Cool Vibe with Boring Tropes

I have been sitting on this review for ages! While I liked the premise, the show only kept my attention because I didn't want it to be my first DNF in Kdrama land.

❤ Lee Dam annoyed me to no end. I can't tell if it was the way the actress portrayed her or the character herself that turned me off. I couldn't understand why this ancient being would be fascinated with a college girl. It certainly gave off some Goblin-esque vibes (another romance I didn't particularly love).

❤ The best part of this series is the frenemies relationship between Shin Woo Yeo and Yang Hye Sun. The two actors had chemistry and energy whether they were verbally sparring or staring coolly at each other. I'm glad their relationship never veered toward romance, but their interactions certainly showed the lack of chemistry between Woo Yeo and Lee Dam.

❤ SAVE ME FROM UNNECEESARY LOVE TRAINGLES! Why was Sun Woo even an option for Lee Dam? It's obvious from the very beginning he means nothing to her. Watching him constantly being thrust between her and Woo Yeo just slowed down the main lead's romance.

❤ The vibe and atmosphere was beautiful, particularly some of the set pieces. I wish the story had entranced me as much as the way it was shot.

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Exceptionally Executed and Performed

Hidden Love is an exceptionally executed and performed contemporary romance. Emotional, humorous, heartwarming, romantic - honestly, it evoked a ton of positive feelings and featured some incredibly swoony moments. Zhao Lusi continues to impress me with her ability to sink into her characters, making her mesmerizing onscreen. Sang Zhi's evolution from shy teenager with a crush to feisty adult willing (and able) to protect the man she loved was done to perfection. Not to be outdone was Chen Zheyuan, who convinced me 100% the amusement Duan Jiaxu felt for his friend's kid sister could transform into the love of his life. The character's progression from friends to lovers felt so genuine, authentic, and earned. I could watch it over again and again (and I intend to soon).

The romance worked so well because the two characters were dynamic individuals. They had their own careers and connections outside of the romance, but those elements never overshadowed the romance. The biggest connection between the two is Sang Yan, the best friend of Duan Jiaxu and brother to Sang Zhi. He brought a wonderful dynamic in his relationship with both of them individually and as a couple. In particular, I loved the sibling rivalry and love between him and Sang Zhi. Their interactions felt so natural that I felt like I was watching two real life siblings on-screen, not actors.

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Fascinating Characters + Intricate Storytelling

The Untamed is a phenomenal Wuxia show with an excellent cast portraying dynamic characters in an intense action adventure setting. The heart of the drama centers on Wei Wuxian, and actor Xiao Zhan plays this role to perfection. He has a certain magnetism and presence on screen that makes it hard to look away from him. He could switch from utterly charming and mischievous to devastated and tortured flawlessly. Not to be outdone, Wang Yibo was the perfect casting choice for stoic and taciturn Lan Wangji. In some ways, I would argue he had the more difficult role. He had to be both standoffish and distant, yet relatable and accessible to the audience. These two lead actors truly had amazing chemistry together, and their performances are the reason this show is still so loved today. While this connection is not explicitly depicted as BL due to China’s censorship on homosexuality, I think it deftly overcomes those restrictions to create a remarkable and loving relationship between these two men.

Found families are an important aspect of Wei Wuxian’s story, and he manages to build three distinct families over the course of the show. I loved the dynamic relationships he builds with all of them (Wen Ning! Jiang Yan Li! Wen Qing! Lan Sizhui!), but the relationship most intriguing to me was between him and his adoptive brother, Jiang Cheng. The bonds of brotherhood are explored in all of its complexity between many of the characters, and no more so than Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. The angst, love, and competitiveness these two experienced was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I cared just as much about their relationship as I did about Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji’s connection by the end of the show.

While the characters are certainly the main attraction for me, the setting and cinematography were excellent too. The locations of Lotus Pier, Cloud Recess, and Nightless City are unforgettable. These aspects paired with a beautiful OST and intriguing plotline made for a memorable show. Probably the part I enjoyed the least was the structure of the opening act. The show begins with a three minute snippet of Wei Wuxian’s death before transitioning to the present day. The story only stays in the present day for two episodes before transition to an extended 30+ episode count of backstory. The backstory is certainly important to establishing the characters, story, and setting. However, I think starting the story with the backstory would have been less confusing than sandwiching it between the present day. I love when these sweeping sagas allow time for a well done epilogue, and The Untamed delivered big time. All of the plot points are tidily resolved and the characters (er, those still left alive) are given proper send-offs.

