Respect the Dead
The atmosphere of the film is haunting. The only film I could compare this to is "The Wailing". Exuma has elements of belief in Feng shui, Shamanism and even Christianity. And if the viewer believes, they are guaranteed to be terrified watching this. Personally, I was completely engaged with the film, and although I was aware that it was about paranormal stuff, I was convinced that it was real, which made the viewing experience very intense for me.I was confused by how our main characters, in the first part of the film, routinely and even disrespectfully carry out their work, but when they are faced with the special task of digging up a problematic mysterious dead body in a coffin, they become completely dedicated to their work. As a priest, I also perform funerals every day and sometimes I am not completely concentrated, so this film encourages me to try, as much as possible, to give sincere respect and a dignified tribute to each deceased person.
All in all, the actors did a great job. The sequence of the story changed its course throughout the film, but at the end we still see a meaningful unity that leads us to appreciate the cooperation and connection between the four main protagonists.
After the news of the film's success in Korean cinemas, I had high expectations for this and indeed, Exuma didn't disappoint.
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bom mas faltou algo
eu acho meio complicado falar de grey shelter no momento. eu não acho que classificar como um potencial desperdiçado seja certo mas é meio óbvio que algumas peças faltaram se encaixar. eu vejo que na história existe um drama muito grande que cerca os personagens principais, mas esse enredo parace ser diminuído na obra. eu entendo que ficar explicando background de história as vezes se torna algo maçante, mas quando não se tem nada deixa a história vazia. os personagens tinha uma boa química, uma boa história na mão e todo um cenário/produção muito bom a disposição, uma pena que não foi aproveitado como poderia.Was this review helpful to you?
I've seen 250+ dramas, and this is the only drama I've ever given a 10.
I am a vampire freak, who loves romances when they are dark, slow-burn, supernatural, obsessive, angsty and passionate. I love stories with an ML who is red-flag, possessive, controlling, antihero, badass, or morally gray. I like stories about demons, devils, gumihos, legendary beings... you get the idea.This drama isn't about vampires at all. But it's so close it might as well be. He looks, talks, acts, and thinks just like a vampire. All that's missing is the fangs and the superhuman abilities. And it's funny that a drama that is in no way about vampires, is the best vampire romance I've ever come across. It just satisfies my vamp-cravings so perfectly.
SoKP is deliciously slow burn. The best slow burn I know of besides Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'. An unbelievable amount of patience is required to get to the payoff. But what a payoff. The fire that finally sets off is so hot that it permanently scarred my brain.
Aesthetics and color palate, styling and makeup and costumes... everyone in this drama was made to look incredible. Even the tertiary characters. I'm not saying everyone was stunningly model-hot. I'm saying they brought out each actor's best. This is true on an acting level as well. The directors and producers cared about each actor and actress, about their inner beauty and their natural talent shining through. The execution of this story was almost completely flawless. The casting was perfect in every way. Ling He is so excruciatingly gorgeous, and Bai Lu is beautiful beyond compare in her role here. Supporting cast was incredible and perfectly suited to their individual roles.
The political/intrigue part of the story was interesting, immersive, sufficiently complex to hold your attention, but not overly complex to make you feel muddled and mentally taxed as you watch.
I cannot recc this drama enough. HOWEVER. You will not like this drama if you fall into one of the following categories:
Looking for a green-flag ML---> this ML is morally gray, controlling, manipulative, forceful. There is some throat-grabbing and forced kisses as well.
Like to watch "boring stuff" on 2x and FFW'd during dramas regularly when your attention isn't engaged ---> this story requires your full attention, immersion, and patience in order to experience the full effect of the romance. It will not hold up to someone who is skipping or 2x-ing through parts, because you'll kill the pacing and atmosphere that needs to be established. You can skip some parts in episode 1 to get you going, but after that, I'd strongly advise against it.
This is a very special drama. You can never watch it for the first time twice. So, if you do decide to give this a chance, savor your first watch-through. Watch it on a dark, rainy weekend when you can binge it fully. with the lights out and some candles going or something, and let yourself get really into it. Happy viewing <3
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Story and OST are perfect for each other!
The story is really beautiful, it's dark but with a fine undertone of hope. The actors did really great and my heart ached for them. The way they interacted with each other was so careful, in a scared way, and the kiss showed their attraction to each other and their fears at the same time.The colors were muted, it really felt gray, like a heavy blanket for your emotions. Beautiful!
The OST is perfect! I often skip the intro and outro, but not this time. It reminds me of my fav anime "NANA", it has the same underlying feeling of hurt and lonelyness, but with a powerful beat.
If you like more mature, dark and serious stories, you should watch it!
I read in the comments that a second part is possible, so maybe we get to learn more about their story. I would really like to see more of those two broken people, how they maybe get a "happily ever after" or even a "both starting to heal". That would be enough for me.
