The definition of wasted potential.

I had really high hopes for this.

I was sure Miike Takashi did miracles behind the camera and Fujiwara Tatsuya in front of it.
They both disappointed me.

The conception of the main idea for the movie was brilliant.But everything fall apart because the execution was bad.The material they had should have been more than enough to develop it further and make a truly amazing film.
2 hrs been wasted in chasing and action instead of giving depth to the characters.

I thought Fujiwara Tatsuya would be the shining star here,especially with such role, but no.
The scene stealer was Osawa Takao,the Detective.Even so,he couldn't really save it.

I would be more satisfied if i was given insights for both main chars.
A sadistic killer and a detective with ethics.
Characters felt short.
Lazy writing,lazy direction and feeble acting for both actors's caliber.

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I Couldn't Stop Watching!

First of all i haven't watched the Original but even if i had i wouldn't care to compare.

For those who likes the genre,this is A MUST WATCH.Period.
If you are not that much into political dramas,still i guarantee at least it will catch your attention enough to give it a try.

Designated Survivor is one of those dramas which deserves all the high ratings and all the praises.I never go blindly based only on ratings but i always check them,read the reviews,watch and judge by myself.Because 3 years ago when my journey in Asian Dramas started i followed the hype(as a newbie)and many high rated series really disappointed me.So now as iam a bit more experienced,i have more faith in my personal judgement.

This is all about Politics.Most of the time,heavy politics.Not alot of action.Not alot-to none-Romance.Although it has few comedic splashes to light the mood.Not over the top.Always keeps its serious tone.Also,especially at the early episodes i had some trouble following with the terminology,but it gets really easier and it is essential for the viewer to understand the concept.

This Drama is well written,well structured and well executed.Touches Perfection.
I didn't find serious plot holes,lame time jumps or unnecessary drama.
What makes it interesting apart the story itself,is the characters.Amazing,intriguing characters full of depth.For me there are not main and support roles in this series.Everyone was an exceptional character,played his/her role and contributed to build the story.Everyone shines equally.Not one single boring character.Same goes to the acting.Everyone was well chosen for every role.

Another interesting fact is the lack of villains.In a Political Drama you expect the good guys fight and scheme and plot against the bad guys.Yes of course there are 2 opposite sides.We tend to categorize them in "good" and "evil"Well this was one of the few dramas the line between them was really thin.Even the allegedly villains deep inside are not evil.Everyone has his own motives,personal beliefs and ideals.And everyone stands strong for them.So in my eyes this doesn't make them evil.And i couldn't hate anyone.Not even those who stands on the other side against our protagonists.

As always i pick my favorite character.Here the one who stole my heart was Cha Young Jin(played by Son Suk Ku)He has the biggest character development,he is who he is and states shamelessly his goals,often goes against everyone's opinion.A very strong and charming persona,gradually becoming a nicer and kinder person.I loved him.

It is a drama full of thrilling moments.Full of suspense.A journey through the dirty world of politicians.As i recently watched the Japanese CHANGE i found many similarities.

I said touches perfection.One star off,because of all those moments this drama really stressed me.Made me debate and argue with myself!Made me disagree with our protagonists decisions,made me angry because of some paths the story took and everything seemed to crumble.For those moments the lack of trust and communication between all the agencies and the Blue House.It was really frustrating.There are few unreasonable and unrealistic details too,i couldn't ignore.By any mean all these prevented me from really enjoying it.

Mild Spoiler:







The gathering of the old team at the last episode was the most precious moment of the whole Drama.

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That Ending!!!

I usually don't watch Family/Business Dramas.Iam easily bored and must be a really good reason to decide start one(if,ever!)
Here i found 2 reasons made me start watching.

1.Kimura Takuya.I committed to myself to watch anything i find online with him starring,(even the cheesy romance dramas i do hate.)
Iam inlove with his acting,his talent,his voice and his smile!
The Grand Family wasn't my priority to watch in the nearest future but..

2.The second reason was the very positive comments and reviews (Thank You!!!)and as always i thought to try the first episode and will see.

High valued production i must say.Setting is in the late 60's.I liked all the details,from costumes to cars,the transportation,everything was subtle.The scenery of the snowy mountains was breathtaking,too!
Nice choices of music(mostly orchestral)

Acting & Cast
Not much to say about KimuTaku.He can play any role,any character,anytime!Silence speaks louder than words.He delivered all the emotions with his eyes.
The one who amazed me the most though, was the Father played by Kitaoji Kinya.I checked after,Yes ofc his acting was so good,he is a veteran with many awards!
But the performance from all the cast was great as well.

The narrative at fisrt(voice over) was a bit awkward but i get used to it.
The Manpyo Family is the center of the story.A powerful but dysfunctional family.Patriarchy rules!
The women of the family are weak,low profiled,set up by arranged marriages,not much of a saying.I guess is because of that Era.Women didn't hold strong positions in society.
The only exception was Aiko(assistant/mistress of the Father)A Devilish woman,manipulates everything,a great influence to the Head of the family she is actually the First Lady of the house instead of the legal wife.A very interesting character.

All are very complex,deep,intriguing and broken characters in their own way.Each plays his/her role to the story as a member of the family.We can see the course of the story through them.We hate them(father and mistress)we pity them(the women of the family)we sympathize them(Ginpei the 2nd son)and of course we root and feel for HIM.our protagonist.

