Reviews

Tantalizing Encounters at Knight (Lol)

For Yeo Hwa (Honey Lee) life is extremely narrow. She is locked away from the outside world, her beauty covered in voluminous white fabric and her every movement spied on and scrutinized every day...which makes it all the more shocking to see how she gets around at night! She has more of a nightlife than any avid bar hopper on vaca in Paris.

Her life took a dreadful turn when she married into the Left State Minister's household. They are among the wealthiest and most powerful families in Joseon. Her father-in-law has deadly secrets and a consuming lust for power. Her mother-in-law is a cold woman..enamored with her own reputation. They plan to use Yeo Hwa and her widow's piety to gain them prestigious rewards, thus they are determined to control her every thought.
But Yeo Hwa cannot be controlled. She appears as innocent and obedient as she is commanded to be...yet juxtaposed against that pale version of herself is a woman so vibrantly alive, it is impossible for her to go unnoticed.
She is fearless and capable, her keen brain focused on staying just a step ahead of her jailor's.
Thankfully, she has found an outlet for her pent up life, and she expresses it by saving others. And because she doesn't live in the main house...she is allowed a few precious hours to be herself. Without thought for her own safety or exposure, she throws off her white robe to don a black one and leaps over the wall for her latest nocturnal rescue.

What I Love:

The FL. Honey Lee.... as Yeo Hwa
She is not just a pretty face, she is also a very gifted actress. Her height and strength only add to the authenticity of her role in this series. She is a feisty heroine and a very entertaining one. Her funny bone must be natural because it makes its way into her roles often. It is a welcome relief here as mourning is a deadly serious business to this family. Ppl have complained about her age...but she owns this role perfectly in my view. I love this trend of strong and capable female leads.

The ML. Lee Jong Won....as Park Soo Ho
Naturally for our mistreated and precious FL, there must be a gorgeous ML, right? And oh my...Lee Jong Won is perfect. If this is your first time watching him as it is mine...I predict you are gonna love this guy. I am also loving his role. As Park Zoo Ho, he is this very calm masculine man, capable of handling his enemies without breaking a sweat. He is unflappable... until he meets her. And despite her being covered from head to toe... she makes a shocking impression on him anyway. He is so drawn to her...that he feels compelled to save her from herself. Maddeningly aware of the risks she takes, he nearly unravels trying to protect her, in fact, his arms often end up around her ...just to help her of course. Lol.

So a very fascinating start to a tantalizing series, one I wholeheartedly recommend.
As always I will be back to update you.

Happy Watching!

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Love this!

Wow, these reviews are brutal. A lot of them are picking My Demon apart piece by piece. So what if the story seems familiar in places? So what if there are ridiculous characters?

The only thing that matters is if you enjoy the series. Which I did!! And, for that matter, I give it a 10! This isn’t rocket science. This is entertainment and I was thoroughly entertained.

I have never seen a more beautiful couple. I have rarely seen such chemistry between a couple in the many dramas I have watched. Their playfulness was adorable. Their tenderness towards each other was enviable.

I love the supporting characters as well. I still get teary eyed when I think of how the son was mistreated. That’s saying how powerful the emotions are in this series to stay with me.

Loved this so much.

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It is, as expected, great!

Taking my time to savor "I Lost You Forever" proved to be a well-judged decision. While I anticipated enjoying it, the strategic delay heightened my appreciation, leading me to want to share my thoughts now.

This drama unfolds like a tapestry. This isn't a result of veering off course or losing direction but rather due to the fluid changes in scenarios and the intermittent introduction and departure of characters outside the main quartet. This dynamic approach, while invigorating, makes the story feel longer than it is, which, fundamentally, isn't a negative aspect.

Undoubtedly, the standout feature of this drama is its characters. The majority of them radiate an exceptional sense of authenticity. Each character possesses an irresistible charm coupled with unforgiving flaws, navigating actions that alternately endear and exasperate, reflecting not poor writing but a genuine depiction of human complexities.

Despite the political storyline's crucial role in the final episodes, the narrative retains its character-driven essence, so I feel it is only fair to have a discussion of the four main characters.

Xiaoyao's character is a truly captivating focal point of the narrative. Initially introduced as a man and maintaining this identity for a significant duration, her complexity adds a unique layer to the story. Strikingly, she manages to be simultaneously likable and polarizing, creating a multifaceted appeal that solidified my adoration for her as a central character. Delving extensively into Yang Zi's performance almost feels unnecessary – her portrayal in this role is nothing short of phenomenal. Consistently compelling from the beginning to the end, Yang Zi brings a depth and authenticity to Xiaoyao that is undeniably convincing.

