A light and fun drama about the common folks. Follow the leads journey of love and growth.

Completed - 5/30/2022

“The Lady in the Butcher’s House” might not be a masterpiece, but it brought me joy with its comedic moments throughout the drama. But in order to truly enjoy this drama, you can’t take it too seriously. Also know that our FL might come off as crude and violent in the first few episodes. Many commented on her hitting her husband, and that is true. If the role is reversed and her husband is hitting her, we would be crying foul and calling the police. If you can move past this, you will be rewarded with a heartwarming and funny drama, and witness how this couple complement and support each other through good times and bad times.

Acting is decent overall. I recently watched Baby Zhang in “Delicious Romance” as a 30-year sophisticated, divorced woman, so it took me a few episodes to get used to her character here as a loud, a little violent tomboy. I do think she does a pretty good job acting as a teenager and growing to be a wife. On the other hand, I never would have recognized Tong Meng Shi as Uncle Wu in “Joy of Life”. I really like his portrayal of a timid husband, weak scholar and a just official. He is also hilarious with so many embarrassing scenes.

I enjoy stories about commoners and how they live through their everyday struggles.. Although this drama still has a subplot about court officials and the royal family, the majority of the drama is about our main couple’s journey. We follow them as they grow closer to each other, falling in love and working hard and supporting each other. They might be different on the outside, but they have the same values and ethics, and complement each other. They make for a very fun couple to watch. Although there are many comedic moments, mainly from Xu Qing Jia, there are also many heartwarming scenes. They have a rough start as a contract married couple, but they have very honest and open communication, and are there to support each other. Along the way, they make new friends, start up new businesses and save and help fellow commoners.

When you look at the romances/relationships in this drama, you will notice a role reversal here. The women in this drama are smart and strong. They are go-getters, savvy business women and often take the lead in their relationships. The men, on the other hand, are shy and quiet, and don’t know how to respond to their women’s advances or teasing. Actually, all the women in this drama are pretty independent and smart.

As much as I enjoy this show, I do have to say the plot and storylines are quite predictable. This could be a comfortable watch, or one that is lacking excitement/twists and turns. The pacing is pretty good in the first ⅔ of the drama, but it slows down a little in the last ⅓. There are some plot holes but they do not affect the main storylines. I would have loved to see more on how the second leads fall in love. I was told that they are attracted to each other but I wasn’t shown how. I also wonder how our female lead, who is only a butcher’s daughter, is so business savvy that she knows so much about tea and medicine to open different businesses. I thought she only knows about pigs.

Other Random Observations:
1. Love the animated opening theme.
2. Love the way ML looks at FL.
3. Putting a black covering over a rooster’s head? Genius and Hilarious! (PETA, don’t hate me).
4. No annoying character is a big plus.
5. Decent music and not overplayed

Read More

A visually beautiful drama

Completed - 5/3/2022 - 8.25

"The Blue Whisper Part 1" is a visually stunning production with good CGI and a good-looking cast. It's a very pretty drama. We've seen many xianxia dramas in recent years that have a very toned down color palette with a lot of white and light colored costumes and scenery. However, this drama brings back the colors into the xianxia world. And it's really pretty to watch and makes you go ooh and ahh over the beautiful sceneries, costumes and CGI.

However, I have to say the plastic 6-pack torso that Allen Ren has is really distracting in a bad way. Pictures of that have circled around the internet and caused quite an uproar, and it's a totally justified uproar. I just can't ignore that. Luckily, this plastic torso retired after a couple episodes and what's left is Allen Ren's handsome face. I think he looks best visually in this drama. This wig fits him really well, with his hair down. And of course, the always beautiful Dilraba looks fantastic here as well.

Acting wise, both of our leads did a pretty good job. Disclaimer: I am NOT a big fan of Dilraba. She has been in similar roles before, the cute and outgoing girl that everyone loves. I can't say her acting is bad, but it meets my expectations. Disclaimer again: I AM a fan of Allen Ren. I love his expressive, big eyes. They speak to me and are able to show all his emotions, esp. in the first few episodes when he couldn't speak. You can see him change from the innocent Chang Yi to becoming the General of the North.

Plot wise, I do like the story of demon masters and their servant demons. At least, it's something different, and we don't have to deal with the three realms, as in other xianxia drama. However, that doesn't mean we could get away from the noble sacrifices of our characters, all in the name of love. I didn't check the tag, so I was not aware that 'misunderstanding' is one of them. Misunderstandings and noble sacrifices seem to go hand-in-hand quite a bit in xianxia dramas. The pacing of the drama is not bad. I did feel it slow down at Ep 9 or 10, but the story picked up in the last third of the drama. I do wish there are more fight scenes throughout the 22 episodes. I understand this is not a wuxia drama, so I wasn't expecting excellent fight choreography. There's just more talking than fancy fighting here.

The drama also has a few beautiful songs. They are not overplayed and not loud enough to drown out the dialogs. I think my favorite song is Zhou Chen's 鲛人之歌 (Mermaid's song).

At the end of Part 1, I have a somewhat lukewarm impression of this drama. It's not bad, but also not the best. Thus, I give it a 8.25 (B grade) rating. Just not enough to cross the 8.5 (B+) mark, based plainly on my personal enjoyment.

Read More

Watch it if you have doubts about Yang Yang's acting

Completed - 4/29/2022 - 9.25 rating
(minor spoilers at the end of the review)

“The Glory of Special Forces” is one of the few realistic military dramas and it follows the character and career development of a young, self-centered, genius soldier, to become an outstanding team captain of the Special Forces. Just reading the synopsis, it seems like any other military story. But this drama excels in its amazing acting performance by everyone, esp. Yang Yang, and the high production value and realistic portrayal of the military. It’s not a perfect drama for me, because I have mixed feelings about the last 5 episodes which I will discuss at the end of the review with minor spoilers.

What I Enjoy:

Yang Yang - If it wasn't for Yang Yang, I would not have watched this drama. I have seen my fair share of YY dramas. He melted my heart in “Love O2O” and “You are my Glory” as the amazing boyfriend. I’ve also enjoyed his cool, calm and collected personality in “The Four” and finally a funnier side of him in “The King’s Avatar”. I understand others questioning his acting. But if you are in doubt, please watch this drama. Yang Yang is AMAZING in “The Glory of Special Forces”. You can see his usual, calm and cool self, and also the pain he endured when battling the demons of a traumatic incident, losses in life and the confusion of why doing his best is just not enough. You don’t see the idol Yang Yang anymore. I see a soldier struggling to be the best, learning to believe in his teammates and being a proud member of the Special Forces.

