A Much Needed Discussion on Depression & Mental Health

I was super excited for the release of this movie ever since I read the synopsis and watched the trailer. I had high expectations for this movie and went into it expecting that I would be crying in various scenes because of the topics it was covering. However, it did not live up to my expectations, but this did not mean that I did not like the movie. It was still an overall pleasant movie to watch. It covers heavy topics such as depression in the eyes of the person suffering from it and from society's eyes, as well as society's stigma on mental health. These are topics that I feel are not discussed enough in everyday conversations and films/television. It is an important topic that people need to be aware of, so I really liked that this movie's message was mostly about this topic through Ji Ze's story. The romance aspects are very cliche (to me) and predictable, but the main message/topic of depression is truly the highlight that viewers should focus on while watching the movie. Though the movie did not live up to my expectations (that I had from watching the trailers), I would recommend it!

SPOILERS AHEAD:
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Things I liked:
1. The message of the story- Depression is a very important thing to discuss because of mental health stigma and through Ji Ze's story, you can see why people with depression find it hard to open up to others about their situation.
2. The OST! - The three original soundtracks were just brilliant and devastatingly beautiful to listen to. They each probably played only once in the entire movie, but they were played at all the right moments to add to the emotional scenes. I can't even pick a favorite because each one is so amazing. There were also many moments when they just played the instrumental of an OST and it really added to the scene. I keep playing them on repeat.
3. Chemistry- The main couple was cute to watch and showed great chemistry together. It is a shame that their cute scenes are so short though. My favorite would be when Ji Ze and Xin Tang sang together :((
4. Acting- Loved loved Jang Ruo Nan's acting as Ji Ze! She was amazing at the crying scenes and made them look genuine since she wasn't afraid to ugly cry. She also did a great job at acting depressed without being too exaggerated. A truly rising star actress! Looking forward to her future works. The other cast also does a great job.
5. Plot- I liked how it showed why it was so troubling for Xin Tang to please Ji Ze and extend his lifeline because she suffers from depression. It was a nice way to connect the big picture (Xin Tang being bound) to Ji Ze's mental health situation and how they end up healing each other in a way (even though it is through love-which seems a bit cliche).
6. The Premise- I also thought it was UNIQUE to have the power of creating illusions to make people happy as a source of life for people like Xin Tang who aren't human. That kind of premise was the first I seen before this movie.
7. Visual Effects- I really liked the visual effects of the illusions that Xin Tang did for Ji Ze. They were really thoughtful and looked cool on screen, such as when he did the butterflies to stop her from her suicide attempt.

Things I did not like so much:
1. Storyline (Romance parts)- The message of the movie was very nicely done, but the plot and storyline were rather weak. It may be because it is a movie and not a drama, but the romance progressed super fast for me although it wasn't awkward to watch. It was just confusing when exactly the two of them started having real feelings for each other even though viewers can somewhat guess/infer how it happened. I would have liked it more if it was told more directly. There were also quite a cliche moments, such as how Ji Ze's treatment towards the end causes side effects of memory loss which led to Xin Tang having to make her remember him or he'll die. BUT some moments, although were cliche, were cute to watch: like how Xin Tang actually accidentally helped create an illusion that helped Ji Ze be happy (which counted as the first time he helped her).
2. Some Overdramatic Moments- Some scenes felt so overdramatic, such as many running scenes of either Ji Ze or Xin Tang. (Ex: Ji Ze running to Xin Tang in the hospital at the end)
3. Storyline (after the breakup)- It was a bit confusing how bad Ji Ze's depression got after breaking up with Xin Tang because it didn't seem like she liked him that much. So, it was hard to understand why her mental state completely collapsed after she left him.
4. The Ending- It was open-ended which was rather disappointing because I was hoping to see more of what happened to them after Ji Ze rushed into the hospital room. I don't like it when I have to guess if the characters lived and what kind of life they had after. I am happy though, that it was a high chance it was a happy ending.

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Intriguing Characters & Storyline!

I was very intrigued by the premise of this story with the mystery of the village and the complicated backgrounds of the main cast. The first 8 episodes were really good and kept me on my toes with the cases, but the episodes after that felt somewhat lacking. Some characters that I assumed were main characters were pushed to the sidelines and became weaker than they had been in the beginning. The main issue was the most characters' stories were written quite simply except for the main character, Do Jeong Woo. Other characters started to appear as an accessory to push his own storyline which made it less interesting to watch, though his story is the most interesting and the main plot. Though there were issues with the character development of the other characters, Do Jeong Woo's character was fleshed out very detailedly and NamGoong Min did an excellent job playing the role and delivering the emotions. He really deserved that Daesang.

