A Heartwarming, Touching & Cute Story

I was not planning on trying this drama when I first heard about it and saw that it started airing, but gave it a chance after seeing the high ratings. AND it sure did not disappoint! I was in love with the drama after two episodes and slowly watched every episode in order to save them and enjoy every minute of it. There is just so many things to love about this drama. It covers various genres and topics which are delivered by talented actors (Lee Do Hyun especially!). I am so glad I decided to try this drama when I did because it would have been a shame if I missed out on this gem of a drama! Would totally recommend if you enjoy the warm family type of dramas. I think that if you enjoyed Go Back Couple, you would love this one too! It has all the same family vibes and deep tearjerking moments that hit you all of a sudden.
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Now, things I liked:
1. ABSOLUTELY LOVE LEE DO HYUN'S ACTING!- I loved him in Hotel del Luna and he definitely did not disappoint me in this drama but rather made me more amazed at how well he acts. He did better than I expected and really brought the Wooyoung/Daeyoung to life. He is also such eye candy with his cute and handsome/charismatic charm in certain scenes.
2. The plot- I enjoyed Go Back Couple so this aspect of the plot played a role in convincing me to give it a try. It never got explained how Daeyoung changed to his younger appearance but I think that was not a big problem for the story development or the ending. I also loved how there are some parts set up to make you assume something will happen but it isn't what you expect (or maybe just for me).
3. OST- Absolutely love love love love the ost!! Sohyang's voice absolutely breaks my heart every time I hear it play in the drama. She does an amazing job singing that song and helping the scene with emotional factors. All the other OSTs were also so great though! I keep playing them on repeat.
4. Romance- I love how this drama does not overdo it with the romance aspect but puts a decent amount. I do not like super cringy and cheesy romance dramas so this was super great for me. I love the side character's romance stories, particularly Jiho and Shi Ah! They are too adorable together!
5. Great Genres/Topics Covered- I love how the drama discusses various topics about marriage and life in general from the very start. The first episode narrated that it would have been a happy ending if the story stopped here, which is true since many dramas end with a happy ending as such. But this drama discusses those problems that happen after marriage and the happy ending. I really loved how the last episode touched on this topic again by showing that Daeyoung and Dajung still get into arguments and hate each other at moments as real couples do in life. I liked that it didn't just end with their wedding but touched that part again. Other topics were Dajung's older married women getting a career and people not trusting/looking down on people without college degrees.
6. Superb Acting Overall- There is a great cast for this drama. It was the first time for me watching the actor playing Ye Jihoon act but he was amazing! His smile is a killer. As for the other roles, though I thought some of the supporting roles were not perfect at acting and seemed a bit stiff delivering their lines, it didn't distract me too much while watching. But it was overall great acting done by everyone.

Things I didn't like:
1. The kiss- the only thing that bothered me somewhat was the three kisses that Dajung and Wooyoung had in the drama. It felt kinda weird even though it shouldn't be since Wooyoung is Daeyoung and her husband.

Nothing else to mention besides that. I JUST DEFINITELY RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO CHECK THIS DRAMA OUT!

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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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Xianxia Drama With Lots of Angst!!

I was super doubtful about this drama when I first saw its poster and read the plot because the plot was a bit vague and Chinese dramas easily mess up in the middle. However, the first episode wasn't bad and hooked me in. I was even more hooked when I listened to the soundtrack and that's when I decided to watch and see how this drama will go. And it did not disappoint! The plot flowed smoothly and was an enjoyable watch! The CGI was pretty good in some scenes and a bit cringe in some other ones, but it was still okay to watch. The chemistry between Xuan Ji and Si Feng is just top notch also! Love this couple! However, some parts later in the drama annoyed me and I started watching in 1.5x speed in order to continue the drama, but it wasn't because the drama was bad overall, only because I was impatient at how some thins were going. Totally recommend anyone to watch because it is worth the hype.