Plot/Pacing - The pacing of this drama is excellent. Each episode is packed with action and thrilling events. 45 episodes flew by just like that. There are many mini-climaxes throughout the drama that keeps me entertained. As we follow the character and career development of Yan Po Yue (ML), I am happy to see that there’s enough progress and setbacks. The drama also deals with PTSD after a soldier’s first killing, the death of a comrade, and survivor’s guilt. Each character’s background story is compelling and different, so you get to understand what it takes for young men and women to enter and stay in the military. I do have a few criticisms about the plot which I’ll discuss later on.

Acting/Supporting Cast/Training - There is no weak link in the supporting cast. The overall acting is amazing. I am sure this is not the only military drama where actors have to train off and on camera. But through this drama, you appreciate the actors dedication to their craft and the effort they put into making every scene believable. They walk, talk, march, salute, just like a regular soldier. For most of the drama, each soldier is in armor training or completing missions. Only a very small part of the drama is when they are just hanging out and chatting. Moreover, even the teen version of the main characters look like the adults! Good casting!

Guo Xiao Xiao - I want to single out the only female main character, Guo Xiao Xiao, played by Jiang Lu Xia. GXX is such a cool and badass sniper/soldier. I realized that Jiang Lu Xia is a martial artist and it really shows. Most of the time, actresses portrayed as soldiers still don’t act soldier-like. But not GXX. Her training, missions, and fights are so realistic that could put some male actors to shame. I also really enjoy her backstory and really sympathize with her character. I am also glad she remains a good team member/comrade. No love story. Just plain friendship.

Production Value/Fight Scenes - Not sure if the drama is sponsored by the government, but to my untrained eyes, this is one of the most realistic military dramas I’ve watched. I also recently watched “Operation: Special Warfare”, which I enjoyed, but comparatively, “The Glory of Special Forces” is definitely a more realistic portrayal. On another note, I really enjoyed all the physical fight scenes, and there are quite a few in this drama. They are hardcore fights which seemed to be shot in one frame (not piece together fake fights with wide angle shots). I like the fights here more than in some wuxia dramas. Nothing seems cheap - from settings, equipment, uniform, training and missions locations.


What I have Mixed feelings about (Minor spoilers)

I think the drama might be better off ending at episode 40 when the drug cartel storyline ended. That was one big, explosive mission and was so exciting. However, the drama continues with sending the Special Forces to the academy to be trained as leaders. I understand this is the next step of career advancement. However, after the initial reluctance and dissatisfaction to learn about new military technological advances and the importance of languages, the drama does not show us how the Special Forces eventually realize and accept all these important lessons. They are quickly sent off to the international competition. The competition should be the perfect setting for the crew to appreciate lessons learned in the academy. The episodes in the academy went completely lost and went down the drain. The only thing it did is to send one soldier home, and to introduce another elite team. Oh, and also to let Li Yi Tong to show up on screen again. I read that the drama was cut short due to censorship, and I wonder if that was why those last 5 episodes felt a little off.

In these 45 episodes, most of the time was spent on training and competitions. There are actually 2 real-life missions. One about a drug dealer in the village and the big drug cartel mission. I would have loved to see more real-life missions. Maybe those were cut as well when the episode count was reduced?


Other Observations:
1. No, there is no romance and it’s not needed. This is from someone who LOVES romance. There’s enough going on to keep me entertained.
2. Yes, there are many handsome men in uniform. Eye candies galore! LOL
3. There are few songs that complement the drama well and not overplayed.
4. Don’t watch this for Li Yi Tong. She has a small role and is definitely not the female lead.
5. I do find it annoying that Leng Jing kept on mentioning Guo Xiao Xiao is a female soldier when GXX doesn’t care.
6. I know they are Special Forces, but sometimes I feel that they need more people in the team to fight against the drug cartels.
7. All soldiers recover quite quickly from the injuries
8. They must have super, duper, powerful bulletproof vest.

Overall, this is an amazing drama. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. If you are a fan of Yang Yang, this is a must-see! If you have doubts about Yang Yang’s acting, please watch this as well.

Read More

Surprisingly entertaining short web drama

Completed - 4/15/2022

MangoTV has been churning out these short web dramas that are surprisingly entertaining. I am not sure why this drama is called "The Killer is Also Romantic" as the Chinese title is the combination of the leads names, Nian Nian Wu Ming. It could be loosely translated as Missing/Thinking of Wu Ming.

In a little over 3 hours, this drama is able to tell a funny and interesting story about a couple who each has a hidden identity. The fun is when each of the leads tries to hide their real identity and personality, and of course, we want to find out what happens when the secrets are out. As another reviewer said, it's like the Chinese historical version of Mr & Mrs Smith. Coming into this, I have pretty low expectations, just like the other MangoTV drama "Emperor or Boss", which has the same male lead, Yang Ze. The plot is simple, but the chemistry and acting are decent. For a low budget web drama, I am pleased to see that nothing seems cheap. There is no annoying character, two smart and capable leads and we got some decent kisses (and many almost kisses).

If you need a palate cleanser from a serious drama and got a few hours to kill, this is perfect.

Read More

Trailblazing women Challenging Traditional roles in family and society

Completed - 12/14/2021

Not a lot of talk about this feministic drama with a focus on women who don't want their lives dictated by men and society. This drama revolves around three main female characters who came from very different backgrounds, and have tremendous character growth throughout the drama. We learned of their journeys from being young and stubborn to achieving their own dreams. This is a very mellow drama and it took me a while to get invested. I wouldn't say the pacing is slow, but it feels like not much happened in the first 10-15 episodes... just very slice-of-life. The plot picked up afterwards and there are more actions and events that keep me more interested.

I would recommend this drama if you like:
1) Women overcoming challenges in family and society
2) Smart women with high IQ and EQ
3) Learn about Chinese culture and the weaving and embroidery industries
4) Minimal, mature romances
5) Life of the common folks - not noble or royal families

Weaving/Embroidery - Though I don't know how accurate the depiction of the weaving industry and the techniques are, I do enjoy watching all the weaving scenes. The drama shows us the weaving process from start to finish - silkworms, to making silk, dyeing, drawing designs, weaving and the finished product. However, I would love to hear more of the "experts" explaining and/or critiquing, so that I can learn about why a certain product is better than the other. In the K-drama "Lovers in the Red Sky", I feel like I learn more about paintings from that show, than weaving from here. LITRK not only showed us beautiful paintings, but through competitions, I learned about the meaning and techniques. I wish "Marvelous Women" has a similar approach.