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Sindrome di Stoccolma? oh yes!
Uno dei drama più brutti che abbia mai visto.La vera protagonista di questo drama è una madre psicopatica.
Si inneggia alla pietas filiale quando è molto più una sindrome di Stoccolma.
Un'intera famiglia alla mercee delle brame di potere e ricchezza di una madre despota che ha instillato in figli e marito il sacro terrore di dispiacerle o anche solo turbarla.
Lei comanda e tutti scattano sull'attenti.
Anche quando cercano di avere una minima autonomia lo fanno sussurrando e pregandola in ginocchio di consentirglelo.
Arriva a imporle con l'inganno il matrimonio col suo ex (un debole vile) solo perché è ricco.
La protagonista finalmente si ribella un minimo, in piena cerimonia le dice il fatto suo (con pacatezza e garbo) e la madre che, nonostante si sia accorta di essere stata ingannata dalla famiglia dell'aspirante genero, che fa? La schiaffeggia e le dice che non è più sua figlia, se non lo sposa, salvo poi prendersela perché lei fa le valigie.
Le neffandezze che questa donna ha commesso nella sua vita sono indicibili.
Le sue scelte egoistiche hanno reso un inferno l'infanzia del foglio, costretto il marito a farla vivere una vita che non si potevano permettere lamentandosi costantemente di quanto fosse vile e inadeguato, reso la figlia una burattina pronta a sacrificare la sua dignità pur di renderla orgogliosa e rischiando di mandarle in malora la vita e il lavoro costantemente.
Ma tutti che fanno? La venerano come angelo del focolaio.
Un drama che è più una propaganda a valori che sarebbero sani se fossero applicati con amore invece che con regole mirate al predominio classista.
Schifo.
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My Journey to another Journey...
I am missing some romance and believe this drama is incomplete but it was very dark and pretty to look at.The female lead has more or less one expression which is kind pf refreshing while our male lead is bubbly and full of joy and charisma. The side characters are part interesting part annoying. But work pretty well there are a few to many recaps as well as some never ending monologs that felt like the writers took a short cut instead of letting us see the actual plot as it unfolded we got some kind of mess and recap instead.
Some part of the dialog/whispers where so predictable I found myself mumbling them in Mandarin (though I do not speak Mandarin). Other parts came seemingly out of nowhere. The side couple have some pretty decent dynamics but the villains are underdeveloped and even though they seem to try to explain them to us it ended up just confusing taking away most of the exitement leaving me with the feeling of meeh...
Not to mention the show of romance was so little I believe it should be removed from the genres and added to the tags with slight romance.
That said it is an okay watch with pretty scenery, pretty people and probably more poison's and elixirs than all the wuxias of 2024 will have combined.
Leaving me with the questions: Will there be a second season? will that season have as much poison and scheming or will they move on to fire and smoke?
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This is exactly the rom-com we needed
I have been anticipating this drama since they announced it. I honestly, watched the first episode after it's released without thinking about the consequence and pain having to wait for a new episode each week but we're here! Lol Never ever crossed my mind that they would give us THIS much chemistry and let alone be obsessed with SolJae couple. Seriously, this pairing is so GOOD and so cute.Kim Hye Yoon deserves to be casted as she truly portrayed Im Sol. She shined so much here. Her versatility and her showing so many emotions all at once is remarkable.
Byeon Woo Seok, delivers Ryu Sun Jae's character as well. His dynamics and expressions are on point. I'm literally in awe of how talented he is?! Like, his vocals??? He could do KPOP/Band vocalist full time! So happy for him he's getting the popularity he deserves now. (Don't sleep on him! He might be the next rom-com king!)
This is exactly the rom-com I needed. I honestly love this so much as I have been looking for dramas that are light and not stressful. This is what I'm hoping for! All tropes that I like are visible here. I just hope they won't focus on the thriller/murder part because that's seriously a turn off. Lol
It's still early to say as we gradually go on with the episodes but 9.1 rating is so deserving!!!!
??♀️Dimple couple??♂️~~~!!! Fighting!!!!
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So sad its now finished, so am off to watch it again.
I have really really enjoyed watching this series. The story is a simple one of disaster and heartache for a family and how with strong leadership and caring for one another and a willingness to change and work hard together good things can happen.I really love the strength shown by the ladies of the family to overcome the difficulties even a few bumps in the road did not deter them. The FL and ML developed a brilliant relationship and the actors portrayed there role in a very believable way. It all felt so natural. There were many notable performances enough to say i thought all the cast did an extremely fine job. Of course i have my favourites and i am sure you will to.
