Reviews

The Perfect C-Drama from beginning to end

Overall, the story line is great. It had a good pace - keeping us wanting more at the end of each episode. The relationship build up was also so exhilirating and did not create any unneccessary love triangle - all were necessary for their character build up. Absolutely loved this c-drama.

I am not sure why others commented that the ending sucks, or that they don't understand why they had a divorce. I think the last 3-4 episode explained it very well, multiple times why they divorced. Thankfully, I did not read those and give up on the series.

I think the character build up was great, the rivalry and frustration, as well as the swoonworthy moments. The only couple I thought wasted my time (while somewhat necessary), was the FL's 2nd elder brother and her best friend. Their relationship was necessary because it demonstrated the toxic nature of the relationship that scared the FL from getting married.

Another thing I really don't understand is why ML looks so tired and worn out in this entire series, when all he has is time (lol). The ML always looks impeccable in other c-dramas, so was a little curious why despite his best and lowest moments, he still look haggard.

Read More

BORING

First episode, we got all these characters thrown out on us. Onto the 4th episode, I felt no connection with anyone of these characters. Very little info on the characters. I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters and after 4th episode, I didn't care much if any of the characters die.
Plot was all over. They didn't do a good job of showing the flash back. You don't know if it's a flash back or the present. So confusing and so boring.
Episode 1-4 just all about drugs and human trafficking. So boring how they took up 4 episodes on just that.
I don’t think this will have a season 2. Lol

Read More

A couple that killed it

This drama is about a whole lot more than romance, but I will start by showing some love in honor of the lead couple, Gu Yanxi and Hua Zhi. They were classy in their cuteness and made our hearts flutter with every interaction. The chemistry was undeniable; whether they were adorably close or longingly apart, they were always in tune with each other. They understood each other, supported one another, and sacrificed for the other. From potential enemies to friends to lovers, they became each other's greatest allies. What I appreciate the most though, is the strong communication and the unbreakable trust between them. This delightful duo embodied how love can endure, even in the face of conflict and circumstance.

Apart from our leads, the other couples have also left a memorable impression on me, and I truly enjoyed watching how the relationships developed and blossomed. Even when romance did not always lead to the happiest of endings, the stories were touching and, at times, really tugged at my heartstrings.

When Blossoms in Adversity started airing, I had high expectations because of the director, Chu Yui Bun, and the cast, and the show delivered more. There was a strong theme of female empowerment, and a quote by Goethe came to mind, "The Eternal-Feminine draws us upward". Almost all the women characters had character development for the better, but sadly, most of the male characters did not. Save for a handful, most of the male characters were a disappointing lot.

Zhang Jing Yi's Hua Zhi was solid, and she proved again to be an excellent actress. ZJY portrayed an FL who was plucky, intelligent, precocious, quick-witted, but also very human. With her entire family thrown into chaos when a power-tripping Emperor exiled all the men, HZ had to grow up quickly. Through HZ's struggles and triumphs, the show provided a lesson: in times of need, we can step up and be the kind of person others need us to be.

It's true that I threw shade at Hu Yi Tian in the beginning that ZJY was carrying the show, but in the end, I was won over yet again by our handsome ML. He shone in his fight scenes, and his usual stoic expression fit his role as Gu Yan Xi. This ML was also brilliant and was a skilled fighter. As the Commander of the Security Bureau, he was savage with everyone who deserved it but so gentle with the FL and the ones important to him. GYX started out conflicted, torn between gratitude to his uncle and his affection for Hua Zhi. Ultimately, he became a source of strength for HZ as he gradually determined that any amount of gratitude did not warrant the blind loyalty demanded of him.

GYX had background music dedicated to him, one that played whenever he turned up, ready to take the bad guys down, and it was just so bad-ass enjoyable. HYT should consider more historical dramas since this role is my favorite of his to date.

The supporting cast was terrific too, notably Lu Yu Xiao, who showed off how versatile she was. While Caesar Wu did not appear as often as I would like, he nailed his character as the overly earnest, idealistic Shen Qi. Bian Cheng as Shen Huan is someone to watch out for, and as the Emperor who demanded nothing less than everything, Hai Yi Tian delivered a great performance that had all of us wanting to see a painful death for him.

