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This review may contain spoilers
Abuse is Never Right, No Matter the Victim
I've watched Bai Jing Ting and Tian Xi Wei in other dramas and enjoyed them. I liked them in this drama, too (their relationship was sweet), but my pleasure was tempered by two unfortunate premises.I understand the desire to rewrite history in an heroic manner, but the sort of feminist retrofitting of rigid history undermines the actual hardships women had to endure in those times. That a handful of concubines would be allowed to undermine a society without dire consequences to themselves and their families is unreasonable.
I could accept the wish-fulfillment fantasy of sisterhood easily changing society; this isn't a documentary, after all. However, I couldn't stomach the spousal abuse. Third Prince was despised, and rightly so, for his womanizing and treating his wife and concubines as property. Yet, when he realized the error of his ways and tried to make amends, he was still treated with disrespect. It was understandable that Shang Guan Jing was resentful at her forced marriage to the 5th Prince. He was dim-witted and his mouth said things his brain didn't always mean, but that was no excuse for Shang Guan's physical and mental abuse of him. Why is it acceptable to beat a man and leave huge, horrific bruises on him? He'd grown up abused, and he accepted it gratefully from his wife. I found that extremely sad and distasteful. As much as I liked the character of the tough, feisty Shang Guan, there is never an excuse for a stronger person to beat on a weaker one, no matter the sex.
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Beautiful Visuals and Lots of Twists
Hou Ming Hao played a darker character than his usual fare. He was a man with a mission, willing to play the villain to attain his goals. Court politics wedded him to a woman with a childhood sweetheart—certainly a poor start for a marriage.The Good:
• Hou Ming Hao can evoke so many emotions through his marvelous eyes. He wasn't impaired by the lack of speaking lines (his character was a taciturn fellow), as he conveyed everything needful with his facial expressions.
• Although the ML was acknowledged as the villain, the 2ML was more so in my eyes. He was a complex character who had the potential for deep darkness. For an emperor, ML found his ruthlessness to be an asset instead of a liability. I found the 2ML's actions at the end of the drama repugnant. He waffled between sacrificing for his friend to wanting to sacrifice his friend.
• The progression from enemies to allies in romance was pleasurable to watch. It was equally interesting to watch allies in friendship turn to enemies to leader and subordinate.
• It was especially gratifying to see the FL mature and decide her future for herself.
• It was a fresh take to have the ML try to help the FL run away with the 2ML. How often do we see a husband try to arrange a rendezvous for his rival with his wife?
• The OST complemented the drama nicely.
• The former emperor's edict concerning his mother after his death was pleasing.
• I generally skip the intro after seeing it once, but I had to watch that flaming sword every episode.
The Bad:
• Was I supposed to be sad when XXX, who had caused the death of thousands, was run through with a sword? The characters were crying, and I was over on the sidelines, applauding, and saying, "Stab again to make sure. Three or four times!"
• I abhorred the time skip at the end. It ruined the drama for me, hence my lower rating.
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Beautiful Until it Became Clunky
A body switch gave a woman the opportunity for power and revenge for her parents' deaths. She teamed up with the poisoned prince to wreak her havoc.The Good:
• The actors, sets, and costumes were beautiful.
• I enjoyed the poison plot twist, even though I had picked out the villain in advance. Once again, poor communication is a killer!
• The scene with Gu Zingshu presenting the amulet to Shen Xi He was satisfying.
The Bad:
• The FL is a Mary Sue with thick plot armor. Any other woman in her position would have been eliminated a million times over.
• The twist with the second Crown Prince was ridiculous.
• The FL's coldness to the ML became tiresome. It went on far too long.
• The ending was anticlimactic—a forced happy ending—and raised too many questions. Why had the doctor aged so rapidly? Why hadn't there been communication over the years? Why the heck did the writers make these choices?
• Just a small whine, but Gao Wei Guang needed more screen time.
I would have given a higher rating if the last episodes hadn't been farfetched and bathetic. It should have rated another half star, but it didn't stick the landing.
