MysteryMel-Bookish
Arkansas
This review may contain spoilers
Story: once in a life love, death, STARK -RAVING rich folk using $$ for replacement love. This is the core of the mess. Face transplants? Body swaps? EVIL teacher-friend ( who I never understood his motive at all.) Acting/Casting: My draw was the ML Shao, he was perfect for this role of lover, fashionisto, just an overall SMEXY man. The FL was ice-queen who needs MORE acting classes and presence to be with the likes of the ML. The basket of other actors left NO lasting impression or proof of their acing abilities.
Music: lets move on. Nothing meaningful for me nor memorable of the story.
RW: NOT in this lifetime!
Overall: this story was too many eps! 58 was only for sponsors. Content was about 28-32eps worthy. Again, my main draw was the ML (since meeting him Ode 2Joy 1 &2) he deserved better story and actors. Face transplants, body swaps, killing for greed, last minute near death, silly adult scenes of poor communication, misunderstandings( too tedious& formulaic to detail) . This drama had potential and lost you quickly at 18eps. At the end, I never got a satisfying resolution to why the teacher-friend "POOCHED" & KILLED ? Drama title rename: "Fashionable Fu&kery"!
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Actors - Chris & Ivy had chemistry yet the entire time was wasted on weak story-line devaluing their acting. Cast of SL wins most annoying human. Cast acting was mediocre.
Music - on point not anything memorable
RW - NO! NO! even a blistering hot as hades or snows of epic keeping me in will NOT entice me to do this again.
Overall - Easy 16eps show made into 22eps. All the while pissing off the viewers with weakest ending and gaping story holes.. Notice they have a special... DANG just put a fork in it... Chris W deserved better.
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Acting: this cast was amazingly cast. MaleLead (ML)_ slick-smart-badasser; FL_smooth-savvy/smart-badasser = perfect pairing; FVillian: dang she is amazing an ice queen-ruthless-narcissistic. She's kicked it up several levels from her BOF evilness_ DANG!; MVillian: this thug grows on you. He is a street thug who's kicking with power, thug/gang style. Evil, ruthless and well portrayed.
Music: it all FIT- well done!
Re-Watch: yes
Overall: Thugs - politicians portrayed as seamless puzzles pieces completing the picture, much like our global present day "power-thug" political landscape. The transition from politician to thug or visa versa, we the common citizen are simple fodder. Lots of lessons taught in this drama,if considering career changes. Final note: one of the better Kdramas in a LONG time!
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Story - emotionally abused family and young girl with talent tossed around work & life
Acting - fair to fair. Female lead could really cry. The male lead is young and had some swagger just not enough to convince me he was not a singer whose trying to act.. Rest of the cast was okay. Of course the gratuitous annoying assistant-friend whose voice & dialog makes cartoons sound good.
Music: jeez folks
RW: NO. not even for snow days
Overall: after watching several strong female - male leads in cdrama this dragged. This is 33ep too long! Yes, skipping is needed. If you want a storyline that seems to drag with an overabundance of wicked-evil women screen time + limp. victim played lead - give this a go. Be warned there are better acted and story's out there!
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Story: Not new - Qing era - power - harem & survival- politics- love- abuse of powers - loyalty. The writers & production team brought us into the Forbidden city, behind the doors and inside the lives of the women & men who are simply wanting to live - some greedily others - some for revenge - some just for love.
Actors/Cast: YL & the Emperor were MAGNIFICENT with screen chemistry rivaling any modern drama. They both portrayed their roles with grace, power and depth. There were so many moving parts(cast members) that performed brilliantly, all the while convincing us the power & survival within - surrounding the harem life. Not one terrible actor!
Music: the score was PERFECT for the drama, while the opening soundtrack of the opera singing set the tone for the entire drama.
ReWatch: at 70 ep, may come back after I get some rest. Worthy of re-watch - REALLY!
Overall: Costumes, scenes and actors delivered a compelling drama riddle with logic, philosophy and relevance to survival & love, period! The final ep of the dialog with YL and Chun is the final learning offered to us as to survival in the forbidden domain of love. Watch if your are serious about Cdramas. Brilliant!
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Storyline: strong girl protects - crazy female hating villain - crush /CEO love triangle. Two NON-related stories in one and never could figure out WHY and purpose of crazy hating villain - NO connection at ALL to story.
Cast: Leads were convincing and entertaining - nothing noteworthy
Music: never paid any attention
Overall: The lead female was far too silly and naive for ANY adulting nonetheless a HS relationship. This character showed no signs of development for 16 eps. The male leads displayed more development which is really rare in dramaworld. Watch knowing this is just mindless and rather blerg. Setting the bar fairly low.
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Story: timeless and ever told saga of power for the BIG chair - no man, woman or child or LOVE will hinder that drive. Costuming & scenes were amazing and vivid.
Actors: the main leads had sizzling chemistry (wishing for a fulfillment) with all the actors cast perfectly for their roles - each and everyone. The emperor was one of my most favorite characters. Love mature actors!
