Predictable but you still root for the Lead Couple!

10/21/2021

This drama shows the challenges that our male lead experiences after he had a spinal cord injury and became paralyzed from the waist down. I do not have have such an injury and do not use a wheelchair, so I can't really judge whether the depiction of his and his circle of support's experience is realistic or not. However, I feel that this drama does enough for us to know the hardships that they have to go through. It touches on the more common physical accessibility issues, but also the lesser known and more embarrassing challenges. It doesn't shy away from letting us know that a different kind of love from lovers, family members, and caregivers, is needed to provide and support someone with such a disability. This drama also reminded me a little of the C-drama "Crush", a story about the main lead who is visually impaired, and his challenges (great first half of the drama).

It's nice to see that our ML is still quite optimistic in life, is able to climb out of the abyss of despair, and lead a somewhat normal life as an architect. I am happy that he's not a gloomy ML and needs our FL to bring him out of his depression. Of course, he has his moments of weakness and needs emotional and physical support as well. Matzusaka Tori did an amazing job portraying his character. He's charismatic when he's upbeat, but when he's devastated and in pain, I cry with him. I want to hold him in my arms when he's wriggling in pain and protect him from everything. *sigh* I am always wary of FL in Japanese dramas, as they are usually too innocent and naive and are such pushovers. Thank goodness our FL here is not like that. She might be shy sometimes, but she speaks up when needed, and takes the lead in challenging injustices and support our ML. Our leads make a great couple and their chemistry is good. I wish the kiss scenes are a little more passionate =)

With such a great lead couple, we have to have some annoying second leads. I do not personally like them. I understand where they are coming from, especially when they both have been in love with our leads for decades. But I do not like how pushy and manipulative they are, when they know our leads have no interest in them at all. They are too desperate for my taste.

As my title said, the storyline is quite predictable. There aren't any surprises, but that doesn't stop me from binge-watching and wanting to know what will happen. I root for our leads and want to see them live happily-ever-after.

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9/11/2021 = 8.75 rating

I read many good things about this drama and I like Steven Zhang, so I decided to give it a try, even though I am not a big fan of body-swapping. I was so close to giving this drama a 9.0 rating, but held back because I feel conflicted about the last 2 episodes.

What I like:
1. Plot - I do agree that the body swapping was done pretty well, compared to "Secret Garden". I feel that there are just enough episodes about body-swapping in the first part of the drama to keep me interested and engaged, without dragging on for too long. I also appreciate that the swapping doesn't just end when they switched back. That would be too easily resolved and the whole plot will end and just fill with other side stories. This drama could have fallen into the trap of many common tropes, but instead, it makes fun of them.

2. Acting - I have been a fan of Steven Zhang (ML) and am glad to see him in a different role. The other roles that he's in are usually the happy, outgoing teenager/young adult role. He's a more mature, cool and introverted character here, and he did a great job in portraying that. Of course, he's super funny and in character when playing the "female" character. I've seen Liang Jie (FL) in "Eternal Love" and didn't like that drama at all. I dropped it and didn't like Liang Jie's character. I am glad to wipe that bad taste off my mouth and watch her in this drama. Just like Steven Zhang, she was great in her role. I think as a female playing the male part, audience might not notice her acting as much as Steven's male character playing a female role. But I like the subtle acting and facial expressions, just the more masculine mannerisms that she portrays.

3. Characters - I enjoy watching a drama with no real villains, though I don't like ML's dad. Most C-dramas portray villains in rom-coms to be too cartoonish and over-the-top for my taste. So I am glad we don't have such characters in this drama. Moreover, another pet peeve of mine is innocent/naive/dumb characters. I am also happy to see that almost everyone is pretty smart in their own ways and act their age . Even our leads who are having their first real relationship are acting age-appropriately, and not some 30-year virgins who are too shy to even hold hands. I appreciate a real adult romance. Moreover, we have cute and supportive parents like our female lead's parents, and a great BFF for our FL.

4. Romance - As I mentioned earlier, I appreciate a real adult romance. Once the leads are in a relationship, they are honest and communicative. They are not afraid to flirt or show affection for each other. I find their romance cute but not so sweet that is unbearable or cringey. Their romance is very heartwarming to me. FL is just ML needs to be able to overcome his bad childhood memories. I enjoy seeing such a great supportive relationship.

