Tanky Toon

For instance, the inconsistent re-introduction of some characters who show up at odd times in the drama. I feel some characters are even under utilized (ahem, Tian Xiu Zhu) and just serve as props to the main leads, which is a sad fact because other stories could have been more developed.

For example, I would have been interested in how Ren Di’s band went from obscurity to popularity, or how her relationship with Xiao Liu evolved. Or even how Shu Miao took a legal path in her career, when she was a major part of Zhu Yun’s college days. Instead, we see such as useless POS like Zhi Jing be part of L&P board of directors and living prosperously, as if he weren’t the one tormenting Li Xun and Zhu Yun in their early days. Instead, Li Xun and his group were prohibited from joining competitions for years, while Zhi Jing could still pull strings despite being exposed in public.

Another case in point is that both male and female protagonists are unfailingly stubborn, sometimes to the point of infuriating, hardly giving leeway to anybody except to each other. They do this awkward dance where they are hot/cold towards each other, but with other people, they are self-righteous, if not selfish. I get it that Li Xun had a tough childhood, and Zhu Yun an over-protected one, but I wasn’t buying the cool-aid that because of their backstory, they expect the world to owe them something.

Yes, tenacity is good, ambitions are even better, but there’s a limit to which these things are met where it doesn’t adversely affect other people. Good news is, both Li Xun and Zhu Yun learned their lessons, over the course of their journey, to be more forgiving of others. Whereas Jian Hong failed, and in a karmic joke, life serves him an eff you, but Li Na, to her credit, stood by his side despite being given a reason to run for the hills.

Another case that baffled me is the fact that, Zhu Yun’s helicoptering mother, for all her scrutiny and apparently above-exceptional monitoring skills, failed to learn how her daughter ditched to study/work abroad to be with Li Xun, not once but twice is beyond me. I am not saying that I agree that the mother should control a full-grown adult who has her own right to choose, but I find this comically inconsistent. And how Zhu Yun, who is normally pushy when it comes to her boyfriend’s welfare, is suddenly timid at the sight of her mother. Also, the way Zhu Yun manipulates Tian Xiu Zhu to cover her whereabouts, without the latter getting anything in return but a “thank you”, wasn’t really supposed to be how “an innocent young lady” behaves.

The ending for me was anti-climactic, especially in the case of Zhi Jing. Are we supposed to forget how his behaviour drove his ex-girlfriend to suicide? How his deplorable actions indirectly caused the death of Li Xun’s sister? Though granted, he did not inflict the final blow, and her death was more a result of a string of coincidental events. Still, he had malicious intent and his lack of remorse didn’t justify the punishment he got, but fully deserved.

If you are expecting a Prince Charming and a Cinderella-story from this drama, don’t count on it. I get it that not all heroes wear capes, because this one just flicks a lighter but doesn’t smoke. Yes, Li Xun is a genius in his own right, but he could be less cocky and I would have been fine with it. Right at his heels, Zhu Yun attempts to tame this golden retriever by chasing after him, like she’s herself a dog that won’t let go of a bone.

The pacing is choppy, but manageable to watch. Cinematography and choice of music are good. The cast is diverse, so are the secondary characters, but all these good points do not negate the fact that I struggled to finish the show due to various factors. (In the Spoiler Reply below).

For all its flaws, the drama isn’t bad, but not that great either. I only finished this show because of the rave reviews, but I didn’t love it as much as I probably should have.

I should have known from the poster alone that this will not be some great masterpiece. But did I expect this one to be? Certainly not. I’m just curious how such a large age-gap romance will play out on the screen.

Well, the sinister but ill-timed sound track certainly was a letdown many times where I anticipated a stabbing or two to take place. So all that foreboding knife-wielding was really there just for show. Much like the various ASMR of gurgling and brushing of teeth were actually people just practicing oral hygiene and did not carry some sort of symbolism.

At one point, I even expected the romance between Shinobu and Chiaki to go south. And I am so okay with that, as they later both took on separate paths and lived without each other for years. But aside from Yuta the son, and maybe Okano the Magazine editor, the rest of the characters were frankly unlikeable. From the misogynistic ex-husband to Chiaki’s mother, both battling each other out for “The Worst Parent of the Decade” award.

Then, towards the end, where each of these characters started their own monologue to tell their own backstory, but more like an excuse for their shitty behavior, I almost lost it.

But like some other rubberneckers, I can’t help but be glued to the screen watching this train wreck of a romance go by.

I enjoyed this rom-com more than I expected. Perhaps it may be because of its short run typical of Japanese drama that allows all the essence to be compact without being draggy., unlike the long and drawn out fifty-episodic offerings from other countries.

First, it shows the typical Japanese work culture where everyone is worked to the bone and doing overtime is common and even expected. Shikamori Umi is no stranger to this and continues to run around until she reaches a limit.

Second, the drama demonstrates that change is possible when Umi gets recruited as an intern at an agency, where a very different and refreshing work culture has been established.