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Romance in Sensible Shoes
Shin Hae Sun elevates any drama she's in, even a drama about office politics. She was powerful, intelligent, and unstoppable. Often women are dressed in high heels to make them seem taller and more formidable. Shin Hae Sun as Jun In A made her opponents quake while wearing flats.The Good:
• I love good character development, and this saw both leads grow. The FL learned to soften and trust; the ML changed his focus from self-promotion to cooperation with others.
• The romance felt real. It was mature and nurturing. And no silly breakup!
• Noble idiocy was done the right way—without the idiocy! Jun In A showed that sacrifice could be done without hurting the other party. I was ready to groan and watch another idiotic take on sacrifice for the partner's good, but I nearly cheered when she told the ML he shouldn't worry no matter what she did or said, because she loved him.
• Lovely OST. Beautiful song "Home" by Alexander Stewart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6IYYoOMs9w (Lucid Dream and The Moments Live On were good, too.)
The Bad:
• Kim Jae Uck was terribly underutilized. None of his considerable charm was evident as he played the unfavored son with a life filled with soul-crushing obligations. And had an unfaithful wife to boot. He was the melancholy part of ML and FL's love triangle. I wish he'd been developed more and given a better ending. The behind the scenes at the end of the drama showed more of his personality and charisma in a few seconds than all his time in the drama. Perhaps this shouldn't be in the bad category, as Kim Jae Uck played the part beautifully, probably too well, as I ached for his character and wanted him to be happy. Just not with Jun In A.
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What Passes As a Romance Between a Rude Man and His Doormat
Watching yet another actress play the role of a man has made me even more appreciative of Bai Lu in Arsenal Military Academy, Yoon Eun Hye in Coffee Prince, and Megan Lai in Bromance. Those actresses were willing to forego looking "pretty" for authenticity's sake. No such attempt was made in Cute Programmer. Xhu Xu Dan continued to wear mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick throughout her portrayal of a boy. Her male clothing bordered on the feminine; one outfit was a crop top showing her belly and back! There was nothing to show her transformation from girl to boy except for a bad wig. At least the other portrayals tried to evoke masculinity. It's agonizing that intelligent people supposedly don't realize she's a girl. I realize this is a drama, but that stretched my suspension of disbelief beyond the breaking point.This started out cute and fluffy, but it veered into an angsty love triangle with an evil ex-girlfriend which ruined all the sweetness. Add the awful, constant misunderstandings, and this was a trial for me to get through. I guess communication is hard in dramaland.
The SML Syndrome was strong in this drama. Yi Da Qian played Chen Yi Ming, one of the few admirable characters in the drama: mature, kind, and supportive. Thank goodness, the writers left out a love triangle for him. How did they overlook that?
I threw in a half star in the rating for the kittens. I'm a sucker for little fuzzballs with bright eyes and their tiny flagpole tails.
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She Causes the Pain and Then Gives You the Medicine
Doctors started dark and violent, with Park Shin Hye playing an out-of-control teen, Yoo Hye Jeong. She was savage, belligerent, and self-destructive. Her encounter with Hong Ji Hong, her new teacher and mentor, opened a new world of possibilities she had never before considered.The Good:
• I find Park Shin Hye extremely watchable. The styling on the drama showed her at her best. The clothing and shoes were superb.
• Kim Rae Won was mesmerizing as Hong Ji Hong, the doctor, turned teacher, turned doctor. He was warm, charming, and witty. His inherent understanding of people allowed him to suss out what people needed in their lives and he'd try to provide it. One girl needed breathing space, one needed to find her mother, and Yoo Hye Jeong needed a dream.
• Lee Sung Kyong was well cast as the poor little rich girl embodying entitlement and elitism while suffering between the trauma of never meeting her father's unrealistic expectations and being used by him to further his career. As an aside, the actress has such beautiful eyes—it's as though they are illuminated from within.
• The supporting cast was fantastic, especially Kim Min Seok, Kim Ji Soo, and Lee Joon Hyuk.
• Like many medical shows, each episode was likely to introduce a new patient with a perplexing problem. The bit with Nam Koong Min was the most memorable and dramatic to the point of me ugly crying.
