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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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Campy Mad Scientist Battled Beautiful People

Take an evil villain, four beautiful boys, and an average girl and her capable best friend and place them in a tale of conflict between taking over the world and finding one's place in it.

The drama had the potential to ask universal questions about relationships and discerning fantasy from reality, but it swung like a Newton's cradle from deeper meaning to nonsensical fluff. Intelligence and common sense weren't a part of the movement, but, even so, it was diverting and occasionally mesmerizing. Love Crossed couldn't decide if it was a romcom or a sci-fi action series.

I'd like to see a drama with Zhang Ling He and Fan Shuai Qi as the leads (they were, unfortunately, the second leads). They were striking together. Her strong and decisive character was a nice departure from the typical inept damsels in distress.

The last episode was filled with cringe and happily ever afters, with all the wish fulfillment possible. Too kissy for me. I felt embarrassment for the adults in the room watching the kids fawn over one another.

I added a half star for Tien Niu's performance as the motorcycle riding granny. It was as unrealistic as the story, but she almost made it believable.

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Suited Me to a "T"

Two of my MDL friends enjoyed Glory. That, and having Hou Ming Hao as the lead, made this an easy choice for next to watch (some may not know that Hou Ming Hao is the embodiment of my beloved departed cat; I was recently told his fans have nicknamed him "Kitten," which only reinforced my impression of him).

The Good:
• My aversion to amnesia plots was tested, but it was done right and was believable.
• At 36 episodes, the drama never dragged, nor did I consider it to have needless filler.
• The tea motif was a highlight; the views of hills swathed in centuries-old tea bushes were beautiful.
• The life lessons ML imparted to the FL about relationships were exceptional: knowing when, or if, to intervene between two people, and understanding that promoting goodwill between individuals benefits all.

The Bad:
• I'm incredulous of love that survives betrayal and a literal stab to the heart. I'd be unlikely to kiss and make up after that.
• Nearly all male villains were punished; practically no female villains were held accountable. Even murder and attempted murder held no significant consequences for the females.
• The finale felt like a fragmented disaster. The Duke's household was the converse of the Rong's matriarchal society. It had as much infighting and many poisonous relationships. However, it didn't make complete sense to me: the father, who had been robust and domineering, suffered a quick decline; the sister's muddled thinking; the mother's inconsistent acquiescence to belligerence; and the concubine's nonsensical reasoning were too much and felt unconvincing. The brother's death, in particular, was a needless emotional gut punch.

I like dramas that make me think, and I've been contemplating the difference between the Rongs' matriarchal structure and the Duke's patriarchal household. Both systems trampled on the feelings of everyone involved, with the head dictating the terms by which everyone else was forced to live by.

At the end, the Duke's position had been taken by his young grandson, with his daughter-in-law holding all the power. The situation was unlikely to have a happy outcome, given its roots in scheming and bloodshed. Will the daughter-in-law relinquish power peacefully to her son as he comes of age? Will her stepdaughter prove to be a destabilizing factor? Pity the poor woman the young duke eventually marries. Lu Jiang Lai escaped a hornet's nest by abandoning that family.

The matriarch of the Rongs was left unscathed, but she will suffer the ongoing indignity of being supplanted by her granddaughter. I feel for them both as they will remain thorns in one another's sides until the grandmother's death. Slowly, Rong Shan Bao will implement changes to make the clan more inclusive and less combative. She'll allow her "sisters" to form relationships of their own choosing. Men may join the business. Will this mean a change from a matriarchal emphasis? Will this shift harm or benefit the Rong family company?

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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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Subverted Cliches

Flashbacks aren't a favorite narrative device of mine, but My Fated Boy did them well, and they added greatly to the story. The viewer watched expectant neighboring parents pledge their unborn children to one another in marriage and then agonize as the daughter was born first, and the son was born seven years later, effectively ruining their plans. With each episode, we saw the little girl go from major disappointment that the new baby was a boy (when she'd hoped for a girl), to bullying and using the toddler baby as her scapegoat, to finally becoming his close friend and protector.

He Yu was adorable as the smitten kitten totally in love with his childhood friend. The supporting cast was a joy, with screenwriter Meng Hu giving depth to characters other writers treat as paint by number. The wife of the CEO was smart, warm, and loyal to her sister, but she was also kind and considerate to her sister's rival. The 2FL was a breath of fresh air in drama world. She was passionate and determined (and I did dislike her greatly at first), but she grew from entitled to admirable. The FL's friends added to the warm and supportive feel. Other characters deviated from the run-of-the-mill drama script, which was refreshing! I'd see the set-up and groan that here comes another evil executive, and I'd have my expectations subverted. Thank goodness! And most of the noble idiocy acts were short and overcome quickly.

