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The story itself is pretty straightforward, not hard to follow along but somehow I felt like it lacked substance. Even with there being mysteries and secrets, the way the story was executed never left me with anticipation. A lot of scenes felt unnecessary to the overall story; they made it seem like it was important at one time but then brushed it aside later on never touching upon it much again, let alone giving it much closure. Even found myself bored many times because of the slow paced or draggy areas, it was like watching paint dry. Instead of engaging the viewers in more fast paced action filled scenes with concise explanations, they seemed to focus more on dialogue, an excessive amount at that. Which is a shame because the only interesting parts to me were the fights and some of the training scenes.
Even though I never fully got invested in this story nor the characters, I must admit a lot of them had great character development, especially compared to the beginning when they were too immature and dramatic. The dynamics and chemistry between the Shrek Academy students were more enjoyable than the main leads! Honestly, even the "adult characters" were more interesting. My biggest complaint is the portrayal of Xiao Wu’s character, her voice & personality annoyed me throughout the show…I’m sorry, I know many loved her but I couldn’t even look at her half the time she was on screen. Her overly high pitched voice and her one expression pouty face just wasn’t doing it for me. Too naive and too clingy. Only during her fight scenes was she tolerable. Tang San unfortunately was also annoying at times but really only when he was with Xiao Wu, always holding her arm, being so overprotective and babied her so much. I understand the wanting to protect someone you care about but he was just over the top…
Thank goodness there wasn’t many scenes with music (at least not that I remember) because when there was, they NEVER played it at the right times. They should’ve played it during the action packed scenes to build up the suspense, but instead they were randomly playing it when they were casually walking or chatting…
The ending was left on a cliffhanger…i wont say much on it but regardless of what happens with the second season, I will not watch it. The only thing that kept me going while watching this was purely Xiao Zhan’s visuals and the beautiful loyalty and teamwork of the Shrek Academy as well as some their fight scenes!!
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A Boring Yet Surprisingly Irritating Watch with a Sprinkle of Beautiful Visuals
If I were to just judge this drama by the first 3-4 episodes, I would without a doubt say it had the potential to be a really fun and cute story if done right…I loved the direction it was going in in the beginning. However, after seeing how the story was unraveling in the later episodes, my interest in this show started depleting as well as my expectations for this show…What started out as your typical cute fluff content, with all the fuzzies and butterfly feelings, soon became the exact opposite. As it started trickling down to just a lot of annoying toxic behavior and cliches with a boring general plot…so if you are looking solely for fluff or a well scripted romance story skip this. But anyways….lets begin!!In terms of plot, theres really no plot…which you'll figure out pretty early on into the show (around ep 5 onwards.) Not much is happening in terms of the story, it was just a lot of back and forth repetitive scenes and conversations focusing primarily around the workplace, so you can imagine how quickly boring that got. On top of that, they started throwing a lot of drama and aggravations one after another that really added NOTHING to the development of the story nor the progression of the mains relationship. The execution is sooo poorly done, it seemed like they didn't exactly know what direction to go in so they started just throwing everything in hoping something sticks.
There’s no denying that the two main leads visually are a beautiful and handsome couple, and they definitely had their fair share of adorable moments, but those scattered cute moments were not enough to save this. It didn't hide the fact that their whole relationship throughout this entire show was ALL OVER THE PLACE, that sometimes it was really hard to root for them. Honestly I don't even know why this drama was set at a workplace because their relationship was only hindering their professionalism at work but also hurting their relationship in general.
Oh My Boss tried to balance work life with romance within its story but I think it failed in executing it leaving really weak stories for both. There was definitely an attempt to show various situations of the kinds of people we can bump into at the work place which could be interesting to see, however unfortunately majority of it were negative encounters which made it more aggravating than engaging. I would’ve rather seen more stronger character development in both leads in their work life; their problem solving (professionally) as well as their pursuit in romance. Also it would've been super interesting to actually see the finished results of their clients projects, we only ever saw them go to meetings and signing contracts so I felt like we never got that full satisfying feel when they succeeded. It was just overall super hard to become invested and interested in the story when there were more annoyances than positives which is unfortunate because I really loved the first few episodes.
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This is your typical average show, the storyline itself is pretty straight forward, nothing extravagant. The premise of this drama follows as; In order to keep the balance and peace in the country, the tomb sect was divided into two. One comprising of the Tomb Guarding; which just like its name, its duty was to protect and guard the treasures in the tombs while Tomb Raiding; raids but distinctively states that they never rob or steal from the tombs. However, their harmony with one another soon gets threatened when a rumor goes around insinuating that the leader of the Tomb Guarding Sect had robbed the very tomb they were suppose to be protecting. As tension and friction starts rising between the two sects, thus the journey and battle between the sects begin.
