Peridot83
This show has a whole set of unique, interesting characters. I appreciated featuring women who enjoy sports, were motivated and competitive. I liked how the male characters developed feelings first while the women were somewhat clueless. The acting is rather amateurish, but the actors were also very endearing and interesting to watch.
The main failure of the show is the lack of pacing and suspense. Everything is established 1/2 way through, and the audience is just waiting for the characters to figure it out.
Also minor points off for lack of budget for the combat scenes. BUT, there is enough screen time of practicing, fighting explaining strategy to 'buy-in' to the plot.
The beginning and end songs were catchy and well-done given the lack of budget/context. No reason to rewatch.
I grade on other criteria:
Complex Themes - 7.5
Karma catches up with you. You have a responsibility when engaging in fighting to do so in an ethical and moral way. The older generation does not always know what's best.
Character Growth - 6
The characters fall in love with each other and learn to trust each other, so in that way there is 'growth.' But you could watch the first episode, and last episode and the characters would feel about the same.
Complex Women/Female Relationships - 7.5
I really did enjoy the focus on a different type of woman from the typical awkward, bubbly cute girl. There's strong female friendships as well. They are more stereotypes/caricatures than fully fleshed out characters but there's a good diversity to them. I wish their character growth was not centred around becoming more open to relationships with men.
Production/Cinematography - 4.5
This is filmed like something from before the 'golden age' of tv dramas. If I hadn't known, I would have thought it was shot in 2012. The 'wealthy' people do not dress wealthy or have the barest trappings of it. The fight scenes are very short and they didn't even invest in much slowing-down/speeding up effects that are in your basic social media video. The cinematography just records what is in front of the camera with some mix of wide and close-up shots.
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I thought I knew how this would end, but the last four episodes delivered something different.
At this point, the dramas featuring young, modern love in the big city amidst a growing career are all interchangeable. This drama, however, had two strong points - a mature, complex set of themes that truly stick with you, and a genuine love for the fashion and entertainment industries.
Eleanor Lee was adorable as Nuannuan, while also being competent and fierce. Her slow fall for the male lead was believeable and endearing. Leon Leong as Han Che did fine as a cold, 'genius' who is hiding a dramatic flaw and who desperately wants to be loved and understood.
The secondary romance was very well-acted and while more dramatic/cringeworthy also very much held my interest.
Music was competent. I would not rewatch - there's no particular scene that really stuck out to me.
I grade on other criteria:
Complex Themes: 9
A wonderful execution of: how success finds it way in many forms, and that you can find a fulfilling life if you are open to different possibilities. How finding true friends and partners - people with kind, generous inner character can be the most precious, and necessary components of a contended life. Also, a minor theme, but that it's important to be clear and express your feelings in words.
Character Growth: 7.5
Before the last four episodes, I'd have put this at a 5. In the end, though, Han Che realized he was endangering what was truly important to him by not changing his behaviors and actually changed. It's a truly rare quality in a person, and I liked how NuanNuan appreciated and recognized this.
Complex Women Characters and relationships between women: 8
Nuannuan was part of a girl group and has a female best friend. She also meets mentors and coworkers who are women all along the way. These relationships are by and large not complex, but they are plentiful with lots of screen time.
Production values: 7.5
The production is limited, and not very cinematic, but I did like that there was a lot of coverage of the fashion industry and a good representation of different styles, brand and clothes.
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Being with the most attractive, popular guy may be the high school dream. But what about a sustainable relationship after?
Two wonderful things happen with this switch to university:
1) Nao 'gets it' before Uehara flipping the whole silly girl script - she knows what she respects in a person and Uehara is it. Her insecurity this season stems from the fact that Uehara does NOT seem to get it.
2) Uehara suffers from a lot of self-doubt at university. It's nice for once for the guy in a school drama to NOT 'have it all.' He has little money/time/energy to be a good romantic partner to Nao, and he has trouble putting her first while trying to get ahead. Enter Natsume who seems to have all the things Uehara lacks, and the self-doubt grows.
