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Completed
Ace Troops
7 people found this review helpful
Jan 16, 2022
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10

Xiao Zhan is different... in the most amazing way.

I have to be honest. This is the Xiao Zhan drama that I have grown very, very attached to. Gu Yiye is very special. He is excellent, bright, but also suffered so much injustice. Sounds familiar? That's exactly why. Xiao Zhan played as a soldier with PTSD while he was at his most vulnerable, at the cusp of the 227 attacks. His mentality is really strong, and that has showed a lot on this work in particular.

He delivered such a capable soldier role amazingly well. His acting here is just on another level compared to his Tang San and Wei Wuxian. The way he modulates his voice and everything. It's all perfect.

I have a lot of complaints with the drama and their flow story, but I don't hate it that much considering that they gave us Gu Yiye and with regards to his own story, they did so well with that though I would've wanted more...

I hope we can get a director's cut or something. Or even a noteworthy AU for Gu Yiye. I really love the character, and that's not just me as a fan talking.

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Completed
Unrequited Love
1 people found this review helpful
Jul 31, 2021
38 of 38 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Heart-wrenchingly good

It wasn't enough! This he got to be the most angsty modern love story I've ever witnessed. The best part? That angst got the better part of me and had me hooked for nearly a month!

I dunno how I feel about the ending. I'm glad that it didn't end with the usual romcoms -- a wedding, something funny and cliche. They took the uncertain approach. Remember the slight frustration and all at the same time anticipation you've felt as you've been watching the series? That is intensified in the last episode. I'm glad that they kept this vibe alive until the end. All in all, this series was wrapped beautifully.

There was a lot of open endings, and leads a lot of discussions. It might not be up to everyone's taste. If you want to experience fluff and easy love, sweet moments at every corner, then this drama is not for you. This is the opposite of everything good in love. This shows the ugly side of what love can do to a person. Love can make the purest of hearts lie, it can turn silent admiration into perversion because of the smearing by the real world. Love will make you cry, jealous and insecure. Love will make you selfish. Love will make the smartest man stupid.

In this series we have lived through the youthful years of our characters, and have experienced every pain and heartbreak they have felt. We were there when Huainan wasted years being in a toxic relationship, and Lou Zhi waiting and just waiting... Which she still have done until the end. Life is indeed a wheel. One moment you have the world at your fingertips, the next you are struggling to make ends meet, trying to please others. The real world is different from the grandeur of youth. In the real world you struggle, in the real world if you don't have a steel of backbone you will be trampled on. I just cry at the implications of this drama. It felt very bittersweet because it started with the innocence of a promise between kids, and the longing looks of a taciturn girl to the dazzling golden child. And then it ends with them being apart, being in love, making their own path in life. Huainan starting a company from scratch, Lou Zhi finally getting the recognition she deserves but still incomplete. She had already been brilliant from the start. The sad thing is that the one thing she wants was always far out of reach.

In this story, we have learned that though love is a dangerous thing, it can also be beautiful. Love is all about patience. It is when you know that the other person deserves better than what you have to offer right now. Like how Huainan had to let go of Lou Zhi for years in odder to get his life together. Or for Ge Bi to stop pursuing Bai Li and to focus on his studies, but he still proclaims his love everyday. Love is a compromise. Like how Lou Zhi's cousin resigned to his fate of being married to a person he doesn't love, and the other girl giving up. Love is knowing your worth and what you deserve. Self love. Like how Mingrui let go of Ruqing, like how Bai Li washed her hands off Ge Bi. Love is the support between friends. The desire to protect them and wish them well. Like how Bai Li and Lou Zhi have each other's backs until the end. Like how Huainan and his roommates fought and laughed and cried when they knew he was leaving. When they promised they will study hard so that they can support him in the future. Which they did. Love is putting yourself out into the world and yet keeping a long held promise in your heart. Love is commitment, love inspires. This is what Huinan and Lou Zhi taught us.

I think we need more dramas like this. The ones that leaves a heartfelt message. We don't need the theatrics of an overly reserved and cool male protagonist and a female lead who is a ray of sunshine. We need these people, Huainan and Lou Zhi -- those that are realistic, imperfect and very much act like us.