Bromance? Yes it does have bromance, but its not the main focus. The two leads each have their own respective lover so its mostly focused on the couples than on the bromance. DISCLAIMER: if you hate annoying, whiney, high pitched females than be weary of Shui Yao’s character. She is not only one of the most useless characters in this show in my personal opinion, but her personality had left much to be desired. She’s always throwing tantrums and acting childish majority of her screen time; honestly I dont even know how i sat through 32 episodes of it. I truly believe even if they completely took her character out of this, the story would primarily still be the same because her contributions overall to the show was so minuscule. She was basically there so the main male lead had romance. But on a positive note the other females were cool headed, intelligent and strong!
Fighting scenes were pretty good! Those were probably the most fun parts to watch, however I will say that I felt like the main characters won too easily and too often half the time…considering they were going up against some tough veteran fighters…but I digress. The one thing I really enjoyed about this story is that there were a lot of gray characters. There wasn’t a fine line of black and white, good and evil. Even if some were portrayed as evil, when you see their point of view or hear their story, you begin to understand them, their actions as well as their motives where you really start questioning about morals. In an effort to benefit the nation; they all chose different routes which they each believed was the only morally right way. It was super interesting to see how each side executed their plan. The rush against time to see who can outsmart the other and be cunning. The irony of it all was that their goal was all the same; to help the country; unfortunately due to the difference in motives had them be on opposing sides ; some leading to more devious schemes.
As for the ending, I truly believe this one is really up to the viewer themselves to decide if its a good ending or not. To me, it was an unsatisfying ending, but maybe to others its a decent or good enough ending. All in all, go in with low expectations and you might actually be surprised! If you don’t have much to watch and just need a drama to pass the time that doesn’t require much thinking, then give this a shot =)
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A Good Drama…But Unfortunately Just Not My Cup of Tea ><
I was eager to watch this with thrill and excitement especially since it was dealing with psychological aspects and mental health!! Finally seeing Kim Soo Hyun back in action, I was overjoyed only to be underwhelmed by the end >< I really loved the first 6 episodes and was intrigued with how the story would unfold. But as the episodes went on…I felt less and less invested in this show and ending up getting bored. Honestly I wish I knew before hand how slow paced this drama was…slow burning shows are definitely not for me…you have to go into this with a lot of patience and focus especially if you are not one who likes these type of dramas!! A lot scenes felt way too excessive for my liking, and just dragged throughout the episodes where I was tempted to just watch it in fast forward mode. I personally dont think the episodes even needed to be this long and couldve made it more concise…I think Ye Ji did a fantastic job in playing an antisocial personality disorder, however idk if I could find her character personally likable?? Not sure if she was suppose to be likable from the start or if we were suppose to empathize with her and grow to like her as she started to show character development. She was definitely amusing and I enjoyed her in the first few episodes…however the fact that she had manipulative and possessive traits really rubbed me the wrong way…like the stuff that came out of her mouth towards Gang Tae with no hesitation & how he just shrugged or laughed at it half of the time…im perplexed…those are not things that you should take lightly or in a joking matter?? And her having no problem just screaming what could be deemed as inappropriate in public situations is really unsettling…But I am glad that we got to see her grow by the end of the series; having emotions and caring for others besides herself and putting their needs before her own.
Their “love story” still has me not fully convinced because I cant figure out how or why it started?? It just seemed pretty rushed without any motives of why they fell for each other as kids and somehow that infatuation stayed with them all these years…Its easy to understand why their love grew for each other when their paths crossed again because they were each others safe haven, someone to understand them and give them support. They undoubtedly have amazing chemistry but I had just hoped for a more tangible idea and reasoning behind their attraction??
