Intriguing and suspenful business drama

Not a fan of the business genre, I looked forward to this drama every week when it was aired. Not boring or draggy, the drama is intriguing and suspenseful enough as the main and supporting characters must survive office politics by any means. Amid work pressure, teamwork, friendship, family bonds, and slight romance.

STORY (according to IMDB)
Alice and Mes, driven by ideals of a stable career path, face life challenges. They must survive the treacherous world of financial sales, cutthroat office politics, and corruption. United, they aims for success amid adversity.

Subplots: Besides the business plot, we also delve into the private life of some characters, notably Alice's relationship with her sickly mom and her good-for-nothing brother, Mes' relationship with his career-oriented girlfriend, and Non's single parenting of a teenage daughter. There are also other subplots I won't spoil you as they are closely connected to the main plot.

If you want to know about the ending, I posted in the end of the review (below the OST)

CHARACTER AND ACTING
The main plot revolves around the protagonist Alice (Mint Chalida Vijitvongthong) who is a new worker at Infinity Wealth Center, a mutual fund company. Shouldering the financial burden as the only breadwinner of her family, she aims to reach the highest sales for a good bonus. Holding a degree in Business Administration, I think Mint Chalida did a good job as Alice who initially is ambitious, arrogant, and work-oriented. Alice goes through character development to become more compassionate, humble, and people-oriented.

Mes (Nonkul Chanon Santinatornkul) is also a new worker at Infinity Wealth Center. Unlike Alice, he comes from a wealthy background and is a civil engineer. There was a legal allegation on a collapsed building he designed, so he had to leave the construction job. With a connection help, Mes landed a job at the same place. Mes and Alice's office relationship started on the wrong foot. Together with the other members of the sales team, the two become good colleagues, best friends, and later lovers. The romance blooms naturally, it is light and slow burn.

Besides the main protagonists, we also have colleagues, sales team leaders, the big boss, and family members of some characters. Because the focus is business politics, in the beginning, I suspected everyone could be the bad guy(s), so I won't introduce you to any of them or I may spoil you.

PRODUCTION
I need to note that this drama is produced by BEC Studio, a subsidiary of BEC World Public Company Limited, with its purpose also "to upgrade Thai Contents to be able to proudly go globally." So, watching this drama doesn't feel like watching classic lakorn. Besides airing on BEC's flagship media Channel 3, the drama also aired in Prime Thailand with English sub, with timely and proper translation. I also want to commend that although there is a group of screenwriters, the main plot is not draggy and the subplots are not all over the place and serve the main plot.

VISUAL
Nothing special, because of the office setting. But I'm surprised there is no character with excessive makeup or over-the-top costumes that are common in classic lakorn. Everyone is dressed in business attire or regular streetwear.

OST
As usual Thai dramas don't have many OST. The opening theme is an upbeat instrumental. The closing theme is "Cry Baby" by Khanom Jeen Kulmat. The song fits with the emotional state during the difficult situations the characters face. Read the chorus lyrics:

"Are you tired? I often ask myself.
Is there anyone who can let me lean? To sleep in on weak days, Cry baby."

ENDING (scroll below)





Happy ending. The good guys get rewarded and the bad guys are in jail. Alice is promoted to deputy sales director. Mes works as an engineer again. They're together.

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Self Acceptance vs Social Acceptance

I watched this drama with little expectation. The only one that attracted me is the unique title which started with @Account Has Been Deleted (@계정을 삭제하였습니다) to User Not Found. There is a connection between the drama title with this review title I will explain in the end.

STORY
There are three plots in this drama according to its genres:

Youth/School Genre: Coming of Age/Growing Up
The drama focuses on the first Female Lead who, no matter how boring her character is, represents many of viewers’ common personalities. She is quiet, introverts, shy, compares herself with others, fantasizes a lot, and mostly in desperate need of social acceptance of her new classmates. So this is shy Yoo Min Jae (played by Shin So Hyun) or we call it Pop-Min (as her friends call her later) to distinguish her from the other Yoo Min Jae. Pop-Min is transferred in the second year of highschool to a new school. On the first day she already freaked out of not being be able to find friends in any group no matter she tries, as she experienced in the past schools. Unexpectedly, some girls mistaken her for a Yoo Min Jae, who is a popular fashionista and a social influencer on Instagram. Pop-Min just accepts her ‘luck’ by saying nothing. However, since she’s not confident enough to carry out the lie, the pressure is enough to get her thinking of “disappearing from this world”.

Romance Genre: Slow Burn
And this is where Male Lead Shin Yi Joon comes in. No, he’s not a knight in the shining armor. He overhears her saying it by the bridge. No, she doesn’t try to jump and kill herself. Later, we find he had the same thought before. Thus, a friendship begins base on the same understanding and sympathy between Pop-Min and Yi Joon. Yi Joon, surprisingly, is not the typical ML in romance dramas. He is equally quiet and shy, but he doesn’t give a damn about what other people think or say about him. Something happened to him in the past.

The romance is slow burn, mostly due to Pop-Min and her secret that she’s hesitated with Yi Joon. No love triangle, no annoying second lead. There is a little misunderstanding that resolves quickly.

Drama Genre: Past trauma
The knight in the shining armor for Pop-Min is actually in the form of the other Yoo Min Jae (Han Ye Ji) or we call her Moo-Min. Something happens in the past that makes her transfer to... Pop-Min’s school, in fact, to her class. But Moo-Min disguises as a plain Jane. She just wants to go to school as quietly as possible until graduation. Of course, she’s surprised there is Pop-Min who uses her Ig identity. An agreement strikes between the two Min Jaes to swap identities, and an unlikely friendship begins.