Teppei is smart,capable,innovative.He has dreams.He has visions.He can see the future and works towards it.Steel is his passion and wants his company to be a leader in the industry.But after all,as everyone,he is just human...
But he finds his own father against him.Schemes,traps and obstacles.Antagonism and jealousy.Very strong and negative feelings in the air.We can't understand why this father hates his own son so much!They are not just rivals.They are enemies!
The eldest son is the only one who has the balls to stand against the domineering Father.Deep down all he needs is his father's love and acceptance.One of the most powerful scenes of this drama was in the last episode and the final meeting between father and son.Top notch acting.I can't say more.

From the early episodes we have a feeling where this story goes.And yes indeed goes towards that direction.But..don't forget this is a JDrama.Even if its core is related to business & family,still has few incredible twists and it is twisted as well.The classic good Japanese recipe we trust and love!
So, Karei naru Ichizoku is far from the dull and boring drama you might think it is.Is so much more,you will be engaged to the story and all the characters.Even the technical terms(banking,finance,steel industry etc)are interesting.
It is a drama i can write a whole essay!Don't ignore it!

Side Note to the title i gave.That ending!!.Is not a spoiler.i can't say if i loved or hated it.It was both.I didn't see it coming.Tore me,broke me,made me appreciate the drama all over again,even at the final scene.If you have read other reviews of mine you most likely know what kind of endings i do like.This was different.Made me feel different.

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A Very Hot Mess!

With many hot men!
Ok,i give up.Seriously i do.I want to know the secret behind the charm of HK Dramas.I mean it.Someone please tell me what is the secret ingredient to make such a messy strory becoming such an easy and entertaining watch!

This is the 3rd in a row HK drama which left me with the same impression.And although nothing is outstanding here,i binged watch it in 2 days!After finishing each episode i was telling mysef im doing this cause my goal is to watch as many V.Wong's works as i can.I have lied to myself though,because noone forced me to continue watching it if i didn't like it!Lol.

Definetely i cannot give a 10 to this and the 7 sometimes felt was too much.
It has a bit of everything but in a confusing way.
Sports
Business
Action
Political
Corruption
Romance
And the list can go on.You will find any genre here.

Music:I loved the 2 main theme songs.
"Outstanding" sung by V.Wong(always a delight listening him singing)
" All the King's Horses" with english lyrics added in my playlist and i was mumbling it the whole time.

Cast/Acting:Iam glad i start to recognize more HK actors Drama by Drama.Familiar faces always makes every series more enjoyable.

So happy Vincent in this one is his old good self.He was perfect for Fever's role.
Hunter and Man(the Villains)are both Veterans so no more need to say.
Leo(one of the brothers) and Double,(Fever's best friend) both were good too and i liked the moments they had to be sentimental.
Iron(the 3rd brother)Hmmm His fighting is way better than his acting.His performance was very poor.
As for the Ladies of the drama.Iam sorry,is a big NO,from me.


Story/Plot:

This Drama is without any story for 20 out of 30 episodes.Yes,you read right.And if you don't read the synopsis you will be clueless about it until you reach episode 20.So in 2/3 of the series we get to know all the characters and we randomly see their daily life,their work routine and the 3 main romances blooming.
It starts with boxing.And continues with boxing.You can't have enough of boxing!No is not a sports drama,though!
It is also mixed with VR world,the Dark web,Hacking.After the 20th ep,starts the real plot which thickens really fast and corruption,politics and Economic crisis joins this mess to make it even hotter!

The Telepathy thing,which is the main link of the story,is rather silly and unbelievable,but i guess we have to respect Writer's imagination.
As for the Action.Yes there is alot.Many fighting scenes.And i love fighting scenes.But all of them here seemed fake and staged.Like they didn't actually shooting them but rehearsing the choreography.Which was beautifull if we had the chance to see it in "real time"They totaly ruined the action scenes with all those slow motions too.The flow was unnatural.

Everyone in this drama has a license to kill.Everyone is shooting and killing without even blink.No regrets,no second thoughts.No Police investigation either for almost every death.Like is nothing.And 3 of the leads were/are involved in the Police Force.
Also the Time-line is the biggest mess here as between the events we can't say if hours,days or weeks has passed.Confusing as hell,messing the story so badly at the end you just have to take it as it is.

The ending doesn't make any sense,but it is a Happy one(well i don't really care about Happy Endings)but if the "Live Happily Ever" matters to you,then is a plus!

Is this a Drama you MUST add to your watch-list?Not really.
Is it a Drama you can give a chance?Definetely.
HK Dramas as i said in another review,have their own uniqueness and deserves more Love.Is nothing like Korean,Japanese not even Chinese Dramas.The majority of them is really engaging,and if you try a few iam sure you will seek for more,as i did.

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An Addictive Drama without any Ground

..To be addictive at all!
It was more like a sophisticated Soap Opera.And i do hate Soap Operas.But i kinda liked this one.Well, i don't really know if the word "like" is the most suitable,though.It's complicated!I hated it so much and i ended up finishing it within 3 days.I was watching non stop.No,it wasn't a "guilty pleasure"It was something different.

As i just finished it i have so many scattered thoughts and so much to write,i don't really know where to start.Iam the first to write a review for this,so i'll do my best.

