Reviews

A Rollercoaster of Romance and Mystery definitely a Must Watch

So, I just finished watching the last episode of "Destined with You" today, and I've got some mixed feelings about it. The ending left me a bit torn because it started out all intense and scary for like 15 minutes, and then bam! It was all hearts and happiness for the next 45 minutes. I was kind of hoping for a bit more of a thriller element, but it turned out to be a swoon-worthy, feel-good drama.

Rowoon, oh my goodness, that man knows how to deliver those cringe-worthy lines with so much charm! My heart couldn't help but skip a beat when he was being all cute and straightforward with his lovey-dovey dialogues, even though he thought he was under some kind of love spell. The embarrassment that followed was just adorable.

The characters, Bo Ah and Rowoon, are like two peas in a pod. When she's feisty, he's feisty, and when he's all cute, she's just blabbering out those cheesy lines. Their chemistry was undeniably cute, and the romance was on point, but like I said, I was hoping for a bit more of a thriller to balance it all out. Maybe my expectations were just too high in that regard.

All in all, it's a must-watch K-drama, and I only started watching it because of Rowoon, but I'm definitely going to check out "The Matchmakers" because of him. I loved "Destined with You." Though I have to admit, the bloody hand and the gardener were a bit creepy, but I'm glad I stuck with it. The curse explanation was really well done, and I appreciated the flashbacks to the past to help us understand everything better.
The character development was a nice touch, too. And let's talk about Shin Yu – he went from being a perfectly made-up doll to a real live man. Loved it! ❤️❤️❤️ This drama really stood out for me, and I might just rewatch it someday.

On the flip side, I have to agree that the addition of new twists and plotlines every week got a bit overwhelming. It seemed like they introduced more mysteries before solving the previous ones, and I was left scratching my head. The whole Red Hand haunting Rowoon one moment and then disappearing was a bit confusing, and the sudden introduction of a stalker was unexpected. But what really gave me the "ick" was the whole past life lovers from the Joseon period plotline. It felt overused, boring, and repetitive.

In the end, "Destined with You" had its moments of greatness, but it also stumbled along the way with a messy plotline and too many twists. Nevertheless, it's still a drama worth checking out for the romantic moments and some fantastic character development. Just be prepared for a rollercoaster ride of plot twists.

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it saw good

so the intro was what knocked me off literally in less than 1 minute as soon as th intro started i was like this is gonna be great not only that all the ost was a banger i love all the vocals. now come to the MC for me Tantai Jin (Luo Yunxi) is pretty much a fallen hero because he did nothing to anyone even in his first life where he had die in the cold almost everyone hated him for no reason. The side characters even throw rocks at him when he wasn't even paired up with FL this character truly lived a fucked and sad life. i like it because although he knows that no one would see him as a human being hurting he still put up a strong front even when he wanted FL to kill him he never try to tell her the truth he let her assume he killed his own master. this was one of his character flaws but it was a flaw that i like the reason being if she had truly loved him she would have found it out on her own but she didn't truth be told i think Tantai Jin love felted one-sided because he seriously takes all attacks she throws at him and he let her get away with it because it was his love for the FL that protected her from himself. i truly liked this character Tantai Jin.

Now on to FL she was an okay character that learn nothing from her past life like lets be honest all her past life Tantai Jin did everything for the FL to please her in a way. She straight up assumes that he was bad even knowing that he wasn't evil it pains me that every time she tried to save TTJ and says shit that she loves him when she didn't mean it and TTJ believe her heck even i would have fallen for her too but in the end, she was the one that fell harder because at the end she cried bucket when she saw the tomb of ML. ML fell first for FL and it was FL that fell harder for TTJ. There is a saying " you never know what you have not unless u lose it" and this can be said for the FL.

Anyways the ML and FL have chemistry and it fucking set the screen on fire for me. yes my heart was being ripped out from my chest when i saw how much TTJ suffered when he tried to save her with the yin and yang bracelet and when he was looking for Ye Xiwu for 500 years in the underworld. To be honest i would have rather him not feel love at all because it was this love that made him fall to this doom in suffering and torment but it was also what he need the most to heal his heart that had given up on the world that treated him worst than garbage. TTJ made me feel for him because in the end he sacrifice himself for everyone just for the love he has for FL.

