Reviews

A stellar cast comes together to deliver a flawed message

Before I get into what I loved about Part 2, I wanna touch on my overall main issue with this otherwise good drama. So getting right into it, I never expected this drama to move the needle as far as addressing the societal problems SK has that leads many to commit suicide. However, I also didn't expect the overall message to lean towards blaming the victim for doing such a "selfish" misdeed either.

Continuing from Part 1, the theme has been pretty consistent in wrapping things up in Part 2: the ML is so preoccupied with his own troubles that he didn't stop to take a look at the suffering of those around him. It is this misstep that has led him to do the very selfish act of taking his own life in the first place. After all, it's his fault for not continuing to endure his suffering for the sake of his loved ones like the rest of us. Hahaha loser. Of course I stated that in jest, but that isn't far off from what was depicted.

Let's make this clear: the ML is pretty selfish (but not for THAT reason) and has taken life for granted. However, these character flaws shouldn't have been the crutch of why he took his own life. Furthermore, he shouldn't have received punishment because of this. He couldn't see the struggles of those around him because he too was suffering. This doesn't invalidate his suffering, though. This isn't some Christmas Carol Scrooge-like situation where a nasty mean old man gets confronted with his misdeeds and is forced to change his ways or meet a grim fate. We feel empathy for the ML because he is a good person who has a hard life. Those of us who have been in the trenches of depression and suicidal thoughts know what it's like to struggle to hold on. It's not his fault for giving up.

The ML has worked hard for years only to not see the fruits of his labor because society continued to beat him while he was down. Not only that, but once he took his life, he met death who damn near guilt tripped him to hell (literally). Why? Because he's selfish. He treated "meeting death before death comes to meet him "as no big deal. He should've lived and continue to take what life throws at him. It's a good concept on paper, but in action it fails to see suicide from a broader perspective. This is not quite the message someone who has worked hard but still struggled for many years would want to hear and sadly there isn't enough positive thinking in the world that can solve deep rooted issues that society has caused. Don't get me wrong, I see the intent behind depicting the ML go through so much when he was alive, but to enter into the body of someone who got "thrown away" by his family and society (The 11th life where the salaryman loses his job he gave his youth to and his family), only to have the message remain "don't be selfish you loser! Think of your loved ones!" is hard to understand.

So, the few surface level criticisms on the pressures society place on its citizens were nice, but it never attempted to scratch beneath that layer of comfortability to get to the real uncomfortable conversations about why folks consider suicide in the first place. Of course no one's gonna call out or point the finger at the culprits and again, wasn't expecting them to. But to outright pull the victim blaming card was...a choice. There were better options to convey the point but I get the writer wanted to play it safe by doing what is considered a less controversial/ narrower depiction of suicide.

All of that out the way, I still love this drama. I'm not so jaded by life's many struggles not to enjoy every piece of content that misses the mark on depicting sensitive subject matters. The acting and cinematography were top notch. And the music, while not highlighted in every episode, was pretty good as well. Overall, there's enough to love about this drama that'll keep you tuned in. Twists and turns leading up to the finale should keep most satisfied.

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who's the monster ?

"se não é para todos então não é felicidade."

"quem é o monstro?"


essas duas frases são exatamente o que define o filme como um todo. a felicidade aqui vem da pior forma, que é extremamente passageira, que parece boa demais para ficar durante muito tempo. como se os personagens não merecessem ter acesso, o que chega a ser cruel pois há personagens aqui que definitivamente deveriam ter um acesso ilimitado a ela.

sobre a segunda frase, é o que faz o filme ser tão transformador. toda a construção da narrativa durante o filme é algo hipnotizante de se acompanhar. os questionamentos que são levantados e as respostas que são obtidas a cada novo ponto de vista faz com que o filme seja um deleite de se ver. as nuances entre os personagens e as dúvidas sobre quem fez o que, ou que simplesmente deixou de fazer, e consequentemente os impactos que foram resultados dessas ações levanta um tipo de questionamento de que até qual ponto saber a verdade é o que realmente interessa ? como definir que o que aconteceu nas entrelinhas tem um valor menor do que a verdade?

eu havia visto uns paralelos comparativos com close do lukas dhont, e a minha semelhança favorita é a criação de um mundo que mistura realidade e fantasia em que nada importa além dos momentos que estão sendo criado entre duas pessoas, em que a felicidade parece ser o único sentimento possível e nada externo tem poder ali.