This drama is great. I'd rate it 8/10 Two points deducted because sometimes the suffering is too much, and some of the supporting characters get really annoying. But this Drama has a lot of excellent aspects -- the cinematography (they captured the university life very well, and made us feel nostalgic, like first love), the soundtrack (just superb. I already downloaded the album a week ago. And ever since the first episode it's really the soundtrack that caught my attention. It fits so well with the sorry), the screenplay (every bit of narrative done in this work is amazing. Everyone has their own personalities and wisdom to share. This drama can make one cry with just the dialogue alone), the directing (powerful scenes in this series that make you want to go to a corner and bawl), the casting (they have picked the most suitable people to play the parts. Everyone is very endearing. Yu Hitian is very charming in here, and Hu Bingqing is very pretty and suited Lou Zhi very well. Bai Li, Ge Bi, Mingrui. Everyone is just perfect for their roles).

Would definitely watch this again, if I am looking to hurt myself lol.

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Completed
The Long Ballad
2 people found this review helpful
Jul 31, 2021
49 of 49 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers
First of all, the journey was exhilirating. If I should say, it's a really good one plot-wise. No episode is boring at all. The story can sometimes be a bit farfetch and unrealistic, but we're in a drama here and if they want to glorify women so much why not right? We have scheming princesses that are gentle at heart, and victimized princesses that poison their husbands and control his people. This drama -- in general, is one that has a lot of alternatives for every character.

Like for how Chang'ge and Leyan are each other's alternatives. Changge showing the decisiveness, hostility and cunningness a woman is capable of. Why Leyan is good-natured, and represents that gentility can be a strength too.

Princess Yicheng being an alternative to Leyan's fate, had she been married off against her will. And she might have harbored strong emotions, leading to malintent and a dark heart. Likwise, her guard also counters Hao Du -- a bodyguard that cares and thinks for himself, and will not blindly follow the princess but thinks what is best for her.

Sher and Sun. The coward and the brave. The one who chases glory, and the one that is so responsible and capable success chases him. In their relationship, we can see how nurture precedes nature. For they were both raised by the same man, and they were apart from their mothers. Hence despite the expectations their mothers put on them, it's their brotherhood that withstood all that.

Next, I'm tackling character development. Sher, Hao Du, Leyan and Changge have the most impressive character developments.

Since Sher was partly at fault with the death of Sun's mother, he has started to think about the consequences of his actions since then. And Mimi is a huge part of his development too. It has gotten to the point where Sher is no longer blinded by filial love and was mature enough to think that he has to mitigate his mother's sins, and even pay for them. Yes, he makes dumb choices, but he's a whiny lad since the beginning too we should give him some leeway.

Then, Hao Du. Where do I begin... His character is very interesting. From a hunter, to a devoted guard, a man that harbors a secret admiration towards someone he thought he does not deserve. It's undoubtedly Leyan's slap that woke him up. Ceased from being a pawn, and began to think what's for the greater good. Liu Yuning fits the formidable soldier, but when he started acting all whipped and began smiling, it became sort of weird? Hahaha. He needs improvement on his acting on the more emotionally investing scenes, but with the stoic-faced Hao Du, he delivered it really well.

Leyan. I really like Leyan's character. She's gentle, she's pretty. Then she got thrown into the harshness of the world, witnessed hunger, death and injustices. I am loving how the docile princess turned into someone that vows to protect her people. She's amazing. I would have loved her more if I dont know about Zhao Lusi's shady actions, but still, she gave justice to the character. She fits the role so well.

Changge... How she had started to let go of her plans for revenge, when she started to act to protect her people. She is just so strategic and wise. She would've made a great Queen.

Now let's talk about the acting.

The guy that plays Mu Jin... He's the winner. The character has been through so much and he delivered jt really well. He cries when it's necessary. He's quite good. I think, aside from the more experienced, older actors like Princess Yichen, this guy was the best. Yes, that includes Dilireba and Wu Lei. There were still times the leads were kind awkward with their characters, but for Mu Jin -- he is Mu Jin through and through.

There was little chemistry between Dilireba and Wu Lei, forgive me for saying. Despite them having a bunch of scenes together, they werent as captivating as a CP as Hao Du and Leyan. Perhaps it's because the characters they play are both very capable people, hence there aren't a lot of moments where they can idle away and flirt. Their conversations are about strategies and politics too. Or maybe because Wu Lei is still a kid in my eyes. I don't know, but something feels off on their sweet scenes.

There's a lot that can improve on this drama.

First, the graphics. The manhwa transitions ruin it. It's risky to mix them together because it takes a lot of adjustment in the eyes, but the plot has so much potential they could've do away with the manhwa excerpts.