Moving on i don't like the 2nd lead couple which was Ye Bingchang (Chen Duling) and Xiao Lin/ Gongye Jiwu(Deng Wei) don't get me wrong i like both actors but i swear i fucking hate the character that they act i can't stand these two they make my blood boils because most misunderstandings have steam from these 2 between the main leads. I may not like the 2nd couple but holy fucking shit the 3rd couple fucking killed me i like Ye Qing Yu (Eddy Geng) and Pianran (Sun Zhenni) they were the best i like this ship as much as i like the main couple ship although i don't too much like the FL character they make good chemistry.

Did i like the end kind of i'm not complaining i know what i was signing myself up for when i started watching this type of drama because the almost never have a happy ending. I also feel like going to rewatch it and fucking rip my heart out again from my chest.

Hats off to the creators, actors, actresses, and directors for creating and making this show happen.

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This drama. THIS drama. Honestly speaking, I only started watching it for Han Ji Min, but ever since the second episode, I have been so emotionally invested in this drama that it's ridiculous. I was really thinking that I was going to get let down, but I didn't. This drama is a lot more about fighting your way through life and never giving up. It's broken my heart and put it right back together again. It almost makes me wish I had lived a life like our main character had, so I could appreciate all the small things in life as he does. It's made me change the way I look at things, and it's so well developed and perfectly paced that it's, for lack of a better way to say it, perfection. The chemistry is unbelievable. I'd watch this drama a million times over if I could.

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Fluffy and cute

I started watching this drama because I needed a break from all the crime and drama shows I was watching. If you want something that's just pure fluff, then this is for you. However, if you're expecting an intense or interesting plot line, you should probably look for something else. This is just 100% fluff with barely any storyline.

PROS
-Great music

- Does not require you do focus too much - As said earlier, this show has barely any plotline, so you can easily watch this if you just want to relax and chill.

-Full of fluff and happiness

-Good side characters - I really love how both the main side characters were written in this show.
I would be so happy if I had a friend like Katori. He's kind, supportive, protective, and not judgemental. I also liked Tanaka, who is quite different compared to Katori. I initially disliked Tanaka's character and wished he would go away, but as the episodes progressed I could see that he has a much deeper character compared to the rest and I loved that his character had development within the amount of screen time he was given. I honestly wish I could see Tanaka as a main character.

CONS
-Awkward acting from the main characters. The acting was quite stiff and awkward throughout the show (though it got better in the second half). To be honest, I liked the actors who played Tanaka and Katori better. They felt more natural to watch.

-Same problem in almost every episode. I don't know why, but BL's love having miscommunication tropes and unfortunately this show is no different. I'm okay with seeing that trope once or twice, but this show kept bringing it up so often that I got irritated.

-Face filters - This isn't a really big con, but the filters applied on Amagi's face really bothered me. I don't understand the purpose of the filter, but for me it just makes the actor 's face look weird and distracting.

Overall, this is still a good watch because it's stress-free and happy. This is a good option if you're tired of watching drama or intense storylines.

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Worth the hype, but not a masterpiece

Every once in a while you encounter a show that is riddled with issues, but has a core that is so strong that it keeps the whole thing afloat. In the case of The Untamed that core is of course the two leads, Wei Ying (Sean Xiao) and Lan Wan Ji (Wang Yi Bo). These two characters are the heart and soul of the drama and the reason for its incredible popularity. They are compelling as these opposites attract, intensely moral people who endure tragedy and grief together, and their connection is immediately palpable on screen. Both actors do a great job of showing the journey these characters go on over the course of the show, and the layers they inhabit. They nail the comic and tragic moments beautifully.

The rest of the cast varies dramatically in acting ability. Paul Yu is solid as Wei Ying's friend and bodyguard Wen Ying, while Marius Wang struggles to give three dimensionality and depth to Jiang Chen, Wei Ying's adopted brother and a pivotal character in the show. This doesn't necessarily detract hugely from the drama as a whole, but it does mean that there are scenes in the drama that don't really resonate with me, are boring, or where the emotional intensity and complexity just doesn't come across they way it should.