It was disappointing that this plot and story had so much promise but kind of flatlined towards the halfway point. However, the OST and the superb acting of the leading roles made it worth the watch in the end. I would totally recommend it if you want to watch a drama with an interesting storyline and won't focus much on the character development.

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Great Suspense Thriller About Parallel Worlds!

I tried this a few weeks after it had aired because I saw how high the ratings were and here I am, finished watching this great mystery fantasy drama! I was hooked onto this drama since episode 1 and I was really intrigued by how this crime is taken place through parallel worlds. I stayed to see how this drama would and it sure did not disappoint! Another thing I loved is the moderate amount of romance that did not overshadow the suspense and crime-solving in the drama. Train shows how parallel world dramas should be done and I'm glad I stuck through until the end. Having 12 episodes was the perfect length for the plotline to develop at a moderate pace that was relatively easy to follow and did not drag. The only thing that made me drop a few points is that the story takes some thinking to keep track of each character's storyline in their original world because of Do won's world jumping. Despite this, it was a great watch and I would recommend it as a good suspense drama of 2020 to give it a try!

Spoilers ahead!
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Overall things I liked:
1. Very nicely written characters and storyline that was consistent and not boring (made it easy to get attached to the characters such as Kim Jin Woo's story, or the connectedness of the two worlds)
2. Love the acting! (Yoon Shi Yoon is amazing as the Do Wons!- really great as playing two roles which make up for his performance in Your Honor that I didn't really like; as well as the other characters)
3. The love line- was very balanced and did not get in the way of solving the mystery
4. How the motives behind people's actions were explained (such as why Min Joon killed or why the Chief protected him)
5. Filmography was great! (such as that scene in episode 11 when Do Won and Seo Kyung were both on the train tracks)
6. Loved how easy it was to tell when the world switched and which world each character was from without having an obvious personality or dress differences (I can tell based on behavior and can infer why that character turned out that way)
7. How handsome Yoon Shi Yoon was as Do Won!!- He got more built for the character and just wearing regular t-shirts look so good on him! >.<

Things that bothered me:
1. Some parts confused me at times because of all the thinking needed to keep track of the activity and background of each world's characters
2. How it didn't explain how Chief found out about the train or why Do won 1 had the power to move through the train at the end when the train was scraped
3. The ending!- I wish I could see more of what happened between that Do Won and that Seo Kyung in that new world shown at the end so it left me feeling unsatisfied

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To Just See You Again

I knew I had to watch this movie when I first heard that Someday or One day would be remade into a film. And finally, I got to watch it!! I didn't have high expectations so it did not disappoint me, since I already knew that it is hard to outdo the original. This movie is really just a chance for fans of the drama to see Li Zi Wei and Huang Yu Xuan fall in love again and love this couple. And I have to say that this movie successfully did that. It let you happily see these characters and this world one more time. It is really a fan service and a last goodbye to these characters and it's so bittersweet to see them again after already letting them go and then having to say goodbye again :(((

The plot is similar to the drama but also different. It is hard to describe, but the time loop logic is similar but somewhat changed. The time loops still made sense though, which I am thankful for. But it is also not hard to understand as long as you watched the drama version before since it is related. I really liked how they made small references here and there to moments in the drama that you would only know if you were a big fan of the drama. It felt very special as a viewer who loved the drama. My favorite reference had to be LZW's meat bun joke aha. Some plot points obviously are different as there are a few new characters and storylines but they were nice changes to make the movie different. I also liked that this time the love story is between the actual Li Zi Wei and Huang Yu Xuan in their real selves. It is a beautiful love story being told again.

I absolutely loved how Greg, Alice, and Patrick easily went back into their characters for the movie. It felt as if the drama wasn't released a few years ago but a few months ago. Their characters just feel like a part of them and I can't imagine how any other remakes can outdo them as Li Zi Wei, Huang Yu Xuan, and Mo Jun Jie. They are just perfect together! I liked how the movie gave some screen time to Wang Quan Sheng and Chen Yun Ru and they had their own storyline. Everyone had a chance to shine. It was a shame that I felt like Jun Jie didn't show up enough though.

