bojojoti

Fun to Watch and Even More Fun to Listen To

This is the perfect gateway introduction to K-pop/K-dramas for the uninitiated. I'm not a devotee of animation, but I had a watching party for KPDH, and the viewers were enthusiastic, especially about the OST.

As an avid K-drama fan, I laughed when "Love, Maybe" played when Jinu met Rumi, knowing that Jinu was voiced by Ahn Hyo Seop, who played the ML in Business Proposal, where the song featured heavily. What a lovely Easter egg for fans!

I awarded an extra star for the soundtrack. "Free" has beautiful lyrics; "Takedown" and "How It's Done" are great for working out; and "Golden" is powerful. "Soda Pop" may be pure sugar, but if I'm dragging on my daily walk, I play it and get instant energy.

I'm looking forward to a sequel, as the story felt rushed and unfinished at the end.

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The Secret Royal Agent Wasn't So Secret

Considering I really like Kim Myung Soo and Kwon Na Ra, I wasn't as engaged in this drama as I expected, but as a Joseon criminal investigation comedy, it had its moments.

The Good:
• I generally dislike slapstick, but there's something about Lee Yi Kyung that makes me laugh (I probably have warm residual feelings for him from Welcome to Waikiki.) Although, if I were his master, I'd probably smother him in his sleep.
• Ahn Nae Sang is always a welcome addition to any cast, and he played the royal secretary with warmth, wit, and understated mischievous humor.
• The drama ended well. All the loose ends were tied up, and our happy threesome were setting off for another adventure. It's not easy for K-dramas to stick the landing, and this one did.

The Bad:
• The protagonists were undeniably stupid. I'd think a royal secret agent could have an entourage of guards when he is going into a dangerous situation, but, no, let's go it alone. If we're talking secret strategies, let's use our inside voices and not broadcast our intentions to the whole world. And for heaven's sakes, if we get the MOST IMPORTANT PAPER, let's do it solo without guards in a remote area. Seriously, any secret agent that does that deserves to be beheaded (not a spoiler; he wasn't beheaded).
• The OST. I don't mind if an OST is barely noticeable. I love it when and OST enhances the drama and has stand-out songs that stay with me long after. I don't like when an OST is jarring, disparate from the drama, or has overly dramatic music when uncalled for.
• Episode 7 had the weirdest, long recap of the drama done in Short-Attention-Span theatre style.

I'm adding a star because my rating was too harsh and for Kim Myung Soo's dimple. I wonder how many times he practiced in a mirror to get that just right.

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Communication Was Poor; Fabric Flowed Beautifully

The Good:
• The visuals were delectable from landscapes to nighttime city scenes to romantic moments.
• The FL started in typical college frumpy wear, but she began dressing in couture once she moved to Paris. The ML dressed in couture even in the mountains! FL had some striking black/white ensembles. Not to be missed was the designed purple deer dress (I know that sounds weird, but, trust me, it was captivating) and a red wedding dress that was tailored to perfection. Fashion sets this drama apart from others.
• FL was an interesting person. Although she was often immature and rude (she was young), she'd basically raised herself and her brother because there was no father and her mother was often out of the country. Consequently, she had to stand up for herself and figure life out quicker than most. I appreciated that she didn't allow others to diminish her. She didn't care about status or wealth; she considered her worth equal to any other human, and she wasn't hesitant to call out people, even elders, who tried to discount her because she "came from the street." FL had a fierce independent streak, but it was tempered with a tender heart, a loyal soul, and a trusting spirit.
• The romance felt real. Many dramas are virginal (I saw one where the couple was married for years and hadn't consummated the marriage), that it's a wonder any babies are born in dramaland! The ML, once he declared his love, was unable to resist touching the FL, whether it was stroking her hair, pinching her cheeks, or booping her nose, in addition to hugs, caresses, and full body contact. They had some cute interactions like people in love do.
• Some of the villains actually paid a price (a small one, relatively) for their rotten deeds. Not everyone got a happy ending, even among the "good" people. When I saw two of the fallen villains meet toward the end, I was concerned the writers were going to cop out and have them rescued by the FL, but that didn't happen. A drama feels more grounded when it has some realism.