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I wonder whether I would have been able to power through this drama had I waited and binged the whole thing. Instead, the plot and the acting are not interesting enough to sustain interest during the lengthy time between every episode's airing. I'm finally giving up and I feel that a weight has been lifted. Haha I'm free. At first the dogs were kind of cute and it was fun having a high school story revolve around the teachers rather than students. The drama was intermittently funny, especially the scenes with Yoon Hyun Soo. I also liked the actor Park Gyu-young in "Dali & the Cocky Prince" and "Romance Is a Bonus Book."

But Cha Eun-woo cannot act to save his life. Whenever he is on screen, I feel like I'm watching a brick wall, albeit a pretty and decorative brick wall with nice eyebrows. It doesn't matter whether he is running around with a sword slicing people up or putting on glasses and teaching, he looks like all he is thinking of is his skin care regime.

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Am I the only one who was disappointed?

What I enjoyed
- Bong Hwan/So Yong was by far the best part of this drama for me
- the theme song was fantastic! I found myself getting so excited whenever it started playing
- whenever the Queen was in the kitchen
- Hong Yeon and Lady in waiting Choi, I became very attached to them
- Shin Hye Sun's acting!!!

What I didn't like
- how political it became a little over half way through
- the relationship between Jo Hwa Jin and Kim So Yong. I personally am very tired of seeing two women fighting over a man. I feel like that trope is extremely overused and that something else would've been fine to use as conflict.

the first bit was my favourite. It was funny and lighthearted but around episode 11 it started to get more and more politically focused and pulled me out of the story. I found myself skipping through a lot of the political bits and am now relieved that it's over. I am really surprised that this is my reaction because I was very much anticipating this. My favourite part was definitely the Shin Hye Sun's acting. She was so good and I can't wait to check out her other works!

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Need To See This Version

Disclaimer: This is an edited version of my original review I posted on the cut version of this series.

This series is not for you if you don’t like paranormal story lines with a side of sci-fi. If it is, you are in for a treat.

I love this series even with the bittersweet ending. It had a great original storyline and script. The cast did an awesome job with their characters. This had a great music and beautiful cinematograph. was great and the special effects were used very strategically. I liked how they incorporated several nods to Lovely Writer in some of the earlier episodes.

Random Note:

I strongly recommend watching this version if you have access to it. As I stated in my original review, the editing of the free cut version was horrible. They cut a lot of scenes which made some of the episodes disconnected and/or confusing. The cut version had many scenes missing that were needed to help the viewers fully understand and appreciate what is going on. They also cut scenes involving the backstories of the side characters.

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Stellar casting, meh drama

In the end, the casting saved the show from. An otherwise patronising show.
I'm so tired of school bullying scenes, I skipped that episode entirely.
The first half was more balanced, then it abruptly be one a crime show.
Kim Ji Hoon gets typecast as the villain too much, and his "crazy eyes routine" are not effective anymore, expecially when border parody, like in this instance.
You could tell Kim Jae Wook and Park So Dam were having a lot of fun in their part.
Oh Jung-se gets the most screen time so we get to empathise a bit more with him.
What it left in the end is the crazy moto chase and the serial killers duel.

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Don't hesitate to watch this drama!

Derailment was promoted as a fantasy, mistery, romance genre but turns out It's more of a HEALING drama, the way I feel all their pains & then cherish their every touching moments... 🥲
I really love all their relationship, Qi Lian, Jiang Xiao Yuan, Xu Jin Yang, Jiang Bo 🥲❤️

What I love from Derailment is the fact that Qi Lian & Xiao Yuan's relationship has no thirdwheel, the problem is not some kind of 'stupid misunderstanding', but more of building trust, overcome mental matters, & reunite stronger than ever!

