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Red Balloon taiwanese drama review
Completed
Red Balloon
2 people found this review helpful
by AKAshon
Jun 11, 2020
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 10.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Flawed Though Beautiful (In a Sense)...

Flawed in its execution, but beautiful in its earnestness and music. I've always been a fan of stories that focus on the theme of time passed and regret. It's always poignant and touching to remember that we only live one life and that our lives will end someday. I found this series to be too short and the story was too rushed. It could have expanded and deepened its scope. It was never explained why Xia Zhi Chen felt so obligated to appease his father to the point of entering into a fake marriage and raising a daughter. Why didn't he just cut ties with his father? I know that he couldn't leave when he was younger as he was practically trapped at home, but when he got older and became a lawyer, he had the freedom to leave... But he never did for some reason. This didn't make sense, especially since his father was threatening to kill him or himself. He still stayed. Like what? He didn't really seem to have any regret nor did he seem mentally taxed from 'faking' for so long. It was practically like he was just like, "Eh, I'll just divorce my wife and get with my high school crush" with some pseudo-deep voiceover of finally being free with the death of his father.

There are other several questionable plot points such as why the PE teacher sent bullies to beat up Li Xiang Wan, which didn't make sense. To be honest, that teacher-student subplot was kinda unnecessary to be honest. Also, so many BL series have their main characters be unintentionally outed because they were kissing at home in a public area where any family member could walk in. Like the BL series that I watched before this one literally also used that plot point. It's such a tired trope that is unrealistic and makes no sense! No closeted gay would be dumb enough to do that!

It is impressive though the emotions and feelings that this low-budget series was able to muster though in its last few episodes. I was genuinely touched. And I do applaud the series for portraying the toll that bullying can take on a person and how the school authorities could have done more.
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