Modern Technology - A Blessing in Disguise? More than just a Rom-Com.

Completed: 10/9/2022

What a pleasant surprise when you started watching a drama without any expectation. I came across this drama because I needed a title that features a walkman/pager for my MDL Challenge 2022. I have never heard of “Please Don’t Date Him” before but the synopsis seems interesting enough and it’s only 10 episodes long. So I gave it a try and I am so glad I did.

At first glance, “Please Don’t Date Him” seems like a typical rom-com. But the drama is a lot deeper than that. A computer chip belonging to the National Intelligence Service was accidentally inserted into the AI-capable refrigerator that FL is developing. She also seems to be the only person who can activate the special abilities of this chip and access the personal information of others. Actually, I still don’t know why she’s the chosen one who can activate Jango.

When the world of data is at the fingertips of our FL’s hands, what would she do with all this confidential personal information? Is using such information really helping others, or is it ‘violence’ towards the victims? How accurate is information on the internet? How do we interpret this information? This drama delves into ethics and pros and cons of modern technology. Technology provides us with lots of data, but decisions are still made by the individuals.

The romance is slow-burn and sweet. The couple was more fun before they got together (which is usually the case with modern dramas these days). We can see their contrasting personalities, upbringing and philosophy of modern technology. It's a good reminder of the pros and cons of modern technology. We have an episode of fluffiness but then drama hits and our main couple starts to face challenges in their relationship. The chemistry is pretty good, not sizzling, but good enough for me to be invested. It doesn’t hurt that our female lead is pretty and smart (Yay for girls in STEM), and our male lead is tall and handsome (topless six-pack alert!).

The other two romance storylines have a decent amount of screen time, but don’t take away from the main romance and plot. Both of these romances are quite interesting and unique in their own ways. I find the sismance between the three friends to be fun and believable. Each of the ladies has very distinct personalities and they complement each other well.

There are many comedic moments throughout the drama e.g. karaoke at the bridal shower was very unexpected. The cast is small and luckily I don’t find anyone annoying, even the ex-boyfriend. This drama is very binge-worthy. I finished all 10 episodes in one sitting on a Saturday. The pace is fast with so many things happening in this drama. Some might find certain plots underdeveloped due to the drama’s length, or that things are happening too fast.

My main criticism of this drama is in the last episode. I did not see the twist coming and it seems to have come from nowhere. That particular side plot is underdeveloped.
Everything that happened inside FL’s apartment was quite unrealistic. No scissors in the house or kitchen? I thought the story would lean towards the NIS involvement and undercover work.

However, this is a really fun and easy watch for me. It’s by no means a masterpiece, but due to my unexpected personal enjoyment, I am giving this an 8.5 (it might seem overly generous compared to my recent reviews of other bigger budget and more well-know productions).


Other Random Observations:
1. Those organic drinks look really nasty and unappetizing. They do have very weird and creative ingredients.
2. Not all the firefighters are good-looking, but they all have hot bodies! We need more topless firefighters in photo shoots.
3. I did not recognize Lee Jun Young (ML) as the same actor in “Love and Leashes”. Well, he has a very nice (but too thin) body and a cute face here. He also has a lovely singing voice.
4. What is so special about the walkman and the song?

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Can't believe I cried for a Pig!

Completed: 10/1/2022

What an adorable and heartwarming movie! This movie boasts a big and popular cast with 6 individual stories. Each story features a family or a couple and their pets. These stories are simple but very relatable. Each of them is heartwarming in their own unique way. I am pleasantly surprised that I am satisfied with the amount of screen time for each story. Oftentimes with such a big cast, you feel something is missing, screen time is not evenly distributed, or not enough time dedicated to tell a complete story. However, I don't feel that at all.

We have a very experienced cast and there's really nothing to criticize about their acting. However, the MVPs are the pets. I don't own any pet and am not especially fond of dogs and cats (I am fine with them). This movie makes me want to be a pet owner, well, maybe not a pig owner.

