Reviews

Such an Entertianing Dystopia, with character you will love!

I LOVE plots that are character-driven, I'm willing to watch any plot as long as the characters are written well. For me Sweet Home did just that, I can't begin to explain how much I adore the main character, he's just a loveable person who's also mentally strong and goes through so much trouble that you have to love him. It honestly hurt watching a lot of my favourite characters die, because I really started to feel a connection to them and the relationships they had with each other. To be honest, I did find some deaths unnecessary (especially the death of the leader at the end). I was also confused as to why two characters turn out to be working for the government at the end?? So the plot definitely can be confusing, but I loved the group so much that I was willing to forgive them for that.

I also did find the CGI a little funny at parts, when there was too much lighting or the monsters were too big, the CGI looked quite awkward. But for the most part, it was okay. And oh my god I hate that stupid Warriors song they use, it did not fit at all. I wish they had used another song.

Aside from the CGI bits and the weird music at times. I really liked the pacing of this show, I love a good 10-episode story because it means that each episode is exciting--and it really was! I found that each episode kept me hooked and made me want to keep watching. Even in the short span, the characters are developed really well. I found that each character changes, mostly positively, through each episode as the audience gets to see them interact with the group. It really felt like everyone wanted to help each other, despite the struggles.

Overall I would say this was such an entertaining show, it's definitely sad and gorey, but the acting and the pacing are exceptional.

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A Tightly Woven Cute Story.

Eight 16-20min episodes. The whole production is very well done and happily satisfying. The only weak link is the music, which was meh. Would highly recommend, though I probably won't re-watch frequently.

Tension is masterfully and evenly sustained as the present unfolds and the past is revealed (university and highschool). There's a lot of jumping back and forth but it was fairly easy to follow, especially once I recognized this visual clue: in flashbacks the boys wear a highschool uniform that has a blue and red pattern on the inside of their collars! If you see that, it's in the past.

The premise kind of felt like a Japanese BL; a fantastical take on something mundane that sets up a romance, almost like it’s fated. The feel of this series remains very Korean though; strong storytelling with great acting, lovely cinematography, and a well-written script with a lot of earnest and sweet moments. There is some angst but also communication (eventually) and a satisfying resolution.

The two leads have great chemistry and their yearning is tangible. Kisses are just pressed lips yet still manage to contain emotions and passion in their gentle sweetness.

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The characters can be SO annoying

Genuinely I cannot finish this drama because I'm fed up with Soo Ah and Yi Seo. I find them both really annoying and it soured the plot for me. And as much as I love Sae-Ro-I as a character I find that his love for Soo Ah ruins the plot, I get that he wants her to be true to herself, but she's literally working for the man who is responsible for Sae-Ro-i's misery, I find that inexcusable. I know they're trying to show that everyone has their own way of fighting for what's right, but I can't stand it.

Yi Seo is so annoying too, although smart she's rude and tries to play it off as being witty. Every time I find myself trying to like her, she'll say something annoying and I go back to hating her. I think the main issue is making her have a crush on Sae-Ro-I, I think it takes away from the plot. It just seems so unnecessary for her character. I find myself getting too fed up with the romance aspects and everyone's crushes, then the actual revenge aspect.

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Dramatic Getting Together Story

**Brief Synopsis**
B (Student): Ji Hyun
T (Student): Jae Won

- Beginning: B and T meet at the beach when they join the same surfing club. They hit it off pretty quickly and soon an attraction develops between them. They end up kissing. When they return to school however, B sees T again but T pretends that nothing happened, making B confused and a little upset.

- Middle: As we see more of B’s and T’s daily life, we also see them spending more time together despite everything. Although it’s obvious T is interested in B and vice versa, something was holding T back. It is revealed that T has mental issues related to a trauma he had suffered some time ago. His mental issues make it difficult for him to form relationships or letting himself go. He sees a psychologist for his problems, but it is obvious he looks happier after spending some time with B. After B nearly ties in an accident that involves T, T decides to avoid B in the name of protecting him. In this moment of denial, he gets back with his ex girlfriend.