The show could have cut some side plots, but in the end I just felt incredible fondness for the characters and their journey.
I grade on other criteria as well:
Complex themes:7.5
Being caring and responsible towards others is a rare quality that should be cherished. Secrecy causes trouble and heartbreak, so be open and honest. New to this season: relationships take work and growth - you have to put the time in.
Character growth: 8
Uehara does most of the growing. Letting life pull him in all directions and hope Nao's at home waiting is not a good strategy.
Female relationships/characters: 7
A draw back to the focus on Uehara and Natsume is that there isn't as much female bonding. Marina has a definite backseat this season. Uehara's sister-in-law is replaced by Uehara's new boss as the messy adult woman in his life. I liked that Uehara's boss was a woman, but I didn't like her characterisation and found it over the top.
Cinematography/Production: 6.5
A bit better than the first season but not by much. Still shot as a very basic 90s drama. A little more variation in sets, costumes, and extras. Natsume's look is well done and a good contrast to Uehara.
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I like this far more than Mischievous Kiss, Boys Over Flowers etc.
Nao-chan is average in school and appearance, but special in her ability to be a warm, caring and welcoming friend. Uehara -kun one of the top 3 coolest guys in the high school, is smart and athletic, but no one would guess he actually is in real need of someone like Nao.
At first, the relationship is very off-balance. Nao is head over heals, with a big vulnerable open heart and at risk of bullying. Uehara-Kun has difficulty risking his emotions, and his reputation seems to be getting sky high . . but then it all starts to change
The actress who plays Nao-chan just does a 150%+ job. She is silly but endearing, not a doormat, and very willing to stick up for those who deserve it. The actor who plays Uehara-Kun manages to pull his weight and attempts his Mr. Darcy type role well.
I like this one due to the every day at ease, physicality of the relationship between the two actors/characters. They interact a lot, go through a lot, and have a very symbiotic way of interacting that's very different from these shows where at the end the couple still feels like they barely know each other.
I grade on other criteria as well:
Complex Themes: 7.5
Being reliable, helpful, and a good friend are rare qualities that should be cherished. Speaking honestly and truthfully will save a lot of trouble.
Character Growth: 7.5
Uehara- kun does the most. He becomes more open, and attempts to make sure Nao-chan knows that she can count on him. He grows to respect her ability to make people feel at home. It becomes clear (esp. in Season 2 more so) that he has a much higher esteem for Nao-chan than she does for herself.
Nuanced Female Characters: 8.5
Uehara-kun's sister in law is a fascinating study in an adult woman finding marriage not what she expected. Nao-chan's relationship with Marina is a great one. I do wish it didn't have the stereotypical female queen bee bullies, but it is what it is.
Cinematography - 6
It looks like a drama that was shot in the 90s. BUT, it does have its strong points. I like that that it's staged like a manga . There's also no unfortunate attempts to depict wealthy or exotic locations. The show works really well with its 'every day' sets in a comfortable way.
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This romance is very similar in basic plot to Love 020 and Le Coup de Foudre.
I liked this more because of the endearing relationship between the two leads Xia Ke and Xing Yun. While in the beginning Xia Ke takes Xing Yun for granted , he is never unnecessarily cruel or mean. Xia Ke is quick to want to clear up misunderstandings. There is a lot of respect flowing between the two of them, and they have really good natural chemistry (and good kissing scenes - though it takes forever to get there!).
The side romance/side characters are charismatic with good personalities.
The plot is thin and could have been edited down to 20 episodes. I almost dropped this around Episode 12 because the typical 'switch' (when the arrogant male character panics/goes into crisis/humbles himself) was taking too long.
Complex Themes - 6
Not complex, but I liked the emphasis on trust, respect and sharing burdens. Really good modelling on healthy relationships. I liked the growing respect for typically gendered 'feminine' skills in the work place e.g. organizing, morale boosting, loyalty, team-work.