Gang Tae’s irrational behaviors half the time whenever it dealt with Moon Young became frustrating….especially when he stayed to protect her…while checking up with Sang Tae via phone calls….like what?? all three should've been together in order to make sure they are all safe especially when a dangerous person is out for them…The whole situation was a mess, the communication was nonexistent when there should've been more awareness and caution towards that situation. And I wish there was more detail about Moon Young's mother…I felt like theres still missing pieces to it that Im still pretty curious about but was never touched upon…
All and all, setting aside some of the cons for me, I do want to applaud some pros that I saw throughout the show that I really loved and appreciated!! The OST and overall aesthetics of the show were really beautiful and one of my favorite aspects to the drama, it really embodied the mood of the drama. The way the director/writer integrated the fairy tale story illustrations with thought provoking messages to further emphasize these serious topics but also keep it somewhat lighthearted I think created a nice balance. And like many others have said…but just to re-emphasize…Oh Jung Se’s portrayal of Sang Tae was ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! To really understand and delve into his character and its accuracy was so natural and believable, he ended up being one of my favorite characters by the end of the show and really became the sole reason that kept me interested throughout these episodes! His maturity and growth as an individual and his mindset during the last half of the show was sooo heartwarming and beautiful. Im so proud of him and to see his journey of overcoming his trauma; he literally deserves the world and all the happiness. I also loved the Head Doctor of Ok Psychiatric Hospital, he was soo funny and just a great person!! He really cared about his patients and treated them like a family! Honestly everyone did a great job in their portrayals especially the actors/actresses that suffered through trauma or other mental illnesses and to see them tackle their traumas/issues. You can really empathize with each and every one of them and understand where they are coming from. And the ending was very sweet and beautiful, I LOVED IT!! The dialogue at the end wrapped up the story very nicely! Overall the story was good but its not something that gave me a lasting impression…
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This review may contain spoilers
This Movie Left Me with More Questions than Answers
So I originally watched this for Greg because I loveddd him in Someday or One Day, and wanted to see some of his other works!! This def sounded like an interesting story and I thought the cute romance in the beginning was uber adorable and thoroughly enjoyable, however by the end of the movie I felt like I was left with more questions than answers....This was such a missed opportunity to really delve into the world of someone who is classified as a "hermaphrodite." And disclaimer: I will be using their english names used in the English subtitles!! And beware of possible huge spoilers!As someone who had never heard of this word and has little to no knowledge of what a hermaphrodite is, I think it would have been beneficial if this movie went into a little more detail at least on Wendy's journey.....I felt like that was such an important part of the movie; her "changing" genders yet they completely skipped that whole process where I feel like we cant even feel as connected with her because she just disappears and then reappears....theres no backstory or reflection of what she went through during those years to get to how she is now?? Firstly...what kind of accident did Wendy and her friend have that caused them to be in the hospital?? Cause they were suddenly in the bathroom and then bam they are in the hospital where she finds out she's a hermaphrodite that has damaged her uterus & ovaries. The only thing they showed from the "accident" was a 5 second clip that I cant even remember what happened because it was so quick and basically useless to even show at that point.
Second, did she have to become a male because she had to take out her female parts?? Im just wondering if there was really no option to just stay as a female even without them...she just wouldn't be able to reproduce no?? or is it cause without those female parts "she's no longer classified as female" Im genuinely curious because I really don't know about these things...which if they went more in depth on this process maybe Id have a better understanding! Again, Im not expecting the director/screenwriter to go step by step on everything but they should have treated this as if their audience knows nothing about this topic and executed it in a way thats easily understood by the general public (but maybe its just me who doesn't understand)
Im glad that Tim/Wendy had her best friend and Shaun in her life because they really were pillars for her. The way Shaun unconditionally still loved her no matter what was soo beautiful and endearing. I kinda wish we were able to see more of his adjustment to the gender change of his first love because from the movie perspective...it just took a day...and in reality Im sure it takes way longer than that....sooo that part seemed unrealistic. The ending felt somewhat kinda rushed...idk, I definitely see why so many people are confused with that ending...because even with my interpretation, Im unsure but the way I saw it was that she was asking to be blessed in this life by God. She is still the same "person & soul" as she was; just outwardly she may look and seem different but that she still wants to be accepted fully. And believes that love can help her be reborn and accept herself in this "new gender."
All in all, considering the time restraint they had in telling this story in movie format, its not terrible...just not the best way they could've executed this story, because I really do think this storyline has a lot of potential to be a really good one with a lot of great lessons wrapped inside. It seems like this would've been better as a short drama series (few episodes) to really delve into the story and details!!
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Only Left With Bitterness till the Very End
I usually like to give dramas the benefit of the doubt even if reviews and comments are saying otherwise because who knows maybe I’ll see something different than others and enjoy. However this one…..was truly awful. Probably one of the worst k dramas I have watched if not the worst to date for me. An absolute waste of time. Im so glad this was only 10 episodes otherwise I wouldve been even more annoyed than I already was once the show ended…I can’t even begin to explain what I just watched because I don’t even know what exactly I was watching. Honestly I’m not even convinced that the writer or director knew either. Nothing was explained, nothing was answered and if you think by the end it’ll all make sense and be explained you are dead wrong. Instead…they left it off on a cliffhanger and just to put that cherry on top they also randomly threw in new characters I KID YOU NOT….IN THE LAST 20 minutes of the finale. Like hello, let’s continue to not explain anything while also adding new faces just because we can. One word….unsatisfied
I think what makes it more frustrating is that the story itself does a pretty good job in taking you on this journey into their world, setting up a lot mystery and questions. And as the story progresses, it tricks you into thinking YESS THIS IS THE CLIMAX (well finally get answers) only to be let down every single time.