Cangxuan didn't immediately capture my favor in the initial episodes, but over time, I found myself warming up to him. His narrative intertwined with Xiaoyao adds a compelling dimension, challenging conventional expectations of the male lead. Zhang Wanyi's portrayal matches Yang Zi's excellence, contributing significantly to the seamless execution of their interconnected stories.

On the flip side, Tushan Jing emerges as the narrative's Achilles’s heel, showcasing vulnerabilities both in writing and acting. Initially established as a fair enough character, he falters significantly as the story unfolds. His indecisiveness and weakness, despite hailing from one of Dahuang's most influential families, present a stark contrast to the greatness attributed to him. While the hardships he faced in the past are acknowledged, they fail to fully explain the extent of his character shift.

Deng Wei's portrayal of Tushan Jing, though not abysmal, falls noticeably short compared to the other three. His limited range of facial expressions and lack of nuance became wearisome after about 25 episodes. As the main love interest, his on-screen chemistry with Yang Zi lacks conviction, making their romantic moments feel unconvincing.

Lastly, Xiang Liu. It's an understatement to label him merely as my favorite. Tan Jianci consistently exceeds expectations, proving to be the unparalleled choice for bringing Xiang Liu to life. This character, with its profound complexity and layers, posed a substantial challenge, one that Tan Jianci masterfully conquered. His expressions transcend the ordinary, evoking palpable emotions that leave me both connected and perplexed by the intricacies of his character.

Xiang Liu's love for Xiaoyao is evident, yet his actions defy predictability. He's capable of extraordinary feats for her, yet equally inclined towards unexpected choices. Will he go to extremes to protect her, or might he lead her into unforeseen challenges? The uncertainty surrounding his character adds a magnetic allure, keeping me on the edge of anticipation.

Eagerly anticipating the second part of this compelling story, I can only hope it maintains its current breathtaking quality. While aware that it will not unfold as I wish (I can feel it), the prospect of the unknown journey ahead is both intriguing and exciting.

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Disappointing

I've been a huge fan of Yang Zi for many years. But I have to say, this drama is a dud.

I heard that this is an adaptation from a novel which wasn't popular. Now I know why that novel wasn't popular. The story sucks. The writer seems to be someone who never actually live in the real world, but watched too many drama and maybe read too many novels!

I watched up to episode 28 (because I wanted to support Yang Zi) until when I couldn't take it anymore and dropped it.

I don't have anything against good childhood friends turned into lovers. In fact, I have several which I love, like With You, Love is Sweet, Reply 1988, Our Secret, Go Ahead, etc. But I find it very hard to stomach Love Endures. For a start, all the leads are just way too old to play themselves as high school students. I also find their acting unconvincing. Maybe because the storyline is so bad, it's impossible to be convincing. Or maybe its their acting which is so bad they made the storyline looks bad. I don't know which one is which anymore!

The chemistry between the leads (main and the supporting) are non existent. They have chemistry of friends, not lovers.

Very disappointing.

Edited: The amount of hate I get for writing this bad reviews!

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Was the best BL of 2023 until the end...

This was my most anticipated BL of 2023, and I love that they featured it around a blind man, and showed the visible struggles that the visually impaired have to deal with daily. I find it super important to raise awareness about this subject! They pulled that part off fantastically. The acting was amazing as well!
This show was a 10/10 for me, but after the ending, I'm quite annoyed... they should have ended it before the breakup, or at ep 12, part 3/4. I feel like Day getting his eyesight back didn't add anything of value... and just did it to make it a fairytale ending that isn't needed! Such a shame, I was so excited for a good and authentic representation of a disability in BL, but they had to "fix" him. Now I'd probably rate it an 8.5/10. Wish I didn't continue after ep 9 :( Also feel like Mhok wasn't fully understood. He still has trauma from the passing of his sister, but Day completely overlooked that. Sure, what he did was wrong, but you can't blame him for his past.
Aaaa I'm so frustrated with the ending :( Please wipe away my memory from the last 3 eps
I recommend stopping at ep 9, or at ep 12, part 3/4

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Super engaging, very well written drama

Highlights:
- the plot was very well thought out, it was fast paced from beginning to end, it wasn't completely obvious, it layers, emotional charge and depth.
- the acting was very good, some mean characters were freaking impressive in their capacity to make you hate them.
- the main couple was cute, even though the romance development came second to the overall suspense/revenge plot.

Could be better:
- the only thing which stopped me from giving this a 10 was the way they decided to handle the adoption arc. I was disappointed that, even though the script seemed to want to bring forth the need to let go of some bizarrely old-fashioned views on the topic in that society, I think the message kinda fell through with some of the revelations made as the drama evolved.

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Worth the time spent watching this masterfully written and depicted story!

