Dropped 21/24
My Journey to You
2 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
21 of 24 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 4.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

So much potential

This TV drama had so MUCH potential!

Finally we have the pairing of the FL and ML (I've seen them not together in Love Between Fairy and Devil) and Esther is not being her annoying, cutesy, whiny, child voice. She actually is mature, and graceful.
Except when she only has one whispery sad voice, and facial expression.

The cinematography, the lighting, the REAL voices (as opposed to annoying dubbed) and the start had so much potential to get to something REALLY good. There was mystery, there was an interesting premise... and even some good romance from the 1st ML and FL and 2nd ML and FL...

But I began to get really lost, confused half way through.

There are too many prolonged conversations which I think were intended to be loaded and filled with clues, but they just go too long winded.

Then there was the strange flashbacks that sometimes revealed something, but most times started to make me wonder the point of it all.

It didn't make sense, then I read that the ending was not just open ended but that it just seemed UNFINISHED. Like it had the potential to finish up properly, but ended up being vague and just incomplete.

So comes down to bad planning, bad writing.

Sadly I dropped it even having got so far as 21 episodes, because I preferred to spend those hours of my life watching sometimes that paid off rather than this that had the sparklings of a good story, but fell flat on its face.

I wish I could say the OST was good - but there was just some weird background music most of the time, not in line with the atmosphere or mood of the scene. There is again potential good songs on the OST, but just wasn't used. Usually I'd be like, oh good they did overuse it or variations of it, but they didn't use the music well for the scenes that needed it!

Don't bother. OR watch first few episodes to appreciate the filming and scenery and then ditch it because you'll end up frustrated and confused by the end. I totally wasted 21+ hours on this and wish I could have spent it reading or sleeping instead.

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Hidden Love
4 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Finally A C-Drama I finished

It's so hard for me to find good Chinese dramas, so this was one of the rare ones that I watched from start to finish.

The story is about a girl who falls in love with her brother's friend, who's 5 years older than him. Sounds spicy, and the trailer and plot made it seem like the couple will go through many ups and downs. But this drama was the complete opposite of dramatic. It was so sweet, without being cringe. This was one of the main reasons why I loved this drama. The guy was so romantic, sweet, and caring, without being too over the top. The girl may seem spoiled given her family background, but she was raised right: humble and kind. They complement each other so well!

The progression of how the couple grew to be together was so natural. At first, I thought the actress was too cutesy in having to play a younger girl, but I ended up being used to it, and it worked on her.

In real life, the age gap is only by 2 years, so I'm curious to know how it would be like if the age gap was further, to be more realistic. Either way, they had amazing chemistry, and I'm going to miss this cute couple.

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Utsukushii Kare
1 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

This is an opinion regarding the characters and not a review of the series!!!

I love the 5th and 6th episode of the first season too much! I really, really like kiyoi’s view of things… it must be so unsatisfying to have Hira as his boyfriend… considering the way Hira generally is… but despite his creepy, need-for-constant-validation, non-understanding behaviour towards kiyoi, I still like this series very much…


But I don’t like Hira. He is very creepy, and I don’t like the way he says he worships kiyoi but does not take the necessary steps to understand him. How can he say that kiyoi never needs to meet his parents? I mean, does he really really not know how offensive that is?? The worst part is, in the end it was kiyoi who had reach out and clear the air. Hira, just stood there, wallowing in his pseudo-insecurity as usual. I feel that kiyoi can do much better than Hira. I know you have a love deficit, but what he has for you is not love, it’s obsession.

The list of situations where Hira has wronged kiyoi just keeps going on. Hira liked kiyoi first right?? But it was kiyoi who had to take the first step and kiss him. Even then, he did not respond to his advances but changed his number! How do you think Kiyoi would have felt?
Absolutely no consideration for the second party’s feelings! Even in the second season, he was the one who had to come back after kiyoi said something so offensive, he was the one who bought a Valentine’s Day gift… It was always Kiyoi who reached out to Hira, despite his profound proclamation that he “worships” Hira, which makes it an uneven relationship, that I am not too comfortable with.


I know in the beginning Kiyoi seems like a jerk. I agree completely. I mean, I was this close to smashing a boulder on his head. But. But I feel that even in those situations, Hira’s creepiness justifies his hostility. I mean, how would you feel if someone just kept saying how beautiful you were, provided you weren’t in a relationship with them? Agreed, kiyoi liked his creepiness, but I don’t. So I am not exactly a biggest fan of his actions.

But I will give Hira this. He always places kiyoi before anything. Always there to cheer him on, on his movie sets, always making sure he eats what he likes, waiting for him when kiyoi comes home late etc… it’s is quite really the only reason why I commend their relationship. Okay. So maybe, just maybe, you might make an average boyfriend…

But as you can see from my opinion-piece, I truly like Kiyoi more than Hira. It’s non-negotiable.

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The Eclipse
0 people found this review helpful
by Kiki
Sep 30, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Wow!!!

This show really smacked me in the face, I was not expecting this level of drama or this level of greatness!

I thought I had this show all figured out, but those plot twists actually got me. I love KhaoFirst. I actually came here to cleanse myself from their ANGST over in Only Friends. I'm glad I didn't know about this show until now because I needed it! 😂 It made me laugh, cry, smile, and.... RAGE.

Let's go!
Me vs Thua

This guy deserved Boston, not Khan.

I'm not proud of anything Thua did. He can kick rocks tbh. If he knew all of that he should've taken the time to understand and talk to Akk directly. It's hard for me to care about Thua's outburst and plotting when the audience has seen Akk's realization and struggles. I don't support him being made a villain. Yes what he did was so wrong, but they're literally supposed to be high schoolers. It's even easier at that age to be groomed and manipulated. He was basically brainwashed with cult mentality. - However Akk should have listened when he was advised by Aye to tell the truth before it was told for him. I wish he had. But Thua still sucks for what he did. He used everyone, lied, outed his "friends", and he was not even sorry.