Even though there are plenty other reviews who can articulate way better than me as to why this is a MUST SKIP SERIES...I just needed to vent a little anddd reiterate PLEASE SAVE YOURSELF….DO NOT BOTHER WATCHING….unless you enjoy wasting your time or being confused =/
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This review may contain spoilers
I just absolutely loved this drama. It was so refreshing to watch compared to the other BLs Ive seen so far and took me on an emotional rollercoaster. The concept of reincarnation has always intrigued me so this was right up my alley, and the way they incorporated other details like the red string of fate and birthmarks were really a nice touch!! The show itself had very little to no drama, which was a huge plus for me!! The only major conflict was internally between Dean x Pharm and their reincarnated souls.The red string of fate symbolically tied Dean & Pharm to the traumatic past of Korn & In. In the sense, it predetermined their fate long ago…as their whole relationship more or less centered around Korn & In where its brought into question is their love truly real? Or is it soley based on the attraction and the longing feelings of their reincarnated souls. Quite an interesting journey of Dean x Pharm unraveling the truth but also redefining themselves as individuals and their relationship. I really do believe the reincarnated souls only helped in guiding and allowing Dean and Pharm to find each other. To fill that missing void in their life. Even though their reincarnated souls lived a tragic past which in turn lead to some lingering trauma for Dean & Pharm in the present, it allowed them both to see the realities of what could happen...and to not take each other for granted and fight for their love. And although this story is mainly focused on fated love, it also shows the importance of friendship, family, and acceptance!!And if nothing else is really catching your interest in the show…at least you’ll get some aesthetically beautiful thai dessert recipes out of this while jamming to some beautiful music!! THIS OST, specifically Luckiest Boy by Boy Sompob is my jam…such a beautiful song…I love singing along to it especially “You are my Sunshine, You are my Starlight at Night”
Korn x In were my favorite couple besides Win x Team in the story, and Im not entirely sure if it was the fact that it was because their story involved a “forbidden love” that resulted in a tragic ending where I so badly wanted them to have a happy ending….or if it was their acting itself; their expressions & contrasting personalities that sold it for me…Could be a combination of both LOL. I got so emotional every time they appeared on screen but I kept wanting more where I started realizing I was more invested in them than the main couple Dean x Pharm. Their parts sometimes were very slow and boring for me?? They seemed somewhat awkward with each other (not all the time, they def had their cute moments) where I wasn’t really convinced with their chemistry throughout the show but because of Korn x In, it made me care about Dean x Pharm. I wanted them to have a second chance/happy ending. However I will commend them because they had one of the healthiest relationships I have seen in BLs, I could clearly see by their actions how much they respected and wholeheartedly supported one another. And then we have Win x Team, which was a great balance between the other two couples as they were more humorous and fun LOL. The way Win always looked at Team…wow…he was smitten with him >< . Meanwhile Team only cared about his Lays Chips LOL JK. I cant wait for their spinoff Between Us!!!
Yes this drama was not perfect, it had its flaws, one being a decent amount of scenes were painfully slow…like I could be staring at the same scene for a good 5 mins..or what felt like 5 mins and nothing would be happening?? I could’ve probably fast forwarded and still not missed anything. Not sure if that was a decision made to built up emotions…but it didnt do anything for me. The transitions between the past and present day seemed choppy to me?? but that could be due to the episodes being in multiple parts, one part would end on Dean x Pharm and then the next part of the episode it would start as Korn x Ins story and vice versa….and some of the order of the flashbacks of Korn x In’s story seemed chronologically out of place with Dean x Pharm’s?? However that being said, these didn’t pose huge issues for me as I still overall enjoyed the drama!!
The ending wrapped up everybody’s stories really well. It demonstrated different perspectives of what people go through when losing a loved one due to suicide…it showed the regret and longing for their lost loved one…The pain and suffering of those who were left behind where they are endlessly left with questions that’ll never be answered. As well as the perspective of the person who committed suicide, which in reality we are never able to see…so it was nice to see that perspective interpreted too. If I had to sum up the ending in one word….it would be forgiveness….It was a truly beautiful and satisfying ending for me, considering how hesitant I originally was but all my concerns were put to rest!