There are other character’s past traumatic experiences that shape how they think and do in this drama.

ACTING
You can’t expect much expertise from newbies. Since the nature of Pop-Min and Yi Joon are basically quiet and shy characters, there are a lot of scenes that look draggy, showing how these two characters think and act. Audiences are mostly root over other lively characters in this drama. And that what makes me disappointed is actually the production of this drama, as explained below.

PRODUCTION
I mean, though the actors are newbies, but with good directing, a rookie actor can bring up a character no matter how hard it is. But I guess the director is a noob too. The story is not based on a novel or manhwa, where dialogues can have a powerful source from. There are a lot of monologues of what characters think, that are not as interesting as dialogues between two characters. Therefore, I’m not impressed with the scriptwriting too.

VISUAL
A bunch of characters with eye candies, nothing to complain. Even Pop-Min is pretty, in my opinion, far from an appearance of a girl who supposedly regular and has low self-esteem. The cinematography is okay too, despite of most location is their highschool. I like the costume of Moo-Min when she’s in her own fashionable self.

OST
- G=ONE & Jang Daegyeom “Lamose”
- Jo Jin Ho and Kino from Pentagon “A-HA!”
- Saula “Love Confession”. Bae Jin Young, the actor who played as the ML, covered this song for his love confession to Pop-Min.

Fortunately, the drama ends with character growth of Pop-Min. She becomes self-confident, especially when the story of what happened to the popular Yoo Min Jae (Moo-Min) comes out and the ‘undercover’ Pop-Min is affected. Many viewers are disappointed at the ending of the drama in which doesn’t really resolve Moo-Min’s problem. But since the drama actually centers of Pop-Min, not Moo-Min, it ends up well in my opinion. No, the forever strong Moo-Min has already resolved her own problems. No need to clarify the misunderstanding of what happened to her from the authority side and public. And this is what I like about this drama. The theme is growing up without having other support system than your school friends, when the other supporting system (parents, teachers, older characters) is not available. The matter brought up by this drama is learning how to choose genuine friends wisely.

In conclusion, as I wrote in the beginning about the connection between the drama title and the review title. There is a scene close to the end in which Moo-Min deletes her Ig account that symbolizes her past. Hence, where the drama title @Account Has Been Deleted or User Not Found comes from. At first I wondered why she deletes the account she has worked hard to build her popular reputation. That’s when the moral of the story comes: self-acceptance is more important than social acceptance. Both Pop-Min and Moo-Min especially (other characters too but not explicit) in the end accept themselves with firm support of each other and true friends.

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Forbidden Romance between The Beauty and the Beast - Thai style

I really like this drama, I wish I could write a recap article about it. Alas, my article quota is full. So, here is my full review:

STORY
First, I will write the synopsis from the Female Lead point-of-view. Parichart comes from Bangkok with a mission to educate tribal children. Upon her arrival, her ride broke down, so she continues her journey on foot through the jungle. Unfortunately (or fortunately, lol), night comes, and it is red moon (Prajan Daeng, the native title means red moon), where Tiger King roams around to hunt down poachers. She passes out during her encounter with the ghostly tiger. Nontha, a young tribesman who is also the son of the late chief, saves her and takes her to Dr. Sama’s clinic. Upon knowing that Dr. Sama has dedicated himself to working in the remote area like that, Parichart is happy that she finds someone like her, an outsider who has a heart for tribal people. The romance blooms between the two.

This is where the forbidden romance is: As you know in the synopsis, Dr. Sama gets possessed by Tiger King’s spirit since young. Something happened in the past. He’s not supposed to have any romantic relationship. Also, the tribe doesn’t want the two to be together, as Tiger King should stay with the tribe.

Some attempts to thwart Dr Sama and Parichart relationship are planned by the tribesmen. On top of that, plans from bad outside parties who are money hungry.

Finally, this drama is heavy on the message of nature preservation/forest protection. So, if you don’t like that kind of advocacy agenda, better think twice about watching it. Since I like nature, I don’t mind on the messages.

ACTING
First, I’d like to commend the acting of Tono, who played as Dr. Sama. ‘Cursed’ from young with Tiger King spirit possession, Dr. Sama has to live forever with the tribe as he can transform into the ghostly tiger to protect the jungle. He’s a complicated character: remorse of past, conflicted of present, and fear of future. The actor delivered all emotion. His transformation to aggressive tiger-like characters is also great.

Richy, as Teacher Parichart, is misunderstood as an unemotional Female Lead. Her character is calm and quiet, thus doesn’t show much of emotion. Besides, she’s a city girl with a high education background and logic, facing with bizarre phenomena and myth. If I were Parichart, I will be confused and disbelief most of the time too, especially when I found out my boyfriend is also a tiger, lol.

Dr. Sama and Parichart form a calm and quiet couple, unlike the second one I’ll describe below.

Nontha, played by March, is a conflicted character. Born as the son of late tribe leader, he is supposed to inherit the Tiger King spirit from his father. Unfortunately, it goes to an outsider. Nontha delivers conflicted character between envy/jealousy and admiration/fear of Dr. Sama. Having seen March in a similar character in Sand Princess, I knew he could do such characters.

At first I hate the character of Kahlong, played by Xiang, She seemed a typical bitchy second female lead of lakornland. However, after watching sometime, I understand she’s just a young tribe girl who groomed by her dad to marry Tiger King since little (which they thought the Tiger King was in Nontha).