Aye took time to confront Akk and ALSO understand. I dont think he intended to help Akk cover it up. He continued to encourage him to tell the truth. The only time he wasn't pushing it was when Akk's mental health was at risk once he realized what he'd done. Are we forgetting unaliving ourselves is a major plot point?! May Thua be perpetually single, step on a lego every day, and eat bricks for all of his meals. Yelling at this fictional character has been therapeutic. 😂

The only things keeping this from a 10/10 are:

-Thua's step dad is not fully explained or resolved. They made it seem like he was being abused and then all of a sudden it was okay?

-Why did the teacher have that picture of D and the other professor just tucked in a book? Everyone's outing everyone here too lol.

-Thua gets barely any backlash for what he did. He keeps his boo and his friends.

-Why did the main teacher puppeteering never really apologize? or stand up sooner? His toxic behavior towards Akk is swept away by him dating Aye's late uncle. Nothing changed other than people finding out.

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The Untamed
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
50 of 50 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers
I'm trying so hard to be objective in the review ratings on this, being a fan of both XZ and WYB. Questioning whether I'm scoring it too high and readjusting. First off, The Untamed is based off of MDZS, which was a webnovel by MXTX. I started off watching the animated version of MDZS , and shortly after (while waiting for more episodes), read the original MDZS webnovel, so went into The Untamed knowing the story on which it is based.

Story - This drama was really well-adapted. I was surprised. Yes the BL elements were removed but it does not take away from portraying the loyalty and bond of the main leads (and really some of it is open to interpretation). There is some jumping between timelines to explain the story but I also think they handled it well without making it too confusing. Of course there are changes from the original webnovel but it stayed surprisingly true to the original work as far as character relationships and themes. I do rather wish the ending was not as open-ended in the drama since the original work was pretty clear on where things went--but its fine. Also, while the main leads and most supporting characters are male, I DO appreciate the presence of strong female characters even if they are minor. Yu Ziyuan might not have been the kindest to WWX (she has reasons although still unjustified), but this woman is strong, can fight, and does not hesitate to give her own special weapon to her son and send him away with WWX while she faces a planned massacre bearing down on their home while her husband is away (and when he finally comes back after she has been fending them off on her own all day he STILL is taken down before her--i might have facepalmed a bit here). Jiang Yanli and Wenqing may not be the greatest in combat but they will standup for their younger brothers in the face of authority and won't shy away from danger to protect them if they feel it is necessary. In XianXia stories where female characters can sometimes be portrayed as weak, needing some kind of protector, or just...not smart, it is refreshing to have strong females (flawed but definitely still having clear strengths).

Cast - As much as I'd love to give a 10 here because I'm a fan of both the leads, I think a 9 is more fair from an objective standpoint as there were still parts that could be more polished in general from both leads and supporting cast. The cast was fantastic but objectively, did not have the subtlety and polish of some more experienced actors although there were definitely many moments of brilliance. But then I also want to take into account that these ARE newer actors and they DID to an amazing job on this production. XZ and WYB were fantastic for their roles. Especially considering they do not have that much acting experience under their belt at this point in time, their performance was actually very impressive. And you can actually SEE the improvement in the drama itself as they got a better understanding of their roles and finetuned and polished their portrayals. As an example, some of the earlier episodes had scenes where WYB had "dead fish eyes" and some viewers commented he looked sleepy (he kinda did lol). Actually he said himself he didn't have a full understanding of LWJ right away but sharpened his gaze later which made a huge difference. Its actually really hard to act LWJ since he doesn't talk much and doesn't have alot of lines, so the portrayal has to come from minute facial expressions, eyes, posture. WYB did an amazing job. Xiao Zhan was also excellent portraying both the playful mischievous side of WWX as well as the intimidating "Don't F with me" side. His character has to play out a huge range of emotions, from playfulness to grief to rage. With XianXia since things are often not filmed in order as much as a modern drama, sometimes he would have to film a playful scene followed by a raging scene and would need to get himself into the appropriate state for that character. I don't imagine this to be easy but he did so well. The supporting cast in general did well too, especially considering many were very young and very new--some scenes where they needed to emote came across a bit exaggerated but overall the entire cast did an excellent job.

Music - I have the OST regularly playing. Enough said.

Overall this drama is a very well put together package and I wonder if the cast/crew surprised themselves a bit. The actors were not big names at the time but all of them (main and supporting cast) put on a performance that they should be proud of given their yrs of experience at that time. The music and OST is just lovely and really boosts certain scenes. The CGI....*cough* lets skip this and chalk it up to smaller budget. Worth watching, worth rewatching.

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Hidden Love
4 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Heartwarming and Hilarious: A Hidden Love CDrama Review

THidden Love was my initiation into the world of Cdramas, and what a delightful introduction it was. The essence of wholesomeness embedded in this drama truly warms the heart and leaves a lasting impression. At the core of its charm lies the phenomenal chemistry between the main leads, setting the stage for an unforgettable love story.

One of the standout features of Hidden Love is the endearing sibling bickering that had me in fits of laughter throughout the series. The portrayal of the "darling brother" added a special touch to the storyline, evoking both amusement and endearment.

Beyond the romantic connection between the leads, the dynamic they share with other characters in the show is what truly elevates this drama. The genuine interactions and relationships forged throughout the series significantly contribute to its overall appeal.