If you love animals, especially dogs, cats and pigs, then I strongly recommend this movie to you. It's an easy watch and will make you feel very loved and warm inside.

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An easy and funny watch - a series of second-hand embarrassment

Completed - 9/22/2022

“Review Notebook of My Embarrassing Days” is an-hour long drama special about some embarrassing events and memories of our female lead. As she runs into her first love again, more embarrassing moments are created while she navigates between her ex-husband and first love.

This is a light and funny watch. All the actors are experienced and they portray their characters pretty well. I was interested in learning about FL’s experience as an exam writer. I never knew there’s such an arduous process to come up with exam questions for students, and that these teachers have to go through a lockdown training camp for it! There’s some math talk which goes over my head and I just ignore it. LOL

The love triangle is front and center in this drama special. It’s funny and heartwarming at the same time. Although there isn’t much skinship, the chemistry between FL and her first love is great. There are no plot twists but just a simple and comfortable romance.

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Good intro to those new to esports but will be disappointing to veteran watchers

Completed: 9/16/2022 - 7.75 rating

“Out With a Bang” is the latest esports drama that is a shorter, lighter-hearted production with a smaller budget and a not as well-known cast. It’s hard to follow the footsteps of other popular dramas such as “Love O2O” (the OG), “The King’s Avatar”, “Gank Your Heart”, “Cross Fire” (my favorite) and “Falling Into Your Smile”.

The plot is simple without too many unpredictable twists. It’s an easy watch with OK acting and no annoying characters. We follow the journey of male lead, Xiao Yi Chuan, a once top player of the industry. Due to a hand injury, he disappears from the esports world but comes back for another chance of success. Along the way, he finds love and camaraderie with his team members, and also finds his former self.

The gameplay of “Out with a Bang” reminds me of that in “Cross Fire”. Instead of relying only on animation, we have actors playing their characters and doing different stunts and shooting. This is my preferred gameplay, as I like to see the effort actors put in, instead of them just staring at a monitor and doing finger exercises on their keyboards and mice. Animation could be prettier, but this is more fun to watch as a viewer who is not familiar with the games. However, this is a lower budget production and it would be unfair to compare it to the gameplay in “Cross Fire”. I do appreciate the actors' effort and think they did a pretty good job with the shooting scenes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of exciting gameplay throughout the drama. The exciting scenes are all concentrated in the last few episodes. I would have liked to see some more during friendly competitions with other teams or during their livestream practices.

The romance storyline is OK. It’s not the strongest but it’s an easy watch. The leads are more fun before they become a couple. I am a fan of bickering couples and the enemies-to-lovers trope, so I quite enjoy the first half of the drama when it comes to romance. But once they confess their feelings, the romance becomes boring. The romance is reduced to two kids getting cute and jealous. There aren’t enough heart-fluttering scenes and the kisses are lacking. We got a decent kiss out of them.

The best part of the drama is the bromance. The bromance between Xiao Yi Chuan and his best friend, Wang Bo Yu, is funny and cute. It’s nice to see how much Wang Bo Yu cares for XYC despite not being in the same team but has been friends since they were amateur gamers. The bromance between XYC and Chu Tian is also done well. I enjoy the development from love rivals, to teammates, to mentor/mentee relationships. However, compared to other esports drama, the rest of the teammate camaraderie is a little lacking and hasn’t been the focus of the drama. Usually, team chemistry is the biggest selling point in this genre, but at least we have two pretty good bromances.

If you are a fan of the actors and want a simple and easy-to-understand esports drama, this could be a good introduction to the genre. But if you have seen the other more famous esports dramas as the ones I listed, then you might be disappointed. Personally I am going to rate this a 7.75 and not fault the drama for the not-so-great gameplay due to the budget. However, the writing and acting could have been better, and I don't like the dubbing at all.

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Great Slice-of-Life drama of a Rookie Cop - a different kind of Espionage drama.