To begin with, I read some reviews and didn't want to see Luo Yun Xi portray an antagonist character, however, it's a good thing that I changed my mind. He did a wonderful job in that character, a character that you like in the beginning. But as time goes by, you see how it changes and not for the better. He is one of the few characters that I didn't mind having a redemption arc.

Jin Mi/ The Frost Flower/ The Water Immortal:
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Jin Mi was also one of the best character Yang Zi has portrayed, another was her Yan Dan in Immortal Samsara. When I saw her in Go Go Squid, I didn't think much of her acting skills, but these historical romances changed my mind. She has shown such range of emotions, reminding me of Korean actress Gong Hyo-jin. Coming to her character, we have to consider her handicap, the unfeeling pill, the elixir that stunted her development and ability to discern things. Everyone in the floral realm appeared very weak, beginning from the ladies who raised her. They relied blindly on the pill, not preparing Jim Mi for what was coming in the future. For a 4000 year old, she had barely the understanding of teenager. And the Yun Elixir (the unfeeling pill) plotline left some loose ends. I mean did the elixir only cut of romantic love and not familial love? Because she loved her newfound father and auntie so much that she wanted revenge, those are some strong feelings. Phoenix was the first to fall in love with her, but it wasn't until later, a few months before entering the mortal realm that Jin Mi started reciprocating the feelings. Even in the mortal realm she hid things from him, she could have told him that she was poisoned and going to die, especially since she accepted his feelings. Her character was written beautifully, this was a coming of age story that made you hate her at times and love her at others. I'm glad she had to face the consequences of killing the phoenix, even once she was reincarnated. It was fair because she didn't love him as much as he loved her. She was so easily tricked into believing that he killed her parents, had little faith in him. Even once she found out that he didn't do it, the first thing she thought of was that she killed him mistakenly. Not how she could make up for it or bring him back. She wanted to bring him back to be with him, not only to atone for her sins. So, I wasn't really surprised with the way he treated her when he came back to life.

Xu Feng / Phoenix / Fire Deity
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This drama introduced me to Deng Lun, he and Yang Zi were well-matched in their acting prowess. Xu Feng was one of the greenest flags in Cdramas you'll ever get to see, much similar to Sifeng from Love & Redemption. Even when he tried to hate the FL for what she had done, he found it unpalatable. But he did hate her, you have to when the person you are trying to protect stabs you in the back. The worst part of it was not that she stabbed him, it was heartbreaking for sure, but she stabbed him in the back. Even when she did that, all he did was ask her if she ever loved him. She denied it and that was the last thing he ever heard. Even when he came back from the dead, he didn't for a moment think about getting revenge against her. He only wanted to live his life and not bother with others. Apart from Run Yu, he was the one who suffered the most throughout the series, at the hands of the Jin Mi, his parents, and let's not forget Su Hi. The worst character Tai Wei, the heavenly emperor, who raped the woman he claimed to love and just wanted people to forgive and forget. What's worse, he still claimed to love her. Him along with his crazy wife were the reason Xu Feng suffered so much. Had they left it alone and minded their actual responsibilities, they wouldn't have meddled in their son's life so much, causing him untold grief. Let's not forget Su Hi, this trio went out of its way to make others miserable. The one flaw that Xu Feng had was he overlooked his parents crimes and tried to get them pardoned at every opportunity when he should have been disgusted by them. Even when he thought that his mother could have killed Jin Mi's father, he wanted to find a way to save her. His mother did kill Run Yu's mother, for that, he could only apologize, which was fine and reasonable, but what wasn't was not calling his mother out on it. He enabled her in that way. He also knew how his mother treated Run Yu and while he called her out on it, they were still living same toxic cycle where she continuously put Run Yu down.

Just a phenomenal groups of actors that worked together on a well-written story.

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When your boss literally is a pig

There's a difference between Western and Eastern ideas of what it means to call someone a pig. I believe over there it just in general means being lazy and maybe a bit of a glutton, over here well it's a lot meaner an insult.

So the basic premise of the story is that due to a curse on the family, their newborn son becomes a pig every night forever unless he gets a true love's kiss.

The story starts with our FL finding an abandoned tea cup pig in a bathroom and thinks someone was going to take it home and eat it, so she saves it and takes it home. The pov of her giving a bath to the pig and cuddling with it, is show again from the person trapped insides pov and omg that's too funny. The following morning, he returns to human form, in her bed...without clothing....oooops!

Their attempt to break the curse is met with some misunderstandings, but of course they overcome those eventually.

It's really a cute and short drama, easy to watch in an afternoon. It's not too deep because it's 12 little episodes, but I found it funny and enjoyable overall. The plot could have been a little better developed but then the show would have had to been longer format and I'm not sure they could have stretched that long enough for 30 minute episodes.

