The first episode had such a sophisticated, and sexy vibe.. the kind of drama you'd watch while sipping a glass of wine. Clearly an acquired taste. FREAKING LOVED IT! On to binge the rest of the drama :)
If you're having a bad day, and need something to laugh, then this is it! Highly recommended for all rom-com lovers :) I enjoyed it all the way till the end.
E19 - E24This show may be campy and fun on the surface, but I love that it actually has some depth and the characters…
I love what Keke said about how Hai Kuo didn't even discuss the resignation with her, and how she couldn't find him the whole day. That must have been scary for her. I love that the conversation wasn't about his dad at all. But about Hai Kuo's impulsiveness. Her question to him was so valid - is he going to keep running from every place that his dad turns up at? Just to escape his control? The breakup made absolute sense. After that conversation, he went straight for a proposal instead of talking to her? And did he seriously think that she cared only about financial stability? She was right - security comes from being open and talking about things, rather than one party making decisions and informing the other of it.
LMAOOOOO I didn't expect the boss to go down on his knees in E21. That was hilarious! Also Elly taking control of Michael's house; LOVE IT! Also, Asian parents have such a one track mind - all they think of and worry about is the couple having sex, leading to a pregnancy. Also Michael's hot pink night suit with hearts - THE WRITERS OF THIS HAVE REALLY GONE THE WAY OUT TO MILK EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR COMEDY. LOVE IT! And Elly's devilish message of that hot massage to seduce Michael - MASTERSTROKE! Congratulations! She got her goal :)
Also that product placement for the bento - smart! Michael seems to have zero EQ rubbing on Haikuo's wounds like that. OUCHHH. HAHA. And that honest convo between Keke's father and Haikuo; beautifully written. Parents are learning too! Not that I'm saying Haikuo should forgive his father, but what Jian Papa said about empathy was SPOT ON. Jia Li broke up with Yuanchong all for that mum who just wants to make money out of her. Sigh.. as much as I feel frustrated with her because she finally took few steps forward and seems to have retreated, I guess that's how humans are. It's never a linear path forward. Michael's advice to Yuanchong was SPOT ON. It's not always about winning in a relationship. Sometimes, we have to understand the other, and hold on tighter. The conclusion to Jia Li and her mum's arc was a little rushed. Decent nonetheless.
Oh yes, the OSTs used in the last few episodes were beautiful. Finally something different.
E19 - E24 This show may be campy and fun on the surface, but I love that it actually has some depth and the characters are somewhat rooted in reality, with the way their scars affect the way they communicate and attach, and also the way they're all working towards their little dreams.
I adore the way writers use every opportunity possible to come up with something comic and sensitive, rather than introduce misunderstandings. The characters are not perfect, but they actually try to communicate. This could go on for a lot more episodes and I'd enjoy it. 24 was short!
If you wanna watch a film about everything that is wrong with men and women today, then this is for you. All 3…
The first few mins where Baku and FL met already screamed CREEPY. Like if I made eye contact with anyone that way, I'd run. But there starts the train of mistakes. Mistake 1 - they immediately kiss and begin dating. Mistake 2 - He has a habit of disappearing and she just takes that. Mistake 3 - Ryohei knows she has a mystery to her and something is off. Instead of running away, he gets turned on by that and pursues her. Mistake 4 - She knows he has the same face as the man that ghosted her, and she begins a relationship with him. Mistake 5 - He finds out that she had an ex that looks like him and he continues being with her for years. When she reveals this secret, he casually says its ok and they smile. Mistake 6 - She goes after Baku. Mistake 7 - Baku returns and doesn't give her any explanation whatsoever as to why he was away for 7 years. Mistake 8 - She runs away with the Baku and throws everything away. Mistake 9 - Ryohei sends her a text that they'll laugh over this when they're older and that he knows she loves him. Mistake 10 - She reaches the beach with Baku and suddenly realises she wants Ryohei, leaving Baku. Mistake 10 - Ryohei tells the FL that he will never believe in her again, and the FL tells him that she won't apologize anymore. They look at the river together and he remarks that it's dirty. And she says "but its beautiful". He looks at her, and you can guess how the film ends.
If you wanna watch a film about everything that is wrong with men and women today, then this is for you. All 3 leads are messed up, especially the FL. This whole film is a red flag. I enjoyed it though.
P.S Knowing the backstory of the leads getting together in real life while filming and having an affair for 3 years while the ML was married definitely made this film feel even more messed up.
What a great review! I just watched it, and I am blown away by this drama. It's a cinematic masterpiece. And don't even get me started on the score - one of the best I've heard in an Asian drama. Sad that it's so underrated.
