A fate that renews their faith and a love that reunites them—again

‘My Demon’ follows the life of Dodohee as she navigates through fantastical mysteries and personal struggles that lead to the defeat of an already lie-ridden and lust-driven chaebol family. A suspenseful feud over the nomination of the mystery heir that would come to inherit the role of CEO for Mirae Group arises, and the adopted daughter of the family is left with tough decisions to take in order to survive. Regardless of the classic business magnate trope of which deems itself recurrent in modern day Korean dramas, ‘My Demon’ uses its commonality in a way that brings structure to the complicated fantasy themes brought to scene. The series excels with its stellar performance that depicts the hardships and fear that accompanies the role of being the country’s top influencer.

Its entirety—from outfitting and cinematography to script-writing and character complexities—exudes a sense of superiority that reigns it above all other releases of its genre. Additionally, its high viewership rating and audience response indisputably succeeds it as one of the top dramas of 2023. Though the esteemed actors visibly play a pivotal role in its popularity and emerging fanbase, the series’ comedious usage of demons is unique and attractive to devotees of diverse genres, notably romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and thrillers.

The summoning of love rather than your typical demon serves a lesson that what is stronger than fear is weaker than the human complexion. This means that the essentialness of being human and experiencing love can transcend even the strongest of emotions like being fearful. “What’s best for you is what’s best for me…” All that is needed in the face of challenges is each other and when Dodohee and Jeong Guwon open their eyes to this truth amidst all else, it’ll represent the true testimony of love which promises the show with its build-up of tension, rivalry and romance.

Their existences throughout the timelines presented intertwine in a fateful clash of values in forthcoming to the eventual turn of events that leads the series into its mysticality. Their connection grows stronger through the difficult circumstances in which they find themselves, unveiling a healthy face to their relationship as they put in favor trust, responsibility and understanding. With Kim Yoojung personating a rich celebrity through Dodohee and Song Kang a handsome immortal as Jeong Guwon, together, the main leads journey to find meaning in their successful lives—but not without being at high stakes of losing the traditional values that hold together their individual mindsets.

They attempt to grapple onto their old selves and struggle to accept any change from the past, something that causes them both to get farther away from their reason to live; getting them farther away from what makes the insignificance of being human hold value....something of which viewers will get to piece together with the answers hidden throughout the sixteen episodes of the series.

The demonic antagonist has diverse contradicting personality traits that make for the quirky authenticity his character brings to ‘My Demon’ and Song Kang’s not-so-flawless portrayal of Jeong Guwon contributes a decent portion to the show’s overall wittiness. Rather it be unintentional or not, his serious attire, inexpressive face and monotone line-delivery was a laughable distraction to the certain scenes that can especially make one wonder whether those particular moments were even acted out in synchronization to the script, or completely out of character. Taking in consideration the actor’s mediocre embodiment of Jae-eon from one of his most recent previous lead roles in ‘Nevertheless’, it could either be lackluster performance from his part or a mere penchant towards taking on cold-hearted and stoic roles. Nonetheless, this characteristic aspect of Jeong Guwon itself took on a new face to the character, coming off as yet another comedic appeal to the romcom.

As for Kim Yoojung, her role as Dodohee provides a strong consistency to the show’s romantic appeal amidst its outwordly ambience. The renowned actress has proven to have the remarkable talent of turning lines on a script to a whirlwind of emotions.

Overall, in the emotional aspect of the series, Dodohee’s rather structured and consistent persona paired with the male lead’s tendency to be random and impulsive highlighted the polarity of styles between both actors. These stark differences in personality enabled a certain duality to their connection and especially made for a compelling watch.

Kim Tae-hoon's exceptional acting and execution of Noh Seok-min was undeniably the highlight of 'My Demon' as he provided the series with its much-needed thrill and action. He succeeded in bringing to life a goose-bump-raising villain and, in my opinion, carried the entirety of the series in the acting aspect.

The seamless harmonization between the fun storytelling of emerging secrets and the enigmatic anticipation of who would come to take on the country’s most reputed company amidst a gripping murder-spree was remarkably conducted into the exuberant romcom drama ‘My Demon’ deems itself to be. Its perfect execution of mystery and romance furthermore made for the extravagant dance of passion it ignited within viewers with its additionally enthralling take on the forbidden love between a fate-intertwined demonic power and a reputed influencer.

As expected, the couple’s fans are left in awe once more as their passionate characters grapple a hold on international k-drama viewers, bringing rise to the success of both acting careers.

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Weaving together chaos and hope to explore the future of AI and its impact on humanity

‘Wonderland’ is an emotion-driven movie that puts forward the pros and cons surrounding the idea that artificial intelligence can be used to transform death into a renaissance of lost hopes and dreams.The film presents a platform that attempts to blur the line between the living and the deceased through new technology. It explores AI’s power in manipulating human emotions by altering the subconscious mind’s memories, making it possible to forget a loved one is gone and give the illusion of forever being able to interact with them. This opportunity presents the possibility of closure and continuation in relationships for the one activating the deceased through the platform.

Overall, the movie is especially touching and scary because of its resemblance to the real-life possibilities that may await us with AI’s rapid progression in intelligence. It explored the circumstances that can stem from its usage, using the Wonderland platform as a way to take a look at the possible future AI can bring to the world all while exploring the public’s many different opinions surrounding this topic.

The film starts off by providing viewers with a depiction of the service’s negative impacts on those who use it. It prevents the user from being able to let go. This effect on the characters’ daily lives is shown through different scenes. Firstly, there is Koo Jeong In, the girlfriend of a man in the comma missing out on the occasion to date someone new because she’s convinced her boyfriend is an astronaut coming to earth soon. Then, there are two individuals who pretend to be a couple in order to satisfy the woman’s deceased parents who are constantly pestering her to find a boyfriend. The platform allows lies to easily be believed and shared, distorting reality by presenting a different face to those who are actually long gone. For example, instead of remembering her deceased Mom as someone who is always there but never paid attention to her, Jia will now believe her Mom is someone who always listened to what she had to say but was never actually present. It additionally gives an improper ending to those deceased and severs relationships using the AI that changes their personalities, giving these generated people a life of their own. This was shown through the grandma spending her last moments with her grandson feeling like she wasn’t doing enough for him even though she kept buying him whatever he asked for because he became greedy.

By diving into the life of Lee Yong Sik, a dying man, viewers can gain a sense of understanding regarding the AI platform ‘Wonderland’ as he follows through its policies and braces for his ‘new life’. He disagreed with his wife’s opinion that one lifetime was enough and wished to go elsewhere, thus perhaps putting more distance between the both of them than death would have. With the storyline of his possibility in being Kim Hyeon Su’s Dad, he also allowed viewers to dive into the life of the one prominent character who wasn’t yet explored. Their interactions, such as playing ping-pong through a screen or an awkward video call provided some comedic relief amidst the movie’s heavy themes of loss, grief and acceptance.

The relationship between Song Jeong Ran and her grandson showcased how AI uses humans to evolve instead of the other way around. As for the relationship between Bai Li and her daughter, it suggests the opposite idea. Jia uses the platform to accept reality and emotionally process the loss of her Mom. This relationship between them also showcased the prominent barrier between AI and the real world. This was shown when both were trying to physically reach each other, building up on a climax that teased that the impossible would happen. The movie put focus on how these actions of theirs would result in breaking their invention because of how nonsensical the idea of AI forging its way into the real world as actual humans would be.

The AI Mom brought to the scene a person struggling to accept and process their own death instead of realizing the platform’s goal of making the deceased forget it even happened at all. Instead of continuing her ‘life’ by satisfying her own childhood dream of becoming an archaeologist, she wanted closure to it, wishing to come closer to the reality that she was gone so that she could settle things with her own child. Through the journey she took to the airport in her universe to help Jia accept the truth that she was gone, she herself accepted that she was deceased and could no longer continue her life. She admitted to being dead so that her daughter could move on even if it meant ending her dream life where she would stay stuck in the idea of who she had wished to become .

This particular scene where they reunited showcased the stark contrast between both worlds. Jia can move on, but her Mom can't. She’s an idea, mirroring how IA is simply just an invention. All the daughter wants is to be with her Mom in that very moment, showcasing her human need for love. The Mom (who is AI) is only there to provide her with it, mirroring the reality of this platform. AI is fake, and will never be anything more than an invention. It doesn’t have the emotional complexity of a human, making it impossible for it to take on a true form of life. What’s so scary about it is that it can give the impression that it is a real human being to us in terms of emotion even though it isn’t there physically.

Jia’s desire for the impossible, for her Mom to be more than just a face on a screen, was driving her crazy. She was literally losing herself by chasing after the part of her Mom that was long gone and unable to come back. The shadow of someone lost behind is represented through Park Tae Ju, who woke up from his coma as a different person. In the airport, he got a call. Unlike the time where it was a delusion that awaited to be picked up, it was a call for reality. There was no astronaut Park Tae Ju from the past that was trying to reach Koo Jeong In who never let him go and was convinced she was still dating him. Bai Li used the AI service’s phone line to reach her daughter and reveal the truth. When Park Tae Ju saved Jia from getting hit by a truck, it represented how he saved her from losing herself in the lie that her Mom was alive and still yet to be found. He provided assistance in Jia’s journey to wait for her Mom and Bai Li ended up providing her daughter with solace.

In the end, the reunion that concluded their search for one another was as heart-touching and realistic as could be. They learned that even though they remained in two different universes, they would always remain together at heart. Instead of trying to get to her deceased Mom and create new memories with her, she’s now content with just having their old memories to keep her company. This was represented through her being happy that she can at least communicate with her AI version, who is like a keepsake of moments they spent together in the past since she was only able to come to life as AI using old pictures and videos.

As for Koo Jeong In and Park Tae Ju’s relationship, it unveiled an unhealthy face to the ‘Wonderland’ platform. It delved into both sides of the sea of people that were affected by the platform. The heartbroken user, and the unconscious individual whose life was mimicked in a distortion of reality. He had finally woken up from his coma though it was as if he was by his girlfriend’s side all along since she would wake up and fall asleep to the AI version of his voice every day. Whenever she would experience whiplash from his drastic change of personality, she would run back to his past version of self using the service, wishing his normal self would come back rather than supporting him in his journey of recovery.

The day their relationship started going up in flames was the day their apartment was set on fire just moments after Park Tae Ju exited its entryway. This significant event gave meaning to the earlier scene that showed him eyeing all of the couple’s old pictures that were still put up in the house. He wasn’t admiring what they used to be, but wishing she’d let go of his older self. Something that added to these feelings of his was the scene that preceded the fire incident, where he saw that someone with his exact name kept calling Koo Jeong In on a second phone. This made him realize to what point she was still attached to his post-comma self and unable to let go.

By setting the apartment’s entirety on fire, he’d be attempting to get rid of his old self and cut its link to his girlfriend in the present. Not only does this give him reason for purposely starting the fire, but there are also small details that hint at it. After leaving the apartment, the first place he looked was right into the hallway’s camera. Secondly, when Koo Jeong In proposed different ways that could have led up to the incident, he denied them all, insisting it wasn’t him. Perhaps he meant that it was the other, past version of himself that caused the chaos in their lives: the fire and their relationship.

This tactic of his failed in getting his girlfriend to let go, and the subject of the ‘Wonderland’ platform introduces itself between them. The moment where he asks Koo Jeong In about her decision to make him an astronaut enables us to see an earlier scene from a new perspective. She answers that space is the farthest place she knows of and he had felt so distant from her, giving light to the prolonged moment where he sat in a seat by the window at the airport. He wasn’t just watching his girlfriend’s airplane fly into the sky, he was watching her approach space and getting closer to the old reality of who they were. This time, she was the one leaving him and getting farther away into the sky as he waited for her to come back down below.