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This review may contain spoilers
I was a little weary at first whether or not to start this drama; as I typically dont really enjoy slow burner melodramas….they just lose my interest too fast. But since I like the two main leads I decided to give this drama a chance…and after finishing this I AM SOOO GLAD that I took this leap of faith and started it because I loved this drama so much…although Im not sure I interpreted this drama the same way as others did….but I wanted to express my thoughts to the best of my ability here…A Piece of Your Mind was such a therapeutic journey to follow along to…especially during all the chaos thats happening around us, it was a nice getaway to indulge in. Each episode unravels a new piece about the individual characters and their past…while seeing how they handle their day to day life. All their stories cleverly touch upon different conflicts like loneliness, depression, yearning/longing, and acceptance. The struggle of losing someone you love…and being left behind with unanswered questions; the sense of yearning, missing someone, or even having a deep regret. Depending on the situation and person…it can slowly eat u up alive. Effecting your overall mental state and well being where even living your day to day life becomes overwhelming and suffocating….unable to move forward. You’re alive…but you aren't living. (Im probably making this story sound darker than it is, the story has serious messages but the portrayal is told quite beautifully.) Each and every one of us deal with our own inner struggles and cope with things our own way….and sometimes all we need is just one person…to remind us the beauty in life…to give us that shoulder to lean on, to cry on…to listen to our worries and tell us that everything will be alright… Or even just reminding ourselves that “thisll all pass, tomorrow will be better” Seeing the characters at their lowest and darkest forms…slowly conquering all their worries and traumas and accepting them throughout this show made it all the more worthwhile to watch. I felt like I was somehow healing myself along with them.
The one thing…i do want to mention about this show though is that I didnt really understand how the device actually worked…the mechanics and logic behind it didnt seem fully fleshed out…However, I liked the idea of its mission: using it to help people with Alzheimers or for mental support!! To help heal and console the lives of people suffering, even if its just to give them comfort and closure.…
Overall, I think anybody who watches this can take away something from this show thatll linger with them and maybe even give them a different or new perspective on “life”, maybe even hope!
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As long as someones there for you, if you go to a place that you regret, you can come back
Regardless what year you watch this show, this one truly stands the test of time. What seems like your ordinary school youth story, unravels into so much more with each passing episode. It definitely isn't your typical storytelling but it still effectively emulates some realism of young teens going to school and the true meaning and value of friendship.We are first introduced to one of the mains Shuji, who is considered the "popular kid" in school. On the outside, he's a social butterfly loved by all but on the contrary, he hides his true self in order to be liked and accepted by everyone. He always puts others first instead of himself and never dares to express his inner thoughts. He believes if he does this, he'll get through school easily without any problems. But his "easy going life" all changes when he meets the clumsy "outcast" goofball Akira, and the new transfer student Nobuko (who doesn't have a pleasant start in school). In an effort to help Nobuko enjoy her school life more, Shuji and Akira form a pact with Nobuko to make her "popular" and thus, Nobuta Produce begins!
One aspect that I really loved about this series is that even though the goal of Nobuta Produce was to make the FL be more "popular" and well liked amongst her classmates, the 2 ML never steered her away from her true essence. They solely guided her along in making some adjustments in her daily life to make herself more confident and approachable. They never forced her into anything she was uncomfortable with. This could've easily turned into one of those glow up makeover situations by changing everything about her to please the general public, but instead they strayed away from that which I think as a result is much more impactful. Throughout the episodes, we can see the FL slowly growing and blooming into a more confident version of herself. True friendship helps shape you into being a better version of yourself, NOT change you into someone completely different and unrecognizable. With our iconic trio, we are given all the cute & wholesome scenes of loyalty and friendship. We can see how much of an impact they had on each others life, Shuji & Akira helped Nobuko out of her shell, to trust and enjoy others company while she taught Shuji what it means to have a true friend. He was surrounded by people all the time but for the first time he understood what it means to be happy around company, to get excited seeing friends and have fun doing things together. AND THE BROMANCE WAS TOP NOTCH HAHA. No matter what they went through, they believed in each other and were each other's strengths through thick and thin. A journey about friendship and a journey about finding & understanding themselves (even if its only bits and pieces of it) Truly such a precious series to watch!
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Cute Fluff Galore!!! And I Loved Every Second Of It!!!!
If you are looking for a cute & lighthearted romance with humor and chemistry, PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT!! It was one of the most enjoyable and easy to watch romance series I have watched to date. The acting and chemistry between the couples are just soo adorable and its very rare for me to love EVERY SINGLE COUPLE in a show because I usually have my favorites. But this one, I truly loved all of them and their stories. I loved how all the relationships developed overtime naturally where you could physically see and understand when and how the feelings began. They all displayed great qualities in a relationship that I think we don't see portrayed enough in a lot of dramas. We often see so much toxicity or unrealistic developments of relationships in dramas that when seeing how ALL 3 of these couples exhibited "healthy" relationships, it's such a breath of fresh air. The ability to understand, communicate, develop trust, and showing empathy towards your partner just to name a few that I saw!!Im so glad I stumbled upon this gem because sometimes...we just need some fluffy & non-aggravating dramas to watch!! And this my friend....is the one!! Very little drama, and when there were problems, it got resolved quickly within the same episode or next episode. It was enough to keep the story entertaining & realistic, since lets be real, life isnt always rainbows and butterflies LOL so they have to throw in someeee drama. But its not dragged out to the point where it becomes aggravating. Even when some of the characters were slightly annoying in the beginning they became likable if not lovable by the end of the series! All of them redeemed themselves where you really couldnt hate any of them because of their character development. ALSO LOVE THIS OST!! haha the songs are all beautiful >< Im obsessed!
