grade less actress who gives kissing scenes in a child voice, making it even morally incorrect.

The plot was stuffed with a lot of details but somehow the mess created was so much that it lost its core ... The plot was bulky in itself plus There were a total of 4-5 couples having their own love story which were dragged to the last altogether.. an Absolute CHAOS .

a few more things 'louder than dialogue' background music ..basic and ugly costume .. multidirectional approach with no straight execution of parts were responsible for not delivering the drama in its whole potential

If i have to summarise, it was just the hard work of the entire cast ( minus Esther yu) that kept the drama breathing otherwise there was no hope whatsoever.

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This drama has it all! Definitely a masterpiece.

I'm very happy about this drama, the long wait since season 1 was worth it.

It's a very complete drama, you will feel trilled with the plots, emotional and wanting to cry in the heavy parts, laugh with the funny moments and warm your heart with the relationships and some romance sweet moments. I mean, I was really going through a lot of emotions during the drama, all that in a good pace, it's quite exceptional.

What is a surprise for me is that I usually like more the romance part, but not in this drama, everything else is so interesting that I don't really care that the romance is not the main thing.

And the comedy parts are just in the right amount and tone. It's very hard for me to find something funny, but I liked how the funny moments were made. I laughed out loud a few times.

Everything else is just so good. I loved it all.
The actors, so amazing!!
The plots
The costumes
The fight scenes
The photography

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Fantasy Political Nothing more Nothing less

So, disappointing season we have. Drama genres are Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, and Wuxia. But what it delivers is only fantasy politics that all. Don't expect more from it. We are here to watch more harem, wuxia, and adventures. But they deliver nothing. The acting is superb as always. Male eccentric drama . It always revolves around ML which is very good but this time they only serve some boring politics around him. The first season million times better than this season because of the wuxia, adventure and romance there. Before watching I want to give you a boring alert. Thanks.

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Iconic!

This drama is crazily good!
I told myself I'll watch it when the whole episode comes out but social media has been influencing me to watch it because of the cast's chemistry. I do not regret it even tho I had to wait weekly for the next episodes.
The cast did an outstanding job portraying their roles! The bromance...ICONIC. The third wheeling moments... ICONIC. Both the main families... ICONIC!!!.
I don't really know what to say... but I'm very IMPRESSED. The way this drama has the past, present, and future included is amazing.
Rewinding... without the character forgetting is prob my fav because other dramas do not have this kind of theme.
The way this drama demonstrates love is on the next level.
Delulu is the solulu.
Nowadays, we can't find someone who willing to do anything for their loved ones. The way this drama shows their love is just... nakakakilig ?
I don't wanna spoil anything pero. Tangina. HOW TO FIND SOMEONE LIKE SUNG JAE??
Anyways... I LOVE THE CAST!
BIG FAN OF Byeon Woo Seok since the movie 20th Century Girl' and 'Strong Girl Nam Soon'. Crazy how he can portray being a VILLIAN (in the drama Strong Girl Nam Soon' and as a high school student. HIS VOICE. AWWWE. AURA.
I'M IN LOVE.
THE OST OF THIS SONG IS JUST PERFECT. I've been listening to it every single day.
Truly in love with the cast.
My review doesn't make sense and I'm okay with that. Because... my feelings are confused.
There nothing else for me to watch. This drama just WA JEON PERFECt.
They deserve to win an awards

They did amazing.
Thank you for the hard work!
The staff... crew... cast.
Thank you. ♧♧♧♡◇◇◇♧♧♧
1:18 am 6124

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A Piece of Your Mind has A Piece of My Heart

I just finished another rewatch and thought to leave a very short review for this gem.

I love this drama so much.

While watching it gives me a very warm feeling. The relationship of Ha Won and Seo Woo is what I imagine an ideal relationship is like. A relationship of mutual longing, respect and reciprocation.

Some might call it slow, but for me that is how it's meant to be, a story driven by characters rather than plot. The atmospheric directing and very good music alongside that help to elevate my watching experience.

Too bad the 4 episodes were cut and always left us wondering of what could have been. But that was what it was, and as it is, the drama is perfect for me.