The new soundtrack for the movie was also amazing!! Just as heartbreakingly good as the drama's ost. Especially Shi Shi's track! Last Dance always hits me in a certain spot when I hear it though :(

Anyways, this film is great for drama fans to see more of this couple as there isn't anything super great about it. I felt like I loved it more because I already love these characters and I have a strong attachment to this story and the world they built in the drama. I can't help but rate it higher because I love them so much. I think this film is a nice epilogue and it helps me happily say goodbye to them. I actually teared up watching and this couple and story will always hold a special spot in my heart. It will always be an unforgettable drama. Those who haven't watched the drama yet or didn't like the drama will probably be confused or not enjoy it as much. So please watch the drama first if interested!

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Makes You Envious of Their Love

I had doubts about trying because it seemed like just another fluffy rom-com but the trailers convinced me to give it a go. The first ep caught my attention immediately even though there were a few cringy lines and I stopped watching for a bit. BUT after that episode, I just couldn't stop myself from watching the next and soon I was catching up with the available episodes.

I was so captivated by Li Xun and Zhu Yun's story even though there are definitely some cliches in there. It just felt more refreshing and new than any other modern Cdrama I've watched. Chen Fei Yu and Jing Yi really pulled off their characters and brought them to life! Their chemistry is really on another level, especially when you also watch the behind-the-scenes. They just look so good together. I ended up believing that Li Xun and Zhu Yun were real because the characters were so fleshed out. If the script wasn't written the way it was and different actors were casted, I truly believe that this story wouldn't have been as fun to watch or the romance as sweet. The OST is also very good! They play it at all the right moments to pull on your heartstrings. The filmography and production are of high quality and the script shows that the team cares about the flow of logic and storyline. Romance is also funny and adorable since there were a good amount of funny moments that happened very naturally and I kept on replaying them. The cute parts were also not too sweet, which is just my style. It really kept me grinning every time I thought of those scenes. The ending was also written nicely with loose ends tied up. After watching this, I have so many pictures of Li Xun and Zhu Yun saved and now I am a Chen Fei Yu fan :)) I haven't watched such a captivating Chinese modern-day romance story in a really long time!

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Not Your Cookie-Cutter Typical CDRAMA High School Romance!

From the moment that I saw the trailer and mv for this drama, I just knew that I had to try it. The chemistry between the leads, Tong Xi and Lin Nan Yi, felt so strong the second I saw clips of them together in the music video and trailer, and the music was so catchy and sweet. AND THEN the moment that I tried it, WOW I was sucked into their story. The OST is also soooo good! And no one is dubbed!

Let me explain in detail below:

Although you can expect what cliches the story will be using and what might happen next (with this story being old childhood friends reuniting and all), there was never a boring or cringy moment. It felt so new even though I know these tropes and have seen them in many other dramas before. The casting may be the reason for this because they finally cast main leads who are not a tall male lead and a much shorter female lead with a short bob hair cut. The female lead is also not a poorly performing student and the male lead, not a smart and aloof person. This drama finally put two students in high school (main leads) who are equals in academics and not having the typical character development lines (as deskmates, enemies). With the different types of male and female leads we are given, the story felt much more engaging and new even though the tropes were still the same old ones. And yeah, although the main leads are not exactly unique either, they felt new (with Nan Yi being a manhwa writer and Tong Xi a ballerina tomboy). The supporting roles also played a large part in this, by having hilarious little arguments and chemistry that is unlike the supporting roles I have seen in other youth dramas. They added to the main leads' story and made everything feel more real and grounded. All of this made the story feel like I could actually see these types of characters in a small island like this somewhere. SO, even with some tropes and forced cliche moments (ex: rain scene and when Nan Yi came back), it was still fun to watch.

With such casting choices, the cliche moments become more cute and sweet instead of feeling so cringe and overused. It feels like a new idea and more creative (though it doesn't seem like it is on the surface level) that makes you want to keep watching. This makes each episode so so so so so enjoyable to watch and I felt so sad each time I finished an episode because I knew I was getting closer to the end of their story. There are still some moments where it is very obvious that the writer is trying to force a trope, but the characters make it so easy to look over it (ex: the rain scene where Nan Yi is standing in the rain downstairs at Tong Xi's house). The fact that this happens is really the magic of this drama. This is the first time where I watched a youth drama where I expected the tropes and it didn't bother me for even one moment because I just loved seeing the cast on screen. I couldn't help smiling and having my heart flutter for all of them when normally for other dramas, I would just roll my eyes. At the end, I even wished there were more of those cliche scenes just because I want to see the main couple and supporting couple more!