5. Clothing - For once, not only the male characters dress handsomely, but our female characters are dressed well. I like that the girls are casual at home, but dress nicely and appropriately when at work. I've seen too many overly baggy casual well that female characters wear in C-dramas. Even though this is not a drama about fashion, I am glad to see our leads have a great wardrobe.

6. Comedic moments - The sound effects do add to the comedic moments of the show. There are many funny moments, not only during the body-swapping plot, but sprinkled throughout the drama. I find these moments funny but not over-the-top or slapstick funny. It was quite funny when FL explained why she never gave the love letter to doctor.... that's quite creative and unpredictable.

What I don't Like:
1. Product Placement - I understand PP is a big part of Korean and Chinese dramas, and I accept that. But in this show, I am sick and tired of seeing those snacks. They advertise those snacks in every episode (at least it feels this way). It's a bit much. Also, do we need several characters to suddenly catch a cold to advertise the cold medicine?

2. Music - I like the songs OK, but they play the English song " I See You" a bit much. The worst is that the background music is so loud and makes it hard to listen to the dialog.

3. Ending - I have mixed feelings about the noble idiocy and the time jump. I understand why the leads have to break up and I see where the ML is coming from. I just wish there's a better way to show that. I really dislike the trope where the leads break up before the final episode, then a time jump in the final episode and they reunite and live happily ever after. We know they are going to break up, as it's hinted in the very first episode. I was also a little taken back that all this happened in a novel written by FL. For some reason, I expect her to quit being a reporter and become an author, and then write about her love story.

Want more:
I am interested to see more about Tong Hua and Pei Jia Shu's relationship. They have pretty good chemistry and I wanted to see them get together.

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Started off sweet and fluffy, then a little more serious

8/25/2021

As part of the Sweet On series by Tencent, it's expected that this drama has a lot of fluffy and sweet moments, and will probably have a happy ending. The plot is interesting since it involves a child psychologist. However, everything is quite predictable, so if you want a comfort watch, this is it. The acting is generally good but the dubbing is pretty bad (for a 2021 modern drama). There are a few impractical things that happened, e.g. how did ML get a picture of him and FL's first kiss for his laptop wallpaper? Who is taking the picture? Why would a mom/FL let a kid play bubbles indoors when it could be slippery and dangerous?

I am a fan of Miles Wei after watching him in "Perfect and Casual" and his character here is quite similar to the other role. He's cuter in in P&C though. He's visually pleasing in his suits and casual clothing. It's my first time watching FL and she did a decent job. The star of the show, as many reviewers mentioned, is definitely the child actor, Lennon Sun. He is so adorable and you want to see him interacting with everyone on screen. The supporting cast did a good enough job, but I am not as interested in their storylines. I am happy that for a sweet drama that we don't have any too annoying and irritating characters.

The show did turn a little more serious towards the last part of the show, when we know more about the car accident. There aren't enough fluffy moments to lighten to the mood. Overall, it's a decent drama if you want something quite easy to watch, with good visuals, decent OST and a super adorable kid.

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7/18/2021

I was introduced to this drama by a MDL editorial article. I am glad more J-Dramas are recommended, otherwise, I wouldn't know where to find good ones. I am usually pretty picky about J-Dramas because most of them are either an adaptation from a manga or anime, and the acting and storyline are too over-the-top for my taste; or the FL is one of those naive, innocent, shy girls who has never touched a boy in her life. These are not my cup of tea.

Plot: I find the plot summary pretty interesting about a pseudo-romance for a manga. However, after watching the first two episodes, it became quite clear that this pseudo-romance is quite unethical and hurtful. I am glad that after the first initial episodes, the story gets better and it moves a little farther away from this hurtful premise. The plot is quite predictable throughout the show in regards to the development of the main romance, past romance, to the challenges faced by ML as a manga artist. I do enjoy the last episode quite a bit and it's a little less-predictable than I thought.