What I wish they could do with this drama:
✅️ Decrease Xiaoyuan's work story & change to their sweet flashback story instead (it deserves at least 7 episodes, not 2-3 only)
✅️ Add more mistery & thriller elements (u will know it's that good when u see Huo Boyu!)
✅️ Reveal the last plot twist for the last 2 ep to keep the excitement
✅️ Make a plot twist at the last episode, but I wish it will still a clear HE just like now!

But whatever the minus from this drama is, I still think that the rating is still too low for the drama,, Be real now, there are soooo many worse boring drama get better rating I'm in pain seeing the rating!

Positive things about this drama:
✅️ Quite many plot twist
✅️ Thriller scenes are quite good too (Huo BoYu acting is superb!)
✅️ Slowburn romance but so many memorable sweet romance scenes
✅️ Excellent FL acting, I mean, very very very excellent!

All of this reason is enough to enjoy this drama to it's fullest, so don't hesitate watching this drama without thinking too much about other opinions...!

I will personally add tags for the genre: #sliceoflife #healingdrama

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A Journey to Love is one of the best wuxia productions that, even if the screenwriter, producer, and director turned delusional in the last eight minutes of the grandiose last episode, it does not take away from the fact that it is one of the best period legend dramas in matters of cinematography, costumes, writing, and a strong, smart, and passionate cast that has one of the best written dynamics in complex human interactions. This drama is fast paced and due to the fact that it has multiple leading characters, there’s never a dull moment. The audience is pulled into the plot and gets totally invested in the main characters and some great supporting characters as well. Although the plot deals with revenge and justice seeking themes, the story is really a beautiful and bittersweet tale about friendship, loyalty, romance, and the fine line between what is right or wrong in order to achieve justice. The main cast did an excellent job bringing their complex and ambivalent characters into life. And lets talk a bit about the extraordinary leading couple; the strong, smart, stiff, and frigid female assassin Ren Ru Yi / Ren Xin (played by Liu Shi Shi) an the intelligent, enigmatic, and resolute strategist Ning Yuan Zhou (played by Liu Yu Ning) which met by coincidence and found themselves working together for mutual benefits and, in the process of leading Wu's State's escort delegation to save the King of Wu who has been taken hostage by the State of An, formed a partnership based on mutual respect and understanding that leads to a steadfast and beautiful love story. SPOILER ALERT:
Now to the end, what were they thinking? This is one of the rare dramas in which a tragic ending is written in a beautiful and mesmerizing way making it clear to the audience that the leading couple gave their all, saved many lives, and fulfilled their promise to live and die together. [After sustaining multiple injuries, the leading man was pierced all around his waist by nine spears, all at the same time, with blood gushing out while she says in despair: “You broke your promise again.” Then the leading lady goes to the Beipan enemy encampment, gathers all the leaders in a tent and, as she killed the Prince, she closes her eyes and, in her thoughts, she says: “Yanzhou. You’re gone. It’s too lonely for me… in the world.” Then she immediately throws two of Yuan Lu’s bombs and the tent bursts into flames following the blast.] So, why giving the audience the implausible ideas that they survived, had children, and are living their dreamed life? How ridiculous!!!!! If the audience stops at the 40 minute mark of the last episode before they announced: [Ten or so years later], it will avoid ending up scratching its head, in disbelief!

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This drama is a welcome antidote to all of the revenge dramas out there. Watching revenge dramas such as "The Glory" or "Vincenzo" is vastly entertaining and satisfying. "Call It Love," on the other hand, shows the emotional costs to one’s humanity and to innocent bystanders when one seeks revenge. Refraining from seeking revenge after one has been deeply wronged can be a sign of strength, not cowardice or weakness, and choosing to forego revenge can paradoxically leave one satisfied and more at peace with oneself. I’m glad that this drama shows the other side of revenge.

Shim Woojoo’s and Han Dongjin’s stories and their developing attraction to each other are beautifully told. I was impressed with Kim Young Kwan’s acting, which nails the still waters run deep-personality of Han Dongjin. Too often such attempts result in wooden acting (like Bo Hyun Ahn in "See You In My 19th Life"), but Kim Young Kwan is excellent. Even his back does a great acting job (you’ll understand if you watch this drama).