The Bad:
• It was absolutely excruciating to watch supposedly intelligent, professional people incapable of figuring out their corporate espionage. Oh my tortured soul, when would they put the ample clues together? It's as if a dozen people shared a lonely brain cell.
• The misunderstandings were idiotic. They could have been avoided or explained in one terse sentence. Easily, 10 episodes could have been cut due to unnecessary misunderstandings. Make that 20.
• FL's boyfriend told her to stay away from 2ML who considered ML his enemy, but she kept getting involved with him. I will fault the ML for not sharing that 2ML had told him he was going to steal her away. She knew her interactions with the 2ML were upsetting to the ML, so she'd lie about being with the 2ML. It took a bash to the brain to finally get through to her.
• The dubbed French was awkward, as it was apparent there were two different voices for each actor. It's like, "I speak Mandarin in soprano, but my French is spoken in tenor."
• Ending episodes had time skips, the obligatory separation to improve one's self, and a smattering of story lines that didn't need to belong.

TL;DR: The main leads were adorable together, the visuals were stunning, the topics (fashion, fabric, and culture) were interesting, and the wedding scene was lovely.

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Spoilers Galore! Read At Your Own Risk!

I was blindsided. I thought this was a pleasant romance. The synopsis didn't reveal the angst, and the tags didn't include "tearjerker." It was definitely NOT fluffy nor low angst. As much as I had wanted sweet, I got a hard-hitting tale, but I don't begrudge the time watching it. Or my ugly crying during it. I only wish I'd been more prepared; hence, my warning to you. I often avoid tearjerkers; I'm glad I mistakenly watched this one, but viewers should be aware.

Bai Lu did an amazing job transitioning from a naive girl to a mature woman in the role of Cui Shi Yi. One of the few portrayals of aging I've viewed that was entirely believable. Ren Jian Lun's portrayal of Zhou Sheng Chen, the noble man who lived for country while denying himself, was perfect. I had adored Wang Xing Yue's character in The Double. His acting skills made me despise his character of Liu Zi Xing, even while feeling some sympathy for him. The actor would have been only 19 years old (or younger) at the filming of this drama. He should have a long and distinguished career ahead of him. The supporting cast were also fleshed out and memorable.

For those who like romance and can handle pain, Shi Yi and Sheng Chen's relationship was realistic and endearing, and I couldn't help but want good things for them and hope desperately for a good outcome. Be forewarned, however, that the drama was a tragedy. Out of a cast of about 50 characters, with many couples and love interests, not ONE ended with happily ever after. I racked my brain to come up with just one couple, and I couldn't. Unrequited love was the best outcome.

My main objection to the drama is insurmountable. The ending of the last episode was an anticlimactic mess. The viewer was treated to a powerful scene of Shi Yi dressed in red, and the visuals were striking and indelible. Ethereally beautiful. Then, the drama played as if funds had run out, and the rest of the story had to be relayed in walls of captions and time skips, the most egregious display of telling not showing.

I've awarded an extra half star for the overall feel of the production: striking cinematography, complementary OST, and stellar performances.

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A Lonely Fairytale

I'd seen Encounter on many lists, but I avoided it because I don't care for melodrama, and I generally steer clear of romance unless it's mixed with mirth, murder, mayhem, or mystery. The drama sat, disregarded, on my "to watch" list until I saw it was about to leave the service I use. I half-heartedly clicked "play," not expecting too much.

I would not have dreamed I'd derive so much pleasure from this drama. The casting was perfect, especially Song Hye Kyo as the Ice Princess and Park Bo Gum as her Bright Knight. The cinematography was stunning, especially the Havana scenes. The director did an amazing job showing emotions without speech by the subtle turn of a foot, the motion of a hand, or the glance of an eye. I'm not generally a fan of hokey camera angles, but the split screen was effective, as it was used sparingly.

It's as if the creators of the drama took notes of my favorite things and lovingly showcased them: art, photography, music, bookstores, prose, poetry, plants (I want a lemon cypress!), and beautiful landscapes. The anime in each episode was charming, and the OST was magnificent.