• The romance was well done. With two people who had suffered trauma, there were obstacles in their relationship to overcome. This was done naturally without the usual idiotic misunderstandings or evil love triangles. Speaking of which, this featured one of the sweetest love triangles with the person acknowledging defeat, yet still loving the object of his affection in a respectful, supportive, yet unobtrusive, manner.
• The OST, while not containing stellar singles, meshed well with the drama.
• I'm a strong believer in forgiveness, but I hate cheap grace. I was concerned the drama was going to portray Yoo Hye Jeong in a happy family reunion after all the abuse they'd put her through. Instead, Yoo Hye Jeong forgave her father, wished him a healthy life, and permanently separated from him. Her stepmother had never changed her hostile attitude toward her; why should Yoo Hye Jeong subject herself to more misery for a family that abused and abandoned her? I did feel sorry for the half-sister. As far as the viewer knew, she'd never harmed Yoo Hye Jeong, and she seemed to sincerely want a relationship with her.
• Not everything was tied up with a bow by the end. It was like real life in that unrequited loved remained just that; people still had flaws they had to overcome; and the villains didn't get everything that was coming to them, but life went on just the same. I would have liked to have known which fellow got the one permanent position at the hospital, but I'll have to write my own ending. And what happened to Lettuce, the cute puppy?
The Bad:
• The drama switched tone from dark, violent, and frenetic to a brighter, slower pace. I enjoy medical shows so the shift from school to the hospital was fine with me, but it felt like a bait and switch. I like slower shows with lots of dialogue, but other viewers might not appreciate the shift in gears from action to talk. This became a drama with complex characters in a simpler, less dynamic plot.
• I wish the viewer had been shown the extent of Yoo Hye Jeong's trauma with her family. We were shown her crying outdoors when her parents were fighting, and we saw verbal abuse briefly from her stepmother. I'm certain with the stepmother's attitude, there were more horrendous abuses; they should have been established to allow more understanding of why Yoo Hye Jeong functioned as she did.
Gentle Viewer, be forewarned that the attraction of the leads to one another began when Yoo Hye Jeong was a student of 18, and Hong Ji Hong was a teacher of 27. The power imbalance would have bothered me if there had been more than a friendship, but their romantic relationship did not occur until she became an older professional at 31. Age gaps don't bother me (predatory power imbalances do). That's a good thing, or I wouldn't be here, as my father was 30 years older than my mother!
I added a half star for a mature romance between two individuals who didn't always agree with one another but were willing to listen to the other and were open to changing their minds. How refreshing is that!
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Two Unappealing Characters in One
I suppose I went into this expecting more. The FL was a modern professional woman who knew about C-dramas and wuxias; she should have handled palace intrigues with more intelligence, but she turned out to be an idiotic, petulant child (which really isn't fair to children, some of whom are much more mature). She was supposedly the Queen of Real Estate, a job that requires savvy, tact, and diplomacy. She had none of that. She did have outbursts, inappropriate behavior, and contemptuous faces that would have ruined her real estate career and should have caused her to lose her head in the palace. Actually the FL was two people. Her other personality was boring and morose. Ah, it's hard for me to enjoy a drama when I don't like the main character, and this one had two unappealing characters rolled into one.Good:
• Nice chemistry between the leads.
• Wang Rui Chang looked magnificent in white hair. He has cheekbones that could cut diamonds.
Bad:
• The OST was obtrusive, awkward, and incohesive. Often, it was so loud, it drowned out the dialogue. I begrudgingly allow there was a good song.
• The FL was inconsistent in portrayal. She stated she was a modern woman, but then she said she wasn't accustomed to taking care of things without a servant. She said she was a successful professional, but she acted like a spoiled kindergartener.
• Those atrocious wigs! Horses butts have better hair.
• The editing and camera work needed help. And the sound effects were hilariously bad. The actress walked: clomp, clomp, clomp... She stopped, but the sound of her steps continued, clomp, clomp, clomp!
I added an extra star because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It maintained my interest even while irritating me.
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Whodunnit with Romance
Landi Li and Ao Rui Peng made an appealing on-screen couple: mature, intelligent, and supportive of one another. It was also a nice change of pace to see the FL initiate some of the kisses with the ML instead of dodging them like most chaste drama heroines.The drama excelled when the couple were in their element solving cases. When the focus shifted to palace intrigues, it suffered with the ending becoming overly-melodramatic and a bit overly-stabby (although it was an efficient way to tie up loose ends!).