Apart from being amazingly acted, this drama was well-written and nicely executed. I applaud the show for keeping most of us engaged until the very end, throwing in something unpredictable just when I thought I figured out what would happen next. That said, the show didn't fall into the trap of using plot twists for the sake of creating last-minute melodrama.

The pacing was interesting to me in a good way. The plot went through the ups and downs of the characters lives so smoothly and quickly that angsty moments were not that dramatic and happy moments were more like normal events. No one really has an opportunity to dwell on the good or bad.Even with 40 episodes, the show never felt draggy, and best of all, it stuck its landing. I for one, am satisfied with how the show ended. It wrapped up the characters' journeys nicely and sent them off in such a way that left me feeling that this drama was well worth the watch.

Read More

Just like its tittle: warm and comforting

PLOT:
Meeting in Jeju between a rich, disillusioned and lazy ML, owner of a restaurant, and the FL in pursuit of her cousin, who bought a ruin with the funds she lent him. The ML takes in the FL, they work together and live together, despite the tricks of the ML's friend, not interested in the ML (because she wants a rich husband) but jealous (and wants to continue playing with him).

PROS:
+ Lots of excellent actors (｡◝‿◜｡), including Yoo Yeon Seok (ML) and Kang So Ra (FL), who have great chemistry.
+ Intelligent, well-written story, with coherent character development.
+ endearing secondary characters
+ the little touch of humor, notably the inner thoughts of the FL.

CONS:
- Many misunderstandings created just by things left unsaid

=> An excellent series (which I will undoubtedly watch again in a few years), like its name: warm and comforting.

************************************************************
PLOT:
Rencontre à Jeju entre 1 ML riche, désabusé et lazy, proprio d'1 restaurant, et la FL à la poursuite de son cousin, qui a acheté une ruine avec les fonds qu'elle lui a prêtés. Le ML recueille la FL, ils travaillent ensemble et cohabitent, en dépit des ruses de l'amie du ML, non intéressée par le ML (car elle veut 1 mari riche) mais jalouse (et veut continuer à jouer avec lui).

PROS:
+ Bcp d'excellents acteurs (｡◝‿◜｡), dont Yoo Yeon Seok (ML) et Kang So Ra (FL),qui ont une alchimie formidable.
+ Story intelligente, bien écrite, avec une évolution des personnages cohérente.
+ des personnages secondaires attachants
+ la petite touche d'humour, notamment les pensées intérieures de la FL.

CONS:
- Beaucoup de malentendus créés juste par des non-dits

=> Une excellente série (que je regarderai sans doute à nouveau dans quelques années), comme son nom : chaude et réconfortante.

Read More

It's like an emo teenage kid writing poems about life and death

This was a promising drama but I dropped it for four reasons:
(1) Love ZYT but the FL is too frivolous for my taste. Her flirting makes me cringe. Girl, get some self-respect and boundaries.
(2) The ML is like every other ML in every other drama. Stoic, expressionless, unkind towards FL. Why FL likes ML is a wonder at all - and don't get me started on the childhood sweethearts thing; dramaland has lost all originality.
(2) Unnecessary, completely gratuitous face slapping, when words and actual acting would more than suffice. What a weak storytelling device.
(3) Preachiness. Too much preachiness. About death. About life. About everything. So dramatic. All makjang.

It's giving "Look at me, I'm so deep, writing poems about life and death" vibe. I'm over it. Can't keep watching.

Read More

Lives up to the expectations?

I very much vividly remember how excited I was for the series to air when I only got snippets and how I felt my heart drop when it got cancelled. And then the unspeakable relief when the series got picked up by some other company.

It has to be said that my expectations were SUPER high based on the trailers, so it was really gonna be hit or miss. I read a couple of reviews and comments here and got a little less excited to begin the series, because they were quite bad.
I must express how happy I am that I didn't decide not to watch this, because it would be such a waste!

Yes, KinnPorsche doesn't make sense here and there, but those things are just something I don't mind considering the fact that this series was created for pure entertainment and damn, people, it's from the mafia background, how realistic or how much sense that should make? Come onnnnn.