The introduction is a cute and captivating hook, setting the tone for the series, while the soundtracks complement the narrative beautifully, providing an enjoyable auditory experience.

In terms of the plot, while it follows a typical love story arc, it exudes a delightful charm that keeps viewers engaged. However, a minor setback is the lack of attention to detail, which slightly detracts from the overall experience. The inconsistencies in the timeline and Sang Zhi's allergies create a disconnect, highlighting potential oversights in the script that could have been rectified with careful editing and review.

One perplexing aspect was the discrepancy in the portrayal of Sang Zhi's allergies. The confusion surrounding her allergies, specifically the absence of visible symptoms in certain scenes, raises questions about the attention to continuity and accuracy in the storyline.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Hidden Love has left an indelible mark on me, and I can envision myself revisiting this drama multiple times in the years to come. Its undeniable charm and heartwarming moments make it a memorable viewing experience, deserving of its place in the Cdrama repertoire.

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Completed
My Dearest
4 people found this review helpful
by Lo_ok
Sep 30, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers

A Glass Half Empty

Well, someone has to put on their big boy pants here. If there’s anything I for certain have gotten out of this drama is that I wouldn’t mind if it ended with Ryang Eum taking off h-..

My Dearest, where do i begin? Have i already begun? Hell could i even tell you after a ridiculously long “part 1” that this drama even began yet? I’m sorry , let me get the few praises i have out the way that made me stick through and why anyone contemplating may want to give it a go.

Cast
Yes this is indeed Namkoong Min’s world and we’re just living in it. Emphasis on namkoong min alone, not his character. In fact I’ll get it out the way that there’s not a single character besides one (I’ll get to) that satisfied me on screen. BUT!..but, the casting surprisingly held its own to enhance the mediocrity my now dreary eyes couldn’t get enough of. Namkoong Min is truly a delight no matter what he’s starred in, i can watch the man stare in longing from afar for hours. Actually, should i rewind and start a timer? I think we have already, no? Was at least 10% of this drama not comprised o-. Sigh, pros… pros. The rest were good enough, big ups for the antagonists here.

Cinematography
Watch the trailer. Yeah no just watch the tr-Shut up, turn the trailer on. Want more? Of course you do .

Jack of all Trades, Master of None
Listen, we have a bit of almost everything here that almost every kdrama fan can’t get enough of. Cliche romantic setups, poetic dialogue, BL, stunning settings, censored BL, intense love triangles as confusing as they are everchanging. Hm, anticlimatic cliffhangers keeping us flat on the center of our chairs, oh hey Ryang. Grand action sequences , sleeve tugging, not now Ryang, heart numbing departures, weirdly timed confessions, me too Ryang. Know it all there for it all wingmen. Oh so mysterious and seemingly tragic pasts, singing, fine ,one more Ryang. Damsels in distress, but hey, capable damsels? Trying betrayals, ah, slam him harder against the wall, more passion, t-that’ll show him.

Fyi, i enjoyed all of these and more for some reason. And for that same reason unknown to me, I’m sure anyone contemplating on watching it now would too. Would i say any of these were executed profoundly? No, but I wouldn’t say any of them were done in some piss poor manner either, more so a delicate tinkle.


Character
No not characters, let me introduce the most refreshing female lead to hit the screen in 2023, that I’ve wa-. Yoo Gil Chae is this manipulative, seemingly selfish, obnoxiously stubborn, clueless, hopeless romantic young woman finding herself during a dark time in Neunggun-ri that’s falling down on her quicker and heavier than anyone at that point of time could ever imagine. Forcing this carefree woman to adapt quickly in extremely harsh and boundary pushing surroundings. What once was manipulating others’ infatuation and frustrations for her personal gain in favor, entertainment ,and reputation suddenly had to shift into taking advantage of the cards dealt in front of her in order to survive and protect those she care for. This selfish woman going with almost any means necessary to make it through one more cold insufferable night, day by day. You have the absolute pleasure of witnessing these strengths and weaknesses contrast in several completely different and expansive situations. Sometimes with relieving and maturing results, other times leading to deeper holes and despair. Ladies and gentlemen, Namkoong Min may hold the star power, but there’s no other character here that holds a torch to the ever-growing flame that is Yoo Gil Chae. She alone made this worth my time, she alone may make this worth watching part 2 if i weren’t currently exaggerating my ass off from the temporary fulfillment her character has given me in comparison to the other mediocrity.


Episode 6
I do not care what anyone has said or tells you. This point here is what sold me on this drama’s potential that it later fell flat on. Not the drastic tone change in the beginning episodes, though impressive in contrasting. Hell if you would want to just spring on ahead of the other episodes to see what i mean, I wouldn’t advise otherwise. This was the peak for me, all the way through, what happened before and after this episode? Couldn’t tell you.

I don’t wish to convince anybody to turn away from this series, as there’s some quite impactful stuff here to miss out on. But I wouldn’t consider this a must try either. At moments it has everything going for it. But then there’s the ineptness of the pacing here of what feels like a story meant to be told in it’s entirety within what is made out to be the first half? The extremely questionable actions and senseless confusion from these characters that had me questioning if i’m just not comprehending the full picture drawn out. The sole plot progression tool and absolute bot of a character Eun Ae went out her way to be. The complete abomination of a “part 1” finale that was just all over the place in pacing and writing that terrifies me in even opening a trailer for the inevitable second half around the corner. These are hot takes, simpleminded thoughts to avoid deep dives and heavy spoilers just to take a shit on this drama in full cognition. My single half assed rant amongst the swarming amounts of well thought out reviews treasuring this drama for plenty of valid reasons. I’m currently half awake and pissed at the potential I personally didn’t find this drama coming close to. Constantly sipping away at some cheap wine i know would be empty soon. Admittedly addicting ,but no memorable notes. Now a trade of my time for a bit of yours.