I could complain about the angst going on too long, but Park Bo Gum's radiant smile and sweet expressions make me forget any negative remarks I might have had. I have to award an extra half star for that smile.

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Love Triangles Squared? A Geometric Nightmare of Relationships

MDLers loved this more than I did. The drama featured Lu Bai, whom I've enjoyed in other dramas. ML was relatively tall, which I always appreciate, but he had the face of a little boy. The recurring theme of the drama was that he was super attractive, which I'm willing to be convinced of, but he still had the face of a child; although as the drama went on and I began to like his character, I didn't mind so much that he had a baby face. So, I should have been more enthusiastic, but the characters, nearly all of them, were extremely unlikeable in the beginning.

ML was cold and mean; FL was childish and petty; 2nd ML was willing to destroy his friend's happiness and business out of selfishness; 3rd ML was willing to destroy a young girl's life out of selfishness; and the supporting characters lied, stole, coerced, cheated, and carried out personal vendettas. Later episodes improved, but there wasn't enough happiness and cute moments to make up for all the unpleasantness.

If you're allergic to love triangles, this is a geometric nightmare. FL dated three men, and, in EVERY ONE of those relationships, there was a triangle. Or square. Or tetrahedron.

Subtracting a half star for being tedious and exhausting with all the misunderstandings and love triangles.

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Mature Romance, Immature Villains

This is a true enemies-to-lovers tale. This isn't about harsh looks or mean words. The leads were ruthless with one another—they whipped, stabbed, and bit one another. Then, the drama deftly gave the viewer flashbacks that explained how they each came to be so combative and hard.

The Good:

• Kudos to the writer for giving me villains with understandable motivations. They were despicable and did unredeemable acts, but the drama made me mourn the waste of their lives.
• The drama subverted my expectations. The siblings didn't hate one another. The ML and FL were equals in intelligence, ability, and commanding power. They trusted and protected one another. When the FL was faced with an act of noble idiocy, she only considered it briefly, which was a huge relief!
• The princess was a mess, which was unexpected. She careened from one stupid decision to another. I had to remind myself that she'd been coddled and protected all her life. She had no practical experience outside her ivory tower. She'd never felt repercussions from bad choices. Her father and brother had protected and indulged her. Spoiled princess needed a reality check. And she got it.
• And now, a word about amnesia, that frustrating bugaboo of Asian dramas: this has BOTH the ML and FL experiencing memory loss. But wait, it isn't frustrating and meaningless like most plot Band-Aids. The first bout of amnesia with the FL was handled beautifully. She was understandably off kilter and suspicious of everyone, but she handled her condition rationally. Rather than detract from the drama, her memory holes added another layer of suspense. The second bout of amnesia was short-lived, thankfully, and bearable.
• There were beautiful visuals throughout the drama.

The Bad:

• Do we really believe an ill Emperor was left alone for hours?
• If a person destroys a woman's life and aspirations (someone who has proven she is capable of murder), wouldn't it make sense not to allow that dangerous person near? Just sayin'.
• Why do rotating Klieg lights appear every time there is a kissing scene?
• Why does the camera do the cha-cha-cha for dramatic moments? Forward, back, freeze, blur the background—so dramatic.
• The lighting and filters made the second prince look like his face was made of melting ice. I loved his character; he deserved better lighting and makeup.
• As often happens, the drama frayed a bit towards the end.

I added a half star for a capable ML and FL, well-fleshed out villains, and an amnesia story that actually worked.

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Clichés Dressed in Lackluster Fashion

A CEO's plan to acquire the wedding dress company of a famous designer required him to appear as a happy couple. When a woman in dire financial straits needed his help, he forced her into a marriage contract. Add all the cliches: love triangles (one with the typical scheming woman and another with an initially good-hearted man who didn't know when to give up); overbearing rich mother "protecting" her son from the gold digger; nonsensical misunderstandings complicated by dumbfounded mutism (no one can say what they really feel); a secondary couple's love story (which was of very little interest); stumbles which led to accidental kisses (why has this NEVER happened to me; I'm relatively clumsy); lots of awkward kisses with open eyes; and that odd insistence of the woman deciding, after love is verified, that she needed to go far away and improve herself without contact with her loved one for a period of time.