Character Growth - 6
Xing Yun grows to know her own worth, but it is Xia Ke who does the fundamental transformation to being more trusting and open. Neither do a huge dramatic transformation, but they do have a lasting change.
Nuanced Women -7.5
Xing Yun is your typical bubbly, girlish naive female lead. BUT she does have a lot of inner strength by the end, and does out-smart other characters. I liked the strong female friendships displayed - and there was a lot of female screen time.
Cinematography/Production Values - 7.5
There was a lot of name branded/luxury goods to help with the realism of wealthy characters. The sets were appropriate. There are no 'cinematic' moments - it was shot as a basic drama.
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Le Coup de Foudre follows two main couples for the first 2/3 of the show. The primary couple (Zhao Qiao Yi and Yan Mo) are stereotypical: caring but a bit clueless woman + the cold, ocpd and brilliant man. The secondary couple (Zhao Guanchao and Hao Wuyi) I found more interesting: a playboy who doesn't believe in marriage due to his abusive father + a confident, creative writer who has a huge romantic streak despite a lonely childhood.
How the main couple will come together is resolved early on, and their troubles are replaced by Yan Mo trying to start a corporation and the issues of Yan Mo's co-founder.
I lost my interest and the show fizzed out for me. The one saving grace of the show is the acting is excellent and naturalistic and that there are true to life problems and obstacles to conquer.
I grade on other criteria as well:
Complex Themes -4
The only real theme is healthy supportive relationships makes the ups and downs of life more bearable.
Character Growth -4
The only characters who show a bit of growth are the secondary couple - and even then their acting doesn't change much. They feel the same as they did in the first few episodes.
Nuanced Women -7
I really liked the friendship between the two main female characters, and I liked that the show depicted women with varying different dreams and goals.
Cinematography/Production Values - 5
It's competently done for the most part, but not at all cinematic. As one reviewer mentioned, there is a hazy tone over most of the scenes to denote nostalgia/the past. But since most of the story is set in the past, this choice was a strange one.
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The strengths of the show are the endearing two main leads and the fact that being a pyschometric is not an easy fix. Crimes can be complicated - seeing one piece doesn't mean you have the truth.
The mood of the show, however, changes dramatically between the first half and the second half. The first half is 'two young people solving mysteries and falling in love' and the second half is 'can you catch a psychopath before he kills more people.'
It also looses steam. Ultimately, at about episode 12, I just wanted it to be over. Something that could be wrapped up in one more episode took another 4 to finish.
I grade on other criteria as well:
Complex Themes -7
I enjoyed the three main themes. They were unique though only covered shallowly and easily covered in 1 - 2 episodes: 1) just because you 'know' a part of something don't presume you know it all - there often are no easy explanations solutions/fixes 2) it is a societal/community problem if the police are corrupt, and violent men are allowed to terrorize families. 3) if you try, you are capable of change - you are not a prisoner to the circumstances of your birth
Character Growth -6
While one of the themes is character growth, character growth isn't shown much on screen. We are told of changes but not really shown them.
Nuanced Women -7.5
There are strong interesting career women in the show, as well as female family members and friends. They were not complicated, intriguing or central to the plot. But it was refreshing to see so many female-female relationships given screen time.
Cinematography/Production Values - 7.5
Competent, but not particularly creative or interesting. There were a couple of group fight scenes that were stylishly done.
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'Healer' himself is the key character to this story - the one who transforms from a loner, selfish, barely trusting anyone to a kinder, more generous person who wants to see justice done. His story would be transfixing on its own - but its paired with a believable romance with lots of interactions, a mystery with multiple subplots, and a moving story regarding old friends, family and generational hopes.
The acting is top notch, and all the leads (and many of the supporting characters) can go back and forth between humour, tragedy, action etc. with the drop a hat. The music is good enough. There is a lot of rewatch potential as a lot of its value is not in the 'mysteries' of the show.
