Reviews

It's pointless

I'm dropping this at episode 5, because I can't bring myself to watch this any further. For me it's pointless, and a waste of time.
When this aired, I had zero expectations. I thought it would lack a good story like so many other BLs out there, especially the more sexy ones, but I was pleasantly surprised, because there was some potential for an intriguing plot. The acting is incredible from First, Khaotung, Neo and Mark. Force and Book are almost unbearable to watch, because they aren't able to breathe some life into their characters. Better actors could have done a better job for sure. Well, not the whole cast can be stellar, so that's not the biggest issue here. I was hooked after episode 2, enjoyed episode 3, was bored by episode 4 and started skipping scenes, and now at episode 5 I will end my misery. This series reminds me of some German soap operas, where the couple gets together in a few episodes, they love each other, and you don't even know why, and then they get separated, and you have to watch endless episodes of family, friends, and the jealous ex-girlfriend plotting schemes to keep them separated until they get together in the 99th episode and marry in the 100th. Apparently this concept is very popular in Germany, and most likely all over the world, despite me to this day not knowing how something like this can even be considered an entertaining watch.
What is my point? I don't enjoy people plotting schemes and making their life miserable for no good reason. I don't enjoy the idea of love where you don't even understand why they are attracted to each other. They are all obsessed with someone, while having good potential partners around them. It's just shallow, damn shallow. You can't feel the character depths, which makes it hard to root for anyone here. I don't feel sorry for them, I don't want to see them happy, I'm just annoyed by their dirty little games and their stubbornness that makes them miserable human beings. It honestly feels strange to look at those characters who are played by great actors, some of them I really like, and just thinking: I don't care about your issues. I don't.
Still, I'm not surprised that this series is popular at all. Most people enjoy this kind of drama. I even think it's pretty realistic. We have more bad people than good people in this world, and when it comes to relationships, so many behave like lunatics.
But I personally feel too old to watch some guys f*cking around and being dramaqueens for no good reasons. I feel this is something for people in their mid 20s, especially for those who enjoy the NSFW content, which I normally do, but it cannot save this series.
To sum it up: I don't think it's a bad series. There sure is an audience for it. The acting (most of it), the music (!!) and how some of the dialogues are written isn't bad, some scenes are beautifully filmed too. But the characters are too shallow, their intrigues too dirty and pointless. So it's a no for me.

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An Absolute Fantastic Rollercoaster Though without An End

I haven't had a show suck me in like this in a very long time. I'm still in somewhat of a stupor. I've never seen any of these actors before save for some in the older generation and SFL so absolutely blown away by their talent and believability. Every episode had me and pretty much everyone else trying to come up with theories of who was really good or bad. It's like my mind was taken away and placed elsewhere. This drama was a fantastic rollercoaster though sadly with no real ending.

Pros: I will try to not write a novel because this had everything one wants in a mystery wuxia; great martial arts, theories, not everything is as it seems, stunning costumes, scenery, cinematography, OSTs, heartbreak and love. Every single character for the most part was multifaceted and layered. The 2 main gray characters and then learning their stories and understanding where they came from. I'm not even sure I have a favorite character here. The actors absolutely just annihilated it! So amazing; the truth, the lies, the scheming, the understanding, love, hate, insanity. Good vs evil plus good that was evil from episode one. The gradual building of feelings. So ML (ZY) and FL (YWS) together and separately were great, SML (SJ) and have to give props to the newbie who played his little brother; how someone so young can play a convincing obnoxious creep with a smile that sends chills down your spine, is beyond me. TJR or YZ is the standout in this cast of amazing performers for sure. I personally called him Junior poison or little shit depending on how he acted. YQ, Raven papa HYS (who was on the dark side but ultimately had a good heart), JF and our seal diving elder sis plus all the young masters from the back mountain were refreshing and sometimes you were left in stitches from elder sis because she added the sunlight to this predominantly dark drama. All the dynamics were great as were relationships between people. Though I only saw real romantic connections between the leads and later on the odd couple, the second leads were in a game of cat and mouse and though he did ultimately fall for her, I didn't feel what many others felt. Theirs was like two vipers circling each other.