Nontha and Kahlong form an explosive couple full with bickering most the time, not realizing that they actually care of each other, like an old married couple. I’m glad that both characters mature in the end.

There is a third couple, Saksit (Ak) and Dr. Atchara (Ticha), whom I really like, uncommon since I don’t actually like multi couples I thought as fillers. A filler or not, they have great chemistry and I wished to see more of their romance. The female character is really cool.

An individual character whom I also like is Euang, Dr Sama’s nurse/assistant (who was also his dad’s nurse). I watched the actress Rudklao, in You’re My Destiny (Thai remake of Fated to Love You) as the Female Lead’s mom and she was great there. Euang is like a mother figure to Dr. Sama. The only thing that distracts me is her black lipstick, not sure why they made her wear that.

The supporting actors who played as the tribesmen did well with their respective characters. I especially like the comedic relief from the duo boys Lee (Yoon) and Za (Graphic). The villain characters are forgettable.

PRODUCTION
With only 12 episodes I don’t have any complain about the pace, no draggy scene. But I think the ending is rushed. Probably since the filming is taken during the pandemic. There are some unbelievable explanations in the end. I docked 0.5 point for the loose ties/rushed ending.

VISUAL
I docked another 0.5 point for the CGI. The tiger is actually not bad, because it’s supposedly a ghostly tiger, not a common one anyway. But the other CGI, especially towards the end is bad.
The nature setting is beautiful. Dr. Sama’s old house, with antique furniture, looks creepy like in horror shows, with flowing curtains blown by the wind through open windows. The house really represents the beast’s mansion.

OST
Opening song รักคืน (Night Love) by Bowkylion
Ending song บนเส้นด้าย (On a Thread) by Tono and the Dust
Insert song สัตว์ร้าย (Beast) by Tono and the Dust

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Inspiring for Entry Level Career/Business, but Lost in Translation

I picked this one as my first drama of the 2022, purely out of expectation. It has a less than 8.0 rating, so I was ready to drop it even before started watching it, lol. However, I finished Episode 1, and ended up keep watching one episode following by another. My guess why it has a low rating for such a pretty good romcom, is: one, poor translation from MangoTV, which is the main issue; two, misleading synopsis; three, no popular cast; and four, Chinese romcom drama watchers have had toothaches from all sweet Cdramas being released last year. Let me address the main issue first, the second issue in the Character section.

MangoTV produced quite some good Chinese romcoms, unfortunately many are machine translated, including this drama. This is very unfortunate, since business term and Chinese idioms/slang get mistranslated or even no translation (especially for notes, emails, text messages, etc). Luckily, if you watch in their official YouTube channel, there are kindhearted people who translated the non-dialogue part. As I put in the title, this drama is especially inspiring for audiences who are at their entry level of career of business, since there is a lot of uplifting advice given to motivate people in their career development. Unfortunately, the inspiring life lessons are watered down with inadequate translation. So, unless you understand modern spoken Chinese, or can read between the lines of bad sub, probably don’t bother to watch this drama.

STORY: In my opinion, there are two plots that run side-by-side: the romance and the work/business plot, both intertwine harmoniously between Party A and Party B (hence this drama title). Party A/Party B is a legal term when two entities get involved in business.

The main couple’s plot starts from both ML and FL being bickering strangers (short term), to being landlord-tenant, neighbors, two business-related company representatives , friends, best friends, lovers, to being engaged (short term). It’s a slow burn romance, they don’t get together until the ¾ quarter of the drama! However, their friendship and teamwork development are amazing to watch. Even before they get together, they’re so comfortable with each other, like an old married couple. The second couple plot actually has more sparks as their romance develops faster, so it’s quite interesting. Their romance starts about half of the drama. The third couple romance is a filler, in my opinion, since it’s quite short. There is also a married couple.

I actually am more interested in the work/business plot, unexpectedly since I don’t like business drama. I think because of its advice given to working adults. ML and FL both go thru work problems each encounter, from insider sabotage to sexual harassment. They work together to solve those problems. Misunderstandings don’t get prolonged in their relationship, they clear up their issues pretty fast. There is also the main theme of chasing dreams of most characters: people leaving stable jobs to start business, moving to big city to pursue career, changes job to a different company, working on your dream job instead of just-a-job, saving and investment, life priority, etc.

PRODUCTION: The scriptwriting is pretty good. The writer, which at this time I don’t know their name, managed to write a flowing transition on the main couple’s love story and the Female Lead’s prowess development. There are witty dialogues too, that make the plot development and the characters’ growth enjoyable.

CHARACTER: The scriptwriter also did a good job in creating likable main characters and some key supporting characters. The FL, Ye Xuan (weirdly in the end is translated into Michelle Ye), freshly graduated, comes from a smaller city to metro Shanghai. She’s hopeful and energetic, but faces the reality of the workplace. She is lucky enough to land her first job at 88Ed, what I called a dream company. Although it’s small and has problems, it ends up to be the ideal company in dramaland. Her other luck is ML, Li Ze Nan, who is not only her landlord/neighbor. The company where he works, Aoke, is also 88Ed’s major client.