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How to get over bad hair days

This drama is absolutely wonderful. I don't know why it's not well known, it's on par with the very best k-dramas. There is so much realism and bigger and smaller problems, but all of it portrayed through a very comforting and optimistic lens. (Some issues: crippling social anxiety, gender dysphoria, sexual abuse, a achool bullying past).

This scriptwriter is one true humanist. I also loved her previous dramas, Age of Youth, and Diary of A Prosecutor.

All of the main characters are basically flawed but viewed in such sympathetic and empathetic manner, you just grow to love and understand all of them. This is essentially an ensemble and found family drama. The hair salon employees are all equally main characters but there's also a colourful cast of regular customers, each becoming unique, fleshed out characters.

The romances (both the young and the mature) are incredibly sweet. We also get a philosophicizing narrator who is both wise and understanding of bigger and smaller challenges in life so that it makes you feel you yourself are being heard and understood. All of the actors are great, but especially Park Jung Woo deserves to get more main roles. Highly recommended.

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Chess Game Within Chess Game, Maze-Like Writing, Intricate Plots With Compelling Characters

Finally, after waiting for nearly 5 years, the much-anticipated Joy of Life Season 2 comes with a bang. While the first season basically one of the best written scripts in the past 10 years in Cdramaland, the 2nd season as expected still managed to retain the same quality, vibe and layers with new interesting characters and stories.

Again, the things that made Joy of Life stand out among the sea of Cdramas is the maze-like writing and compelling characters. The depth and layers the script possessed are truly one of the best I've seen in the past years. I love how the writer have trust in the audience to interpret and understand the depth of the script on their own -- without telling us via monologue or dialog between the characters. It was so smartly written, with intricate and complicated plots also with so many layers for every characters. The Emperor's wisdom is the greatest example of this -- there are always layers to his words, not just 2 but sometimes 3 to 4 layers. Take example the lunch meeting between him, Fan Xian and his 4 sons -- the Emperor's always want his government clean -- he took pride in them but at the same time, 'You can investigate, but not until it threaten my position and my ego.' -- he likes Fan Xian bold enough to make that accusation, but at the same time, he throw Fan Xian's batch into the lake to save face towards the 4 of his sons but behind the scenes, he gave Fan Xian Gao Da and the Tiger squad to assist Fan Xian with the corruption case. He is very calculative with everyone and there is always wisdom in his action -- he gets things done without dirtying his hands. He plans, make use of someone else's evilness and still get what he wants.

Some people might confuse it with plot holes or out of characters behaviors but when we decipher the scene that happened, it proved how we can’t simply interpret the scene from the surface only -- when you look into the details, that characters are never white blankets as there are many colours on it -- you can never guess what they capable of as they always being painted as grey. Like Fan Xian poisoning the 2nd Prince. It is truly deliberately done on purpose to mess with the 2nd Prince. Fan Xian wants him to taste his own medicine as he simply treats the 2nd Prince's life as worthless just like the 2nd Prince's view of everyone else's lives. But look now how his life is in danger, look how he behaves -- scared like everyone's else -- very embarrassing to witness. If Fan Xian really want to kill him, he will not purposely show him the poison and later give him an antidote. This is all part of his mind games. He never intended to kill the 2nd Prince. But, he achieve his purpose which is to send the 2nd Prince a message on how his life, just like everyone else is fleeting and can be gone at any time. This served as a warning to him. Also, this again to highlight that Fan Xian has always been petty -- ''You tried to kill me? I will never let it go.''

Also, how upon rewatching, you discover more thing about existing scenes from before. Like how we can view certain characters differently upon knowing more about them like the 1st Prince for an example. It is after all not about pissing contest against Fan Xian during his entrance to the Capital -- but more towards he wants to test Fan Xian's character as he is the man who is going to marry Wan'er and in charge of Treasury in the future. Then later, his future alliance with Fan Xian comes as no surprise as he is a man with moral and just because of that, he will help Fan Xian with his mission to create a better world for everyone.