I would highly recommend this to anyone who just needs a feel good show that you can watch mindlessly. If you cant decide what to watch or if you are bored and need something to pass the time. Keep this drama in mind^^
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Before I begin, I just want to give a disclaimer that while going into this drama I hadn't read the novel nor watched the Dong Hua like many other fans so this is purely based off of the drama as I had nothing to compare since I was unfamiliar with the story!
Story Plot/Pacing: The storyline was so well executed considering how complex and layered the plot really is that I really have to applaud it. For many people the beginning is confusing and slow paced, but for me personally, I never found it slow or boring. It might be the fact that this is not the first drama I’ve watched that throws you into the middle and then back tracks to explain the story. Im also just a sucker for all the cuteeee scenes when they were in school, my UWUSSSSS just gushed out LOL. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEE!!! if you are confused by the first 1-2 episodes PLEASE HOLD ON and continue watching it gets sooo much better you will not regret it! The story picks up pretty quickly and its an exciting journey, one that will really just play with all your emotions! You will cry, you will scream, you will smile soo uncontrollably, so beee prepared^^
Considering this drama being 50 episodes I went in originally questioning how it was going to play out because many other dramas I have previously watched (mostly kdramas) start off well and then just become so boring orrr dragging where I wanna pull out my hair and those are only 16 episodes….so I couldn't even imagine 50…But this drama, I was completely wrong!! The pacing was so well done, I never felt it dragging or rushed. I was hooked right from the start and I couldn't stop watching. My only critique to be honest…after watching the 50 episodes and this series multiple times i wish it was longer LOL. Like 70 episodes could've been fantastic and I think…that would've given it some room to further flesh out some details of the storyline that could've made some areas more clear to the audience that have no prior knowledge to the storyline.
ACTING/CAST: Overall, I thought the casts performance were truly impressive given the fact that many of them are new and just starting off in their acting careers. With each character having very distinct personalities and qualities, they brought their characters to life to give us a truly remarkable performance!! You loved some characters with your whole heart and you've hated characters with a burning passion…and that to me shows how great their acting was in this drama. But namely I would like to mostly focus on the two main leads, Xiao Zhan as Wei Wuxian and Wang Yibo as Lan Wangji! I originally only knew of Yibo going into this drama and wanted to watch this to support him but little did I know…that as soon as Xiao Zhan came on screen I fell in love so hard with his character…the fact that he talked 90% of this drama (bless him…because that is alot of words to remember LOL) and was able to execute every emotion so perfectly and naturally through his body and facial expression was truly remarkable. I felt every emotion through him….when he ached….I was aching, when he was happy I was happy. To see his character change from this playful innocent teenage boy to a serious, vengeful, pained character was truly remarkable. And I will forever be a fan of his now and watch his future works!! Yibo as Lan Wangji, having the completely opposite scenario where he literally has no lines lol, was able to express his emotions so beautifully with just his facial expressions. Like many have said….just by watching his eyes you can see all the different emotions he felt throughout this drama, the feeling of mourning, longing….loving….etc….Truly beautiful, that alone is hard to achieve. They were both truly made for the roles of WWX & LWJ.
OST SOUNDTRACK: I cant even begin to talk about the OST. I LOVE THIS SOUNDTRACK SO MUCH, and I am still till this day listening to them on replay on my apple music. The soundtrack, with or without lyrics complimented the drama and storyline so well. The emotions you felt while watching the drama still linger while listening to these songs, even though most of them are not really played in the drama. Wuji will forever be that iconic song!!
REWATCH/RECOMMEND VALUE: As someone who has already watched it 3 times….and probably more time in the future, i think you know my answer already haha. YES YES YES 1000000% would rewatch this. Ive always been a little hesitant when dedicating my time to watch Chinese dramas specifically because Im not the biggest fan of historical/fantasy dramas and the amount of episodes ALWAYSSSS intimidated me….40+ episodes >< i never thought I could do it…especially since Kdramas with 16-20 episodes alot of times would drag on and bore me….but The Untamed really ignited my motivation to watch more Chinese dramas and I cant wait to watch more in the future!!