Completed - 9/11/2022

“Fearless Whispers” feels very different from the regular spy, Nationalist vs Communist espionage drama. I would say it’s a slice-of-life drama about a rookie cop and the police department, set in Shanghai between 1946-1953. It gives me the feeling of a combo of “Ordinary Greatness” + “The Rebel”. This drama is so underrated due to the lack of English subtitles. However, it scored a high 8.0 rating on Douban (and that is really high!).

When watching this, I can’t help but compare it to “The Rebel”. It lacks the thrilling plots and action scenes but it shines in showing us life of ordinary folks during that time frame. Not everyone comes from an elite family, but heroes can be found within the common folks. We follow the life of top university graduate and rookie police officer, Gu Yao Dong, as he starts his new career, has his ideals challenged, and gets entangled in the fight between the Nationalist and Community parties.

What I Like:

1. Acting & Characters - Great acting all around from the younger actors to the veterans. It’s so great to also watch a drama where actors are using their own voices and hearing the Shanghai accent. It adds to the authenticity of the drama.
♦︎ Li Yi Feng: I watch this drama because of him and he doesn’t disappoint. There’s something about him that I really like (and I don’t really think he’s handsome). He plays the idealistic, innocent yet brave GuYao Dong really well. He's the diamond in the rough, or gold waiting to be polished and shine. The perfect hero that we all root for. Watching this drama clears the unpleasant memory of him in “Mirror: Twin Cities”. His role here reminds me of his role in “Noble Aspirations” as well. Oh, he also looks the most handsome and adork-able in this drama.
♦︎ Gina Jin: She plays the badass female lead who is smart, brave and rational. It seems like we need to watch a spy drama to find such strong FLs these days. Gina was great in her tough spy scenes, as well as the more emotional scenes when she actually has to hold her feelings in. I am so glad to see a different side of her after her rom-com roles in “Why Women Love” and “Crossroad Bistro”. I also like the really simple make-up she has on throughout the drama. Plain but beautiful, and fit her character.
♦︎ Wang Long Zheng: This is my first drama of his and what a great veteran actor. He doesn’t ooze the type of charisma that Wang Yang has in “The Rebel”, but he attracts you in a different way. His chemistry with Li Yi Feng is great. Xia Ji Cheng is a complicated character and he did a fantastic job. I miss him when he’s gone for several episodes.
♦︎ Niu Jun Feng: He’s a surprise and I am so glad I found him again (I forgot about him in “Love O2O”). I was very impressed with his acting as Zhao Zi Yong. Zhao is such a conflicted character and the one I sympathize with the most. I was rooting for him and praying that he’s going to have a somewhat happy ending. Zhao Zi Yong is a good contrast to our male lead, and portrays a more realistic struggle. Not everyone can be a hero and most of the times, reality forces you to choose differently.
♦︎ Li Qiang: First scene I saw him and I hated him. That’s how good his acting. He gives off such an evil, cunning and manipulative vibe. What a great veteran and I think he helps elevate Niu Jun Feng’s scenes.

2. Bromance - The chemistry between the male characters is better than the romance.
♦︎ Gu Yao Dong + Xia Ji Cheng = the mentor/mentee relationship between the two is one of the best things about this drama. They have so much chemistry together especially when they are having heart-to-heart conversations or teaching moments. I noted down specifically the scene when Gu Yao Dong was drunk and Xia was taking him home. The scenes were done so well. If I didn’t know any better, I thought they have romantic feelings for each other. LOL. There are a few episodes when Xia Ji Cheng was away. I didn’t know I miss them on the screen together that much, until they’re gone and then back together.
♦︎ Gu Yao Dong + Zhao Zhi Yong = These two best friends started out with a cute friendship in the police department. They are both good-hearted young people but walk a very different path. I was glad that throughout the drama, though they made different decisions, their friendship never really died. They might have done things that hurt each other, but they still care deeply. It saddens me to see such good friends enduring so much pain, but it also makes their friendship all the more memorable.
♦︎ Police Dept Team 2 = They may not start out loving each other, but it's great to see how their friendship develops throughout the drama. Each character is colorful and complements each other. They annoy me sometimes, but they are also quite funny at times. I am glad the drama did not forget these supporting characters and spend some time in the last episode about each of these colorful characters.