- End: But denying his feelings didn’t last long. Finally T realizes he wants to be with B, breaks it off with the girlfriend once more and end up dating B. The show ends with them happily dating.

**My Opinion**

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:
- The actors playing B and T. Their chemistry was amazing and their interactions were cute and sweet. They also do a great job in portraying the affection between the characters.
- I like how T manages to overcome some of his trauma by series end thanks to B’s help.
- The writing is pretty nice despite the plot being predictable and cliche. The director do a good job depicting the challenges of daily someone with mental issues that can affect their day to day life and basic social skills.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT IT:
- Very tame intimate scenes which can be a disappointment.
- Angst comes from T constantly denying his own feelings which is an overused trope.
- T’s character is very complicated. Because of his trauma, he isn’t a very nice person, hurting B on more than 1 occasion and only thinking about himself and telling others he’s not. The fact that he dragged an innocent girl in to the mix is proof of that. He’s not a very likeable character.
- Slow burn, meaning they only got together in the last episode. I would have loved to see more of their daily interactions as a couple.
- The show is constantly playing with your emotions which means it can get a little tiring to watch.

**Conclusion**
An OK watch but won’t be revisiting again.

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This drama is very similar to forever love 2023.. from having a crush on her since years to becoming her personal bodyguard to coming out as the heir of a big company of the town and and "the biggest" coincidence is that both of the main fmls has the same surnames which is "Lin" and both of the male lead has the same name too "Mo". Lmao
Now, talking about the drama what i liked about this drama is how the fl was so determined to take back her fathers precious company from the evils, she was fearless, strong and bold , indeed she was raw!! Everything was good until the rape thing happened..i mean the main villian tried to molest her 2 times and the mfl didn't even took any actions abt it, like seriously girl? I have always liked your strong personality but this, this is so wrong in many ways..she haven't took any stand right there when he tried to force on her not just once but twice ugh ...the only thing which was good was the leads chemistry in the series after that incident...it felt they made the drama alive again... whatsoever i still prefer forever love over love strikes back.

Special mentions: i really liked the way how they pointed out their story throughout Rabhidranth Tagore's poets...it is really nice to see a bengali poet's name mentioned in a cdrama .. being a bengali + a cdrama fan i feel so proud that our Rabhidranth Tagore's poets are mentioned how and so beautifully in asian dramas haha ❤

P.s. i liked these short mini drama so i would rate it 8.1
P.s.2. i am so happy that yang finally got a main female lead role to play, i have always liked her acting skills and not to forgot she's so pretty omg!!!

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Choppy editing meets unfinished arcs

Wow, where do I begin?

This drama had so much potential, especially with all the veteran actors in this. But the way the editing was and the way the arcs were as well as character introductions is where this show falls very short.

There are several characters that are introduced and then we never see them again. There are important characters that the main character LQL has a relationship with that we barely see their ending/know what happens to them. It's like they disappear from thin air which makes no sense given the length of time they have spent with them.

Then we spend much of the show watching the prince have no faith or confidence in any of his son and their ability to help him keep the promise he made to the emperor only for him to now magically have faith in HL, who is the prince's 3rd son.

We watch the villains seemingly get away with everything despite the evidence against them simply because it would "break" the prince's heart to have to kill his evil children and because of one woman who is literally behind every single plot yet somehow she doesn't meet her compupence until the end.

It was just all very frustrating. Also, the random arc they threw in towards the end of ep 36 and we see the main characters standing together as if they are Avengers.

I'm sorry. But I'm just so disappointed because again, this is a stacked cast. Many of these actors and actresses I've seen elsewhere and they have proven their acting ability. Additionally, the ost was nice. So it just feels like their talent as well as the musical talent in the osts was wasted.

Would I recommend watching this? Maybe if you need something as background noise while you are doing some other task or if you just need something to pass the time but as a good stand-alone? No.

Side note, I will say this review is harsher than the reviews I typically give idol dramas but that's because the expectations were different.

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INCRÍVEL!!

é um mini cdrama bem gostosinho de assistir, principalmente pra quem tá voltando de uma ressaca braba de varios meses sem ver nada.