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Sweet & Simple Story That Leads You Wanting More
By far....my favorite BL series OF 2020, HANDS DOWN!!!! i originally wanted to wait until all 8 episodes were released before watching this series considering how short the episodes were, however i caved after the second week and watched all 4 that were released at the time and since then IVE BEEN HOOKED!!! I remember being so excited for this when I first heard about it airing soon but had no idea how much I would love it!! Considering that each episode is only 10 minutes long, and only 8 episodes in total, I thought they did a great job with the story's execution and presented it well where you're always asking for more once the episode ends. And honestly...I think many of us wanted this series to be longer whether in episode quantity or in minutes, but maybe that was the beauty of this drama, because it was so short it utilized its limitations in really solidifying and focusing on the story and relationship between Gook & Taejoo.The chemistry between the leads is insane!! Trulyyy amazing performances from both of them, Han Gi Chan & Jang Eui Soo portrayed their roles perfectly!! You can really feel all their different emotions just from looking at their eyes. You felt all the emotions they were feeling. Even if they weren't always direct with their thoughts, you can still clearly see how much they truly loved and cared for one another. Although sometimes, their insecurities got the best of them leading to complications, but honestly what relationship doesn't experience this? I love how raw and realistic this story was and felt like I was living through their love story (or at least a glimpse of it) first hand seeing it develop! Also that Ahjumma was soo adorable >< omggg LOL, she was one of my favorite characters, literally me when I get older haha!! ANDD CANNN WE TALK ABOUT THAT ENDING!!???? MY GIRL SQUEALS WERE COMING OUT FULL FORCE watching it, and it just made me so much more happier and satisfied seeing this beautiful happy ending!! KOREAAA...NO THIS DIRECTOR/WRITER OUTDID THEMSELVES & EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS WITH THIS ONE!! and i hopee that this is only the beginning and we can see moree works like this in the future!!! I already miss this drama and probably will rewatch it again! I cant wait to see the directors cut movie!!! XD
All in all, its a short and simple storyline....but by the end...it leaves a lasting impression on you. =)
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Truly a great show for high schoolers or students in general as it gives not only tips & advice on how to study and do better on test taking but it also portrays a lot of life lessons in between. Whether the tips actually help students is up to the individual, but the main take away from this show is to give students that motivation and strength to do their best even if the odds are all against them. One must change their negative mentality and perspective on life to actually move forward in their future, instead of giving excuses to themselves, they need believe in themselves & their abilities.
The teachers were all lovely (the ones in the special classes), truly such a great support system in education but also as mentors for the students. I loved seeing all their different perspectives on their individual subjects and their approach to make studying it more enjoyable. But I would like to applaud their main mentor as I believe he played the biggest part in all 5 of those students lives. He was the force that truly pushed them to stop pitying themselves, to work hard and make something of themselves before its too late. He encouraged them to not throw their lives and future away just because it’s been programmed in their minds that they’ll never succeed or that they aren’t smart enough because they come from considered “unprivileged” upbringings. The main mentor may have assigned all 5 students the same one goal in the beginning, however it was only placed there to help the students figure out their path and what they wanted to do in their life. So not only was he helping shape their minds for the test, but also helping them subconsciously how they wanted to pursue their future. Also his ability to spread awareness to the parents was really admirable as well. In order for the students to grow, they need the support, encouragement, understanding and love from their loved ones which I feel can be overlooked sometimes in these situations. It needs to start at home! So I love that this drama really emphasized a parents duty to the kids as well.
I think this is a great watch for anybody, whether if you are in school or not, or a parent! If you are a student who is struggling or lack of motivation to study, maybe this will give you that push and determination to ace that next big exam! It may even feel like you have a room full of study buddies =) Or if you are like me who is a huge fan of Yoo Seung Ho!!! lol you will not be disappointed, he may play a stubborn baddy but hes still a softy at heart!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Blessing in Disguise
Truly such a beautiful story! I went into this thinking this would be a super depressing and painful story, but little did I know that this multilayered story although sad would leave me with such lingering feelings of hope and revelation by the end. As for my title “A Blessing in Disguise” although that sounds like it wouldn’t fit with this story; an incurable disease is never a blessing and truly a painful situation for all parties involved, however hear me out on this. What started as an individual, living his life freely and what could be seen from an outward perspective as “happy” was in truth an aimlessly walking soul, who felt true loneliness even being surrounded with people. Takuto wore a “mask” to hide his real emotions to only show what he thought people wanted to see (a happy carefree person). But, in fact he was far from that.After finding out about his disease, his whole life slowly started changing, effecting his way of life but also started reforming his perspective on life; specifically his own life. Seeing Takuto originally struggling to find his purpose in life and not having any goals to then becoming a motivated hardworking individual was such a beautiful transformation to witness. Its never easy to see things in a positive light when you feel like everything around you is slowly crumbling. He could’ve let his disease defeat him, swallow him up but instead he took this as an opportunity to better himself, to live truthfully and honestly. He found the meaning in life and learned to cherish the little moments. Holding nothing back, living in the present and setting goals for himself one after another. Takuto was a fighter, and even though this disease took more and more from him with passing time, he still kept climbing to live to the best of his ability. And as a result, I think he he gained something more valuable than he had originally expected. And this is why….in some ways I truly believe this was a blessing in disguise.