Now this is where I want to correct the misleading synopsis I read at this moment. It says that Li Ze Nan is “the domineering Party A” but he’s not. He has been in the big city and has worked longer than Ye Xuan, so he gives her work advice but he’s not domineering. In fact, when they become a couple, I see sometimes Ye Xuan is bossy towards Li Ze Nan. Starting their relationship as a landlord-tenant, he’s actually has been supportive to Ye Xuan all along. He also comes from a poor background and works hard his way up at his workplace. He is not an ML who “has been making things difficult” to FL, since he makes her grow and become stronger as a working adult. For example, when he knows she has worked hard on a business proposal for his company but her company doesn’t credit her, as a client he has a power to fix the mistake but he doesn't. Instead, when he finds her crying in disappointment, he gives her a cotton candy and later tells her to be strong and try harder. Another misled term is that the couple’s relationship starts with “endless bickering” but I see they just tease and playful with each other, and actually the second couple starts with “endless bickering”.

Important to mention in romance drama is the secondary characters who potentially ruin the main couple’s relationship. There is none. Second FL is ML’s ex-girlfriend, but they broke up because pursued different dreams. Although when she shows up initially ML and SFL are a bit uncomfortable with each other, there is no hate/love feeling left for both parties. SFL ends up becomes their company’s business client and FL’s friend. Second ML is FL’s co-worker. He and ML have a healthy competition for FL’s attention, but when SML sees that FL, subconsciously, prefers to be with ML he backs off and becomes supportive of their relationship.

A bonus: the director, Sha Wei Qi, also made a guest role appearance as a fake director, lol! The scene with him in it is the most hilarious in the drama! He also directed some decent Chinese romcoms (rating 8.0+) such as Gank Your Heart (2019), A River Runs Through It (2021), and To Fly With You (2021).

VISUAL: The location of metropolitan Shanghai is always a charm. I like the adjoining balconies where ML and FL often seen chatting at night after work. I also like the company setting where FL works though. It’s a renovated warehouse building made of bricks and has a warm and casual feeling.

OST: Nothing stands out.

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Exceptionally Well Done Documentary Film on "Field of Wonder" ONE OK ROCK Live Streaming Concert

This documentary is the last film I watched in 2021, and I was completely blown away by it. My encounter with One OK Rock was many years ago when I found their MVs on YouTube, even before I found the rabbit hole leading to the Asian dramaland. I fell for their high energy, wildness, loud music, plus English mixed Japanese lyrics. I love most of their songs, from the heavier “No Scared” to softer “The Beginning”. I didn’t even know that the latter song is the OST of the “Rurouni Kenshin”, the first of its famous movie installments.

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Production: The making of this video is exceptionally well done. Specifically, I love the smooth shifts between their rehearsal and the actual concert scenes.

The subtitle was well done.

Story: The film starts with restless Taka telling us how hopeless he felt when Japan and the rest of the world were shut down because of the pandemic. Their last world tour was Australia tour in March 2020. Everyone was afraid, especially when Toru was contracted with the COVID-19. Forever a visionary, Taka started having this dream to create a live-streaming concert online. Most of the film then spent on how they prepared the concert. However, we also see a glimpse of their personal lives, for example Tomo spending time with his three little boys (the newborn is cutely presented in his father’s arm in the credit scene), Taka visiting his dad whom he once was estranged from, the members playing sports and barbecuing together.

I like the fact they also collaborated with other Japanese musicians and singers not from rock genre to perform together. Especially for the singers, each has their own unique voice and style and blended together harmoniously during the duet and chorus.

I also like the angst during rehearsal scenes on the second and the one day before the concert, when typhoon blasted Chiba, Japan where their live-streaming concert is held. Although there was no sign that the typhoon would stop on the concert day, the group and the team still rehearsed professionally and didn’t lose hope.

Acting: What to say, they’re performers. It was quite interesting to watch a glimpse of their anxiety in performing at an empty stadium, not seeing crowd neither hearing their cheers. However, one the concert started, the band and other performers just loosened up; especially knowing 100,000+ people bought online tickets (totaling to 110,000 live audience).

Visual FX: No complaint, everything was artistically created, like they were making a real movie!

OST: Although this film is not a video of their concert (you need to buy separately for their concert video), but we also hear and see them performing popular songs like “We Are” and “Wasted Night”. Their new song “Wonder” was also introduced at the concert. Taka singing a cappella the last line of “Wasted Night” as the last song gave me goose bumps, and closed the concert impressively.

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Lastly, congratulation to Toru who announced his marriage to Japanese model and actress Omasa Aya on 28th December 2021! Now with three of the band members are married, we’re waiting for the last eligible bachelor of the band Taka, to find his life partner!

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Compassion in the Darkness

This is just a supplement of what have been reviewed by others, so please read other reviews if you want to understand the drama completely. This review is also about my different takes on point-of-views of some commenters.

GENRES:

- Horror: What horror? Although if you are, like me, rarely watch horror shows there are plenty of creepy scenes throughout the drama to scare you. Especially the first story "The Cat Food" that was filmed with the setting of a real famous haunted building in Hong Kong. There is also a Halloween event in the drama. Honestly, there are more ghosts and vengeful spirits in dramas like the Korean Goblin, Hotel De Luna, Mystic Popup Bar, or the Thai horrors with real evil spirits. Here I counted only two friendly visits from deceased spirits who meant well. The make-to-believe horror scenes are thanks to the Director Ju Xing Mao who have directed horror dramas, like the Ferryman series. FYI, the Director actually acted as Big Senior in this drama. How someone who loves making horror shows can actually be comical is beyond my comprehension, lol.

- Detective/Investigation: This not in the genre list, but I think this is more like it. Though our protagonist Li Jia thinks that he himself may have schizophrenia, I think mostly Li Jia is the sanest of many psychotic characters in the drama. His pure curiosity, deductive reasoning, and sleuthing skill kick in first in many cases.