Female Leads - Our three main female leads come from different backgrounds, have different personalities, yet all try to challenge society's expectations of women. All three of them are smart, courageous and have very high EQs. They don't need to rely on men but use their intelligence and perseverance in making their own decisions and achieving their goals. I would not say they are all "likable" in the traditional sense. I don't think I like them as much as I have liked other strong female characters, but this might just be my personal taste.

Romance - If you are a romance junkie like me, you might be a little disappointed. We have sort of a love triangle in the beginning between two female leads and the male lead. I never find there's much chemistry between the three of them. Shen Cui Xi (played by Jiang Qin Qin) is older in age as an actress and character.
Visually, she does look older than her two love interests. Her forbidden romance with Wei Liang Gong (played by Mao Zi Jun) didn't feel right to me. Even though Wei Liang Gong is mature for his age, the age gap is too much for me to enjoy this romance, which is supposed to be a bittersweet. The romances are quite melodramatic and not passionate. I do applaud that the younger women learning how to make their own decisions about love and marriage.

Character Development - Not only our female leads learn and grow throughout the drama, all of the supporting characters do as well. As the story spans over 10 years (I think), you can see all of them started out making mistakes or questionable decisions, and learning/growing from them. None of the characters is perfect. They are flawed but that also make them real.

I thought I would like this drama more. I think in the end, I like "The Sword and Brocade" more. "Marvelous Women" does not have enough plot twists to keep me engaged, and I am missing good romantic chemistry.

Other Observations:
1) Love it when actors are using their own voices. Really makes the drama a lot of more enjoyable without annoying dubbing.
2) Very muted color tone in costumes and set designs. No bright colors.
3) Acting is great by all cast members
4) The drama could have been shorter (30-32 episodes) as I think a couple of the side plots could be eliminated
5) Two lovely theme songs and not overplayed.

Read More

Only watch if you have a HIGH tolerance for annoying, pouty, & fake innocent main characters.

Completed - 7/13/2022 - 7.75 (rounding up instead of down because of Ady An and Jeremy Tsui)

*warning - hard to write this review without spoilers - so read at your own risk*

“The Legend of Dugu” centers around the three Dugu sisters and the Dugu prophecy. This drama spans about 30-40 years, from when the sisters were only teenage daughters of the Minister of Northern Zhou to become mothers and empresses. Each sister feels differently about this prophecy and chooses different ways of life because of it. My biggest warning to future watchers is that, if you have a LOW tolerance for annoying, pretentious, pouty, despicable villains as main characters, you might not have a pleasant time watching this. I am OK with such a character in a supporting role, but as one of the main leads, I have to endure such hatred that I almost quit this show.

What I Like:

1. Dugu Ban Ruo/Ady An - The eldest sister of the Dugu clan, Ban Ruo is a badass. She’s smart, independent, harsh, ruthless, and scheming. She took the Dugu prophecy at heart and will do anything to be the Dugu to rule the world. She’s such an interesting gray character and I can’t help but admire her. Her goal never changes, even when against the love of her life and the road that led her demise. Despite her ruthlessness, the sismance between Ban Ruo and Jia Luo and how she puts family first were central to the plot. This is my first time watching Ady An and she was amazing as Ban Ruo. Out of the three sisters, she’s the only one that makes it believable to portray a teenager/young adult all the way to being a mother and empress. She carries herself with such grace that she reminded me of Qin Lan

2. Yuwen Hu/Jeremy Tsui - Playing against Ban Ruo is the handsome Yuwen Hu played by Jeremy Tsui. Unfortunately, his voice is dubbed so we can’t listen to his deep and sexy voice. But, we can still stare at his handsome face and expressive big eyes. He’s so good as our villain that you can't help but love him instead of hate him. His undying and obsessive love for Ban Ruo is one of the best things about this drama.

3. Romance: Ban Ruo + Yuwen Hu - They are not meant to be, given their family backgrounds and political positions. But their chemistry is sizzling. Whether it’s a good or bad thing, they are two peas in a pod and are so similar. Even though they are so in love with each other, nothing stands between them and their hunger for power. Ban Ruo’s wedding night was ‘WOW’. The way she stood up to Yuwen Hu and put him in his right place was well-acted by both. Ban Ruo is a badass and she keeps me guessing whether she still loves Yuwen Hu at the end.

4. Jia Luo’s Wedding night - Without giving too much away, the story behind the masked groom and all that happened inside and outside the tent was so touching.

5. Costumes - Such beautiful and patterned costumes for both men and women. For some reason, I think all the clothes the women wear seem to be too big, but beautiful nonetheless. I also really like the black/gold court official uniforms. They reminded me of my favorite red/black ones in “The Rebel Princess”. There are four weddings in this drama, and each bride has bright red and/or green wedding gowns and golden headdresses. The headdresses are intricately designed and royal/grand. I also see some of the tallest hairstyles and elaborate hair accessories on the women.


What I have Mixed Feelings about:

1. Pacing - I am not sure if I should categorize the pace to be slow or just OK. I think the first 25 episodes have pretty good pacing. A lot happened and my favorite romance also takes center stage here. Then it seems to have slowed down a little but it might be due to the fact that my least favorite character is taking up too much screen time. Then the last 5 episodes seem to be too fast and I wanted more episodes.

2. Romance: Jia Luo + Yang Jian - The chemistry is a little iffy. I waited for a long time for their romance to officially start and for some good push and pull. But things are resolved too quickly and they fall in love too fast. They actually seem more like friends or siblings but not lovers or romantic partners.

3. Different ages: Jia Luo and Mantuo - Hu Bing Qing has such a young face that I believe her when she plays the 15-year old Jia Luo. However, it’s hard to believe her as the empress and a mother of a teenager. Towards the last few episodes when she’s in the same scenes with her daughter, I think her daughter looks like an older sister. She’s quite petite, and she doesn’t carry herself with as much grace as Ady An as the empress. On the opposite end, Li Yi Xiao looks a little too old to be a teenager in the beginning episodes. She is a lot more believable after she’s married and scheming against the concubines.


What I Don’t Like:
1. Dugu Man Tuo - This is very personal, as I really can’t stand her fake pouty and innocent face. As Man Tuo is a main character being one of the three sisters, there is a significant amount of screen time devoted to her journey. Her scheming becomes repetitive as she uses almost the same method to get rid of people she doesn’t like or in her way. The worst thing is that she lasted throughout the drama and didn’t really die until the very last episode. It seems so unfair sometimes when I had wished Ban Ruo would have lasted that long. I guess I should credit Lil Yi Xiao’s acting for making me hate her so much!

