Conflict Between Ideologies and Life-Long Convictions at its best

Jang Hyuk utterly and undeniably stole the show.
His character, counselor Park, was so profoundly well-written that I am having difficulty hating his character, even as a villain. He had layers upon layers… Even his layers had layers. One of the best-written villain’s characters that I have ever watched since the character of Yi Bang Won from “Empire of Lust.”

Kang Han Na was unapologetically superb in her role as Yoo Jung/Lady Park.
Her character personified that old saying…
“If she was a man, what a King she would have made…” She had all of the necessary and all of the sort-after attributes of a great King. Again, one of the best-written Queen’s characters that I have ever watched since the character of Queen Im Hwa Ryung from “Under the Queen's Umbrella.”

Lastly, Lee Joon…
What What can I say about his role as king, Lee Tae…?
I do feel bad for the actor. Any actor placed in a scene next to Jang Hyuk, whether it is a first male lead role or a second male lead role, is going to look unfinished and less skilled. Then, we have the writing behind his character… While his 2 costars’ characters writings were profound, well-written and full of layers, the writing behind his character felt weak, untrustworthy and incomplete. Throughout the entire 16 episodes, I really didn’t see any growth in his character. His character remained abundantly emotional, vengeful and neurotic at times.

All and all…
One of the best Sageuks that I have watched from Jang Hyuk and I am utterly impressed by Kang Han Na‘s acting prowess.

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Definitely Worthy of the American Series Crime-thriller, Criminal Minds

After the massive disappointment with the Kdrama version of Criminal Minds aired in 2017; I was a bit skeptical about Through the Darkness.
However, i am so glad to say… I was so very wrong.
Through the Darkness is a well executed psychological crime/thriller production; well-worthy of the successfully and critically acclaimed American series, Criminal Minds.

Kim Nam Gil gave us a mind-blowing performance of a lifetime.
Adapted from the autobiography of Korea's first criminal profiler, Kwon Il Yong’s field experiences…
Kim Nam Gil’s genuine empathic character, Song Ha Young, certainly did him justice.

Great production, great directing and a well-versed cast, all around… Starting with the main leading cast to all of the supporting cast.
Through the Darkness is a well executed psychological crime/thriller drama.

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Gia Ge Stole The Show!

Let me be straight.
There is no universe in any of the multiverse out-there where I would be a cat person.
I am a dog person through and through.

With that said… This little white kitty and this rookie actress have stolen my heart.
Gia Ge perfectly portrayed that FL character.
More than often, we get those rookie female leads who make us wonder… “How the hell these girls got those leading roles…?”
Well, Gia Ge is not one of them!
Her acting skills are well-developed and are as expressive as one would expect from a veteran/seasoned actress.
I am excited to follow her with her next projects.

As for the ML…
Let me just say; Gia Ge saved the drama. The writing behind his character was dull. His acting was dull. The actor, himself, was dull. I really did not find any real development with his character; other than, he was reacting to the FL’s charismatic dynamic.
The interesting storyline about him being a legit writer, no longer a ghost writer, and taking his pen-name back from his conniving stepbrother just fell short and underutilized.

All and all, I watched Make a Wish for Gia Ge. One of the very few promising rookie actresses whom I had the pleasure to watch this year.

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A very unexpected and pleasant storyline…

Essentially, it was a very nice intermission contemporary esports/idol drama, while waiting for Falling Into Your Smile to be fully English subtitled… Which I just recently started. Unexpectedly for me, Love Scenery is wining, hands down.
I wish that they had made use of Lu Jin’s fantastic violin playing skills in one of the Liang Cheng’s songs.
As for the old stalker/friend… I guess they just wanted an old creepy guy in the mix. Seriously, his character had absolutely no purpose in the drama.

Fyi: Lulu Xu and Lin Yi’s actings were effortlessly natural. One of the best chemistry and synergy that I have seen in a Chinese contemporary drama.

