I just finished the first 8 eps, the directing is lovely, the writing is solid but I'm not enjoying the ml's acting at all, and the chemistry between the main cp is boring ...
I just finished the drama so here is my unsolicited opinion of it :
This drama is the perfect example that no matter how enormous the contribution of a very good production are, they are nothing compared to the merits of a freaking great, solid and constant writing and storyline. And precisely the writing failed here. The ideas, the introduction of the story were great but then, again and again the same problem with most cdramas, the screen writers refuse to make the necessary work to really adapt a good story to its materialist form aka being a 32 episode tv drama ... I don't think the ending is bad per say but the drama throughout the story used a fairly childish tone and codes, which relates to a fantasy story that is close to the idea of a "tale" archetype, and the tone of the lastest episodes were clashing with what was served to us from the beginning. For me, there is a huge gap between the tone chosen to tell this drama and then this ending which is intended to be more not tragic, but bittersweet. The idea of disillusionment is interesting but very poorly explored, like they used the source of that fantasy story only in the last final episode, and only for a pseudo shock value instead of truly exploring precisely the psychology of the character of the ml ... like, what? why? I really think they simply didn't want us to use our freaking brain, they refused us to be able to watch something that is more than pure entertainement, and it's a shame. The drama really is just a show for kids at this point ... even kids shows have more subtance to be honest but I'm sure you would guess what I'm trying to say ... or not LOL. Costume cdramas lowkey but surely refuse all forms of subversity... After episode 19, the next 7 episodes were so uninteresting and boring. The dynamism of the pacing and the interest of the story only picked up again during the very latest episodes, and it was already too late ... to be enjoyable and entertaining enough. The boredom created by the 7 episodes in question had a very, very bad effect on me. The drama really could have made a real difference but in reality it is yet another cdrama ruined by the writing and the filler episodes, the pace was very disappointing but above all devastating regarding its ability to keep me in suspense and maintain my interest. Watching the last part of the drama, I had really lost all interest and the flaws in the acting but also the big deficiencies in the writing and the narration that I had managed to ignore (thanks to the chemistry and the freshness of the atmosphere of the drama) could no longer be ... Everthing felt too fake or more precisely, artificial.
I'm gonna also add, the second cp was boring as hell (the acting and their writing were all insipid, and the drama was lacking actual real interesting subplots and interesting others characters . And final point, I honestly didn't like how the story shifted from being a story centered around the fl to the story revolving mainly around the ml ... making the fl the 2nd charcater to the ml story ... Highly disappointing because it started started so well with a very well made 1st part, and as 98% of the costume cdramas, got downhill halfway ...
Ps : I don't blame people who wanted to see a lovely kissing scene, but honestly after ep19, I didn't care enough of the drama to feel the frustration of not seeing it hehe, I couldn't care less I was already way too frustrated by the awful pacing of the 2nd part of the drama. Anyway, it's was a lovely and easy watch until it wasn't anymore LOL.
The older cast (Osawa Takao, Sato Koichi, Kato Masaya, Toyokawa Etsushi, Kaname Jun,Ozawa Yukiyoshi, Tamaki Hiroshi etc) carried the series on their backs and this, with their very limited screentime! And this third movie is the best one imo precisely because this older cast had more screntime !
I decided to rewatch the series recently, and for this first movie I need to say it, Osawa Takao, Kato Masaya and Kaname Jun are the true highlights of it ! Their acting perfs and charisma are on another level !
I know it's a week-end family kdrama, but the drama has such a low budget production that it is quite shocking (especially for that casting with well know actors and actresses) to see, there used to be a time when those types of week-end kdramas would get decent productions ... Netflix & else are really ruining the productions of national tv dramas ... it's a shame.
Another generic & forgetable artificial netflix made kdrama ... interesting plot but production, directing, aesthetic and especially editing are nothing natural but indeed very generic.
This is definitely the best cdrama currently airing. It's not outstanding by any means, but the drama is very charming and it gets you interested, you don't get bored of it. I'm quite suprised by how the storyline is keeping its endurance, few dragging scenes ... but they know how to bring up the neccesary tension to keep you entertain with the action, the comedy, the chemistry etc
I finished watching ep9 and I'm suprised about how much I'm enjoying this drama. It's fun and fresh. The drama doesn't have that arrogance of trying to be seen as more than what it actually is, and I have a huge respect for that work ethic. The directing is very nice, I'm loving the settings, costumes and makeup. Yu Shu Xin aka Ester Lu & Ding Yu Xi have a lovely chemistry ! I'm not fan of their acting skills, but here I'm enjoying their perfs, of course I'm not gonna seek from them any subtility nor range, but there is some sort of a sincere will to portray their characters that I like. I also enjoy how both know the limits of their acting skills in comparison of some others who are still trying to force on the audience a belief that they have range, when clearly they don't ... I must say I was quite disappointed with Ding Yu Xi lastest performances, but in this drama, he clearly has improved which I'm glad to see. And his style here looks so good on him ! Esther is doing what she does the best, and that's why it's working too. I won't be suprised if the writers ruin this drama tho (hopefully not), but so far I like how the plot is actually solid.