This is a drama that everyone needs to watch once. A gripping, compelling and complex human drama about a successful pianist's destined journey through his trauma to finding closure and redemption. Masterfully written and edited, beautifully picturised and directed, with one of the most immersive and best scores I have heard in an Asian drama, and a brilliant, effortless performance by Nakai Masahiro, this was a poetic masterpiece. To the entire cast and crew - TAKE A BOW! *runs to YouTube to find the score*
P. S Do not stop at the end credits. There's a crucial scene after the end credits explaining 'Shukumei'.
I just updated the info of this new series. It is going to be a total of 7 episodes.https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0D1DFLCQY/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_rEp…
4 
9 
2 
1 
1 
On to binge the rest of the drama :)
Highly recommended for all rom-com lovers :)
I enjoyed it all the way till the end.
https://nazhongmin.livejournal.com/2808.html
I love that the conversation wasn't about his dad at all. But about Hai Kuo's impulsiveness. Her question to him was so valid - is he going to keep running from every place that his dad turns up at? Just to escape his control?
The breakup made absolute sense. After that conversation, he went straight for a proposal instead of talking to her? And did he seriously think that she cared only about financial stability? She was right - security comes from being open and talking about things, rather than one party making decisions and informing the other of it.
LMAOOOOO I didn't expect the boss to go down on his knees in E21. That was hilarious!
Also Elly taking control of Michael's house; LOVE IT!
Also, Asian parents have such a one track mind - all they think of and worry about is the couple having sex, leading to a pregnancy.
Also Michael's hot pink night suit with hearts - THE WRITERS OF THIS HAVE REALLY GONE THE WAY OUT TO MILK EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR COMEDY. LOVE IT!
And Elly's devilish message of that hot massage to seduce Michael - MASTERSTROKE!
Congratulations! She got her goal :)
Also that product placement for the bento - smart!
Michael seems to have zero EQ rubbing on Haikuo's wounds like that. OUCHHH. HAHA.
And that honest convo between Keke's father and Haikuo; beautifully written. Parents are learning too! Not that I'm saying Haikuo should forgive his father, but what Jian Papa said about empathy was SPOT ON.
Jia Li broke up with Yuanchong all for that mum who just wants to make money out of her. Sigh.. as much as I feel frustrated with her because she finally took few steps forward and seems to have retreated, I guess that's how humans are. It's never a linear path forward.
Michael's advice to Yuanchong was SPOT ON. It's not always about winning in a relationship. Sometimes, we have to understand the other, and hold on tighter.
The conclusion to Jia Li and her mum's arc was a little rushed. Decent nonetheless.
Oh yes, the OSTs used in the last few episodes were beautiful. Finally something different.
This show may be campy and fun on the surface, but I love that it actually has some depth and the characters are somewhat rooted in reality, with the way their scars affect the way they communicate and attach, and also the way they're all working towards their little dreams.
I adore the way writers use every opportunity possible to come up with something comic and sensitive, rather than introduce misunderstandings. The characters are not perfect, but they actually try to communicate. This could go on for a lot more episodes and I'd enjoy it. 24 was short!
But there starts the train of mistakes.
Mistake 1 - they immediately kiss and begin dating.
Mistake 2 - He has a habit of disappearing and she just takes that.
Mistake 3 - Ryohei knows she has a mystery to her and something is off. Instead of running away, he gets turned on by that and pursues her.
Mistake 4 - She knows he has the same face as the man that ghosted her, and she begins a relationship with him.
Mistake 5 - He finds out that she had an ex that looks like him and he continues being with her for years. When she reveals this secret, he casually says its ok and they smile.
Mistake 6 - She goes after Baku.
Mistake 7 - Baku returns and doesn't give her any explanation whatsoever as to why he was away for 7 years.
Mistake 8 - She runs away with the Baku and throws everything away.
Mistake 9 - Ryohei sends her a text that they'll laugh over this when they're older and that he knows she loves him.
Mistake 10 - She reaches the beach with Baku and suddenly realises she wants Ryohei, leaving Baku.
Mistake 10 - Ryohei tells the FL that he will never believe in her again, and the FL tells him that she won't apologize anymore. They look at the river together and he remarks that it's dirty. And she says "but its beautiful". He looks at her, and you can guess how the film ends.
I enjoyed it though.
P.S Knowing the backstory of the leads getting together in real life while filming and having an affair for 3 years while the ML was married definitely made this film feel even more messed up.
I just watched it, and I am blown away by this drama.
It's a cinematic masterpiece.
And don't even get me started on the score - one of the best I've heard in an Asian drama.
Sad that it's so underrated.
Shukumei: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkM1iO9jeRo
Maboroshi no Kage: https://youtube.com/watch?v=
Link to all the scores for purchase: https://vgmdb.net/album/118824
A gripping, compelling and complex human drama about a successful pianist's destined journey through his trauma to finding closure and redemption. Masterfully written and edited, beautifully picturised and directed, with one of the most immersive and best scores I have heard in an Asian drama, and a brilliant, effortless performance by Nakai Masahiro, this was a poetic masterpiece.
To the entire cast and crew - TAKE A BOW!
*runs to YouTube to find the score*
P. S Do not stop at the end credits. There's a crucial scene after the end credits explaining 'Shukumei'.
Can't wait to watch it nonetheless.
I wanna watch everything Nojima Shinji has written.
Suna No Utsuwa (2004)
https://mydramalist.com/2301-suna-no-utsuwa