The story is about a man who lost 10 years of his life.Kidnapped and captured in a cave,away from home.A very intriguing idea,indeed.
And then we follow his return back home,his interactions with family and friends, his struggles to adjust back to his normal life,to take control and gather himself.

The start was really strong and had so much potential,promising for a captivating story to have you glued to your seat.Fast paced and a nice introduction to all characters.
I have to say here that every character in the first few episodes was such a sweet,kind,helpful and caring person,i was confused if this was a Happy Family Drama instead of a Crime/Thriller/Revenge story.
Only exception was the Sister in-Law.Every time she was on screen i wanted so badly to punch her face,lol!

The problem about this Drama is that the writer was too ambitious and had too much on his plate!
Every story has its main and supporting characters.Here,for a reason i cannot really comprehend,every char had more or less the same fair amount for stardom!
What i mean by this,is the fact that we get to know almost each character's backstory,which thb,was unnecessary and totally irrelevant with the main story and the protagonist's life.Ok,not all of them but yet this is one of the reasons the story was so damn dragged and get me bored quite a few times.27 eps-actually 28 as the last one is 1,5 hrs long-please,why??15 or less would be ideal!Anyway,it is what it is.

Let's do more digging into characters.

Vincent,our main lead.
He literally returned from Hell.And after all he went through,i thought i would sympathize and feel for him.And although i stand for his anger and totally understand his need to take revenge and find out why all these happened to him,i couldn't relate to this character.I couldn't feel his pain and i can't justify any of the decisions he made.To start with,Vincent to me was never a good person.He was always in the grey zone,cocky and arrogant prior his captivity.Cruel,insane,short-minded,after.I dont know this actor.I have bookmarked few of his works but this was the first Drama i watched him starring.I wasn't overwhelmed neither by his acting nor by his role itself.And this is bad as he is the ML!!
When he returned there are few nice moments,him united with his family.And we see how gradually regains his physical health.
But what about his mental health??I mean,seriously.This character SHOULD attend like over 500 sessions with the best psychologist of the country!Ok i know iam exaggerating but still,this was the most lame,unreasonable and unrealistic detail of the whole drama.Having your family's support is not enough after being in captivity for 10 years!

Max: Vincent's friend and apprentice, the second victim of the kidnapping,who managed to escape.He suffers from PTSD,he caries the Survivor's Guilt and he has a "death wish"He is shown as an adrenaline junkie,participating in extreme sports to feel the "rush" He feels obligated to Vincent,he is unable to say No to him,and he always ends to be his partner in crime.Actually he was the most innocent among all the characters.The only char i really sympathized.
And yes Vincent Wong is one of my ultimate obsessions but it pains me to say that not even him could save this Drama.And to be completely honest,this was the first-and i hope the last -time i didn't enjoy his acting!Way too average for Vincent's talent.I blame the writer and the role,not him!

Cathy the wife:Presented as a saint,a pure angel,never gave up searching of her husband.Spent alot of effort,money and time.A loving and caring wife.She ended married her childhood friend and seemed conflicted after Vincent's return.
She holds some cards.She has few secrets.This character could be more interesting and with much more depth but it failed.

Yan,Cathy's hub and Vincent's friend:Such a pathetic character to me.Creepy and fishy all the way.An ex mercenary,a skilled killer.But he was driven by jealousy and nothing more.Another character who had great potential to show more but once again failed.

As this review is already too long and iam sorry about this,i won't continue with the other chars.Well everyone else was more like a filler and the writer could easily omit them from the story as not adding much to it.(am i a bitch??)

Few last thoughts:

I was really tired by the Love Triangle and all the jealousy included.
Too many unnecessary characters and stories revolving around them.Nothing essential,ended a messy plot and lost focus from the main story.
I wanted more about the kidnapping,the period Vincent spent in the cave and the period after he was rescued.They devoted just 2 episodes in total,which is a shame.The story could be more intereting if they developed those aspects more.(instead they gave us the soap-opera gossip-like vibes)

Too much melodrama.Really wasted potential.Mediocre acting.Too much shit to take.
A nice cinematography for a HK Drama,it was a plus especially the scenes in Vietnam.
They really must improve the visuals in fires,explosions,blood,wounds etc...

Don't ask me why i got addicted,watched and finished it.I don't know!
Did i regret it,though??
NO!

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Concentrated Life Lessons

Into 12 mini episodes of 12 minutes each!

Every day i add dozens of movies and series in my watch list.Everything that seems interesting.Just to keep track.
And every day im going through the list to prioritize/delete/search again all those titles.

So because the list is getting really big i decided to start watching those series with not many episodes and Psychic Explorer
was the ideal start as it is really short.

What i didn't expect when i hit play was to be immersed so deep into those little stories.
Additionally,the scenario of each ep is based on a true story.Sad but true.

Domestic Violence.Mental and Physical Abuse.DID,Suffering and pain.Anything,just name it. Broken people trying to take themselves back,to heal their souls,evaluate life again and finally be stronger through psychological counseling.
The synopsis is pretty accurate,with each episode visualize each case.

Direction,Cinematography and acting,everything was really good.I didn't pay attention to music,to be honest.

Exceptional concept and execution.This short series is a real hidden gem,easily beats some overrated long-winded Dramas.
The moral at the end of each episode is really precious.

Take my advice.You can't afford to miss it.

P.s The dubbed thing in most CDramas is a fact i cannot change,so i don't care.