The acting is also pretty good for such new rookie actors/actresses. The main leads and supporting characters carried their characters well and delivered the emotions above my expectations. It was my first time watching everyone in this drama and they all did great. Although they can definitely improve, I think they all brought their characters to life, particularly Lin Nan Yi, Tong Xi, Tao Zhu, and Wang Yi Ming. Any scene with any one of them were so fun to watch, especially with Wang Yi Ming. There were some more side roles (Ni Xiao Wan's parents, some kid actors) that were weak at delivering lines, since they felt like they were just reciting their lines and forcing the emotions to the viewers, but they don't take away from the story.

Finally, the story discusses very real concerns that high schoolers have. For example, Tong Xi and Xiao Wan's desire to be liked and attempts to lie to create a fake image of themselves. Or, Tong Xi's struggle to decide what she wants to do in the future (since ballet is not her dream). These are all very real problems that kids in high school deal with. Even as you get older, these are concerns that people likely have because we all wish to be liked by others, to fit in, and to know what we truly want for ourselves. It was nice seeing these in the characters and watching their journey.

I also LOVE LOVE LOVE THE TITLE OF THE DRAMA! The writer did well to connect the entire story to the mint plant and the main leads' 'engagement' to each other when they were kids. It was cute to learn what the mint plant means in flower language and how this is Tong Xi and Nan Yi's story.

BUT one regretful thing is that there are only cute eye contact or smile scenes between Tong Xi and Nan Yi! No real dating or skinship scenes at all! They only had 1 hug and 1 handholding scene (which wasn't even a close up of them) which is so sad since they look so cute together. The writer only gave a lot of cute Nan Yi smiling secretly at Tong Xi, or them two smiling at each other.. :( So I feel like I didn't get enough of this couple. The side couple at least got a peck on the cheek but nothing for the main leads!

SO PLEASE GIVE THIS DRAMA A TRY BECAUSE YOU WON"T REGRET IT!!!!!!!! YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH TONG XI & NAN YI!

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Emotional, Heartwarming, & Heroic

Was excited to try this drama out because it discusses the COVID-19 pandemic in China, but it also relatable to my life because the entire world is fighting against this virus right now. The first episode started off pretty alright but the following stories are what convinced me to keep watching. The soundtrack for this drama is also very touching; it just hits you in the right spots during certain scenes. Some stories are not very dramatic and interesting since it is based on the real situation that happened in Wuhan when the virus hit, but it touches your heart in a special kind of way. I would recommend anyone to watch because it really makes you realize that that medical personnel are true heroes.

What I liked:
1. Great soundtrack
2. Splendid cast- very talented senior and junior actors/actresses in the different stories who played the emotions very well
3. Very emotional parts/heartwarming parts- the bowing and saluting just hit me in a special way; It's amazing what these doctors, nurses, volunteers are doing for the country; everyone is just working together
4. Stories- most of them were good although some were more interesting than others; they all however did cover a different situation that occurs to the people in Wuhan (My favorites were the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law one, the doctor/nurse couple, and the truck driver ones)

Disliked:
1. Not anything in particular, just that some stories were less interesting to watch compared to others

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Exciting Comedy Mystery Movie!

Was a bit reluctant to try a comedy cop movie because I was worried it would be too funny and not have enough of a focus on the cop part, BUT I was wrong. It was a great mix of humor and mystery/thriller focusing on the abduction case. Following the development of the case was interesting every minute and I was excited to see how the story would go. Also, the crime parts were not so serious to the point where it got boring; it was straightforward enough that the case was intriguing and easy to follow. Fight scenes were done very realistically and were fun to watch.

So, overall good things were:
1. Great plotline
2. Humorous
3. Amazing and realistic acting

I totally recommend this movie if you're looking for a funny crime/mystery movie!

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A Great Lesson About Friendship & Life

I eventually gave this drama a try because of Xiao Zhan and I also heard that the drama had great ratings in China. It was a bit slow in the first 3 episodes, but it gets a lot more exciting once you get past that part. I don't usually watch dramas that take place in this time period or the Republican time period but it was quite fun to watch unlike what I expected. You learn a lot about what China was like back in the 1970s.