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A 1000 Years Old Charming Gumiho

Since this drama remained beautiful, interesting and entertaining in its entirety, from episode 1 to episode 16, then I will simply repeat my initial impression from episode 1.

How can I say this using the most simplest words in the English dictionary…?
I simply loved this drama.
What a world of difference between “My Roommate is a Gumiho” and “Doom at Your Service.”
From A to Z… The writing, the casting, the general acting, the directing and THE COMICAL LINES were on point.
I am so happy that I waited for the full completion before I started it.
My Roommate is a Gumiho has become my third favorite Gumiho’s storyline after…
- Gu Family Book
- Gumiho: Tale of the Fox's Child

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A very satisfying reminiscence of Squad 38 and Hello Monster

First of all…
Drilling has never looked so good in Prada.
I can’t get enough of this movie… I want more…
After only 3 episodes of Doom at Your Service, it was already more than enough that I could take.
After 1 hour and 45 minutes of Pipeline, I am not nearly satisfied. I just want more. More of the storyline, more of the great cast and more of a 16 episodes-type drama.
They should have made Pipeline into the drama and Doom at Your Service into the movie.

This is the Seo In Guk with whom we are used to… Reminiscence of Squad 38 and Hello Monster… Charming, endearing and devious with a bit of a dark and wild side.
Full disclosure:
I love the work that he obviously put on this new muscular physique of him. Also that loose hairstyle/haircut is so attractive on him.

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Splendid Writing with a Propaganda’s Background

Aside from all of the propagandas and all of the military slogans…
This entire production was much better than I anticipated.
I can not get over on how well this is written.
The storylines were infuriating, they were amusing, they were emotional…
This was a very insightful production.
And the entire cast, from A to Z, did a fantastic job.

The only thing that I did not like was the texture of the images… It looked more like some low-budget, c-rated productions. However, with the well-written quality of the storylines and the great acting skills from the entire cast; that was easily overlooked.
The Glory of Youth has to be one of the most underrated Chinese military drama, released in 2021.

Fyi:
I have not seen Li Yi Feng that relaxed and that natural since Sparrow.
Now, if we could get the English subtitles for Fearless Whispers for which I have only read raved reviews… That would be just perfect.
The next drama with Li Yi Feng, one of the most anticipated upcoming Xianxia this year, is Mirror: Twin Cities.

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No Boundaries...

Contrary to the popular opinion...
I loved this first season of The Storm of the World.
It is a very rare occurrence for me to love a production from beginning to end. Even with the cliffhanger; which to me, is more of a bridge into the next season.
This Xianxia was very entertaining with the proper amount of magic...
It was very much “Love and Redemption” meets “Ancient Detective.”
And the leading couple was simply so endearing. I found their quirkiness rather charming and engaging.
The fact that I just adored both Zhan Yan and Duan Mu Cui characters, without any complaints or reservations was extremely infrequent, for me. It also helped that neither of them was annoying, obnoxious nor childish.

*Now, it is a waiting game for the second season.
I also hope they release the opening instrumental OST. It is so beautiful.

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A journey of self-discovery... Before the sunset...

My heart just shattered when Teh asked “Would that be ok to have 2 male protagonists?”
The pain in his voice breaks my heart.
Usually, I don’t particularly like high school BL; however just like HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count...
I Told Sunset About You is really really really well made. Teh and Oh-aew’s chaotic emotions and attractions for each other feel like a Russian roulette. And their struggles to learn about themselves and to accept their preferences are palpable.

On top of all those, they gave us that last intimate scene in episode 3...
It was not explicit but the phenomenal emotions these 2 young actors conveyed were enough to set the tv on fire.

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A butchery of the Condor Heroes’ legacy

Wow...
They really destroyed and butchered the enchanting legacy of the Condor Heroes’ storylines with this adaptation.
It is not just a few things that are wrong with this adaptation; it is everything.
The overall acting of the 2 main leads, the unsavory presentation of all of the characters, the directing and finally the atrocious writing are just awful.
The only things that got my vote are the choreographed fighting sequences.