- Psychological: The prominent theme is Compassion in this drama, with many recurrences in several characters and almost every case. Li Jia is definitely a compassionate person. As someone who is tortured by the past, he understand what others with mental incapabilities go thru. Strangers (like Shi Cheng in the admission event) and so-called villains in many cases can see Li Jia's compassion throught the drama.
Interestingly, the misunderstanding/misconception of general people against the victims of psychological issues are represented by his friends' initial reactions:
- Cha Cha who is steely and practical will be ignorant/indifferent and say: I already have too much on my plate, who care of others?
- Shi Cheng who is impulsive and emotional will be scared/run away and say: Don't understand them, they are scary. Better not cross their paths.

- Romance: Watchers who purely fans of horror/mystery/action/crime genres won't like romance included here. However, since this drama is not based on any action novel/comic where there are two male leads only, the original script is written with romance between ML and FL in it, as seen throughout the drama. The memory of seeing Cha Cha at the first time when she was skateboarding next to his bus, flashing back on Li Jia's mind while he's fighting a villain in the water. Thus, the first impression counts. Also, his monologue after the first case ends, when he and Cha Cha say goodbye to each other, most likely is recorded in his journal. Lastly, the ending scene (literally after the ending credit finishes) also shows his subconscious affection towards Cha Cha.

CHARACTERIZATION:

- Cha Cha: Anyone who read this review and haven't watched the drama yet will be curious about the FL. Cha Cha is a very good actress and you'll know in "Red Velvet" in the middle drama why (I'm talking about the characterization, not Cherry Ngan). A chameleon in fashion: short hair in one scene, long hair in another scene; feminine dress in one scene, baggy overall in another scene. Eccentric, a colorful character, a rainbow for Li Jia

- Xiao Xi: What to say? This guy makes girls fall for without him saying anything (you'll know why when you watch the drama, lol). Even someone says she'll marry him when she grew up! All feelings shown through Xiao Xi's facial expressions. Though audience don't hear him talk much, at least hear the actor who played Xiao Xi (Feng Jian Yu) sang the ending theme of the drama.

FRIENDSHIP:
Some complains about long "Heterochromia" subplot, but that segment actually shows the building of relationships: romance between Li Jia and Cha Cha, bromance between Li Jia and Shi Cheng, friendship between Li Jia, Shi Cheng, Cha Cha, and the introduction of Xiao Xi and his sidekicks. It's a fundamental subplot than just solving psych cases.

SETTING:
Hong Kong. Thanks to the executive producer Zhao Zeen (赵泽恩)who planned the filming with real landmarks of Hong Kong backdrops. As someone who watch lots of Cdramas but rarely HKdramas, this real setting is a nice treat.

SEQUEL:
Though personally I would like a sequel (someone needs to fix Li Jia!), I'm not really count on it for the following reasons:
1. As a mystery/horror/psychology show, an open ending is quite common not only in life performance but also in written fiction.
2. China (generally Chinese drama production companies) is known as making open ended dramas. There are older dramas with open endings that never heard sequels be made.
3. China sucks in making sequels. If there will be, it may be completely different story not connnected with prequel, change of main characters, or the story flops.
4. The production cost. In an interview, the executive producer Zhao Zeen (赵泽恩) stated that filming in Hong Kong cost 3x than Mainland and Chinese crew had to obtain working visas. If sequel happens, probably the scenario will be based in China that may change the storyline and/or actor/actress

Above all, it took me 2 days binging 26 episodes, 1/3 on the first day and 2/3 on the second day. In the middle of the night watching scary scenes. The suspense and thriller really got me!

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My Friends are the Center of the World, My Parents Come from Another Planet

Although I am busy writing articles reviewing dramas, but Sixteen Shoukougun has been at the back of my mind to write review about. So I'm the 3rd reviewer for this little gem. It's my favorite high school drama for 2020, and I don't usually want to watch this sub-genre. The story centers around the close-knit relationship between two girls, Ibuki and Mei, who have known each other since they were kids. So tight that they won't allow other people come in between them, that the kids at school dubbed them as the Prince (Ibuki) and the Princess (Mei). Until one day, the notorious school playboy Mutsumi, enters their small world.

I will leave the story above like that, you should watch the rest: what happened to the three of them? Just treat it like the synopsis (without spoiler), since the current synopsis sucks. It doesn't tell you the quality of this drama.

Why I recommend it?
1. It's short, 8 episodes 20 minutes each. Perfect for binge-watching and re-watching.
2. Though short, it portrays a good character and relationship developments. I'm amazed the growth can be adequately seen in such a short drama!
3. Acting of actresses Takeuchi Aisa, as the tomboy Ibuki, and Takeda Reina, as the pretty yet fragile Mei, nailed their respective characters. I have seen them in other dramas. Acting of the main actors were just fine.
4. The drama really shows the struggle experienced by teenagers. I like their reflective in forms of cellphone recordings. I 100%-ly recommend to be watched by teenagers.
5. The dialogues are pretty good. Wisdom and advises came from the mouth of our young characters.
6. No unnecessary side stories or supporting characters. You'll be surprised almost the whole drama the story just centered around Ibuki, Mei, Mutsumi, and Nao

My only complaints:
1. Actor Itagaki Mizuki looks too old as a 16 year old boy. No complaint on his acting, but I wish the production team cast a younger looking actor instead
2. I wish Nao comes into the scene earlier. His character is uniquely interesting. They should make him more ambiguous, somewhat stalkerish, with deep unrequited love. But since this drama is adapted from manga, we're just have to be satisfied with the original plot.