The story was very interesting for the most part but I did start skipping a bit of the other supporting roles' scenes like 3/4 way into the drama. Chen Hong Jun and Ye Guo Hua's scenes near the end were just not as interesting. I won't explain in detail to not spoil the story. I really like how you see how Chun Sheng's relationship with all his buddies changes over time and how each of his buddies changes themselves. To be honest, I didn't like his childhood friends as much as his friends in the military. Duan Lei and Amao were very insightful characters and they were nice to watch. They made a lot of great points through the drama. The different conflict arcs were also interesting, though some were frustrating to watch. However, you can understand why Hong Jun and Guo Hua made the decisions they did. I can't forgive them but I can see what place they are coming from. Chun Sheng is too perfect of a character- too loyal, honest, friendly, and smart. Like the drama said, he really shines without much effort. I think I would find it hard to be his friend although he would be so loyal.

The acting is also great! All supporting roles and main roles did a wonderful job at pulling off their characters. Xiao Zhan really showed me again through Chun Sheng that he is a versatile actor. He really pulled on my heartstrings and I shed quite some tears when he was in his rough time out of the military and recovering. I hope to see Xiao Zhan in more roles like this one. This is the second time I watched Li Qin in a drama and I can also see why she is a top-rated actress. All the supporting roles did great too. I especially loved the actor who played Chun Sheng's dad. His acting was so natural and heartwarming. I loved his scenes with Chun Sheng and Hong Ling.

The love lines between Chun Sheng and Xiao Mei were pretty cute too. I liked how you see that Chun Sheng did not like her in the beginning but over time, they ended up together. It was pretty emotional how supportive Xiao Mei was during the times Chun Sheng needed someone by his side. They were also cute from the beginning. I also can't completely hate on Hong Ling since her dilemma is reasonable and I would have struggled too. There is also a reasonable amount of romantic scenes mixed throughout the drama. As it takes place in 1970s, it was nice that it was not too cheesy and had a moderate amount of smiley warm scenes.

Overall, a great story to teach you about friendship and growth. You just have to ignore all the propaganda scenes since those are quite obvious. The propaganda got stronger towards the end so I just skipped more over it.

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Amazing Heartfelt Bromance & Interesting Saeguk

I never imagined myself trying this drama but ultimately gave it a try after a friend strongly recommended it to me. AND IT WAS GOOD! The first episode grabbed me right from the beginning and I couldn't stop watching. I had expected there to be a lot of politics and corruption in this drama, but boy was I wrong! It was filled with intense and exciting fight sequences and an amazing friendship story between Seo Hwi and Nam Seonho. I felt their chemistry just from the two of them being in the same scene together and it was really just heartbreaking how their friendship progressed and ended in the finale. There were some slow parts, but much more fast-paced scenes and stories. The story is easy to follow and the characters are all developed so deeply that I got attached to all of them. I don't even have to say it, but the acting was top-notch! Yang Sejong and Woo Dohwan did a spectacular job! Totally recommend anyone to try this, even if you're not into saeguks because I sure did not expect myself to love this drama & its characters this much.

Things I liked:
1. THE BROMANCE (Hwi x Seonho was so heartbreakingly beautiful to watch on screen; if only they got to spend more happy times together)
2. the OST- it was just amazing!!! The soundtrack played into the emotions at the scenes and really broke my heart in some of them.
3. ACTING- Yang Sejong and Woo Dohwan are incredible as their characters. they really brought them to life.
4. Characters- I really loved Hwi's gang, they were hilarious together and I really loved seeing them all fight and save each other at crucial moments; their comedic scenes were also just as great as their emotional ones
5. Fight scenes!- The fighting scenes were always so fun to watch because it was just so exciting! I especially loved seeing Hwi and Seonho fight side by side (although this only happened a few times); the bgm that played whenever Hwi started shooting arrows or using his sword also brought all the feels and dramaticness
6. Engaging Story

Things I didn't like:
1. the focus on the romance line- I felt it was kind of boring whenever Hwi's love line was shown because the bromance was more than enough for the story

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Realistic, Emotional Story

The premise of this drama and the high ratings already convinced me to give this drama a go but the main soundtrack was the final push. I went into this not knowing any of the actors but they did not disappoint. I was pulled into the story so quickly right from the first few minutes of episode 1. The rest of the drama went by very quickly and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It did not help that the ost was so catchy. So catchy and sad.