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What a lovely surprise this Series was!

A Mature BL all the way.
And when i say "mature" i don't mean nudity,hot kiss scenes and spicy sex scenes.Don't get me wrong i love all these,lol,but this is not the point here!
A complete,concentrated story within only 7 episodes of 20 mins each!
This is how Bls should be.
Unlike many others with 12 or so hourly eps dragging out everything with unnecessary fillers,lousy dialogues and too much Drama.

They managed to make an interesting story,to create the two main characters in such depth,to give us a nice plot,a real look into troubles ,struggles,fears and hopes of normal working people,without anything felt out of the top.

And all these with the right dose of fluffiness',the eye candy main leads,few really sweet kisses which didn't seem fake and an adorable way to show love and affection.
No childish behavior.Not unnecessary awkwardness while holding hands.Everything felt natural as expected to be when you are inlove.

Did i wish this to be longer?Yes of course!I wanted to see more of their daily life in their own new company.More interactions with coworkers and friends and all this.But still iam more than happy and satisfied with those 7 little cute eps.And iam looking forward to more projects like this in the future.Iam glad Korea starts to take seriously the BL Genre.

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This one is much better than most people think.

It was a Fun and Light Ride

Ok let me start by saying i have my fair dose of Bl Dramas.And i like any type.When it comes to BLs iam not that picky.Most of them are about school/Uni love and after watching many , the story and the plot all seems one and the same.The details,differ them,like actors and their skills,direction,production,etc.

Ofc iam always excited when a fresh BL comes out with a compelling story and interesting chars.And no,Tonhon Chonlatee,is not one of them.It belongs to the left pile among with dozens of other similar Bls.But that is totally fine with me,as long as i have fun and i was entertained while watching.

I was way too sceptical to start this.The reason is obvious.The really bad rating and reviews made me postponed this for a very long time.But because i know myself at the end iam not discouraged by all the bad comments and i gave this a try to form my own opinion.My testimony?
This one was more funny and enjoyable than some other "highly rated" BLs out there.
It was the perfect choice for a relaxed weekend,without much thinking and seriously, with a good laugh.It was exactly what i needed and Tonhon Chonlatee didn't fail me.

Yes most likely i will forget all about it in a week or so,but i had so much fun watching it,i laughed a lot and i fond of all the characters.
Nothing is exceptional here.From production and direction,music and acting,everything was pretty decent.And that was enough for me not to drop it.I said when it comes to BLs im not that choosy,but hey, i still have my standards!Lol!

And believe me i have watched many 8+ rated which were the hell way too worse than this very poorly 7 rated one.Is not a masterpiece.Is not the perfect BL you can find.You will not find strong messages and rebellious characters willing to change the world by their actions.

Take it as it is.A light,funny comedy,with a cute romance between handsome guys,and a small dose of the necessary melodrama. A bitchy annoying ex-girlfriend,homophobic parents and an asshole "i hate gays" main lead.Sounds too familiar,right?So why all those negative reviews,like noone has ever watched another BL similar to this with the same problematic characters,the same angst and the same "i don't like men,i like you" trope??Why all got so surprised like was the first time we encounter same topics? In my opinion it doesn't deserve all this hate.Don't get me started by comparing story and acting with some "Great Hits" which comes to my mind right now.And,there are many...Obviously iam not imposing my opinion to anyone.

I stand for my opinion,though.I loved the most the secondary couple.Ai and Nai were absolutely hilarious,couldn't stop laughing every time they were on screen.Pang was a good and supportive friend to Chon.Na, was another great character and although his screen time was too limited he made the difference and i wish his role was bigger.This kind of characters always are memorable.As for Chon's Mother!What to say!Pure gold!She was there to balance Ton's father.Homophobic,yes!But why everyone was upset by this character,i really don't get it.Iam not saying being homophobic is the right attitude,jeez,ofc not.But don't forget he is a parent and as a parent he normally wanted to have grandkids.And Ton-right or wrong-never gave the impression to his parents that he is into men.I mean c'mon he didn't even admit this to himself.So "hating" Dad's char is not reasonable.
(and without spoiling too much the last episode turned all the wrongs into rights!)

We are not living in the perfect world and i don't like to watch perfect characters in Dramas too.Unfortunately Homophobia is a fact.Look around you.We are far from Utopia,iam afraid.It would be great if everyone accepted everyone's differences.
It would be awesome if homophobic parents/brothers/relatives/friends and co-workers did not exist..As i said ..Utopia.

As for the story itself and the course it took at some point,If i had to blame someone here,this would be Ton and only him.He should had admitted his own feelings sooner.He should had treated Chon differently and not trying to make him act "manly"He shouldn't had kissed that crazy bitch,causing so many misunderstandings.

But on the other hand if none of these ever happened how the strory would progress?I too often read complains about many Dramas,any Genre,about the story and how the plot goes.Iam not a writer but what is inside their head is not always messy and lame,lol.We as viewers must understand that most of the time everything happens for a reason.Iam not the kind of viewer who wants to go from point A to point Z too fast.I can take annoying and irritating plot-line,dislikeable characters and surreal incidents when helps the story to go on.Iam not reffering to this one,just a general comment.

