When I said Mature Drama, I Talk About this Type of Mature Drama

I complete Go Ahead very early 2023. Then I see that the very same team make another drama. What wonderful news. (On the drama cover, Li Xian capture my eyes because physically he is such my type, hehe) I follow it since. It's been quite some time since the last time I watch ongoing drama religiously. So here I am.

The first episode is gloomy and heart-wrenching. If I didn't know the creator, I'll stop watching, because that's not what I came for. But that's a very important episode, so I'm glad they pack it into one early episode. Thats help us to establish our point of view about Hong Dou. She is my fav character ever, sympathetic but objective, gentle but fierce, and mature but knows how to have fun. Her social skill is awesome. I love the fact that they do not make her gloomy because of her past story. It's changed her at the micro level continuously, but didn't change her into another human being.

After the second episode, the atmosphere changed. Peaceful village with beautiful scenery. Warmer colour grading. Natural and friendly interaction of human beings. Again, this drama team successfully bring the rawness of human interaction into the screen. It will be a novel if I tell every part of this drama that I love. But let me bring my fav. Neighbourhood aunties and uncles. This is an interesting piece that exists in Go Ahead but is not explored completely. The writers tackle this point extremely well. Not judgemental but constructive. Hong Dou's interactions with the elderly are GOLD. And the story of every villagers and visitors are so well written. It's like no one is left behind. Friendship, family, business and community, from children to elders. And the cast is so good at acting, just chef kiss.

Some people said that this is a promotional drama. If that's what is it. They do it well. If I'm in China, I'll be tempted to visit. I also realize this is quite a patriotic drama, haha.

Then, ROMANCE. It would be a sin if I'm not bringing up this topic. The romance between them is the one I called mature romance! The attraction is mutual and very organic. Both are denying at first because of mutual understanding. They think and worry about the future but are brave enough to fight for what they want.

It is such a healing, therapeutic drama. And impactful, I begin to meditate after watching this drama. Their OST is so good! I especially loved the main OST and that sultry OST, so cringey in a good way.

The first drama of 2023, potentially become the best.

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One of the Best Music Themed Drama — but it has more

The best elements of this drama is music. Park Eunbin kill it with her voice. She and Lee Re performs one of the best non singer playing a singer in any K-drama ever. They really sound like diva and show their emotion through singing really well. Every singing casts also sound so good, the songs are good, the soundtracks are perfect. For me, it is the best music themed K-drama after Dream High, but it's even crazier because no professional singer cast as singer in this drama!

The casting are perfect. Similarity between the teen casts and the adult casts are insane. They look similar, have similar gazes and smile, they even sound similar! Just by seeing the first episode I can know who they will become in their adult version. Lee Re and Moon Woo Jin are spectacular actors. They build a very strong base for this drama. Their adult story become significant and rich in emotion because of the story presented by them so genuinely and tastefully.

Lots of parallels and foreshadows used in this drama. So much detail but not everything are mentioned blatantly, it's subtle. It's make some people who miss the detail read the story in different ways. Especially during the arc of "finding Kiho". (Personally I enjoy the healthy discussion and debate it brings during the airing of the show. It's a conversation starter.)

From all cast, I think Jong Hyeop's acting shining through. How can a person talking using his eyes? He definitely do that. Every longing, love, pain, joy, he monologing using his eyes. His emotional scenes are impactful. His laugh is infectious.

The things I'm not really like is the lowkey triangle love. I feel that unnecessary. Even if Woohak love Mokha as best friend only, the story still goes well. Another element is the props and makeup they use in the island, they're highly unrealistic. I can accept they are sea trash, but the quality is not consistent. Sometimes Mokha is dirty, tanned, with still good clothes. Other times she wear her old teens clothes with fair and good skin condition. But I love the other part of this drama. So I easily pass these elements as, "Well, it's a K-drama."

Important to know, this drama has so many elements, from dream, romance, music, family, crime, friendship, mentor-pupil, lil bit mystery and suspense. In my opinion it has nice balance. Just don't hoping too much on only one or two elements, you will disapointed. It has many elements with only 12 episode, so the time for each element is limited. And every characters are important. They will get their share of screentime.