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Chungking Express
2 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 4.5
This review may contain spoilers

"It takes time to get used to things"

Chungking Express is more a mood than a story, more style than substance but an entertaining and colorful watch. Lonely and heartbroken people brush up to the edge of madness as they look for love or try to reclaim it. Lives touch briefly with unexpected outcomes.

In the first short story, Officer #223 is attempting to win back his girlfriend May, unable to move on. Most evenings he hangs out at the snack bar using the pay phone to try and get in touch with her through relatives and friends. Each day he purchases a can of pineapple with the expiration date of May 1, coincidentally his birthday, and vows after eating thirty of them if she hasn't come back, he will move on. His love lines cross paths with Brigitte Lin's Blonde Wig Woman who is a drug dealer and smuggler who has been double-crossed by the trafficking mules she has prepared.

The whole May 1 expiration date bit was too on the nose, feeling more and more contrived as the bit went along. Brigitte Lin in sunglasses, a trench coat and armed with a gun was at least interesting. It took a while to care about a guy who couldn't get over being dumped. Brigitte Lin's drug dealer, who was never given a name, was more compelling. I eventually began to vibe with this strange emotional bump in the night. At least it got #223 to stop talking about pineapples. "Do you like pineapples?" Yeah, that's a player move. I honestly would have loved to see this relationship play out with both people on opposite sides of the law.

My interest perked up with the second story when Tony Leung looking sexy in a police officer uniform entered the scene. Officer #663 was also nursing a broken heart after his flight attendant girlfriend soared away for new sexual adventures. Faye, the new worker at the snack bar took an instant liking to him. When his girlfriend's letter with the apartment keys ends up in her hands, the movie nosedived for me. Using the keys from the envelope, Faye began breaking in to #663's apartment every day-cleaning, buying new bedding and decorations, restocking items, and generally making herself at home. #663 with his keen observation skills carefully honed by his years as a cop never noticed the differences. He had a habit of psychoanalyzing his soap and dish towel and thought the soap was just getting fat because it couldn't move on from his ex.

Maybe it's a male fantasy that an invisible woman will clean, decorate, and restock their apartment like little cookie elves but if the roles were reversed instead of quirky, we'd find it creepy. A male character hanging out all day uninvited sniffing a woman's things and making himself at home would be stalkerish and not romantic. I quickly lost interest in this story. And as much as I love the Mamas and the Papas' "California Dreamin'"after hearing it for nearly 45 minutes, I'm not going to want to hear it for another decade.

The frozen action overlaid with sped up action, swirly camera action and stop motion running was a director's creativity on overload especially when dazzling colorful lights joined the artistic fray. As I said, this was all about the mood. Different people will see this film through their own expectations. Character development and story resolution were beside the point. How did it make you feel watching the lonely people connecting amid the kaleidoscope of lights?

Rather than being romantic, the stories showed just how desperate some people are for companionship and will latch onto the first person who pays any attention to them. With the exception of maybe the drug dealer, the rest of the characters seemed to being hanging onto their sanity by a thread. Were they lonely because their behavior ran people off or were they behaving strangely because they were lonely? Chungking Express was visually impressive, the narrative-not so much.

9/29/23

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Bon Appetit
9 people found this review helpful
by Zii3
Sep 30, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Lovely And Layered With Sincerity

General spoilers only at bottom of review.
A slice of life that feels recognizable in many aspects and is ultimately heartening for the soul. I ended the series with a long-lasting smile on my face, warmth in my chest, and sparks of happiness in my heart.

While the plot and character dynamics are not new, I thought they were handled in a special way. There's some drama yet things aren't over-dramatized. I've seen other people, or been myself, in situations or relationships like those here. At work, at home, with old crushes, new crushes, exes, co-workers, friends, etc. There are tie-ins to memories and regrets. There's living worn down and finding/making priorities. Characters work to untangle their own emotions and navigate awkward situations others put them in.

And the acting supports that feeling of familiar realism. The two leads are especially good and there is a gentle but persistently strong magnetism between them. I would watch them together in anything. As actors, there is sincerity in their lines and behind their eyes. The rest of the actors were good with their roles too. No weak link stood out.

The balance of emotional moments was very well done. There was a little bit of everything, which is part of why it felt realistic. But there was an overall trend of increasing warmth and positivity that led to a very satisfied feeling by the end.

The dialogue flows and there are some poetically-worded lines. There were also a couple moments/lines of great humor that had me laughing.

Technically, there is a slight issue with ambient or white noise. I personally would have appreciated the dialogue track being made a bit louder in relation to everything else, but this may not have been feasible depending on the equipment they had. It's a small thing here so it didn't effect my overall rating.

I expect I will rewatch this many times, alone and with others.

GENERAL SPOILERS below.
I really appreciated how a few things were written a bit differently than often seen.
1) The past connection and the way it was remembered differently by Yoon Soon and Doo Hoon reminded me of the way stories were told at my college reunion. It felt plausible and very believable.
2) The way the coworkers reacted to finding out that Yoon Soo was Do Hoon's neighbor and romantic interest. It was refreshing, and how many people I know would likely react. There's also a very funny quip from the boss here.
3) Yoon Soon's flight plans don't lead to the typical "airport scene". Booking plane tickets may seem like a big action, but it’s the equivalent of going on a road trip for a breather before the real opening of his restaurant. There were multiple issues with his soft opening so he needs to think through those. And he's not sure how much Do Hoon truly reciprocates his feelings, so wanting some physical space to think makes sense because they are such close neighbors (they share a wall).