Many were over thinking and over analyzing the story here.I mean ok,nobody wants to watch BS and surely we don't want the writers to underestimate our intelligence.But as i already said,take it as it is.A funny and light BL comedy.Why everything has to be sooooo serious especially in this Genre?There are other genres with a serious and heavy plot and there iam way too strict and i do criticize a lot when iam not satisfied with the plot.I got myself into BLs mostly because it is a light watch and not so demanding.Ofc there are serious BLs with great messages,unique story,character development and so on.And Tonhon Chonlatee from the very first episode didn't take itself too serious,giving the right vibe to the viewer of what to expect.At least this is how i interpreted it.

Iam sorry this review is too long.Its because i have the tendency to defend Dramas when i like them and especially when my opinion is totally opposite of the majority!

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One of the Best.. Job done so right!

Ladies & Gentlemen,this is how you make a good Time Travel Drama.Back from 2013 but still such an interesting and unique story.I believe the Genre Fans like myself,will definetely enjoy this.

Music was well chosen and some songs back from the 90's brought memories.Was a nostalgic feeling,so no complains about this factor.Never covered the scenes or the emotions,had the right dose.Sometimes too mild but still a fit.

Acting was decent.Nothing super wow about everyone's performances.Not bad,just good.Tbh,i was a bit annoyed by Ml's acting especially the lack of facial expressions,or better say he has always a very cold face and look.I wanted him to be more emotional and to show it in a more dramatic way. But the story took over for me so i passed it.

Also Direction and Cinematography wasn't something special.But don't forget is an old Drama so i don't really bother.

Time Traveling is always an appealing theme and i think we all wished at some point in our lives to have a machine to take us back to our past to correct or change things we have done wrong.(Although if i had this machine i would love to witness historical events rather than change my life,lol)

I said the story is kinda unique,well as unique as it can be especially for someone who watches similar dramas too often.But what i really liked in Nine was the fact that the device of the Time Travel was actually a visible object.The Burning incenses and not some vague idea/theory which just happens and turns the protagonists lives upside down!

Always and forever fan of THE Delorean!You know you will travel by using a car.Here is the incenses.And this travel happens upon the main lead's will and not drag him back to his past without a notice!

I also liked his faults and the mistakes he did several times while he was using the incenses.Those objects didn't come with a manual and it would be stupid if the Ml had done all right in his very first attempt of going back.I mean yes i was upset every time he made a mess and instead of fixing things made them worse.But this was the right way for the story to go on.

Another great detail was the fact that others than the protagonist carrying the memories from the past,even if this past had altered several times.That was something new or at least you do not find it too often in Time Travel dramas.And i was pleasantly surprised because i loved the fact the Ml had so much help from his best friend who firstly believed in his crazy story of being able to travel back to the past and secondly he had the memories to back him up every time things went downhill.

I have to say here that their friendship is one of the strongest and sweet things about this Drama.The Doc is the best friend anyone wish to have.As a woman the only thing i really-really envy about Men is their bond and the strong friendships they can hold through the years.

As for the Romance,iam glad it wasn't heavy or dragged too much.It was essential for the story,the Ml changed few things because of love(not that this ended pretty well for him at some point,lol)and for my taste it was tolerable!Not forget to mention the "real" kisses which was a plus!Actually ive noticed that older Dramas always has nice and real kisses comparing to newest.Oh well,it is what it is and when i see good screen kisses iam always excited!

The Fl char,as always,got into my nerves with her childish attitude.Not to mention her looks too!The actress looked so young like a kid it was a bit awkward see her kissing the handsome ML!I had to check their real ages and i was shocked to find out the Ml is only one year older than her!Great genes,you girl!

Obviously the story itself is the best thing about this drama,with actors, characters and all the rest just supporting it,the best possible way.Suspense and tension in high levels.Kept me wondering what will happen next and how this mess is going to be fixed.
The common "paradox" of not being able to occupy the same space with your past self doesn't apply here,so this made things more easy and smooth for the storyline.

Another positive aspect is that Ml does not see things just black or white.He often walks in the forbidden grey areas,being selfish and arrogant,being impulsive and sentimental.It is a well written character with many flaws and occasionally not the perfectly perfect altruistic man.He cares about the people he loves and try to protect them but is human too,sometimes choosing his own hapiness over others'.I have a soft spot on this kind of characters.

Clichés,few flaws and some draggy parts,still here.But nothing to annoy you and make you feel like wasting your time(unlike other related dramas,see "365: Repeat the Year"im sorry that one left me with a very bad taste,lol)


As for the ending..Choose what you like to believe.Write your own script.Use your imagination and give the protagonists the life you want.Everything is inside your head.Everything is possible.Make it happen.Or not!

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For Book Lovers!

A Books' related Drama?Yes please.Sign me in!Sounded a very unique and interesting story and as usual the Mystery Genre lured me in immediately.
My very first thought was "Inkheart" and i wished to find the same "magic" even without the fantasy element.

Well the title couldn't be more obvious!And i loved the use of the Greek word "Biblia" which of course means books.I think this is the third Japanese Drama with references to Greece(either Mythology or words)Just a fine touch to me.

Direction was interesting and smart,gave the right vibes.
Music was just ok.IMO it didn't really fit the mood of this Drama.It was way too "modern" and most of the time with too much beat.I wanted more nostalgic and old fashioned music themes!But is just my personal opinion and taste.

The first episode was quite slow but gave fully the whole idea of the Drama,introducing us to the main characters,the main concept and the pace as well.And yes,it has a slow pace,FYI.