I watched this on Hulu but the subtitles were pretty bad and too often unintentionally funny. For example, when a tall, broad-shouldered, deep-voiced guy would laugh the subtitle would show, “Giggles.” Someone would cry and the subtitle would say, “Sniffles.” Big sigh. Or, as the subtitle would say, instead of sigh, “Snort.”

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Suicide Shaming and Very Base Level Takes on Mental Health-Lost opportunity for deeper disscussions

This whole show rubbed me the wrong way and it wasn't until I finished that I realized why--suicide shaming. There was an opportunity to really delve into mental health and suicide but instead, the story focuses on a surface-level approach of "suicide affects those around you, more than the victim themselves" INSTEAD of focusing on the actually environment that led up to the suicide, the main character is instead punished and shamed for his actions. I'm not here to argue that suicide is a good option, of course, it isn't, but to completely gloss over just how tough the main character's life was, does such a disservice.

It was such a typical and predictable ending, I was hoping they would've had a more nuanced take- but I guess not. The only thing that made this show good was the acting, and honestly, it feels wasted on a surface-level plot, the actors were seriously so amazing in each role. The shifts from their 'real' character, to the one that the main character takes on are very well done.

The whole premise was a good one, but executed poorly.

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An Emotional Timey Wimey Time

The plot is original and it doesn't fall into a lot of BL trope scenes. The cast was good, and Tae and Tee led the show very well. I didn't feel like anyone was dragging down the show.

I think the drawbacks of the show are the music - sometimes it all felt kind of random or weak. And while I loved the time loop idea, it did get a little confusing at times trying to keep the events in order, and during the final loop several previously known facts were changed to ensure certain characters got the endings the creators wanted.

For example - Sing and Gap suddenly dating and Sing being the lead doctor trying to expose Sak. Tol's classmates being suddenly reasonable and Doi going insane.

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Not perfect but interesting take on suicide

This is an easy binge that though it is episodic has a decent story as well as character development to make it interesting.

Though I am not really a huge fan of the way they portray hell and parts of the story do kind of bother me... There are also some parts that may be just a little to predictable if I am honest while others actually did surprise me. I am also a bit bothered by peoples screaming and displays of emotion... Not that they are not justified but they can get to be just a little bit to much, lowd screaming and crying are simply not my thing.

The high score goes to how easily bingeagable this is the great performances of the star studded cast, how well woven this is and the fact that I keep wanting to press that next button.

I am also happy I do not have to wait for the second part, that would probably have ruined the experience as it ends on top!

Will it be able too keep the high score in part two or will it be taken over by healing mumbo jumbo... and more talk of hell?

Ill probably let you know sometime tomorrow , as I am off to binge part 2

P.S there are a lot of ways to die... like a lot!

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a masterpiece fr, trust me.

not one to write reviews but this drama is too good not to. i had not read the webtoon so i had no idea how this was gonna be but it turned out amazing. like genuinely, the plot, the acting, the pacing, the dialogues, everything is perfect. the whole drama is so well written.

it is tough to create such a heartfelt and touching kdrama which actually alters your brain chemistry in a positive way. i've had depression for a while now and this drama hit home in a lot of scenes. despite how hopeless the ML's situation feels in the beginning, it is truly amazing how they managed to somehow ignite hope by the ending. the irony is that i was fully prepared for a sad ending, kind of proving true a lot of the points made in the drama about the ML and the ending (tho somewhat predictable if you're being hopeful) was like a reminder that even in such situations things can turn around for the better.

some may feel i am giving a lot of importance to what is just a drama but for someone who has felt a lot of what the ML did, this show actually means a lot. kdramas have anyway played a major role in my life as a coping mechanism and this one truly touched my heart and just made me feel happy ngl?

the drama itself is a rollercoaster of emotions like you will be angry, you'll feel sad, you'll cry and whatnot but it is so SO worth it. not much for rewatch value maybe cause the suspense and curiosity for what comes next plays a big role in keeping you hooked so after knowing the whole plot you might not wanna watch it again. BUT DO WATCH IT ONCE!

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