And then the camera angling... It pains me when there are such good scenes with good lines, but the camera work ruins it.

The casting all in all. Wu Lei have done well, but I think there are a lot more actors that are fitting for this role. I dunno maybe they wanted someone with a less daunting appearance because this is a female-centric drama and there's a lot of scenes where Changge saves so getting a manlier actor could've ruined the dynamics. I have an actor in mind that also suit Sun and I think would also do a really good job .

Dilireba is reaally good. I love her. She's very pretty. Not the best at acting, but I am looking forward to her improvement in future projects.

Anyway, that's all for now. There's a lot of good and bad, but all in all, I enjoyed it.

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Completed
Douluo Continent
1 people found this review helpful
Jul 30, 2021
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 10

Suitable for all audiences, everyone in my family loved it!

I am writing this as I listen to my younger siblings bicker about how Tang San could easily defeat all of the powerful good guys if he turns evil. This drama as what my title says, is very well-written because it caters to all audiences. Everyone loves it, especially the kids. They can't help but draw some similarities with Tang San, and even demands that the second season as soon as it was over. Today, we are at our third re-watch. And it's not annoying at all, it helps with their Chinese too. The visual effects of this drama is so good and the colors are so vivid that on Ultra HD TV it's so mesmerizing. Perhaps that's one of the reason why kids are so drawn to it. Better by leaps compared to the CGI produced on the current dramas lately.

As for the actors, I am well impressed. I have watched The Untamed before and know that Xiao Zhan is a very good actor. In this drama, he has shown youthfulness and a hint of stubbornness and passion. He has brought Tang San to life. And also, how is he so handsome? I am just in awe of how he looks so good on the screen. As for Betty Wu, this is the first I've heard of her. She's cute. Sometimes I find her acting a bit exaggerated, but it's very effective too since her character is a bit childish. The rest of the cast are very good and natural. I really like Ousike and Zhu Zhuqing.

For the storyline, it's very easy to follow but not predictable. Which makes it so good to watch. Every episode keeps you hanging and you will always anticipate the next one. Every episode is eventful and entertaining, you will never get bored at all. I really like the pacing. And I love how there is so many ambiguities in the drama, you wont know whether a person is truly evil or not. In that aspect, it reflects the gray area within all of us. I like that. It sets an example to the children to not cast a character as purely evil, but will show some redeemable qualities.

It deserves all the hype. Go watch it and share with your family...

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Completed
Stand by Me
1 people found this review helpful
Oct 18, 2021
49 of 49 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

I Need Compensation for the Emotional Damage This Drama Caused Me

You ever encountered a drama so good you know that it'll take weeks or months for you to recover from it? This is it. This is how good this drama is. Plot twists at every corner, nothing is ever predictable. .

That was honestly so satisfying to watch. It's rare to find a costume drama that wasn't dragging. The actors were so good, the chemistry so effective, the plot is honestly to-die-for, and everything is just perfect down to the OST.

I thought this was a consoling story (especially if you have watched Love and Redemption). At first I thought it was a nice change that someone would die for Cheng Yi's character rather than him dying over and over again. But man, this is more emotionally taxing. The actors here are so good! Especially FL who was so pretty when she smiles, and beautiful even when she cries.

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Completed
Unforgettable Love
1 people found this review helpful
Aug 24, 2021
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 3.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Unforgettable Love was a rather forgettable drama...

This is an honest review. The storyline is cliche and poor. There's unnecessary confusion by the end. It started off quite predictable too. The kid was cute but obviously not the best where everything in this drama has to be carried by the child actor. They shouldn't have made him the focusing character, but with the plot I guess it's inevitable. It felt like the story centered on the kid and for a young actor that is yet to cultivate his talent, it rather downgraded the quality of this drama. I managed to finish it because the male lead is quite good-looking. But nah, story-wise it's not worth it.

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Completed
Perfect and Casual
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 23, 2021
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 9.5

Really lovely and fluffy, don't miss this out!

This was such a lovely romantic drama it's been awhile since I've found something I very thoroughly enjoyed. The chemistry is so on point. I love the songs, the color play in this. There were a lot of elements that made this up to standard. Let me start.