Oh, regarding the title. Someone in comment section questioned about the absence of parents of these kids (unless when flashback to the past). Though they experience tough times to the point of being hospitalized, no parent is seen in the scene. Oh yeah, also not any teacher role. I think this drama is definitely intended for teenage viewers. As when I was at their age, my school friends were the center of my world. And I had a youth sentiment that our parents didn't know anything about us. And I'm still have that understanding, though at my age now I can be their parents.

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Not Sure Why the Rating is Low?

First of all, I am not a native Chinese neither am proficient in Mandarin, I watched it raw and I enjoyed it. After 100+ Chinese dramas watched, I can pick up words here and there and the simple story line is easy to follow. For main issues to understand I just google translated it. Anyways, It's a short high school drama (the campus life and campus romance tags are wrong cos the setting is high school). I don't watch high school dramas, but the OTP is so cuuute ❤️ together and they look alike like they are made for each other, lol. Besides, it's only 24 episodes of 12 minutes each, it's a breeze.
So the story is just a high school cliche of a handsome transfer student who doesn't really care about being in school, somewhat lazy but genius. Of course he has to sit next to a cute girl who is typical studious but dumb in math to the point being ridiculed by the teacher in front of her classmates. So the guy helps her and they become fast friends along with others, navigating thru the high school. The story is told as a flashback by the Female Lead. The acting is good, I love the sweet chemistry between the new comers Chen Xiang You (陈翔宇) and Chen Si Yu (陈思宇), and I want to see their acting again in the future. Although, if you are a fan of drama kisses you won't see any here cos China censorship doesn't permit any type of kissing in their high school dramas. The OST is good "Don't Say Sorry" duet by Liu Binhao & Song Xi, see the OST link in my custom list of 2020 Completed Dramas if you want to know. I do not want to re-watch it cos simply it's a high school drama which genre I usually despise.
If you want to watch it raw, see the conversation between me and the first reviewer (I'm the second) to get the link.
So to answer my own question in the title: Easy to guess that people rated low but did not even watch it because there is no (English) sub. Hopefully, in the future some fan will pick it up, cos it's a sweet short teenage romance.

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Rare Hongkong Drama Gem, Fun to Binge Watch!

Since there is no review, I guess I will take my limited time to be the first to write about what I think is a great show. This is my second Hong Kong drama to watch. Someone mentioned it's similar to Madam Cutie on Duty which I dropped, just because the English subtitle is right on top of the Chinese subtitle makes it hard to read. Anyways, I am not familiar at all with the cast, so seeing new faces is refreshing to me. The Female Lead Samantha Ko is so pretty, either she is in the agent mode or the housewife mode.

WARNING: MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!!! THOUGH NOT THE MAIN PLOT AND ENDING

So the story is about Samantha Ko playing as the secret agent C9, whose private organization she worked at is to protect VIP people both native and foreigners while they are in Hong Kong. Alas, the organization is annihilated by a terrorist group Black Hole and everyone dies but her. An orphaned who was adopted by the organization since little, of course she was lost without any family member until she met a market veggie seller King (played by Kenneth Ma) and his family. So she started a new life as a housewife with nickname Cute Mom.
At first, I was really pissed that she took a role as a doormat. So different than her badass role as C9. She basically devotes her life helping her husband selling veggies in the market AND also taking care of her in-laws. Everyone seems depend on her, and she doesn't even complain and stays cheerful. I personally am annoyed with her looser brother-in-law and annoying sister-in-law.
Thankfully, the story soon becomes interesting when apparently there is another survivor of the secret organization: agent B3, who was a partner of C9. Upon knowing that C9 is alive, B3 contacted her and asked her to team up with him again to avenge the death of their brothers and sisters. C9 agreed, and soon we watch several episodes of some hilarious some heartbreaking scenes of C9 juggling between her secret mission and her household chores. The story becomes more interesting when we find out there are a few more ex members who are actually still alive.
By the middle of the drama, the story becomes somewhat melo when King finds out that Cute Mom is actually a secret agent, thanks to B3 who purposely makes it so. King was pissed because his wife has lied all way through since the beginning, and Cute Mom cannot bear seeing the family may become a target by Black Hole. So they are separated, and others only know the couple had a huge fight and Cute Mom left. The funny thing for me that now the family members scramble trying to do house chores Cute Mom did all in the past.
We then see the Female Lead being badass again as C9, although the drama is realistic enough showing her worrying and missing family make her did a few physical and mental mistakes during re-entry as an agent. I will not spoil you how the drama ends, but the plot twists are actually surprising and interesting, makes this rare Hong Kong gem fun to watch.
In conclusion, the story is great, especially the action scenes, cute romantic scenes, and family-get-together scenes. You can skip the side stories/couples, I think they're just fillers. The acting is also great, especially the fighting actions and the great chemistry between Samantha Ko and Kenneth Ma, and I also like the father in law and the step son. The OST is good, "Learning to Love" by Kayee Tam, you can get the OST link in my custom 2020 Completed Drama list if you want. Great re-watch value since it was only 20 episodes with 45 minutes duration, just skipped the draggy side stories parts.