3. Pacing - 51 episodes could scare people away. I was skeptical at first and prepared for the drama to drag. Luckily, to me, I think the drama is well-paced - not fast, not slow. It has the pacing of a slice-of-life drama with some exciting plots sprinkled throughout. It doesn’t have as many intense and heart-pumping scenes as in “The Rebel” but it has its own charms and exciting moments. I was kept interested throughout the drama. I do think “Fearless Whispers” ends on a strong note, especially Eps 49-50. The last episode does wrap things up nicely.

4. Gu Family + Neighbors: ML has a lovely and supportive family. It’s no wonder our male lead is such a great guy. There are many heartwarming moments when they reach out to a neighbor in need and it’s so great to see. I enjoy the lively neighborhood and even the annoying neighbors (you got to have a couple of these characters)and luckily they are kept to a minimum. I was heartbroken about the story of Mr. M and his daughter. Not a lot of time is spent on the neighborhoods, but enough to give us a feel of life as an ordinary person trying to live through changing/tough times.

What I have mixed feelings about:

1. Injuries: The injuries are probably the most unrealistic part of this drama. Our male lead was beaten to a pulp multiple times and he recovered at a remarkable speed. If this happens in the real world, he would have been dead several times, or be in a coma, or paralyzed. Actually, not just him but all the characters. We see another character getting beaten by a metal rod on his legs, his body and his head, and he was walking and running around in the next scene.

2. Production Quality: Compared to “The Rebel”, “Fearless Whispers” appears to have a smaller budget. The sets and props, though don’t seem too fake and flimsy, also do not look very high quality as well. Speaking of injuries as mentioned above, we seen quite inconsistent wounds. Someone being tortured only had a slash on the face and a slash on the chest, and then the shirt was just soaked with red dye. Those wounds are so unrealistic and fake that I wonder if the character really was tortured to almost dead. On the other hand, I quite like the neighborhood set and houses. They all seem very realistic.

3. Romance: I find the chemistry between our leads to be good, but not amazing. There’s definitely a lot more romance in this drama than in “The Rebel”. However, though the romance in “The Rebel” is limited, the chemistry and longing are off the charts and memorable. In “Fearless Whispers”, the romance pales in comparison. It’s decent and there are a few emotional scenes well done. But for the most part, it’s nothing to write about. I also wanted a little more about the Love Square and feels that those side plots just went away.

Today, 9/11/22, it was reported that Li Yi Feng was arrested due to illegal prostitution. I am not sure what would become of him or if he's really guilty. I am saddened because I like him as an actor and we will probably not see him in any drama or movie for a very long time (or ever). I still see the YouTube videos of this drama online and not taken down (yet). The chance of this drama being subtitled is even lower now and audience will miss such a good show.

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Guilty Pleasure Watch - Cringey, Funny, Over-the-Top, SEXY, and Heartwarming

Completed - 9/8/2022

“Mama Gogo” is a guilty pleasure! Is it a perfect drama? Nope! Is it entertaining? Hell Yeah!!! Because I know what I am getting into, I can thoroughly enjoy the ride and give this an 8.5 rating.

A few quick notes:
1. This drama is super over-the-top and cringey! Beware if this is not your jam.
2. Because of #1, this drama is also HILARIOUS!
3. Hot Guys + Hot Abs + Sexy Gyrating and Hip Thrusting
4. Crazy funny sound effects to complement the dialogues - but could be too much for some.

Now if you OK with all that, then you are in for a fun and crazy ride!

The story is simple. Annie is a former popular idol who was forced to retire. Life did not treat her well after she left the entertainment world. Unexpectedly, she inherited a host club (women were entertained by a bunch of hot and sexy guys). The story then revolves around Annie and her Mama boys. It’s a very simple and predictable plot really.