Another issue with the show is its plot. The Untamed basically follows the life and growth of Wei Ying from young disciple to the infamous Yiling Patriarch, and although that works from a character standpoint (I care about Wei Ying and want to follow his journey) it can make the plot feel all over the place. There is no single, solid villain in the show, which I think weakens the second half substantially. There are some themes introduced about the danger of a herd mentality in regards to the cultivators turning on Wei Ying, but it isn't properly developed as it should have been. I understand that probably a lot of this is to do with existing issues in the source material, but it could have been reworked in the adaptation. Additionally, the plot is not chronological, which I think actual takes away from the impact of Wei Ying's downfall and makes the show feel even more disjointed.

My final big issues with the show are problems that I have with a lot of Chinese fantasy dramas: the magic and creatures look cheap, the villains are laughably uninteresting and not even slightly intimidating, and the action is dull and void of impact. I understand that the budget of the Untamed was low, so I can excuse the poor CGI, but when it comes to compelling villains and action sequences they have no excuses. Weak writing means they lean too heavily on effects and costume design to try demonstrate that THIS guy is EVIL, when really they should just write a good character. When was the last time I was scared or invested in a villain in a Chinese fantasy series? I feel like they depend too heavily on their villains being archetypes of evil (he's a demon! Evil spirit!) rather than actually having any kind of depth. As for the action, I'm not asking for it to be bloody and visceral. I understand and appreciate an action style that is more elegant than that, and I actually like that their magic means they do less stabbing and decapitating, etc. BUT. The problem is that the action as a whole has no weight or impact. There are no stakes established by the writing/directing, there is no intentionality from the camera, and no believability from the actors. As a result, I can't take the big battles or anything else seriously at all. I don't feel invested in any of it whatsoever. During big tragic scenes, or supposedly stressful and intense battle sequences I feel this deep boredom instead.

This was adapted from a web novel in which the relationship between Wei Ying and Lan Wan Ji is explicitly romantic, but in the show this was censored. There are no kiss scenes, no overt romantic declarations (technically) and they are never officially considered by the show as being more than 'very good friends'. This was off-putting to me before I actually watched the show because I thought it wouldn't be enjoyable. I was wrong. Although the censorship itself is gross for homophobia reasons, I actually think the writers and director did a great job of making it clear that this IS a love story. The intensity of Wei Ying and Lan Wan Ji's relationship is still there, as well as their position in each other's lives. They are each other's most important person, and other characters see them as such. They protect and defend each other, fight for each other, care for each other when they're sick or wounded, and are all around soulmates. I think the drama manages to convey this in a profound and beautiful way, despite the censorship.

On the whole I would recommend this show to people who love romance, fantasy, and don't mind if it's rough around the edges. If you're looking for great acting across the board, or a tight plot, or a good villain, look elsewhere.

Greatest Weakness: Lack of a solid villain and satisfying plot structure
Greatest Strength: The two leads

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THE GOOD AND THE AVERAGE:
The plot: Heres the tricky part, for those watching without having seen other versions, they watch with fresh eyes and many have pointed plotholes, and/or discomfort with some scenes. Personally, I felt this adaptation tried to follow the manga closely but also changed the mood of it. This version is actually lighter, perhaps more palatable and digestable with reduced bullying. Even villanous characters were dialed down, case in point the person who spread the picture of San Chai..that among others were toned down. That said, its a pro and con at the same time because it isnt as intense.
The characters- F4 in this version is more approachable. They are your rich good looking guys but also worked hard for their academics and/or have their talents.
Male otp: Dao Ming Tse is the tough looking kid- that really resembled a porcupine with a soft belly. He's also with steadfast once (and it didnt take long) when he realised his feelings. On most parts he has a very direct approach in pursuing the girl who caught his attention and never much bat an eye at other girls. His character grew from likable to lovable as the drama progresses. His greatest attribute is how he supports Sanchai and encourages her. And you also see his growth towards the end, how even unspoken he reads, understand and provides understanding and security when Sanchai needs it.
Female otp: Dong San Chai is that petite firecracker. She seems that average girl but when push comes to shove and she stands up for her friends, she shines.. and caught the attention of our male lead. In many circumstances, shes slow in romance department and tends to be passive. She took her time in processing the changes in her feelings from hatred to friendly to something more when in comes to Ah Si.
Rest of F4: Like mention this bunch of F4 are more likable. Hua Ze Lei is the flower boy in terms of look, gaze and speech. Who became the realible rock and soulmate to SanChai. Mei Zuo and Xi men also get their arc in the drama. Personally i did not enjoy Mei Zuo's arc and the story of his love interest. Xi men and Xiao Yuo was likable and i did look forward to their part.
Others: SanChai's parents are nice loving parents. They are also less theatrical then J version. I also like Dao ming tse's housekeeper too.