The Good
• Male lead had puppy dog eyes in his love scenes.
• The 2FL did a great job of playing a villain. She was despicable.
• The ML's secretary did well in his minimal role. Even when he was blurred in the background, he never stopped acting, whether it was to loosen his tie or strike a pose.
• The relationship between the leads was sweet once it was established (if I overlooked FL's reliance on the 2ML).

The Bad
• This was supposedly all about fashion, and the FL, a designer, mostly wore frump-wear: baggy frocks, unremarkable T-shirts, and boring hoodies. There were very few outfits that I found fashion worthy. The dress she made for her mother-in-law and a few men's suits made the cut, but the rest of her clothing looked like cheap street retail.
• I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure a person can't fall into a coma over a little stress. I know I'm not supposed to look for logic, but does the writer have to disrespect the audience that much?
• Was it really believable (it wasn't!) that the ML would confuse the masked FL for the 2FL? One had fine brown hair; the other had thick black hair. One was rail thin; the other was curvy. How did he miss that the 2FL was no longer endowed in the bust department? Most men notice things like that. Most women would notice a significant weight loss. That scene was enough to make ME fall into a coma.
• The FL knew the ML was unhappy with her constant interactions with the 2ML, but she continued meeting and eating with him. She forbid the ML to follow her to the training school and told him not to call her because she'd be too busy. Yet, she allowed the 2ML attend her school and take her shopping and out to eat. I hate the trend in dramas where it's acceptable for the woman to have male friends, but the man can't have female ones. I don't care the sex: if a person is counting on someone other than the professed loved one to provide emotional support and spending prolonged time with them, it's a form of cheating and harms relationships.

I've awarded an extra half star for the sweet grandmother, although I wish she'd been utilized better.

TL;DR: For a mediocre drama, I was too verbose. I guess I write more when I'm irritated.

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If Kissing Were an Olympic Event, ML Would Take Gold

The leads were stunning, costumes exquisite, sets attractive, and the writing ridiculous. The drama wasn't a comedy, but I found myself laughing in nearly episode. This was definitely a remove-brain-to-enjoy kind of drama.

Don't watch this with your granny. Ryan Ren takes his kiss scenes seriously. I was properly embarrassed, but I'm likely to watch more of his dramas. I appreciate enthusiasm.

An extra half star was awarded because I was never bored. I was anticipating the next silly thing that even the most absurd soap opera would deem too preposterous. I was anticipating an appearance of amnesia, but that was about the only thing they missed!

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Bromances More Compelling Than Romance in This One

I followed up You Are My Hero with another romance involving a female doctor and man with a dangerous occupation. YAMH involved a military policeman, and Fireworks of My Heart featured a fireman. Both men were brave, exemplary leaders, willing to risk their lives for others. That's approximately where the similarities between the dramas ended.

Although both dramas featured a female doctor, they differed greatly in nearly all aspects. Physically, YAMH featured an average woman; FOMH showcased a willowy beauty. YAMH's FL was confident and comfortable in her skin. She believed the best of people and easily made friends. FOMH's FL was a shell of a being, having been restrained and emotionally beaten down most of her life. As a result, she was extremely reserved and protected herself by keeping people at arm's length. What people mistook for coldness and uncaring was her way of defending herself.

Honestly, I wasn't very invested in the romance. The bromance between the ML and his Inspectors and fellow firefighters was more compelling. I wish the romance had been of that caliber. FL spent most of her time nervously clenching her fists or crying. But she looked pretty doing it.

I have the trophy for most despicable mother in drama permanently reserved for Gu Jun Pyo's mom from Boys Over Flowers, but I'm thinking it should be co-awarded to the mother of FOMH's FL. She was a nasty piece of work. But what's worse? A mother doing horrific things, or a father implicitly approving those actions, while distancing himself and appearing to be the good guy, because the outcome benefits him? And I won't even get into my skin crawling whenever the skeevy brother was on screen.