Trying to get everyone and everything is impossible because some assassins are real and others actually have hearts and want their freedom. The fact that in the final episode it is revealed that only 3 months passed since the start of this journey, your mind is blown because you feel it's been years. Each episode is an hour long and leaves a cliffhanger with lots of theories for you to discuss with fellow watchers. WuFeng or assassins creed as I called them are an organization led by fear and though most were absolutely ruthless, they had/have many weaknesses. They were the main antagonists but they weren't alone. Actually many of us figured out who the other ones already in the mansion were and it was just a matter of time before that was confirmed.

It was also mind blowing when the reveals started happening, just how much was actually done. And so funny to some of the commenters in this section that kept saying ZY didn't deserve to be SW, but SJ did because ZY was somehow either cheating or being helped, come to find out that SJ was secretly helping him too. Felt good for those of us defending ZY lol.

Cons: Ok, this section will be smaller but there are a few reasons why this drama didn't get a perfect score. As many before me, the ending or lack thereof was just ridiculous. You had such a captivating story and then to make the literal 4 minutes a cliffhanger that looked like it belonged in a different drama looked lazy. Yes it could be hinting at the potential of a season 2 but it could have done it way better. I've written my share of cliffhangers and regular endings and though I'm no maestro writer/director, I would have just ended it without a cliffhanger because one can still leave an air of mystery and end something satisfactory. It made both leads do things completely out of character with what we've seen. So that was a huge point buster.

SGQ got away way too easy. It didn't seem to me that she suffered much if at all with her constant crocodile tears and lies. She was a pathological liar that was also a narcissistic sociopath. Her raven was right that she only loves herself. But though the dynamic with SML in scheming against each other worked, I felt unlike everyone else that was consistently there--good or bad--evolved in some way except her. Would have been good for her to also have growth.

Last detail is the smallest but it was a personal peeve and reminded me of another drama I watched this year where they had each special skill a character made pop up on screen in massive white letters even though it was verbalized; very unnecessary. Looked 90s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Plus it was subbed twice so all that lettering on the screen was very busy and hard to understand.

Would I recommend it? 100% would! Despite those last 4 minutes of the last episode, this was fantastic. So much so, that I think it has its own force field that doesn't let you leave even once you finished it. Really, really good especially if you like the wuxia genre.

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Wow, this is unlike most Japanese BL

This BL was actually wholesome and didn't have as much bad/toxic/hyperimmature behavior like the others have had. I really enjoyed the MLs dynamic together, and how they actually explored them as human beings, not just following a plot. We got to see more of what they liked and what they didn't like, and the two contrasted well. I wish more Japanese BLs could be like this. I do wish there was at least one more kiss at the end, but their sweetness toward each other will suffice. My one question...did they ever pick up that umbrella? LOL they lost a perfectly good umbrella in that alley.

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PROUD TO CALL IT MT MOST ANTICIPATED DRAMA OF 2023

Moving isn't just a super hero themed drama, it's a multi genre drama with a well balanced plot and uniqueness execution.

Moving shows us family in many heart warming series, moving shows us parents that are willing to sacrifice anything including them selves for their children.

Moving gives us variety of main casts, each with stories and each giving is amazing acting that is able to transfer emotions to the viewer.

Moving gives us amazing and exciting fight scenes that keep us at the edge of our seats and also make our hearts ponder.

Moving builds up our fantasy. Moving shows us heart warming romance and friendship from the different characters points of view.

Moving gives us heart wrenching scenes that would leave you completely moved by emotions

Moving gives us adorable and daring characters

Moving knows how to blend in comedy in the heavy and serious plot of the series
So overall moving is a multi genre drama with unique story telling amazing acting..many main characters with interesting stories, an emotional roller coaster exciting fight scenes light comedy amazing CGI and cinematography....it will be totally worth all your time.