A lovely and shy sweet girl who loves books and she runs a Second-hand Bookstore.Her deduction methods and skills are amazing!

An accidental customer who doesn't love reading books but had to visit the store to find out about his grandmother's book collection.

The strange and practically stranger old man who also owns a bookstore and shares the same roof with the FL,completes the trio team.

And more or less this is how this journey starts.
The first impression was a heartwarming feeling because i know exactly how it feels to lose yourself inside the pages of a book.It was almost like i was smelling that unique and exhilarating smell.Old or new books,all excites me the same!

Each episode has a story to tell and a mystery to be solved behind this story.And that is exactly what our main leads do.Solving mysteries,comforting and healing souls too!
The Mystery is not heavy and is definitely not a Crime Drama.But it has its own appeal especially if you are a book lover.

-Side Note:For Non Asians like me,most of the time it was really hard to follow with the book titles mentioned in the drama,the authors and all these,just because almost all references were upon Japanese literature.Iam sorry but iam completely clueless.-

There are not thrilling moments,not much of suspense either and the mystery plot is not exactly what we say engaging.Is ok not to binge-watch it.(although i did)
It is a quiet,slow and sweet drama,mostly about human relationships and how books can somehow bring people together.A nice and kinda unique story,well executed.If any of those details sound interesting to you,you can give it a try.Is more a slice of life than mystery so watch the first episode to decide whether you are into it or not.

P.s. I liked it so i gave an 8.But being strictly objective,if you are not interested in books at all,this could be a 5!

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This Drama will scar you!

It is a Masterpiece from the Past.
Everything about it is Dark.And I LOVED every scene,every line,every piece of music and every character no matter how shady,rotten and troubled was.First episode,just few minutes in it and..Oh Heavens!Do i hear The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black??? And the Classic Rocks continues!I had fallen so hard i can't go back since!

As i have been watching Asian Dramas for only 2 years iam practically a newbie.I always check the new releases and relatively new Dramas but iam getting too excited when i find old Dramas,older than 2015,that get my attention enough to start watching them.And Karamazov no Kyodai is one of them.And God,iam so glad i did!

Always iam a bit worried about old Dramas.Mostly about the technicalities,the quality of the production,etc.Although when the story and acting is good,i can overlook and not be demanding.

Here,what a pleasant surprise!Cinematography couldn't be better to fit the Darkness of the souls.The pain and the suffering.The troubled lives our protagonists lives! I loved the faded colors in the flashbacks.The gripping music to accompany those scenes.The spooky crows!So E.A.Poe! The "photo shoot" scenes!So artistic! The narrative is superb!From the flashbacks to the present day and back to memory lane not a single dull moment.Nothing is confusing either,regarding the plot line.Is a journey from past to present full of autumn colors and painful memories.The gloomy atmosphere in this Drama is amazing! Perfection meets perfection!Directors,,cinematographers and the crew who chose all the music songs and themes.Great job you all!

As for the acting... The Brothers.I felt i was somewhere in a corner very close, watching them,feeling what they feel,being angry with their anger,being emotionally and physically in pain,suffering with them.I felt i was their little sister,unable to help them,just witnessing their lives.The Father.A true monster with black soul, behind the closed and opened doors!A scary character,made me feel uneasy.The definition of realistic acting!

Profound conversations and dialogues with depth between the brothers reveals piece by piece their characters,brings in surface all their hidden fears,their struggles and their hopes.You will not find even one single lame line here.

Is it a Sin to hate your own father and want him dead?Does this necessarily makes you a bad person?Can we that easily finger point and have a selectively morality?
I asked myself all those questions while watching.Sometimes it was hard to answer.Some others it was really easy.One thing is for sure.We all have a good and an evil side.We all have our inner Demons.Is up to us to feed or exorcize them.

There are so many powerful moments depicting emotions, thoughts and state of mind of the characters. The Father/Monster haunts the brothers even after his death.He is torturing them from the grave,leaving them unable to react,to gather their pieces and eventually move on.No,he is still there playing mind games and bring more pain.
I thought when i started this that all my interest would be focused on solving the mystery and find out who the killer was.That is the reason i chose this Drama in first place,because of the thriller & mystery element.I couldn't imagine that i would be so absorbed by the brothers' characters and get into their psychology.I found myself caring less and less about the actual crime and i was lost in their lives hoping to find a way to heal their broken souls,survive from their past and can finally look at a brighter future.

The 7,9 rating is not enough for this brilliant adaptation of the famous novel.Shame on me i haven't read this yet!But i definetely will.

If anyone can recommend any similar Dramas,please do so.Doesn't matter how old are they.Thank you.

Please do not skip this.You will miss the opportunity to experience such a Masterpiece.

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Too Fuss For Nothing!

This one has everything i love in a Drama.
- Time Travel
- Crime
- Serial Killer
- Mystery
...Everything.In Theory!

Because when reality strikes you, it does really hard.
Reading the synopsis and see such a high rate i got "high" myself and couldn't wait to start it.
The first episodes were good until they weren't.The story seemed interesting and i was curious how will go on.Many characters introduced and i wanted to find out what threads tie them all,what troubled lives they lived and which fate brought them together.

