This review may contain spoilers
Yoo Teo is a Swoon-fest and I'm Here For It
Is this drama a feminist fantasy? Yes.Does it go overboard into try-hard girlboss territory? Heck no, and that's why I love it.
I loved the FL's spunk while still being earnest, capable and humble. She's not really a gangster, so much as she is unapologetically herself in her convinctions and choices, who also happens to kick literal ass for justice. Kim Ok Bin made her likeable, bold, but still down to earth which made her buckets of fun to watch. A line from her goes, "I'm tough to the bullies but soft to the weak."
And boy does our ML go weak for her. At first he come across as haughty but just beneath the surface is a sweet, vulnerable, affectionate, cinnamon roll. Make no mistake, ML is absolutely a boyish hunk which is usually not my style because of how immature they are usually played, but Yoo Teo has changed my mind. Especially when he goes ,"I RESPECT YOU" (greatest declaration of love right here folks).
Also the skinship in this drama is goddamn swoonworthy. Yes the chemistry is off the charts but also the expressions play such as huge role. Yoo Teo shows so much vulnerability that you can literally read the ML's expression like an open book in every scene and know that he is 1000% truly and deeply in love with the FL. He wants her to know by affirmation, praise, touch, hug and kisses that she means the world to him. Yoo Teo's puppy like face worked sooo well in this because the director and screenwriter did not make him overdo it, and it paid off beautifully.
The dynamic between the main leads may show FL as the more dominant one but you soon realise it's a relationship of give and take. ML may seem submissive but he shows his maturity when he communicates openly and clearly to the FL. And what girl wouldn't go soft for this? As our FL falls in love, she softens, showing a playful, girlish side that interestingly does not make her any less likeable. The relationship is healthy, as both leads who initially resented the opposite sex based on stereotypes, learn to cherish and respect each other exactly as they are. Literal fanfic levels of swoon I tell you.
In terms of story, 10 episodes is the perfect length, though I do wish the conflict came in 1 or 2 episodes earlier to flesh it out. But in true rom-com fashion, the conflict came and went in a gust of wind so if you don't want prolonged ansgst, you're in for a treat. I especially appreciate that the ex boyfriend is sorta redeemed in a deserved way which is a refreshing take on the quintessential cheater stereotype. And the final scene of the last episode captures the spirit of how this drama sees modern relationships in a post Me Too world.
Overall, I highly recommend this for a short, modern, swoon-fest.
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Glory is the way to live
This was a wonderful drama. I usually avoid watching Chinese dramas but this had an interesting synopsis so I caved…. And I couldn’t be happier. This was definitely not a waste of time and honestly thought the series is so long at no point did I feel compelled to watch simply because I had started watching.The plot lines and character development is tip top. My one critique is that Ye Xiu was a bit of a Gary Stu, a little too perfect, and we never really in the first 30 episodes see him doubtful or have any negative emotions- but what was unexpected about it was even so, Yang Yang as Ye Xiu was probably my favourite character. I loved him on screen.
Tang Rou was a nicely developed character, as was Wei Chen. Personally disliked An Wengyi’s character plot line, but I adored the show.
I wonder how much the show spent on visual effects, because they were marvellously good somehow, it was easy to tell the difference between all the player’s avatars, not just by their clothes, but even the facial features resembled the actor counterparts.
Sun Xiang, the primary ‘antagonist’ was a little over dramatic in the start, but I loved how he developed as well.
Some people may find the drama cheesy, but I loved it and am looking for more of the same.
I did like the ending, and honestly could watch more of this show, for at least another season.
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All over the place
I started this drama only because there were quite a few actresses/actors from Joy of Life, and it does have a bit of Joy of LIfe vibe. Sadly that's about it. The first 15 episodes were not that bad, but it went downhill quickly and culminated in a major cliffhanger for the ending. The cast was perfect, with the actors' looks matching their roles perfectly, but the acting in my opinion felt a bit forced. lines were not delivered naturally at all, and the translation on Prime Video was horrid...Overall drama was all over the place, with few comical episodes followed by serious storytelling, but neither was executed that well.