The OST fit the drama well, the cast was great, and the ML was the cutest puppy in love.

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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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Unfortunately, this drama focused on one of my personal taboos: a person who feels entitled to the love of another. After FL's confession to the clueless object of her affection, ML merely said he thought they were unsuited to one another. He didn't say he hated her or she was repulsive; he wasn't angry, mean, or disgusted—he was taken unaware and was confused and perplexed. After all, she was the girl who had tried to fix him up with another woman. How was he to know she'd had a one-sided love affair with him for four years?

After the unsuccessful confession, FL sexually assaulted the ML, forcibly kissing him and holding him in an armlock. I don't condone this action when done by males; why is it permissible for females? When this didn't change the ML's mind, FL turned into the classic scorned woman, full of anger and bitterness. All the love she'd previously held for the ML turned into loathing.

She should have been fired from the company. Instead, the ML discovered he loved her and began to pursue her. I guess that sullen face grew on him. FL was manipulative, deceitful, childish, and mean-spirited. She continued to be spiteful, contrary, difficult, and disagreeable. ML forfeited his dignity and became her pitiful doormat.

I hate-watched the rest of the drama simply for Miles Wei and Yang Shi Ze's sakes. I realize I'm not the typical romance viewer, so your experience may differ greatly. I'm of the opinion that romance/marriage should be of a balanced nature with respect and power on both sides. No one is entitled to own someone else's heart, and a rejection of a confession (especially when it comes unexpectedly) should be accepted gracefully.

I added an extra star for the MLs.

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So Many Questions!

What happened to Wei Qing's mother? She doted on Ning Fei, but she didn't make an appearance in the entire show. Why did the sweet, kind, effervescent FL become an angry, sullen difficult woman? I admit she had due cause to be angry at the circumstances, and I wouldn't have blamed her for breaking off a relationship that was toxic, but there are better ways than ghosting a person and still wanting to be a part of his life afterwards. I began to detest a character I'd cheered on in the first season. How could she let her best friend live in limbo when she knew her loved one was alive? Worse yet, when directly asked by the friend, she lied and said she didn't know anything.

The manufactured drama and ridiculous nature of this season made me cringe. Did amnesia really need to make an appearance? Worse yet, all the villains were left unscathed and even had their hideous actions glossed over. I guess attempted murder, corporate espionage, blackmail, slander, libel, and theft aren't that big a deal; invite the black-hearted psychopaths to our wedding!

The first season had a light-hearted aspect that the angst-ridden second season lacked. I suggest stopping at the first season unless you are addicted to the ML's torso (it makes a frequent appearance, so there's that).

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The Wrong Character's Teeth Were Fixed

Sweet Teeth has a high MDL rating, but it just didn't hit right for me. There were appealing moments, but it fell short. Initially, I was all in for the FL: she was a librarian with a love of books and she had close friends. Unfortunately, she over-reacted like a spoiled child which made me cringe, and she had the unsettling habit of lying constantly and irresponsibly (avoiding her boyfriend, when he'd made a special trip to the airport, just because her hair hadn't been washed that day).

Some nitpicks:
The dentist worked on FL's mouth, when it didn't seem to need it, as far as I could tell, but NOTHING was said about his mentee who had problematic teeth. Personally, I thought the mentee was adorable, as was his smile, but I can't imagine a mentor dentist overlooking those teeth.

It also rubbed me the wrong way when the ML told the FL he'd always apologize first, even if she was in the wrong. Hell's bells! That's not the way a healthy relationship works. How is the other person ever supposed to grow and learn if all their mistakes are upheld? I love that my significant other and I stand our ground and hash out our differences. That's what a real relationship built on truth and respect is all about.

In a fluffy romcom, it was out of place to insert the topic of abortion. I especially hated the idea proffered that the young man would support his girlfriend no matter what she did. A person shouldn't support everything in a misguided notion that that means love. Sometimes, love means saying, "no, you're wrong, and I love you enough to tell you."

Finally, the last scene with ML and FL left me disgruntled. I know it was supposed to be romantic, but all I could think of were the books they were destroying: all those broken spines, torn pages, and messed up covers.