The drama covers a very serious and dark topic but the writers managed to tell it with a lot of thought and seriousness about portraying it correctly. I can tell they spent a lot of time researching and that they want to send a message to the victims of similar experiences. They cover the aspects from all perspectives after the assault- the victim, victim's family and friends, and partners. It evens goes as far to show how the perpetrator and their family might handle the assault and its repercussions. The ripple effects of the assault affects everyone's lives and we can clearly see it in the drama. Moreover, the director chose to film everything to perfectly show Lin Chen Xi's mental state and her breakdown. The drama does not look down on the trauma and respectfully shows how deep it scars and how long it takes to heal. There are moments where you get hints of what is reality and what is the past. Watching this drama gives you a good look at what happens to victims of sexual assault. It is thought provoking, emotional, and angering at the same time. The story telling was skillfully pieced together for viewers.

Most importantly, the acting is amazing! Lin Chen Xi is a heavy character to play but Tiffany Hsu and Charlize did great. They were very convincing and it must have been hard. Toby was also great at making two different roles but making them both attractive in their own ways. I really like Lin Chen Xi and Li Hao Ming. I hope we all have a Li Hao Ming in our lives to support us in our darkest times. All the older actors, even the teacher Hsieh, were great. I was most surprised at how good Chris Wu was at his role as Danny- first time seeing him like that and it was shocking. Those were all tough roles but they were amazing. There really are some great Taiwanese actors. Will be keeping an eye on a couple of these actors. ;)

Overall, I really liked how the writers chose to tell this story and the message they are trying to send to viewers and sexual assault victims. It might be too heavy for some but it is worth giving a try. Taiwanese dramas really not afraid to cover any topic whether it is dark or not, and I love that. They also do it so well! Hoping to see more dramas with deep stories like this one.

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A Wuxia Detective Bromance Story Done Right!

When I first heard about this drama and saw the cast lineup, I didn't have much expectations so I didn't try it immediately. I waited until more episodes were out before finally giving it a try. And I was shocked at the quality! I could tell from episode 1 that this drama put a lot of attention on the story, characters, and sets. I felt such high potential for this drama that I slowly watched the available episodes and waited to binge after it was done airing. I haven't felt this excited watching a wuxia drama since Untamed.

There are so many good things to love about this drama. It may feel a bit slow-paced in the beginning but after going through their first case, the pace picks up.

1. Solving the Cases. I love watching a good crime story and this drama did a great job at telling interesting but not predictable cases throughout the drama. There were also some great plot twists that were unexpected as Li LianHua and Fang XiaoBao were solving the case. It was particularly interesting because of the cooperation between the 2 leads. Such great chemistry.

2. The Relationships/Characters. Every character was introduced nicely and I could see the motives behind their decisions. The main and supporting roles were built with a solid backstory which helped you see how they grew from the first episode. But Li LianHua would have to be the most interesting because it is not typical of a wuxia drama to show the strongest hero at such a low moment in their life. The bromance between Li LianHua and XiaoBao was done so well too. They have perfect balance of bickering and cute sweet moments. I slowly grew to love the two of them, as well as with Di Fei Sheng. There is not a boring moment when the 3 of them were on screen.

3. The Story. In the beginning, the drama felt a bit slow but each case was built so naturally to lead up to the climatic conflict at the end. There were no useless filler scenes to just add to the episode length because every moment was needed. Also, there were so many unexpected points in the story and it just pulled me deeper into this world. Ugh I'm so sad now that I finished this drama :(( It is also sad

4. The Fight Sequences. All the fight sequences were choreographed so amazing! It was thrilling to watch them fight and Cheng Yi is so great at pulling them off! It truly showed what makes wuxia dramas so fun to watch. I have to say that Li Xiang Yi is just so skilled though... all his fight sequences were so nice and that was only with 30% of his power. UGH THE TALENT.

Anyways, I recommend this drama to anyone who loves wuxia dramas with great crime-solving and bromance!

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A Heart-Fluttering & Real Dating Show!