Overall, do I recommend this series? YES. Does it live up to the expectations? Despite not being completely perfect, YES, it does.

Read More

unique af- it's a hit or miss, but i LOVED IT

THIS WAS SO BIZARRE LMFAOOO but i actually couldn't stop watching??? literally binged the whole thing in one go and i don't regret it at all

super bizarre story which makes it VERY unique- like, this is actually like no other kdrama out there. you will NOT get bored nor be able to predict most of it😭😭 some parts are strange(not necessarily in a bad way), some are extremely funny with me laughing out loud and some parts actually made me pretty emotional and a bit teary eyed??? managed to break my heart from the emotions AND my ribs w some of those jokes😭

idk how they managed to do all that with an extremely bizarre storyline in 10 very short episodes, but whatever that was, i want more. it may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me(and might be for you too if you have an open mind and like new and experimental things!). honestly, hope the writers/producers of this show come up w more of these short bizarre kdramas. if they're anything like this one, I'd eat it up every time.

Read More

super sweet

In all, the storyline and characters are both great. Cute, kind and honest FL off the streets caught by her father the Prime Minister, and suspicious, handsome ML hunted down after the war with every reason to trust her. It’s not silly or ridiculous, but it’s not too dark and ‘martial art-y’. It’s sweet and enjoyable, and I like the music. My favorite character would probably be Prince Jin’s guard Nan Bo, and all of the humor on side lines. It’s really worth the watch, especially if you’re looking for a relaxing, amusing and entertaining drama with good casting and an intriguing beginning.

Read More

WHAT WAS LIFE BEFORE THIS DRAMA

As I'm writing this review I'm overwhelmed with so much emotion, in the span of three days I watched this drama and that's because it is just that amazing. it had be laughing at 3 in the morning and then crying my eyes out I wish I could talk about everything I loved but if I did that this review would be longer than it needs to be so I'll talk about the important details.

Jinfeng is my queen when she's happy I'm happy when she's said I'm sad I haven't rooted for a character this hard since Zhuohua in The Legend of Zhuohua I love her character with my whole heart there is not a single thing I would change she is actually perfection to me and I want nothing but the best for her and I wish the show got a second season just so I could have more of her.

Yunzhang my underrated king sure there were moments where I felt he was being unnecessarily hard and cruel on Jinfeng but I always remind myself that his only 20 so the boy had some growing to do, and grow he did, but to do but my god when his funny his hilarious and when his sweet his just the sweetest I love that man your honor.

I want to talk about some of the reviews saying the relationship wasn't written well and I have to say I disagree the romance was written just as well as the comedy I found myself looking forward to every scene the leads shared their chemistry was amazing and I know some people were disappointed with the lack of kissing but honestly I don't think their relationship needed it, and it just goes to show how amazing the chemistry between them was that I didn't mind the lack of kissing between the leads, they honestly remind me of Bob and Linda from Bob's Burger always fighting because they love each other and want to help their partner grow. This might just be my favorite cdrama couple yet.

I want to talk about so many other thing like how amazing each of the supporting characters were, Shuanzi you are my child and I love you very dearly, but again this review is already pushing it in length but know that each character was needed and no one could be written out without the story falling flat in some way. And yes I enjoyed the dancing

I love this drama very much and I will probably rewatch it tomorrow because it's just that good, PLEASE WATCH THIS SHOW

Read More

Little bit boring

The last few episodes were interesting, but the rest were boring. The entry of the main leads was good, and I initially thought there would be a clash between them. However, the female lead already had a boyfriend. The story began with her perspective. She had a boyfriend who was always good to her, and they shared a strong bond. However, they broke up because of his sister, who manipulated his mother, leading to a conflict based on social status. The male lead entered their lives, and the common link was his grandmother, who was an acquaintance of the female lead. The female lead's mother constantly nagged at her , trying to impose her decisions on her daughter. She was the dominant figure in their family. As time passed, the mother gradually began to understand things better.

The story depicts the hurdles faced by the leads and how they overcome them. It also explores the challenges faced by two other characters due to the age gap in their relationship.

I particularly liked the chemistry between the second leads, the female lead's brother and her best friend.

Read More