First, the chemistry. This is not the first drama I watched with Wei Zheming. There's #UnforgettableLove, but as much as it was hyped, it didnt sit well with me because I think it was just a bit flawed. Chemistry-wise. This one though... Yun Shu and Zhang Si Nian are so perfectly portrayed and you'll really feel like they're in love. From the first episodes, you'll feel the warmth of a simple "Good night" and then later on you'll see it in their actions that was so natural. Like how Si Nian tends to put a hand on Yun Shu's back, or how his hand slides up and down her arms when they embrace, or how Yun Shu tends to lean towards Si Nian when they talk. The body language is seriously amazing. I dont know if I should credit it to the director or the actors, but overall, the cinematic effect was good. And also, did anyone notice how the way Si Nian talked to Yun Shu progressed over the episodes? His voice becomes softer, almost a whisper when they speak.

Second point. The aesthetic mood of the whole drama. There's a recurring color theme in this drama that made this very pleasing to watch. I took some film classes, that's why I can notice this, but to the untrained eye, the colors creates an illusion of visual continuation in the series. The scenes may change, but because of the connecting color, your eyes wouldn't take as much time to adjust as it would on a different color scheme. That's why I think this drama is very binge-worthy. Your eyes would not tire at all. The color I'm talking about are the shades of green. It creates a harmony all throughout the scenes. Yun Shu's mint green blouse, the color of their house's walls, Si Nian's car, Si Nian's complimenting outfits, even the scheme adapted for the beach scenes leaned more on calming tones... It's really good strategy. And made this drama cinematographically superior.

Third, the music. There's pop music that was the main theme for the drama, but I think what would stay in one's mind after watching the drama is the three-note humming melody. It's very pleasing, perfectly timed on moments of intimacy between the leads. It's simple, memorable, repeating and very pleasing to the ears.

Fourth. The plot itself. If this was a novel, you'd say it's cliched. But this is a drama, which is very nicely done despite the typical trope. Our male lead is not the shallow "oh-so-glorious-male-god" dramas go for. Zhang Si Nian has his vulnerabilities. He would do anything for his grandpa, and his mood is affected by him. Our female lead is not the typical cutesy type romcoms go for. She's a bit naive, but not really an airhead. You'll love her. She's very warm, smiling and just... Kind. She's a really lovely girl that believes the best of all people, admits her mistakes and is very altruistic. She's also not the type to deny her feelings, or make a martyr out of herself. You'll really admire her as the story progresses. Both characters had a lot of development and it shows. It's just lovely how they both worked on themselves for being better individually while being together. #RelationshipGoals

And lastly... I hope anyone who reads this a happy viewing. This is truly an enjoyable drama. Will watch it again in the future, definitely.

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Completed
A Piece of Your Mind
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 24, 2021
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0

a must-watch if you want to heal

This is not your typical kdrama. If you want something genuinely touching and have a core story that deals with loss and healing, then this is the drama for you. Something about this is so special that it can't be profoundly expressed. Just the music alone will stimulate your senses and already sets this apart from the other dramas. You need to watch this with caution though. I suggest to not bingewatch this. There are depressive undertones in this drama, and if you are an overly empathetic viewer like me, the emotions of the characters can get to you. But that is what made this drama so worth it. You will be frustrated, angry and sad because of the situations the characters are in, but at the end of the day this is a healing drama and as they improve on their lives, our hearts also lighten.

I really admire the whole cast for their perfect portrayal. Everyone was dynamic that it felt like the viewer was also integrated into a family with them, especially with the Eun Jo boarders.

And sidenote, the cuddles in this drama look so warm!

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Completed
Extraordinary You
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 31, 2021
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

It is good, but...

I finished Extraordinary You 😥 is it somehow true that all lead protagonists get annoying? When the story turned to be more about Dan O and Haru, I skipped a lot. Maybe because they got what they asked for? All those heartbreaks was actually meant for them?

In the end all I could think of is Lee Do Hwa and Baek Gyeong. Cant believe we've got cuts of the useless classmen in the new book instead of the two.

Lee Do Hwa only wanted an identity that didn't include him walking around with his clique or him playing the violin. Above everyone else, he valued his friends the most. But of course the drama will not like nice guys with sunny dispositions. He's actually my type. So fluffy.

And Baek Gyeong. In the end he realises, and the audience too, that he wasn't harsh. He didn't want to. But he was made that way. What a cruel writer.

Anyway, I was happy when it cut to the main story line. The characters sleeping for a long time, ending in graduation. It's a juxtaposition of the dreaded ending and the relief of having the chance to start all over again.

Would recommend this drama, for sure.

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