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100% biased but I'm in love

I had somewhat mixed feelings going into this drama. I’m a pretty big fan of both Shin Hye-sun and Ji Chang-wook, so I was on board for them, but as a general rule I don’t love second chance romances, so I wasn’t super keen on that aspect of it.

I’m beyond glad that I gave it a change though, it 100% won me over, and quick too. It’s been a good long while since I’ve scored a show this high, I’m madly in love with it.

Okay first off, the freaking cast. This was an absolutely phenomenal cast, Shin Hye-sun as Sam-dal and Ji Chang-wook as Yong-pil were perfect. I don’t know how they managed to bring so much emotion into each of these roles, it was perfect, zero notes. And the chemistry between them was definitely there from their first interactions on screen. As previously stated, I’m not a huge fan of second chance romances, but this one had me rooting for them to get back together pretty much from the beginning.

Every other character was well cast too, from Sam-dal’s sisters to her parents, the haenyeos, to the friend group. Even the characters that didn’t get very much screen time brought something to the show and I was rooting for every single one of them.

The filming locations were stunning, and I found myself falling in love with the little town of Samdal-ri and the whacky cast of characters that live there. I got excited every time I started a new episode and heard the intro play since I knew I was in for something good.
Sam-dal’s journey was so beautifully done. Watching her character go from her lowest emotional state and building up from that was amazing, it got to me. Seeing her reconnect with her friends, her family, her ex and herself was just AHHH. I want to say something articulate here but I don’t even know how, It was just amazing.

Yong-pils character, Oh my gosh. I love this man. I would die for this man. He’s one of the greenest green flags to ever green flag, Ever. Enough said.

The romance developed pretty slow, but the progression is steady, and it always gave me just enough to keep me wanting more from them. And because the build up was slow, it made those little moments that much better. I love them together so much I don’t have the words for it.

Welcome to Samdal-ri had me pretty darn emotional in every episode, and the flashbacks, the freaking flashbacks. They wrecked me, in the best way possible. I don’t cry when I watch shows, but this one got me close.

The music was perfect for the show, I don’t have too many notes about it, but it served it’s purpose well, and I liked it enough to add most of the OST to my playlist. So yeah.

I dunno may, maybe it was just the right story at the right time for me, but I loved it so much. This was definitely one of the most, if not the most healing dramas I’ve ever watching, it’s probably my number one comfort drama right now, it’s got the perfect amount of funny and feels to get me through the day.

I could probably gush about it for the rest of the day, but I’m running out of intelligent words, so bye.

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This isn’t a movie for everyone. If you are into themes exploring the darker parts of society, then this might be for you. Days later, I’m still recovering from how much this movie emotionally wrecked me. I’ve watched some happy stuff since, but this one is still with me.

The story follows two characters, Ter and Som. Their characters only ever briefly pass by each other on the streets, but their lives end up intertwining in a heartbreakingly tragic way. Within the first part of the movie, you already get the feeling of where all the characters will end up, but you can’t help but stay for them and hope things would turn out differently. The image of the fish tank and the last scene are gonna haunt me for some time.

Bank, Sydney and Jomjam did amazing in their roles. They made me feel so much for their characters. Bank lost weight for his role. I thought he just lost weight, but he actually did it for this role. This is my first time seeing Sydney and Jomjam, and it takes skills to portrays their characters. They both nailed it. I hope to see them all collab on a project again, hopefully a more happier one, so I can move on from this one lol.

I actually don’t have any criticisms for this movie. It was well executed given the characters, storyline and themes. The only thing I may want is for it to be a series instead, so we could have gotten more into the characters of Mild, Som’s mom and Peach. But again, stories like this won’t appeal to everyone, so maybe it was a safer bet to go the movie route.

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A puzzle that gives a different answer every time.

After finishing the drama, I realise why no one was willing to leave a bad review for it, because this drama is strange.
Shot in slow motion, but by God, you can't watch it on FF because you just can't. Sigh.
The cinematography was good, the fight scenes were epic, even the melodramatic sister had her charm. Here's my take. There's no sequel coming because:
1. Shanguan Qian is not pregnant [watch the scene carefully again and see the clues for yourself]
2. The ending: I'm not exactly upset here because the premise of this drama was never the romance, so It's either the ML died waiting for Ah Yun to return to him, or she actually did return after. I'm leaning on more of her return because she's obviously upgraded in martial arts since her arrival at the Gong's annnd she's picked up skills, obviously. Me thinks if she became pissed, she could pull it off and manage a comeback to her man after all.
3. I'm not watching a sequel because I cannot can this drama anymore, but if one does come out, which I know will not, I'll conveniently forget I wrote these words and watch it anyway, LOL.
4. This drama is a dark horse, you cannot hate it, but you're not sure you love it, the rewatch value is high, but an immediate rewatch after is slow.

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