I enjoyed reading your summary. I agree regarding the ml’s acting. There was a “romantic” scene when he…
Right? that's why I really think the writers were too lazy ...
"the leads had such a good potential" Exactly my thought, they had a lovely chemistry and I feel like the team behind the drama didn't even use it as they should ...
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I never spoke of the writing...
This drama is the perfect example that no matter how enormous the contribution of a very good production are, they are nothing compared to the merits of a freaking great, solid and constant writing and storyline.
And precisely the writing failed here. The ideas, the introduction of the story were great but then, again and again the same problem with most cdramas, the screen writers refuse to make the necessary work to really adapt a good story to its materialist form aka being a 32 episode tv drama ...
I don't think the ending is bad per say but the drama throughout the story used a fairly childish tone and codes, which relates to a fantasy story that is close to the idea of a "tale" archetype, and the tone of the lastest episodes were clashing with what was served to us from the beginning.
For me, there is a huge gap between the tone chosen to tell this drama and then this ending which is intended to be more not tragic, but bittersweet. The idea of disillusionment is interesting but very poorly explored, like they used the source of that fantasy story only in the last final episode, and only for a pseudo shock value instead of truly exploring precisely the psychology of the character of the ml ... like, what? why?
I really think they simply didn't want us to use our freaking brain, they refused us to be able to watch something that is more than pure entertainement, and it's a shame. The drama really is just a show for kids at this point ... even kids shows have more subtance to be honest but I'm sure you would guess what I'm trying to say ... or not LOL.
Costume cdramas lowkey but surely refuse all forms of subversity...
After episode 19, the next 7 episodes were so uninteresting and boring. The dynamism of the pacing and the interest of the story only picked up again during the very latest episodes, and it was already too late ... to be enjoyable and entertaining enough.
The boredom created by the 7 episodes in question had a very, very bad effect on me. The drama really could have made a real difference but in reality it is yet another cdrama ruined by the writing and the filler episodes, the pace was very disappointing but above all devastating regarding its ability to keep me in suspense and maintain my interest.
Watching the last part of the drama, I had really lost all interest and the flaws in the acting but also the big deficiencies in the writing and the narration that I had managed to ignore (thanks to the chemistry and the freshness of the atmosphere of the drama) could no longer be ...
Everthing felt too fake or more precisely, artificial.
I'm gonna also add, the second cp was boring as hell (the acting and their writing were all insipid, and the drama was lacking actual real interesting subplots and interesting others characters . And final point, I honestly didn't like how the story shifted from being a story centered around the fl to the story revolving mainly around the ml ... making the fl the 2nd charcater to the ml story ...
Highly disappointing because it started started so well with a very well made 1st part, and as 98% of the costume cdramas, got downhill halfway ...
Ps : I don't blame people who wanted to see a lovely kissing scene, but honestly after ep19, I didn't care enough of the drama to feel the frustration of not seeing it hehe, I couldn't care less I was already way too frustrated by the awful pacing of the 2nd part of the drama. Anyway, it's was a lovely and easy watch until it wasn't anymore LOL.
And this third movie is the best one imo precisely because this older cast had more screntime !
Netflix & else are really ruining the productions of national tv dramas ... it's a shame.
I'm quite suprised by how the storyline is keeping its endurance, few dragging scenes ... but they know how to bring up the neccesary tension to keep you entertain with the action, the comedy, the chemistry etc
The drama doesn't have that arrogance of trying to be seen as more than what it actually is, and I have a huge respect for that work ethic.
The directing is very nice, I'm loving the settings, costumes and makeup.
Yu Shu Xin aka Ester Lu & Ding Yu Xi have a lovely chemistry !
I'm not fan of their acting skills, but here I'm enjoying their perfs, of course I'm not gonna seek from them any subtility nor range, but there is some sort of a sincere will to portray their characters that I like.
I also enjoy how both know the limits of their acting skills in comparison of some others who are still trying to force on the audience a belief that they have range, when clearly they don't ...
I must say I was quite disappointed with Ding Yu Xi lastest performances, but in this drama, he clearly has improved which I'm glad to see. And his style here looks so good on him !
Esther is doing what she does the best, and that's why it's working too.
I won't be suprised if the writers ruin this drama tho (hopefully not), but so far I like how the plot is actually solid.
"the leads had such a good potential"
Exactly my thought, they had a lovely chemistry and I feel like the team behind the drama didn't even use it as they should ...