Also, the foreshadowing is really strong in this season! Like how Fan Xian check the pulse of Prime Minister and again the mirror scene where he checks it again in front of the Emperor. Or the foreshadowing that the Prime Minister keep telling Fan Xian to learn how to be cunning like The Emperor or to never to trust him -- like he predicted Fan Xian will oppose the Emperor in the future. Or First Prince's faceless paintings to Princess Royal's saying 'there is someone who doesn’t appreciate her beauty' -- all these are hints for the coming episodes that’s about to come. I love how conversations between the characters are either laced with poisons or secrets and that the ''joy'' of watching of Joy of Life. All the little details in the drama makes the story -- I love to catch all of these as it usually served as hints on which characters we should trust or not. For an example, the way it always emphasis how the 2nd Prince use human as stair when he took the carriage while Fan Xian's Dad, using a normal stool. Also the special feature on Chan Ping Ping's chair -- it shows how he is still after all still guarded against the Emperor. Same with how even before the revelations, I knew it was the Crown Prince who brunt the village down and it wasn’t the 2nd Prince. This is effective storytelling as when you combined all the hints one by one and understood the nature of each character, you know what to expect -- like the Crown Prince already show his fangs since the first season and only this season we know how dark he truly is -- probably darker than the 2nd Prince.

I love how 95% of the casts are still the same. And it awe me how they didn’t seemed to age except Zhang Ruoyun did lose a lot of weight from the previous season. And again this season, he returned more kick-ass than before -- Fan Xian is still literally one of the most layered, rich and brilliant character I have encounter in Cdramas. He didn’t lose all the characteristic that made him so spell-bindingly shining -- almost like a sun, in fact, this season he just further confirm why he remain my most favourite fictional character -- with how colourful, how unyielding, how he didn’t seem to care for anything but actually care too much, and how he is very uninterested with the power game, yet very good at playing it. He is like a male lead I always want in my dramas -- the one that I always root since he never ever makes any stupid decisions, like ever. I guess I watched too many dramas with male leads yielding to the bad guys' request when they are put in the corner so Fan Xian, is a refreshing case since you can threat him with his love ones, yet he still won’t follow your requests since he is playing the game better than his enemies. I'm so happy that all my favourite veteran actors; The Emperor, Chan Ping Ping, Fan Jian, Prime Minister, Fei Jie all reprising their roles and in this season, we see many layers of them even more.

And even the new actors, I actually enjoy them – it’s actually very rare for me to actually love mostly 90% of the characters in one single drama but how can you not? They all written with little quirks that makes them interesting like the charismatic 1st Prince, the nervous but funny Beiqi Princess and some small supporting actor such as the 2nd Prince Guard -- on how dumb he looks, and always seemed to judge the Prince and how he is studying for imperial exam. Or the even the new Yan Bingyan. I adore him. I love how he will always try not to laugh everytime Fan Xian did something funny. And it is the best where he finally let a big smile after being trolled by Fan Xian to pay for the whole breakfast. I don’t know whether it is the writer's decision or the actor's decision to portray this strict character this way but I'm loving it. I live for this kind of comedy lol.

And with Joy of Life, I find all the villains fascinating instead of hating them. I don’t root for them, but I like them as characters. I don’t remember I dislike any villains in the drama -- and we have a lot -- actually a lot of really grey characters. There are always endearing part of them and that is include the very hateable character The Royal Princess. But I like her a lot -- there is some wickedness in her that screamed deranged but all hide in this beautiful and alluring facade. Or the 2nd Prince -- how he seemed all unserious and casual but at the same time enigmatic and mysterious.

While I always love Joy of Life for the menacing storylines and their intrigue plots, Fan Xian's family dynamic is still one of my very favorite parts of the story. I love how the writer explored the Fan family dynamics to the fullest this season; his Dad is the one who takes him home and pretends not to care but we all know he cares the most. Then Ruo Ruo's blind faith on Fan Xian. Then his step-mum, how Fan Xian honoring her during his wedding. Then the ever adorable Fan Sizhe, he has finally grow up! I love the part where he finally gets those words of care from the Dad. What a wholesome family. Then we have Wan'er -- I adore adore Fan Xian and Wan'er's relationship. Wan'er represent the life that Fan Xian really wants and he finds calm and tranquility with her -- something that he didn’t get from anyone else. Reminds us that despite the world might be chaotic for Fan Xian, he can always return home where he can finally let his guard down and trust his family fully.