2. Yang Jian - It’s rare for me to not like the main male lead of a historical drama. He’s OK at first, but then he loses his charms. This is my first Andy Zhang’s drama and he’s a veteran, so I am not sure if it’s because I don’t like his acting or the writing of his character. Yang Jian is not charismatic or charming enough for me to like him.

3. Kisses - ALL the kisses are bad in this drama. It doesn’t matter if it’s a kiss on the cheek, forehead or lips, they all make me feel uncomfortable watching. Very disappointing.

4. Dubbing - Another reason why I dislike Man Tuo so much is the voice actor that dubs her voice. That voice is annoying!! Moreover, I actually don’t like much of the voices of many of the characters. How I wish they didn’t dub Jeremy Tsui.

5. Bad CGI - The CGI of animals is one of the worst I’ve seen, esp when the drama is only 4 years old. The green screen scenes are also not believable and you can totally see how fake they are.


Other Random Observations:
1. There’s such a big contrast between Ban Ruo + Yuwen Hu’s romance and Jia Luo + Yuwen Yun’s romance, and each couple’s last scenes together. The circumstances and the feelings are so different, yet so memorable.
2. Also a big contrast of their wedding night scenes.
3. A drama full of lovebirds who can’t marry who they want.
4. The last conflict between Jia Luo and Yang Jian broke my heart. It’s not because of the incident, but how Yang Jian reacted afterwards.
5. Yang Jian is supposedly smart but he falls for Man Tuo’s tricks so many times.
6. Who does Man Tuo love more in the end - Yuwen Hu or Yuwen Wei?
7. Who does Jia Luo love more in the end - Yang Jiang or Yuwen Yun?
8. Power can make you lose your mind and forget promises….which you will regret later on.


Wow… this is a long review. Thank you for reading if you made it to the end.

Read More

Long hair/makeup plot, unexciting mysteries, lack of romance and chemistry

When I first read the synopsis, I found the plot quite interesting. Although I have not read the novel, I know Priest is a very popular writer, especially her BL novels. So, I was interested to find out about this non-BL story by her. If you read the novel, I would love for you to write me a comment and let me know what you think of the adaptation. Unfortunately, I am not impressed with the script and find the plot uneven and lack excitement for a mystery drama. Is the adaptation bad? Or the source material bad?

Plot/Pacing
The drama spent way too much time on the hair and make up plot. I understand the need to set up each character and their different circumstances. However, spending so much time in the hair salon with unimportant characters (all the hairstylists) is a waste of time and slows the pacing of the drama. Additionally, there’s also too much time spent on the backend of the drama on FL’s makeup career. I also do not think the drama has struck a balance between romance and mystery. The mystery part is forgotten when the hair salon takes so much screen time. By the time the drama remembers its mystery plot in the last third of the drama, I have already lost interest and don’t really care. I also have some plot holes to pick. I know ML is rich, but he seems to have unlimited resources and can dig up dirt on anyone in record time. I wanted more background on Xu Jing Yang’s reason for involvement and how he and Qi Lian connected in the first place. I’d rather have more flashbacks of their friendship, instead of more hair and make up. The villain’s story is also weak and I don’t care about her enough to sympathize with them.

Romance
Unfortunately, I am not feeling the chemistry between the two main leads. If you are a romance lover like me, you might not be satisfied. There aren’t enough romantic scenes and I am not talking about pure kisses, skinship or PDA. Just the feel of the drama and the scenes of the main leads are not romantic enough. On the other hand, if you are NOT a romance lover, you might be turned off by the seemingly focus on the romance in the beginning and the lack of fantasy/mystery element. There is also a period of time when the male lead changed 180 degrees and became such a meanie. There’s too much animosity, wrist/arm grabs and manhandling of the female lead that is uncalled for. Those scenes are hard to watch and totally not in line with male lead’s calm, smart and mature personality, no matter how surprised and disappointed he is. The drama seems to finally realize the lack of romance, especially after the leads officially became a couple, and then in the last 2 episodes, we finally get more scenes of them.

Acting
This is Liu Hao Cun’s first drama, though she has done movies in the past. She single-handedly carried the show on her back. I’m so glad to have discovered her. She and her character are a breath of fresh air. Li Hao Cun is able to portray Jiang Xiao Yuan’s spunkiness, independence, stubbornness and grit. She is the best part of the drama. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Lin Yi. This more mature role doesn’t suit him. He frowns a lot and when he’s crying, it seems forced and exaggerated. I think he got better towards the latter half of the drama, but I am disappointed in his acting. He does not appear to be mature enough to be casted in this role. The rest of the supporting cast did fine. Luckily, there isn’t anyone too irritating, and no actor/actress sticks out like a sore thumb.


Unfortunately, I don’t think I will recommend this drama, unless you want to check out Liu Hao Cun. “Derailment” is unable to hook me in on the fantasy/mystery plot and the romance is so lukewarm that it’s not enough for me to tolerate the lack of excitement.


Completed: 3/13/2024 - Review #416

Read More

Crazy, Funny & Sexy

Subjective Enjoyable Entertainment Rating: 8.25

With a drama title of “Do Me When You Come Home” aka “Kaette Kitara Ippai Shite.”, it probably gives you an idea that this is a somewhat sexy drama. Indeed, it’s sexy, crazy, and funny. It reminded me a little bit of “Ase to Sekken/Sweet and Soap” for its over-the-top adaptation of a manga.

Please note that;
1. It has overdramatic, over-the-top acting - Japanese style.
2. It has some sexy scenes, but no nudity.
3. The topic can be quite mature - about Teen Love (TL) manga with erotica.

If you are fine with all of the above, then this is a really fun drama, perfect for stress relief. I needed a drama like this and had a fabulous time watching it. The story is quite simple and the drama is pretty short (10 episodes at about 25 mins each). An inexperienced newbie TL (Teen Love) erotic manga artist seeks the assistance of the playboy ML as inspiration and reference for her manga. Of course, they eventually fell in love, but the romance wasn’t as smooth sailing as FL wanted because of ML’s family backstory. The manga characters are a direct reflection of the drama characters.