Acting- This is the mix bag.
Dylan Wang He Di- a complete rookie with his first work was a surprise. I thk perhaps his own real life behaviour transcends into his character. He brings the playful and energy to Dao Ming Tse. There's obviously room for improvement but he sells the character well and you could overlook it.
Shen Yue- having seen her previous work in A love so beautiful, i did come in with expectations and she was adequate. She excelled in poignant scenes but her performance was also patchy. Playful and sweet scenes was dealt well between her and Dylan. 90% of their kiss scenes were stiff and at times awkward (perhaps they were shy or it was too cold during filming?) Darren was a bit stiff and sometimes too expressionless. I cant help remembering Hanazawa Rui and found him lacking. Connor was the worst of the bunch in my opinion, he was cringey and he made me skipped his parts. Caeser Wu fared slightly better but also patchy performance.

OST:
Ost can really lift up the drama. Some of the ost esp the old ones were really good and nostalgic. But some of the ones resang by F4, unfortunately i didnt enjoy their vocals. I thk J-version who had Utada Hikaru and the original TW version were a level better.

THE VERDICT:
The plot like mention above is diluted. As a breezy summer watch and as a sometimes fluffy and sometimes innocent youthful love story (if you dont take it too seriously) it was thoroughly enjoyable. They did give us fanservice scenes, happy moments between otp, their coutship, dating, breaking up and getting back together. There was friendship and there was family and there was a love that survived obstacles. It did drag a bit in parts but wanting to see DaoMingTse and DongSanChai get together was still a worth-watching journey. This version replaced the intensity with youthfulness and thats a tradeoff that can tip the scale depending on personal taste..

For all these reasons its still a solid 8.5 for me. Cause this version of Ah Si and SanChai was still cute and lovable as a pair.

Note: My review is influenced by my memory of the other adaptations, how i feel about the story, the characters, the acting, whether it was memorable and my feelings right after i finish the last episode.

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This drama is your typical "law" drama. sprinkled with some action and some awesome looking fights. The drama was never too boring. It had just the right pacing as well.

Story: [8/10] I mean it when I say that this is your typical law drama. The story really did not stand out from any other law dramas that I've watch. The drama is basically about an attorney defending people in cases and essentially convicting the bad guy. There are some small twists in the story that made it hard for me to guess what was going to happen next though. This was probably why I did not find the drama boring even though I've seen other law dramas like this one before.

Acting/Cast: [9/10] I believe that the acting/cast was probably the best part about this drama. Obviously Lee Joon Gi is great (like always) as the main character. His fighting scenes were nothing to scoff at. I was also a big fan Ahn Oh Joo and his henchman. The guy who played the main gangster did his job well (and has the legit gangster look too). I was also a big fan of his main henchman guy but I felt bad for him a little bit. You'll have to watch the drama to see why. I'm also a fan of Lee Hye Young from her role in the "Call Me Mother" drama.

Music: [8/10] As always, this is often my default score for the music in dramas. I usually give a 8.5 or higher if it had a great OST or was a music type drama. A 7.5 or lower if the music was terrible or did not fit. An 8 is about average to me.

Rewatch Value: [7.5/10] I'd probably rewatch again in the future but it would probably be near the bottom of my rewatch list.

Overall the acting/cast was the best part about the drama. The story really isn't anything new. I would just put it at average.

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This drama was one that I had to force myself to continue. At times it was so slow that I just wanted to drop it, but for some reason I kept watching it anyway.

