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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A Locked Room Murder Done Right!

I first heard of this drama because I am a fan of Greg Hsu but I ultimately gave this movie a try after watching the trailer. It is the first time seeing Greg play this type of character and the story sounded very interesting- I am always down for a good mystery.

This story of a locked room murder case is not something new but the first few minutes hooked me right in and I could tell this could be really good if it was done well. And it really was! After introducing the main plot, everything afterwards was fast paced. I was sitting on the edge of my seat and couldn't take my eyes off. It keeps you thinking about all the possibilities even when you think you know who the real killer is. Ugh, I just love a good crime mystery!

As a big mystery fan, I had some feelings about how the story would go but it still kept me interested. You think you know everything but you have to keep watching to really know. The characters were not new but still were intriguing and I wanted to see if I was right about the villian. Lots of twists and turns. It really keeps you second guessing the truth until the end. The big reveal at the end was done super well with great BGM and camera angles. In between, the little pieces of the real story and investigation being revealed was also done so good and natural. This is what crime movies should be like!

Also, most importantly, the director is really great at story telling and I can tell he really cared about how to show this story. All the dialogues and character introductions were also written amazingly, superb job with the scriptwriters there. Great scenes with high tension and dramatic music. Moreover, the acting was really just amazing! I am usually doubtful when trying Chinese movies but this one shows how a good suspense movie can be done! All the actors from Greg to Janine were amazing at bringing their characters to life! Greg is a very versatile actor and this movie is even more proof of that. It is my first time watching Janine and she was so good! Everyone was just great! Hoping to see these actors in more great projects!!

Also no spoilers- but I was almost right about the story! Nonetheless it was still very exciting to find out everything. Such a great watch! A locked room murder done right! It went by so fast and I may even rewatch! Totally recommemd for those who love suspense and mysteries!

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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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Healing with Great Traditional Chinese music!

I discovered this hidden gem after hearing about its good story and pretty decent ratings, so I decided to give it a try. I went through the first half of the drama in a blink because it was so good. Got a lot of great laughs and teary eyed.

The story was pretty fast paced and did a great job at introducing the characters and their motives. The love line between Mu Di and Bai Lang is a cliche of enemies to lovers but the drama did it in a refreshing way that made you grow to ship them slowly at the same time that Mu Di also grew to like Bai Lang. I really liked that the drama respected the aesthetics of the small town and also didn't focus so much on the actors' visuals. They casted people based on talent which is obvious with the male lead who isn't the typical handsome and successful style in most rom-coms. He was great at bringing Bai Lang to life and was pretty boyfriend material. I will keep an eye on his future projects and hopefully he gets more main leads. He has a lot of potential. I really liked that they explained a lot about his background and motives so you could understand his actions at the beginning. His group of friends were also pretty likeable, although they didn't show much of their background.

The script and story was also written well for an original script. The writers clearly respected each character and tried to develop the main ones fully. I wish they did try to show more of the second male lead though since he is also shippable with Mu Di. I also liked the whole background story of the band with traditional Chinese instruments and Bai Lang's event company. His events made the show more interesting and there were many funny scenes. The writers did great with the comedic timings that felt very natural. The characters overall felt very real and not like a plot device. My only complaint is that the last 5 or 6 episodes were so focused on the side couples who were not really interesting in my opinion. They did have character growth but just were not interesting to watch. Mu Di's friend and the William guy were just not too fun to watch, so I skipped their scenes in the end. Besides them, I liked all the other characters. Their chattering and dialogue were very fun to watch, noteably Mu Di's family and Bai Lang's friends.

The love line is also not the main focus of the drama, which I appreciate. They focus more on healing and the topic of dreams and music. I do find it regretful that we didn't see more cute scenes of dating Mu Di and Bai Lang. They are cute together! Their best scenes were when they were starting to like each other so I wish we could have gotten more.