After speaking with him about it and coming to terms with the truth, she calls the company for a favour, still emotionally connected to the AI version of her boyfriend. The only way she’d be able to let go was by providing him a happy closure. To satisfy this desire of hers, what she wanted was for the company to set up his arrival back to planet earth to make him believe that he’s coming back home during his last moment before deactivating that last trace of Park Tae Ju’s past self.

The couple settled things between them as Koo Jeong In spoke to Park Tae Ju with his new personality traits. Speaking about the matter allowed her to reconcile her feelings for the lost version of her boyfriend and move on. By stopping those feelings of hers from lingering, she has let go of her past relationship and Park Tae Ju walks away as a goodbye. Despite knowing that he's almost like a new person, she still runs back to him, not wishing to continue what they had, but start anew.

Seo Hae Ri, the woman who works for ‘Wonderland’ and picked up her call seemed almost disappointed to hear that her beloved came back because she’s aware that her deceased parents never will. Even though part of her knew their AI versions weren't real, in her mind, it was the only possible way to speak to them. It reminded her that it isn’t reality, helping her process the fact that her parents won’t ever be their real selves again. This jealousy of hers shows how despite knowing the truth, there will always be people who put AI in favour by choosing to seek comfort in pretense.

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Exploring the journey that is first love: falling, discovering, letting go, and regaining hope

Two storylines intertwine and develop into a blossoming romance, offering the realm of Korean dramas a fresh take on both juvenile and matured love. When fate offers two past students of Obok High School a chance to mend the lost pieces from their past, will their relationship’s outcome differ from how they last tied ends with each other? 2013 was the year one gained hope in starting a relationship and the other lost all hope in deepening any of his friendships. The timelines that parallel each other raise the question of whether Lee Hong Ju and Kang Hu Yeong’s second chance at love will win over their struggles in coming to terms with past heartbreak and surpass the current barriers that stand in their way, including a particularly messy breakup with a first love and boyfriend of three years; Bang Jun Ho. In this male-chases-female rom-com, 10 years after their first encounter, it’s for Lee Hong Ju to open her eyes to the destiny that awaits her and her heartbroken heart. With two people dear to the female lead back after pained departures, her choice between both will determine whether it’s our love for someone that changes overtime, or the people themselves.

The mini-series strung together untold secrets from the past into an overwhelming surge of pent-up emotion that wished to be let loose. 10 years was more than enough time for it to overflow and soon enough, the story managed to turn those unspoken feelings into the continuation of a romance that was cut short and that didn’t have the chance to bloom. It did so by reuniting the main leads once again, this time in a serendipitous encounter at a café. In the beginning, ‘Serendipity’s Embrace’, more commonly known as ‘Is It Fate?’, tells the story of two busy individuals who have cut out the romance of their lives completely. But somewhere along the hard journey they took to get from being acquaintances to being happily in a relationship, the leads’ poignant acting and chemistry outshone all else. It brought the plot to life, turning the storyline’s delicacy of reminiscence and heartbreak into an exciting race of capturing another’s heart. The actors’ perfect embodiment of character truly enabled the series to convey strong emotion to the audience.

As for the show’s few sets and choice of location, they provided a tranquil and familiar backdrop to the characters’ ever-changing relationships with one another. The show’s cozy atmosphere curated a comforting vibe, its simplicity putting on pedestals the amazing acting that brought the show to life. Furthermore, the script is simple yet well-written, with thought-provoking and comedious lines bringing many smiles to the faces of viewers; whether they be from nostalgia or out of laughter. The soundtrack was soft-sounding and felt as faint as the simple cinematography; very fitting to the show’s light emphasis on the heavy matters of self-discovery, growth, and acceptance it incorporates into its romance. Despite having many subplots, side characters and different themes, it managed to touch each with just the right amount of detail to fit it all into a well-accomplished eight-episode mini-series. Overall, the ‘Serendipity’s Embrace’ has undeniably earned itself a spot among some of the most successful releases of 2024.

The main leads are layered characters, meaning that they have more than one side to themselves: their personality traits vary depending on whether they're put under certain circumstances or in company of certain people. Their depth allows them to be capable of growth and change; providing greater room for character development. To understand their reasoning and motives behind their choice of words or certain actions of theirs, it is necessary to understand from which perspective they stand. At first, it may be frustrating to watch Lee Hong Ju be so hesitant in accepting her romantic feelings towards Kang Hu Yeong because, from the viewers’ standpoint, she’s pushing the lead love interest away whenever he flirts or tries to make a move on her. But with the show’s unraveling comes the revelation of her backstory which allows us to understand this hesitant side of hers; her fear of abandonment from past traumatic events. From her perspective, if she couldn’t stop anyone else dear to her from leaving without an explanation, why should she have faith that things would be different with Kang Hu Yeong? Furthermore, the wide range of attitude showcased during her growth as an individual gives her a more humane allure, making her more appealing to the audience.

Lee Hong Ju, the most emotionally complex character, also provides a healthy example for others going through a break-up. Instead of focusing on the sadness that follows heartbreak, the series shows the female lead as someone strong who is in control of her own emotions and capable of putting herself first. Rather than letting her emotions consume her, she tries her best to let them go instead of putting her pride down and begging for answers from her ex-boyfriend. The maturity she gains following the hard time she endured because of Bang Jun Ho’s departure is evident in her choice to end things with him, even once he comes back and begs forgiveness. Showing the emotional impact left on both individuals involved in the miscommunication problem allowed us to sympathize with them both, even before knowing whose reason it was for their break-up. Presenting the motives behind their actions gives viewers the chance to truly understand all of the characters. Because of this, there are no unlikeable characters despite the faces they put out to others. This connection between the characters and viewers enables us to root for them— not for the sake that they end up reconciling and get their happy ending, but rather that they let go, and move on from the struggles that hold them back.

Each actor involved in the series fit their role perfectly and I very much enjoyed watching the behind-the-scenes cuts where their interactions with one another expanded to beyond the script. As expected from rising-star Chae Jong Hyeop, his acting was so good that I could not imagine any other actor taking on Kang Hu Yeong’s role. It takes a certain level of talent to play a character who, even when expressionless, still has emotion dancing in his eyes. Kim Da Som, who played Kim Hye Ji, also had a remarkable performance as a side character who provided the female lead with ten years of best-friendship.

The realistic unraveling and outcome of the side storylines amplified the magical and passionate romance that Lee Hong Ju and Kang Hu Yeong effectively shared through the screen with their convincing chemistry. Each character’s relationship with one another presented a different shade of love—from unconditional yet complicated familial love to heartbreak and everything in between; including the one that shows up unexpectedly and the one that comes back, giving us a second chance. Rather than the side characters’ storylines taking away from the main one, they enhanced it by giving insight into the struggles faced by others among the lead’s mostly perfect and unrealistic romance. Their stories were all in touch with themes of decision-making and self-discovery and either presented through grappling feelings of love, or learning to let go. This enabled the side characters and the leads’ storylines to merge as one big lesson of growth and renaissance instead of the different plots veering off into their own direction and being an annoyance.

Although the show's angst, anger, and sadness is derived from miscommunication, it doesn’t dwell on the matters that bring negativity to the female lead’s life. When these emotions prevent her from moving on, she lets go, that new empty space in her heart leaving room for growth. Lee Hong Ju’s way of refining her negative feelings into an opportunity to improve herself enhances the show’s light and hopeful vibe. Not only is this beneficial for the series’ overall lightheartedness, but it also stops the angst from being a nuance to the plot, which manages to stay quick-paced throughout all eight episodes. Rather than holding the characters back and stopping them from developing, the angst is what pushes them and their storylines further. The series connects with its audience by using the universal experience of heartbreak to create a sense of relatability between the characters and viewers.

The open-ending stayed true to the series with its sweet and lighthearted hopefulness. The last few scenes were nothing big or spectacular, but rather realistic—just like the rest of the series, which builds up on small, random moments that may seem insignificant on their own but of which have slowly led up to the leads’ passionate romance. With its strong female lead, ‘Serendipity’s Embrace’ puts up a conclusion that affirms it is indeed possible to let go of your adoration for your true love, though the moment you fell for them will always remain in your heart. The male lead represents second chances, and his unwavering loyalty and dedication for Lee Hong Ju are a testament of true love.Together, both ended up fulfilling each other's dream. Through Kang Hu Yeong, whose first love was Lee Hong Ju, the female lead got a second chance to experience the magic of a successful first love. Kang Hu Yeong, whose direction in life depended on his controlling mother’s choice, felt the success of his dream job as an animator through Lee Hong Ju. This gives new meaning to an earlier scene with his girlfriend, where he pauses the movie as the credits play to admire her name among the others in its production team. Instead of portraying this as a cute moment between the couple, the series focuses on him alone, emphasizing his acknowledgement of her success, which in a way, was also his.

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Healing with true love: the promise of a lifetime and more!

I thought I knew what a captivating story was like—that is until I fell in love with watching, and in love again while writing this review—the manhwa inspired drama 'See You in My 19th Life'.

This kept me on my toes from the very first moment to the final; an adrenaline pumping roller-coaster of hypothesizing my own theories to being left with clues that didn't exactly match up. The non-linear narrative made for missing pieces of whatever a viewer would be left yearning for to spread out over the course of the twelve episodes, building up on itself till it summed the core formation of its rising climax.

In the beginning, I was dedicated to being fully immersed in the female lead's mystifying character and ready to discover with her, the secrets even she herself didn't know her memory possessed. At the end of the last episode, I was tear-stricken with such an overwhelming compassion of having journeyed through this search-of-meaning-in-life encompassed series.

Emerging secrets, uncovered relationships, creepy coincidences that turned out to all have to do with past lives... I watched with engrossment as lies and truths twisted with each other until all but a captivation so strongly enlaced me to binge watch the tale-like story of Ban Ji-Eum and Mun Seo-Ha.

Its through the grief of the precious life she had loved the most (ending of episode 2, where Mun Seo Ha visits her old grave and she, for the first time, is able to see herself through another’s perspective), that she learned it wasn’t others she was losing, but it was rather herself all along. This is an essential-to-her-growth realization she makes during the act of rejoicing paths with everyone from her precedent 18th life as Ju-won Yun. Due to her time being cut short from a car accident that becomes a whole part of the plot on its own, her reincarnation as Ban Ji-Eum signified the first life she was able to see her own impact on the people she left with her death and see herself thru a new perspective.

As she tries to come to terms with past struggles, wholeheartedly faces exigent secrets she'd rather not know and contentedly attempts at a chance to concur past traumas, her life as Ban Ji-Eum becomes her first, 19th, and last all at once.

The lead's insatiable wish for a happier self adventures above and beyond her romance life, into the depths of her inability to move on from past nostalgia of which although brought her tears of joy, negatively chained her motifs. It was only after going through the struggle of remembering it all—from her very first life to her latest—that she was able to garner the beautiful courage to free herself. Because although she was happy, she didn't yet feel the satisfaction of being complete.

To get herself back meant going after what she wanted, not from her self that endured the war to having to adapt to modern times, but who she was in the moment. And that was the desire to be able to let go, and start anew. Just like that, letting go was a renaissance, a revival of her true self. When she was ready, Ban Ji-Eum chose to keep her loved ones over remembering her past lives instead of having to let go due to ‘magical rules’ of the people she found that allowed her to be the best version of herself than remember them.

After both main leads amended what they most wanted with the treasure of extra time gifted to them with magic (Ban Ji-Eum to see how he was doing after being forced to break her promise to forever stay by his side, and Mun Seo-Ha another chance at saying his final goodbye), they, as a couple got the chance to see how they would've ended up if nothing had changed in the first place; if the car's collision with a truck never would've happened.