The story is nice, but I don't think it reached it's full potential. To me things just went too well, there was a point of climax in the drama that was whole-heartedly amazing. I did like how all the characters went through some development and all the other interns were marginalised and had their own small stories and problems.

This is one of the only dramas where I didn't cry at all nor did I feel any strong attatchments to any of the characters. I had no end-of-drama-withdrawal at all.

The acting was a bit too forced sometimes, the cast was wonderful, but there were some scenes that were just too forced. Especially with Chang Min's mother.

I loved the music, it went well. and listening to Jin Hyuk sing was really nice.

I think this drama could've been a lot better.

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Amazing buildup with blurry conclusion.

I did not have such a level of mind-f**k in a long time. Half way through the show I stopped making any theories, because it was just impossible to predict and evaluate anything. The only thing I knew was - anything can happen.

The events present in the show happen in 4 different timelines, and like puzzle pieces put together, slowly showcase the whole picture. Sadly, along the way some pieces have been lost, and the answers were not fully delivered, leaving me with my own interpretations and theories.

The story follows quite a number of characters, with their own back stories and plot lines, that are all connected in a convoluted way. The moment you might think you start to see the whole picture, they do 180 on you, and you are back to the beginning - confused and frustrated.

Without the doubt Uhm Tae Goo was the star of the show. Jo Kyung Ho was such a glooming and enigmatic presence throughout the drama, I could do nothing, but get intrigued and drawn to him. The calmness, confidence and the assured tone with which he delivered the lines made it that much more terrifying.

On the other side of the events we had Choi Hyung In - emotional and driven detective, and Jo Jung Hyun, who failed to run away from her fast and was forced to face it. With each episode we see the paths of the three characters getting closer, leading to an inevitable clash.

From my perspective, the show tells the story of the different ways people deal with trauma, grief, anger and fear. Some give up, some fight till the end, some run away and some dive into a revenge fueled path. Hometown presents how turning a blind eye to suffering can lead to more pain and more victims. Facing your past, working through the pain, accepting the responsibility, regretting the mistakes and working to fix them, even if it seems too late to take any actions - it’s worth living even if we suffer.

The acting from the main cast was a top level of awesomeness. I felt sad and defeated thanks to Yoo Jae Myung, confused and trapped thanks to Han Ye Ri’s performance, and uncomfortable with, but enchanted by Kyung Ho’s character, thanks to Uhm Tae Goo’s skills.

Some of the teens' performances were questionable - the characters did not feel quite real and the emotions did not reach me. Luckily, it only happened during a few scenes, and overall, all of them did a fairly good job.

The production quality could not be better. The mix of horror elements perfectly elevated the thrills, blurring the lines between the reality and creations of one's mind. For a show that is not mainly a horror, it delivers the tense atmosphere in a skillful way, giving the viewers goosebumps during a number of scenes.

Are there any complaints? Yes.

Set up that is not explained well. Till the end, even after the credit rolls on the screen, you won’t get all the answers of “how” and “why”. If we limit the story to what’s possible in reality - this makes little sense. Me and many other viewers voiced how the presence of supernatural elements could elevate the show to a new level, explaining some plotlines and character’s choices and skills.

By the end of the last episode, I was still confused about what exactly started the whole plot - what made Jo Kyung Ho what he was, why he did what he did, when he started and what exactly was his desired outcome. I have my theories, but the point is - I don’t think the show did enough in explaining what drives the villain - they fail to explain his motives properly.

Confusion surrounding some plotlines, especially circumstances around Im Se Yoon and the timeline of her death. The last two episodes confused the heck out of me. I tried to sum up all the information I’ve got since episode one, but it just does not work in my brain. I might have missed something, they might have made it far more convoluted than needed, or it might be both.

Overall, it was an extremely intense ride. The journey was so entertaining, even with the disappointing conclusion, I can’t help, but love the show. Hometown ends with a question mark rather than a full stop, but for me, sometimes it’s better to not give the answers than give the ones that are not satisfying.