Characters: I am glad to watch a FL that is straight-forward, independent and not act like a little naive little girl. I've watched so many dramas that a 29-year-old woman acts like she's 16. It didn't happen here. She is quite likable and her acting is not anime-like over-the-top. ML's introverted, anti-social character could be difficult for some to get used to in the beginning. But he has great character development. I especially like his awkward, adorkable smile and grins. Even though he looks hawt int he last episode, his smile seems a little "slimy". I like ML's dorky look more. The child actor also did a great job. He's so cute and I love his shy smile as well. The supporting cast did a decent job and there isn't anyone too annoying.

Romance: The romance of the lead characters is nicely developed though can be predictable. I enjoy their contrasting personality and their funny banter. FL brings out the best of ML through their little fights. I still think the kissing should be a little better, esp. when it's their third kiss and it's not a surprising one. It's 2021 and I hope to see less fish-kissing in J-dramas, K-drams and C-dramas. It took a while for it to happen, but that awkward initial start of a relationship is super cute. I wish to see more of that but those moments were hard to come by. Since J-dramas are quite short, I am glad the secondary romance didn't take up too much of the time.

This is a simple, cute and light-hearted drama. This is the palate cleanser that I need after watching the more intense "Legend of FuYao" (which I recommend wholeheartedly!).

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How to make a noona romance work for 2 sweet and caring individuals

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

This is a simple Jdrama with a very common plot. If you like older women/younger men and fake relationships, then this is a decent watch. The plot is really nothing special but it’s comforting if you like certain tropes.

The leads have pretty good chemistry and the acting is decent. I would have liked to see Mizuki’s cold personality last a little longer before he falls so in love with Yukino. Afterall, the English title of this drama is “Aoshima-Kun is a Bully!” Well, he wasn’t really a bully and even if he was, it didn’t last long.

The drama focuses on two kind and considerate individuals at different stages of their lives. When they get together, their approaches to romance and relationships are quite different. There’s a lot of back-and-forth guessing each other’s feelings and getting stuck in their own thoughts, instead of communicating. I would not say there are many misunderstandings, and they do talk eventually and resolve conflicts quickly.

What I like about Yukino (FL) is that she is a regular, working woman. She dresses appropriately for work and also at home in her casual wear and PJs. I act just like her when I am lounging at home! LOL Her reservations of love given her past experiences, are totally understandable and age-appropriate. What’s not age-appropriate is the typical shy and somewhat coy behaviors for an experienced 35-year old who had multiple relationships in the past. She might take the initiative to reach out for a kiss or two, but for the most part, she appears inexperienced in PDA.

My biggest complaint is probably the side plot about the family member introduced in the last couple episodes. I don’t think that storyline is needed and it was not well-written.

This is a quick and OK watch. I enjoy the fake relationship trope (though it’s not really a big focus) and seeing how two sweet and caring people try to make the relationship work.


Completed: 9/21/2024 - Review #487

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A rare anti-heroine with an interesting plot

We often fawned over anti-hero male leads, what about an anti-heroine female lead? “Fortune Writer” has an interesting and unique way of portraying a common fantasy plot of characters recognizing themselves being in a novel/story. I was actually quite surprised that the writer actually committed to giving us a female lead that’s ruthless and selfish, almost all the way till the end. She persisted on following her original plans, and did not let being in love derail her (as much as possible). I wish there are more dramas out there with these smart anti-heroines.

“Fortune Writer” makes fun of itself and common tropes, and doesn’t shy away from doing that to itself. I thought to myself, how come our female lead keeps on getting hurt and needing healing and saving from our male lead. And then, the doctor in the drama expressed what I was thinking!

Daisy Li is a good actress, and she’s probably the best web mini drama actress out there. She performs really well here. I hope she gets more roles in bigger productions and not stuck with these 10-min episodes. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the male lead. Ye Sheng Jia looks too young for the role, and when playing opposite Daisy. He is not quite up to par and his acting is a little bland. He’s very baby-faced cute though. The acting of the rest of the cast is not horrible, just average.

Since this is a mini drama, one can expect some usual shortcomings when it comes to the production. The dubbing was average but tolerable. The costumes and hair accessories are not bad and Daisy looks really pretty. Music is fine but not too memorable. It’s somewhat hard to judge the editing since these are short episodes. I wanted to watch the complete version on YouTube, but the sound quality is really bad and muted. So I have to resort to binging this by clicking ‘next’ every 10-15 minutes.