There are some really funny scenes, e.g. when the characters are posing for the FL to draw them (as reference materials). There are a few very sexy and sensual scenes between the ML and FL. The kisses are a lot better than I would have expected. They are not fish kisses, and the FL eventually warmed up and is a willing and passionate participant. ML doesn’t hesitate to go all in with the seduction and kissing. I personally don’t think ML is that handsome and he’s too skinny. But I warmed up to him and enjoy his acting and his role. I also appreciate that FL is not super innocent/naive/passive. She does speak up for herself. I like the progression of FL/ML relationship and how ML is the one who likes and accepts FL for who she is, and respects her dreams.

Overall, I had a really fun time watching it and there are some morals to the story. But if you are not used to this style of drama or acting, it might seem too crazy. There are no plot twists or anything that hasn't been done before. But it's definitely very entertaining.


Completed: 1/8/2024 - Review #392

Read More

Weirdly interesting and fun 1st half but poor writing in the 2nd half.

While “I am Nobody” was airing, I read good things about it. Little did I know I’ve stumbled onto one of the wackiest C-dramas I’ve ever watched. I really did not have much expectations and I never read the comics. I’ve seen some live action Japanese adaptations of anime and manga, and am not always a big fan of the comedy. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the first half of the drama, despite its weird comedy. But, I was also disappointed in the second half when the writing got sloppy and they seemed to run out of money.


What I Enjoy:

1. Bao Bao - One of my favorite characters in the drama and also in all of C-drama comedies. She is hilarious!!! Wang Ying Lu did a fantastic job portraying the emotionless, naive, crazy, violent and just pure wacky character. I look forward to funny things that come out of her mouth and how she reacts to different situations.

2. Peng Yu Chang - This is my first time watching him and I’m surprised to find out that he’s been in the industry for quite some time. His acting is probably the best of the bunch amongst the younger cast members of the drama. He really does stand out in his portrayal of the protagonist, Zhang Chu Lan. The success of the show rests on his shoulders and he does an admirable job.

3. Veteran Supporting Cast - “I am Nobody” is one of those dramas where the more experienced, veteran actors really outshine the younger generation. There are so many great actors, especially Old Taoist Lao Tian Shi/Zhang Zhi Wei, Grandpa Zhang Huai Yi, Taoist Tian Jin Zhong and Elder Lu Jin. I’ve enjoyed every single one of their scenes, serious, emotional and comedic ones.

4. Action Scenes - There are some pretty great fight scenes in the first half of the drama and during the competition. This is also one of the reasons I want to watch this drama as early comments praised some of its fight scenes. There are quite a few memorable fights during the competition.

5. Comedy - I normally don’t quite over-the-top comedy and shy away from pure comedies. But I thoroughly enjoy all the jokes, second-hand embarrassment, especially when the jokes happen with the veterans. Their deadpan expression while speaking some of these funny lines, make the scenes even more funny. BaoBao’s Sichuan accent also adds to her strange but unique personality.


What I have Mixed Feelings about or Don’t Like:

1. Second Half - I did not read the comics, so I am not sure if the drama follows the plot faithfully or loosely. However, I was very disappointed that after the competition, I did not see more camaraderie between the younger main cast and/or their adventures in continuing the quest to find out about the truth. Instead, we got an unimportant detour of Wang Ye’s family story and barely got Zhang Chu Lan, Wang Ye, Feng Bao Bao and Zhu Ge Qing back together. Zhang Lin Yu got his own side plot of accepting himself and continuation of the ill-developed romance. We spent so much time in Lao Tian Shi’s ‘revenge’ and another character’s search for their sister. I am not saying these side plots are not important to the development of the main plot, but screentime is not distributed appropriately. Maybe the drama should not have focused so many episodes on the competition, so it leaves enough time to develop all the other subplots afterwards. But then, the competition episodes are the most fun! If you spend so much time for viewers to get to know the main characters, then give me more of them together!

2. Inconsistent acting - This drama has a very big supporting cast of young actors and actresses. Some of them I’ve seen in other dramas and they did fine. But aside from Peng Yu Chang and Wang Ying Lu, the others don’t really stand out or exceed my expectations. I’m glad Neo Hou is not in another cold-on-the-outside role (can’t say the same for Bi Wen Jun) and he definitely acts better when he’s given more. Even so, he has room for improvement. A few other minor supporting actors are below average. No one is horrible, just inconsistent.

3. CGI - I wonder if the drama spends all their money on the special effects in the first half of the drama. Maybe the competition episodes use up all their budget, because in the second half, there are some pretty bad special effects. You can tell the green screen is right behind the actors.

4. Words Disappear - This is very personal and might only bother me. The drama did not give me a chance to fully read all the Chinese characters/sentences on the screen. And this happens not just once or twice. Instead of using a narrator to give an update or epilogue of what happened, the drama flashes these words on the screen so quickly. I tried to pause and read, but that gets annoying and doesn’t always work. I guess I should have turned on English subtitles, because I can read English a lot faster than Chinese.

5. Product Placement - It’s been a while since I watched a C-drama with so much in-your-face product placements. It was funny when they worked it into the advertising of the event, but after a while, these products are just everywhere. I thought I would only come across this level of product placement in a Thai BL.


Overall, this is an interesting drama and I had a pretty good time for most part. But this is definitely not for everyone and I can see many get put off by its humor. I would have given the first half an 8.5 and the second half 7.5 for a lower budget drama. So, an average of 8.0 would be my final rating. I am not sure if season 2 is going to happen, but I don’t think I’ll watch it. I am quite disappointed in the second half and really wish the writing is better.


Other Random Observations:
1. There are times I got confused if I am watching a wuxia drama (historical) or a modern drama.
2. This drama has a very eclectic soundtrack.
3. Peng Yu Chang/Zhang Chu Lan cries a lot!
4. Neo Hou looks so pretty! He can pass for a pretty girl with a nice, long ponytail.
5. So many characters and their signature moves that I get confused sometimes.



Completed: 9/26/2023 - Review #359

Read More

Advance Bravely because it's a Train Wreck with Hot Abs!

The warning is correct: Advance Bravely! After watching a couple episodes, I thought to myself, What the heck am I watching? Why am I watching this? I wonder if it’s because I was watching this drama in 2023 instead of 2017, that I just couldn’t enjoy it. Watching “Advance Bravely” is like watching a train wreck that I couldn’t look away. It’s so bad that it’s hilarious and addictive?

The only good thing about this drama is Jason Xu and his abs (but not his acting). He’s hot and I enjoy staring at him, just like most characters in the show. That’s the only positive thing I can think of. Oh, also, the action scenes are decent. If you like Gong Jun, you might like him and his skinny abs as well. If you are a fan of abs, there are many for your enjoyment.