At the end, this is a good drama, made with care, with good production, good actors, interesting story. I left this drama with a big smile in my face.

And I know, that I will listen to the songs from this drama for a long-long time ❤

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When your high school love turn real

Made me giggly like a high school girl thinking about her first crush. But also bawling like a girl that just breaking up with her first love.

The main couple both are sweet human being and the biggest green flags ever. Their love is so pure, and I love that they really respect and rely to each other in a very healthy manner.

FL's family is a model family with believable moral compass. I really adore this family relationship with each other.

Setting, costume, OST, and direction is so well thought. And the last but definitely bot the least, the acting! All cast working so well and looks very natural. I never watch these casts work before, but I think Lu Si and Zhe Yuan are romance monster. They are so good. Really good. Whoever has first idea to put them together should get an award?

I'm gonna give shout out to Victor Ma. He is the most believable brother in drama land. He reminds me with my own brothers and several other stories about my friends brother. And he looks like he deserves his own story, I bet he will be very charming. But the rumored spinoff will use different actor, it's okay, but I still want to give shout out to him, haha.

I'm such a Kdrama girl before. But I should say well made Cdrama are superior. I really appreciate that they not afraid of 'clique' ending and forcing plot twist. Well made clique is good. I mean, so many people living similar life, yet so different.

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As fresh as summery fruits, as hopeful as green grass in the winter

When I watch Twinkling Watermelon, I remember that Shakespearean idiom:
"My salad days. When I was green in judgment, cold in blood. To say as I said then!"

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The plot revolved around two teenagers who feel that their whole lives are mere fulfillment of their parents expectation. Until one time they find themself in the year of 1995. This time the two teenagers able meet their parents in their salad days, youth as bright and as sweet as summer fruits.

Yi Chan is a bright, passionate teens, living his youth to the fullest. Cheong Ah, a lonely deaf teens, keeping her desire to communicate with the world in silent. Se Kyeong, the cello queen, living as replacement, unable to owning her own live. Now the two teenagers able to see them not just as 'mom' or 'dad', but individuals with their own struggle and dream.

Here they begin the journey to understand. Journey to accept. Journey to learn to listen (because apparently it's not deafness that make you unable to listen, it's unwillingness).

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Actually the beauty of this drama didn't lie in the plot. It's heavily rely to the charm of the characters and relationship between them. Their bonding moments, how some slowly falling in love, the desire to help the person you love, youth friendship. But overall the vibe is summery bright, no somber at all. At the end, there is no regret.

The main attraction is Eun Gyeol and his parents. Yi Chan, this man is the frontman of this drama. His way of live, how he treat others, this charming youthful energy. Cheong Ah, the sweet girl that's been treated unfairly by the world. Her journey to connect to the world is the highlight of the show. This two is my main couple. Our appa and eomma, haha.

And Eun Gyeol, a CODA, the dutiful kind child who do everything to protect his family. He is so precious, his burden was too heavy. I'm glad some of this burden lifted from him. The ending is working in a sense that it's hopeful and satisfying. It's so fantastical but it's keeping some of realistic take. That no matter what happen in your life, don't take all burden by yourself. Communicate with the person you love. And even though life doesn't give everything you want, it has unexpected present for you in many points of your journey. It's keeping the spirit of living.

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Leave me with deep nostalgic feeling in the end

Actually I watch first 2 episodes years ago, but I lost my iQiyi account and I forgot the title. Recently, I accidentally saw it while browsing Zhe Yuan past work (I'm just watched Hidden Love). What a pleasant surprise when I realized that this is the title that I missed before.

I really really enjoy their high school story. Sweet and genuine, with some innocent stupidity of youth (in a good way). They are not perfect, their parents not perfect, people around them are not perfect, yet they survive walking the journey called youth together, imperfectly but preciously.

The beginning of their uni days is not my fav, involved some stubbornness and miscommunication. But I appreciate that they tackle the biggest issues and acknowledge it as problem (their over dependency of each other, their lack of individuality). They turn into splendid adult together, it's so sweet seeing 2 human being growing up while building each other in healthy way. Zhe Yuan and Meng Jie act very good presenting their grow up journey.