Quibbles: FL's white deerskin gloves remained pristine through all the blood and gore. Hardened soldiers became ill viewing an autopsy.
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Good Fathers Absent (the drama wouldn't have happened, otherwise)
A reckless, indulged son of wealth and position took offense at Liu Yu Ru, the unfavored daughter of a businessman, and bullied her in thoughtless prank, which caused misunderstandings that led to their engagement and marriage. On their marriage night, he made his feelings known and promised her a divorce as soon as it was practical. The playboy and the puppet had to learn to work together to survive the impending chaos the country found itself embroiled in.The character growth of both leads was enjoyable to watch: silly boy into a meticulous, thoughtful man and timid, careful girl into a capable, competent woman. I especially enjoyed watching their relationship grow from reluctant allies to friends and to lovers. ML learned his wife wasn't a manipulative schemer but a powerless pawn who had been forced to her way of life in order to survive. FL learned her childish husband was decent and intelligent, but his pampered upbringing had left him few aspirations with no one having expectations of him. Their relationship was the highlight of this drama. Once they were on the same page, they never deviated; they always believed in one another, they had no nonsensical misunderstandings, and they were a true partnership.
Once the ML was sent away to work on the dam, the story suffered. The drama needed the leads to be together to work well and keep my interest. The story shone brightest when it was involved with regular townspeople and the main couple; it dimmed dramatically as soon as the stage was shifted to the palace and court issues and away from our one true pair.
As an "historical" drama, the writers indulged heavily in intellectual fallacies, assigning today's morality and culture to the past. An Emperor with a troublesome dowager Empress and princess should have quickly found a solution to dealing with them (Empress banished to the Cold Palace; princess married to a far land). As for women in large businesses and as generals, those would have been exceedingly rare, also. However, I'm sometimes relieved to have the past sanitized for me: it was personally shocking to see a cockfight depicted.
Miscellaneous meanderings: I wonder what happened to that smart beggar boy who kept an eye on the streets for the ML. What happened to FL's stepmother, youngest stepsister, and little stepbrother? And, wow, in that scene of moving rocks at the dam, skinny Bai Jing Ting had great arms. Until I read the credits, I didn't realize the charismatic villain was Liu Xue Yi, the bald monk of The Blood of Youth. What range he has as an actor!
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Needed More Bald Monk
The Blood of Youth was a friendship adventure series full of the exuberance and bravado of youth.I watched Dashing Youth before this, as it is the prequel even though this was made later. I'm glad I did it that way, as I was somewhat familiar with the characters. It was sad to see some of my favorite characters diminished by loss and time. Baili Don Jun was no longer his carefree self. Sikong Chang Feng had lost his wandering spirit and grown into a capable, mature leader.
Was it just me, or did the two MLs and two FLs feel mismatched romantically? Young and sassy Sikong Qian Luo felt more appropriate with silly, outgoing Lei Wu Jie; elegant Ye Ruo Yi suited reserved Xiao Se much better. I never understood their romances, but I can say the same about couples I know in real life! Thankfully, romance wasn't the focus—brotherhood was.
I was mesmerized by the character of Wu Xin. He needed a larger part in the drama. I missed him when he wasn't part of the action. I'll have to check out Liu Xue Yi's other work. If he's that mesmerizing bald, imagine him with hair!
All in all, a fun romp in the wuxia world.
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That Cute Little Boy from Hikaru no Go Grew Up Well
A poor man was hired as an heiress' bodyguard. She was intrigued by his integrity and aloofness; he was drawn to her even though he thought she'd caused his family's ruin.The Good:
• The censors were asleep when this was approved! *fans self*
• The wardrobe was beautiful. It evoked the era, though it was modernized to be more stylish by today's standards. How I love the look of Chinese Republican Era dramas.
• The leads were gorgeous. Hu Yi Yao had beautifully expressive eyes. I was surprised that seductive Hao Fu Shen was that cute little boy from Hikaru no Go, all grown up.