Overall, I had a great time watching “Fortune Writer”. The interesting and unique plot deserves a higher rating than other mini dramas I’ve watched, even though the acting is just OK (except for Daisy).


Completed: 8/30/2024 - Review #479

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Special bond between Mother & Son - Fun yet Heartbreaking

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25


I really shouldn't have picked this drama to watch now, as I am trying to adapt to the reality that my son is leaving the nest and going off to college. “I Belonged to Your World” is not making it easy for me when the central storyline is about a devastated adult son who travels back to the past to prevent his mother from marrying his dad. Instead, he wants his mother to marry another classmate who he thinks is the ‘destined’ one and can change his mother’s life for the better.

It’s not really hard to follow the logic of this time-travel drama and imagine how this story is going to unfold and end. The best part and the saddest part of this drama is the fun, touching and crazy mother/son bond. Liu Yi Tong, who plays the future son, Qi Shuo, is excellent in this drama. I’ve never seen him in anything, but he plays the role of cupid and a loving son convincingly. He’s the brightest star and the glue of this show. Qi Yan Di (as Qi Yue) and Jerron Wu (as Lu Xiao) aren’t bad either.

When the mother/son bond is so well-written, the romance pales in comparison. I was initially expecting a cute and fluffy romance, but I don’t think I got a great one. It was fun to see how Qi Yue bulldozed into Lu Xiao’s life with the help of Qi Shuo. However, in a way, it was also very pushy and stalkerish. The chemistry between Qi Yue and Lu Xiao isn’t bad, but also not super convincing. There are times when I thought to myself that Qi Yue doesn’t really like Lu Xiao all that much. She’s more in love with her son, and wants a son more than a boyfriend/husband. I do enjoy watching Lu Xiao slowly falling in love and also feel bad for him in the last couple episodes when he doesn’t seem important at all even at his own wedding.

But if I look past the romance and focus more on the main plot and the reason for the time-traveling, I really enjoy the scenes of Qi Yue, Qi Shuo and Lu Xiao. They really do have great chemistry together as a trio and as a family. The last few episodes brought tears to my eyes.

The rest of the supporting cast is fine. I don’t find anyone too annoying but the roommates don’t really play any important roles. This is a lower budget drama with some editing issues and plot holes. I would have liked to see more scenes of the future, not only of the mother/son duo, but also of Lu Xiao.

All in all, I had a good time watching it. First and foremost, this is a drama about the strong bond between a mother and a son. Their fun banter, care and love for each other makes “I Belonged To Your World” worth watching. If you are looking for romance only, I will not recommend this. This is indeed a heartbreaking yet happy drama.


Completed: 8/25/2024 - Review #476

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Slow-paced Melodrama with Excellent acting but a lot of Crying

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I really like the general plot of “Happy Birthday”. I was looking for a romantic drama but it ended up giving me more. There are themes of family relationships, regrets, redemption, making up, friendship and special bonds. If you are looking for just a cute and fluffy romance, this is not it since it’s a melodrama. But seeing the story unfolds and all the secrets slowly come out is great.

What I Like:

1. Good acting
I am pleasantly surprised that the acting is pretty good. I was expecting Thai over-the-top acting but I was given controlled emotions and very heart wrenching performances. This is my first drama of Push and I am an instant fan. Not only is he handsome but his emotional scenes are well-done. Mild did an excellent job as the female lead and is able to show a 17-year old innocence and confused emotions, but mature enough to be the big sister and a 30+-year old ghost. Looking at Pluem's filmography, it’s no wonder he did such a good job at a young age. He’s been in the entertainment industry for quite a while. The three of them really make this drama enjoyable. Adding to that is a cast of veterans.

2. Good Casting of Teenagers
Not only is their acting on par with their older selves, the younger actors deliver memorable performances. They also look like the adult versions. I can see the resemblance of Plustor to Push (both as Tee), and Chimon to Na (both as Phana).

3. Siblings bond
I enjoy witnessing the sibling relationship between Thannam and Tonmai slowly develop. They are both very likable characters and do look like siblings. They are fun together, yet also have many heartfelt conversations.