Their set and costume are really good. I enjoyed seeing their color coordinated clothes. Good soundtrack. Decent cinematography. And the painting props are so nice! Especially all Ding Xian's illustration in high school!

I personally really touched by the very ending scene. It give me so much feeling, bring me to deep nostalgic. Somehow make me wanna cry. Ding Xian's smile speak thousands words.

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Breathtaking Drama

I always been sucker of time travel/time loop kind of story. Among others, this is the best I ever watch.

Super trilling, intriguing, breathtaking—I literally should telling myself several times to take a breath. I watch it in two sitting, but somehow I wish I watch in one sitting. I'm so immense in the story, as if I'm part of the bus passengers, as if I'm the third person in the time loop. One time, I had my meal while watching this. Those were... the most intense chewing I ever do✨

We always get something new and exciting every episode. It's weird because we almost always get back to same place, in almost same situation. The storyline is so neat, the pacing is so spot on. Moreover, there are a lot of easter eggs spread everywhere. Even rewatch this would not make me boring. This series is so detail. I even catch some metaphors that I didn't know it's that true or it just me being over thinker.

All cast playing so well. Especially the bomb bearer, crazy good! I also love that all characters are so well written, so alive, have unique characteristics and background story. For the romance part, our main couple love story is amusing in my opinion. It's like falling in love during a war?

The cinematography is very effective, bring the right mood, help us to catch the tone, immersive.

The music is working for the scenes. I would not put them in my playlist (except the closing song) but they work well to set the mood etc.

This one opening my eyes to the bigger world of Cdrama. Definitely worth to watch. 15 episodes, well packed.

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The Best Family Drama Ever

At the end of 2022, I started to watch this series and then complete it on January 2nd. What a rollercoaster journey. I laugh then cry, happy then mad, joyful and sorrowful. It's like watching real humans grow, with all the goodness and the nasty life can give. The plot is so smooth, unlike other drama that has distinctive arc per arc, this one flow like real life. Battle every day but also heal each other every day. This drama made me cry, but also LAUGHT, like— literally L.O.L.

Another thing that I love is the writers didn't force their moral values. The character speaks for themself, which is rare in Cdrama. Diversity of moral values and way of thinking. Complex character.

Another booster for this drama is the acting and characters, which is flawless. The main characters that all lovable and well act. The father, Li Hai Chao is the best-written father in the entire drama world, perfectly acted too. And He Zi Qiu, the man just made his own movie. Li Jian Jian and Ling Xiao, a sweet couple, some parts of their relationship are quite toxic, but the way they act and the storyline, bring an antidote to them. Tan Song Yun is a chameleon, at this point I'll think she can act as a baby or elderly, haha.

The only thing that is not my style is the OST and camera angle, some times can be awkward, and other times can be top-tier. But never disturb the storyline, so ok. Actually, after this series, I start to watch Meet Yourself, the drama made by the same team of director and writers. Production-wise, it's better. So I conclude maybe it's a budget situation, hehe.

It's quite a heavy story, so maybe I'll not rewatch it fully, but some part is fun to rewatch. In the end, this is my 10/10 base for Cdrama and family drama. I'll follow the writer's and the director's works onward.

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Such a roller coaster, but I enjoy the ride

This drama has many genres, and the genre keep changes as the story goes.

We begin the drama with dark comedy, then progress into romance, these two is the main genre. The progress is good, sometimes funny, other time is melodrama, little bit of trill, some heart fluttering moments, some family moments, pleasant plot twist here and there.

After 13 episode, the genre kind of sifted to makjang. The shift is kind of rough in term of storyline and editing, but the cast shining in this part. Emotional part tackled so well. The angst, the complex emotions of all characters. Especially the main couple, their acting play a big role here. Episode 15 is makjang peak. It will make you angry, it can make you anxious.

Then the last episode is heavy on melodrama. This episode is crafted so well. The cinematography, acting, editing, set and prop, lighting, grading. The team must be pour all their hard works on this episode. It's beautiful. Not easy to wrap that much plot gap and unfinish business from earlier episodes. But they do it right, the pace is also good on this episode. It also have a tone of slice of life, which is I love.