Suzuki Airi is a natural, transitioning from a bare-faced, exhausted employee to a spritely, newly motivated worker who wants to try her best at everything, even over-extending herself sometimes. But she realizes that just fell back into the habit of over-pleasing others.

Her coworkers, her new boss and especially Kazao, and even Hina manifest ideas that shape Umi’s worldview, in that working hard is commendable, but also is taking time for yourself. The cast was supportive of Umi’s endeavors and she finally learns to be independent.

This drama was delightful and gratifying. Also neat was the trivial fact that three of the male actors in this show were in other BL dramas that I’ve watched. I did not even recognize Izuka Kenta in that whatchamacallit hairstyle.

They should put "Clingy female lead" as tag so I would avoid this one. I'm struggling to finish, I should have listened to my own instincts and dropped it since the beginning.

You know there's different kinds of love, right? Just because two male friends love each other does not necessarily mean they are gay.
Just like a man acting effeminately doesn't make them a twink.

I like this review of L&P as it reiterates the different kinds of love in the show. The author's interpretation renders a different POV than mine but I can get on board with.

https://embracingfiction.wordpress.com/2022/12/04/cn-lighter-and-princess/

What I mean by projecting is that you are putting your own fantasies onto the story that it isn't there. For example, if you say that Draco Malfoy is closet gay or Voldemort is closet gay and they are in love with Harry Potter. Because of their obsession to with the latter.

I think there's a lot of projection going on here. Because if your theory about Gao Jian Hong is to be believed, then what about Fang Zhi Jing? Is he gay too? Their behavior is merely that of boys engaging in pissing contests to see who can pee the farthest. But what frustrates both is that Li Xun is far beyond in his skills that he leaves them in the dust without trying. Therefore, they are envious, jealous and obsessed with taking somebody down because they can't best Li Xun using normal means or their own strength. Their frustration at Li Xun is ascerbated by the fact that Li Xun is arrogant and doesn't really care what other people think. He may have softened after being with Zhu Yun but he is still unapologetic when he believes he is in the right. Seen tons of gay content, lives gay, and this ain't it.

Some of the actors here were forcibly outed so I'm not sure if they are "out and proud" but that's just me.

Yes, I know many people think this show is over-hyped with all the rom-com cliches that it could find. Sometimes, I listen to the keyboard critics (like when I passed on “The Heirs”), and sometimes I don’t (like I did in this instance). But I am glad I did not listen, because not only did I find “King the Land” enjoyable, I found a newfound appreciation for Yoon Ah, whom I wasn’t really too keen on when I saw her last in “Love Rain.”

Are there other pairings with better chemistry than Jun Ho and Yoon Ah? Sure. But I will recognize Gu Won’s and Yoon Ah’s effort in portraying two people who couldn’t be more opposite of each other. One who constantly smiles as she sees the silver lining in every situation, and has the tenacity to tackle challenges despite setbacks. While the other has a persistent cloud over his mood, because of his mother’s mysterious disappearance that he sees as abandonment.

Despite his lack of emotional intelligence, Gu Won tries his best with what he can, and after meeting Sa Rang, he learns to become more attuned to the needs of others. I also loved how the rest of the cast contribute to Gu Won’s character development, from “The Six Siblings” to Sa Rang’s Grandmother, they all shape his world view that allowed him to develop programs that are considered progressive for his hotel business, treating his employees and regular customers as “kings” in their own right despite their status.

To say that this drama is without its flaws is a lie. Could the product placement be less ubiquitous? Yes. Could the drama use fewer tropes? Maybe. But in the end, when Sa Rang realizes that the genuine pleasure of serving people isn’t necessarily being in the most prestigious lounge serving top-tier customers but in the every-day common folk, do we see the fundamental principle of this drama.

This is one of those dramas where I would have been fine without the two leads ending up together. It’s not that I had an issue with watching student-teacher relationships, as I’ve seen tons. But the execution, and the backstory towards the end of when Murai first fell in love with Tanaka wasn’t sitting well with me. I actually would have preferred if Tanaka end up marrying her colleague Yamakado, whom she had more chemistry with.

The romance feels very one-sided, or perhaps this was the show’s intention I don’t know. But I think it was really more of an escapism on Ayano’s part, and only after confronting her own ambiguous feelings for Murai did she break free of her illusion from Hitotose, an online game character who she has been obsessed with, as his eyes reminded her of her friend’s (Really weird if you ask me, if you find out who). I wasn’t also keen on the second couple, where there was lack of development, nor rhyme or reason why Yayo-chan should be with Hirai.

The only saving grace about this drama is that it keeps reminding us that it is wrong to be in a relationship with a minor, from Ayano herself who tells Murai this, to Yamakado reminding Ayano that this is one line people shouldn’t cross, to the ending that thankfully does not show any further skinship between the two.