The cinematography, OST are first class and made the whole experience of watching the series all the more enjoyable.
many thanks to all the cast and crew for giving us a series that is such a pleasure to watch. Am off to watch the whole series again now.
I wonder if there could be a 2nd series with the same cast of course. That would be great.
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THE ANGST!!
The acting was great! The chemistry between the two actors as ridiculous and I wanted more! The title credits and song are probably the best I’ve seen in a KBL and perfectly capture the mood of the show. I was just a little confused. I don’t know if it was the translation or the script, but I feel like I missed a lot. Like I understood the conflict between the leads and both of their dads. I thought the one dad was in jail, but he sent the oranges (or apples) from not jail….? I also thought the abusive dad was going to show up again but he didn’t, and that was disappointing because I think there needed to be that closure, more than the phone call provided. Would watch again though!Was this review helpful to you?
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I'm speechless
Not really sure what to say really.I was half paying attention at one point.
I guess he quit being a host at the club because of his mother.
Then there's the whole Japan/Seiji/Ken thing.
I don't get why they didn't just go in that direction from the get go.
In my opinion they had Japan acting like didn't know anything about anything. He is naive and this shows it.
The fact that he just invited Ken into his budding relationship with Seiji and lets face it he only did that just because Ken was looking like a lost dog. I could see that happening if Japan like both Seiji and Ken ......Ken like both Seiji and Japan and Seiji liked both of them but that's not the case. All I've seen was Ken lusting after Seiji and I didn't get that feeling from Seiji towards Ken at all except best friends. Seeing that Japan is as naive as the day is long I don't see that kind of thing working out in the long run. Once he really knows about life I think he'll be outta there or they will be back to square one where he and Ken going at it. Also the fact that Ken is going along with this just to have Seiji even if he has to share him is really pathetic. Then there was no story for the other two and I really didn't care about Freya in the end because I just didn't like her.
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The importance of family when everything is lost
I was hesitant to watch any more historical dramas because they had been quite repetitious and uninteresting. However, I was hooked on this drama since it was quite good! The cast, including Zhang Jing Yi and Hu Yi Tian, is fantastic as always, and the plot is excellent. It was well worth seeing! I love how this isn't a typical female lead who suddenly knows everything and knows how to solve everything but there was a story behind why she is different from others.I am so glad that Lu Yu Xiao is getting the recognition she's getting because that girl can act! She is always enjoyable in every drama I have watched her in and I'm glad she's getting more main roles because she deserves it!
The plot revolves around Hua Zhi, a girl in the Hua family who is viewed as nothing more than a disappointment for failing to follow her "female duties," and how she is the main reason for the family's survival when all of the male family members are deported. One of the reasons I loved this drama was that it portrayed the reality of families; sometimes people would just worry about themselves. One of the reasons I enjoyed this drama was because it depicted the truth of families; sometimes people would just think of themselves and spite each other to obtain what they want. The fact that no one got along well with each other, blamed each other and were distrustful of each other, and having Hua Zhi there to bring the family back together while they were going through difficulties, was extremely great to see. Typically, having family members in c-drama assumes there are nasty parents or aunts, but there was none of that. I was initially terrified of Madam Xia since she appeared to be a typical wicked aunt (maybe I had watched too many cdramas), but she was actually very nice and was simply trying to keep the family together. Even the daughters were close by the end, though I was saddened that some of them had passed. I was worried when one of the daughters married Sun Xiang, who had about 8 concubines, but it was incredibly satisfying to watch how such a little girl controlled the entire family and even the guy was afraid of her lol.
The plot flowed incredibly nicely, and these cases fit flawlessly, providing a really wonderful build up. This drama isn't about discovering one actual villain; instead, it's about the Hua family working hard to acquire enough money to reunite their family as the male lead assists her along the way. It is an excellent drama that I would highly suggest to anyone! (There's a happy ending, which is definitely a positive.)
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Dissenting opinion here
Please bear in mind that this is ONLY my opinion!The cinematography in this drama was fabulous, as was the music. Episode 1 started so strongly; I had high hopes for this show. Song Joong Ki and Ok Taec Yeon were both excellent. Plus, there was the advantage of a bunch of actors that I have loved in other works.
For me, this drama had a couple of problems. 1) First, so much bloodshed for the sake of bloodshed. Vincenzo is completely missing a moral compass, which made it hard for me to root for him in any capacity. Then, you have the upright citizens whose moral compasses go on the fritz or something and are willing to do whatever it takes for revenge. 2) The character was just all-around irritating. I kept waiting for her to get better, but no such luck. 3) I didn't feel the chemistry between the ML and FL. They would have been better to stick with the bromance.