4. Romance
The main romance is definitely not what I anticipated. I thought I was getting a Romeo & Juliet-type story but it ended up being full of twists and turns. Finding out Tee and Thannam's history of when they were kids is one of the better parts of the drama.

5. Other special relationships
Tonmai + Tee and Thannam + Uncle Tai are two special relationships that might not have taken center stage, but are lovely and heartwarming. The mother/daughter duo of Chompoo and Noiha is also fun to watch (though they are super loud).


What I Don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings

1. Slow Pace
Unfortunately, despite all the above-mentioned things that I like, the pace of this drama is slllooooooww. I know this is a melodrama but the characters speak really slowly, especially during crying or emotional scenes. I have to speed it up to 1.25x and then conversations would sound normal. I have to speed up 1.5x during the crying scenes, especially with Thannam, otherwise it would be intolerable. She speaks so slowly with long pauses in between phrases and sentences. This drama could have been 10 episodes long instead of 13, if everyone would just speak faster with fewer pauses. It’s really too bad because it greatly decreases my viewing pleasure and I can’t rate this drama 8.5 or higher.

2. Crying
There’s so much crying in this drama. Although I think the acting is great, it's just too much. You can bet someone is teary-eyed or cries in every episode.

3. Minor plot holes
This being a fantasy drama, I am not surprised there are plot holes. I still don’t know if Thannam can move freely or if she really needs Tonmai to open doors for her. She’s a ghost! She should be able to go wherever she wants, even if she can't leave this world. On a different note, I am not sure if a mother will really slap her son 10 consecutive times. That’s a bit over-the-top. So, why did Thannam choose to commit suicide on Tonmai’s birthday? I get why she wanted to give up and die, but on the day her beloved baby brother is born? Why?


I would recommend this drama if you are interested in a slow-paced melodrama. It has an interesting plot and excellent acting. I was binge-watching this and I don’t recommend doing that. A few episodes a day might be more enjoyable and you might not find the pace as slow. I’m glad I watched it and discovered Push and Plustor.


Completed: 8/23/2024 - Review #475

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For those younger, young-at-heart or want cute fluffiness while relaxing your brain

Subjective Gut Rating: 6.75

This is a simple, cute, and fluffy drama that doesn’t require a lot of brain power. The drama is really short with only 6 episodes and each is less than 25 minutes long. And because of that, not a lot of time is devoted to each subplot. The romance happens fast and furious (in a cute way). The challenges the leads face as a couple and in business are simple and easily involved. The last arc with the brother probably took the most screen time. Even in typical Japanese speedy fashion in storytelling, I still feel everything is rushed.

The romance is cute and with no angst or misunderstanding at all. MLis a combination of a green flag and a red flag. He’s adored by all due to his handsome looks and mild-mannered and polite personality. He’s not afraid to show his affection to FL. However, he’s also possessive, overprotective and gets jealous easily. In the world of drama/manga/anime for the younger audience, these red flags are probably all considered romantic green flags. I am just a tad old to be totally absorbed into this romantic fluffiness. FL is sweet and shy but not much of a pushover (thank goodness). The acting of both leads is pretty good. I enjoy the more natural acting instead of the overly dramatic anime-like acting.

I probably would enjoy this more if I were a teenage girl. You will probably enjoy it if you are younger than me, or young-at-heart. I chose this drama to relax my brain and have some mindless fun….and I achieved this goal. But objectively, this drama is very average.


Completed: 7/17/2024 - Review #462

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Not the story I was expecting - uninteresting, unrealistic, illogical

I thought I would be watching a drama about a bunch of young cadets learning and being groomed to become future policemen/women at a police university. But it turned out to be different than what I had expected. The majority of the drama is about a crime investigation into illegal gambling sites and most of this happened at the National Police University, thus the title of the drama.

Usually, it’s not a big deal if the plot was different than expected. But there are all kinds of wrong in the logic of this plot. The drama never explained how Kang Sun Ho became such a skilled hacker, especially when he doesn’t come from a well-off family. Where and how did he learn these skills? Yoo Dong Man as the investigator using unconventional approaches and ways to catch criminals doesn’t make a lot of sense either. I cannot imagine him still having a job by being such an irresponsible and reckless cop. I would have fired him a long time ago. Involving a group of freshmen to help with the investigation and exposing them to danger? Yeah right. They’re so green and can barely throw someone over their shoulder during judo practice (yet they all have black belts!). How could the two other professors join in an unofficial investigation and be as reckless as Yoo Dong Man? Everyone should be fired.