A atuação dos protagonistas são muito boa, a história se desenvolve de uma maneira bem rápida, com alguns furos, mas bem satisfatória.

gosto muito dos cenários, da fotografia e dos mínimos detalhes sobre a antiga vida dele. Gostei também da construção da história do amor deles, achei tão fofo e divertido.

Ponto positivo pro plot twist do nada, vilão virando mocinho, mocinho virando vilão, maldição se revertendo, muito bom!!

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Beautifully painfull

It tries to be realistic, but ends up being a bit cliché.

Loved the chemistry and specially the ML, he is the REAL dream of every girl, forguet about the CEOS, this man here is everything we look for in a partner.
The romance is quite fast paced and toxic af... you see red flags as big as mountains from ep 1, and, its just flows that way.

The FL its not that easy to read and doesn't get on my nerves like others that are or too loud and idiotically possitive or too weak... The other couples are so so...
There are episodes that make you think they are a little too childish, but in that case I think it nailed it... People at 20 are pretty much just big children, at least I was.

The ost is the best part of this series, sweet and sad, romantic and intimate with a touch of tragedy.
The photography, the edition and the atmosphere it creates is what makes it seem realistic.


BUUUUUUT

SPILERS COMING!

THAT ENDING!!

WHYYYYYYY

SO SAD AND AMBIGUOUS...

If I knew I wouldn't started it. Remember Heartbeat? Well... you can guess...

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Extraordinary You (2019) - A Rollercoaster of Emotions with a Dash of Cringe

Extraordinary You takes viewers on a unique journey, blending romance, fantasy, and coming-of-age elements in a high school setting. While it may not have been my cup of tea, it's important to acknowledge the drama's merits.

The storyline revolves around Eun Dan-oh, a high school student who discovers that she is merely a character in a comic book. As she grapples with her predetermined fate, she endeavors to break free from the author's script and carve her own path. The drama stands out for its intriguing concept, delving into the intricacies of self-discovery and the pursuit of genuine emotion.

One of the drama's strongest points is its character development. Watching the protagonists evolve and challenge their predestined roles is a rewarding experience. The narrative weaves in poignant life lessons, emphasizing the significance of individual agency and the power to shape one's destiny.

However, Extraordinary You is not without its flaws. The cringe factor is a significant drawback for some vie viewers, and the drama occasionally leans heavily on clichés. The overdose of cringe might be off-putting for those who prefer a more subtle approach to romantic storytelling.

Another area of concern is the pacing. At times, the drama seems to drag, leaving viewers longing for a quicker narrative progression. It appears as if the writer struggled with finding the right balance between advancing the plot and allowing for character development.

On a positive note, the drama's originality is commendable. The concept of characters realizing they are part of a fictional world is a refreshing take on the typical high school romance genre. This innovative approach contributes to the drama's appeal, attracting viewers who appreciate a break from the conventional.

The unexpected twist in the ending, where the characters transition to the next story, is a pleasant surprise. This decision adds a layer of complexity and leaves the audience with a sense of satisfaction. It's a bold move that sets Extraordinary You apart from more predictable dramas.

In conclusion, Extraordinary You may not resonate with everyone due to its cringe-worthy moments and pacing issues. However, its unique concept, well-crafted character development, and unexpected ending make it a worthwhile watch for those who can overlook its shortcomings. Whether you love it or find it cringey, the drama's exploration of self-discovery and the defiance of predetermined fate is a theme that lingers, making it a memorable addition to the K-drama landscape.

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I'm far from finishing this. I've only started it yesterday and am currently watching the fifth episode. And I am writing this simply because I do not now where else I should get rid of all this frustration. I mean, of course this is like a soap, so lots and lots of drama. Thats not the problem. In that regard this fulfills everything a true soap lover desires. And I'm not here to complain about the series at all, but i am here to complain about what the hell is wrong woth the characters. Slapping people here and there, having world views that make me sick to the stomach. On one hand it's perfect if you want to be really really upset about conservative values and want to feel like kicking some butts. On the other hand I do not know where to go with all this pent up frustration. I'm not going to spoiler anything here, so I'm not going into any details. If you wanna feel how I feel, go ahead and watch it. As I said, theres a ton of drama. It scratches that guilty-pleasure-itch of watching overly dramatic soaps perfectly. Have fun getting mad at fictional stories (with probably and sadly some true backgrounds)