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Completed
Faithful
10 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Never Stop Beating Your Drum for Justice

"A brave girl sought justice for her friend. With the help of righteous men, she forged a revenge plan."

This drama was well-written, and it resonated so poignantly as to what happens within our society today.

Faithful sets the stage of telling a story about a young woman by the name of Lin Ru Lan who enters the Yanyu Tower to learn the art/skills of embroidery and how her life takes a turn for the worse at the hands of Wu Lian who is the master there.

During the unfolding of this drama, we are told through flashbacks of each of the nine individuals who touched Lin Ru Lan's life prior to her committing suicide to prove her innocence at the hands of Wu Lian who sexually assaulted her. Seven years later, Meng Wan, who was a good friend of Lin Ru Lan's plotted and planned the most intricate revenge plan to clear the name of her friend by assembling those nine people to aid in her quest to seek justice on behalf of her.

We see what happens when you do try to get justice.

Disregarding Meng Wan's objections, Lin Ru Lan decided to risk her own reputation to sue Wu Lian. She went and beat the drum calling the court in session to hear her story. She tells the court how Wu Lian violated her. He basically makes it seem like she was in love with him, and he rejected her, and this was her way at getting back at him. She does have Liu San Niang, who is a courtesan as a witness. But you know she was disregarded because of her profession. All and all she lost the case.

But Lin Ru Lan was not to be deterred. Meng Wan had a cousin, Zhao Yucheng who she found would litigate the case for her. We see excitement from both of these women that they are finally getting somewhere. Not so fast, Wu Lian had found out there was a handkerchief that Ding Ru, who he also had assaulted and committed suicide had been found by her mother. Ding Ru's mother went to Lin Ru Lan and gave it to her for evidence. Thinking this would finally seal the deal with getting Wu Lian, she gives the evidence to Zhao Yucheng. Little did she know that Zhao Yucheng was bribed by Wu Lian to fake the evidence in return to giving him a high position and to let him meet Mrs. Ning who was influential within society. (Note: Wu Lian never helped him. He used Zhao Yucheng for his purpose.)

The downside of this, was Meng Wan was going to support her friend only to find out that her mother (who you will not like) knew of her pregnancy (which was by Wu Lian), gave her an abortion cocktail the same day as the trial to get rid of the baby. Being in so much pain, and bleeding profusely, she did make it finally to the court only to find out it was over. Meng Wan made her way to Lin Ru Lan only to meet Gao Cheng Cheng who she had convinced to testify, which she didn't do because Meng Wan did not show up. Gao Cheng Cheng did not allow Meng Wan to defend herself as to why she could not make the trial due to what her mother did. She stood silently as she was berated over and over again by her. Lin Ru Lan had enough and defended her friend once more even though she lost her case, and it would never be heard again.

To show support of Lin Ru Lan, Meng Wan tells her they will leave the city the next day and just travel together. As Meng Wan is getting ready to leave, her mother once again intercedes and stops this from happening. She has a coughing spell and tells Meng Wan that she needs her medicine. Meng Wan goes to get it while her mother goes to the city gates to meet Lin Ru Lan. She asks her where they will go and how will they survive on ruined reputations. She gets on her knees and begs Lin Ru Lan to let Meng Wan go. She wants her to get married and have a stable life. Lin Ru Lan decides to say that she never showed up and leaves. Meng Wan stays at the city gates all day and late into the evening.

Everyone is coming at Lin Ru Lan--her brother, her mother, her father, everyone until she tells them that she will marry Wu Lian. Her mother not trusting her locks her in her room. Meng Wan comes to see Lin Ru Lan. She asks her why they have locked her up. What happened? Did they find out she was leaving? Lin Ru Lan tells her no, that she never had decided to leave as she embroiders her wedding dress. Meng Wan is just flabbergasted as Lin Ru Lan says how can they survive on doing embroidery alone. She said marrying Wu Lian was her best choice. Meng Wan does not believe her but she tells Meng Wan that she can marry and live a peaceful life with him.

At last Lin Ru Lan's brother tries to help her and even Meng Wan breaks her fingers never to do embroidery again to pay the debt to Wu Lian to let Lin Ru Lan go. But in the end, it was for nothing. Lin Ru Lan had her own plan to let people hear her and give her justice. Before her wedding Meng Wan and Lin Ru Lan spent time together. She asks Meng Wan to give a letter to Shen Mu at 7 p.m. the day of her wedding.

As I said, Lin Ru Lan was exhausted by everything and had to figure her own way out. She decided the day of her wedding to take Wu Lian up to the top of Yanyu Tower because she always thought this would be a perfect view once they were married. Meanwhile, Meng Wan delivers the letter to Shen Mu that tells him that she is in danger at Yanyu Tower and to come quickly.

Going up to the top of Yanyu Tower, Lin Ru Lan has already set the stage for what was to happen. She had already relented to the decision she had made and settle it within herself that this was the only way to be heard. Wu Lian grabs her by the throat, and she ask him if he has the guts to kill her. He asks her does she think he doesn't. She then removes her hairpin from her hair and grabs his hand and puts the hairpin deep into her throat. Pulls it out and her blood goes everywhere on him. She places the hairpin in his hand as her body falls from the tower. Shen Mu and the other guard watch as her body falls to the ground. They look up and see Wu Lian staring down at her. This was the end and the drive that pushed Meng Wan to seek justice for Lin Ru Lan.

