There is quite a significant amount of changes from the book to the drama even though very short. The main plot is still the same, taking down the villain and finding out who was behind GC mentor’s incident. Essentially, the drama brought out the custom cases and made it more convoluted, ie the genetic sample wasn’t just one simple smuggling takeout or how closely connected Mr E actually was. They also chose to not focus on developing GC and ZY romantic interest, but to weave in the team’s blood, sweat and tears during training days and at customs. I really liked how they added in the bit with Deng jie and her daughter’s ishy relationship bc it highlights how seriously easy Group E can use anyone as mules and how the team worked together to find her as the book doesn’t really describe much into the team’s interpersonal relationships.
If anyone had reached the part in the drama where GC had a flashback during his early career days where he was arrested after a lady reported him for eying up a woman with child, this was actually supposed to be ZY lol. It happened in the present timeline in the very beginning of the book marking their very first meeting. They have a mentor/mentee relationship but with this tension and I sort of wished they added this in. They were even each other’s blind date!
What I was a little disappointed about was how the drama wrapped up the ending vs how the book did. Zhang Yu was actiallly the one who figured out the clues left behind by GC mentor’s notebook and went ahead to try to take him down before telling GC, and GC actually surprisingly took it very well. She was kidnapped, he found and rescued her, and confronted Mr E. The book however, though was only described, GC escaped death, faked it and had a memorial service, led ZY to find the notebook which turns out he was investigating and know everything already, and that there is no personal connection with the villain, and that there was this ‘insider’ working in the ranks of the villain left by his mentor whom can take him down. ZY was left in the dark until the very final confrontation where GC goes to personally capture the villain. I would’ve liked to see this og ending combined with the drama ending as it seems to fit better with how they’ve rewritten Mr E’s character and his rampaging at the end or some sort of last minute dramatic lashing out than just trying to crash the boat together with everyone in it.
I thought the ending was cut short in both the drama and book. The drama was done a little better dressing up the custom for new years and montaging everyone smiling before end credits. The book ended with ZY asking GC after he came back to say he successfully avenged his mentor’s death on how he could elevate their relationship, and he says more than friends, asking her out. The epilogue tells us how he wished his mentor was here and that no one had to die, and ends with him saluting.
In saying this, most books and dramas suffer from the same problem, the ‘rushed’ ending and we’re used to it lol. It is said that the author themself is a custom officer and wanted to write about their experiences incorporating some fiction and romance into the plot. They have quite a few titles under their name and I haven’t really checked to see how much their writing has improved for other books but 30 chapters for me personally, wasn’t enough to conclude the plot. The scriptwriter for the drama chose to do the same.
I doubt it, at least personally I loved The Trust; but I think I'll be able to enjoy this version, just as I've…
honestly same. it seems to be a short form too but I do like the casting. the trailer seems alright, I guess we’ll see during airing lol. I was obsessed like you did, I went to watch the donghua, and skimmed through the manhua right away after The Trust. that opening OST I had on repeat for a while 😂
This is one of the nichist subgenre in the aviation catergory, most dramas do not pick up on. We have all been there as travellers but never saw through the eyes of customs. What people do for money, fame and desperation that it seriously look almost like make belief, you wouldn’t think it’s true irl like the shoe case lol.
The final confrontation. I admit, it wasn't too powwow like I hoped, there's not much of a sentimental emotional response/outburst for the villain or what he had done for so long. The ending was cut a little too short for my liking but it is stil realistic enough, you just got to be imaginative bc they are customs and do not deal with anything else other than the custom side of border control.
None the less, I enjoyed it, it was nice seeing how healthy the work environment is in such an industry, the teamwork, and everyone’s relationship including the bad guys.
I will be reading the book, and for those who want some romance, the leads apparently do end up together instead of just this mentor/mentee relationship they have going on here.
吾辈当关之百步识人 by 猎衣扬. 30 chapters + 1 epilogue. No English translations unfortunately.
I think it's a Korean home remedy to cure indigestion, other dramas have done it too.
honestly it’s been a while since I picked up a kdrama lol. most of the ones I watched don’t really have such home remedy references so I get excited learning new ones when they come
I especially like ep 15 bc in all these years, I have never seen anyone recommend Australia, Sydney or the Ulura in particular as a holiday destination in a cdrama before lol.
Ep 16 was 🔥🔥🔥 This is where everything tips over and I’m really excited to see how everything plays out.
This one has potential. Compared to c verticals, it’s a little basic, and short, even the conflict between them could’ve been more fleshed out at the end. They have chemistry, the casts fit, the editing is alright, the spice looks intimate but gentle, and the ending is HE, just a little rushed.
I didn’t know this was released out after Debauchery and only found it now lol.
This is one of those remakes where you know the OG surpasses all. The plot? 98% of it is there, they changed some to which I like only a little about it. Ie. Ep 54 of her NOT rolling down the stairs which I’m not a fan of but ep 55 - 56 confrontation happening in her actual room instead of the hallway like they did in Debauchery was a nice touch to privacy in the hospital but then ep 57 kinda ruined it bc they took the plot out from that too.
The casts are ok, the chemistry of the leads felt a little weird. The editing is also ok, it’s not as intense or powwow like say the whipping scenes or any zoom in and out of scenes and facial expressions like the OG ver (the jealousy earring snatched). The costumes are a little on the nonflashy side.