Acting wise, the main leads were great and the old actors were great too. The supporting were the weaker links, like William and Mu Di's friend. They did not feel that natural with their lines and body language. I couldn't get too into their roles compared to Bai Lang and Mu Di.

Overall, a healing drama with great music and a cute love line. It is an underrated drama since the budget isn't super big and not very well known actors. However, would totally recommend it even though it wasn't perfect because there are great funny scenes and it was really addicting to watch the first 2/3 of the drama.

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An Emotional Action-Packed Drama That Keeps You On Edge

I saw great reviews about this drama and have been wanting to try it and I did not expect it to be so good! I almost binged all 8 episodes in one day because each episode kept me on the edge of my seat. I just couldn't stop watching.

There are so many great aspects of this drama. Acting. Action Sequences. Characters. Script. I haven't watched such a thrilling action drama in a long time. The writers did an excellent job at the world-building and character introductions so that you get what is going on quickly and also connect emotionally to the main characters even if they don't have many scenes. I really felt for everyone on Choi Tae Ho's team and it was very emotional. I have to say that I bawled hard for certain moments, not to spoil anything. The bromance between Geon Woo and Woo Jin was also amazing! I did not expect their bromance chemistry to be that strong but it worked well and they had cute interactions like real friends (but they are actually friends in real life too). As you watch, you can see how they each developed their personalities and boxing skills. I liked Choi's team the most and I wish we could see more of them working together. Even the villains are developed so well that you fully hate them because they show you all the reasons they are evil and deserve the worst. I hated Kim Myung gil... I really do. He really does a great evil smirk and it left a really strong impression. I don't think I ever seen him play such an evil character before.

The action sequences are the highlight of this drama though. I haven't watched boxing before but wow, they sure looked handsome while fighting. I didn't know boxing could look that good. Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi brought their characters to life and it felt like they were real boxers, though it helped that they actually learned to box for their roles. The charisma was just flying out of the screen :) I couldn't get enough of their fight scenes, especially the ones when they fought together. They should take on more action dramas because they have the skill. I am now looking forward to their future projects. Such talented actors! All the fight scenes and action parts were just so thrilling to watch! I want to applaud all the actors and stunt actors for their hard work on those scenes. It must have been tough pulling it off so well.

The plot was also done pretty well. There are some parts that I don't understand why it was necessary to do but I guess it helped the characters develop further. I wish they didn't have to go down that route though. I also wish that the last episode could have ended differently and shown a more detailed conclusion to all the villains so I could heal from the trauma they left me in the 8 episodes. It was also super nice that the script writer naturally included comedic moments in the drama despite the seriousness of the plot to help bring more laughter into the darkness. It was done so nicely that you can't help but chuckle. I can tell that this is the same director that did Midnight Runners- same great action and witty lines.

Overall, this drama has all the elements for those who love action. It is also only 8 episodes so it is guaranteed to be fast-paced and binge-worthy! Warning though- the fight scenes get really graphic sometimes and may be hard to watch for some. Please be careful about those scenes if you can't handle lots of blood and violence. But wow, so many great action kdramas came out this year, like Vigilante.

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A Deep & Real Look Into the Heart of Cardiology Doctors

First things first, I have to say that I had my doubts when I first heard about this medical drama but that all went away the moment I watched the first episode. I thought it would be another rom-com disguised as a medical drama but it truly is a real medical drama focused on the doctors' and patients' stories and personal growth, while also focusing on the journey of healing. The romance is not a large part of the drama and doesn't overshadow the important story about all the medical staff and patients. It really is what the drama promotes itself as and I really love that. It is no wonder why this drama has such a high rating on China's Douban drama rating site but it is a shame that not more international audiences are watching. It is really a hidden gem!