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I thought for sure I'd give this a 10/10

Episodes 1-4: 10/10, obsessed, kicking my feet, loving it.

Episode 5: 7/10, uncharacteristic behavior. Was not loving the way Tae was suddenly acting.

Episode 6-8: 7.5/10, hated the mom's personality transplant, time jumps unclear, math ain't mathing.

I'm sad I didn't end up loving this as much as I did at first. The couple was SO SO stinking CUTE. I agree with the other reviews that mention too much plot and not enough episodes. The shortness of the series plut the uncharacteristic behaviors in the second half, hurt it a bit.

Still would rewatch. They're too adorable to pass up!

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Cool...!

This is a very good film and definitely underrated here on MDL.
If for one thing it doesn't suffer from the usual Chinese cliches. I mean to be over melodramatic, or with a trillion irrelevant subplots for the minor characters, or plagued with political or social messages etc.
I really enjoyed the very good acting, the plot that had plenty of twists, the fast pace, the settings and I was positively surprised by the international cast, ( that should have been credited in the description as well).
Do watch this film and ignore the trailer that is irrelevant and almost made me skip it.

9,5/10

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Pacing issues, but a nice message

LIKE:
The friendships developed due to the love of music.
The message: never give up, believe in yourself and you can achieve anything.
Music score was nice and the repetition was limited for their competition song.
Location shots, lighting, cinematography.

DISLIKE:
Directing: Many overly long pauses or lack of anything happening/being said. Whether delayed reaction or change of scene or someone thinking, all of it was very delayed causing pacing issues. At the end the face of the ML, his expression looked like he was about to take a big poop or die of a heart attack. It didn’t match the moment.

Writing: The coming together at the end, was ridiculous in a few ways, especially the dancing and celebrating being so comedic. That just didn’t fit the atmosphere that was created. Almost like they were ridiculing the efforts of those involved. (Trying not to give a spoiler). The writer tried to create romance with a few characters, but it was just thrown in, especially with those at the end. Had there been more backstory then that could’ve been done, but wasn’t really needed. Very cliche/usual trope with predictable ending.

Production: Shaking camera, which tried to show POV, but it didn’t work or fit.


OVERALL: It was nearly as good as expected, like a bad version of Aogeba Toutoshi. This movie’s teacher had very little impact, even though they tried to make him more human towards the end. Time management became an issue, as noted in my dislikes and that took away from what could’ve developed the story and characters. It was cute, average and not something I will watch again. If this is your first viewing of music/school/youth genre, then I recommend it. If not, I wouldn’t bother watching.

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Initially, I had no idea what to expect from the show. However, as soon as Seongho and JunSeong appeared on screen, I knew they were going to be the ones to watch. Their dynamic was electric from the start, and I found myself rooting for them with each passing episode. Their dates stole the show for me. The chemistry between Seongho and JunSeong was off the charts, and every moment they spent together was a delight to watch. From their first date sparks flew everywhere. I eagerly anticipated each new episode just to see what they would do next.

Overall, Seongho and JunSeong were the best part of the show for me.

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If you're looking for a reality show that's a little more subdued and takes its time to explore the intricacies of human relationships, then "His Man" might just be the show for you. While it may not have the explosive plot twists and betrayals that some other reality shows are known for, what it lacks in drama it more than makes up for in its realistic portrayal of what happens when people are thrown together in a short-term romance show.

Over the course of seven days, we see the contestants get to know each other in a way that feels both fluffy and authentic. There's no manufactured drama here - just real people trying to make a connection in a high-pressure environment.

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In the world of Chinese dramas, censorship is often a looming presence that can stifle creativity and limit the scope of storytelling. However, in the case of Guardian, it seems that the creators were able to break free from these constraints.

One of the standout features of this drama is the chemistry between the two leads, which is amazing from the very first episode. Unlike many other shows that rely on tired tropes like bromance to create a sense of connection between characters, Guardian manages to forge a genuine bond that feels authentic and meaningful.

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