And i was waiting..and waiting and everything went in circles without any serious reason or without any plausible explanation. It wasn't because of the Time Loops and Resets,though.Because iam so familiar with all these and if the script is good i have endless patience. But here i started to get bored.Like really bored.And i thought wtf,this suppose to be my cup of tea.This is the kind of Drama i never get bored watching.So what happened here?Have i watched too many i lost my interest?Or maybe this is not so good written and all the characters are not so attractive?Obviously the latter.Based ofc on my personal taste and criteria.

What Twists and Turns???Not for me.I was driving in a very straight and long road and i was hoping for a pit-stop ahead but...
Suspense was forced and fake.The cliffhanger at the end of many episodes was just too unbeliavable,unrealistic and ridiculous.Giving us multiple suspects/villains just to create suspense when obviously noone would believe that "A" was the killer,to me is just poor writing.Especially when in the very next ep, plot points towards "B" just for the next ep to point suspect "C". This is not how a good story unfolds.It doesn't give chills.Just laughter.Iam sorry,this is how i felt.
I really had many expectations and none fulfilled, thats why i sound too disappointed.

In my opinion the Time Travel element most of the time was unnecessary as it really not added much to the story.It was more like garnish or side dish.This show would be more interesting if the writers focused on create an evil character,a serial killer with depth,with dark past and history ,and involve the rest characters in a cat-mouse game.I wouldn't mind some clichés,it would be better than the course this story had.The idea of Reset was promising but at the end it didn't deliver.


The writers had some scattered thoughts inside their heads.Many of them were really good and inspired.Though they failed to turn them into an intriguing story.So they gathered all those thoughts in a messy canvas and they didn't even try to put them in some reasonable order.Remained scattered and confusing.To put this simple,they took pieces from different puzzle boxes and they tried to form a picture.Is this even possible?No, with Logic Laws this is impossible!


The targeted victims of the Serial killer,normally shouldn't had anything to do with the group participated in Reset.Why should they after all? Killer clearly had no idea about the group and the Resets.He finds out only at the end.And why on earth all connected in this web which simply doesn't make any sense?Killer's urge to kill should be irrelevant.But no,writers once again realized the big flaw here and decided to give a totally lame explanation one episode before the end.As if this could save all the f*** up mess of previous episodes. The "reason" of killings is entirely opposite of the idea of a "Serial Killer" as they ended to peddle them as a necessity to justify the connections.So the killer wasn't actually a psycopath but had to kill a dozen of people just because he learnt about Reset.A bunch of crap,if you ask me!Are you confused enough? Did i mention a poor writing??Yes,i did.That is why i talked about scattered thoughts.Writers were unable to sufficiently tie them all.Squeeze all and force to make sense it doesn't help.They made me question every line,every chatacter,every scene.Even my own sanity!Simple because everything was indeed questionable!There are other Dramas when this happens is the mind-blowing factor to say they are masterpieces.Here..not even close!

I don't know if iam the weirdo here or iam too demanding.No cohesion,no flow,just mess and frustration.
I wanted dark characters with twisted minds.With hidden secrets ready to kill and die.I wanted so much more than this.

Some mysterious music ,some shady chars barely scratching the surface of the psychopath character i wanted to see as the main Villain and some "suspicious smirks" weren't enough to excite me,to give me the wow factor and keep me at the edge of my seat.
I don't mind dropping bad Dramas but i usually don't do it , just because iam way too stubborn.
And this is the only reason i finished this.Because honestly i wanted to drop it several times.I had a small hope and was waiting for the big twist,which never came.

Nothing really was in a high level to give it some points.From music to acting and from production to direction,everything was average to good.Ok few credits to Ml's acting.He saved this part and thats why i gave 8.Otherwise the rest cast didn't do a great job.
The only detail i really loved was the showcases the killer kept his trophies.Very elegant and sophisticated choice!

As for the ending..It made me laugh hard.I guess that wasn't the purpose of the Drama,though....What i took from all this was that one man was bored with his life and just wanted to have some fun.That was the reason writers gave us.

Maybe iam too strict with this but in every review i write i try to be as objective as i can and ofc iam always honest about it.
I do not discourage you and i do not prevent you from watching it as my opinion is the least popular,obviously.But if after you watch it you have similar ideas,give me few heads-up,to make me feel less lonely!

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A lot of wasted potential.

When i see Time Travel in Synopsis/ Tag, i jump in blindly.So if you are a hardcore fan like me who doesn't want to miss any related series out there,go for it.
If you are not a fan or you are just a newbie,you can skip this and choose something else,more light and less confusing.

The best parts in this Drama was production,direction and acting.For a -more or less-6 hours mini series i was highly impressed.
Nothing seemed cheap.Actors were really good and believable in their roles.
Direction was great,Seriously.I liked the slow motion scenes(you can call it my personal fetish!Lol)the overal camera use and the smooth transition between the scenes.The flow was kinda artistic.If i had to rate this separately,i would have give a 9.

As for the Music.A mysterious tune as a carpet added some suspense.But very fast turned too monotonous.
The only song plays partially in some episodes and is the main outro song.But who stays to listen the outro fully?I didn't.Thats why gave a 5,5.