Hopefully, I'm wrong, but this drama will suffer the same fate as Joy of Life, never to see a season two...
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This review may contain spoilers
Overall cute, but Ando was the protagonist
To be honest, while watching the film I wondered whether Ando was the real protagonist of the story or not.To begin with, Ninako confessing her feelings at the beginning of the movie was refreshing and cute. I really liked her and Ren's character. Mayuka's character wasn't as bad as I expected, I feel sad for her because it seems to me that she still loved Ren a lot when she decided to break up (I think that she even mentioned that, didn't she?). When it comes to the other characters, except for Ando, they're so forgettable... Neither Ninako's friends nor the boy who confessed to her had so much screentime. I don't know about the original work, but I believe they should had more opportunities to support her or show the boy's crush on her.
On the other hand, when it comes to Ando's character I found him quite annoying almost for the first half of the film. Even though, I think he's the most important character there? He had his own trauma and character development, he was the obstacle for the protagonist to date and also the person who made them date at the same time. It was as if the story was about Ando's unrequited love stories. I came to like him at the end of the movie, but if it weren't for him I don't think NinaRen would have had that story...
Anyways, overall it was a cute shojo movie to watch. I enjoyed it, though I'm not into triangle-love-stories.
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This review may contain spoilers
NOT ANOTHER ADDICTED PLEASE!
Okay...I'm sad, hurt, and pissed off that we have another major cliffhanger ending!!! Whyyyyy tho? There are rumors about a second season, but whyyyyyyy? Was the MAJOR unfinished episode really necessary? It added nothing to the plot and just makes it's fans frustrated.This show had A LOT of potential to be a 10! Cute story, nicely written characters overall, amazing lead chemistry, not toxic like a lot of BLs out there - not that I am complaining lol, but it's always nice to watch a lovely story.
But noooo, they had to crash all hopes (pun intended) and deliver that weird and unfinished ending with no apparent reason! We all have suffered with Addicted before and we all know about Chinese BLs empty promises 😭😢
And the fact that they like to turn our romances into bromances doesn't help us poor viewers at all!! They were almost there lolol omfg I am maaad!
BUT it was a good series! I really enjoyed it and I am definitely hoping season 2 is actually happening because I'll riot!
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I loved the dynamic
I’ve always been a sucker for a power gap, so I really just loved this drama. The story was realistic and heart warming, a slight sadness could be felt, but not for a long time. The tension really kept me going, I literally binged this drama. It felt like the both of them knew of their secret but were keeping silent, for nothing more than shame or fear, but if they won’t try it would be like dying with a lie on their lips. It was gut wrenching to watch, in a way that makes your stomach tingle, whether it be from butterflies or anticipation for what’s going to happen next. The drama really reminded me of backstreet rookie, which is a huge plus. Would definetly recommend both.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I think this drama was done beautifully and with respect towards the deaf community.
If you like realistic slice of life dramas, this is for you. I think all of the characters are likable or at least believable. I could understand why characters did what they did, even if I didn't agree with their thoughts or actions. Even the one that annoyed me the most Nana, I could understand why she'd say the things she said (being born deaf = immediately an outcast in society). Sometimes, the drama felt a little too rosy but they didn't take it too far (like if that was real life, I KNOW some people will choose not to remain friends with Sou because they're either jerks or communicating would be too hard and they just let the friendship sizzle out).Apparently, the script was written with the two leads in mind and it shows. They did excellent in their roles. When I learned that Ren Meguro was in Snow Man/Johnnys, I couldn't believe it. I thought he was a full fledged actor. Props to them for learning sign language for their role.