However, the plot is weird. Why would you ask your brother to help you chase a guy that your brother doesn’t even know? Why would you kidnap and force someone to go through a medical procedure to ‘correct’ an embarrassing medical condition? Why is this sister so annoying and can’t take NO for an answer?

Additionally, we have a hot but stalkerish male lead, plus a childish and somewhat annoying male lead. I don’t really like any of the leads, so maybe that’s why I don’t feel the chemistry even with the extended long looks and slow motion scenes. The second and third couples also have a weird romance/relationship.

The ending is ridiculous and it definitely has to do with censorship and the lack of funding. But even if I ignore how censorship could ruin this drama, there are just too many other things that are wrong and inappropriate. This is a very weird drama that I don’t know how to appreciate.


Completed: 2/23/2023

Read More

Can you really change your fate when given a second chance?

Completed: 9/28/2022 - 8.25 rounding up to 8.5

Choosing to watch this drama is because of Jing Chao. I’ve liked him since his role as General Fu in “Princess Silver”. I am glad that he did not disappoint and is the star of the show. The story of rebirth could be a tricky one. It could become repetitive and boring when not done right, but I think “Lost Track of Time” did a pretty decent job.

What I Like:

1. Jing Chao - Without a doubt, this drama would not be the same without Jing Chao as Mu Ze. Even though he was listed as the second male lead, he shines the brightest amongst the whole cast. He might not give me second lead syndrome in his role here (he did in “Princess Silver”) but he has a commanding presence and I can’t take my eyes off him when he’s on the screen. He has great chemistry with both the male lead and female lead. While I pity his character, I am glad that he was not portrayed as a cartoonish villain, but one who is smart and cunning.

2. Scheming Duel - I enjoy watching how Lu An Ran (FL) and Mu Ze try to outsmart each other every step of the way. When you think one of them has the upper hand, the tides change. The drama keeps me thinking if Lu An Ran really can successfully seek revenge and change the fate of everyone. I particularly enjoy the first ⅔ of the drama.

3. Brotherhood - Mu Chuan and Mu Ze’s tight bond is the best relationship in this drama, outshining all the romantic storylines. I am glad we get an extended and deeper look into their childhood life and why they become each other’s favorite person in the world in the rebirth timeline. Despite having very different personalities and goals in life, and Mu Chuan questioning his brother’s true character, I am happy with this bromance all the way till the end.

4. General Plot - Though I still don’t know why Lu An Ran was given a second chance, I enjoy how the rebirth story is told. At first, I worry about repetitiveness (like time lapse or time travel storylines) but am pleasantly surprised that the drama is able to create different storylines for different characters, though whether their fate was changed or not is the big question.


What I am have Mixed Feelings or Don’t like:

1. Main Romance - It’s unfortunate I don’t really feel the chemistry between Lu An Ran and Mu Chuan. And because of this, I am not moved by the angst and their sufferings. Mu Chuan, on paper, is the perfect guy. He’s caring, sweet, thoughtful, considerate and supportive. He doesn’t force Lu An Ran to disclose all her secrets, but patiently waits for her. I love the meaning behind the rice crop. He would make my list of Ideal Man. I am not sure if it’s because of the acting of both Xing Fei and Zhai Zi Lu, something is missing. I think both actors did a fine job, but not great. Xing Fei’s emotionless face is bland at times. Zhai Zi Lu is not animated or sweet enough. Or maybe because Jing Chao is just too good that they pale in comparison.

2. Dubbing - It’s unfortunate that none of the actors used their own voice in this drama. Everyone is dubbed by voice actors, and the voices are not well synced with how the mouths move. Most of the voices are fine, but the most annoying is the high-pitched voice of the maid, Ling Xi. Her character is already quite annoying and her dubbed voice makes it worse.

3. Production - I understand that this is not a big budget production. However, even a mid-budget production should be able to use a green screen effectively. There are scenes when the characters are in the grass fields or rice fields, and you can obviously see that the background is fake. And what is up with the fuzzy, slow motion camera work? I can understand if you’re trying to distinguish one timeline from another, but there are some regular scenes where such ‘unique’ fuzzy camerawork is not justified. The costumes and set design are of decent quality and on par with the budget. I do enjoy the songs in this drama. They are not overplayed and the music complements the scenes very well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the OST on Spotify as I really enjoy the song, 今夕何夕 by Xian Zi 弦子.

4. Inconsistent pacing and scenes - For the most part, this drama has pretty good pacing, especially the first ⅔ of the drama. But towards the end, it becomes inconsistent. At times it seems like everything happens too fast, other times, I feel that it drags. I wonder if the drama would be better if it’s only 24-26 episodes long and not 30. There are also a few scenes that are inconsistent with a character or illogical, e.g. 1) a prisoner tortured and still in possession of a dagger, 2) a cautious character disclosing somewhat confidential info to another character, 3) people not running out of a room when there’s a fire and explosion erupted but continue to roll out subsequent events.


Overall, this is a pretty decent drama and should have a higher rating than 7.7. I quite enjoy it even though the romance did not move me as much as I wanted. I am giving this a a generous 8.25 (rounding up to 8.5 because I love Jing Chao, and I want to pull the average rating up a little). I think the current ending is realistic and good enough. I don’t think we need a special episode with an alternate (unrealistic) ending.

Read More

Decent but not great - OST is good.

Completed: 7/19/2022

"Dear. M" is a short web series about college life, romance and choices that our characters have to make. For a web-based drama, the production quality is pretty decent. It doesn't really stand out amongst a sea of many other college dramas.

What I Like:
1. OST - I enjoy all the songs played. I am not too familiar with the actors in this drama, but if they are the ones really singing the songs in the drama, they are good. Spotify OST listed different singers that are not the actors. I especially like the duet between Park Hye Soon and Jeong Jae Hyun. The solo song by Jeong Jae Hyun was also very romantic.

2. Jeong Jae Hyun - It seems like this is his first acting gig and he did a pretty good job. I've seen many other web dramas with idol-turned-actors that couldn't act.

3. Park Hye Soon - I am glad the bullying allegations were put to rest and we got to see her in "Dear. M". She doesn't have too many dramas under her belt, but I quite enjoy her portrayal of Ma Joon Ah here. Is it only me or does she look like Zhao LuSi?