With a thrilling twist, the ending explores the theory of 'one will always love the other more' in an ironic switch, putting the aspect of a relationship's need for dedication and trust in favour. It introduced to viewers the beauty of true love, the strong dedication to be with the one you long for, and most of all; the promise of a lifetime and more.

A story line that makes you think, a relationship that makes you feel, and a realization that makes you heal is what most defines this inspiration-gripping show.

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Missed the mark: a rom-com turned melodrama with failed comedy and messy storylines

Despite its popularity, ‘Love Next Door’ feels like a failed attempt at narrating an already messy plot, lacking in many aspects that make a show captivating and overall underwhelming in terms of production. I found the series unmemorable, and was especially disappointed by the lacklustre chemistry between leads, slow-moving storylines, and jokes that felt uncomfortable from being misplaced. As a result of these flaws, the romance the main leads shared felt bland, and its comedic scenes would most-likely only appeal to those with an eccentric sense of humour. Its comedy and romance were insufficient to carry the series from its start to its end, which is why it makes sense as to why it progressively leaned more and more into melodrama territory rather than the rom-com that it had promised viewers ahead of its release.

The many tropes that have come together to bring the characters’ stories to life—such as childhood friends to lovers, the discovery of oneself, reconciliation between family, the annoying banter and quarrelling of siblings, and obviously, as the title suggests; a lover next door—are carried by a unique mix of emotion that highlights the series’ authenticity. Although it often shifts between the lives of different characters, the lead’s pure affection towards one-another threads the episodes with a consistent warmth, stopping viewers from getting lost in these constant changes. Their ever-deepening relationship blossomed slowly over time, navigating them through the incessant waves of trial and error faced by young adults while going through their period of self-discovery. This enabled the series to deliver a slow-burnesque type of love story with its leads, taking away from all the other aspects of their relationship, such as its simplicity, softness, and juvenile innocence. Not only did the romance fail in bringing a smile to my face mostly because of its painfully slow progress, but so did the comedic moments, heavy from the serious matters brought to light. Though the series's depth brought meaning to even the most lighthearted interactions shared between characters, it ultimately stole the show from its playful and humorous nature. If anything, the only good this did was bring out their rawest sides by presenting them using an approach that highlighted their faults and flaws. This tactic gave a realistic and emotional face to the characters, but also contributed to my disliking towards them.

The characters have each endured countless struggles, of which the worst have been Dong-jin’s early heart surgery, Mi-suk’s childhood in poverty, Seok-ryu’s cancer and depression, Seung-hyo’s near death experience and past car accident, and Dan-ho’s loss of family members. These dark times that have been presented shows that the series relies on tragedy to highlight the fragility of life as well as the preciousness of love. This deepens the bond shared between characters, and gives room for forgiveness and reconciliation. The technique used in bringing the story to life with strong emotions also worked in accordance to the viewers’ desires, because not only did it fortify the bonds between the families presented, but it also helped bloom the flawed but precious relationship that Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo shared in the last episodes of the series. Through living and reminiscing encounters that each held the possibility of a sad fate, the characters realised the importance of these relationships that may seem trivial, but of which are a necessity in overcoming trauma and accepting oneself. This vulnerability from fear and uncertainty, combined with exasperating hope for fulfilment of dreams, blurred the line between hidden secrets and spoken words. This combination of emotion created intimate scenes of verbal communication where love danced and pent-up emotion spilled.

From the very beginning, the series started on a rather serious note, rendering its advertising misleading, especially with the poster’s fun and colourful vibes. Its viewership ratings, of which have dropped exponentially since the airing of the first few episodes, only serve as confirmation to this claim. The concept photos put an emphasis on hopefulness, and contentment, though these themes are only truly present in the last episodes of the series. It introduced viewers to its main message with the first emotional moment shared between the main leads, which is the importance of having a shoulder to lean on. After this emotionally heavy moment came a pause in the unfolding of secrets. The series circled around the series’ main event—which was Seok-ryu’s stomach cancer—with little bits of comedy and metaphorical insight before cutting through the main storyline with angst, denial, loss, and other strong emotions that contradict the series’ overall image of light-heartedness.

Because of its heavy themes, the entirety of the show’s lightness seemed to revolve around its aspect of comedy, and yet, even the laughing matters were arguably put in inappropriate context, leaving some viewers uncomfortable with their watch. Moments like these included Seok-ryu’s Mom, whose physical actions such as hitting to express her anger and displeasure were overused and could be seen as abuse. Secondly, they tried to make out comedy of an awkward moment between Seung-hyo’s parents where the couple was together with one of the wife’s higher-ups, who was forced into his confession of being gay. The series brings attention to this moment being the first time he openly stated his sexuality to an individual he wasn’t close with because of the homophobia present in South Korea. There were also a few times where Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo’s fathers were out for a drink, both talking about how they felt miserable and hopeless for their lives, and yet each time ended up turning into a laughing matter because of their particular drinking habits. So, overall, the series’ comedic aspect was a let-down, save for Seung-hyo’s Dad’s hidden hilarious personality that overshadowed the series’ other comedic moments that landed flat in failed attempts at being funny.

The plot development was overall mediocre, with significant parts lacking between the journey Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo took to get from being friends, to lovers. Though its structure was evidently present due to the outcome of their relationship, the plot itself was messy and hid behind characters that distracted all else with their unserious dialogue, consistent personalities, and strong feelings. The series’ flow wasn’t very structured, and the episodes delved into different ideas that branched off without intersecting or building on each other and of which didn’t end up anywhere or support any of the series’ main ideas. For example, it didn't delve into an exploration of the pressure to become successful and start families in South Korea, like the first few episodes suggested it would. Instead, it skimmed the side with a mere generalisation and brought it to life using the toxicity of Moms that loved to brag of their childs and childs that competed against each other.

As for the acting, although Jung So-min and Jung Hae-in succeeded in bringing the story to life, their facial expressions were unvaried and at times lifeless. With chemistry that fell short and the lack of focus on the female lead’s backstory in falling in love with her partner, their relationship seemed forced. Despite this, something I was able to appreciate in the development of their relationship was Seung-hyo’s confession of love. It was nothing grand, and took place in a familiar setting, which mirrored his feelings that were hiding subtly in their almost-30-year-old friendship. These hidden feelings of his simply yet slowly installed themselves in his heart, allowing him to accept them and let them grow before being certain in his action to confess to her. The lead couple was accompanied with a second romance that, although wholesome, got messed up by the confusing relationship between Dan-ho and Yeon-du, and insensitivity on Mo-eum’s side. When viewers learn of Dan-ho’s ‘daughter’ in the beginning, it is assumed he has a wife, so the scenes he shares with Mo-eum before the revelation of his relation with Yeon-du seem inappropriate. There also could have been reconsideration on Mo-eum’s side regarding the way she chose to act in Dan-ho’s presence. For example, her questionable choice to kiss him during a conversation they shared where Dan-ho expressed his sadness for the loss of Yeon-du’s Mom, and her persistence in making her feelings for him known even though they made him uncomfortable.

Another notable aspect of the show worth mentioning is the abundant amount of product placement. ‘Love Next Door’ advertised a wide variety of brands, dedicating multiple scenes per episode to product advertising. Its constant habit of veering off into commercial territory was distracting, and combined with its poor-production qualities and mediocre acting, it really decreased my level of appreciation for the show.

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Comedy meets heartfelt lessons in this fun twist on fake marriage and newfound family

‘No Gain, No Love’ is an amazing rendition of a rom-com done right. The classic trope of fake marriage is explored from a fresh, new perspective. Originally formed out of mere convenience, as the episodes run on, the leads’ relationship satisfyingly slips into what can only be labeled as a bright, bubbly romance. This transformation allows the leads’ true personalities shine strong, and reveal their most vulnerable and beautiful sides. The series manages to balance serious matters and romcom in perfect harmony, using this blend of genres to bring its hilarious and heart-touching plot to life. It offers its fun spin on fake marriage all while staying true to its core message: that family is not determined by blood, but is determined by the heart.

Inspiring, heartwarming, and brought to life with formidable acting, the characters are full of life, and their psychological growth is unarguably a significant part of the series’ forte. It is both refreshingly perfect and realistic as can be. Though the main characters’ true values and motives in life essentially stay the same throughout the 12 episodes, their decisions reveal that their mindsets have evolved into something much stronger, giving them the strength to find confidence in the actions they choose to take. The difficulties they face only strengthen their bond, making the chemistry they share even more appealing to the audience. Enhanced with mature romance, the leads’ relationship forces them to endure trials that make them step out of their comfort zone. Each difficulty they endure together allows them to see each other under a new light and gives them the opportunity to learn about one another in different contexts. Over time, they harbour strength and love in each other through these hard times, causing a strong and genuine connection to form—slowly but surely.

Though the plot is filled with events, the pacing of these exciting and enthralling happenings is perfect, though they could benefit from better closure. Each one of the storyline’s twists and turns all add up in creating a shift in the leads’ personalities, contributing to their growth. Once individuals who had fallen deep into the bad habit of letting their flaws dictate their everyday lives, they learn to free themselves, and the series ends on an inspiring note regarding this matter. Son Hae-yeong and Kim Ji-uk’s relationship is what fosters this growth, as it allows them to stray from the path of their everyday-life routines. Essentially, their initial connection is not only the start of a touching love story, but it also represents the commencement of their own exploration of self. The qualities they bring out of each other allow viewers to grasp a hold on their true personalities, and their depth crafts a sense of realisticness out of the unique relationship they share. This furthermore deepens the series’ essence, proving that love knows no boundaries and can be harbored out of even the most inconvenient situations.

The leads are depthfully crafted, with flaws made clear from the very start. Kim Ji-uk, the male lead, has a low esteem of self and undervalues his worth. This feeling of inferiority he has manifests itself through his selfless actions, his obsessive oath of keeping promises, as well as his nature of always setting his own priorities in accordance to those of the people around him. His relationship with Son Hae-young breaks his usual demeanour. When Son Hae-yeong enters his life, he lets her break into his bubble, and allows himself to crumble away from the strong and lighthearted posture he usually wears. For the first time, he lets someone bear the consequences of his presence, abandoning his fear of being a burden to others in a life where he feels he is only troublesome.

As for Son Hae-young, her long-time fear of suffering losses and consequently missing out on things in life subsides. The principles she had set for herself long ago don’t apply to Kim Ji-uk, who becomes the center point of her attention. Rather than weighing her loss when faced with situations, she starts making decisions for Ji-uk’s sake, acting in accordance to his own needs. This shift in her priorities represents the first time she puts someone, other than her own self, first. These steps that both Son Hae-Young and Kim Ji-uk take toward becoming better people simultaneously push their relationship forward. It may not be evident in the male leads’ case, but sharing your burden with your partner is more than self-liberating. It’s a healthy practice of care, because by voicing your struggles to your significant other, you are lending them your heart and growing your trust in them.

Through the side characters, ‘No Gain, No Love’ also explores the lives of orphans. With ease, the series manages to balance its lightheartedness with seriosity; showcasing the journey of individuals who try to navigate their life despite their past traumas and experiences. It highlights their determination to surmount their difficulties, as well as their will to make decisions that can be benefitted from rather than bring hell into their lives again. The series’ integration of these characters amidst its comedy invites an exploration of various themes; such as parental abuse, parenting, and tests common conceptions of both familial (with the orphan 'sisters') and romantic love (with a polyamorous relationship).

Because of the limits they confined themselves to, the growth of their relationship blossomed quickly and naturally. They convinced themselves that the love they shared wasn’t real, which let them sink into their vulnerability together without the fear of losing each other because of prejudices or judgement. Their fake engagement gave them the opportunity to explore what they truly seek in the world and how they want to seem through the eyes of others. As they spoke about their struggles openly without humiliation or embarrassment under the pretense of being a fake couple, they gave each other room to open up about their true desires in life—their desires that lay bare underneath the cover of their personalities that were crafted by their sad pasts.