More detail on why this drama is such a great watch:

First, the story! The script was thoroughly written and you can tell that the writers put effort into making sure all the medical procedures and terminology are correctly portrayed. I also saw online and in interviews that the writers spent 2 years working on this script and the main cast spent a month learning relevant cardiology information at a real hospital. The writers also regularly consulted real cardiologists to write the different scenarios with the patients so that they are medically correct and not some plot device. The patient's stories are dramatic but feels like it could happen in real life. As you watch all the surgery and hospital scenes (which is almost 90% of the drama), you can immediately tell that a lot of time was spent on getting everything accurate, whether it is the actors or the set. It is very obvious in every scene in the hospital that there was a good effort put into everything, and that is why the story is even more engaging and real. Even without knowing all that, the patients' stories themselves were heartwarming and touching as well. They manage to make you connect with each patient and get you emotionally attached to them so you can't help but feel anxious, worried, and engaged in each episode. That is how I ended up binging almost 10 episodes in a day because I just couldn't help myself. Not only that, but be prepared to shed tears (lots of tears) as medical dramas always involve talking about life and death :(( I cried multiple times throughout the drama and it still hurts to think about it. Get tissues ready and be prepared to love these patients! However, also be ready to enjoy a good dose of humor at just the right moments! The writers did not forget to add some sunshine in the middle of the heavier topics. Moreover, the story also includes the hospital politics between doctors and also makes you ask questions about a doctor's motivations. The drama really covers all topics related to the doctors and patients in a very fluid and

Next, the actors! I haven't watched Mark Chao since Ten Miles or Mao Xiao Tong since Princess WeiYoung but I know their acting skills so I knew that they would be pretty good. But Jin Shi Jia was a pleasant surprise to see. All three had amazing chemistry together and I really enjoyed all the scenes they had together. I really love the Xiao Feng x Xiao Ran x Lin Yi combo. I could not get enough of their scenes. Whether it is bromance or romance, they pulled it off incredibly! Xiao Feng and Xiao Ran are very cute siblings while Xiao Ran and Lin Yi are adorable bickering. All three actors were convincing in their roles and performed above and beyond in conveying the complex emotions of being a doctor and their character's struggles and backgrounds. I really felt for each of their personal stories, particularly Xiao Feng and Lin Yi. The writers did amazing and fleshing out each character so that you can relate to their decisions and dilemmas. You will find yourself loving each character. The love lines were also nicely done! The coupling between Xiao Ran and Lin Yi felt natural and they are just too shippable. I wish they could have had more sweet scenes. However, I didn't enjoy Xiao Feng and Chen Yue love line as much but it wasn't too bad. I just loved seeing the personal growth of Xiao Feng, Xiao Ran, and Lin Yi in the episodes and I miss them already. The supporting roles all did great as well. They are not well-known actors but they really brought their characters to life, whether they had a lot of screen time or not.

Another thing is the OST, filmography, and sets. The bgm and OST were written beautifully and with deep and relatable lyrics. My heart hurts each time I listen to it yet I can't stop playing it on repeat. The bgm was also nicely composed and played at all the right moments to pull on your heartstrings and make you bawl. It hurts.. :( The director also did great in building the sets and filming the surgeries and hospital. I saw a behind the scene and some of the drama was filmed at a real hospital to make it look more real. I really appreciate the crew's hard work in making every little detail as real as possible. It really made everything feel more real and pull you into the story.

Overall, this drama is a great way to learn more about the cardiology department and about doctors' struggles. For example, I had no idea there were two different departments within cardiology- cardiac and cardiology. So, it was an eye-opening experience to learn about how those two departments work together. The drama does an excellent job at talking about the relationship between doctors and patients, and doctors with doctors themselves. It touches on doctors' career prospects on top of all this as well. Basically, this drama covers so many different aspects in a very real and grounded way. It really makes you ask your heart, or wen xin like the Chinese title says. Please give it a try if you like medical dramas!