What I Like:
1. Annie is a great female lead. She was a little too loud for my taste in the beginning. But she has grown from being a selfish and money-hungry single mother, to a caring business owner who tries her hardest for the host club and the boys. Annie is a fighter. She doesn’t back down, doesn’t cave in. She is independent and actually uses her brain to solve problems. She shoulders all responsibilities and problems and I’m glad to follow her journey. She also has the most amazing outfits. This woman looks so good in everything she wears.

2. Hot Guys - What can I say, it’s a drama with a lot of good-looking guys with hot bodies. I know I sound like a perverted old woman, but they are the main reason for me picking this drama. Since these guys are actors and not professional hosts (I assume they’re not), their dancing is pretty good. However, if you compare them to professional dancers (at least the ones I’ve seen in Las Vegas), their dancing actually isn’t that great. They are fun to watch though! I quite enjoy the rivalry between the Cute and Sexy Cash vs. the Handsome and Sexy Kampan.

3. Earth (as Kampan) - Wow.. I am amazed this is the same Earth I saw in “A Tale of Thousand Stars”!!! What a talented actor to be able to act in two very different roles. Earth is so corny, cringey and over-the-top funny. He’s also the best dancer of the bunch. What a nice body as well.

4. Lee (as Chen) - Well, I think I might have a new crush. My first drama of Lee and he looked so handsome when he was first introduced. I like Chen. A tough guy on the outside, but such a sweetheart on the inside. I especially like those few quick scenes of Chen when he flashes his shy looks when being teased. However, I wouldn’t say he is the main lead. He doesn’t have as many scenes as other characters.

5. Side stories - Amidst all the crazy fun, there are several heartwarming stories. They are short, but I do enjoy them, esp the one about Yut and his daughter and Ball’s dreams. I enjoy the ‘Found Family’ and friendship between the Mama boys.

What I Have Mixed Feelings:

1. Annie + Chen Romance - I actually liked their chemistry a lot more before they got together. Their fights and bickering are really cute. You see a more shy and innocent Chen in those episodes. I would have liked to see more of the “courting” before they’re together. Once they are together, they are sweet and fine, but not as fun as before. But of course, romance is not the central plot here, I just wish their romance develops a little bit better.

2. Kungten (FL’s sister) and Fifa (FL’s daughter) - Most of the time, I find these ladies quite annoying. Kungten’s playing hard to get is quite annoying especially when Cash was being so open and honest with her. Fifa’s animosity towards her mother is a little too much for me. She’s just a spoiled brat and I don’t know what Mikhael sees in her.

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Amazing Park Eun Bin + Pretty good portrayal of individuals with disabilities

Completed - 8/27/2022
Subjective Rating - 8.75 because I enjoyed the 2 special needs cases.
Objective Rating - 8.0-8.5

*Disclaimer* I have been working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for 20+ years. So my review might reflect some of my experience. However, I am NOT someone with a disability, and can’t speak for those with IDD or other professionals in the field. I am a drama watcher and will review “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (EAW) as such, and not as a case study.

In order to fully enjoy this drama, one should bear in mind that this is not a documentary of Woo Young Woo, nor is this a law drama. This is a light hearted drama showcasing the uniqueness of Young Woo and her personal growth in life, career and love. When watching this, I would assume the creators want to shed light and educate on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to break some myths.

Having said that, I fully enjoy this drama. I was very hesitant to watch EAW as I worried the portrayal of someone with a disability is going to piss me off. I don’t want this drama to shed a negative light on someone with a disability, or paint a rosy picture either.