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Typical

Nothing new here. Same ole C-drama template filled with 'popular' Chinese actors/actresses. When will the Chinese realize that having a popular star doesn't make a drama good? Don't let the fans dictate your agenda! I'd rather have an original and interesting plot than a 'top' cast because an actor/actress, like a NFL quarterback, can't win the game when the playbook stinks and the coach doesn't give good direction. I'm beyond the stage in my life where I just want to see my favorite pretty boy (or girl); I want sustenance, I want creativity, I want originality. If that means reducing the number of episodes, so be it! I've always preferred movies to soap operas anyway. Ok, enough of a rant. I'm really starting to feel sorry (and embarrassed) for the Chinese when all they can produce is the same ole template filled with the latest and hottest stars. Just because an actor/actress has a hit drama doesn't mean they're right for every drama that shows up in their agency inbox. Yep, I'm talking to Dylan. Please, boy, get yourself a more selective agent before you ruin your career again. Or maybe you need a better director who can speak the language that brings out what we saw in LBFD. Pairing him with a popular actress doesn't guarantee success, and frankly, I was disappointed with Bai Lu's character as well so she didn't help him much. Well, anyway, that's all I'm saying. Please, I'm begging you, get rid of the C-drama Rom-Com template and write a new playbook.

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"Forget the distinction between Good and Bad...."

Like the song says, you can't watch this if you are too worried about what's good and bad about it. There's a lot of both.

First, the series drew me in with the male lead at the beginning. I liked his happy-go-lucky idea of going where the leaf blew, and his seeming wisdom in dealing with the plum-blossom evil. But for some reason that seemed like the high point of his character. I also liked the way the female lead literally "fell" in love. Though this is perhaps somewhat of an overused trope.

But it was all down hill from there. He seemed to never figure things out until they blasted him in the face. I guess you can say that he was like the leaf blown around with no sense of agency. But it was not a positive thing IMHO.

I also hated his face when he was crying. He seemed to turn into this ugly petulant child.

The female lead was OK. She had a crooked tooth that I kept noticing that was kind of distracting, but apart from that she had a strong personality that grew over time.

But both the male lead and the female lead seemed quite at sea some times. I guess if they were too smart it would have been hard to keep the plot moving but at times ... dang!

The secondary male lead drove me crazy. He was so presumptuous and narcissistic. It was like the world revolved around him---he was too self-absorbed to see anyone else's feelings, in particular those of the male lead, who was his best friend.

He looked like one of those high school football stars that gets the prettiest cheerleader and QBs the football team, but knows almost nothing.

There was a clever touch using a trope from Cyrano de Bergerac that fit his character perfectly, only I had far less sympathy for him than for Christian in the Cyrano de Bergerac play.

The secondary female lead had a great role that she played well. Her clingyness would have been annoying in an actual human but was endearing if you remember she was a fox creature. She was an "innocent abroad" who by choice ended up feeling the full weight of the human condition. I loved her bug also.

The secondary characters were mostly great. One thing that really annoyed me, though, was numerous instances of misplaced loyalty. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me ten or fifteen times, uh...shame on me???"

I loved the untrammeled school. I loved the researcher. I loved how she never knew exactly what her inventions were going to do, and how her brother was always trying to palm them off on someone else.

Many of these secondary characters had great character arcs, developing as human beings as they went through trials and heartbreaks.

Minor spoiler: kunlun was amazing as someone who went from a strong, righteous, capable character to an absolute wreck. He was a flawed hero in the classical tragic sense. He made the struggle visible and that was IMHO really good acting.

One thing about kunlun that I found totally distracting---he looked just like the "Q" character in Star Trek Next Generation. Once I realized who he reminded me of I couldn't stop seeing it. But that's nobody's fault except my own.

I absolutely loved the 9-tailed fox as an evil character. Of course she was very overplayed, but these kinds of stories are quite cartoonish anyway. She had this giggle that at first seemed annoying but it really fit the character.