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Nearly Perfect Drama, but I Worry About the Writer's Childhood

Nearly every mother in Go Ahead was a nightmare, but the way the children grew, adapted, and supported one another made this a rewarding watch. GA had everything: humor, heartache, struggles, triumphs, and healing. The family relationships were everything, as they sacrificially watched out for and supported one another. Family in this context didn't necessarily mean blood, as the closest individuals weren't related at all.

I'd just watched Shine on Me with Song Wei Long in which he played an attractive, competent CEO. He didn't have to work at being attractive and that role seemed an easy one for him, but he surprised me by his portrayal of a traumatized soul. He depicted the dead-inside, long-suffering young man well. Tan Song Yun was perfect as the free-spirited Li Jian Jian; Zhang Xin Cheng did admirably as the cautious overthinker; and Tu Song Yan was superb as the kind-hearted father figure of them all.

The drama never stayed dark for overly long. Sweet moments were interspersed among the serious scenes. The children as teens had many warm, loving interactions, some of the best parts of the drama. Beyond relationships, the drama featured many of my favorite things: food, books (I've put Our Starry Starry Night by Jimmy Liao on pre-order), and children.

There were so many relatable situations and characters. I was once asked for a metaphor for my parents, and I said "a black hole." Ling Xiao made that same comparison, and I could identify with his reasoning.

It took me a long time to decide to watch GA, because it had a "Melodrama" tag, along with "Depression," "Child Abandonment," and "Mental Illness." It didn't sound like a good time! I generally avoid melodramas, but this had enough sweetness and light to balance out the heaviness. There were tears, but they were mostly good ones, and there was plenty of laughter to counteract the sad times.

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Mischievous Fox and the Elegant Emperor

Eternal Love (the parent story) was mostly drama with comedic relief supplied by the exuberant fox and her crush, the Imperial Emperor. The sequel, Eternal Love of Dream, began with mostly silly comedy and very little drama. It was too great a departure from the feel of the parent story, so I put my viewing on hold. When I finally resumed the drama, the story switched to mortal tribulations, the FL matured and was less cutesy, and it became interesting to me once more.

The Bad:
• There were far too many foolish misunderstandings that lasted way too long. One would think people who had lived for millenniums would have learned how to communicate with one another.
• As for FL being the leader of her clan, I'd like that job: she never led anyone, didn't serve on a committee, and was absent from her country 97% of the time. When she was home, she was either drunk or getting into trouble!
• The villain was disappointing, and it was hard to believe all the different leaders couldn't have dealt with her over time.

The Good:
• FL had character growth. She retained her stubbornness, playfulness, and impulsive nature, but she tempered it by listening to counsel and being willing to accept what she couldn't change.
• ML retained his narcissistic manner, but he learned to defer to the FL. His greatest change was realizing he shouldn't protect the FL from harmful knowledge; she had the need to know what was happening, if only to prevent more misunderstandings!
• The romance between the ML and FL was charming to watch. Gao Wei Guang and Dilraba Dilmurat each gave life to their roles and made their characters memorable.
• It was bliss watching the ever elegant and reserved ML become petty and spiteful over the tiniest things he felt encroached on his love. His expressions and snide remarks were deliciously amusing.
• The OST was enjoyable. I especially liked "Deliberately" by Dilraba Dilmurat and Silence Wang.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=c_aSzeG4b5U

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Teens Should Never Be Ghosts—Imagine Perpetual Adolescence *shudder*

Horror isn't my genre of choice, so take that into consideration. I liked the actors, the ideas, and the general set-up. However, for only 12 episodes, it wandered and squandered all that initial goodness. It bogles the mind how repetitive and non-productive a drama can become in only 12 episodes. I thought shorter dramas would fix the that issue, but it isn't necessarily so. The writing needed to be tighter. Honestly, if I'd been the vengeful ghost, this drama would have concluded in one episode. What's the point of being omnipotent if that potential is wasted?

I added a half star for Kim Won Hae. He's such a versatile actor. His role touched me the most.

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The Best Thing for Pure Romantics

I realize I'm missing the romance gene, but it still bewilders me that this drama is rated 8.7. I generally need something to accompany the romance, if I'm to enjoy the drama. Pure romance is like bitter medicine to me; I need something sweet like mystery, murder, or mayhem to choke it down.