*Whomever writer who is behind this adaptation should never write, again!
Because I just can not comprehend that it is the same writer behind Female Prime Minister and Memory Lost.
I am smelling the presence of a “Ghost Writer...”

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Re-discovery of one-self

Exactly like The Ultimate Note, The Journey Across the Night also needs a second season.
Bad-boy/Emo Li Jia was so hot.
It reminded me of Kill Me, Heal Me with Ji Sung.
As a computer-wizard, he should have taken revenge on that sociopath/scumbag of a doctor by destroying him, from the inside-out. I am pretty sure; there must be plenty of evidences in that computer that could completely destroy his reputation, as a doctor in the psychiatric field.
Destroying his office and attacking him on the streets is not revenge but just vandalism and bodily harm.
In conclusion, Li Jia is suffering from DID (Dissociative identity disorder).
It seems that he was kidnapped as a kid. Worst than watching his sick mother loosing her grip on reality; I think he might have been sexually assaulted and physically abused...

*We most definitely need a second season.
Joseph Zeng portrayed these dual characters to perfection.

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Love from a past era

Before going into this last episode...
A special shout-out to the director, Sam Ho, for this heart-felt and endearing BL drama adaptation.
This tells us that a well produced drama does not technically need a colossal production budget and a cast of famous and acclaimed actors and actresses.
“How do you like them apples... Tencent?”

Now, back to the story:
The last 20 minutes of this drama was extremely stressful. With the psychotic menace still on the loose, I was waiting to hear a shotgun in every scene. I had long foreseen that our handsome little doctor was going to die, at the end. My anxiety was more about when...
Now, Yue Lou gets to raise his Beau’s little sister and Miss Fluffy (Could also be Mr Fluffy), as his immediate family.
Sad ending but fitting.

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Drop any expectation you might have, at the door

Somehow I made it through...
Did I almost drop it? Many times along the way.
Until the end, I really did not feel a strong, deep connection, friendship or bromance between Prince Chong Li Ming and Ayi.
Chong Li Ming was always the one, showing all of his emotions (Ayant le sensibilité à fleur de peau); however, I could never really read Ayi’s attachment toward Chong Li Ming.
I am not sure if was the actor’s lack of skill or it was the way the character was written...
I was prepared for everyone to die, except Wagner. Wagner was an unnecessary casualty.

*All in all, not the worst turn-of-era, Qing to Early Chinese Republic drama.
However, the complete change of concept from the original storyline and the strange adaptation were rather hard to swallow. Although, the choreographed fighting sequences were excellent.
*Also however atrocious the writing of his dramas might be, no viewer or fan of Z. Tao can stay upset at him... With that glorious honey-colored skin of his;)

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“Be very careful of whom you mess with”

Wow!!!
That was beautiful.
I have not seen fight choreography sequences like these in Korean films since Six Flying Dragons.
The storyline was clear enough for the limited timeframe and Jang Hyuk, as always, was fantastic.

This was the Joseon version of the film series, Taken.
“Be very careful of whom you mess with”

The English version:
“I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you're looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you and I will kill you.”

The Korean (Hangeul) version:
“나는 당신이 누구인지 모릅니다. 당신이 뭘 원하는지 모르겠어요. 몸값을 찾으신다면 저에게 돈이 없지만 제가 가진 것은 매우 특별한 기술입니다. 오랜 경력을 통해 습득 한 기술. 당신과 같은 사람들에게 나를 악몽으로 만드는 기술. 지금 내 딸을 보내 주면 그게 끝입니다. 나는 당신을 찾지 않을 것이며 당신을 추구하지 않을 것입니다. 하지만 그렇지 않으면 내가 당신을 찾고 당신을 찾을 것이고 당신을 죽일 것입니다.”

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