But worst of all was the comedy. Don't get me wrong, the comedy was, for the most part, funny, and if the serious parts were less dark and violent, it might have worked well. However, it felt too much like the writers were trying to lighten up the heavy storyline and it felt contrived. The serious parts provided a lot of tension, but I kept being pulled out of the story by the comedy. So often, to me, this felt like a mash up of two diametrically opposed genres.
My review is to remind me of what I watched and what I thought, not to change anyone's mind, so please don't come at me with hate.
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Best Choice Ever became my Favorite Drama Ever
I think Best Choice Ever provided better growth for Xu Kai's character unlike She and Her Perfect Husband.I liked YZM & MCH Interactions the most. Xu Kai at his best. I've to say that there are very good and entertaining characters like YZM, MCH, He Dong, Zhang Zhiyu, Grand Mother. You can't get bored watching these characters. But of course, every drama has its own pros and cons. I felt the Mom character is too boring and hurts the FL many times. XJL (MCH's Ex) is also boring to watch. As his character seemed too childish where as MCH is a matured woman. I don't know Why MCH dated XJL?
But anyways, MCH & YZM are together at the end of the drama.
Instead of that time waste by creating unnecessary plot in the last 2-3 eps, they should have worked around the plot of YZM and MCH's marriage like the most of the Chinese dramas do.
I loved MCH & YZM interactions the most:
1. MCH to YZM - Mr. Yao, the world doesn't end without you but your kidneys would, drink more water. (In Hospital)
2. YZM to MCH - Miss Mai, The world doesn't end without you but I would. (Replied again in hospital)
3. I knew it, Fang something right? He said you're childhood sweethearts (this line looks simple in English but it was funny when he said that in Chinese)
4. If you like someone, do you have to express it in person?, ...... I like you ?
5. It was my fault for giving my heart to you too soon, now my world is filled with you! (YZM tried to be cheesy with his lines)
6. Auntie, I was that mouse running around at home.
7. YZM's scene with MCH's Mom - When I was young due to my family environment, I have always been a selfish person. I don't know what is family and what is warmth and I never expected to fall in love with someone in my life. Ever since Cheng Huan entered my life, she brought different colors and made me look forward for the future. In my heart, I have long regarded you as my family. I request you to let me properly love Cheng Huan & become a part of your family.
I liked YZM's character even more when he confronted Ms. Zhang over Xing'anli issues.
Cons of the Drama:
1. Lesser Screen Time for Xu Kai (But fine I'm more satisfied with YZM rather than his other drama - SAHPH: Yang Hua)
2. Boring Characters like Liu Wanyu, Xin Jialiang, Xin Jiali
3. Too much wastage ~ They should have reduced the whole marriage thing (Come On!, Ep 1 to Ep 16)
4. XJL was the dumbest character I've ever seen in the Chinese drama. You're almost 30 and you can't even trust your girl friend. You have always lied about your status and yet MCH should be understanding of you and your family?
5. Liu Wanyu's character bored me so many times. Her constant nagging towards husband, son and daughter couldn't bear it.
6. Last 3 episodes wasted on LWY's illness.
Pros of the Drama
1. Mai Cheng Huan - Being filial, positive, and honesty throughout is really difficult. It's my second drama of Yang Zi. I like her even more. She's a matured actress.
2. Yao Zhi Ming - In MCH words, A Successful Man with traumatized childhood. YZM seemed selfish in the beginning. Only cared about his promotion at the head quarters. But the trip with Grand Mother and MCH changed his perspective. Before he was hospitalized, he said to a kid that there's no Ultraman in this world. After MCH's care, he said to the same kid that there's no Ultraman in the world but there's spiderman & superman. The character transitioned a lot. The Apology to MCH. At first, I also interpreted like Mao that YZM's strategy to make MCH fall in love with him and then take over Xing'anli but he surprised when MCH and YZM began dating, there's a scene where YZM buys flowers for his Girl Friend from a Little Girl (She Says " Brother, I wish you happiness" and in response he says " I wish you happiness too and can you wish happiness to others on the way on the behalf of my Girl Friend?").
3. Mai Lai Tian - Positive and Patient Father. He is filled full of Patience. Mai Mom always had something to nag at him and he was always listening to her nagging with patience. He is too supportive and with a positive attitude.
4. Zhang Pei Sheng - Although she turned out to be Antagonist. Her scenes with YZM are good. Her daughter is more matured than her.
5. Chen Shu Zhen - Grand Mai's character is another best character. Always supportive of both her grand children. We can't just give 100% score to MCH for changing YZM. 30% Grand Mai also changed him.
6. He Dong - His interaction with YZM is most funny. YZM is friendly with him and HD is also friendly with YZM. Their relationship was too fun and interactive.
If I were to Re-watch the show - I'll watch from Ep 21 to Ep 33. (Ep 1 to Ep 20, I would watch scenes involving YZM with HD, MCH & Grand Mai)
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