There’s a lot of talk and not a lot of action. I was enjoying this drama in the beginning when the students were still being students and not wannabe investigators. But once the focus is on the illegal gambling sites, the drama runs in circles and becomes repetitive. The last 5-6 episodes are incredibly slow and draggy, and full of fillers of nothingness. I was falling asleep and want to drop this drama so bad (but can't because of a watch challenge).

Romance and love triangles are boring. Kang Sun Ho and Oh Kang Hee were somewhat cute in the beginning but once they get together, the sparks are gone.

Overall, the acting is average. The veterans are definitely better than the younger cast. No one is horrible or exceptional. I do like a couple upbeat songs. Krystal Jung seems to be the sole responsible actor for all product placements - Samsung phones, Subway, Food ordering app, makeup/concealer, etc.

The one thing I like about the drama is the character development of Kang Sun Ho. It was heartwarming to see how his relationship with his adoptive father has changed. I like how he comes out of his shell, and throughout the drama has grown, learned his mistakes, not running away and become a confident person. He’s not the lost puppy who worries about his adoptive father disappearing, or always on egg shells when fighting with his brother/best friend.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this drama. It’s not a good drama about cadets and nor a good crime drama. Unless you are a fan of the actors, I would stay away. Jung Jin Young (though skinny) looks really good in uniform. If you are his fan, you can watch the drama for him.


Completed: 7/2/2024 - Review #455

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Not enough singing and dancing

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

You would think if this is called a concert, there will be a lot of singing and dancing. Unfortunately, I found that almost 50% of the show is just two annoying hosts interviewing the cast and playing games. I understand fans want to know what happened behind-the-scenes, watch some fun bloopers and hear the cast members talk. I get that and I like them too, to a certain extent. I don't care for their fake awards given out to the cast members. Or the hosts trying to stir up rumors between two cast members.

What I want is hear most of the songs being sung live during the concert. "Dream High" has such a great OST and a diverse set of songs. Maybe it's hard for the cast members to remember all the lyrics AND the choreographed dance moves? Luckily, at least I see an amazing dance performed by OK Taec Yeon, Jang Woo Young and Park Jin Young.

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A waste of an amazing cast with a poorly written script

What attracted me to watch “The Jungle” is its stacked cast. Look at all the handsome men and beautiful women! Unfortunately, that’s where the positive stops, well, it also has a few great songs.

If you are watching just for the cast, then you will have an enjoyable time. The boys aka The Jungle have good chemistry and are fun together. They all look really good. Unfortunately, their acting is a mixed bag for me. The standout actors are Nanon and Krist. It’s my first time watching Luke and he’s the weakest of the bunch.

On the girls side, their acting is average except for Pat. Pat never disappoints. She is probably one of my favorites, if not my most favorite Thai actress. She doesn’t have a lot of screen time but she has presence and charisma. Unfortunately, this drama centers around guys, so the girls are mostly confined to the guy she’s attached to, and then you don’t see her much anymore.

But the writing is just not good. The romance stories are all half-baked. They are not mysterious enough, dark enough or sexy enough. Some scenes are quite cringey. Not enough time is dedicated to each pair, when we have so many pairs to share these 16 episodes. Most of the romances are typical and predictable. But they are easy to watch and won’t raise your blood pressure. But the ‘serious’ plots are so poorly written. In the first half of the show, we have reporter investigations of a certain death. The way it was conducted is unprofessional, illogical and unrealistic. In the latter half of the drama, it touched upon another ‘serious’ plot in a startup company where several of the main characters used to work. The way they approach the perpetrator in the last episode is laughable. There are just so many things that don’t make sense in this drama, and I only half-turned on my brain.

With such an amazing cast, the actors are unable to really perform to their standards. It’s such a waste of talent. I would only recommend “The Jungle” for the visuals and drool over the guys and girls. But you will need to overlook the cheap sets (that’s the cheapest looking high end bar I’ve seen), the poorly written storylines and the illogical, shake-my-head moments. I was going to rate this a 7.5 until I watch the final episode. So, a solid 7.0 for the cast.