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Unhealthy Relationships

There is no other way to say it - I HATED Love and Redemption. My biggest issue was the lack of agency given to Zhu Xuan Ji by almost every male character in the show. I expect the main antagonist to manipulate her actions - it's the Big Bads main purpose after all. However, I did not expect such problematic behavior from her love interest. Most of the later half of the show is driven by Cheng Si Feng refusing to be open and honest with Zhu Xuan Ji. He doesn't tell her about the love curse; he doesn't tell her about his demon lineage; he flat out lies about his identity upon realizing she is the Devil Star; and he misleads her into thinking he is in love with someone else to keep her at a distance once they reunite after two years. All of these lies are in the name of "protecting her," but it essentially amounted to him making decisions for her and their relationship. Why is it I have more confidence in her ability to handle these issues rather than the man who is in love with her (and has followed her through ten lifetimes)?

Homegirl defended him ad nauseum before officially denouncing him. Even when he was openly antagonistic toward her, she would beg him to explain his motives. You cannot make me believe for one second she would have not listened to him with the amount of love and trust she placed in him. She held on from doubting him for far longer than I would have. Even worse was the way his friends talked smack about her behind her back. "How could she doubt you..." Bitch, please. Everyone, INCLUDING HIM, was telling her he was a bad guy. If you're going to criticize and judge her actions, let's side eye the guy who is deliberately misleading her and keeping her at a distance.

Not to be outdone, her father threatens to commit suicide and actually does bodily injure himself if she did not capitulate to his request to break up with her main squeeze. Or how about all the times Hao Chen bullied, threatened, and manipulated her (over and over and over again)? Watching this poor girl constantly not being given any agency in her own story was heartbreaking. I was rooting for her to just walk away from them all and go adventuring with her bestest support spirit animal, Teng She. At least when he tried to manipulate her, she could see through his actions.

I also disliked most of the relationships and romances on the show. Honestly, they were just so unhealthy. Yu Si Feng was obsessed with Zhu Xuan Ji; Hao Chen was obsessed with Zhu Xuan Ji; Lu Yan Ran was obsessed with Yu Si Feng; and Zi Hu was obsessed with Wu Zi Qi. My least favorite was Lu Yan Ran, who did nothing but complain the entire length of the show about how much she hated Zhu Xuan Ju and loved Yu Si Feng. The only romance I supported was between Zhu Ling Long and Zhong Min Yan. Their love and relationship struggles were truly heartbreaking. The scene where Zhu Ling Long attempts to commit suicide was one of the best depictions of how trauma can warp our sense of self. It took her a long time to process the abuse and rape she experienced, but it was done in a realistic and authentic way.

This review is certainly long and perhaps overly nitpicky. Perhaps my tastes are just to rich after watching The Starry Love, Love Between Fairy and Devil, and The Untamed. But I wouldn't be as nearly upset if it had a sub par cast or story. It had all of the elements to make something great, and yet it was such a messy and convoluted story. The one thing I truly liked about it was the thirty minute epilogue. Many of these shows skip over this section, which can be truly disappointing since we spent 40+ hours of our lives investing in these characters.

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Frustrating & Fragmented

I found myself more frustrated than entertained by Suspicious Partners. While it has some great elements, the overall story felt a little too fragmented to be enjoyable.

❤ The leads have great chemistry together. This show works best when they are on screen solving crimes and being cute. Unfortunately, they spend a LOT of this drama in a "will-they-wont-they" situation. While I didn't mind it at first, it got overly tedious by the end of the series. It does have some of the best kiss scenes if you're looking for a bit more spicy than sweet in your romance.

❤ The supporting cast had phenomenal actors filled with interesting stories. However, some of their stories didn't have a satisfying payoff by the end of the series.

❤ If you love "frenemies", then you have come to the right place! Most of the friendships between the younger characters are all about how they loathed, yet leaned, on each other. It was one of the better executed elements of the story.

❤ While the plot was interesting, it tended to be a little too dramatic and overly complicated. I think a shorter run-time would have tightened up some of the plot holes.