Portrayal of Woo Young Woo and Disabilities - I feel that the creators of this drama put all the common traits, quirks, and characteristics of someone with ASD into Young Woo. I personally believe if I meet an individual in real life with all these traits, this person might not be as cute and adorable as Young Woo. They would have a much tougher time in life, despite being a genius and graduating with high honors from a prestigious university. But as I said, this is not a documentary, so I will just go with the flow. There are two court cases about people with IDD and I am glad that the show mentioned the ‘Spectrum’ part of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The range is so wide that we can’t assume all individuals with ASD behave the same way. In fact, it doesn’t matter what your disability is, each individual is unique and special in their own way. We cannot assume someone with autism knows how to interact with another person with the same diagnosis, as evident in episode 3. In another court case, the focus is on romantic and sexual relationships between a young lady with mild intellectual disability and a man without a disability. It touched on some very important subjects - advocating for one’s rights to love and make decisions, understanding what love/sex mean, parent’s control and overprotectiveness, what the individual wants vs what their family wants, dignity of risks, stigma of being in a relationship (can someone with IDD be in a romantic relationship? yes they can!). These are all very realistic issues. Between EAW and the recently aired “Our Blues”, I am happy to see the portrayal of independent women with disabilities. They want to look pretty, want to have a boyfriend, and want to work to make a living, they want what everybody wants.

Park Eun Bin/Woo Young Woo (FL) - What more can we say about this amazing actress. She really deserves a Baeksang for her portrayal of Woo Young Woo. Another amazing drama after last year’s “The King’s Affection”. I am tired just watching her play this role and be in character mentally and physically for 16+ hours. Not only did Park Eun Bin give us an adorable Young Woo, but witnessing Young Woo’s growth, and Park Eun Bin’s acting in some very emotional but subtle scenes is an absolute joy. Young Woo gives us many comedic moments and you are never bored when she’s on the screen.

Kang Tae Oh/Lee Joon Ho (ML) - I am sure many of us fall in love with Joon Ho’s adoring eyes when he looks at Young Woo. This character is such a sweetheart and he loves and adores Young Woo for who she is. I almost placed him in my special Ideal Man list. However, I didn’t, because aside from being a romantic love interest, Lee Joon Ho is quite useless in this drama. He’s always on the sidelines or runs errands. There’s no character growth and nothing really happens to him. The romance is sweet and quite predictable. I just wish there’s more.

Supporting Cast - I enjoy the overall acting for the supporting cast. However, similar to my criticism of ML, this drama is very Young Woo-focused. Everyone else serves as a vehicle to help Young Woo grow in life and in her career. None of the side characters or stories are well developed. As much as I enjoy seeing powerful female lawyers, I still don’t understand why they’re rivalries. I do love the sismance though. Isn’t it nice to not have any catty, petty women but supportive female friendships? The secondary romance is somewhat bland. It should have started sooner. The way they fall for each other is not believable.

Court Cases - As mentioned this is not a law drama. The cases are short and episodic. I generally am not a fan of this format and find it repetitive. However, I didn’t feel it this way. The cases are not particularly interesting or exciting to me, aside from the 2 cases I mentioned above. Everything seems to resolve quite easily because Young Woo is a genius. I was never on the edge of my seat. This is probably the most light-hearted ‘law’ drama I’ve ever watched.

Overall, I strongly recommend this very binge-worthy drama. It’s light-hearted and fun. I hope the popularity of this drama does shatter the stigma and myths about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Other Random Observations:
1. Lawyers should really lock their office doors when they go home.
2. Love the dolphin and whale hats - cute!!!!
3. Love the list of hilarious dates - picking up trash and protesting about dolphins.
4. First few episodes, the background music plays too much and tries to manipulate how viewers are feeling about certain scenes. This is not as noticeable in the latter part.

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More of a Family drama than a Fantasy Romance drama.

Completed - 8/24/2022 - 7.75 rating

“4-punkan no Marigold” also known as “Marigold in 4 minutes” should be viewed as a family drama and not a romance fantasy drama. When reading the synopsis, it seems like the focus is on the step siblings' romance and how ML is trying to change FL’s fate. I would say that FAMILY is the focus.