Completed: 4/23/2024 - Review #432

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Very interesting concept and could be amazing if executed better

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (rounding up because I had a good time binge-watching)

The concept of “See You in My 19th Life” is so interesting that it probably attracts many viewers. There are many things I love about this drama and other areas which I would like to explore more. I did not watch the webtoon and this review is solely based on the drama. Nevertheless, this is a very easy binge and I was able to watch it all on a Saturday in one go.


What I Like:

1. Shin Hye Sun - I may not be a super fan of Shin Hye Sun but it’s without a doubt she’s a great actress. Her role as the female lead Ban Ji Eum showcases her talents so well. I usually am not a fan of girl-chases-boy but she does it in a way that I don’t find annoying. She’s assertive but not overly stalkerish and irritating. I find her teasing ML cute and not overdone. I love how she just busted out her flamenco moves. That’s hilarious! When it comes to the emotional scenes, especially the last few episodes, I can’t help but cry with her.

2. Young Actor/Actresses - Young Ban Ji Eum is adorable and smart. Her conversations with her ‘niece’ are both mature and innocent. Young Yoon Joo Won has the poise of someone who lived 17th lives, yet her appearance has such an innocent look. Young Moon Seo may not have as much screen time as Joo Won but the scenes of him trapped in the car were heartbreaking.

3. Uncle and Niece relationship - I love seeing these two individuals who technically don’t know each other, don’t have any familial love, yet come together and form their own special family.

4. Guest Stars - With 19 lives, it’s the perfect way to bring in many guest stars. I would love to see more of them (see my mixed feelings below).

5. Production - There are many scenes that are shot beautifully and in different angles. The OST has some great songs that I will add to my Spotify playlist. I also like that we see an appropriate interior of a hotel. A hotel that needs renovation and you can see that it’s not a super modern hotel, but one that has history and its own charms. I like the setup of ML’s office where it feels warm.


What I have Mixed Feelings About:

1. Pacing - I was hooked from the first episode. It has a great introduction of the characters and the background story. The pace is good in the first half but definitely slows down in the second half. I especially feel that the last two episodes are very slow and it keeps repeating on finding out the past, yet not much happens. They are the same flashbacks for 2 episodes.

2. Past 18 lives - I would have loved to see more of the different lives and the guest stars, and how their stories directly relate to FL’s personality and experiences. We mainly saw clips that lasted a minute or two. I want to see more of the person and the love story of Chae Jong Hyeop composing the love song for. I want to see more about the first life and not just the same flashbacks.

3. Romance - I wouldn’t say the chemistry between Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun is bad, but it’s also not amazing. There are criticisms of Ahn Bop Hyun’s acting and I think he did a fine job. I think he was quite cute when he’s being cornered and was very shy. It’s when he is NOT shy anymore that I am finding the chemistry lacking and not sweet enough for me. Oh, and they have ONE great kiss when both of them are such good kissers. I am not satisfied! LOL. On the other hand, the secondary romance is also a little lacking for me. Here, I do find Ahn Dong Goo a little bland in his portrayal of the ‘cool’ role. I am missing the micro expressions that you see from great actors when they portray someone who is ‘cold’ on the outside. I think the secondary romance could have been developed better and with better pacing.

4. Unexplored Plot - Did the drama forget about the hotel renovation after the initial episodes? I want more background story of ML’s family and the older generation as the twist about the accident is not very satisfactorily explored and explained. I want to know more about Ha Do Yoon’s (ML’s BFF/secretary) history with ML in Germany and his responsibility to the Chairman. Without going into too much spoilers, I want to know why the other lady can remember her past lives when she wasn’t in FL’s first life. Is that a plot hole or her existence is just a device to move forward with the hotel fight for power narrative?

Overall, this is such a cool concept and could be an amazing drama if executed better. Despite my criticisms, I did have a fabulous and easy time watching it. I will recommend it to those who love this type of fantasy drama but not to those who are very particular about writing and execution.