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Cute Yet Forgettable

After hearing so much praise for this rom-com, I saved it for a rainy day when I needed a good pick me up. While I liked certain aspects of it, the show failed to really capture my heart.

❤ The romance between weightlifter Kim Bok Joo and swimmer Jung Joo Hyeong was really sweet. It's not my favorite friends-to-lovers romance (that award still goes to Fight For My Way), but it does capture a certain charm and innocence of the falling in love experience.

❤ While I liked Bok Joo and Joo Hyeong's friends when they were together as a unit, I never felt that we got enough of their backstory to make them truly memorable as individuals. The actors in those roles were great so it's disappointing feeling like they were as much in the background as the scenery sometimes. The few secondary characters actually fleshed out in the show, such as Song Shi Ho and Jong Jae Yi, failed to deliver riveting performances.

❤ The athletic setting and storyline were interesting. Rarely do I watch sports shows (even if it does have a well-developed romance). This show did a great job of explaining the nuances of the training occurring and the effects it had on the athletes without overexplaining it.

Watch if you like: ? Friends-to-lovers romance | ? College students | ?️ Athletes

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Hilarious And Heartbreaking

The Starry Love is an intricately layered xianxia full of dynamic characters, swoony romances, and hilarious hijinks. Yetan and QingKui, the sisters at the heart of this story, are distinctive women each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Despite being raised in different environments and with different expectations placed on them, their love and loyalty to each other is strong. Every scene with them brought joy to my heart, no matter the dire (or not so dire) circumstances. While the romances are the driving force for much of the series, it’s these two sister’s connection that makes the story work so well.

The opposites attract trope defines the romances between each sister and their subsequent love interests. Yetan, Void Princess To Be, and Xuan Shang, Empyrean of the Heavenly Realm, are given the most screen time in the series. It’s totally deserved because these two shine together, whether they are at odds or in synch. The actors had wonderful range together with the ability to hit both emotional moments and crazy hijinks. While less screen time is devoted to QingKui, Empyean Consort To-Be, and Chaofeng, the Void’s Third Prince, the same energy and connection is as present. All of these characters grow over the course of the story as they overcome the trials and tribulations together and separately.

It’s rare for me to find an ensemble story where I care about both main and side characters equally, but it happened with this series. I love the found family both sisters discover over the course of the story. Some of my favorite scenes occur between Yetan and her posse of friends (Bestie Man-man, Beast Prince Di Lan Ju, Heavenly Princess Zi Wu, and Heavenly Prince Qing Heng). In the Void realm, the relationship the Third Prince has with his right hand man is comedic gold. The two are like brothers, both egging each other on and yet standing by each other’s side no matter the circumstances. If anything, I wish the void side characters had a bit more depth to really round out the characters and realms as a whole.

Despite the phenomenal cast and intricate plot, the series failed to deliver an impactful finale. It’s not the first xianxia I’ve seen that puts the littlest bow on a sweeping saga. Whether the ending is happy or sad, the audience deserves a longer moment to reflect on the characters and their story than the 5 minute wrap-up I’ve seen with most of these shows. The ending is overall hopeful, but it’s dissatisfying to be told rather than shown the results with a tidy little monologue. Other than that small quibble, I really loved this story and I look forward to revisiting this series in the future.

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Beautiful Family Drama

Much of this drama focuses on Cheng Shaoshang as she attempts to navigate her future without compromising her ideals or passions. Zhao Lusi’s performance once again establishes her ability to display a multifaceted character with tons of layers. She was utterly transformative as Shaoshang transitioned from uncouth youth to reserved royalty. Shaoshang is very much defined by her interactions with others. Probably the most interesting relationships outside of her romances is her connection to her mother and the Empress. In one, she finds antagonism and disproval; in another unconditional love and support. That’s not to say both don’t love her, but her relationships are so complex as they encounter her at different stages in her life. I love this detailed look at the many ways family, both the ones we are born into and the ones we choose, make a person change and adapt in extraordinary ways.

I thought the show would focus more on the romance, but it truly does not start between the leads until the second half of the series. The first half certainly does an excellent job setting up their future, particularly Ling Buyi’s growing interest and love for Shaoshang. Leo Wu, who plays Ling Buyi, truly has a talent for showing so many emotions with just a glance. Since much of his performance is austere and ridged, his eyes had to do a lot of heavy lifting. He and Lusi had so much tension and chemistry as Buyi and Shaoshang. Once their romance blossoms, it’s hard to look away. That said, I also enjoyed the other short romances she has with Yuan Shen and Lou Yao. While they hold no candle to Buyii, I could certainly see the different facets brought out of her by their characters.