“Ive Learned About the Warmth of People. Maybe I can tell society the meaning of life just by the fact Im Alive”
He gained the true feeling and understanding of love and warmth from those he loved (especially from his family) He was able to grow closer to his loved ones and form stronger bonds that he never was able to do prior to the disease. It gave him courage and allowed him to finally open up and express his true feelings. And as a result, seeing how hard Takuto was working even in his condition, it inspired many people around him too. Including his friends and girlfriend. They grew with him throughout this story. Some saw that life was too short, and to follow their true passion. While others were inspired to create programs to help the disabled to create more opportunities for them. Even Takuto’s company, the fact that they truly built a company that allowed him to work freely within his capabilities was soo heartwarming. THEY WERE TRULY SUCH A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM.
I enjoyed that this story didn’t focus soley on the painful events of an incurable disease, or showed any self-pity but the fact they used this as a main focal plot to tell a beautiful message, a reminder to always live our lives to the fullest. A message so simple we sometimes can easily forget and take for granted. It has phenomenal acting, great cast, beautiful inspiring story, what more can we ask for =)
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This review may contain spoilers
An Acquired Taste
LOL me finally getting around to writing a review for this (mostly for myself) even though I finished this like a month ago > <Disclaimer: This review is not for someone who has not watched this drama…unless you already know the basic details & possible ending like I did when going into this!!
But with that being said I overall thoroughly enjoyed watching this drama!! It had its funny moments as well as its weird ones where you start to question what the heck am I even watching…but yet you just cant stop clicking next episode LOL. Its like a bad addiction, but a good one LOL at least for me. Usually, school settings are somewhat of a hit or miss for me depending how the storyline plays out however I felt this one worked really well and really embodied the different situations and realities of school life but adding a twist of "body switching" without it being cringe or over the top. It incorporated the pressures of parents expectations, sibling problems, friend circles, bullying, love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
The two mains, Way and Kim...ok Kims acting ISSS PHENOMENAL!! The way he can act like his regular self but also nail the role of a girl being inside his body…sooo convincing, like wow!! I feel like usually id get annoyed by the overdramatized acting but it somehow works here and its not that dramatized where I felt a disconnect between the character. And Way...omgg haddd me swooning, just his presence in the show mesmerized me…dont ask me why I have no clue, I just knew that every time he was on screen my eyes were glued. His facial expressions and the emotions he was able to emit just through his eyes alone…got me all in the feels >< He was like the most selfless person in the drama i just loved his presence the whole time. Their love confession got me…idk I thought it was really beautiful >< and they deserved so much better!!! PETITION FOR THEM TO BE IN ANOTHER DRAMA TOGETHER WITH A HAPPIER SETTING PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!!
Even though this wasn’t a BL, although “labeled” as one…the overall story was interesting enough for me to be engaged!! However, I will say that I wish there were more scenes of Way and Kim(real) together....i feel like as a viewer I didn’t get a chance to know their friendship well enough, prior to the accident…meanwhile the drama kept focusing on Pan than the actual Kim…which bothered me since he seemed more of an important role...like I wanted to know his story, his perspective on life, his relationships but instead we only got Pans perception of Kim...and not the actual him...which kinda defeated the purpose of what seemed like one of the messages in this drama. To not judge someone based solely on what you think you know and what you see….Expectations vs Reality. I mean the whole time she’s just assuming and judging Kim based off of what she’s seeing...whether she was viewing from afar orrr physically being in his body…nothing changed…and as a viewer we dont know what to think because we dont know the whole story behind it besides knowing there’s more to it than meets the eye. And even when we did get a better understanding of the real Kim…again it was through other peoples eyes…his brother and Way (which I mean it can still help in understanding the person he was since they knew him really well, but it just would’ve been nice to see more of Kim through his own eyes….
And before I end this…I just wanna rant a little more because I know many people loved the Angel of Death…but honestly she annoyed me and seemed like a wasted character because I couldn’t understand her purpose besides being a comedic relief…She didn’t deserve her title as Angel of Death in my personal opinion since she couldn’t even keep track of who was dead and who was alive it seemed. Throughout the whole series, we had no clue what was going on with Kim besides that he was “unconscious” until near the end. But regardless of some quirks in this series, I still think it was still a pretty entertaining watch!! I don't regret watching it and I think its a good one if you're bored and just wanna watch a short series thatll make you go through some waves of emotions!!
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