Completed: 8/20/2023 - Review #342

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Business Focus with amazing chemistry between Qin Lan and Wang Yang

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Stand or Fall” is very similar to other female-centric dramas about women in their 30s. However, this one has a very strong business focus and a majority of the time we follow Guan Wen/Qin Lan (FL) and Ding Ning/Wang Yan (ML) through their ups and downs at work. The main attraction of this drama for me is the strong chemistry between Qin Lan and Wang Yang. They are two of my favorite veteran actors and they did not disappoint.

Recommendations:
1. Fans of Qin Lan and Wang Yan
2. Fans of Business dramas
3. Fans of sisterhood of women in their 30s

Qin Lan has a similar role in “The Rational Life” where she plays a very successful businesswoman. What differs in “Stand or Fall” is her character’s strong, assertive personality and no BS approach to work and life. She was a lot mellower and calmer in “The Rational Life”. I quite like seeing Qin Lan in a more feisty role. On the other hand, it took me a quick second to see Wang Yang not in a villany, gray role. I’ve been so attracted to him/ his characters in “The Rebel” and “Lost in Kunlun Mountain” that it’s quite fun seeing him in love and jealous. He is still as charismatic and attractive as always, playing the successful counterpart to Qin Lan’s character. The two of them have so much chemistry and their bickering and outsmarting each other are the highs of the drama for me.

The other two female leads have a decent amount of screen time. They are both fun characters and the trio’s sisterhood is fun to watch. However, the supporting romances lack chemistry and their careers' storylines are not as interesting. ML’s BFF appears here and there to provide work gossip and support. But he is quite a one-dimensional character.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of business talk in this drama. If you are not interested, you might be bored. The dialogs are fast with business lingo yet Qin Lan and Wang Yang are experienced enough to make it seem natural. The drama is not dubbed (thank god coz I love their real voices) and you can hear the live recording with some post-production corrections here and there. I also love all the business attire at work. Qin Lan has quite a nice collection of business suits, shorts, dresses, and skirts. She looks so beautiful and I love her new short hair cut. Of course, Wang Yang doesn’t look too bad himself in formal suits and casual attires.

“Stand of Fall” might not be a solid 8.5 but I have a great time watching it. It met my expectations of Qin Lan and Wang Yang and how amazing they are together.

Other Random Observations:
1. Glad to see Qin Lan not afraid of getting dirty or having lipstick drawn on her beautiful face. But she's way too skinny though.
2. Why would a mother goes into a sleeping child's room and turn on the bright light?
3. For once a mother spoils a daughter and not a son.
4. When people in their 30s fall over each other, it's not a slow mo romantic scene but of them hurting their backs. LOL
5. Love the unique relationship FL has with her brother.



Completed: 8/19/2023 - Review #341

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A light watch and look into Japan's work culture

What better drama to watch than "No Working After Hours/Watashi, Teiji de Kaerimasu" when I have been doing a lot of overtime myself at work? This is a light and easy watch for those who are interested in learning more about the work culture in Japan.

The drama touches on several important social and work issues that could probably happen in many cultures:
1. Training new employees using the outdated methods seniors were trained and treated.
2. Power harassment
3. Sexual harassment
4. Hobby/Interest harassment
5. Balancing family and work life and difficult choices made
6. Balancing work and personal life and difficult choices made
7. Unhealthy work hours and after effects
8. Different expectations when you are men vs women, single vs married

However, do not go in expecting the drama to go in details and give you satisfying results each time. I've read complaints about how the sexual harassment issue was dealt with and I agree that it wasn't handled as well as I would have liked. With only 10 episodes, there no way they can address all issues properly.

Our female lead is in the middle of all these situations - when she's the one dealing with them and when she's supporting her colleagues. She is a likeable lead and not one of those naive, innocent, submissive Japanese characters.

I would not expect a great romance. The 'slight romance ' tag is accurate and even so, I was not satisfied. The chemistry between ML and FL is definitely better than with tj boyfriend. However, there aren't enough romantic scenes in either relationship. This is a workplace drama first and foremost.

I would recommend this if you want a light watch but not a serious drama that tackles all these issues. The employees are all supportive and likeable. The 'villain' can be frustrating but may not be truly malicious.

Completed: 8/3/2023 - Review #337

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