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A Realistic Portrayal of the Lives and Comradery of Firefighters

I definitely went into this drama not expecting much since I first tried a few episodes of Yang Yang's Fireworks of My Heart when that was airing. However, this drama completely pulled me in and I was surprised at just how good it was yet not many people were recommending it. Fireworks of My Heart pales in comparison to this drama. Both are dramas about firefighters with romance but Bright Eyes shines in almost every aspect. Realistic portrayal of firefighters' lives, natural and fantastic acting, balanced romance and firefighting scenes, and educational. Moreover, the story and character have logical development, which is somewhat rare in modern-day dramas.

The first and most important thing is the realistic scenes of firefighters' daily lives training and going on rescue missions was really impressive. It was really realistic and eye-opening. The drama really realistically showed the struggles of the firefighters' family members and how firefighters juggle being so busy. However, as a Chinese drama, there is a bit of propaganda but I don't feel that bothered by it because I believe any person would want to believe that firefighters are devoted and willing to protect them in cases of danger. It also isn't very obvious since it is subtly hinted at through the characters' actions and dialogue. Another thing is the comradery of the firefighter team members. I could really feel how much they trusted each other and their teamwork in rescue missions really touched me. The drama did great at making you feel connected to every member of the firefighter team just by watching a few episodes of them together. I really cried and felt relieved with them every time. Even the sacrifices of the members, though are expected since this is a firefighter drama, felt so heartbreaking and I bawled my eyes out. The dilemmas and mindset of firefighters are also effectively portrayed in many scenes and experiences of the firefighter team. The director did great at directing those scenes with those camera angles and bgm. Also, since the firefighting scenes are realistically portrayed, it is very educational about what causes fires and tips in case of fires. Particularly, it was helpful that they talked about the firefighters who deal with wild fires because people don't usually think of them. I found that part interesting and I learned a lot about what they do. It was also nice that they ended the episode with a short clip of fire safety tips. This is what a fire education drama should be like, unlike other dramas ahem.

Now the acting! Johnny is the perfect person to play Lin Lu Xiao! Before watching this drama, I had no clue that Johnny played so many characters with uniform but wow, he sure looks great in his firefighter gear. His build really brings out a charisma that Yang Yang could not do. It is like he was made for this character- he embodied Lin Lu Xiao and I can't imagine anyone else doing it better. His line delivery and acting were also just top-notch! He was amazing at being strict yet also soft towards his team. His crying and tearing up skills are so natural and real that I couldn't help but cry with him. So rare to find a male actor with that kind of charisma, line delivery, and acting skills. However, it isn't just him who is great at acting- the entire firefighter cast was amazing! They were all new faces but they all did great in their roles. I grew attached to each of them and felt heartbroken at how every one of them ended up. My heart still hurts a bit thinking of them. The firefighter team also realistically pulled off all the firefighting scenes to the point where they actually looked like firefighters. I really enjoyed the chemistry between all of the team members- Lu Xiao, Lao Yang, Lao Yu, Lao Liu, and Lao Lei.

The romance and firefighter aspects are also balanced nicely. I am not someone who likes too much romance so I found it enough that it was about 65% firefighter story and 35% romance. Life isn't only about romance so it felt real that it wasn't all about their love story. They are also firefighter so it makes sense that it doesn't show as much of their personal lives. It also isn't like there weren't any romance scenes at all because it was quite sweet for a while and cringe. To be honest, I enjoyed the firefighter aspects much more than their romance. If you are going in looking for a lot of romance, I don't think you would enjoy it as much. Everyone talks about the ending but I believe that the ending is however you want to interpret it. I don't mind open endings as long as the entire story was

Overall, I really enjoyed this drama. It is more heavily focused on firefighters, but rightfully so since firefighters do so much for civilians but don't get much attention in the media. So, this drama is a very good way to learn more about the work they do and what kind of lives they live (at least in China lol-). I will miss these characters, particularly Lu Xiao and his team. China should produce more of these high-quality dramas to educate about these kinds of occupations. Anyways, totally recommend this drama for those who enjoy dramas focused on special occupations. I can see why people keep comparing this to Fireworks of my Heart and criticizing Fireworks. I have to agree that they are on different levels. The only reason i didn't give it a 10 is that some episodes did feel a bit slow but that was only a few. PLEASE TRY!