I really loved the contradictions in her character. She was desperately dependent on having people to accompany her and love her, but she abused every person she encountered. She was a total control freak. Just like real life, this character. The ultimate malignant narcissist. And her punishment fit the crime.

I also liked her agent among the "good" guys and how she changed from the way she started. Both she and kunlun were the victims of their weaknesses but also of the burden others placed on them, which they were unable to bear.

I REALLY HATED THE OVERACTING AND FLASHBACKS! For one thing if you binge-watch the series they are not very useful. And they always made an overacted scene long and drawn out. I really think they are trying to manipulate the audience into a certain emotional response, but it never worked for me because the original scene did not produce much of an emotional reaction in the first place. This use of flashbacks in dramas seems quite common and I wonder if it's just a way to pad the episode so it has enough length.

The grief of these people was earth shattering. Or at least annoying enough that I had to keep skipping forward. I'd skip forward a minute or so and they'd still be blubbering. And they all did it the same way! They just kept calling out the person's name over and over again. I guess they wanted to make sure they didn't forget it or something.

The problem with overacted melodramatic scenes is after a while they become funny.

The ending was actually really well done from a dramatic perspective. Unsatisfying in some ways but definitely in line with the main idea of the series. I've always found the idea of Tao interesting, and while this series uses it more as a prop and plot aid, there was enough allusion to it to pique my curiosity. What would a real Taoist grandmaster be like?

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An Adaptation of Love Stage Manga

B (Student): Anda
T (Actor): Reo

The storyline closely mirrors the manga, maintaining fidelity to the original material by preserving the characters and their personalities. However, the adaptation stumbles in its attempt to replicate the manga's essence, resulting in somewhat exaggerated performances that, while possibly effective in a non-adapted context, feel slightly forced.

Unfortunately, the adaptation falls short of capturing the charm that made the manga successful. A notable drawback is the lead actor's portrayal of the main character, whose cross-dressing role appears less convincing due to perceived discrepancies in physical appearance. This incongruity contributes to a somewhat awkward viewing experience.

In essence, while the adaptation remains faithful to the source material, it struggles to recreate the magic of the manga, with exaggerated acting and casting choices hindering the seamless translation of the concept to the screen.

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Definitely not a slice of life drama!

I have watched Park Eunbin in quite a few dramas now and really enjoyed her performance. I always think it's a sign of good acting if I do not see the same character in her that she used to play before and that's always been the case with her. Sadly, though, I feel that this drama of hers is a huge disappointment and I will break down as to why.

Story:
Abandoned on an island for 15 years during the 00's and no one happens to find you after you have been reported missing? That in itself throws up so many questions not to mention the fact that she looked miraculously healthy and sound-minded after 15 years of being completely alone and surviving only on what's on the island. The storyline doesn't get any better from here, in my eyes, as I feel that a lot of the character's stories are forced to fit into what is already a bad overarching storyline. Whenever I watch dramas like this I am reminded of when my friends and I used to play together as kids and come up with these silly scenarios for our lego/playmobil figurines where there was always one seriously evil person (in this drama it's the dad, who surprisingly is still on the loose and is weirdly obsessed with finding his son just to beat him up?) who would just mess things up and the other characters all had weirdly intertwined storylines that did not make any sense. That was okay since we were kids who were fed on Disney movies. However, I expect better of a Kdrama.


Acting/Cast:
Although I find Park Eunbin's character hugely annoying and I agree with what someone else said on here (that she still acts like a child), I do still thinks her acting itself is good.
The two young actors stood out for me the most, I have to say.
When it comes to the brothers, the family and the crazily obsessed dad, then I am not super in awe of their performance. I feel like the actor who plays Woo Hak doesn't sometimes manage to really bring across the emotion. The guy who plays the older version of Ki Hoo though does a bit better on that front.

Music:
None of the songs have really blown me away, I must say.

Rewatch Value:
I would definitely not like to rewatch it mainly because I feel the storyline is so weak and badly fabricated that I cannot develop a strong relationship with any of the characters. I am huge fan of dramas such as Misaeng, My Mister, Reply1988, Melo is My Nature, Daily Dose Of Sunshine etc. - i.e. slice of life dramas - so I knew for me to like this drama was going to be a long shot anyways.