As for the story.
As i said iam a hardcore fan.Ive been watching movies and series about Time Travel for over 20 years.
Yet,i sometimes had a hard time to follow everything up in this one.
Plotline was just a mess.And not the good one when at the end everything clears and make sense.No,not that kind!The bad one.
It was like an idea popped up in writer's head and after that he blacked out.Felt like he was struggling to tie things up in every episode.Unable to untangle the mess inside his head he had no other option but to finish the story ending up to be a complete mess and nonsense.The main idea became so blur,at the end everything lost focus.
In the last 2 episodes they tried to turn story deep and profound-my ass!-by adding philosophical questions about life,choices how to cooperate with grief bla bla bla.Yeah.Whatever.I didn't buy.

Obviously i do not recommend this one unless you have a goal about how many Time Travel Dramas you will watch til the end of the year!

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I Was Hooked From Start To The Very End!

I first saw Vincent Wong in Murder Diary (2021) and i loved his performance there,so i wanted to search his other work too.This is one of them.For sure he knows how to pick difficult and demanding roles.(From Dissociative Identity Disorder to a blind man role, he really did a great job)

Music:Intro/Outro both visuals and songs all beautiful.There is a song in the more intimate scenes with full English lyrics but i have no idea if is an OST or not.Anyhow all music scores was a pleasant hearing but nothing memorable.I guess i will forget all soon.

Production/Direction/Cinematography:Everything in a decent level,i wasn't excited about but for sure nothing was bad.
The flirting scenes between the Judge and..all the others are spicy but elegant.Cinematography in those scenes is too artistic.

Cast:I started this only for Vincent Wong as i never see any of the other actors.But i liked them.

Acting:Great acting from everyone.I never felt they just play a role.Acting was natural,they pulled me into their characters and that is always a plus to follow the story easily.I mean if actors perform poorly this always distract the viewer.

Characters:
The ML/Hope:Justice is Blind and so our Main Lead.Smart,witty,good looking,hot headed & stubborn ,carries alot of pain as his past wasn't easy.He seems to care only about money but don't let him fool you.Peel him like an onion and you will find he has a golden heart.He is a great friend too.He doesn't let people easily in,he keeps his distance and his circle is really small.But he is adorable,trustworthy and reliable.

The FL/Deanie:What to say about this char!For me she is the real heroine of the drama.A badass when it comes to protect her loved ones.A great friend.Her loyalty is treasure.Her devotion too.She falls and she keeps standing up.Always there beside our ML.Supporting and encouraging him without never asking for anything in return.She is the definition of Unconditionally Love(Romantic and any kind of Love too)And yes she is my favorite char among all!

The 2nd ML/Gogo:i don't understand why in the main page of the Drama they say his role is a supportive one.He is more than Main to me.
Again another excellent type of friend.He was wronged in the past,He is eager to take his revenge but with all the right means.
He is funny,sexy and playful.Almost the perfect boyfriend!!

The 2nd FL/Never the judge:Hot,beautiful,smart,brave.Another friend the team can rely on.Yes the virtue of Friendship is very strong in this Drama.And for a change here we have a female "Player"Her flirting skills are amazing as her dancing moves,lol.
She may seem "easy" but trust me she is far from it!

-Extra Credits to "Golden"Watch to find out who he/she is!!-

Story/plot.The strongest advantage of the drama is certainly the story.

This is not your typical Law Drama.And not only because the ML is a blind Lawyer,which in fact is something unique and interesting itself.but because the law cases/stories are amazing,engaging and touching.
Usually takes 2 episodes per case so the pace is good and doesn't feel boring at all.
Every story has to do with "minorities".Our Lawyer choose to defend the weak ones.Those who society sees them as outcasters.He is like a modern Robin Hood protecting and defending Human Rights.Touching,sweet and emotional stories about people the rest wrongly sees them as different.
Transgenders,Gays,Lesbians.Deaf or Blind.People with disabilities.But No.They are not different.We all are made of flesh and bones.We all have beating hearts and feelings.
And i loved that this Drama deals with such stories.It is so heartwarming.
It is not a melodrama though.The purpose here is not to feel sorry about "minorities".It has a realistic but yet a light touch as well.Any sad or harsh moments are balanced with equally sweet and funny moments.

Another thing that also outstands in the story is the dynamic and the bond of the team.Their friendship and their loyalty is priceless.They love and care for each other but they don't tell!They all pretend to be tough guys!But they are softies.The type of friends everyone wants and needs in Real Life.

In latter episodes stories/cases are mostly about our protagonists and their personal lives,which made the Drama even more exciting and interesting.

I have already fallen for this team and yes now iam so ready to start S2!

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Take the Trash Out,Please!

I just finished this one and there are no words to describe the level of my excitement.

I will not talk about technicalities,direction camera use etc.The story and the acting takes over here so the rest is meaningless.

This is a little gem but not for the faint-hearted,Is for the hardcore fans who have the stomach to endure the violent and gore story this drama tells.

I blame myself for not discovering this ealier.Iam telling you this is one of the most underrated Dramas out there.
Brilliant.Dark.Disturbing.
It has Dexter logic and vibes.
The dynamic and the bond of the team is something you don't find easily in Dramas.They are skilled assassins(3/4 of them) but not sadistic murderers.
Smoking is Family!
The acting is superb.Realistic,Brutal.
We get to know our main leads background.Their stories are deep and emotional.Their past is dark and troubled.We can feel all their pain and we can justify all their actions.

The only bad about this is that is too short.But iam sure you are going to get hooked so you will binge-watch it.
So please go watch this now.You can thank me later!

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