4. Ma Joon Ah + Cha Min Ho romance - I enjoy the Friends-to-Lovers trope personally, and I feel that their relationship changes and progresses at a pretty good pace throughout the drama from: realization --> shock --> denial --> hesitancy --> confession --> acceptance. I would have loved for them to get together a little sooner so that I can see some cute and fluffy scenes.


What I have mixed feelings:

1. Gil Mok Jin + Hwang Bo Young romance - There's so much potential for this romance. However, it all started too late and we couldn't really see any fun romantic development before they quickly got together. They were two really unique characters and I would have loved to see them have more screen time as a couple.

2. Dear M - Well, it was quite an interesting reveal to find out who actually wrote the Dear M posts. However, aside from the initial few episodes where people actually care who wrote the posts, for most of the drama this plot was put on the side in favor of the annoying love triangle. It pops back up periodically but really holds no importance to the central plot.


What I Don't Like:

1. Choi Ro Sa - What an annoying b!tch...LOL. Why do dramas always make the female character this annoying and despicable? I understand sometimes a drama needs a character as such to spice it up. But she has wayyyy too much screen time in this drama. Her scheming lasts throughout the drama and it really affects my enjoyment. She's listed as a supporting character but I think she has more screen time than Gil Mok Jin and Hwang Bo Young.

2. Seo Ji Min + Park Ha Neul romance - The drama probably focuses the most time on their romance and love triangle. They are fine and I do like a drama that tackles challenges of a relationship. But the characters themselves are quite boring (though they are a cute couple). If Ji Min keeps on saying that she's had a crush on Ha Neul for the longest time, I'd like to see some flashbacks of them before they're officially a couple. Show me how they got together in the first place, then I can understand why Ji Min is so adamant that Ha Neul doesn't like her as much as she likes him. Because from what I've seen, Ha Neul has done quite a lot to care for her.

Read More

Revenge + Obsession + Buckets of Blood + Found Family

Completed - 4/15/2022 - 8.75

It's been a while since I last saw a drama with so much gore and blood. The last one was probably "Arthdal Chronicles". If you get squirmy with blood and violence, this might not be the right drama for you. However, if you can get past that, this is an exciting fantasy drama about reincarnation, revenge and freeing from a curse. Along the way, characters from different backgrounds and personalties came together to become a family.

This is a beautifully produced drama with great cinematography, action scenes, and incredible makeup. Not a small budget production. I don't think I have commented much on a drama's makeup before, but I got to give props to the makeup artists here. There's so much super-realistic blood all over the place, wounds of all shapes and sizes, protruding bone and slashes, and of course, facial makeup of our Bulgasals. Aesthetically, it just puts me in the right mindset to watch this drama. The OST is beautiful as well. Whenever the theme song is played, I feel all the emotions in the scenes, and the background music complements and sets the mood well.

I am quite familiar with the acting of the two female leads, having watch quite a few of their dramas, esp. Gong Seung Yeong ("Are You Human Too?", "Circle" & "Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency"). Kwong Na Ra ("Secret Royal Inspector" & "Suspicious Partner") and Gong Seung Yeon really look like sisters. Both have beautiful eyes that can convey emotions very well. On the other hand, this is my first drama of the two male leads, Lee Jin Wook and Lee Joon, and I am quite impressed with their acting. I think I am most impressed with Lee Joon, because his character just gives him so much more to work with. I love how his crazy personality matches all of his over-the-top outfits. Kim Wook Seok is adorable as the high schooler and his acting has improved tremendously since I last saw him in "Twenty-Twenty". The supporting cast is great as well with both veteran and child actors.

But the main attraction to this drama is its plot. Viewers need to be patient and pay attention in order to not get confused. Not everything is explained in the first few episodes. The history and entanglement between the characters are slowly revealed throughout the drama. You don't get the full story until the finale. I personally quite enjoy the storytelling as I try to piece together what's been revealed and guess what really happened many years ago. The pacing of the drama is pretty good (maybe just slowed down slightly in the middle) but I was focused and engaged throughout the drama. I would like to see more of the story told in historical times. And I would have liked for Dan Hwal to find out the reason for his family's death a little sooner. Because then, the found family and small romance can truly develop, and have more heartwarming scenes (that's just the romance-junkie in me talking). Dramas oftentimes do not finish strong, but I think "Bulgasal" has a strong and satisfactory finish. I was quite emotional in the last couple episodes. Ahh... I love the found family and wish them all have happily-ever endings.

This is by no means a perfect drama. I am still a little confused about Ok Eul Tae's obsession with Dan Hwal. Why was he so obsessed for so many years ago? It also seems like a very roundabout way to device a complicated plan to achieve his ultimate goal. When we finally get to the finale to find out what started all this mess, it was a little bit anti-climatic. I thought the origin of the curse and the entanglement would be a much bigger deal. The modern times monsters could be more terrifying and could be used more. And what happened to the fire inside the room with the well?

Objectively speaking, this might not be highly rated. But if I don't think too much and enjoy the ride, I quite like this drama, thus, a very generous 8.75 from me.

Read More

Impactful , Awesome Chemistry, Great Acting by Gun (Black/White)

Completed - 3/28/2022 - 8.75 rounding up to 9.0

"Not Me" introduced many international viewers to Thailand's social injustices and inequality via the popularity of BL dramas. I probably would not have watched this drama if it's not a BL drama, and I am the targeted audience for such a genre - straight woman. But I am so glad that I get to watch such great drama. There hasn't been any other BL dramas that my novice brain can recall that includes serious topics as social injustices and inequality, mixed with romance. We have seen many too many high school and college dramas, good and mature ones are hard to come by.

What I Enjoy:

1. Tackling Social Issues - As mentioned, "Not Me" has a strong focus on regular citizens speaking up and fighting social and economic injustices. It discusses issues such as upper-middle class/elite privileges, evil corporation monopoly and dirty /illegal business tactics/practices, police corruption, disability rights, marriage equality, etc. Even though it doesn't go into details about all of these topics, it brought light to viewers that Thailand also struggles with these issues. I am not sure if Thailand has censorships like China, but I guess because "Not Me" does not target the government, it's free to discuss other issues. I also enjoy the discussion of 'Rule of Law' vs "Rule by Law'. There are some very intelligent discussions about this, and I appreciate that.

2. Gun's Acting - When White was first introduced and moved back to Thailand, my first impression of him was a dorky but smart college grad who looks like a high school kid. But throughout the drama, I have witnessed his transformation from dorky White to an inexperienced Black and to become very comfortable in his new identity. Gun portrays all these identities so well. You can see from his eyes how they change from persona to persona. The aura he gives out is very different as well. This is my first drama of Gun, and I was concerned initially when I see dorky White that he might not live up to the expectations. What an impressive acting range Gun showcases by playing both White and Black.