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Beautiful Family Drama

Much of this drama focuses on Cheng Shaoshang as she attempts to navigate her future without compromising her ideals or passions. Zhao Lusi’s performance once again establishes her ability to display a multifaceted character with tons of layers. She was utterly transformative as Shaoshang transitioned from uncouth youth to reserved royalty. Shaoshang is very much defined by her interactions with others. Probably the most interesting relationships outside of her romances is her connection to her mother and the Empress. In one, she finds antagonism and disproval; in another unconditional love and support. That’s not to say both don’t love her, but her relationships are so complex as they encounter her at different stages in her life. I love this detailed look at the many ways family, both the ones we are born into and the ones we choose, make a person change and adapt in extraordinary ways.

I thought the show would focus more on the romance, but it truly does not start between the leads until the second half of the series. The first half certainly does an excellent job setting up their future, particularly Ling Buyi’s growing interest and love for Shaoshang. Leo Wu, who plays Ling Buyi, truly has a talent for showing so many emotions with just a glance. Since much of his performance is austere and ridged, his eyes had to do a lot of heavy lifting. He and Lusi had so much tension and chemistry as Buyi and Shaoshang. Once their romance blossoms, it’s hard to look away. That said, I also enjoyed the other short romances she has with Yuan Shen and Lou Yao. While they hold no candle to Buyii, I could certainly see the different facets brought out of her by their characters.

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Excellent Xianxia with Charming Leads

Friends, I am OBSESSED with this show. While it featured many familiar character archetypes (sweet and innocent female lead; cold and obsessive male lead; boy next door secondary lead; bitchy friend jealous of female lead; etc.), the way they were written and portrayed was refreshingly unique. Donfang’s character arc is utterly transformative as he transitions from unfeeling dictator to a meltingly loving romantic partner, and Dylan Wang delivered a performance of a lifetime. Not to be outdone, Esther Yu shined as she went from naïve fairy to composed regality. The range these two actors had, and the chemistry between them, was literal gold. I can't imagine these roles portrayed by any one else.

The secondary cast of characters were just as wonderfully complex as the main leads. The secondary male lead was perfect as the foil to the main love story. I loved him despite not wanting him to end up with the female lead. This show also had some of the best morally grey characters. Even when these characters were doing something morally wrong or problematic, I always understood the reasons behind their madness. Additionally, the general production and scope of the show was also done so well. The action sequence were tense, the cinematography gorgeous, and the camera shots interesting. I adored the OST - its sweeping and romantic score is something I could listen to every day.

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Bewitching and Moody

I'm not sure I can express the amount of love I have for these characters and this story, but I'll give it a try.

❤ The main trio - Moon Kang Tae, Moon Sang Tae, and Go Mu Young - are utterly fascinating, multifaceted, and dynamic characters. Each of their character arcs were meaningful and satisfying. The actors deserve every single award in the universe for their performances.

❤ This had one of the most satisfying conclusions I can think of in k-drama history. I felt the story came full circle with each character earning their ending.

❤ Mental health, trauma, and disabilities are a large part of this drama. While it can make for some uncomfortable and exhausting moments watching these characters grow, their journeys felt authentic and realistic.

❤ The vibe of the show - from the OST to the cinematography - is moody and bewitching. It was like watching a twenty hour gothic novel come to life.

❤ It certainly has some campy storylines and characters that could prove too much for some, but it did not take away from my enjoyment.

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Cute & Short BL Romance

When computer science major Choo Sang-woo calls out Department of Design's Jang Jae-young for not helping him with a class project, Jae-young decides to get even by making his life a living hell. This was a really cute and short LGBTQ romance - 30 minutes long with eight episodes total. The actors had a ton of chemistry with plenty of fun banter and sweet romantic moments. They have their fair share of miscommunication, like any other show in the romance genre, but it never detracted from their story. I adored the friendships they have (or develop) throughout the story. While I would have liked it to be a tad longer to flesh out some of the story or characterization, I do appreciate that it didn’t overstay its welcome. If you ever have an afternoon free and you are looking for an opposites-attract romance with semi-steamy skinship, this show may just be what you ordered!