SPOILERS AHEAD!
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Now, what I liked:
1. The OST! Such an amazing soundtrack with such talented singers! It brought scenes to life and I can't keep replaying the songs!
2. The acting! - Cheng Yi is just so talented at playing Si Feng and bringing those painful scenes (blood-spitting scenes) out to its full potential and to give viewers the pain as well. Some actors were not as great, just average, but it was still pretty okay to watch.
3. Script (for the most part) - characters developed well, flowed pretty smoothly, and wasn't too difficult to understand how the story is going. I really liked most of Si Feng and Xuan Ji's friendship and romance development and it was fun to watch.
4. The ending - was a great conclusion to the story with everything wrapped up neatly. I was really happy that they showed viewers what happened after Xuanji and Si Feng's marriage and what happened with everyone else.

What I didn't like:
1. The script/writing - It was really hard to watch Xuanji keep misunderstanding Si Feng and keep asking him to explain himself based on only what she sees. It was like the writer got lazy because this portion of misunderstandings continued for so many episodes and I really had to speed through those episodes. Xuanji seemed really dumb in those parts and it was just hard to watch such predictable scenes. Also, the writing for Xuanji's dad, Ling Long, and the 6th senior brother on how they treated Si Feng was so terrible. They turned their back on him so easily even though he helped them with so much. This also was hard to watch because they aren't using their reason to decide whether or not to trust him. It was also really annoying to watch Hao Chen brainwash Xuanji so much and she doesn't even realize it until the end.
2. Dumb characters- I really hated the part when the Fu Yu Island leader kept believing in his wife until the very end. It was really illogical of him to believe her when he knew she tried to hurt him.

I enjoyed this drama quite a lot even though I got annoyed and lost a bit of interest near the end. I would recommend it!

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Overall Warm Lovely Family Drama

I was hooked onto this drama since I watched the drama before its release and started it right away when it aired, but only finished it now because I didn't like the romance element. However, I continued the drama where I left off (at the ep after Zi Qiu and Ling Xiao came back) and was so surprised at how interesting it still was so I kept watching. It turned out that the drama doesn't have that much romance scenes between Ling Xiao, Zi Qiu, and Jian Jian which was such a relief! It was more focused on the family aspects than I expected so I binged watched the remaining episodes. It was totally worth it! I would recommend those who liked the family aspects to continue just to see those parts because it really is worth the watch!

Now some things I really enjoyed:
1. The acting of course! - The family was so real that it didn't seem like that were acting at all! The chemistry is no joke! I especially love Zhi Qiu's acting! So amazing!
2. Some great points regarding family are brought up
3. The OST -such great bgm for the tearjerking scenes T_T
4. The first 12 episodes- such great sibling chemistry between Jian Jian, Zi Qiu, and Ling Xiao when they were young and as they grew up! very fun to watch!

Things that were not so great:
1. The romance between Jian Jian and Ling Xiao - wasn't that hard to understand why they like each other but still weird for me to watch them hug and interact as lovers; the brother-sister vibe is so strong that they could have stuck with that for the entire drama and it wouldn't have made a big difference, it was pretty unnecessary to also make Zhi Qiu thinks he likes Jian Jian (although his reasons for doing so made sense)
2. The ending - felt a bit rushed towards the end to have the story wrapped up for Ling Xiao's mom portion and the conclusion overall; could have shown a bit more although I liked how everywhere ended up
3. Too many complicated love triangles/squares between Jian Jian's friends - was hard and boring to watch

BUT I would totally recommend this drama for anyone looking for a great family drama (you can just skip the romance parts)! If you need another reason, just watch it for Steven Zhang (Zi Qiu)'s great acting!

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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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Humorous Investigation Drama With Lots of Twists!

A really good crime investigation drama with just the right amount of humor! The first episode will hook you right in midway into the episode (so be patient until then) and then you won't be able to stop yourself from binging the remaining episodes. The cases are interesting and there are unique twists about the criminal that is a real surprise that you would have probably not seen coming. There are some plot holes if you think about it thoroughly but if you watch it straight ahead then you won't even notice. However, the little plot holes don't affect the case progression or the entire drama as a whole. The drama being 12 episodes also helped prevent the drama from being dragged and had the right amount of cases and humor. The chemistry between the main cast is also very good. Glad I waited until the drama finished to watch. The ending was also very satisfying so I am hoping that there will be another season with the cast.