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After Completed it: Clarification of the Pros and Cons

Though I don't write reviews anymore, I compelled to write a review to clarify things to they who are interested to watch it but confused by the polarization of positive and negative reviews or somewhat low rating. So the spoilers I put it in the end. I dropped this drama once, when I read in the reviews there are factors I don't like: reminiscence of A Love So Beautiful (which I dropped for good), smart guy dumb girl pairing, and Female Chases Male First set up. Plus high school setting is not my favorite. When I watched Episode 1 (for me usually the most critical episode to drop or continue), I was attracted to the 10 year friendship in the group, scruffy Zhao Yi Qin (which I think looks better than the clean-shaven high school style), and David Chou as the Second Male Lead. So I continue by fast forwarding the painful high school romance scenes and only watched enough to understand the basics, until a specific episode (I put in the spoiler below). I picked up again when the VR game ends, therefore I was saved from the exhausting romance others watched and dropped the drama. In the end, I found the story is touching and the drama is pretty good. I was tricked too by the plot twist, damn it, lol. I rated as 8, but for those who love youth/high school romance (which I don't), they may rate the drama 9.
Actually I don't rewatch dramas, the rating is just as suggested to get the overall 8.

*** Spoilers, read on your risk ***
1. Due to past trauma ML develops PTSD and completely shut down his past, so he doesn't remember important things. The VR game ML watched is specifically designed for him to help him regain his memory, therefore deals with his past.
2. The VR game he and us watched is tricky, as it contains reality and created setting. As watchers we get understanding about the story, but also we get tricked (or you can call it as plot twists). The clarification is in the two last episodes.
*** Major spoilers ***
3. Ep 13 the killer is revealed, Ep 16 ML is off-game, back after game modification, Ep 23-24 ML finishes the game, explanations.
4. Happy ending for all. Satisfying closures not only for the OTP, but for SML and SFL.

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I picked this drama without expecting too much, since the long synopsis already outlines the drama plot. But once I started I kept wanting to watch the next scene or episode, curious to know what the leads were going to do. Unlike other voluntary time-altering dramas that the protagonists fix the past problems, this drama gives freedom for the three male leads (who initiate the time altering) to do whatever they want to do to follow their hearts. I am also surprised that it is not like a typical Thai drama/lakorn, and definitely free of slap/kiss, attempted sexual assault scenes, or other overly dramatic plot. Also, no mean villains or 'in-laws', and not much of elders involvement. Although as the story goes it gets darker, but I feel like this drama is aimed towards young adults viewers, because of the casual advice given on how to choose wise decisions and no presentation of severe punishments of what they have done.
About the ending. Along the drama, there were discussions in GMMTV official Youtube channel (where the English subbed drama was aired) until the final episode on who should end up with who or if someone should end up happily or not. I think the ending is more like a fan-service with satisfying ending, for this drama I am okay if the ending was different than what was presented.
Now the technical stuff. I think the director Dan did a decent job directing this drama with multiple main characters/couples and multiple stories. Lol, even if he did not do a good job there will be a Second Chance beer he can take (a cameo appearance of the director in the closing scene). Also to say the editing is not bad although the viewers are left with some confusions to figure out whether the scene we saw is the reality, the future, or just the dream or wish of the characters. Perhaps some confusing scenes were purposely done to leave the mysterious vibe of the drama.
Some acting are good as all main actors/actress are not newcomers. Some viewers commented that actors/actresses like Nanon, Singto, and Puimek have improved their acting skills in this drama, but since I have not watched lots or any of their works I cannot really judge them. The only thing that I like that some characterization are ambiguous, who can be villains and characters that you may hate at some point in this drama. I am glad that Tor character is remained mysterious: is he just a bar owner, a moonshiner who invented a secret beer recipe, a tarot card fortune teller, an angel, or God?
Whatever Tor is, I applauded Singto Numchok (who played as Tor) as a singer and musician, since the OST song "Second Chance" he wrote and sang is so catchy, a nice sing-a-long song with Caribbean tone. Here is the official MV link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWxjrGM_3WM
Rewatch value? Not really, since you already know how the leads decisions end then the magic is gone. The only thing I may want to rewatch is the OST music video.

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This drama is actually promising with supernatural genre and intriguing theme: going against fate. Unfortunately, either the original webtoon storytelling is bad (I have not read it) or the script written for live adaptation is bad, the story ends up very confusing. I am sure a good script can fix a bad webtoon story to present it to us the smart viewers, am I not? Because I watched a few dramas adapted from webtoons and they are good.
Nothing wrong with the cast or acting, and I am not a fan of EXO or Suho to defend. I have watched several dramas with idol singers who are newcomers in acting in dramas, but they ended up good (for example Dating Class). In this case, a good director can direct even rookies to act well. Some said that actor Suho has acted in 2 dramas and 2 movies after HAYB (that were filmed in 2016) with better acting skill, and actress Lee Se Young's dramas after HAYB are all 8+ rated in MDL so far.

MAJOR SPOILER:
I am writing this part for people who are curious and confused about the story. So basically ML and FL meet 3 times minimum (unless there is any explanation I skipped). But their romance is supposedly not fated. If they insist then one of them will get hurt, according to the fat guy who is the guardian god of destiny who causes shaky camera scenes making us the viewers dizzy. This annoying god actually makes things happen to destroy their relationship too, including amnesia.
However, I actually suspect that the story writer dictates that the couple is fated because they keep meeting again and they always get revelation from their common dreams. By the end, the final scene is actually shown as hopeful and positive.

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This is a feel good movie, light with some touching stories. Nothing epic, but the adult animals are well-trained to deliver acting that some are better than their human co-stars. Mostly are Hollywood pet stars that are hired together with their animal trainers, only the pig and the kitten are local. Not necessary a rom-com, but other relationship such as family bonding and friendship are explored as well. But mainly are relationship between human and their pets, and some were not accustomed to own pets before. This movie is mainly to teach people to love animals, especially, domestic pets, where both sides (us and our pets) find love, healing, friendship, family, even trust.