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Main couple cute but lots of lying and deceiving going on

8.5/10 os my rating. This is a 2011 Taiwanese romantic comedy drama with 84 approximately 45 minute episodes.

First I will provide a unique synopsis then review

Synopsis

Ke Wei Xiang (Chris Wang) and Song Yi Jie (Annie Chen) never envisioned themselves married to someone they had been promised to in the womb, I mean how old fashioned! But when Yi Jie gets to know and love Wei Xiang’s grandmother who professes to have a terminal illness, they decide to marry to fulfill the grandma’s wish. The young pair, who likely never would have selected each other on their own, marry but have a secret agreement to divorce in a year. Wei Xiang’s idea of his ideal match is very different and Yi Jie is avidly pursuing a legal degree. Will this “only to fulfill Grandma’s dying wish” arrangement become real?

Review

The romance between the main couple is believable and cute. The family dynamics are frustrating at times but also heart warming. There are a lot of really long scenes where it was a character reflecting on this or that, and I actually fast forwarded it through a lot of them because they felt really unnecessary. Eight four episodes is a lot and I think they could’ve easily reduced the length of the series if they had cut a lot of those things out or at least shortened them. Overall it was very good, definitely worth watching, but only invest when you’re ready to watch a really long series. I wouldn’t watch it again any time soon because it was just a lot, but it is good enough to rewatch at some point. I recommend it to people that like family dynamics, contract, marriages, growing through conflict and sweet love stories. The ending is happy although somewhat abrupt.

Spoilers*

I thought the level of filial behavior the elders expected was borderline abusive. On one hand I loved the granny (Tan Aizen) but at the same time, I thought what she expected her grandchildren to do to be filial and grant her wishes was ridiculous. She also was watching them to the extent that she invaded their privacy continually in many ways. She was cute and her behavior was cute but there were times when it wasn’t cute and she was just being nosy bossy and a bit of a bully.

We Xiang was wrong to let another woman so close to him, even though it was a fake marriage. Even in a fake marriage, it would be humiliating for people to think your spouse was getting it on with another woman. He used the excuse that he had to do business with her, and that may have been so, but he still could’ve kept a professional distance from her and he let her get in his romantic space way too much. Later in the series, when he fully fell in love, he was willing to burn every bridge so as not to be misunderstood. So it showed he should have known letting another woman that close was not appropriate. So when he set really clear parameters and definitively stated it was not going to happen, I was glad they turned it around that way.

Ko Wei Cheng’s (Kunda Hsieh) mob Princess girlfriend, Fang Hsueh Tu (Chen Mei Yang) was just straight up, mean to him most the time. Although he was a bit of a ladies’ man and not very responsible, that didn’t excuse her behavior. She both physically amd emottionally berated him. If she was angry, she let her thugs beat on him. I felt sorry for him at so many points. I wish he would’ve told his family what was really going on when they were first encouraging him To date her. I did not like that they met because he bullied her and that she then grew up to bully him. That couple and their relationship was built on violence,

We Xiang’s mother, Fang Xue Ru (Yang Chieh mei) liked a girl that was clearly a snobby person just as she was over someone her son and most of the family had chosen. It was heart breaking when Yu Jie would be trying so hard only for her mother-in-law to harshly criticize everything she did mostly because she liked another girl better. I liked that Yi Jie’s ex boyfriend told the being evil mother-in-law off. I wish the Ko family were told more of that back story about what was going on with him and exactly what he did to Yu Jie. I also liked when Yi Jie’s mother, SongLin Hao Yun (Yang Li Rin) told Xue Ru off.

There were so many lies and deceptions in this one. It made the Ko family seem bad. They clarified and resolved the lies and deceptions still it seemed that was their default solution to everything.

It ended so abruptly I actually ran it back to be sure I had not accidentally forwarded it. After all thet we do not get to know if she ever passes her bar? We got to see everyone else with their children but not the main couple? I felt cheated.

#InBornPair
#ChrisWang
#AnnieChang

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