The assembly of these nine individuals took Meng Wan seven years but there were two deaths along the way before the retrial--Liu San Niang and Li Chun Feng. Here is what happened at the retrial:
- Wu Lian said Lin Ru Lan retracted her petition and admitted to false accusations.
- Lin Ru Lan's brother is the one who admits a letter to reopen the case to vindicate his sister.
- Meng Wan and Tian Xiao Ling testify.
- Liu Xin goes to the jail to get Wu An to testify against Wu Lian.
- Zhao Yucheng who represented Lin Ru Lan is called to admit that Wu Lian got him to fabricate the handkerchief with a different one and to lose the case. The maid to Zhao Yucheng testified to the change as well.
- Huang Jiao Jiao says that she saw Zhao Yucheng leaving Wu Lian's study the day before the trial.
- Wu An comes to testify but turns the tables on Meng Wan and tells them that she was holding the maidservant that he liked and threaten her.

But what will get you the most is the testimony of Tian Xiao Ling and what Wu Lian did to her. It is truly unbelievable:
"Seven years ago, the night I met him. I wanted to leave quickly. But he seemed to have had a drink and was in a good mood, so he started talking about embroidery with me. When I said a falling plum blossom seemed desolated, and a plum blossom on the tree showed more dignity, it provoked his anger. In his fury, he pinned me to the embroidery table. But that wasn't enough for him. At that time, I was out of my senses, filled with despair, like the living dead. He took a needle and embroidered this plum blossom on my shoulder stitch by stitch, trying to leave this plum blossom on me for a lifetime."

Can you imagine the pain she felt?

But when you see Episode 19 "The boy gave up his studies for embroidery" we are told the story of Wu Lian. We see how he is left to his own devices without the love of either his mother or father but by Lady Wu the concubine of his father. She is the only one that shows interest in him. He goes out of his way to be around her, even to learn to embroider.

Lady Wu tells him to hide this from his father that he is doing embroidery because this was not a profession that men did. He didn't care. He found out that Lady Wu like plum blossoms and he perfected them. Even being bullied by his friends he didn't care.

But his father did find out about him doing embroidery. He tells Lady Wu that she can no longer stay there, and he was sending her away. Wu Lian raced home because he wanted to see her before she left but he was to let, he found her--dead. She had hung herself. Was this what lead Wu Lian to go down the path he did? The plum blossoms that he felt so drawn to? Were they based on Lady Wu and what happened to her?

We really do not get a definitive reason why Wu Lian assaulted all of these women at Yanyu Tower or why he was the way he was. This was something that was lacking for me. I felt the writers should have given us more when they told his backstory.

There was finally vindication after all, and justice did prevail in prosecuting Wu Lian. Mr. Lou by order of the emperor handled the case as he saw fit and was told to bring closure. And with that, Wu Lian's sentence was: According to the law, he was sentenced to the punishment of flogging and exiled to the northwest for three thousand miles, never to be pardoned in his lifetime. Fitting do you think?

The final encounter of Meng Wan and Wu Lian was when he had already been flogged and was in jail. Meng Wan sees Wu Lian as he is lying face down and doing embroidery. He still doing plum blossoms with fingers that really can no longer hold a needle. Meng Wan asks him if he ever regretted in the slightest what he had done, he never said a word.

As he was lying there, he heard Lady Wu call him (he was hallucinating) and tells him not to do plum blossoms anymore and to put the needle down. He starts calling Lady Wu. Wu Lian swallowed the needle. Meng Wan hears the jailers yelling that Wu Lian had swallowed the needle but she just kept walking out of the prison. All the while smiling. So ended the life of Wu Lian.

In Episode 25 which is called "A Mere Dream" we are given the opportunity to see what life would have been like if none of this had happened. Want to see?

Wu Lian's life changed because his family was loving towards him. He had his mother and Lady Wu together as well as his father with him at dinners. He became a pastry chef. He headed to the capital to open up a shop. He meets Wu An along the way whom he helps.

Then we were given to see what if they didn’t have witnesses.

We are shown the different side of Meng Wan's mother. How her mother was a lot stronger and fended off her husband, not as she did before when he was in a drunken state. Their relationship was much better.

Meng Wan goes off with Xu who she married and was his only wife.
Liu Xin was married and had two children by the girl he first like at the booth selling buns.
Liu San Niang this time saves her master and pays his ransom so he could leave the troupe.
Shen Mu was a fugitive. He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor.
Feng Da was an owner of his own embroidery shop and he was an embroider.
Tian Xiao Ling and Li Chun Feng married.

As for Rulan she gets married, and she sees Meng Wan as she is in her wedding chariot and they both feel they somehow seemed familiar to each other.

Lin Ru Lan is in the market as are all of the nine individuals who played such an important role in her previous life. As the ending comes, everything is just like a dream. Hope it wouldn't come true even if we could never meet again.

I loved all of the lantern sayings:
Meng Wan – To accompany her to see the splendid views in the world.
Lin Ru Lan – An adult girl is fearless.
Liu San Niang – Wait in the boudoir for seven years, but nothing is forgotten.
Lin Xiu – Give a treasure hairpin to the hero. Ignite a candlelight.
Feng Da – The wilderness also has emotions.
Tian Xiao Ling – Troubled by worldly affairs, seeking tranquility in the mountains.
Huang Jiao Jiao – Pray to Silkworm Mother at the door. Worship the God of Wealth inside.
Shen Mu – The young man goes with the wind and returns in time.

When I watched this drama, I was filled with such anger. Why? Because it is still the same today in some ways. We beat our drum and call the injustice that we see to ourselves as women every day, but it can fall on deaf ears. We saw in this drama, the physical and mental abuse, the bullying, the assault of these women over and over again, family and friends turning a blind eye, stereotyping of how women should act and behave, reputations put on the forefront, citizens who tried these women every day. Can you imagine how exhausting it is? And yes, you do give up. You want to keep beating that drum, but how long can you beat it to be heard. I hope, we as women never lose the drive and desire to beat our own drum when we see injustice not only for ourselves but for others that may be so scared to do so. We are in this fight together. It took nine of them. How many will it take for you?

