Monkey's Magical Realism
I think it's good practice to start with the positive stuff, since there is a lot to like. The premise is reasonably innovative and well-executed to boot. The island setting enhances the supernatural elements and functions as a symbolically laden haven, which allows its inhabitants to (re)learn to live with themselves and foster community. Really, every filming location suits the plot and furthers the narrative. The acting is also solid all around. Even among the side and supporting characters, I can't think of anyone I didn't enjoy watching. The parent-child dynamics are believable, layered, and ultimately supportive. The friendships are fun and dynamic without lacking depth.
The romance is where this story begins to falter for me. Yes, Wan Zhe and Aomi are charismatic and irresistibly charming as a couple. Their journey from artificial, precarious happiness (Adorno says hi) to true love via repeated confessions is satisfying. (The passionate NC scenes are probably a plus for some viewers, but in the case of this story, they didn't heavily factor into my perception of the couples.) By contrast, the main couple's (shaky) romantic chemistry and storyline aren't my vibe. The theme of repetition is significantly less enjoyable with them and borders on wearing. I readily admit that this is a mostly subjective critique (at the beginning, I actually shipped Xiang Yong with Wan Zhe). The fact is, it still dampens my enthusiasm for this story, which starts strong and, for the most part, doesn't run out of steam, though 10 episodes would have been a better runtime.
Less significant and even pettier grievances, which need must be listed lest I combust: The moral of the story is alright, but it neither strongly resonates with me nor turns my worldview upside down. The art is really bad. Like, I know that not everything needs to be perfect and that mediocre art serves its purpose and even fits Xiang Yong's storyline better. But I was about to walk into the ocean if I had to look at that turtle drawing one more time. Speaking of turtles: The last episode (rushed and mostly fluff) has some cool underwater scenes, which make me wish we had more of those, but I get that there must have been budget constraints. The quibble-iest of my quibbles relates to the song choices, which sometimes took me out of the immersion.
The romance is where this story begins to falter for me. Yes, Wan Zhe and Aomi are charismatic and irresistibly charming as a couple. Their journey from artificial, precarious happiness (Adorno says hi) to true love via repeated confessions is satisfying. (The passionate NC scenes are probably a plus for some viewers, but in the case of this story, they didn't heavily factor into my perception of the couples.) By contrast, the main couple's (shaky) romantic chemistry and storyline aren't my vibe. The theme of repetition is significantly less enjoyable with them and borders on wearing. I readily admit that this is a mostly subjective critique (at the beginning, I actually shipped Xiang Yong with Wan Zhe). The fact is, it still dampens my enthusiasm for this story, which starts strong and, for the most part, doesn't run out of steam, though 10 episodes would have been a better runtime.
Less significant and even pettier grievances, which need must be listed lest I combust: The moral of the story is alright, but it neither strongly resonates with me nor turns my worldview upside down. The art is really bad. Like, I know that not everything needs to be perfect and that mediocre art serves its purpose and even fits Xiang Yong's storyline better. But I was about to walk into the ocean if I had to look at that turtle drawing one more time. Speaking of turtles: The last episode (rushed and mostly fluff) has some cool underwater scenes, which make me wish we had more of those, but I get that there must have been budget constraints. The quibble-iest of my quibbles relates to the song choices, which sometimes took me out of the immersion.
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