I grade by other criteria as well:
Complex Themes -10
There are A LOT of themes here regarding corruption, power, love, friendship, selfishness v. sacrifice etc.
Character Growth -8.5
'Healer' grows a lot as noted above, and at certain points in the show does a 'Superman' type deception. Yeongsin does become a bit sharper, cynical and somewhat steelier over the show, but the majority of the transformation is on his side.
Nuanced Women -7.5
There are 3 great female roles in the show - very smart with strength of character, but unfortunately no real bond or connection between them until the very end. The women are more ideals and inspiration - motivations for the men in the show than fully fleshed out characters in and of themselves.
Cinematography/Production Values - 8.5
The action scenes are really well done on what appears to be a lower budget than what K-dramas have today. Lots of 'exteriors' shot in real settings scenes - good, basic cinematic camerawork. The main downfall is the wealthy people do not have the trappings/attitudes of the wealthy probably due to lack of budget.
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For the genre, there is actually a fair amount of tension/obstacles in this show. There are misunderstandings, rivalries, lies about background/who you are, jealousies etc. Eventually, the multiple identities/huge amounts of misunderstandings gets a bit old. But what I did appreciate, is the characters spend A LOT of time together. Getting to know each other, slowly getting familiar with each other in the way that's really only possible when you are at university.
Bonus plot points for actually delving into the music industry a bit.
There is an interesting mix of acting styles. Chen QingQing dramatically overacts in order to differentiate between her two personalities - whereas Situ Feng has a more low key, naturalistic style. They are very endearing/cute together - but do not show a ton of range.
Added bonus is that the main actor actually is a good singer/entertainer (more so when doing boy with guitar bits, than dance numbers).
I have other criteria I score by:
Complex Themes -3
(Very little in terms of themes. The attempt at a theme about beauty falls very flat (the end result being she is incredibly attractive, but he likes that no one can tell). The one about being true to who you are is a bit better theme but not by much.)
Character Growth -4
(Situ Feng because a more trusting, softer, more lighthearted personality over the course of the show. Chen QingQing due to the dual personalities doesn't change much at all besides switching between the two characters. )
Nuanced Women -4
(Chen QingQing essentially plays two stereotypes and doesn't so much blend the two as pick one. There are some female friendships but not very strong ones).
Cinematography/Production Values - 6
(Not a lot of money is needed for this show, but there were some areas that showed the lack of budget - esp. when attempting to show Situ Feng is 'cool' or Chen QingQing is 'wealthy').
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I liked this even though there are no obstacles. Xiao Nai always does the right thing: he's respectful, caring and protective. Bei Wei Wei simply is in awe of her good fortune.
The cast saves the show. The actor playing Xiao Nai really embodies a cold exterior that has a warmer playful side, and Bei Wei Wei is the right mix of silly and endearing. Their roles are fairly traditional gender roles, but there is a lot of appreciation of what they both bring to the table.
The music is mediocre. I wouldn't rewatch the whole thing, but may watch it for a moment or two now and then.
I grade by other criteria as well:
Complex Themes - 6
(Models what a healthy relationship looks like. I also liked the question of whether to separate virtual and real worlds - since you can harm someone in both, shouldn't you have integrity in both?)
Character Growth -3
(The two characters are static and do not 'grow' very much over the course of the show)
Nuanced Women -6
(Points for female friendships and featuring girls in tech, but overall they are stereotypes you've seen before).
Cinematography/Production Values - 6
(This is very low budget, which is fine for the real life scenes, but was a bit harder in the video game/CGI bits. Not only was the CGI poorly done, but the wigs, costumes etc. were also of poor quality)
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Respect for different talents leads to successful teams and successful relationships . . .
The strength of the plot and acting here really sets this one apart. Unlike a lot of dramas where things start falling apart at the 2/3s mark, this is consistent and strong all the way through - with the little mysteries building to a bigger and bigger problem.