Though the relationship between teacher and student serves as its backdrop, it is not the taboo aspect that should stand out, nor does this drama romanticize grooming as some may be inclined to believe. They handled the triggering subject of suicide with care and caution, with the insistence that there is so much to live for, despite what one might think as a life-ending suffering. Mikoto felt that there was no more future for her after she was rejected by her first love when she encounters her teacher on the rooftop. Haibi Jin distracts Mikoto with absurd requests or plies Mikoto with off-hand comments to distract her from her goal.

We learn that Haiba Jin was also once in what he deemed as dire strait, when his mentor tried to dissuade him from ending his own life. And it was because of this life-changing moment that Haibi Jin paid it forward and gave Mikoto a purpose. When Mikoto learns nothing is worth dying for, she develops genuine feelings for Jin.

There are many things in this drama that some people may find problematic, but the show is cognizant of these situations, for example, when Haibi Jin can be considered as stalking Mikoto around town, all he was really doing is ensuring she does not make another attempt at her own life. The show also mocks itself by injecting dry humor and reminds us not to take this drama at its face value.

At its core, this drama highlights the importance of the will to live for oneself, as much as for others, without trivializing the hardships that one may encounter as no more than experiences that one must go through in life in order to be stronger.

Actually I prefer the opposite, more like "Are you Human Too?" Where a robot gains human characteristics than a Human pretending to be a robot like in "I'm not a Robot."

I was being sarcastic, if you can't tell by the ridiculousness of the "law".

This charter 1.2.b.a. version 65 is firm and binding. Any person(s) who is found to be in violation of this legislation will be subject to fines up to $100,000 and possible incarceration of up to ten (10) years.

- Doctors and nurses are no longer permitted to aid and care for childbirth without at least two parents or legal guardian present.
o To this end, hospitals must invest in the use of AI and robotic arms to aid in the care of minors.
o Where resources are not available, hospitals must employ a fair number of staff equal to the ratio of boy-girl births to accommodate same-sex and same gender care

- Other regulations to take into consideration:
o Mall Santas or any other Santas are no longer permitted to have children on their laps. For children to make their wishes known, they must use an app to send their wishes to the North Pole, which can only be answered by elves under the age of majority.
o Adult relatives are no longer allowed to socialize with their relatives who are minors unless accompanied by another same-sex or same gendered parent who have no homosexual tendencies to avoid any assumptions of undue influence.
o Where no same-sex or same-gender parent or legal guardian is present or available, any person who is under the age of majority must be supervised by a minimum of three adults with a criminal record check done within the last 3 months.
o Additional care should be exercised when it comes to natural displays of affection, such as parents kissing or hugging their children or vice versa where the parents or legal guardian must ask permission from their children if any kissing or hugging are allowed each instance to avoid any accusations of misconduct.
o After the age of three, minors are no longer allowed to be bathed or showered by their parents or legal guardian to avoid any assumptions of obscenity. In conjunction with this jurisprudence, taking photographs of unclothed babies or children are prohibited.

- Public transportation henceforth must accommodate this new legislation by creating a dedicated service to persons under the age of majority. This includes but not limited to:
o Creating segregated cubicles that only allows the minor to board the bus or train, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and not in mixed company.
o In the case of a group of adolescents travelling, they are only permitted to do so if the ages of the members of the group do not exceed one year difference and also not in mixed company, such persons of the opposite sex or opposite gender to avoid accusations of indecency.
o Ride-share or cab service must also abide by this law by installing a tinted glass partition between the driver’s seat and the rear of the vehicle. This will ensure that no indirect or direct eye contact can be made between driver and passenger if the latter is a minor.

- Establishments such as restaurants, stores, shopping centers, galleries, and all businesses catering to mixed company of minor and adults must also form a separate entity of similar or equivalent service or value that serve persons under the age of majority who are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. This includes but not limited to:
o Employing staff who are between the ages of 15 and 17 who are properly trained in dealing with nuances of a sensitive nature.
o Having a dedicated area for the those who are near adolescent as long as they are not in mixed company, such persons of the opposite sex or opposite gender to avoid accusations of lewdness.

- In regards to entertainment, the following rules must apply:

o For concerts, persons under the age of majority can only attend age-appropriate musical events, where singers or band members must also be comprised of minors, or characters in costumes where the age of the performer is not identifiable, such as Teletubbies or Sesame Street characters.

o For cinematic releases, the same applies above where age-appropriate material can only be viewed.
 To this end, the new law bans direct collaboration between minors and persons of age. Any communication between a child actor and a non-child actor must be transmitted by a third-party, most preferably by the child actor’s parent or legal guardian.
 The parent or legal guardian of the child actor must always be present on the scene of production, and where possible, the script must incorporate or use the parent or legal guardian to fill the roles where adults are required.
 If the above is not feasible, then the actor who is over the age of majority in the same scene as the child actor, must wear sunglasses to avoid direct eye contact with the minor, and must also stand at least six (6) feet apart. The non-child actor is also strongly encouraged to wear a face mask to avoid any misunderstandings regarding the emotions displayed when delivering the lines.