Everything is like a toned down version of Nie Zhi Yi and Lawyer Zhai Shung Bai. Even the spice wasn’t really spicing in this version guys. The ending concludes a little rushed but almost the same like Debauchery.
I suggest people to watch Debauchery rather bc Zhen Zi Qi and Zhao Xi Xi have insane chemistry with each other and the plot is 100% better.
Tencent released out Sharp Downpour with Li Mu Chen and Xuan Lu but it hasn’t been added onto here yet, I did try to add it tho. Unfortunately ends on a cliffhanger so 8/10 until then.
We got robbed bc the prince refused the 2nd kiss, and also the matching cp baseball shirt. He did one but not the other at the very end so when can we see IT??? 😭😭😭
That cliffhanger tho.
PS: The prince is a cat person, owns cat painting collections and have cats at his private residence. Meow. I want MORE!
If anyone had reached the part in the drama where GC had a flashback during his early career days where he was arrested after a lady reported him for eying up a woman with child, this was actually supposed to be ZY lol. It happened in the present timeline in the very beginning of the book marking their very first meeting. They have a mentor/mentee relationship but with this tension and I sort of wished they added this in. They were even each other’s blind date!
What I was a little disappointed about was how the drama wrapped up the ending vs how the book did. Zhang Yu was actiallly the one who figured out the clues left behind by GC mentor’s notebook and went ahead to try to take him down before telling GC, and GC actually surprisingly took it very well. She was kidnapped, he found and rescued her, and confronted Mr E. The book however, though was only described, GC escaped death, faked it and had a memorial service, led ZY to find the notebook which turns out he was investigating and know everything already, and that there is no personal connection with the villain, and that there was this ‘insider’ working in the ranks of the villain left by his mentor whom can take him down. ZY was left in the dark until the very final confrontation where GC goes to personally capture the villain. I would’ve liked to see this og ending combined with the drama ending as it seems to fit better with how they’ve rewritten Mr E’s character and his rampaging at the end or some sort of last minute dramatic lashing out than just trying to crash the boat together with everyone in it.
I thought the ending was cut short in both the drama and book. The drama was done a little better dressing up the custom for new years and montaging everyone smiling before end credits. The book ended with ZY asking GC after he came back to say he successfully avenged his mentor’s death on how he could elevate their relationship, and he says more than friends, asking her out. The epilogue tells us how he wished his mentor was here and that no one had to die, and ends with him saluting.
In saying this, most books and dramas suffer from the same problem, the ‘rushed’ ending and we’re used to it lol. It is said that the author themself is a custom officer and wanted to write about their experiences incorporating some fiction and romance into the plot. They have quite a few titles under their name and I haven’t really checked to see how much their writing has improved for other books but 30 chapters for me personally, wasn’t enough to conclude the plot. The scriptwriter for the drama chose to do the same.
Group E from 3 years ago whom is eliminated - Sa Zi Yi and her subordinates.
Mr E - Guo Cong’s uncle, Xiang Xiu Yuan.
This is one of the nichist subgenre in the aviation catergory, most dramas do not pick up on. We have all been there as travellers but never saw through the eyes of customs. What people do for money, fame and desperation that it seriously look almost like make belief, you wouldn’t think it’s true irl like the shoe case lol.
The final confrontation. I admit, it wasn't too powwow like I hoped, there's not much of a sentimental emotional response/outburst for the villain or what he had done for so long. The ending was cut a little too short for my liking but it is stil realistic enough, you just got to be imaginative bc they are customs and do not deal with anything else other than the custom side of border control.
None the less, I enjoyed it, it was nice seeing how healthy the work environment is in such an industry, the teamwork, and everyone’s relationship including the bad guys.
I will be reading the book, and for those who want some romance, the leads apparently do end up together instead of just this mentor/mentee relationship they have going on here.
吾辈当关之百步识人 by 猎衣扬. 30 chapters + 1 epilogue. No English translations unfortunately.
I learnt something new today, to cure seasickness, you pinprick them apparently. 😂
Ep 16 was 🔥🔥🔥 This is where everything tips over and I’m really excited to see how everything plays out.
This is one of those remakes where you know the OG surpasses all. The plot? 98% of it is there, they changed some to which I like only a little about it. Ie. Ep 54 of her NOT rolling down the stairs which I’m not a fan of but ep 55 - 56 confrontation happening in her actual room instead of the hallway like they did in Debauchery was a nice touch to privacy in the hospital but then ep 57 kinda ruined it bc they took the plot out from that too.
The casts are ok, the chemistry of the leads felt a little weird. The editing is also ok, it’s not as intense or powwow like say the whipping scenes or any zoom in and out of scenes and facial expressions like the OG ver (the jealousy earring snatched). The costumes are a little on the nonflashy side.
Everything is like a toned down version of Nie Zhi Yi and Lawyer Zhai Shung Bai. Even the spice wasn’t really spicing in this version guys. The ending concludes a little rushed but almost the same like Debauchery.
I suggest people to watch Debauchery rather bc Zhen Zi Qi and Zhao Xi Xi have insane chemistry with each other and the plot is 100% better.
That cliffhanger tho.
PS: The prince is a cat person, owns cat painting collections and have cats at his private residence. Meow. I want MORE!
I also really really like ep 8.