Overall, the series is bright, though it ultimately tells the story of broken hearts and forgotten bonds. Interestingly, despite South Korea’s conservativeness, it didn’t steer away from delving into rather delicate themes such as abortion and modern-day femininity, and what this means in the context of marriage. These elements contributed to its depth, and helped shape ‘No Gain, No Love’ into the amazingly entertaining story it is.

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A unique show with characters that shape the story into a compelling watch

The tension, romance, and comedy set in a multitude of different environments created the authenticity of the binge-worthy romantic comedy 'Everyone Loves Me'. The mix of home, school, and office-life seamlessly balanced out into an engaging and very pleasing watch. Putting the leads through so many dissimilar circumstances gave them the opportunity to put forward new faces of theirs all while exploring different sides of their lives. This approach at presenting the characters and their motives enabled viewers to align themselves with the plot that frequently moves into new territory–comedy, romance, and youth. In all, the crafting of the show revolves around workplace conflicts. The problems they faced in their office environment counterbalanced their interpersonal struggles, making the problem solving seem effortless as it seamlessly wove together both aspects within the series. This harmonization between these is what enabled the show to come to a perfect resolution in a gradual and not unnecessarily-prolonged way.

On top of reconciliation between characters, the struggles faced at work shone light on the characters’ true personalities. For example, the various work conflicts are solely what allowed us to dive into Gu Xun’s past. This was necessary to gain an understanding of his reasoning behind certain choices. The revealing of the journey he took to get to his current position gave him a side of vulnerability as well as a certain authenticity to the decisions he put forward. As for Qian Ling, her dedication in thriving at whatever task she's assigned, without backing down despite the disapproval of others, mimics how she’s someone who knows her worth and what she wishes to pursue.

The characters all serve a purpose, with each one of their personalities seemingly meticulously created in the goal of enforcing the series’ strong point of deliverance. To elaborate, every one of its aspects build on an atmosphere that makes it easy to learn about the main leads despite the ever-changing story settings. Qian Ling’s relationship with Gu Xun in particular depicts how she knows her worth and values staying true to herself above anything else. In fact, a particular staple that sets ‘Everyone Loves Me’ apart from other series of the romance genre is how independent Qian Ling proves to be throughout the 24 episodes. Furthermore, she’s not blinded by romance, nor does she easily let herself be swayed by others. A specific situation that depicts this independant personality trait of hers is when she is presented with the opportunity to switch to Gu Xun’s department at work. Despite being offered a better pay and the chance to work alongside her boyfriend as well as others whom she knows will value her efficiency, she decides to wait until she is confident switching is really the best choice for her.

As for the side characters, they pushed the story forward by providing the main leads with a chance to showcase their growth as individuals. Through Jian Hung Nan’s backstory of his friendship with Gu Xun, viewers got to see how caring and selfless the latter has always been. Jian Hung Nan looks up to him as a role model, his expression of love and admiration for Gu Xun enabling viewers to see him from a new perspective. Su Zheng brought on a new side to the main lead and enabled him to realize the lengths he’s willing to go to win over Qian Ling’s heart. As for Jiang Yishi, he provided a history to Gu Xun’s career in game production. This showcased Gu Xun’s dedication to his career and unveiled to what extent he strives to chase his dreams.

The good acting allowed for strong chemistry between the numerous characters whose lives are explored throughout the series. Qian Ling and Gu Xun set the example of a healthy relationship where each partner presents to one another their true selves. Despite both having personalities that might make them seem closed off to the outerworld, neither of them hold back from showing their love through acts of kindness, sweet words, and kisses. There are a lot of heartfelt moments that exhibit their vulnerability. That, combined with the hint of comedy incorporated into the ironicness of the too-perfect coincidences, helped bring them closer together. Throughout the show, Gu Xun strives to prove his respect for Qian Ling. This is one of their many interactions that show how they both truly cherish their love for each other and prioritize their special bond over all else.

Contrary to what seems to be the majority's belief, I wish that Gu Xun and Qian Ling’s online friendship, with Gu Xun secretly knowing about her identity as Dough Twist, had been more prolonged. I loved seeing Gu Xun slowly develop into someone capable of loving another for a change instead of pushing everyone away like he usually does. It was new and refreshing to watch the male lead become accepting of his feelings for his crush and embrace them to their fullest in order to get the determination he needed to make progress in their relationship. The contrast between Gu Xun's real-life self and online persona added a realistic touch to his personality. I enjoyed watching the thrill of Gu Xun juggling both his feelings for Qian Ling and the need to keep his gamer identity a secret from her while he transitioned between his different roles in her life. I think that the storyline's development would have benefited from more scenes showing these struggles of his.

Since the clash between their online personas and true selves is what adds depth to their characters, eliminating the fun dynamic between the leads being teammates while video gaming was an impractical choice. Not only would it have reinforced the gaming trope within the series, but it also would've been interesting to see the portrayal of their newfound connection in the real world through the online video games. Placing scenes of the leads video-gaming together later on in their relationship would parallel their first moments together. This link to their past would clearly show their realistic growth as well as the stark contrast between their relationship at the beginning and the end. Staying consistent and not cutting off what connected them with one another in the first place would have provided a closure without neglecting any aspects of their relationship.

Gu Xun and Qian Ling both have layers to their personalities that unravel through their relationship; causing not only a bond, but a sort of connection between the main leads and the viewers as there is room for interpretation and discovery of the characters.

Another one of the series' pros besides its layered characters, convincing chemistry, and outstanding sets, would be its soundtrack. From its opening song, to the one that plays over the credits and every background music in between an episode's begining to its end—they all stood out in a way that made me replay certain scenes just to hear the songs again.

In all, the series’ execution was flawless, with the eye-catching sets and the actors’ outstanding performances enabling the show to carry its numerous tropes into the memorable drama ‘Everyone Loves Me’ deems to be.

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An ending and new beginning: the final piece to the trilogy of a touching romance between flawed men

‘My Beautiful Man’, or ‘Utsukushii Kare’, is a heavy series that requires deep analysis and empathy to understand the characters’ motives and emotional complexities. Its delicacy in poetic lines brings depth to the leads’ narrations and the beautiful cinematography touches scenes of intimacy with a serene taste of true love. This fragility, combined with the leads’ fiery romance, creates a very intricate yet powerful watch. The plot worked in unison with the characters to bring out their flaws, and doesn’t portray them as bad traits that serve no other purpose other than weakening. Instead, their vulnerability became their source of strength, fueling their chase for each other’s heart and intensifying the push and pull of their attraction.

Two teenagers—whose childhood traumas have distorted their perception of love, and whose lives thrive to satisfy their selfish desires—fall in love. Kyoyi, a famous idol and model, wants to be hidden from someone’s eyes for the first time. Because of his loneliness, he has always wanted to be the center of attention, and wishes to find a space for himself in someone’s world. Through the lens of his camera, Hira, an aspiring photographer, wishes to capture his newfound beauty in life. Kyoyi is the first person he lets into his world, but he keeps putting up walls between them, only wanting to admire him from a distance. Even so, the passion in Hira’s gaze ignites something within Kyoyi: the desire for their bond to transcend the camera that separates them; the desire to truly be discovered instead of just admired.

Their compassionate love for each other goes beyond the surface, and their realistically imperfect relationship defies the norms of typical healthy on-screen representations of couples. Their relationship is shaped by their insecurities that yearn to thrive off of someone strong and understanding enough to hold them close. One of the main messages the series conveys to its audience is that one doesn’t need to be perfect in order to be deserving of love. It also teaches us that flaws aren’t necessarily bad, but are representative of an opportunity for self-improvement. The unwavering care and support Kioyi and Hira provide each other with as they navigate through their struggles in identity leaves room for growth to sprout alongside their romance. This enables their scars from the past and fear for the future to flourish into beautiful and heartfelt moments where both slowly get closer and learn to break the barrier of secrecy between themselves.

When the characters collided with the storyline, everything, from their incessant pure love to their dangerous and obsessive desire to hold each other close, started making sense. It jumped into their unique relationship with a smart approach, using narration from both Kioyi and Hira to slowly unravel their backstories amidst their blossoming growth. The leads were put through many hardships to prove their love for one another, and all throughout the story, their flaws are what pushes their relationship forward instead of restraining them into an ordinary type of love that touches only the surfaces of their struggles and true personalities. Along self-discovery comes doubt, and their uncertainties in their relationship bring out their most vulnerable sides. Despite the fire of chaos they ignite in each other’s lives, their fear of losing each other only grew stronger day by day and laid bare their hidden but overbearing insecurities. Through the time they spent journeying the depths of their love for each other and weighing the possibilities of the future they can make out of their messy romance, one learns what it’s like to be loved rather than just admired, while the other learns how to love instead of just admiring.

There's this scene in the movie that perfectly captures the essence of this beautiful and thought-provoking series. When Anna dances in the rain, it represents something powerful that shines bright in the midst of a downpour. A beautiful outfit that should flow in the wind seems misplaced in the wet, with its color muted by the water's drench. Yet, it was so happy and messy all at once that it was enthralling, and just one look at the unusual scene wasn't enough for those witnessing the photo shoot, mesmerized by the contrast between the lady’s bright smile and the way her beauty bathed in darkness. This is reminiscent of the professional photographer who used the camera to get closer to the world and capture both its beauty, and its darkness. Similarly, Hiro's camera was no longer a shield or place to hide; it was an entryway to the discovery of the individual whose heart was fated to belong to him.

In this series that explores themes of insecurity, the fan/idol industry, and first love, nothing is evident at first glance, and the characters’ aren’t meant for the viewers to like. Instead, their purpose is to bring a greater sense of understanding to the audience regarding stereotypes and insecurities. The series delves deep into the human aspect of vulnerability, using its well-crafted characters to convey the message that sometimes it’s the most vulnerable individuals who seem weak that are the most strong minded and confident in what they want, while those who do seem strong can be the most insecure, wearing only a facade of the strength they appear to have.

This lesson is embodied in the characters, particularly in Hira, who is portrayed as the most timid of all in his class but is secretly the most determined and assertive one. He’s always sure of himself and what it is that he wants, expressing this through his determination to physically protect Kyoyi, whom he deems his only true love. Hira always lessens Kyoyi of emotional burden, bringing him constant reassurance whenever he holds back, and never hesitating to abide by his pleas whenever he makes him promise to forever stay by his side. Something that also supports this ideology is Hira’s ‘top’ role in the intimate aspect of their relationship (which is more explored in the manga/light novel), in which he furthermore asserts his dominance and controlling nature. Additionally, another character whose main purpose is to foster this message through his actions would be the one portrayed as Anna’s utmost fan. He’s initially portrayed as timid and weak, but reveals himself to be brave and determined when driven by his feelings of love and admiration for his idol.

Both leads felt like they didn’t have their place in the world. His whole life, Kyoyi had been surrounded by people who wouldn’t hesitate to leave him in an instant, causing him trust issues. No one truly cared about what he felt or had to say, and weren’t interested in discovering his real self. Hira, on the other hand, felt like no one cared enough to wait and hear what he had to say because of his speech disorder. To summarize this brief overlook at the series’ main leads: both felt unvalued in their world. Hira felt worthless of finding his place in the world whereas Kyoyi felt worthless of being loved. Together, they turned each other's flaws into something beautiful. They came together like missing puzzle pieces, turning their flaws into a reason to love each other. Their flaws caused them to collide and laid the foundation for their strong and passionate romance, where both give and take and feel fully satisfied with what they share.