I awarded an extra half star because of Yang Yang. Even when the drama isn't perfection, I always enjoy his performances. I'm shallow like that.

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You Will Read This Review and Wake Up Refreshed (and no longer want to kill anyone)

I was tired of silly romcoms, and this was a nice change. It did have the tropes of cold man/warm woman, noble idiocy (but, thankfully, that was brief, not drawn out, and understandable), revenge, time skip, and accidental kisses (why have I NEVER been accidentally kissed when I trip fairly often?), and a ridiculous amount of dropped, lost, or out-of-battery phones when needed most. Seriously, how many times can a person lose a phone or run out of battery at the worst time? That's LAZY writing!!!

I did enjoy the psychology angle; it gave a freshness to the dilemmas portrayed, and I appreciated how each was resolved.

The supporting cast was pleasurable, especially the psych boss. His interactions and gentle teasing of the ML were a highlight.

Kudos for a C-drama that told an entertaining story in only 16 episodes. Unfortunately, there were loose ends: how was the person in the trunk saved? Whatever happened to Luo Luo's family? Where did ML's mother go? A better use of time would have been to cut the multitudinous flashbacks and overly-long recaps in order to tie up those loose ends. The revenge arc could have been completely eliminated, as it wasn't developed well, didn't really make sense, and it wasn't needed.

I've added a half star for the cute interactions between psych boss and ML.

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Intelligent Characters Overcome Trauma with a Sweet Romance

Two appealing, intelligent leads, a virtual reality world set in the Chinese Republican Era, and a slow-burn romance made for a pleasant watching experience. Add the beauty of Shanghai and some lovely architecture, and Love Between the Lines distinguished itself from other romance dramas.

There were exquisite scenes, especially in the snowy virtual world. I could have happily spent more time there; I wish a larger storyline had been set in the virtual world. It was cold and mostly colorless, a reflection of the ML's mindset. Within that world, he was in absolute control, ruthlessly plotting and eliminating his enemies at will. He was free to live as himself, something that had been taken away from his true life. When FL joined the game, she also discovered she could free herself from the "safe" walls she'd erected around her life; she could be as spirited, daring, and reckless as she wished. The couple were so striking in the virtual world! The ML in a military outfit cut a commanding figure, and the FL was stunning as she nearly glowed in white costumes in that dark world.

The ML and FL were seemingly two opposites: he was cold and aloof, while she was warm and bubbly. Their homes represented them. His was a large apartment in a modern high-rise. It was empty, quiet, devoid of character, and bereft of color (except for some lit bottles of alcohol). When the FL first saw it, she said his home was merely an extension of his office. The FL lived in a longtang, a community of multi-storied older apartments facing an alley that was shared as a public space. Her home was old, noisy, cozy, cluttered, and filled with personality. As the ML and FL's relationship advanced, his life began to fill with color, sound, and comfort; her life began to add order and purpose.

Special mention should be made of the 2ML. I generally despise love triangles, but Dai Xu played the part of the quasi-villain so deftly that I couldn't help but empathize with him and hope for good things in his future.

The best dramas show personal growth and enlightenment. Although the ML had learned to grow up quickly, hide his innermost thoughts, and depend only upon himself, he learned to trust and share with the FL. As for the FL, she'd lived with trauma that had caused her to choose safety over dreams. With the ML's support (and it was often hands-off, because he trusted her to handle things on her own, something I relished greatly), she learned to make decisions for her own good, not for security or to appease others. A line of hers that resonated with me from the drama (and I am paraphrasing loosely according to my wonky memory) was, "When a pair of shoes don't fit, I change them; if the road becomes a dead end, I take another road; if a person doesn't like me, I change him for a more suitable one." Our sweet, kind FL had learned to set boundaries and draw lines.

The quality of viewing faltered somewhat for me when it became too dramatic towards the end, but that's a minor quibble for a drama that I mostly enjoyed.

I'm awarding an extra half star for some lovely visuals in the virtual reality world.

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A Perfectly Acceptable Romcom

Sometimes, I just want to watch pretty people in pretty clothes and surroundings entertain me. Perfect Crown fit that need perfectly.