• The leads were intelligent and didn't jump to conclusions. They also tended to give one another the benefit of the doubt, an extreme rarity in dramaland.
The Bad:
• The smoking. I understand I'm supposed to think cigarette smoking is sexy, but that kiss where the ML blew his smoke into the FL's mouth made my lungs constrict. And don't get me started on the FL smoking a cigar. So utterly gross. My step-grandfather smoked a cigar for years, got cancer where he held it in his mouth, and had to have part of his lips and tongue surgically removed. Not so very sexy.
• There was no ending. Oh, they slapped a "The End" sign where the film ran out, but there wasn't an emotional payout for the viewer. All foreplay and no orgasm, if I may be so crass.
I grade on a curve when it comes to short-length series, as they don't have the budgets of the larger shows. The plot was paint by number, but, that said, the actors, wardrobe, and OST were every bit as good as some larger dramas. I wanted to remove a half star for that non-ending, but I won't.
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I'll Be Right Back... And I've Sneaked Away Again!
I needed a break from romance, and Mysterious Lotus Casebook supplied that admirably. There was little to no romance in this story of a jaded martial arts leader turned traveling physician turned part-time detective.The Good:
• Cheng Yi played Li Lian Hua/Li Xiang Yi, a man who was jaded by the disappointments of his past. He carried enormous self-condemnation for his youthful arrogance and judged himself far too harshly. To the same extent he condemned himself, he forgave all his betrayers. As Li Xiang Yi, he upheld justice and trusted too well those he befriended. Li Xiang Yi was a different sort of hero: he was admirable, though hardly approachable or easily likable. It took getting to know him well to understand his lies and subterfuges were protections for others, because he didn't wish to involve them in dangerous situations. And he wouldn't allow others to become close to him because of his past (not having good discernment) or his future (not planning on having one).
• Joseph Zeng played the part of the wide-eyed novice, Fang Duo Bing, well. He was naive and inept when first meeting Li Lian Hua. So gullible! The drama saw him grow from a coddled noble to a capable detective.
• Xiao Shun Yao was spectacular as the stony-faced villain, Di Fei Sheng. I especially enjoyed his character arc.
• The developing friendships of the male leads were the heart of the drama and delightful to watch.
• The anime moving the Lotus House to new locations was charming.
• Spirit Fox was a good dog. That smiling face!
The Bad:
• Li Lian Hua suffered 10 years of the ambiguity of his Senior's death. He spent those years frantically searching for his body and looking for closure. Would someone who had gone through that perpetuate that non-ending for others?
• Would someone please unharness those horses? It's like they lived in their harnesses. I felt angst over that!
The drama was open-ended. How could Li Lian Hua do that to me?! I've added a half star for Di Fei Sheng's look of annoyance whenever he dealt with Fang Duo Bing. Amused me every time.
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Funnier than I Hoped; More Endearing than I Imagined
I've been in a bit of a drama slump; I've been too critical of everything I see, and I'm not enjoying it much. I don't believe it's totally the fault of the dramas—I'm just in a challenging headspace and life is punching me in the gut, as it is wont to do. I thought a change of pace with a comedy might help (which is an odd choice for me, as slapstick is definitely not a favorite genre). I watched Seoul Busters, half expecting I would drop it in an episode or two.I did finish it, and I had several chuckles along the way. The story was about a misfit crime unit that got demoted into a former daycare center (complete with child-sized urinals and toilet stalls!). Their unlikely group consisted of a handsome, witless rookie; a tough, though kind, woman; a brown-nosing father of four; and an ex-boxer whose fists were more active than his brain. They were teamed up with a new captain who was quirky and aloof.
As they worked together, the captain brought out the individual good qualities of his dysfunctional team. As he said, and I agree, they had their charms. The cast felt cohesive, played off one another beautifully, and made me feel as though they had as good a time filming the drama as I did in watching it.
The thing K-dramas do wonderfully is interweave universal truths and touch upon painful subjects in between comedic skits. This was no exception. There were serious topics addressed and heavy situations, but they were delivered between touching moments and warm, human experiences. Often comedies like this start light and bright and get progressively darker and uglier. This one managed to maintain a consistent tone to the end. Add that every main character was completely fleshed out and given a story arc, and this drama did things right.