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Joy of Life is now my absolute favorite drama of all time. Among the few dramas I have given a 10 rating this one deserves over a 10 rating! I started watching this drama with no expectations but after the first episode I was hooked. The writers did a phenomenal job. The storyline was engaging throughout the series and all the plot twists were cohesive. The entire cast was amazing. Each character was excellently portrayed. I hope the same actors will be casted for the next seasons, it would be such a shame and loss if they don’t. Technical stuff like cinematography, music, sets, costumes were all top notch. I can’t wait for the next season. This is a must watch!

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Satisfying

As someone who writes stories as well. There is no better ending for this drama.
Acting of all the casts are on point kudos to the ahjumma. So much finesse on the cryings scene after her husband died.

This other watchers are expecting for more? What are you guys anticipating?

Actually death doesn't deserve them. They effin deserve to be in prison all their lives. Death is just too fast. They need to savor the pain while living,

Song Hye Nailed this role.

To all who said Lee do Hyuns character is a nuisance lol. He had been a part of the story from the start without him the revenge plot wouldn't happen at all.

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Hotel del Luna is one of my favorite k-dramas of 2019, and in my opinion, is not just a hyped up drama that doesn't meet it's expectations.

STORY:
I've seen many complaints of the fact that Hotel del Luna was heavily filled with filler arcs and did not focus on the main story enough. However, I disagree, the filler arcs were not pointless, in fact, without them the story wouldn't make sense. I thought that the filler arcs served the important purpose of showing the character growth of Man Weol as well as the side characters throughout the story. After each arc, Man Weol learned another lesson and changed to become the person she is by the end of the drama. And for someone who's not a fan of filler arcs I didn't feel bored by them at all. I thought that the story was well paced and not slow despite the filler arcs. There were suspenseful and unexpected moments that made the drama interesting watch, and there was a good balance between the horror, romance, and comedy aspects of the show.

ACTING/CAST:
Man Weol definitely was the star of the show with a refreshing personality and complex backstory that made her character so appealing. She was hilarious and badass, but still had flaws and scars like any normal person. However, the other characters were just as good. The employees of the hotel also had their own backstories and character growth. I enjoyed the banter and interactions between them, and they definitely added to the enjoyment of this drama. I thought that the chemistry between the entire cast was great.
There were also complaints that compared to Man Weol, Chan Seong's character was lackluster. To some extent I agree, his personality and traits were nothing unique, but he didn't need to be, I thought that his normalness compared to crazy ghost world was his charm that separated him and made him a lead character. He was a good balance to the extravagance of Man Weol, and his loyalty and ability to sacrifice for others was admirable.

MUSIC/CINEMATOGRAPHY/ETC:
The cinematography was beautiful and the music was just as amazing, but one random thing that just happened to catch my eye was the fact that Man Weol literally changed her outfit like 5 times in an episode. Her outfits has to be one of my favorite things because they were beautiful and just perfectly matched the extravagant nature of her character.

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It was a simple story, simple romance and a simple watch.

Sang Yi helped In Soo hold onto his dream, In Soo helped Sang Yi step out of his comfort zone, and it was all done in a quite subtle way. We never get to actually meet the big bad guy, and his presence is introduced later on, but didn't really have that much impact on the story. Or rather, it had a huge impact, but it didn't feel like it.

It's a sweet story about two boys that fall in love with each other (and each other's music). There is a vague background about going against other people's expectations and chasing your dreams no matter what, but in only 80 minutes, the plot is not explored enough to have an actual emotional impact.

The acting was nice? Overall Lee Sang did a better job than In Soo, but none of the actors convinced me during their "sad" scenes. The emotions just weren't translating onto the screen well.

The production value was quite good. The shots had a nice indie vibe to them and the music was definitely one of the strongest points. That said, for a show that centers around music production, the audio quality in the beginning episodes was questionable...

It was an easy watch that never really got me excited, but I wasn't bored either. Watching it won't be a waste of time, but skipping it would not be much of a loss either. It is what it is: a short cute BL romance with a simple plot and pretty leads.

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This drama feels like one big public service announcement. It does, but that’s not a bad thing. It treats a very serious topic with the respect and sensitivity it deserves without coming off as too preachy.