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Gritty & Violent AIW Retelling

While I have never been an Alice in Wonderland fan (not of the book or any of the retellings), I decided to give this show a shot because it reminded me of The Hunger Games and Battle Royal. The gritty setting and horror elements were truly the best part of the series. The further Arisu descended into the rabbit hole, the more explicit the violence become. I never felt the violence was gratuitous for shock value, but served as an immersive experience for both the characters and audience alike. While the show certainly put its characters into interesting survival and moral quandaries, I felt rather ambivalent about the character's fates. I'm not sure if my detachment stemmed from the genre itself (don't get too connected to the characters because they could all die at any moment) or if it was from a storytelling perspective. I'm not sure I would rewatch this series, but I certainly will give the second season a try.

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Fun and Breezy Romantic Comedy

At ten episodes around 45 minutes long, it’s a quick and fun ride. I almost think this drama would have benefited from one or two more episodes as the conclusion to the two main love stories felt a little too rushed to make for a satisfying ending. Nam King-ho and Yeo Mi-ran have a typical romance with some nice skinship scenes, but their romance didn’t feel fully fleshed out by the end of the series. Even less so was the romance between Do Won-jun and Shin Na-eun. What did the second leads really like about each other besides them being hot? No clue, friends.

While the romances were enjoyable, the true intimate connections were felt between the main leads and their best friends. Teo Yoo and Hi-hoon Kim had insane chemistry together, and the story points this out with plenty of romantic beats between the two. It’s queer baiting for laughs and giggles, which is a bit disappointing. It could have so easily made for a contemporary and fun BL romance. Mi-ran and Shin Na-eun also had a kindred spirit connection that felt genuine and heartfelt. I always enjoy a good sismance and bromance, which this show did well. It was fun and quick so I have no complaints, but I'm not sure it was all that memorable.

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Steamy Romantic Comedy

I’m not going to lie - I adore skinship. I love the hand holding, the sweet and/or steamy kisses, and the all encompassing hugs. When I looked up the best Asian dramas to find the most skinship, Lost Romance was the first on everyone’s list. It does indeed have it all, including a sensual and explicit love scene between the leads. He Tianxing/Situ Aoran and Zheng Xiao'en, as played by Marcus Chung and Vivian Sung, were on fire from the moment they met. Their witty banter, comedic timing, and instant chemistry made it easy to root for them in both the fictional and real world. Their fictionalized selves were over the top and exaggerated, which made for a nice contrast to their more reserved and introspective real world selves. The gradual connection they developed over the course of the show felt natural and genuine.

While I adored the main leads so much, it was hard to not to fall in love with second lead Duanmu Qingfeng. He very much encompasses the archetypal “nice guy to his egotistical best friend” role, but he truly made for a memorable and swoony second lead. The other supporting fictional characters in the novel, whether friend or foe to the main leads, made for a fun and memorable ride. The only characters and story that fell flat for me was the real world dramedy occurring with He Tianxing’s family. The tone and plot of this story felt too tonally different and disconnected from the breezy, if somewhat silly, fictional world.

The story is very much a spoof on the romantic comedy genre. It excels at making fun of popular romantic tropes in the beginning and ending of the series, but it does fall into its own trap during the middle section. I didn’t mind this digression too much. Considering I love the romance genre, I enjoyed the two leads become a part of the tapestry of the novel rather than remaining outside of it. However, I could see some viewers enjoying these parts less than the rest of the series. I also appreciated that the story attempted to tie together the real and fictionalized worlds. Several of these “story within story” shows* do a poor job of giving a proper ending to both storylines, but this show did both in an interesting and unique way.

The OST and directing were outstanding. I could watch this show and listen to the soundtrack over and over again. However, my biggest issue is Zheng Xiao'en wardrobe. I didn’t mind the muted tones or cozy look, but the shape and style of the clothes looked terrible on her. It was even more noticeable compared to the rest of the female cast, especially He Tianxing’s sister. Was this design choice to illustrate her as more chaste? To show her roots in romance? Who knows. I was also extremely sad the cute promos they played between scenes were not in the actual show. I wanted to see the two acting cutesy with cupcakes!

** I’m looking at you, The Romance Between Tiger and Rose

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