What I liked:
1. Great interesting cases with very surprising twists
2. Plotline is consistent (with minor plot holes)
3. Superb acting!

What could have been better:
1. If the show actually explained the motives of the serial killers and normal murderers because that would have made the case more interesting to know why they started killing (like the last case- the utility knife cases). Some were explained, but vaguely, so it was hard to see why they killed in that way (the icebox cases)
2. If the main cast were working together as an investigative team more often rather than a few times, unlike what the title suggests. There were more instances of the PD working separately from the police although in the end they get to the same conclusions

Other than those points I mentioned, this was a very good watch for someone who enjoys investigation dramas with suspense and crime. Totally recommend this for anyone who loves watching a good crime drama solved by a smart team!

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A Great Drama That Looks Inside the Chinese Entertainment Industry

I wanted to try this drama since I heard about its cast (Qin Lan and Godfrey Gao) and I was so excited when its air date was announced. The trailer already hooked me on with its dramatic music and Qin Lan's charisma, and the first episode did not disappoint. Without spoiling, the first episode managed to reveal a lot of the entertainment industry in China and how managers and companies work with managing their artists. It was just very interesting to watch. The following episodes only continue to further dig and reveal the lives of actors and managers. This is very intriguing to me as a Chinese and Korean drama fan, as well as a music fan, because it showed so much about an artist's life with fame. However, there were some moments where I felt the drama was slow causing me to put the drama on hold for a couple of weeks. When I started again, I used 1.5x speed to watch, but it didn't pull away from the experience.

May have some spoilers below:


The pros of this drama:
1. The acting was top notch! (Qin Lan amazed me with her superb acting as a top manager and she was able to convey a wide range of emotions whether she used words or not- her eyes could speak words; she is a very versatile actress and I am glad she is getting more acknowledged for that after The Story of Yanxi Palace last year)
2. Great scriptwriting (very interesting and fast-paced)
3. Showed the glam and pitfalls of working as an idol or actor/actress in the entertainment industry (which really opened my eyes to what they go through such as middle-aged actresses struggling to find roles and their diminishing fame, or artists forced to choose certain roles/music to please their audiences, or the difficulty controlling fans)
4. The soundtrack was on the spot (although one song was constantly played as bgm whenever there was a chance which got annoying sometimes)
5. Strong and brave female lead Mo Xiang Wan who did not give up and persevered until the end; the character's growth was done very well (Qin Lan was amazing at this role)
6. Teaches important lessons about the reality of life (how Mo Xiang Wan was treated by directors and producers after she was demoted; but also how Xu Ling treated her)
7. Godfrey Gao and Qin Lan's loveline (though not a huge chunk of the drama is focused on them, they are cute and oozing with chemistry onscreen)

Cons:
1. The ending wrapped things nicely but it would have been better if it had shown where certain people ended up because it was vague for certain people (Fan Mei,
2. The loveline between Xu Ling and Mo Xiang Wan- I think that it still could have been a great story even if Xu Ling didn't like Mo Xiang Wan in that way, it could have just been a brother-sister love
3. It didn't make sense to me how Lin Xiang's fanbase had contact information with Lin Xiang's personal assistant nor how the company didn't do anything when they literally stalked her; they were just too overbearing and illogical sometimes which ruined the plot sometimes

Overall, it was a very pleasant watch with touching and frustrating moments which was all due to the great storyline and amazing jobs of the actors and actresses. I totally recommend it if you want to want an interesting look at the entertainment circle in China and you're looking for a strong female character. If you're looking for another reason, please try it as it is Godfrey Gao's last drama and he was amazing as the handsome and tall Mo Bei who is unable to turn away from injustice. Please do try!

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Funny & Somewhat Relatable Family MeloDrama

The first episode hooked me on this drama right away with its nice setup of the characters' personalities and relationships. There was a mix of funny, sad, and interesting moments in that one episode to keep me watching each week. However, around the halfway point of the drama, I started getting bored so I would skip through some moments in the episodes. Soon I even started watching at 2x speed because the characters would speak slowly and the scenes dragged on. Despite this, I would still say that I enjoyed watching this drama and that it was written pretty well. There were some very relatable things said about being a family that made me realize that other families are similar to mine. Though the family's situation is a bit dramatized, it was nice to watch how they unraveled their complicated problems in each episode.