Their emotions both explain the way they act. One stalks because he can never get close enough, while the other doesn’t have control over his emotions, so he exerts the power of dominance he does have physically. Kyoyi acts bossy and and rather mean, using this harshness to get closer to Hira without being vulnerable, though it is clear from the look in his eyes that he deliberately pushes this personality onto himself. While it may be controversial, without the physical aspect—which was ultimately a fundamental base to their relationship—they wouldn’t have a story. It was needed to show their relationship develop and reveal who truly had the hidden weakness.

Bossing Hira around was Kyoyi's way of getting closer to him without being vulnerable and making his fear of abandonment and need for love evident. This insecurity of Kyoyi's is furthermore explored later on when he is always asking for reassurance and for Hira to stay, begging in a way that doesn’t seem vulnerable or direct. Instead, he tries pulling Hira closer using this method to understand him more and see if his feelings were real before deciding to let him into his heart. Although Kyoyi was wrong for dealing with his frustration and personal insecurity through physical means, Hira was just as much in the wrong regarding habits in their relationship.

He did not give Kyoyi privacy or respect his boundaries, nor did consider his feelings. Instead, Hira only cared about satisfying his own desires without thinking of the consequences his actions and choices would have on Kyoyi. This reasoning stemmed from how highly Hira views him, giving light to the bad among his blind support towards Kyoyi. He never considered he’d influence Kyoyi’s thoughts or actions and would misunderstand whenever Kyoyi would try to inquire about what they were. He'd always just answer that Kyoyi was his favorite, etc., without seeming to have a desire for more. Kyoyi was being emotionally burdened with his ever-growing uncertainty and unreciprocated romantic feelings in contrast to Hira, who seemed content with merely being bossed around by him and satisfied with sharing an unhealthy relationship where only he was benefitting. So even though it seemed like Kyoyi was the one always getting served what he wanted whenever he’d ask for it, Hira was the one taking advantage of the latter.

The barrier Hira places between Kyoyi and himself is representative of problems individuals can experience in the entertainment industry. Although idols receive so much love, they have no one in particular to direct their love towards, out of uncertainty and fear. “Do they really love me for who I am, or just my image?” With these thoughts that separated him from the world around him, which he felt was full of fake people, Kioyi was truly just as lonely as Hira. “Can I truly trust them, or will they leave me in the dirt once my reputation hits rock bottom?” Kioyi asked himself endless questions as he fought to understand whether or not Hira’s feelings for him were genuine. Even once Kyoyi realised he could indeed trust him, Hira's mindset of Kyoyi being so superior compared to himself still separates them.

Despite all of the flaws in their connection—with his loving eyes and overwhelming and seemingly endless amount of support—Hira effortlessly and quickly slipped into Kyoyi’s heart before he even had the chance to notice. Even Kyoyi didn’t understand his own emotions, so not only was he not used to being loved since a young age, but he couldn't believe how spontaneous and sure of himself Hira was in his many confessions. In terms of what allowed someone so sure of his feelings to connect with someone who was hesitant in accepting his own and believing the other's, Hira’s personality was, in a way, a perfect match for Kyoyi, who took a lot of time to realize he truly liked someone. Hira, whose personality stayed constant and steady over the years, made the jump between their high school days and college years only deepen their connection. His certainty in his feelings allowed Kyoyito to fully grasp his own feelings before slowly gaining the courage to make little efforts to deepen their bond. In other words, Hira’s personality made it seem as if he was waiting for Kyoyi to gain the courage and get used to his new feelings so that Kyoyi could eventually be more certain in his confession and love for him.

Hira told his admirer he liked him, but even with his speech deficiency, the words were even harder for Kyoyi—who seemed confident on the outside than Hira—to say aloud. In reality, Kyoyi is weak, vulnerable, scared, and insecure—everything he doesn't seem like he'd be at first glance. These qualities show in his actions to push Hira away, his constant asking if he will stay by his side, and his hesitation in putting his true feelings out in the open. Hiro is selfless, while Kyoyi pays close attention to the way he acts, both in the professional and personal aspects of his life. His lack of confidence is shown when he tells Hira that the reason he doesn't want to understand him is because of his fear in bringing him down, which is more a question of self-esteem than anything else.

However, Hira isn’t any braver, even with his spontaneous words and assertiveness in his actions. He's scared to get closer to Kyoyi because it would elevate him, while on the contrary, he wishes to stay at the bottom of the social class and continue living in his own bubble. As the cameraman in the movie says, Hira sees himself as higher and better than everything else. He expressed how he feels Hira’s selfishness and disgust for the world through his photos; where he erases all people. “You haven’t succeeded at all, but you think you’re so amazing. But instead of showing it outright, you make a shell by belittling yourself. You look down on this world with youth, stupidity, and ambiguity.” On the other hand, Kyoyi is insecure and scared of being so high (in the celebrity world) because he is so lonely up there. Kyoyi's struggle is essentially shared with Hira, who is equally as lonely, but for different reasons—Hira’s loneliness stems from putting himself above everything else and thinking nothing else matters. The poetic lines in their narrations highlight the similarities they share despite their huge difference in popularity and rank in society.

As for the casting of the characters, the lead actors amazingly embodied Hira and Kyoyi, who share such an electrifying chemistry. Yagi Yusei truly stood out to me in terms of acting. Through his role as Kyoyi, he acted so ruthless and mean, yet held a look of intense fondness and love in his gaze that never ceased to linger on Hira. The stunning cinematography and pleasing music only add to the enigmatic and beautiful storytelling, deepening my love for the amazing trilogy that is ‘My Beautiful Man’.

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Distracting subplots and mediocre acting—I watched it for Jiang Bo and the mystery

'Derailment' tried to create an emotion-packed series, incorporating themes like romance, grief, self-discovery, slice of life, thriller and mystery. However, the subplots veered off in different directions and none of them built on each other, resulting in mostly an unsatisfying mess. Despite Wanyan Luo Rong's goose-bump raising performance as Huo Bo Yu, it was quite a disappointment in the thriller department. The aspect of the villain trying to get closer to FL and catch her was more of an annoyance than anything else. Not only was the romance not explored enough, but the slice of life seemed to drag out the mystery, which should have been quick-paced to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Subplots aside, the show's ending strategically and successfully tied up the ends of all the build-up of mystery in the series. Its mystery was amazing and its deliverance well accomplished. However, it felt as if the mystery was competing against the slice of life and both aspects took away from each other. It was a good idea to fuel the mystery with the FL's journey to self discovery and reconciliation with her old self, and the slice of life with who she is in the present day and the person she is working towards being. But despite the series’ effort to balance them out, they didn't fall together into an enjoyable watch. Instead, the many tropes make it confusing to know where to steer your attention towards. Viewers may not know from where to gather hints, what it seems the show expects for them to be doing with their ‘time-travel’ trope that would keep one guessing. Because of many elements such as the FL’s hairdressing experience and the focus on Jiang Bo and his possibility in being a second love interest, it's hard to guess the conclusion that everything will lead to.

The first episode was especially overwhelming because it dives into the heavy ‘sci-fi’ elements right away. Consequently, viewers don’t have the chance to connect with the characters. Before properly developing the story, the series hints at potential possibilities for the mystery’s solutions. It puts forward clues without even providing a base for what has to be solved. Since the truth isn’t yet revealed, the characters are hard to be trusted in the face of all these possibilities, especially considering how little is presented of them. A viewer may not be tempted to continue on with the next episodes because it’s hard to process what’s going on, and at this point into the series they wouldn't have connected with characters. The show would have benefited from showing the characters before and without the context of the Lighthouse mystery disrupting everything. This would allow viewers to get a bit familiarized with the setting and the characters amidst the dizzying elements of mystery.

Maybe then would character development also be more evident, if it were to be incorporated. Instead, the character growth is very minimally depicted and only subtly scattered throughout episodes. For example, when Jiang went from forcefully denying her true identity to accepting the truth. Then there’s the time where Jiang got a new year’s gift from her friends, showcasing her first true, worthwhile friendship with other girls. Or how even though she kept her stubbornness all along in the series, she later on used it to stop others from getting in her way, prompting her to reach greater heights in her career instead of letting it be an annoying personality trait.

‘Derailment’ doesn’t delve into romance but rather skims the genre with its few stereotypical romantic scenes. The ML has proven to be very protective towards the FL, as shown when an old friend splashed her with a cup and he went to block her. He showcased his caring side by offering the FL his jacket to cover her period stain. Despite these moments, the chemistry was obviously lacking, and it seems that they tried to make up for this by heavily leaning into visual appeal. The many zoom-ins on the ML’s hands or closeups to his face were unnecessary for the series. Also, although there’s no reason for the ML to wear professional attire 24/7, he wears a suit all along the series’ 30 episodes and always has perfectly styled hair. These techniques were used to improve his visuals and attract viewers looking for eye-candy, inevitably attracting fans of romance. The advertising is misleading, a lot of people who have watched the show wanted romance because of the scenes that were used to promote the series and it seems to have missed the target audience. Instead, fans of romance were left searching the series for heart-fluttering moments and got disappointed in the end with only a few bland scenes.

The series steers more towards the mystery of the plot rather than exploration of the characters themselves, stopping the romance from developing. Self-expression is necessary for romance, and including a relationship was not a good choice for characters who don't have depth. Additionally, the opening song is mysterious, with colors giving off futuristic vibes, in contrast to the soft and light ending song that showcases the leads’ special moments together. Though it’s fitting for the romantic clips that are played, it sounds like an anthem for defeat in the theme of thriller and mystery. Regardless of how much of an enthralling watch the mix of romance and mystery would have made, ‘Derailment’ failed in successfully balancing them. The series should have leaned into its main genre rather than attempting to blend in various storylines.

Furthermore, it doesn’t make sense that the ML and FL’s attraction towards each other is put on pause whenever mystery overtakes the plot. Their actions, motivations, and interactions are only for the sake of the plot. The main characters are empty and don’t have a mind of their own, which is why the incorporation of romance is off-putting. The FL’s personality is a prime example of the leads following the plot instead of it building on their actions. Jiang is confident and has pride in herself all along, all that changes in the second half is that she ends up having the right to be so because the plot gives her reason for it. Something that additionally backs this lack of character is the ML’s sidekick, who doesn’t seem to exist without him. He sticks around at all times and does whatever he’s asked. Even though he doesn’t have any other interactions with the ML other than in the context of mystery solving, viewers are told that the both of them are best friends and forced to believe it without any proof. He’s completely dropped towards the end.

Another thing that doesn’t make sense is that despite being the boss of a hair salon studio, the ML somehow has the most practical connections anywhere he steps foot. There are always random people who are willing to risk it all just to bring him the information he needs.Also, the ML appears by the FL’s side whenever the plot calls for random romantic moments. More than anything, they just seemed forced and seem out of place with their empty personas that are there for the sake of the complicated mystery storyline.

At some point, a group of guys appear at his house, foreshadowing the ML’s past experience in being a fighter, However, this was very subtle and needed to be reinforced to be properly understood. His situation with his parents can be confusing at first, but his little encounters with his Dad and the absence of his Mom become important parts of his development. His severed relationship with his parents is needed to understand his past. It also plays a crucial part in explaining his relationship with the FL as they slowly delve into their pasts together. The past is important because the series shows the consequences left by actions that were taken during a rough time in the leads’ lives. The events that take place in their current lives are led on by these impactful choices, which are only revealed towards the end. Despite its many incoherent ideas, the show succeeds in giving viewers the perfect amount of time to come up with theories for their future based on hints from the past. The only advantage to the many new conflicts that happen over the main ones is that they allow you to stay captivated in the moment.