The Good:
• There's something about IU I like. She was achingly believable in My Mister, mesmerizing in Hotel del Luna, heartbreaking in Moon Lovers: SHR, and authentic in The Producers. She did well here as the striving, overachieving chaebol trying to secure her position by becoming royalty.
• Byeon Woo Seok was the perfect Prince Charming: tall, handsome, and a bit tragic.
• Gong Seung Yeon did a fantastic job as the Queen. She was a scene stealer.
• The supporting cast of a secondary romantic couple (very sweet and just the right amount of time so as to not take away from the main couple); the family members; and the villain were all top notch.

The Bad:
• The characters weren't consistent. Evil, vindictive people don't flip a switch and become decent and caring. Am I supposed to believe treating a child with demeaning, cold neglect was done out of some noble purpose? A person who has grasped for power all her life suddenly walked away from it? An ambitious person who has never actively pursued the object of his affection becomes willing to risk his career and soul by killing for her?
• The politics and machinations were never fully explained. Once the villain was exposed, there was no mention of him again.
• The drama felt as though entire scenes were cut, because the edits didn't always make sense.
• I realize this is an odd complaint, but those fake press-on nails were distracting. I'd feel relief when suddenly they were gone (hospital scene and others), but they'd return in the next scene. This is the second recent K-drama I've watched with those bad press-on nails. I hope this isn't a trend. I suffer through bad wigs in sageuks; must I suffer through bad nails in modern dramas?

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Nothing is Secret That Will Not be Revealed...

Thanks to Tat for the recommendation. I needed a break from blood -spewing wuxias and mindless romcoms, and this was a welcome change. Zhao Lu Si was perfection as the closed off, careful schemer. William Chan did admirably as her chameleon lead, at first charming the viewer as a thoughtful suitor until he revealed his cold, manipulative nature.

I hate lying, despise liars, and tire of drama misunderstandings, but those issues were dealt with a deft hand and made sense. I was sympathetic to the FL's need to create a carefully crafted, totally bogus image of herself. The misunderstandings that derived from her duplicity occurred naturally and were understandable. The overriding narrative of the drama is that nothing remains secret forever, and there is a price to pay for dishonesty.

The character development of the ML and FL was compelling as their masks were dropped, and they became increasingly honest with one another.

The final episodes sullied the drama a bit by having too many over-the-top conflicts presented and overcome. At least one, if not more, of the ridiculous scenarios should have been discarded. I can only suspend belief so far until reality rips me out of the story.

I added a half star for Zhao Lu Si's acting.

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Chaos and Hotpots

The drama came out of the gate fast and frenetic, full of zany fun and energy. I thought I had a handle on what to expect—a light-hearted romcom—but the drama kept expanding my expectations. The comedy was served with a side of thoughtfulness, a generous dollop of tragedy, and some delicious revenge for dessert.

The Good:
• The action never lagged, because there was always a new twist, character, or situation to figure out. This is a drama that might improve on second watching, because a great deal was thrown at the viewer with explanations, if given at all, only provided indirectly or at a later part of the drama.
• The leads had great chemistry together. It felt as though they were enjoying themselves as much as their intended audience.
• The costumes, sets, and visuals were beautiful.
• The OST enhanced the scenes.

The Bad:
• The crown prince was underutilized. He either needed a larger story arc or a smaller one. I understood his father's attitude toward him, but if he planned on him being his successor, he should have introduced him to the consort early on. The Emperor knew from personal experience the horrific life of a puppet crown prince. How could he, in good conscience, not intervene? Poor little prince. (I do wish they'd used different actors to portray the Crown Prince and the Emperor as a child to lessen confusion. I had to keep trying to figure out which was which in a scene. It didn't help that the Empress Dowager looked the same in both situations. Yes, the drama had a cute intro for the young Emperor's parts which helped, but I'm still going to complain.)
• Could we NOT George RR Martin all my favorite characters?
• I felt a bit let down by the ending.

I was going to rate 8 stars, but it deserves an extra half star for the leads' enjoyable relationship.

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