Good things I liked:
1. Amazing acting by the entire cast! (they seem like a legit family from the chemistry and interactions they have on-screen)
2. The ending was wrapped up well - I was pleased with how they ended this family's story :)
3. Interesting plot with unique characters and story set up (Eun Joo, Eun Hee, and Ji Woo had personalities different than other siblings I have seen in other dramas)
4. GREAT ost!
5. Relatable things said about being a family (how family don't tell each other everything, but only things they want)

Some things I didn't like:
1. Some moments in the drama passed by so slowly/were boring, hence the 2x speed, but this could just be my own impatience at how the story was going
2. How sometimes I really didn't understand the actions of some characters (Eun Hee dating Geon Joo when he didn't break up with his current gf yet)
3. How it got draggy about Eun Hee and Chan Hyuk's relationship although I can understand why Eun Hee was hesitant (like just date already!)

Overall, this drama was a good watch and although I would not rewatch this, I would recommend if you're looking for an interesting melodrama about an unfamiliar family. I do suggest at least 1.5x speed if you get impatient at the story's pacing because it really gets through the episode faster ;)

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Dramatic Story & Characters

I was not interested in this drama at all when I first saw the poster, but then I stumbled across the OSTs for this drama and they sounded too good. So, I gave the drama a try and the first episode grabbed my attention. It was somewhat like your typical romance drama with the cliches and evil supporting characters, but it somehow kept me watching until the last episode. However, I did watch it with 1.5 speed the entire time with the occasional skip when the evil characters kept talking. Despite this, it was a good watch because of the love lines.

Be warned of spoilers below!


So, the good points were:
1. Cute chemistry between Ju Xiang and Yosuke, and Yue Niang and Chen Xi
2. Great OST to bring out the emotions
3. A decent plot that didn't get boring (sometimes..)
4. Good acting of main characters
5. The female characters who called out the traditions of women and marriage (charity, arranged marriage,etc)
6. Nicely shown Baba and Nyonya culture

Some bad points were how:
1. So many evil characters who were so hateful to the point that it was super annoying whenever they showed up on the screen- like why so many bad people ganging up on the main girl?? (Huang family men & women, Xiu Feng and Xiu Juan, Charlie Zhang & son, etc)
2. The bad characters for a long time kept winning by bullying the female lead which got so tiring to watch; even though those characters eventually got their retribution
3. How the men were so weak in controlling the women while sometimes they just don't listen to the women
4. Some characters were so easy to manipulate (Zhen Zhu) or were too easily swayed by others' lies (Chen Xi's grandmother and his grandmother's servant- they keep trusting the bad people too easily?)
5. The ending could have been better even though it was mostly wrapped up; there were loose threads that were left unresolved and not mentioned again (Yue Niang's grandmother who was pushed down the stairs, Ju Xiang and Yue Niang being pushed off the ship by Huangs)
6. (my opinion) The evil characters did not get punished enough and were not apologetic nor remorseful; Yue Niang was too generous to them considering how poorly they treated her mom, grandmother, and herself. They never properly apologized to Yue Niang for their cruel treatment either, yet were so eager to accept her help when she was successful with her business, such as when she bought back their old Huang house.
7. Unrealistic, though it is a nice concept, how Yue Niang is forgiving and has a big heart but it just bothers me how they never apologized but she treats them like normal-- a family that treats you like that is not real family even if you have a kind heart (there are times when the line needs to be drawn).

Despite this, I would recommend this drama if you're interested in a dramatic kind of Cinderella story but you would need the 1.5 speed to help make this faster because it is 45 episodes.