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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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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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Relaxing & Healing

Did not expect to like this but wow, this drama is very healing to watch! It took me about 3 episodes to really get into the drama but after that I finished each episode very quickly. The acting and chemistry of Liu Yifei and Li Xuan were unexpectedly good and fun to watch. The villagers were funny in their own way as well. There were many moments where the villagers and others touched me, and it made me wish such supportive people could surround me. There were also many comedic moments that were not too silly to watch. However, some supporting roles story arch near the end were not as interesting as others and I had to skip to keep watching the episode. I appreciate the writers building out each character though, it made it easier to understand their actions. It was definitely a healing drama to watch overall.

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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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Not Your Cliché Sport Romance Drama

I was not planning on trying this drama even though I am a fan of Wu Lei because I usually don't watch romance dramas with older girl-younger guy storylines. However, I eventually still gave it a try and the first episode already grabbed my attention. After that, every episode seemed to fly by since the storyline felt pretty fast-paced and ended before I knew it. It did feel a bit slow sometimes but it picked up again soon. It wasn't a rom-com as I thought- but instead, a serious drama about sports with a touch of romance and comedic relief when needed. After watching more than half of the drama, I really felt what others were saying- that the drama felt a bit long towards the end; specifically the last 8 episodes. The drama could have totally done fine and even better with only 32 or even 30 episodes total. The arcs in the last couple of episodes felt very stretched out and unnecessary- like it was there just to increase the episode count. I didn't feel the need to skip during the earlier episodes but I kept skipping near the end because the scenes were boring especially when it wasn't about San Chuan or You An.

The thing I found the most enjoyable was how the characters were written. The characters are quite lovable, specifically Song San Chuan. I really admire his persistence and determination in training and practicing for whatever the sport is- badminton or tennis. I wish I could be as hardworking as him. Wu Lei did an amazing job in bringing San Chuan to life, particularly making the sports scenes look very realistic as well as his physical body fitness aspect. I also found Liang You An quite interesting and I could understand her struggles and mindset as an older woman with a younger love interest. I eventually grew to like their cute scenes together, although some felt a bit cringe but sweet too. There were way more cute scenes than cringe ones though :)) I couldn't help grinning like a fool in so many of them. I thought San Chuan was really natural at pursuing Liang You An and I wish there was a San Chuan in real life because that would be great even if he was 10 years younger. If Liang You An wasn't played by Zhou Yu Tong, I would have had a harder time getting into their CP. Wu Lei was good at bringing the youthfulness of San Chuan because he is actually the character's age in real life. I hope he can play more youthful characters like this because it really matches him and he excels in it too. I also loved the chemistry between San Chuan and the other 3 tennis team members- it made me feel warm just watching that friendship. However, I did feel that the friendship wasn't built as thoroughly and it felt a bit boring sometimes. My favorite would have to be San Chun's relationship with An Cong is very cute and funny too- just the right amount of comedy relief. A better touch would have been to show more of Luo Nian and the coach's love line because they had good chemistry and it was a shame they didn't show more of them.

Also, as someone who doesn't enjoy watching any sports or playing any sports in real life, the tennis and badminton scenes were actually fun to watch and quite thrilling. I even got to learn more about what tennis and badminton are like, which was nice. It also helped that the director filmed the tennis and badminton sequences from very cool angles so it felt very entertaining to watch those scenes. I also thought that the different struggles shown in the drama did a great job of demonstrating the mindset and setbacks that athletes go through in real life- though I am not one myself. It made me in awe of athletes and the effort they put into training. Despite the seriousness of the athlete's life, the drama balances it out well with the other supporting characters and comedic relief. Trying this drama really got me to drop my bias toward these sports dramas because it was more fun than I thought. I might be going back to look for other sports dramas like this. A plus is the OST was nice too. My Favorite is Rainie Yang's one because the lyrics are perfect for the drama <3