Creatively this isn’t a bad script. I personally would have preferred a different structure to the story because EVERY Japanese drama with a romantic arc kind of follows the same trajectory. I can think of veeerry few exceptions. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but let’s just say I would have loved it if the relationship had a stronger foundation before a certain key event occurred. Anyway, while audiences may be moved to sympathy and anger on behalf of the female lead, the pacing begins to plod around episode 6 or 7 and I found myself growing impatient with the repetitive nature of Mæ’s plight. This is neither the fault of the character nor the actress portraying her. Rather it’s the writer who just doesn’t know when to give sh-- a rest.

As for the acting, Tokiwa Takako does a fair job most of the time (when she isn’t in full ægyo mode), but she always seem to accept these scripts that make her character come across as whiny and irritating at some point or another in the drama. I had a similar reaction to her in Aishiteru to Ikketure, though thankfully that feeling dissipated a lot quicker here than there. Mostly I felt a deep sympathy for her because she really could have been any woman, me or you or someone we know. I also have to say she has an amazingly beautiful and radiant smile though a great beauty she is not.

What this show does well is that it shows that rape doesn’t only have one victim. The tentacles of evil will touch many lives, almost just as cruelly as the victim's. To be honest I didn’t really like Oda Yuji’s acting here. His interpretation is gimmicky and cartoonish, and you could easily tell this is one of his very first roles. Nevertheless, I really liked Naoki. I found him genuine and sincere in his efforts to lend support and understanding, in spite of making a few mistakes along the way. Moreover, he is such an average, ordinary guy with no spectacular talent or pedigree. He really could have just walked right out of your life. And that’s why I love Japanese dramas because they’re so authentic. They tell the stories of REAL people. Awesome. The supporting cast is well placed, never feeling arbitrarily thrown in just to take up space (or annoy you). Instead they enhance and help to move the story forward, as supporting casts are meant to do.

Finally I want to take a moment to comment on the music. Now I’m not a very musical person. I’ll leave the squealing over a drama’s OST to people who have a better appreciation for the art. Usually I hate theme songs that play over and over again like a broken record -- at best they give me a headache, at worse they make me feel like I'm losing my mind. But I loved this TV mix of Swing Out Sisters’ Now You’re Not Here. Very fitting. It’s been stuck in my head for days. In a good way.

If you’re not put off by the topic, fans of the genre will like this show. The story is moving, the chemistry is there and their connection is so sweet. It’s very easy to root for these two.

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I am absolutely stunned by how good this drama was. I rarely give out 10s but this one deserves it.

Cast:
I decided to watch it because I believed in the acting of Zhang Ruo Yun, Li Qin, and Xiao Zhan. But then as I watched more and more I really have to applaud for the entire cast!! Very very very phenomenal acting by everyone.

Story:
I went into this drama blind and with no knowledge about the original novel, but that’s ok because the story was logical and easy to follow. I’ve never watched a drama with this many plot twists and turns, but I liked that each event followed after another in a logical way. I am not a fan of political dramas, but this one was an exception. The politics were the most intriguing parts of the story and tbh the main leads’ love story was the most boring lol (no offense to Li Qin but I did not find much significance to her character…but perhaps she will become more important later on, idk). The ending left me hanging and I have so many questions GAH!! I’m tempted to read the novel to find out but at the same time I would prefer to learn the secrets by watching it acted out so I’m conflicted…

Other notes:
-The fight scenes are SO GOOD!!! And there are so many!!! I especially love that our protagonist is good at everything haha
-I LOVE the humor. Unlike humor in other dramas, the ones in this drama actually made me laugh out loud. Being a native Chinese speaker, I had the advantage of getting the humor straight on, instead of through translation. It may be hard for non-Chinese watchers to get the humor since there are a lot of word plays and homophones.
-My only critique would be the lighting and overall visual look of the scenes aren’t very good. There were times where I had to turn my brightness to max and still couldn’t see what was happening. But technical flaws for me aren’t very important when the story is good.

Tldr, one of the highest quality dramas I’ve watched in terms of storyline. I am really looking forward to watching the next seasons. For anyone who hates plot holes and cliff hangers, don’t watch this until the next season comes out lol. It is filled with unanswered questions.

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