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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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An Emotional & Not Your Typical Love Story

First of all, the first few episodes were so good!!! Great humorous scenes that were funny naturally and not forced, but there were also amazingly played out emotional scenes. AN EMOTIONAL ROLLARCOASTER!! Jang Nara is really great at acting out the emotional scenes! I cried so many times already T_T The episodes just fly by each time! Not only that, the OST released are so goooodd too!! I have a good feeling about this drama!!! I hope it turns out great as it airs!! However, it did turn a bit cheesy after the main couple got together which is why I lowered the rating. It also got boring after the first four episodes, so I also had to decrease rating for that. But the ending was wrapped up neatly without any loose ends (as far as I know).

But, the good things are:
1. Excellent acting (Jang Nara is no joke)
2. Episodes highlight different experiences woman/men face that are not seen much in other dramas
3. Superb OST (Kim Sungkyu's song was just T_T)
4. The humor
5. A strong foundation for the script and plotline

I would recommend this for anyone looking for a drama with a love story not like your typical kdrama.

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Entertaining & Funny- You Won't Notice an Hour Went By!

I was skeptical to try this show in the beginning because I haven't watched the previous seasons at all, but I gave it a try because I know most of the new cast for this season. AND boy was I surprised! I LOVE it! I have been binging it for two days and not a single episode was boring. The episode just flies by and it's already an hour, which I really didn't expect.

Here are the good things I like:
1. The chemistry between the new cast
2. Fresh vibes from the cast interactions (2 comedians, 2 actors, 2 singers- a very interesting combo)
3. Fun and unique themes for the episodes (and the games they play)
4. The locations are pretty and have deep meaning
5. VERY FUNNY JOKES!!

The only bad thing is watching them eat the specialty foods so deliciously. :((

Overall, a very good variety to watch every week! I personally think that it's better than the other Korean variety shows airing right now based on the 9 episodes I have watched so far. It's my #1 go-to Korean show right now and I'm getting sad that there are only 31 episodes out so far, so I have to enjoy the episodes slowly before I catch up. I really recommend for anyone looking for a fun hour with plenty of laughs!

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It was such a great watch. When I first heard about this drama I was doubtful because I usually get bored of dramas with plots similar to this one. However, I still gave it a try after listening to the OST, hearing about the positive reviews and high ratings and boy was I surprised! I ENJOYED it.

Things hooked me right away:
1. The relationships between the characters (even supporting roles)
2. Acting :D - Very talented actors/actresses
3. Soundtrack (The feels~~)
4. Story (the crime/thriller element was exciting! Haven't found a good crime drama in a while)
5. Surprises (you won't expect what's coming)

But, there are so many other reasons! I totally recommend it if you're into crime/mystery and love to watch a cute relationship between the characters! So many precious characters that I am missing right now T_T

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Keeps you guessing!

I had doubts about trying this drama when it first aired so I didn't watch it then. However, I really liked Kim Seon Ho's acting in 100 Days My Prince and I like the crime/mystery part in this drama so I went back to try it. AND it was GOOD! Sometimes the episode felt a bit slow and not captivating but the mystery kept me going although I skipped a bit sometimes. And boy was I really shocked at the ending and how the case turned out! It wasn't as I expected as the writer keeps you guessing throughout the entire drama. The acting of the main cast was also solid so it was very very enjoyable to watch, especially for certain emotional scenes that made me cry. I really miss the drama now, especially Kim Seon Ho's smile. Glad I went back and watched this over break since I haven't watched a thrilling crime drama in a long time.

Overall:

What I liked: Acting, music, script (most of the time), mystery, cases, comedic elements
What could be improved: script

9.5 rating OVERALL! I recommend giving this a try if you like a mystery!

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Such a great movie omg! At first I was skeptical in trying it but the trailer looked pretty interesting. Also, because I am a fan of Xiao Zhan. It did not disappoint though! Xiao Zhan and the other actors delivered the lines really well. Xiao Zhan is really convincing as a naive and sincere character, Xiao Fan. He made me able to emotionally connect with the character. The script was written well too. The CGI is a bit off but it is good enough that it doesn't distract you from what goes on during the scenes. The fantasy and magic parts are really interesting to me too. There are also comical scenes as well which were fun to watch. Overall, this was a good watch and worth it! I totally recommend it!

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