3. Off's Acting - Off might have been a little overshadowed by Gun's impressive acting, but he did a fantastic job as well. His character also provides him with many opportunities to showcase his acting ability. He switches from an impulsive & aggressive Sean, to a very smitten and totally-in-love Sean effortlessly. He also has great emotional scenes.

4. Second Half Drama + Romance - It took me a couple episodes to feel really invested in the story and the characters, as the first half covers some very serious topic. But from the middle to the second half of the drama, there is a very good mix of drama/action and romance. The pacing is great and I am totally invested in their cause, and also in their love lives. The chemistry between Black and Sean is incredible, though I have minor issue about how it all started (discussed more below). But the scenes when they are together, you can feel the sizzling chemistry and you just want them to hug and kiss (great kisses, by the way). The same goes to how Yok looks at Dan/UNAR. I can feel how he was initially attracted to the mysterious UNAR and the scenes of them together are just as awesome (though I don't like Dan's acting as much). It broke my heart towards the end of the drama with scenes between Yok and Dan at the hospital.

5. White as Black- I like how White, as an outsider, joins the group and tries to support them using more appropriate measures. Instead of just following what is instructed of him, he comes up with alternate solutions that yield much better results. I also enjoy how he matures and realizes that he's part of the problem, as someone coming from an upper-middle class family with connections to help pave his road for success.

What I don't quite Enjoy (nitpicking a little):

1. They don't look their character age - A few characters, especially Todd, looks like a high school kid dresses in his dad's clothes. He has such a young face, yet he's already a business tycoon. I find that a little hard to believe. White also looks like a high school kid instead of a college graduate when he was initially introduced. Eugene looks like a high school cheerleader, though she is really pretty and I enjoy all her dances.

2. Black/Sean falling in love - I feel that they fall in love too quickly. They were just arguing and beating each other up in one scene, and then in another they are giving each other love glances at the protest. The transition from enemies-to-lovers needs a little more development. Don't get me wrong, I love their chemistry, it just happens a little bit out of the blue.

3. Other's Acting - Because Gun and Off's acting is so great, comparatively, the other team members don't measure up to their level. I feel that Dan is the weakest link out of all the guys. When he's not crying, he seems to only have one facial expression when he's with Yok. Gram and Tod's acting is also just so-so.

Read More

Potential Trigger Warning (explained in first paragraph of review) - Excellent Acting all around

Completed - 2/12/2022

Trigger Warning/Spoiler - I didn’t see this mentioned in the reviews/comments and tags, so I figured I’ll mention this. In the last episode of the drama, there was an incident of sexual harassment on the bus. This is a very small part of the show (maybe only 5 minutes), and nothing too explicit (moving close, touching). But just in case, I would like to inform those who could be affected. It made me a little uncomfortable as I experienced something similar many years ago when I was a high schooler. It just brought back some memories. I know many women (and men) experience such atrocity in their daily lives. However, if you are OK, I hope it doesn’t deter you from watching this amazing drama.

Now, moving on to the real review.

Plot - When I first read about this drama, one thing that concerned me was the repetitiveness of the plot due to the time loop. In “Reset”, I feel that it started out with two very strong episodes. However, I do feel some repetitiveness in the subsequent episodes. Luckily, once we learn more of the passengers’ stories and police investigations, the drama’s pace is better and everything becomes more exciting. I think the drama finishes really strong with amazing episodes 12-15 and gives us a very satisfactory ending. I think Ep 12 is the most exciting and my favorite.

Acting/Characters - Great acting all around, from our leads to the minor supporting characters. I’ve seen Bai Jin Ting (ML) in a few other dramas, and am glad to see him branch out to have a different role. Playing the character as Xiao He Yun, a game developer who wasn’t an instant hero. Bai Jin Ting was able to portray some real emotions as someone who was scared to learn of the time loop, and didn’t want to have anything to do with it. Throughout the drama, he slowly grows into the hero that he is. This is my first drama of Zhao Jin Mai (FL) and I like her acting as well. Playing Li Shi Qing, a college student who is caring and innocent, but has a sense of justice. She is more of an instant heroine, compared to Xiao He Yun. With different personalities, our leads complement each other well and each brings something different to the table when solving the mystery of time loop. “Reset” also has an excellent supporting cast of young and veteran actors. I especially enjoy the acting of Liu Yin Jun (as Detective Zhang Cheng), Huang Jue (as bus driver Wang Xing De) and Liu Dang (as Tao Ying Hong). Other passengers or police officers might not have as much screen time but you can still differentiate them from each other as they have such individual charisma and acting. Additionally, I am so glad to see two female police officers who are intelligent and calm, and one of them is the boss!

Production - This has to be the first C-drama that gives me the most realistic color of blood! I know it sounds crazy that I talk about this, but in so many dramas, the color of blood is just not right. It’s either too bright red, too liquidy, too thick or too dark. But in “Reset”, it’s realistic, and especially the realistic injuries of a burn victim. If you look closely at the wounds of one of the major characters after the explosion, you can see smoke coming out of the burnt clothes and wounds. Such details! There is nothing glamorous about this drama, so one can’t judge its production value on nice clothes or nice set design. But you can see the detail in each of the scenes and how real everything is. There’s nothing flimsy or cheap. On the other hand, since it’s a time loop, the production company can save money on a large wardrobe budget. The characters just wear the same clothes everyday!

OST - The background music complemented the scenes very well, and you feel that it’s not forcing you to feel a certain way. There aren’t many songs played in the drama, but when Zhou Shen’s hauntingly beautiful song, “My Only” comes up, you can’t help but feel all the emotions. One of my pet peeves is when music is too loud that it drowns the dialogs. I am glad that it didn’t happen here. The few songs played are nice and I only notice them more towards the last half of the drama.

Other Observations:
1. This is the fanciest Internet Bar/Cafe/Motel I’ve seen in a drama. I think I want to stay in a room like that than in any hotel room!
2. C-dramas really like lovers wearing color-matching outfits. We see that in the last episode - white shirts and blue jeans.
3. No annoying character in this drama! Yay!
4. Slight romance is the correct tag. I would have liked to see a little more glances/hints throughout the drama. I don’t need much, just a little. I feel that either you take out the romance completely, or give it a little more care.

Read More