Another great aspect the drama included was the older women's struggle in society as they work in their careers. I feel like Zhou Yu Tong did great at showing what kind of bias society has towards older women and there were great moments where the drama actually called out certain societal beliefs. Dramas that touch on these topics feel especially more relatable as a woman myself who faces those issues in real life. I also found that Liang You An's working scenes felt real and not like just a plot device to pass some time- those scenes actually felt like her actual work as an executive assistant. I especially felt that this drama did great at showing the mindset of an older woman who is being pursued by a younger guy. They showed a realistic thought process of a woman considering a younger partner. I can't imagine a different actress playing You An.

However, I feel like this drama would have been just as fun without the romance aspect. It could have just been focused on San Chuan's athletic journey and growth and been just as good as a drama. However, I didn't find the romance too bothersome since it did not take up much screen time. Overall, this drama is a great mix of romance and sport with a great touch on the realistic struggles of modern-day women and athletes. I am really glad I put away my bias toward this type of drama and gave it a try in the end because it was a fun ride during those 38 episodes!

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A Love Story That Could Have Shined Brighter

A nice romance story between two musicians who felt lost. I am usually not a super big fan of melodramas but gave this a try after seeing positive reviews. I was pulled into the story from episode 1 and I felt attracted to the characters. I felt for Song Ah's confusion about following her passion and Joon Young's burnt-out feelings about playing the piano. I also really feel the chemistry between the main leads and I wish there were more sweet moments between them. I did love the moments they did have, like the umbrella and handkerchief, and how they slowly moved from interested to dating. And I liked how they were not super lovey-dovey and had awkward moments- felt very real. I also liked how they talked about their problems directly (for the most part) and their love felt very warm. The friendships in the drama are also very warm, and I wish I got to see more of Hyeon Ho and his story. However, there were many moments in the drama where I got confused as to why certain characters behaved the way they did and it was frustrating during those parts. Those parts felt like the writer made it more complicated than it had to be just to push the plot. The plot also felt less engaging from the middle of the drama to the end. I also wish that they had concluded it better by wrapping it up more tightly and giving more of an explanation as to how certain characters ended and resolved their conflicts. Despite this, there were parts that made me teary-eyed and feel bad for the characters. The acting is also superb! I love Park Eun Bin and Min Jae's acting; they did great at portraying a musician and their love for music. I wish I can see them reunite in another romance drama and I want to see Min Jae portray more heavy and emotional characters like this again. Overall, this was a typical melodrama with a great love line and soundtrack.

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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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A Cliche Done Right!

The premise of this drama is totally cliche but wow, they sure made it fun and cute despite that! I am usually wary about trying cliche dramas like this but I watched the trailer and sensed their chemistry immediately. It was also a plus that all episodes are released at once and it is only 10 episodes.

After watching episode 1, the plot picks up quite fast; there are many funny scenes and many sound effects. Normally I don't like those sounds but it added to the scene and I actually found it quite enjoyable. It could be overbearing to some though. I liked the way the plot developed the characters and their relationships, and it was clear the motives behind their actions. There is a lot of comedy and absurd funny scenes throughout the 10 episodes but they weren't too bad to watch and I laughed a lot at some of them. Some of them really cheer you up. The romance was also nicely paced but I would have liked them to have more sweet moments and fake dating moments so I can see more of this couple. I felt that they could have had more sweet moments :( The second couple was a bit lacking but they were still cute sometimes too. It was my first time watching both of these actors and they did great! There weren't any moments where I felt like they didn't deliver the emotions or were disconnected from their characters. The friendships are also quite touching, especially the male lawyers at the firm. The drama overall also focuses a lot on the problems in society with patriarchal beliefs about women, which I found nice.

As someone who usually stays away from romcoms like this, I have to say that this drama was a pretty good watch and I enjoyed it a lot. It was nice to see this couple and their cute moments. I recommend!

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