I stumbled across this dating show and found it so interesting to watch even though I normally find dating shows boring. I love how real and mature the cast members are, which is makes it more fun to watch because everyone respected one another. They gave each other space once they realized that the person they liked did not like them. The panelists also share some really great perspectives on relationships and there are various funny moments as they discuss and get excited about certain couples. I also loved how there were not that many mission dates for the cast members to complete, so they all could plan their own dates to get to know one another instead of always being forced onto random dates. It was also nice to not have the typical text message confessions sent anonymously between the cast members, but instead, they used Wechat moments as a way to show their feelings. The house they used was also really pretty. The only unfortunate thing was the scandal that I discovered about the cast member Yu Yue which then made it hard for me to look at him the same as I kept watching. In the end, I really grew to relate to certain cast members and there were moments that made me cry. I am very happy for the end couple(s) and I really hope they stay together for a long time. I also hope that the other people find someone who will love them and care for them because they really deserve it.

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Warm Emotional & Real Drama About ALS

I was weary of trying this drama because of the nature of the plot and I also am not a big fan of any of the main cast. However, the trailer looked very emotional and everyone's acting seemed great so I was convinced to try it out. I ended up binge watching all episodes in one weekend and crying/bawling multiple times. I expected it would be sad the level of sadness and bitter sweetness was more than I thought. You really don't know what you should be grateful for until you don't have it anymore. You also don't realize the importance of time until you don't have it. ALS really is scary but this drama's portrayal felt very educational and inspiring despite it being terminal. We see the different stages of the disease and the real reactions of the patient and family and friends. I liked what the directors and scripwriters were trying to do by making this drama, and I can really feel their care and respect in this project.

Everyone's acting was also top notch, especially Lin Yi as Lin Tuo. I did not know he was such a great actor until this role. I can tell he put a lot of effort to portray the role right and get all the small details of an ALS patient. It must have been very hard to play this role but he did great. I think this will be a role that people will not forget. His emotional scenes were also so good because he did a great job of portraying the complex emotions. I got a new understanding of his skills and will be keeping an eye on his projects. Li Lan Di also surprised me with her acting as Xiao Que because I haven't watched any of her dramas before. After watching her here, I think she is quite talented when she has the right script and role. In my opinion, she is more suited for these younger contemporary roles that are closer to her real age instead of those fantasy idol dramas. The other two supporting roles of their best friends were also soo good! Guang Pu and Xin Di had great chemistry and were hilarious! Their scenes were the lightest parts of the show and I could not stop laughing. Guang Pu is particularly hilarious as a character but also such a great friend. Sun Tian Yu did amazing as him and pulled off all the emptional scenes so well! I am glad I met him through this drama and role. All other roles were great too! There wasn't one actor who stood out to me as acting poorly.

The music was also so emotional and had great lyrics. Notably the song "There is Still Time" and "Keep Silent" were so sad everytime I heard it play in the drama. It only made me cry harder.

This drama does make you cry a lot but it does also show you the warmness of people and the kindness in the world. The friends, family, and coworkers can be a strong support system and show such warmness. There is darkness with this disease but it can also be turned to help others. It can be seen as a sad drama but not entirely. I cried a lot but also learned a lot while watching this drama. I hope cdrama land can create more real dramas with great acting like this one. I will not be able to forget this drama and the scenes for a long time. If you do give this drama a try, prepare tissues!

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Great Investigation Drama

This drama was not on my radar at all since I haven't watched a good Chinese crime drama in a long time. However, I heard some good things online so I gave this a try. The first couple of episodes do pull you in right away although the pacing could sometimes make you feel a bit tired. However, the main and supporting characters are introduced nicely and you get attached to them early in the drama because of the relationships on screen. These supporting characters are also a great source of comic relief to lighten up the mood. My favorites would be Wei and his 4 buddies in the station. The acting was also very great- from the entire cast. There wasn't only one person carrying the drama, which is what I hate.

As for the crime and the main case, I was immediately intrigued by the case. I am a big fan of these serial killer cases in dramas and this one was quite different although also a bit cliche. I liked how the drama slowly revealed more information and narrowed down the suspects in each episode. The final reveal at the end was not completely unexpected but it did surprise me how we finally reached that conclusion. I wish that there was more of an explanation of the killer's motive and M.O. but it is true that there are cases in real life that do not get everything tied up neatly. It was also a neat touch that the Western serial killers and criminal psychology were mentioned throughout the investigation. The process of investigating the entire case was also done well and realistically. The flashbacks were helpful and not too abrupt or confusing.

Would recommend it for crime lovers as it has a solid storyline and superb acting!

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