The Good:
• I was interested in the bits with Traditional Chinese Medicine. I can see where Western medicine would benefit from a partnership with a philosophy that doesn't rely on harsh drugs and surgery.
• This was a pretty drama. The leads were beautiful, the scenery was attractive, and there were flowers galore. Plus, everyone had magnificent bookcases.
• The families were sweet and mostly supportive.
• The dreaded time skip actually made sense in this drama, as it was planned far in advance.

The Bad:
• TBT was slow, glacially slow. I can't even call it a slow-burn romance, because it rarely ignited. I don't think the couple got together until the 20th episode, then it wasn't long before the FL left the country and ML was left to write heartfelt letters to her.
• I don't have patience with people who aren't truthful and/or can't speak up. For heaven's sake, professional people in their 30s who deal with the public on a daily basis should be able to talk.
• The misunderstandings drove me wild, because all it took, in nearly every case, was one simple, short question to clear it all up: "Do you have a boyfriend?" "Are you a father?" That's all it takes. It's not hard, folks.

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A-peeling RomCom

I was looking for something light and funny. The Potato Lab promised laughs. What are my tots on the drama?

The Good:
• Kang Tae Oh. I've viewed other dramas with him as a supporting character, but he never made an impression on me. I think I need my eyes checked: I never realized how attractive he was until now. Very charismatic. Such a spud.
• I'm not a fan of slapstick, but I love understated throwaway lines like the FL asking the ML if he had a flashlight, and ML smirking and asking, "How many lumens?" I would have watched the drama just for that line, but I am a former flashlight fanatic (reformed now, because I've given everyone I know a handheld flashlight, keychain flashlight, and headlamp; besides everyone's phone has a light now—even my watch has a light).
• I enjoy dramas with small, tight-knit communities: they're warm and quirky. And nosy! I liked the villagers a latke.

The Bad:
• I enjoyed seeing Kim Ga Eun, but her character's relationship with the FL's brother wasn't believable to me. I liked both characters, but I didn't like them mashed together.
• Speaking of the brother, how is a 30 year old man still considered a child? When the ML tried to take him under his wing and help him run his business profitably, it was irritating that his sister undermined his efforts to grow up. I also hated how disrespectful and violent she was in dealing with her younger brother. She was living rent free in his house, eating his cooking, and benefitting from his cleaning. She needed to respect him as an adult. Yam I right?
• Why can't a K-drama end well? Why is a stupid time skip necessary? And the woman always has to improve herself. I mean, I'm in favor of self-improvement, but I implore the writers to be a bit more creative—it doesn't have to happen in every drama, for Pete's sake. At least, she didn't leave the country. The last episode had good visuals but a disjointed ending.

To re-hash, Potato Lab may not have been all that and a bag of chips, but I wouldn't hesi-tater to recommend it for someone wanting a nondemanding romcom.

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Sweet and Comforting Like a Piece of Rich Chocolate

Romantics Anonymous was short, warm, and filled with gentle lessons. The ML and FL were afflicted with psychological issues. He suffered from OCD, fear of germs, and an inability to touch or be touched by others. The FL had an intense anxiety disorder which kept her isolated from most people.

The Good:
• I liked that the drama didn't throw a switch to "cure" everyone. People with mental issues are rarely healed instantly; it can take years or be a lifetime endeavor. It was gratifying to see our ML and FL learn how to cope and live more successfully even while struggling with their afflictions.
• The last episode made my heart glow. I'm talking about the scene after the competition, not the bizarre last couple of minutes.
• Chocolate. It played a nice supporting role. The visuals were mouth-watering.
• No evil villains, although there was an overbearing CEO and the mandatory relative trying to take over the company. As that's a requirement of every business in drama, and this was rather tame, I overlooked it.

The Bad:
• The second couple's story didn't resonate. It needed more development. Or less. I don't quite understand the need for a back-up couple in every drama, but if they were going to intrude, their story needed to be fleshed out.
• What the heck was that ending? Yamaguchi Kentaro and Song Joong Ki in a cameo? It didn't belong. I guess Vincenzo conquered Italy and South Korea and wanted to add Japan to his territory. Totally ruined the good feelings the drama had going and ended on a "Netflix has too much money and not enough good ideas" vibe. Cameos should be inserted earlier in a way that doesn't negatively impact the story. I didn't mind Song Joong Ki's cameo in The Queen of Tears, but this one was bizarrely random.
• Once the couple confessed, there wasn't any dating or day-to-day interactions. Saranghae, and that's the end, practically.

I awarded an extra half star for the supportive message of accepting others where they are in their life's journey and trying to help them overcome the rough spots in life we all experience.

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