What made Joy of Life simply brilliant is how both the good and bad guys are EQUALLY intelligent and brilliant. It wasn’t a one-sided battle of wits. Chess games within chess games kind of story. I also love the very fact that Fan Xian truly live a very fulfilling life with no regrets so it isn’t frustrating to watch or root for him. One thing in dramas that I dislike when characters always holding back and wait for their next life to change their fate but not Fan Xian. He truly lives his life to the fullest and loving all the people in his life at the best of his ability. Thus, even if he dies in the middle, he lived a fulfilling life with no regrets and stay true to his ideals and principles -- the best kind of life -- suit the drama title to a T. Whoever name the English title of the drama understood the essence of the story to the core.

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Run don't walk

What if there was someone in this world who would fall in love with you at every stage of life and under every circumstance? What if he was willing to die for you as long as he could spend one extra moment with you? The hopeless romantic in me leaps for joy!

Lovely Runner may not have the most original storyline but it is a well made drama that will keep you fully engaged. It has the perfect blend of romance, comedy and thrills. The best part of it was the pacing. As soon as you felt that the story was dragging, the story would take a sudden turn. At no point was I ever bored. I also want to highlight the comedy. In almost every episode there is at one scene where you'll burst out laughing. Very few dramas can do comedy without it being over the top after some time.

As far as acting goes, every does a good job. I've seen Byeon Woo Seok, in several dramas but this is the first time he has truly shined. I wish more success in future. Kim Hye Yoon also does a good job but I feel the character is not much different from Extraordinarily You. supporting roles were fine but special mention goes to Lee Seung Hyub and Kim Won Hae. I really liked their roles.

The music was pleasant. If I Eclipse was a real k-pop band, I would likely have been a fan. The music was a treat to watch.

Although the twists and turns would be less impactful, I really think it will be a good rewatch.

To sum it up, don't hesitate. Just watch the drama, there is a high chance that you'll end up loving it just as much as as I did.

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Master's opinion

Initially got into this drama for the male lead as well as for the maths but there wasn't much math in the drama after first few episodes. There was more of the politics involed in the schools which i have seen in quite a few dramas.
This drama did make me fell suffocated and the nature of the adults yet showed me that students are not all pure and innocent as they put themselves as it can be considered their cheat sheet. The ending was not so shocking, somewhat predictable.
And i liked the teacher and student relationship and how it went. This was one of the few teachers who showed resistance the most to there relationship , which showed maturity.

Overall .. Not bad

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If you like Rom Coms You'll like this

If you like Rom Coms, you'll like this. What this is, is an old fashioned, lighthearted but very believable love story. The leads really seem like they love each other deeply. It is not meant to be a sci-fi thriller, even with small elements in there. There are no big social commentaries. It is a pure, wholesome love story of two people who save each other and fall in love no matter what circumstance. The chemistry between the leads is what makes this drama special. I really just fell in love with Ryu Sun Jae and Im Sol. Ånd the other characters like Tae Sung and Baek In Hyunk were also just so heart warming too. I watched this drama not knowing what to expect. And I think that is the mindset you have to go in with. It was an underdog drama that no one knew would blow up like it did. That's part of what made it so beautiful, the surprise, the discovery. I loved the story, the acting, the cast, the music...and I have already watched this drama multiple times. It's beauty is in it's simplicity not its sophistication. It's got some of the best rewatch value of any drama I've seen. When I'm sad, this is my go-to drama. There are other dramas that are tighter knit, deeper in it's messages, but in the category of a rom-com...this drama be rom-comming like no other. I have not found a drama that has stolen my heart like this one and that I became as attached to in a long time. I am charmed. But the story, the music, the characters, and the actors. I legit loved this. I only wish I could erase this in my brain and watch it again for the first time again.

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