I think the production did well. I like how minimalistic the music was, which fits the theme of the drama. Some scenes were nicely shot with good music. In other scenes (like the 5 second fillers), the music was abruptly cut off so I don't know what happened there. Not sure if that was for commercial breaks or anything but that was a little jarring. The only thing I wish the storyline/production could've done better is really sell to us that Tsumugi was falling in love with Sou again, which would've made the last episodes more heart wrenching. If they just spent a couple of seconds showing us her happiness from being with him, that would've sufficed.
I wished we got to hear Sou speaking to Tsumugi at the end. They foreshadowed it at the beginning when he said he only speaks to his family. In the end, she accepts him for who he is and IS becoming his family. Kind of a missed opportunity, but the scene of them whispering in the classroom was uber cute.... but I guess that fits better with the theme of the drama.
Overall, I enjoyed this drama. I don't often rewatch dramas, but I could definitely see myself picking this one up again.
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Cute and fluffy
i happened to stumble upon this drama whilst searching for something new to watch as i’m waiting for some on air dramas to update and it’s my first time watching a miles drama and i have to say i was pleasantly surprised! this rom-com is relaxing and nice to watch, i definitely needed something fun after the heaviness of some dramas im watching.i love the ML and FL’s chemistry and they are so hilarious together. i also like how FL is headstrong and while i do think she can be a bit dramatic at times, her character is still enjoyable and i love xu lu so her being the FL is a bonus! i’m loving the “ML fell first” trope because he at first found FL to be bothersome but now he’s always looking at her with such longing eyes and he wants to protect her. i think it’s so sweet. there are secondary couples as well and their romance is very good, i love their scenes and the comedy they bring to the table. i started this drama without any expectations and it’s really captured my heart. if you’re searching for something cute, stress free, and relaxing then this is the drama for you!
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Two Worlds, Two Stories, One Fate
It is not unusual for Netflix to release Korean remakes of popular shows. Money Heist and Designated Survivor have already recently proved that the formula works; a decent story is a decent story in any language, and the trademark quality of acting and production found in Kdrama tends to provide a little uplift overall. But A Time Called You is riskier territory, as it’s not just a remake, but a remake of a beloved Taiwanese classic titled Someday or One Day.There’s a lot of intrigue from the get-go, as the names of the characters who resemble each other aren’t revealed until the end of the first episode. Given the constant back and forth, body swapping, and parallel timelines, writer Choi Hyo-bi remains largely consistent with the sharp, pacy writing throughout the show. There’s a steady build-up in intrigue, especially with regard to the whodunit element. Every plot point in this show’s complex narrative finds a place in a time loop, and the effort that has gone into the writing is evident from how it all unravels neatly.
The pace also, in a way, becomes this K-Drama’s biggest enemy as it robs the show of much of its emotional nuance and depth. The show instead constantly shifts focus, and proceeds to march forward in an inexplicable hurry. While it goes without saying that A Time Called You requires a willing suspension of disbelief given the paradoxes of the world it is set in, the writing in the last two episodes stretches this to the hilt. Nevertheless, for a show that’s packed to the brim and has a convoluted plot towards the end, the writing remains taut, and manages to nearly tie up all its loose ends. Music plays the most important and positive part in this 12 episode drama.
For a show which started with great promise in the first half, felt a litte flat in the second half with loosen grip in writing and focusing more on romance between the leads, rather than expanding the friendship of the trio. Nonetheless, it's a good one time watch.
My Rating : 7/10
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This review may contain spoilers
Disappointing
Not sure if I'll drop a spoiler, so I'm putting the warning up.Ok, I love Chinese costume drama.... and of course I have some favorite actors. I have only stuck around this long because of the ML. The FL though is grating on my last nerve.
I don't know if I'm the only one, but she greatly portrays the same characteristics of female villains. I find her pretty unlikeable.
I'm still trying to finish this, only because I have nothing else to watch right now.
Maybe things will improve, doubtful though.