If one only thinks for one person, it's not kindness. A single lantern creates limited light, but so what? As long as this lantern remains luminous, it can light more lanterns, leading to a million lights. As bright as the rising sun, it can illuminate the long night.




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Completed
Vincenzo
8 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 3.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

A Disappointing Dive into "Vincenzo": A Review

As a connoisseur of tales featuring morally complex characters, I eagerly delved into "Vincenzo," anticipating a compelling narrative rich in intrigue and a captivating display of acting prowess. However, upon completing the series, I found myself grappling with disappointment, torn between the lackluster plot and the subpar execution of the characters by the cast.

Jeon Yeo Been's portrayal of the female lead left me puzzled, struggling to discern a well-defined personality or genuine emotions in crucial scenes. The chemistry between her and Song Joong Ki, who played the male lead, was noticeably absent, with Joong Ki's performance feeling disappointingly one-dimensional and expressionless, failing to breathe life into a potentially compelling Mafia character.

A standout performer in the series was Ok Taecyeon, who truly shone in his portrayal of a psychopathic character. His transformation from an intern to a villain was a testament to his exceptional acting abilities. The scene where Vincenzo eliminates the hired assassins in the tunnel showcased Taecyeon's skill and expertise, underscoring his understanding of the complexities of such characters.

The plot, though featuring some engaging action sequences, fell short in several aspects. The abrupt introduction of romance felt forced and lacked the necessary build-up, leaving it feeling disconnected and out of place. The attempt at incorporating comedy failed to hit the mark, reminiscent of juvenile humor akin to that found in children's films like "Home Alone." This tonal inconsistency was jarring and perplexing, especially given the show's mature themes and context.

Moreover, certain action sequences were implausibly absurd, diminishing the credibility of the storyline. For instance, the rooftop encounter where Vincenzo is saved by a pigeon was a particularly bewildering moment that detracted from the overall experience.

On a positive note, the music and the film crew's efforts stood out as the show's saving grace. The cinematography showcased excellent shots, incorporating various angles and well-executed zooms, enhancing the visual appeal of the series. The music, appropriately timed and never overpowering, added a layer of depth to the viewing experience.

In conclusion, "Vincenzo" was a disappointment, failing to live up to expectations despite its potential. It did, however, serve as a platform to appreciate Ok Taecyeon's acting prowess. While the series showcased commendable efforts in music and cinematography, it ultimately fell short due to an underdeveloped plot and inconsistent character portrayals, leaving me with no desire to revisit this show.

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Completed
In Our Prime
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 30, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Discover the right path to the solution

Well originally I thought this was a Korean rewrite of the original movie "Finding Forrester". In that movie it was about bitter old man who lost his brother and was considered a literary genius. He befriends a young man with huge potential but an education system that wants to just use him for what they need him for and the main bad guy is a stuck up literature teacher who was a failure in every sense of the word. Needless to say both stories are virtually identical in general plot the writers of "In Our Prime" ended up changing literature to math but essentially had the same story. But I will say that the Korean movie tended to show how the Korean education system seems to value getting money from "rich" people instead of actually wanting to teach students to strive for personal goals and achievements. It's sad that the educators in this movie wanted to cover up a scandal that essentially made them all accessories to the facts but they were too concerned about saving face and would actually throw an actual "poor" student underneath the proverbial bus because it was easier than to actually set an example to the students and tell the truth. The 3 main characters were amazing actors I'm not familiar with of them except for the actor who played the North Korean defector. Even with the pain and sadness when he thought of what he had taught the student he came back with courage and ended up finding a new path and a new life. Excellent movie. A little sad that I've seen so many Korean movies that seem to make their education system seem very corrupt and dishonest.

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Completed
Time to Fall in Love
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 29, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 3.5
Acting/Cast 4.0
Music 4.5
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Ok in the beginning, cheesy and cliche in the middle, but hey a happy ending


4/10 is my rating. This is a 2022 Chinese romantic comedy drama with 24, 30-47 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis

Su Yan xi (Lu Xin Yi) is living a challenging life as a beauty influencer as her mother is gravely ill and the medical bills exceed her earnings. Chance or perhaps fate causes her to cross paths with Gu Xi Cheng (Luo Zheng) , a wealthy president of a company, on several occasions. Gu Xicheng is looking for a fake girlfriend to make his grandmother happy by allowing her to think that he is pursuing a relationship. When a misunderstanding leads Yanxi to interview, Gu Xicheng decides she is the best fake girlfriend candidate even though she refuses when she finds out the real purpose of the interview. After she leaves, Gu Xicheng runs a background check and accidently recieves the information on Yanxi’s identical twin sister who has gained some celebrity. Yanxi’s sister is also in need of money for an urgent surgery that is to be performed in the USA. So she signs a relationship contract with Gu Xicheng then coerces her sister to play her so she can go to the US. When real feelings develop between the fake couple things get complicated. Can Xicheng forgive the deception? Is there a way forward for a couple that started on such deceptive terms?

Review

I read other reviews before watching this and a lot said it was cliché but that alone was not enough to deter me as one person’s cliché can be another person’s tried and true. A cliche here and there I can handle but this was like the cliche dump truck spilled over turning it into a B grade soap opera. It is reasonably good in the beginning, cheesy and ridiculous in the middle, and has a happy ending. It also has so many flash backs of their developing relationship that they could have cut it by multiple episodes. I would not watch it again. But it might be worth watching it, with low expectations for the content, if you are a fan of any of the actors. The grandmother is a cute enough character to watch it for.