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I picked this drama after got tired watching tons of drama with super nice male leads to the extreme of noble idiots. In the contrary, Panthakan or Pan, the male lead in this drama, is initially portrayed as mean and despicable, that may lead viewers to drop this drama because of this jerk. He hates his dad, stepmom, stepbrother, and stepmom's niece Pai whom all live and work under the same roofs with him. All because of what he saw in this childhood how his dad mistreated his mom while having an affair with his secretary who is now his stepmom.

The romance is hate to love relationship. During the hating phase, I advise you to watch it like watching the classical cartoon Tom and Jerry, or slapstick comedy. Pan and Pai not only bicker with each other, they also fight to the extent of harmful. In this phase I warn you that you will see a sexual assault scene that I saw it as a rape attempt, although FL sends ML to the hospital. Luckily we get to observe Pan's character growth as a tsundere. During the loving phase they are so cute together and have great chemistry. I would love to see the couple pair again in the future drama.

When I read the synopsis I snickered in disbelief on the 'tragically handsome' phrase in which I thought as an advertising gimmick. But when I finished I realized some tragic stuff happen because of ML's handsomeness, that is the melodrama part of this show.

Besides the romance, the drama can be draggy with unnecessary conversations. I skipped mostly the business talk. Some parts of the story are unrealistic. The plot is built towards climax in the last episodes. There are surprises and plot twist.

The acting of the main leads nailed their roles. Artit/Bank who played the ML was able to pull hate and emotional expressions although he is quite new. Mookda who played the FL is an experienced actress, and I would love to see her in the future raising one eyebrow again. Other notable acting of the support characters are Nattasha who played as Chon with all her psycho moments, and Montree who played as Pan's dad especially good when he is in the emotional distress. The rest cast acting are mediocre, and there are some characters who are just fillers of to make up the slapstick comedy scenes.

Lastly, I appreciated nekomeowmeow for subbing this cute romcom, as she picks and chooses which lakorns she wants to sub
https://www.nekomeowmeow.com/panrak/

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Cute Drama Perfect for Holiday Season!

This drama is surprisingly good for holiday season, since the setting was from Halloween to Christmas. Before, I tried to watch this drama once or twice but was turned off by how pushy and stalkerish the ML Takane is that I did not finish the first episode. Finally I picked it up again and after I got to know more of him and the rest of the characters I was hooked. This drama is cute and surprisingly well executed for a live action from manga. Since I never read the manga I reviewed the drama only.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA
(+) Unique plot for a typical love story: Typical, since a man (Takane) and a woman (Junko) from two different worlds romantically meet. Unique plot because the Takane is a monk who is being sheltered the whole life in the temple with only his Grandma and the monks around him. And Junko is a career woman who dreams to move to New York.
(+) Overall story not draggy. Plenty of hilarious scenes, and heart-breaking scenes in the 2 last episodes with satisfying endings for everyone.
(+) It is well worth to note that the drama screenwriters are not the manga writer Miki Aihara, therefore the script is not choppy like coming straight out of a comic, but flows more with the plot. Although not excluding the uniqueness of manga storyline.
(+) Character Takane is mostly the main source of hilarity. since he is not familiar with how people act and live in the real world. His sincere yet clumsy adaptation to society after meeting Junko, her family, and ELA crew is funny and touching at the same time.
(+) I am glad that the story actually makes the Junko goes to New York in the end of the drama to pursue her life dream
(+) Interesting characterization choices the manga writer picked for her comic
(+) Seven cold shower scenes under takigyo (waterfall where monks meditate)!
(+) Great chemistry between Takane and Junko.
(+) The other couples' chemistry: Arthur-Momoe is good and Hachiya-Masako is okay (probably not much character growth and screen time for the last couple).
(+) Actress Ishihara Satomi is beautiful and hilarious at the same time. I saw her in Rich Man, Poor Woman but her role is better here.
(+) I have never seen the acting of Yamashita Tomohisa (Yamapi) prior to this drama. Although the monk Takane role does not make him talkative but his facial expression communicates amazingly well. Surprisingly good for a Japanese idol, and by looking at his filmography he acted in interesting and unusual dramas/movies.
(+) Remarkable casting overall, even to the supporting cast like Junko's family and neighbors, the ELA crew, the temple monks even to the little monk Naha. Overall, it seems like everyone were having fun filming this drama!
(+) I squealed when I saw Kaga Marikofor showed up in the screen the first time, played as Takane's grandmother! She is the villain mother from classic Hana Yori Dango. The actress is 75 years old now and is still active in dramas and movies, which is amazing.
(+) Stunning cinematography using fall season and holiday season backgrounds
(+) The OST is surprisingly good! The theme song is "Christmas Song" a romantic ballad by Japanese rock group Back Number (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqOLMXqOlM). Other songs are mostly upbeat jazzy, and the softer tones are good for background music. I even played them while I was writing this drama. The playlist can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kbmiLfvUq0

WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA
(-) I feel like some scenes are like being dragged but others are being rushed. Probably editing issue. For example: the drama does not tell more about Amane and how he is redeemed by Takane. His character development from antagonist to protagonist is just too fast I have the impression the story just wants to add Amane character as a filler.
(-) Not really a dislike, but I wish the drama is longer. For example: I read in the reviews/comments that the manga gives more story to Arthur-Momoe couple.

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