The show’s continuous focus on the after-effects of big decisions is strange considering all the characters’ trains of thoughts that lead to nowhere. As a hairdresser salon’s boss, the ML pulls some strings for the FL and makes things work in her favor. They make you think things will change by breaking this consistency when he makes her fail the test she takes to get promoted, only to then request the opening of a new makeup branch under the company for the sake of her promotion instead. In addition to this, they show a scene where Qui Lian seems to sympathize with Jiang for also having no parents, but then don’t show the aftermath of this train of thought.

The characters can only be learnt about through their actions and those around them. This exploration of the main leads isn’t enough just on its own and doesn’t give them much of a realistic image. There is still much that remains unknown on their subject. Not because there are still things to learn, but because there’s nothing else to them than the way they are seen through others’ eyes.

From gathering hints from those he grew up with, the ML can be made out as a selfless individual who prioritizes others instead of his own self. We know this from the time his friend group from back in highschool shared their gratefulness towards him. They admitted that he helped them in starting their successful careers. The years he’s spent hooked on Xu’s case even though police were telling him there was no one by such name also show his determination and care towards his loved ones. However, a few of his moments with the FL highlighted an inconsistency within his character. He would use her for his own benefit and would become toxic whenever she disobeyed him. Then again, it is evident throughout the series that all he cares about is answers and resolutions. The ML is always on the search for new information and obsesses with any question mark that reveals itself. when Jiang appears, he starts taking care of her, even with her refute. These actions of his are led on by his curiosity as to why she claims not to remember him despite their time spent together in high school.

It’s clear that he knows himself only through those around him. Without the reassurance of others, it seems that he’s unsure of his own knowledge. This is obvious in how he’s always asking the police for answers even though he already has them. His obsession with satisfying his curiosity reflects the relationships he chooses to keep with other people since he benefits from them for the sake of solving the mystery. It’s almost as if the ML can’t exist on his own without his friends, and his personality is broken into pieces between them. Without those around him to carry his personality, he lacks one. His protective nature is seen through the FL, his determination through Xu Jin Yang, dedication through the policemen, and his hardworking personality through Chen Fang Zhou. It brought tears to my eyes to see how much he was losing his sense of self as those he cared about the most were slipping from his fingers. This emotional impact his grief had on viewers is the only advantage to how deeply he is affected by those around him.

Unlike the ML, the FL leaves an imprint on her environment. Her motivation to prove herself worthy of her place shows itself through the massages offered at the hairsalon and the competition between employees that arises from it. The theater is set free from someone holding them back thanks to her outspoken trait, and her dedication to get what’s best for everyone can be made out of her bickering with Jiang Bo. Also, her helpfulness was shown through how she helped fellow makeup artists pass their tests. So though it may have dragged out, the atmosphere of hairdressing was crucial for viewers to get to know her better.

Huang Sheng Chi, who played Jiang Bo, delivered an exceptional performance with his acting skills, and his role of which became of much importance later on, carried the show to its ending. His talent really stood out in comparison to the other characters, making it seem unbalanced. Next to him, Lin Yi who took on the role of the ML and Liu Hao Cun who played the FL were underwhelming in terms of acting. Liu Hao Cun’s facial expressions and tone of voice were over-exaggerated, making it hard for me to sink into the show without feeling like it's scripted. As for Lin Yi, he barely expressed any emotion on his face and seemed to lack many crucial characteristics in making a character appealing to viewers. He seemed like a filler character, which is not convenient because he should be the most interesting one and capture the viewers' attention because of all of his screen time. Even though Jiang Bo’s character was barely explored in comparison to how much of the main leads’ lives were shown and all the time spent on them, he simply gave off the vibe of his character, even when he wasn’t talking or taking action. This showed true embodiment of character and showcased his amazing skill in acting, which made me feel more things than the leads themselves.

Personal enjoyment aside, the show is definitely below average for its genre but my awe for Huang Sheng Chi’s exceptional embodiment of Jiang Bo and the Lighthouse system’s unique mystery is so strong that it overshadows all else, securing it a good 6.5/10.

With their choice of promotion and poor execution of many subplots, the question up for debate is, did everything happen for the sole appeal of the show towards the audience, or was there really something to be learnt from the show, or to admire the characters for? If you were to watch an actually good series, there'd be no need for this question to be asked.

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A youthful a play of passion, attachment, and courage

The 24-episode novel-adapted youth drama 'When I Fly Towards You' made for a refreshing watch. As it encapsulated the nostalgic firsts we all experienced into a lighthearted coming-of-age romance, its simply constructed narrative and cheery allure gave a new birth to those juvenile emotions that are sunk down to the core of our personalities and of which have created the base of who we are today.

The predominance of viewers who are discontent with their watch seem to center their review around the plot’s fixated trope of middle school puppy love with Su Zaizai catching feelings for a senior student, Zhang Lurang. In her world, the introverted scholar evolves from being a mere crush from afar, to a math tutor and subsequently her whole teenage-hood, adulthood, and wholehearted reason for the smile she always oh-so brightly shines.

"She's a little crazy, but she likes me. Since she likes me, for the time being, I will pretend that she isn't." This excerpted phrase from 'She's a Little Crazy' is a generalized portrayal of their affection towards one another in the direct words of the main male character Zhang Lurang. Rather than his cold demeanour driving Su Zaizai away, his utter indifference drives her all the more crazy for his attention. Rising actors Yiran Zhou and Miao Yi Zhang have brought the short novel to life with a binge-worthy representation of what falling in love with someone truly looks like.

Beyond the undeniable youthful chemistry the main leads share, one can complain the series wasn’t developed into the remarkable production its plot summary promised to the viewers who wanted to enlighten their yearning for more modern-day Chinese dramas following the 2023 chart-topping and heart-conquering hit release ‘Hidden Love’. Although skimming the bland side of television works—'When I Fly Towards You' is nothing short of the reality of a boy-smitten adolescent. It suggests to the audience the journey of trial and error in winning over another's heart. The series' focus revolves around the progress of the main couple's blossoming love, which smoothly incorporates into a fresh imagery with its liveliness.

'When I Fly Towards You' brings a new approach to young love, using a simple plot with adorable feet-kicking clichées to prioritize the structural growth viewers get the chance to witness through the characters. Su Zaizai, Zhang Lurang, Jiang Jia, Gu Ran and Guan Fang share the depths of their high school lives—from struggles to their dearest hopes and dreams—of which, in the end, brew together to perfect the crafting of a true worthwhile friendship. The repetition of filming her beloved times with her lover Zhang Lurang suggests the capturing of Su Zaizai's most precious memories and can serve as reference points in the frequent time-lapsing story-line, furthermore introducing us to the many encounters that brought their special bond as friends to the becoming of a married couple.

"Not everything has to be weighed for its worth in the world" was a phrase shared between the two during a time of hardship. Deliverance isn't the series' forte, but feelings are, and just that solemn aspect enabled the actors to deliver their performance and transmit the desired image of profound affection into a play of passion, attachment, and courage. Although not extravagant, the priceless pieces of memories that seamlessly formed such special moments through the main lead’s romance bloomed with honesty, trust, and such a beautiful love. The admiration Su Zaizai shared for her crush grew from immediate to utterly life-shifting for the latter, his self-worth and confidence piercing through the mold Zhang Lurang framed himself in.

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The forgotten night—a psychological thriller that serves as a profound exploration of jealousy

‘Black Out’ is more than just a suspenseful thriller–it’s an introspection of human behaviour, exploring the unsettling extremes of envy, selfishness and obsession. It simultaneously addresses more delicate themes such as passionate love and the innocence of grief, adding complexity to the depthful characters brought to life with top-notch acting. With its various storylines that intertwine into a gripping game of blame concerning the ones at fault for the killing of two young girls, it takes the innocence out of pure feelings, blurring the line between love and selfishness.

In the small Korean village of Muchon Town, everyone is a suspect, and no one is to be trusted. When No Sang-Cheol, an unbiased and unapologetic detective who has no ties with anyone in the area moves to this place, his strong sense of justice and personal values are tested. He’s faced with a seemingly ordinary case whose answers lie somewhere hidden in a particularly messy double murder incident from eleven years ago. Its peculiarities leave him questioning not only each and every individual in his everyday surroundings, but also gives him great doubt in the innocence of the police department itself. Acting as if he has nothing to lose, he shows no hesitance in putting all on the line by diving straight into the pit of that sombre night that the town’s community tries so hard to forget, even going so far as to putting his own principles aside. Could standing on the same ground as a supposed criminal, not looking at him from above as an authoritative figure, be the key to solving this grandiose mystery? And would he still be willing to do it, if it meant having to be apprehensive and empathetic towards the person he despised?

The gripping novel-inspired series ‘Black Out’ heavily relies on its characters’ to drive its story forward as it constantly revolves around the consequences of their actions and their memories are the only fragments of time that are left from a dark night from long ago. Through the many leads, not only does the series showcase character growth, but it also explores the grievance of those who’ve lost a loved one, the motives behind the crimes, and the suffering of those accused of murderer, and their families. The series surfaces many sensitive topics, and is grounded in different variations of anger, using this scary and strong emotion to drive its characters to maddening lengths, whether it be for good or for bad. ‘Black Out’ is a psychological thriller that doesn't rely on gore to bring scare to the viewers, but instead brings them discomfort with depictions of emotional manipulation and other unsettling elements such as gaslighting, blackmail, threats, r@pe, bullying, emotional and physical abuse, domestic violence, psychotic behaviour, obsession, su!c!de, extreme selfishness, and corrupt police investigation.

Following the death of two young girls, sophomore-year highschool student Goh Jeong Woo, boyfriend to one victim and best friend of the other, is pleaded guilty of murder and accused of disposal of their bodies—crimes he claims to have no memory of committing. Even when convinced he isn’t the one responsible, all traces point to the opposite, and since the crimes were committed while Goh Jeong Woo was drunk and experiencing a black out, he can’t do anything but accept to serve his years in prison. As it turns out, this didn’t conclude the case, but actually just put it on pause, since the investigation was suspiciously hastily conducted, and doomed to re-open many years later. When Goh Jeong Woo is released from prison, his name is legally cleared, and he’s presented with the opportunity to start his life anew. He refuses, wishing to seek justice for his two beloved deceased friends by finding their abandoned bodies and uncovering the true murderer. His tiresome effort to conclude the investigation using the right path proves to be more difficult than expected, but he tries his best against all odds, even if it means losing those closest to him in the process, and putting himself back in the difficult circumstances he faced eleven years ago. In his strive to remember and gather clues from that fateful night, he’s torn apart between two versions of himself; the evil person everyone labels him as, and his self who is a victim instead of a murderer.

Though it starts with heavy focus on Goh Jeong Woo, the aspiring medical student from a wealthy family, as the story progresses, the focus is shifted to the other individuals that have been in his surroundings since a young age. As he progressively moves forward in his investigation of the case alongside detective Noh Sang Cheol, he parallelly relives his high school senior year through his memories. This allows him to reconsider his relationships and see his happiest memories from a new perspective, draining them from their joyous and youthful innocence and enabling him to notice how his friend group was slowly ripping apart, tampered with feelings of intense jealousy. He sees the influence that his popularity, his wealth, and his family’s economic and social status had on others, notably his and his parents’ friends. This tactic of narrating a compelling story by weaving together past and present events greatly enhances the viewers’ ability to connect with the characters.