Spoilers*

Some reviewers criticize this for having a male lead that exhibits “toxic masculinity“. With the train wreck that was the plot, I am like THAT is what you focused on? I wholeheartedly disagree with him having toxic masculinity as a woman that likes men that act like men and not little soy boys who ask permission to sneeze. The female lead is not a push over, she exerts herself and her opinion when appropriate. Well she does in the beginning but then goes through this change to wimpy uncertainty but it had nothing to do with the male lead.

Grandma Gu (Zhao Shu Zhen) drugging the chicken soup to make the couple amarous and quicker to produce offspring is one of the most comedic elements I have experienced in the over 300 dramas I have watched so far. Grandma’s chicken soup then becomes an inside joke among the couple. I love the grandmother and have seen her play the grandmother role in other series. In this one she is caring, genuinely wants her grandson’s happiness but is just a wee bit mischievious.

It did have a happy ending if you can survive all the over dramatized scenes, cheesy lines, and some draggy parts.

How did they overdo tropes you say? Well they had the push someone out of the way and then fatally get hit by a car trope not once but twice Thy had first one toxic female after lead guy in the beginning, then later another one. But wait. There is more. There was the hidden identity trope, the contract relationship trope, the con man parent trope, the obsessed ex trope, the Cinderella trope, the I like you but you never wanted me but people think that means you have to accept me trope, the parachute at the company trope, the I’ve never done this thing before but I am suddenly better at it than everybody trope, the it is raining so I might die trope, the sexy kiss in the rain trope, the umbrella trope, the someone got me drunk and took risqué pictures trope, the looked like I was cheating trope, the I was a capable person and a little sassy but now I met you and am helpless trope, the I am going to pledge my unfaltering love but the minute there is adversity it falters trope, the childhood friend trope, tge separated twin trope, the evil twin trope, the almost kiss trope, the hidden box of secrets but then you find it and I freak out trope, the scheming at work to make a lead look bad trope, the stealing your work trope, the sick parent need money for hospital bills trope, the kidnapping trope, the blackmail trope, the confession while dying trope, the parents ditched me for the grandparents to raise trope, the plastic surgery trope, the got sick “don’t leave“ trope, the I am going to leave you to make myself worthy trope and more. A few tropes here and there are okay, they become tropes often because the viewers like them but this many tropes sometimes repeated and even layered was too much.

Then there were things that just did not make sense. Like why it was such a big deal she was not her sister. I understood he did not like that she lied to him but, had she told him early on, he was just looking for a fake relationship at that point anyway. But they made it like it had to be her sister without making it clear why.

They way over dramatized many of the kiss scenes, still framing, slowing it down then a bunch of different camera angles.

She was doing okay as a streamer and I thought had a gig with his company for doing make up. Then Grandma decides she should be at the company to keep lead guy and crazy 2nd gurl apart and she winds up agreeing to work with crazy 2nd girl. Why? Made no sense she let her torture her.

They played the same refrain of music ad nauseum. You are my dream, YOU are my dream ok music I get it they are each other’s frickin‘ dreams.

I do not care how much you like this girl, who pays that much for a necklace? And second guy, who find out later was just being a psycho for second girl, also tries to buy the necklace.
He was pretending to like her to steal her away so his actual love, second girl, could have lead guy. Because he loved her so much he just wanted her to have what she wanted even if it was another guy. But they gave zero indication he felt that way through all of his chasing of lead girl. He even acted jealous of lead girl when only us viewers would know. I know they were trying for a plot twist but that was a turn if not a complete reverse. We should have been able to think back and remember times when he seemed into second girl. But there was not a time if anything it seemed he thought she was ridiculous.

#TimetoFallinLove
#LinXinYi
#LuoZheng


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Completed
King Gwanggaeto the Great
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 29, 2023
92 of 92 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 5.5
Music 2.5
Rewatch Value 1.5

The great king...

The drama features the type of king that would befriend the cruelest of enemies and forgive the greatest of sins. The embodiment of a true anime protagonist! I have way too many problems with the narrative to begin counting, even when disregarding the historical accuracy aspect. Loyalty has no real weight, decades of loyalty would parish and turns into a betrayal over a small lie. The drama does a poor job bridging its narrative and filling the gaps between historical facts and a drama production storytelling. Speaking of production, I would classify it almost unwatchable from a production value standpoint. Extreme overreaction and intense movement with every move from every single male character. Borderline comical circus behavior and it's a poor portrayal of the times of wars from back then. The make up situation was rough too and you can see that from the first 10 minutes. I caught some warped mustaches not lined up with the lips and some of them weren't even sticking properly with visible tape around it. The cinematography consisted of approximately 70% of extreme face close up shots, if you aren't far enough from the screen it will cause nausea. In my opinion, the drama had its climax and highest moments around the middle parts while the rest were a boring follow up with the last 20 episodes being the worst of storytelling. The only impressive aspect of the drama was the male lead's ability to maintain a deep aggressive vocal register with every word he muttered. His throat must be destroyed! Speaking of which, he might be a great king who concurred everyone left and right but he constantly failed to protect his people.

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Nineteen to Twenty
0 people found this review helpful
by clodd
Sep 29, 2023
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10

Absolutely loved it

I loved watching this Reality Show. The love Between the Teens was so pure und simple. Since I am their age I loved seeing them having the same struggles I am having. I also loved the 4 people who always commented on the actions and what was happening. It felt like I was watching it with them and I could see that they reacted just like me to the happenings. Sometimes it was a little frustrating since some things didn't turn out like we wanted to. But the outcome is still very satisfying and happy.
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