To be clear this isn't a 'whodunit?' but what do you do about suspected corruption that is buried deep and in positions of power - perhaps even within your own family?
The acting is realistic, naturalistic and touching with very little overacting. Friendships are well sketched out, relationships quietly build over time.
The music is serviceable. Certain moments will stick with me, but I'm not sure if I will actually pick up and rewatch.
Complex Themes -7
(The themes here is about corruption, how seductive it can be, how no one can be 100% immune...and the real barriers to cleaning it up. There's also a smaller theme about respecting others strengths and weakness, and that brilliance in one area doesn't exempt you from pulling your weight in others. In the end, it's just presented as is - there is no complex or new takes or understandings you take away from the show.)
Character Growth -6
(The character growth is 80-90% on Xu Xus part - growing from a individualistic, slightly arrogant talent into a team player who values the different strengths each person brings, Ji Bai is presented perfect as is)
Nuanced Women -9
(Strong points for having multiple interesting many-shaded female characters. From the 'villians' to the heroes, there are many different women with their own motives and reasonings. Also pluses for showing positive and strong female friendship.)
Cinematography/Production Values - 9
(It's mainly shot in the real world, set use is minimal and well-done. Action scenes are well choreographed and they have the budget to shoot the Burma scenes properly.)
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If I was just grading the plot on the first 2/3s or so, I would give the story a 9.5
On the surface Simon Bo, brilliant, troubled psychological talent from a wealthy, well-connected family, has nothing in common with Jenny Jian, a sweet gifted university student. But it turns out that they have complimentary talents - Simon Bo can get into the head of perpetrators, while Jenny Jian has a talent for getting into the heads of victims and their families.
But as the plot takes off in the second half, Jenny Jian largely gets left behind and the case gets increasingly convoluted and absurd.
The acting is top notch, I never even felt like the main characters or secondary characters were 'acting.' The old friendship between Simon and Fu Ziyu, and Jenny and Li Xunrun are realistic, friendly and comfortable. The tension and relationship between Simon and Jenny is slow moving while becoming increasingly more familiar. For all the seriousness, there are lighthearted moments and joy between the two.
The music is competent and works to set the mood. It doesn't have to much rewatch potential - as a lot of the tensions come from the mystery elements.
Complex Themes -9
(Where is the line between understanding the enemy and becoming him? What is your responsibility to use your talents for the greater good and at what cost? The show leaves a lot of this open ended but does explore it in detail)
Character Growth -8
(Jenny grows a lot over the first 2/3s of the series, as she learns her own strength and grapples with evil/horrors that can exist in the world. Simon Bo doesn't grow as much but softens a bit and becomes a bit more humble as well - but unfortunately as the plot gets more chaotic their growth/development stalls out)
Nuanced Women -6
(Jenny is really nuanced but she is practically the only female character who isn't just there to move the plot forward (the other two female characters being a US gov't agent and Simon Bo's sister)
Cinematography/Production Values -7
(Lots of filming in the real world, and good camera work. Costumes/settings etc. are competent. Major negatives for not recognising their limitations and attempting to set part of the show in the United States whilst not finding competent actors).
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Great Premise, Builds Addictively, But then . .
How can you tell the difference between true justice and unjustified revenge? When is it OK to forgive?The Rise of Phoenixes stays strong for the first 40 to 50 episodes or so...so many hours of entertainment that I can forgive the show for boxing itself into a corner and then spinning its wheels on how to finish. The premise is so intriguing, and so puzzling (how can they pull this off?) that it keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The characters are compelling, though there are far fewer characters than other historical dramas. The main characters are great. Ning Yi does mildly overact/do an eccentric sort of Johnny Depp type performance. Feng Zhiwei has plenty of personality and backstory, and the actress brings it to life. There is a lot of electricity between the two main leads in small gestures and looks, which had a really nice build. The friendship between Ning Yi and Xin Ziyan is also very well done.