The unravelling of the mystery also sheds light on problems concerning social dynamics. The motives behind the different crimes committed and the ignorance that follows them are rooted out of self-pity, despair and jealousy from those who believe they have been living unfairly in comparison to their shared accaintence; Goh Jeong-Woo. Those involved in the murders, even those who loved him, decided to selfishly prioritise their own selves, framing him and making him suffer the consequences of their actions without feeling remorse because they felt that they had equally suffered from him. Their way of compensating for their insecurities was to frame him for their crimes, as they would benefit from this both monetarily–since they made his wealthy father compensate for their ‘sufferings’ with land–and morally, since it helped them convince themselves he was the true problem. The element that was key to their jealousy was mentioned to be the car Goh Sang-Chu bought his son Goh Jeong-Woo as a gift. This item, which represents the family’s wealth, is not only what ends up leading one of the girls’ murders, but also plays a key role in the unfair blame put on Goh Jeong-Woo, leading to his and his family’s social and economical downfall. The series concludes the lesson that in the end, those with less moral power can appear to be at the top, while their actions and decisions reveal otherwise, opposing the values of their glorified role and image in society. Those who have wronged others will do anything they can to exerce their power to hide the flaws and mistakes of theirs that they’re too scared to reveal.

‘Black Out’ successfully blurs the line between both extremes of a crime, which is the grief and innocence of the supposed victims, and the strong loss of control and of hatred found in murderers, abusers, and rap!sts. By exploring the true identities and values of the characters, it also shines light on more emotionally sensitive themes like grief, acceptance, and regret. The series uses emotions found in both innocent grieving victims and the ones with dirt on their hands to shape its characters into realistic and depthful individuals, making viewers question their true intentions and not trust any word they speak. Its storytelling shows how grief can bring out strong feelings of regret which can affect even those who are the monsters in the story. With convincing acting, it touches the complex elements surrounding grief, showcasing that even those who aren't to blame can feel just as wrongful and remorseful as those who actually are responsible.

The ending puts forward a conclusion that highlights that even though falling and hitting the ground of the gruesome reality is surely inevitable on both sides of a crime, it highlights that the one who chooses to prioritise and believe the truth will always have a path in front of them to move on, no matter their circumstances. Because, acknowledgement and pride in oneself is truly the strongest thing there is, and is especially a crucial way of living a truthful life in modern society, where those who are the highest are those who conceal the most.

The unsettling music, gloomy aesthetic, and choice of setting in a quiet, subdued part of town all contribute to its overall eerie atmosphere, drawing in both fans of the genre and newcomers alike. Many factors render it a truly memorable watch, such as the convincing acting, and its steady rhythm of suspense, both of which provide the audience with the opportunity to get a good scare out of the psychological thriller. The series’ horrific elements, graphic scenes, and mystery lets it reach a bigger audience, further broadening its appeal to those who are fans of the horror genre. Laid bare on screen, the many themes presented are raw and sometimes hard to digest. Its honesty in presenting the dark truths in life is like an inspection of the human mind, showing much more than a simple exploration of its determined and loving side. Instead, it focuses on bringing attention to the dark things passionate emotions can bring out of even the most pure and innocent feelings. With relentless thrill, it highlights the power that holds the mind’s rawest of feelings such as anger, jealousy, and selfishness. What especially makes this series so scary are the polar opposite traits that create the lead characters. The simple motivation behind the characters’ crimes is common and experienced by all, and yet they lack the fundamental aspect of what makes us human, which is guilt.

Its captivating production qualities, topped off with the numerous potential suspects that the plot follows, altogether enhances its suspense as well as its impact on viewers, leaving them at the edge of their seats all throughout the 14 episodes. Its engaging storyline—where a fusion of passion and love meets the depths of remorse and neglect—is brought to life by complex and unreliable protagonists, inviting interpretation and suspicion to arise in viewers. The mystery unfolds fast enough yet very intricately with its many subplots and storylines detouring the truth and giving the audience the chance to come up with their own theories as it simultaneously guides them down the line of its perfectly developed plot.

Overall, all of its aspects created the formula for a truly outstanding watch. ‘Black Out’ is ultimately a must-watch for anyone looking for a release that has mastered the art of balancing out elements of suspense, mystery, crime, self-reflection, growth, and most of all, reconciliation with the past, those around us, and our own selves.

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A thought-provoking series that critiques society and delves deep into self-discovery

‘Hierarchy’ is a hidden gem that requires analysis to understand its message and appreciate how it’s presented on screen. The characters are presented to viewers the same, stereotypical way they are perceived by others in the series. Jae-i is portrayed as someone who doesn’t easily get influenced or bothered by others as she leads a perfect life. Kang Ha, as someone who’s so optimistic and new to the school that he’s naive to its dark truths. When pushed to their limits by the vulnerability of their regrets from the past and fear for the future, the main leads slowly unravel their facades. They reveal themselves to be the total opposite of how they seem at first glance. Viewers can only guess what they’re thinking, which adds to the intrigue and plays a big part in capturing the audience’s attention. This is an engaging series that’ll pull one in with just enough information to make them want to see where it's going and understand the leads’ motives behind their actions.

The show follows the story of two individuals who are both victims of the harsh world, regardless of their differences in social class. Despite having problems that seem contradictory, Jung Jae-i and Kang Ha provide each other with strength and solace. Their shared support enable them to overcome their struggles, even though they're on opposite sides of the conflict. By prioritizing understanding, they use past tensions to become stronger than the problem and move on from what once held them back.

It shines light on the important aspects people often neglect in life, such as letting go and its impact on both ourselves and those around us. The female lead’s mindset is split in two parts parallel to the plot and highlights the changes that letting go can make. She becomes a better version of herself after she is shown reflecting on her thoughts with the only source of light being a strike of colour. Rainbows signify hope and new beginnings. It's following this scene where she reconciles with the lost part of herself and lets go of her unnecessary burden, represented through her lost baby, that the events take a turn for the better.

Eight teenagers are under a crushing pressure to stay fit into the roles society and their own families cast them in. They want to break free, but their fierce desire to escape their predetermined futures remains confined between the walls of Jooshin highschool. Run by two of the country’s most influential chaebol families, its goal is to provide the heirs of the top conglomerates with the best education. With important reputations to adopt from their rich and demanding parents, the successors of these groups have grown in hiding. Jung Jae-i and Kim Ri-an’s true, imperfect selves are locked behind flawless facades that push them to become people they don’t want to be and blind them from the real world and its injustices.

Jooshin’s recent death was driven by the desire to keep concealed what they wanted to hide the most within the school’s walls; which is the importance of fame and influence rather than the focus on actual studies and the well-being of students. When someone of lesser importance in society brings light to the case the school tried to cover, the students whose reputations are at risk of being tainted try to push him out and stop him from discovering the truth. Because at the stem of the reasoning behind the student’s death lies the school’s dark reality.

When the scandal threatens to reveal the truth among their concealed lives, all the top scholars struggle to find a place to stand ground, aware that only one can remain at the top of the hierarchy.

With the support of other scholarship students who have been victims of disrespect, Kang Ha orchestrates a scheme to destroy the school’s unjust and toxic hierarchy. He believes that change is necessary because the students of today are those who will determine society’s future. Kang Ha predicts that the social classes will limit those who are of less wealthy families. By stringing together clues from the past, he plots to bring down the school and give justice to those who have been wronged. Wanting to be the hero in the story, Kang Ha fights to differentiate the good from the bad and balance the consequences in a way that’ll only hurt those responsible for it. But with the close and conflicted bonds within the school, achieving that goal proves to be more complicated than anticipated. He’s forced to step back and reflect on what it is he truly wants.

Jung Jae-i and Kim Ri-an’s love for each other is stronger than anything else. It’s only a matter of time until the two leaders of the school will be forced to sacrifice their secrets to a case that threatens their reputation and the school’s. Even with the possibility of losing each other’s hand down the road of lies, secrets, and rivalry; they continue caring for each other with the same love they wish they could give their own selves. This dependency they shared with one another formed the base of their relationship and proved to be unhealthy. It ends up serving to Jung Jae-i as evidence of how unfit her current life was for her, resulting in their break-up and eventually prompting the start of her new life. It was only after letting go of the opportunity of what they could be together by giving up their future as parents that Jung Jae-i not only managed to see what was right for her own self, but also gained the maturity to set things right with those around her whom she caused harm.

What He-ra and Kang Ha have in common is that they both are in positions that set them up to seek revenge on Jae-i. However, the growth they underwent through the friendship she provided them with enabled them to realize the true source of their problems. For He-ra, it was her selfishness and greed. She wanted to have Ri-an by her side to give disillusion to her family’s monetary problems and assert her power as it progressively grew uncertain. Her numerous attempts fell flat and ultimately led to her disliking Jae-i; whom Ri-an claimed was the only one he had an eye for, even though those feelings of his remained unreciprocated following their break-up. It took Woojin, someone equally selfish and greedy, to make He-ra realize it was her own selfishness that caused her hatred for Jae-i. She came to the realization that it was her own self that held her back from coming to a resolution to her problem—a problem that could only be resolved with Jae-i’s help. By only caring about gaining enough money to stabilize her family’s financial state and wanting revenge on Jae-i for taking away that possibility, He-ra was blinded by her own pride. Had she overlooked her own problems and favoured understanding between friendships and societal classes, she would have had the opportunity to solve her worries. Before her family’s financial crisis, the only things He-ra possessed was money and power. She ended up going from being chased after for her power to being the one doing the chasing. Somewhere along the journey she took to get through her highest and lowest point in life, she gained a trustful and understanding personality.

As for Kang Ha’s situation—his strong desire to find the reason for his brother’s death—its cause was actually the teacher that was initially portrayed as a good and caring individual. What led to In-han’s death was her selfish desire to become part of the ones of more importance and authority, by dating Woojin. When the killed scholar had posed a threat to her reputation, her desire to stop him drove her insane and she chose her chance at being at the top of the hierarchy over his chance at life. This highlighted a greater problem within the school, because it meant that the teachers, who are supposed to be guardians for the students and protect them, were influenced by the hierarchy. So in the end, the problem for Kang Ha and He-ra was the hierarchy and it was by succeeding in bringing it down that Kang Ha got the revenge he wished for.

Kang Ha loves to care for those who are victims to the cruelty of the world. Thus, him going to Jooshin high to get justice for his bullied brother and consequently falling for Jae-i, who was struggling to carry the weight of her regret and guilt. This is the reason why, in the end, he's simply content with knowing that she shared the same feelings for him as he did for her. Seeing her give him one of her happiest of smiles, which he wanted to see all along, was the only closure he needed to their relationship. Kang Ha sees In-han, his deceased brother, through Jae-i because of how they share the commonality of being treated unfairly and feeling hurt. So through the smile he put on Jae-i’s face, it was as if he was also able to make his brother feel better and see his smile. As for Jae-i, who felt that she failed to protect In-han in the past, she sees him through Kang Ha. So although she let In-han down by not standing up for what was right or being by his side like she was for him, she ended up protecting Kang Ha. This happened following Kang Ha’s sentence that she started living by, which was to protect, no matter what, who you care about and love the most. This allows viewers to make the realization that between both male leads, it was clearly Kang Ha who had won over her heart; bringing an end to their love triangle. In the end, it was Kang Ha who got what he wanted most, which was seeing Jae-i smile at him and getting closure to In-han’s struggle through her, as well as ensuring the school a better future and having the bullies acknowledge their wrongdoings.

The series closed off Jae-i’s path to self-discovery, which she paved with her own sweat and tears, by leading her to her mother. This reunion showcased her immense character growth since Jae-i grew up in fear of her father throwing her away like he did with her mother; whom he deemed worthless. She let that fear control her life and hold her back from living the life she actually wanted, feeling obliged to live by his expectations. In the end, she made decisions based on her own will and was able to face her new life with a smile because she was no longer scared of being a failure in the eyes of those around her.