Music: fit the mood and time and not overbearing.
Summary: was this perfect drama? No, it sagged in some spots, technically jumpy, storytelling seemed overly convoluted - confusing at times. YET, the main actor -KC introduction into the drama portrayed a deeply complex and tormented man in search. Thus I was hooked. This is a long drama, and well worth the time . "With smart people, you must be strategic." This drama was one heck of a go - chess game.
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Actors: female lead stayed doofus - silly so long she became tiresome. So little character development. Seems she is typecast for silly doofus roles. Seriously aggravating. Two male leads, great casting and delivery.
Overall: the length of the silly JM blissfully bobbing through was a major distraction. The meat of the story gets fleshed out around eps54 -60, with the last couple eps as "really" writers, you want to stretch this more? For the life of me, trying to see why this drama is so highly rated. Okay at best - the main lead just wore thin. 40eps could handle this storyline.
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Gem of a drama that has been overlooked.
Story: Steadfast and realistic story of modern relationships - what is marriage? what is love? love and desire ? told from three pivotal points: 30+, parents, work comrades. Compelling (writing) story-lines of loss, luggage of past, and fear of future. The dialogs and discussions between the adults was "brilliantly delivered and complimented by the camera work
Acting/Casting: Main leads were mesmerizing. Every actor was on point for dialog, body language and feels. Solid casting.
Music: simply perfect OST and songs within episodes
Overall: Almost passed this over from the poster. Dove into based on reviews. One of best dramas for 2017 (maybe 18 from what I've watched). If you are looking for a drama that has depth, breathe and clarity, WATCH THIS!
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If you're squishy about blood and real world happenings - do not watch! Stunning actors who unfolded the storyline with ease and fun. Music was fine, never got in way and complimented the series. Overall, Netflix offered a gem with this series for a mature viewer needing more than the standard fare with a compelling
If you're into tattoos - watch this for sure.
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This drama was headed for 10pts, then the dreaded 12eps just pooched the whole thing.
Story: not new: goddess/sorceress entangles hearts with the handsome prince. Complete with sibling rivalry, political mess, whacked daddy emperor, maternal power plays and always helpful eunuchs or little brothers to keep the crap going.
Acting: Nothing stood out as bad and all filled their roles. The triangle of love always involve the pretty ones.
Music: did not get in the way - fit the mood and actions
RW: not soon... and maybe
Overall: costumes, locations, and actions are memorable and grab you immediately. CGI was breathtaking. The drama is from a popular book and thus being a book person, the book is always better (until translated for me) however the on-screen story seem to lag/weigh down with the AChai tribe princess obsession (way over-done), Ling mother demon crap, Ming dead-alive act, crazy emperor act. The audience got the pic of these "lost" folks yet we had to endure painstaking eps that could have been eliminated to provide a better ending. The final eps felt rushed, incomplete and bam done! When so much time was spent on characters who added no growth or value. This drama would have been great at 42-45 eps max. Glad I watched, just not happy with direction and length - drama overlords really pooched this drama!
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Story: Corruption, legal maneuvers with murder. Not a new tale, just well told modern re-enactment.
Acting: The male&female lead set the bar for the younger generations for quality acting - what it looks and feels like. All characters were well thought through and delivered. Excellent
Music: well done -
RW: When drama landscape has too much bubble-gum drama possibly. Too many more to view.
This is adult drama. If looking for riveting, just enough eps, thought-provoking, quality acting, no rom, and pure edge of seat, this must be on your list.
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Story: Center piece is a woman 40+ who is dumped by ex's at least 4x's, 20 somethings, 30 somethings and 60+. Yes, the full spectrum of humans going through life and all the angst of finding love. The story starts off like a silly antic Cinderella C- iteration, then about eps 12 you realize all the eps before are backstories and the story-line begins to flush out in a classic Cdrama way. Then eps19-20 happens and cinderella/glitter gets explained - and the story moves ahead.
Actors/Cast: Love the centerpiece actors - mature yet NOT. All cast were good, no-one stood out.
Music: typical Cdrama sounds some not necessary, silly and more important so cliche.
RW: eps 20 especially Richmond's talk during the movie screening.
Overall: If you are looking for a drama, done well and with REALITY worked into the Cinderella story-line you might enjoy this one. Could have been 15eps for my taste however I loved the ending. It offered the twists - that life does not offer glitter endings. In life, we are gifted glitter moments to be cherished cause glitter 24/7 life is pure fairytale!
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Acting/Casting: The entire cast is fitting and comfortable with roles, storyline and each other, something rarely viewed.
Music: Never paid any attention
RW: The beginning of S2 with Bao aggressive courting. Watching & listening to his voice was mesmerizing - what took Andi so long?
Overall: For many, book 2 are primarily developmental portion of story - character of the trilogy, this followed suit. Many parts were simply nerve racking and silly. However knowing this is the bridge to S3, I will give space and reserve judgement. S3 has a heavy load to carry on putting closure to the many open ends.
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