The music works with the show, and there are definitely scenes that I will rewatch, though I'm not sure about watching it straight from beginning to end. There are many scenes that I like to revisit again.
I have other criteria I score by:
Complex Themes - 9
(The main theme of the show is forgiveness, justice and revenge. When do ends justify the means? When is forgiving someone betraying other principles?)
Character Growth -9
(The great tension of the show is how the characters rise to the challenge at first, how they become better coordinated, better leaders, smarter and more calculating, and then how they hit walls that cause their faith to shatter. Unfortunately, the show ends up getting stuck far before the finale and the growth stops)
Nuanced Women -6
(Feng Zhiwei is a great role - but she is it. There are very little other women in the show that act as more than plot devices or have much screen time).
Cinematography/Production Values - 10
(The costumes are really innovative, use beautiful textiles and fabrics, the sets are lavish, and there are some good exterior shots as well. There isn't as much martial arts as some, more army movements/storming a building/special effects of collapsing buildings)
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What exactly do the women of the inner palace do all day?
In many big epic historical dramas, the pettiness, boredom and despair hinted at by the inner palace is never truly explored. This explores the characters of various women in the inner palace, with beautiful design, costumes and cinematography, and a nuanced, take on many different types of romance to boot.
The true strength of the series is that it's all about the characters and their relationships - how they all struggle to keep some sense of self-worth whilst competing for the attention of a very impatient and somewhat distant emperor and the current harem favorite.
The weakness is the plot points can get repetitive (multiple poisonings, very important things mysteriously disappearing, at least two women do the evil cackling going mad thing), but I kept a high score because I never felt the need to skip - the dialogue, acting and character revelations made me want to watch every minute.
The acting is generally extremely good. The opening credits are the most beautiful, haunting TV credits I think I've seen in my life. There are many scenes that I like to revisit again, but due to the repetitiveness of the plot points, I don't know if I'd ever watch the series again from start to finish.
I will note that this series does feature many petty/cruel/torturous acts.
I have other criteria I score by:
Complex Themes - 9
(The series does not jump from random plot element to plot element, but actually builds on concepts regarding patriarchy, revenge/justice, trying to live above the fight vs. engaging with it, and different types of romantic love and love between friends)
Character Growth - 7
(Characters do not undergo huge changes but they do exhibit full ranges of emotions - it's not just angry, serious all the time, but there are lots of moments of sillyness, joy and tearful gratitude as well.)
Nuanced Women -10
(Women everywhere! Esp. liked the characterisations of the main character - Wei Yingluo, the empress Fuca Rongyin, and Mingyu. Even the straightforward characters, would show surprising strengths or weaknesses).
Cinematography/Production Values - 10
(Just incredibly gorgeous and beautiful. Lovely colour combinations and interiors - whilst not too many exterior sweeping shots - the ones that did happen were very well done.)
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Almost 4 years later, this drama is still the gold standard and has aged extremely well. Each plot piece fits perfectly, heroes and villains all have interesting, nuanced stories. The music adds great atmosphere, though I wish it was a bit more varied (they heavily rely on some 2 excellent songs/musical theme) . Scenes from the show linger in your memory far after the show is over, and I did rewatch certain scenes - though not the whole show.
I have other criteria I score by:
Complex Themes - 10
(The series does not jump from random plot element to plot element, but actually builds on concepts regarding narcissism, good leadership, sacrifices for the greater good, etc.)
Character Growth - 10
(Characters are not just playing the same 5 facial expressions. They face tragedies and setbacks, and they actually change as a result; even the 'evil' or 'bad' characters have moments of weakness and sympathy.)
Nuanced Women - 6
(The female characters are nuanced, but in the end they have much less screen time than the men. Also, felt like their storylines were somewhat cut or dropped by the end).
Cinematography/Production Values - 7
(Did not distract from the drama, but also did not add to it. Seemed mostly filmed on 3 or 4 standard sets, costumes/design were competent but not particularly interesting, action scenes were a bit poorly choreographed and limited).
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