Through his decision to attend Jooshin and get revenge on those responsible for his brother’s death, Kang Ha used the traits he shared with his brother (caring and understanding) to carry on his brother's legacy. Not only did he solve the school's mysteries and get it punished for its insensitivity towards scholarship students (something In-han always wanted to achieve but did not have the chance), but he also transformed the ruthless students into better people. It was through Kang Ha that Jae-i was able to gain the courage to face her problems instead of running away, like she had done in the past after discovering her pregnancy. By caring for her and providing her with assistance, she ended up facing her struggles head-on and setting things right. She embraced her struggles as part of who she is, permitting her to move on from the many things that had been holding her back (her guilt of In-han’s death, feeling like she wasn’t able to tell Ri-An about their baby, her unhealthy relationship with her boyfriend) and lead her life with the best version of herself that she found through Kang Ha’s love for her.

Though Kang Ha got his revenge in the way where the school itself had to acknowledge its mistakes, the ending scene sets up an enthralling conclusion to his journey in uncovering Jooshin’s wrongdoings by implicating the others. An immobile student (suspected to be Jae-i’s brother who caused her much torment) is laying on the ground and yet the focus is placed on the top students, highlighting how someone is a killer. Just like how Jae-i ends up facing her fear, they all might have to relive the torment of a student’s death and face it with a better approach.

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The strive to unlock the code to one’s smile and define love in early adulthood

In an underwhelming world, where the sky is sometimes too cloudy to make out the stars, and where you can’t reach the top without falling, a group of individuals come together, find the good through the bad, and attempt to strive in a big and unfamiliar world that constantly tries to push them away.

If not to be praised for its lengthy and heavy plot, the series’ memorable cinematography and beautiful soundtrack will surely leave an everlasting impression on viewers. Humoristique, heartfelt, and a critique of today’s workaholic society—’Smile Code’ succeeds with satisfying ease in balancing out aspects that lean into the slice-of-life genre with elements of silliness and fun. The drama presents a refreshing twist on falling in love, with characters who fill the space in each other’s arms as though they are destined to come together despite their differences in lifestyle, personality, and outlook on life. It follows the compelling story of two individuals who try to navigate their relationship around the emotional distance that separates them, proving that love knows no barriers and that it presents itself in different variations. It is not a set feeling, but something abstract that is hard to understand and fully grasp the concept of without experiencing it firsthand.

Gu Yi, passionate and full of determination, is searching for her own definition of love. By getting closer to the one causing her the feeling, she gains a better understanding of herself and the concept of love. As the distance between them slowly closes on her end, Liang Dai Wen is experiencing this same exploration of oneself, but is forced to deal with trying to understand the entirety of his feelings—for the world and the girl he loves. The male lead will be forced to face his trauma head-on if he’s willing to understand not just his own feelings, but also those of the people around him. Together, he and Gu Yi serve as a perfect portrayal of the devotion, compassion, and effort that is required to keep and build a healthy relationship. The reasons behind their eventual separation, along with Gu Yi’s belief that "love is precious only when it's a little bit; otherwise, it's a disaster", resonate with the idea that these qualities can equally destroy a relationship as much as they can create one.

Lin Yi effectively embodied his cold role as Liang Dai Wen in a way that made his character feel heavy, with a smile dragged down by the weight of the world. This is fitting for the series, considering its overall message, which is to find a guide, or a code to unlock a smile. Due to his trouble in identifying, processing and expressing emotion, his creativity is overlooked as it is not regarded as ‘creative’ in a typical way. Rather than representing his empathic and artistic outlook of life in his art using music or painting, it is expressed through his feeling of needing to help others. His character is creative and artistic in an innovative way, capable of thinking from the perspective of others to create something that'll reflect them and their needs in everyday life, whereas music or art is more individualistic, with the artist creating based on their own perspective and experiences.

The side characters are all equally as enriching to the series. Remarkably, its second female lead, Guan Xing Xin, indirectly addresses the burden of the misogynistic, suppressive, conservative, and close-minded aspects of Chinese society. This is explored through modern-day problems concerning celebrity images and cyberbullying, as well as the public unwilling to understand her side of the story in a scandal. Her outlook on life differs from others as she was born visually impaired; completely blind. The unique perspective that she presents through her telling of her experience of gaining sight gives viewers unique remarks on life itself and of the human being’s ingrained and innate fear of being observed, perceived, judged, and critiqued.

Though she may seem misplaced at first, among the others in the series who are perhaps more visibly struggling, with debt to pay off, and no place to call home, she still draws many parallels to them despite her wealth and fame. Guan Xing Xin is actually just as morally lost as the other individuals presented are, searching for her place in the world. Even though her life seems simple and already set up for her by those in her surroundings, she rather feels suffocated and constrained by these expectations, and stolen of freedom. Despite being certain that her current life is not fit for her, she struggles to break free from it and pursue a new direction in life, not yet truly knowing her own self, her limits, and what she wants. Her similarity with those around her who are less wealthy showcases how everyone has their own battles to fight no matter their circumstances, and that one should not be so quick to judge. Altogether, the characters form a realistic portrait of people who feel like they don’t live up to society’s standards for one reason or another, enhancing the series’ underlying theme of struggling urban youths.

Gu Yi, the female lead, catches the male lead’s eye first with her positive attitude. Liang Dai Wen feels entranced by the bright smile she chooses to wear despite her day-to-day struggles. At night, her smile radiates a sense of freeness under the stars like a twinkle amidst the busy streets of the bustling city. In the day, he sees her face morph into more stoic expressions, and witnesses how hard she works to carry the weight of her daily struggles. This contributes to Liang Dai Wen finding her smile's beauty more admirable and brighter than ever, furthermore drawing him into her strong pull. The contrast between her life in the day and during the night is something Liang Dai Wen struggles to understand. Because of his emotional condition, he can’t experience the duality of being practical in the day, and free, exasperated, and relieved at night. His lack of understanding intrigues him to give her a space in his life, because he has always been told that feelings can truly be felt only once they have been observed. Though he yearns to be observant and understanding of Gu Yi, his encounters with her brings him down and gives him the unconscious realization that there's something missing in his life.

"A human soul only weighs one ounce" is the quote of the comedy night club where Gu Yi works. This is probably in reference to an experiment led by a believer that a soul holds a physical weight, and who strived to determine if this was true or not, before coming to the conclusion that a soul weighed almost an ounce because that was the weight that left their body when they died. Of course, this theory has never been scientifically proven, but in the context of this series that explores the struggles faced by urban youths, this ideology can be interpreted that the human soul is light, and so it is easy to push around into a spiral of turmoil or hardship, as it is simple to alleviate this weight by wearing a smile. It highlights the human’s sole insignificance in the world, and how adapting this outlook on life that we are so little and overall insignificant can make us feel more free and weightless. Not only can this shift one’s perspective, but it can also allow one to embody their feelings better and wear them with great pride for the little joys experienced. When Liang Dai Wen says he’s searching for his ounce of a soul, he’s perhaps looking for the lively part of him that he’ll lose once he dies, as he is already a detached and cold-hearted person.

In the middle of the series, Liang Dai Wen has a breakthrough, reflecting deeply on his own self for the first time. These realizations are crucial for his character development and the choices he makes later on. He notices that whenever he sees Gu Yi smile, his wrist hurts, recalling how her smile never ceased to shine brightly in his memory. This wrist pain of his is ultimately a physical manifestation of his emotional incapacity to have feeling. Whenever the pain flares up, he is deprived from the opportunity to experience mundane human things, such as driving. This builds on the series’ main theme, which is alexithymia, and strengthens the focus on his inability to differentiate between physical and emotional pain.

At some point, Gu Yi mirrors his own behaviour in the way she decides to interact with him. She approaches the matters that bother her head-on, hoping that he will understand her better. The physical pain she causes him in the moment where she squeezes his hurt hand, telling him to remember how he feels in the moment, mirrors the internal pain he feels when she gives him back the pain he caused her. He pushes her away, shifting back into the cold and detached version of himself he has been stuck in since years ago, retreating into his old habit of using emotional numbness as a shield. His departure with Gu Yi only adds to his pile of regrets, alongside those he feels regarding his past and his Mom. His obsession with clinging on to the memory of things he has abandoned hints at his desire to stay in the past. Instead of trying to let go or welcome back into his life the things he misses, he just floats in the middle of these two options, numbing himself to emotion. But now, with Gu Yi, he has to make a move, make decisions based on what he wants—not just out of practicality like he usually does. He has to allow himself to be guided by his own emotions, because he can’t expect Gu Yi to wait for him forever.

The rollercoaster of emotion intensifies following the leads’ separation. Gu Yi, once full of innocent smiles and laughter, gains a new perspective on life through this experience and starts to understand Liang Dai Wen’s dissociation from all forms of emotion. She offers a unique interpretation to what she feels was a one-sided romance, explaining that the break up didn’t exactly happen between them, since their feelings for one another haven’t changed. Instead, it can be found in every moment they spent together—shifting from sweet memories to times they now wished to forget. Their bittersweet separation offers a taste of the series’ overall hopeful yet realistic portrayal of life in early adulthood. Filled with scenes that will tug at your heart and draw tears, it captures life from an interesting angle.

The series’ visual aspect beautifully mirrors its essence, enhancing the emotional delivery to viewers. The cinematography is especially visually pleasing, and its nightly setting highlights the little but bright beauty that light holds when it peeks through the darkness. Something about the mostly dark city setting causes feelings of excitement, bringing more intimacy to the leads’ interactions and allowing their love to shine amidst the night’s darkness. The soundtrack is diverse and beautiful, reliant on piano keys to bring its melodies afloat, allowing the songs to convey a light but determined touch to the series. This enhances the series’ overall vibe, a heaviness coupled with little bits of hope—because beauty can not exist without deep and heavy feelings such as despair and sadness.

With noteworthy lines, thought-provoking quotes, and metaphorical comparisons, ‘Smile Code’ outshines its ‘rom-com’ genre by fueling its romance and bits of comedy using everyday happenings and aspects that moreover resemble those of the slice-of-life genre. "Isn't it sad that we operate like machines?" is a line shared to Gu Yi by Xu Guan Rui, someone who pursues an opposite life to hers—one with artistic and metaphorical value. It was said in the context of humans overworking without the acknowledgement of how much their drive for money and place in society is shielding away typical human creative expression and search for meaning in life. It compares this dehumanizing nature of overwork and the way people oftenly get so obsessed with practicality, routines, or survival to a robot, void of freedom, expression of oneself, and emotion. Gu Yi makes a reflection on these words, perhaps comparing it to Liang Dai Wen, who she considers robot-like because of his neurological disorder that limits his range of emotion and gives him the inability to feel or process feelings or seek true human connections. Since the show's focus is struggling youths in Shanghai—a very big, fast-moving, and competitive city—this is fitting because it is easy to learn to suppress our emotions in order to thrive. One can easily get swept up in only living in the goal of surviving to abide by the mold societal pressure tries to fit them into, making it easy to turn a blind eye to the human need for connections.

In the same train of thought, Xu Guan Rui also encourages Gu Yi to take a pause on what’s truly worth pursuing, and to question herself on why she is living her life in this rushed way that doesn’t make her happy or give her a particular sense of fulfillment in terms of her emotional needs, implying that she orient her goals to something more self-fulfilling. Her lacking response suggests that she hasn’t given it much thought, drawing a parallel between her character and people living under similarly current societal pressures and letting their need for money dictate their way of living. The comparison gives her a better sense of understanding of Liang Dai Wen, who she once thought so different. It enables her to see how she also embodies some of the qualities she thought were robot-like and depressing, such as following the cycle of routines, and acting based on practicality rather than emotions. And since she attributes these struggles of hers to pain, and relies on the creative expression of laughter as a painkiller, she feels for the male leads’ burdens in life since he has no resort that frees him from his struggles.

Essentially, the story conveys the idea that a love that grows slowly is more special than a spontaneous type of love. Its spark never dies because the memories continue to grow on each other, instead of leaving behind something beautiful that is only worth reminiscing about. It is a must-watch series that is heartbreaking as much as it is healing and refreshing to the soul.

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