What can I say about Kim Dong Wook? I kept thinking he looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place him. I finally realized the grinning goofball was the lead in My Perfect Stranger and Find Me in Your Memory. Both roles were of a quiet, repressed, and dignified man. Color me surprised to see how funny Kim Dong Wook could be! He had excellent comedic timing, as did the rest of the cast.
Side note: I was really, really hungry for good chocolate while watching this. I even looked up Dongbang Yu Bin's favorite brand, but it's not available to me. Wah!
Detective: Americans even have gun cabinets in their living rooms!
(Me: This can be true, especially with the older generation or rural folks.)
Detective: Even their dogs have guns!
(Me: LOL, no. Just no. Dogs don't have opposable thumbs!)
I'm giving an extra half star because I'm going to miss the gang.
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Twenty Episodes of Enjoyment; Sixteen Episodes of Drivel
I needed something sweet after watching a horror drama, and this proclaimed "sweet" in the title. I was impressed by Luo Yunxi’s performance in Till the End of the Moon. It was healing to see him in a happier, romantic role. I’ve enjoyed Bai Lu in a number of roles (she was also in Till the End of the Moon), and it was wonderful to see her paired with Luo Yunxi in a drama with a happy ending. Honestly, this drama feels like therapy after being traumatized by Till the End of the Moon.The Good:
• The leads shared a natural, playful chemistry.
• The Welsh Corgi. She wasn’t the most polished actor, but she was cute.
• Gao Han Yu delivered a nuanced performance as the most complex and compelling character.
• The male lead’s attire was exquisite. Kudos to the stylist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic3lJAn8Cek
The Bad:
• The secondary couple dragged the drama down. The female character was insufferable: a bubble-brained, overly emotional, stalker girl child. Why is this portrayed as cute for women but a glaring red flag for men? I know five-year-olds who act more mature. The male counterpart was a tech nerd who never learned to use his words. I cringed every time they appeared on screen. No shade thrown at the actors—they were playing the parts given to them.
• Noble idiocy, where great pain was inflicted in order to spare the loved one great pain. How does this make sense? And this was done even when it was life-threatening! I wish this trope would die a fiery death.
• The writer shortchanged the 2ML. He was sacrificial and underwent significant transformation, only for his arc to be discarded. His motivations remained unclear, making his choices feel like a manipulative ploy to make the ML more likable. He deserved better; all that character development was trashed.
• Once again, the FL was warned to stay away from a dangerous person, yet she ignored the man who loved her most and wanted to protect her. If you’re in a committed relationship and your partner warns you that someone has ulterior motives and is dangerous, you should listen. FL shouldn't have been wining and dining alone with another man when she'd promised to be home with the man who loved her.
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A Disappointing Waste of Jang-Jang
I was ready for something light and humorous, and the poster promised that. The MDL rating was low, but I often enjoy what others don't. It featured the two Jangs together—they're so natural with one another—and I couldn't understand why the rating wasn't higher. Having completed the drama, I wonder why it isn't lower!The Good:
• Jang Hyuk and Jang Na Ra are always fun to watch.
• I loved the character of Cho Tae Gu. He had put up many walls emotionally, but Min Seo kept crashing through them. Their interactions were fresh and engaging.
The Bad:
• Talk about an inconsistent tone. First, it was slapstick, then it was unremitting brutality. Kang Yu Ra was the sweet, supportive family member who always mediated and cleared up misunderstandings until they were her own. Then, she was dark, sullen, and non-communicative. The drama couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a silly comedy or a dark action thriller.
• Nothing had to make sense. No brain cells were required. In a top secret facility, someone could waltz in, kill off an important witness, and there was nary a guard, security camera, or even a lock on the door.
• I don't believe even one set-up was ever brought to completion. Even Grandpa's love life wasn't resolved. Obviously, they were planning on a second season that never materialized. The viewer was left hanging with absolutely nothing resolved.
I added a half star for the character of Cho Tae Gu. Kim Nam Hee made an unlikable character sympathetic.
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