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Amazing cinematography
This drama has amazing aesthetic and cinematography. Every scene is a cinematic masterpiece. The set is beautiful, unique and the approach taken to add the set in the scene was very thoughtful. Amazing styling. All the actors had particular costumes and accessories that was unique to their character. Very good performance by all the actors - leads as well as supporting actors. Despite this I feel the story is a bit disjointed at times. I wish they could have improved on the story and built up the climax. And that ending...... not a fan of open endings.Was this review helpful to you?
A must watch if you are a fan of fairy tales and curious about the what-ifs of these stories. Recommended for family watching, especially with the coming holidays. It may be a modern adaptation but it still have moral lessons in it just like the originals.
Now, when are we going to see the sequels?
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Xing Fei is the greatest of this era
This era of actresses we have Yang Mi, Ju Jingyi, Dilieriba, Yang Zi, Bai Lu, Zhao Lusi who all are in brilliant dramas....Where does Xing Fei rank?.... my opinion Xing Fei what doesn't elevate her the top of the rankings is her smaller fan base, but why do these ladies have bigger fan bases?.... it's their ability to draw in people to their concerts, these ladies are excellent live performers but the acting level of some is just okay.... Some of their dramas are unwatchable.... I have given up watching Yang Zi & Ju Jingyi dramas....
Xing Fei might not be good singer, not be great dancer but her acting skills are the best.... it the cute smile, the cute sad faces, the charm she has.... She has the ability to get the best of the cast she works with especially the male lead... Xing Fei has been in like 5-6 classics. Most popular actresses are only in 1 or 2 classics....
Lin Yi, Daddi Tang & Xu Kai Cheng are male leads who are in alot of bad dramas....
Hu YiTian was in ALSB which is a modern classic & few other decent dramas so will cut him some slack but think think him being with Xing Fei in Sharpshooter was what he needed as some dramas he was Main Lead during that time were hit and miss.... Point Xing Fei elevates these guys to another level with her pure skill & charm....
Xu Kai Cheng was in Young & Beautiful with Crystal Zhang which was a horrible drama.... Example of an unlikeable Male & Female Lead on-screen now to this drama both leads being fun & likeable....
Xing Fei best drama for me was 'Miss Crow & Mr Lizard'.... why?.... We have a grand master in Allen Ren possibly one of the best actors of this era alongside Xing Fei which both delivered a classic.... am I surprised Allen Ren wanted to do a second drama with Xing Fei? No.... That performance elevated him to the top & he won't forget it was alongside Xing Fei....
Allen Ren is happier now might get released sooner as possibly wasted his time filming with Song Zuer & after that scandal she was part of , now that drama might never get released....
What makes this drama good?....
I think it's the comedic storyline that is perfectly executed by the cast & especially the leads.... this is seriously non-stop laughs....
Xing Fei is leading the comedy with the humour & Xu Kai Cheng is complimenting the humour with the comedic reaction to Xing Fei.... seriously it's perfect.... I watch heaps of rom-coms were the humour is never funny.... some of these actors/actresses need to watch this drama to see how to properly execute it.... surely the director & writers happy seeing the comedy come to life way they intended it to.....
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Boring, not much to say
I watched this drama to give Ding YiYi another try. She was in Sweet Sweet with Zhao Yiqin one of my favourit actors....He was just ok in that drama which surprised me as he usually gives excellent performances but when I compared Ding YiYi to his previous female leads I found she didn't really give good performance herself....
This drama, I gave it a go but the storyline is boring, acting is just ok & it's obvious these actors are not ballet dancers but I will say they did give good efforts.....
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As crazy as it is, i find it good and I THINK I WANT MORE
At first i thought i was watching the wrong kanna hashimoto movie, but then i realized it really real hahahaha like what the fuck of fever dream this is... I guess it was my mistake too since i didn't look at the tags and i just immendiately went head on to the movie after seeing kanna hashimoto.But yeah beginning of the movie might be rough cuz of the anime acting and all of its cringeness, but you'll get used to it and find it really funny and interesting.
I think it has its own charm, once you'll stuck with it. It's really a nice unique spin of the princess fairytale
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