Overall, this is a great drama. There is some part that can be too tropey and cliché, but if you see in big picture, it's a great drama. But the highest regards goes to the cast. There are a lot of good actors in this drama. Actually most of them are seasoned one, and we can see that. They giving flesh to all character into a complex and unique being. Most of my rating come from the acting department. They give 12/10.

But let me give even higher praise to our FL and ML. They definitely carry this show. They are stole our heart. Jiwon and Soohyun give their all in this role. Their acting are stellar. And their acting is... having conversation(?) Like it's good separately but together, their acting speak to each other. Maybe this is what they called chemistry? At least acting chemistry, it's exist between them. Thank you for giving lives to Haein and Hyunwoo!

This drama is quite a roller coaster. But it's a pleasant journey. Not lie kinda make me angry on episode 15, but it's end in a very good note :) Thank you for cast and production team. It's a success drama for sure :) ❤️

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Untangled a Broken Cassette

This story is like a cassette with tangled tape. If you want to rewrite the content, first you should open the case. Then you can start to untangled the messy part, connect the loop, ah, and don't forget make sure that it facing the right direction. Only after you do all of that, you can start to record a new story.

To be honest, the first episode was hard to watch. After all praises and good review, 9.0 MDL score and the fact that it will get a Korean remake, make me come with high high expectation. But everything feels flat, from humor to acting, dialogue, attempt to build emotion. I even watch 1st ep in 2x speed. Some miss in detail keeps disturb me, yet the main plot still intrigued me.

But fortunately, it start to redeem itself since end of episode one. I forgot all miss that ever happened. Even step by step the details come and fill the holes. The character reveal their depth, the actors and characters become one, all the mess untangled themself slowly but sure. Some expectations, some tragedy, happy moments. Instead of twisting the story, I believe that this one try to unravel the story for all of us, clear up the fuzzy part for you.

This drama has two characters that are the hardest to make us understand them in healthy manner. They are the types that make us said, "They are just crazy, I don't know how to help them, I 'll just let them, my effort doesn't work." They both get a very different ending, but what I love the most of words from Yu Xuan, "The reason you wanted to disappear from this world is not because you're too disappointed in the world, but because you had too many expectation of this world." I believe this one sentence is core of all of this story.

It's a beautiful story, it start with a tangled messy tape. It ends with a fixed one, ready to record a hopeful sweet story.

*Play Last Dance, plug your headphone, then close your eyes ????

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Poetry Books made as drama

This drama has the most poetic script and I'm sucker of it. Even the cinematography is poetic. Yet I didn't think this one is for everyone, but I swear if you're part of this semi-niche market, you will love it to the core. This feels very raw, kinda egoistic, also quirky, a very unrealistic way to achieve the most realistic needs. But despite quirkiness, idyllic is also big part of this drama.

And for the cast, I think Jung So Min is the perfect one for this. This one is really her vibes.

Ah, and I just realized that I already rewatched it at least 3 times, maybe more. The drama speak deeper to me, I think.

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Bittersweet Relationship

I come with expectation of bittersweet story, emphasis on the 'bitter', but actually the sweetness is quite profound. Still, it has deepness, like a bittersweet vintage wine. Intoxicating.

The main point is not the plot, but characters. Doona and Wonjun, both feel very complex and very humane. How their intricate thought lead to certain decision, but how easy they change when shaken by each other. Actually, that's very realistic. All support character have their own story, bring lighter feeling. Actors and actresses do their job very very well. All characters feel alive.

My favorite soundtrack is the one from Seori. I can't explain why, but I think that one contain the soul of this story. It really bring mood for the scenes and leaving a somber feelings.

The cinematography done very well. I really love the use of empty space they often use by framing the scenes. It's like looking at old pictures, reminds you of unfinished feeling. Which is very suitable for this story.

I know it has open ending, but for me, it has conclusion. It just done quietly and secretly. They exclude us from that. It feels intimate, and I love it.

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