I didn’t realize the “4 Minutes” in the title is referring to the rule of performing 4 CPR within the first 4 minutes to maximize the chance of saving someone, until I read @timotey’s review. Doh… now it all makes sense. Initially, I thought the drama would be very episodic with different EMT medical case stories. I was concerned that I might be bored, but was pleasantly surprised that’s not the case. At least for me, it’s a good thing. There are still several meaningful cases but it’s not the one case per episode format.

When I think of this as a family drama, I could be a little less disappointed in the romance. I have a new crush on our ML, Fukushi Sota. When he smiles, his eyes smile with him. He seems so kind and caring. However, because the romance is between two step siblings, no time is spent on the development or getting-to-know-each-other phase of the relationship. The point of the romance is not the romance, but to show that ML loves FL that he wants to change her fate. I don’t think their romance is believable. They feel like siblings to me.

Jdorama is known for its fast pace, since they are quite short. However, there are times when I feel the pacing is quite slow, and I lose focus and get sidetracked. The drama does not hold my full attention throughout the 10 episodes. This might also be due to the fact that there aren’t enough mini climaxes. It’s a very mellow drama. It’s not particularly sad or exciting, and didn’t evoke a lot of emotions from me.

Acting is pretty good, not amazing but not bad either. Yokohama Ryussei was still quite young in this drama, and you could see his potential to be a future popular star. I am also glad that there are no annoying characters in this drama. All the supporting characters are friendly and supportive.

This is not a solid 8.0 drama for me personally, only a 7.75.. It’s decent and a good relaxing watch. Although it’s not a slice-of-life drama, it feels like one.

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Unique and Special drama with Great acting and appreciation of Chinese Opera

Completed - 7/29/2022
Subjective Rating - 8.25-8.5
Objective Rating - 9.0+

“Winter Begonia is a rare treasure that most people probably won’t watch because it doesn’t scream hot young actors in a censored BL romance drama. Chinese Opera + Republican Era + mature male leads + Japanese occupation, do not really translate to instant popularity with the general audience. Growing up, I was NOT a Chinese opera fan myself. That’s why I was hesitant to watch this, despite its glowing reviews from almost everyone. Does this drama make me love Chinese opera? No, not really. But I learned to appreciate all performers’ dedication and hard work to this craft. It’s a beautiful part of Chinese culture that I wish it will continue on forever.

If you don’t love Chinese opera, this might be a difficult drama to watch because it's central to the plot, and there are many opera scenes and singing. But if you are a fan, or you don’t dislike it, you might grow to like it more. I will join the chorus of praises in the production quality of “Winter Begonia”. The opera costumes, accessories, hair and makeup = all top notch. So much effort (and probably research) is put into this.. I also really enjoy all the suits that our male lead, Cheng Feng Tai wore. Not only was he dashing and hot in all his outfits, I really like the subtle pattern and velvety (maybe?) quality of his suits. Shang Xi Rui also wears a variety of cheongsam/changshan, from the more modest white ones to the formal white ones. This might be the only drama I’ve seen all male characters wearing such thick wintery changshan.

The relationship between our two male leads is an interesting one. They are total opposites and it’s quite amazing how they have come to trust, care and ‘love’ each other. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of sizzling, romantic chemistry between the two. I think the male leads in “Killer and Healer” have much better pure romantic chemistry. In “Winter Begonia’, Cheng Feng Tai and Shang Xi Rui are soulmates, they are more than friends/lovers/family. You can feel their deep affection from each other by the way they look at each other, and also through very casual, everyday conversations. You will not find the typical BL romance or fanservice in this drama.

It’s hard to tell if Cheng Feng Tai really loves his wife. Maybe he only cares for her as family because they have been together for so long. Yet, with the way he looks at her and the physical affection that he displays, he does seem to love her. In the second to last episode, while Cheng Feng Tai is facing danger, his last flashbacks are of his wife. Doesn’t that mean he truly loves her? But then, what about Shang Xi Rui? Does he love them both? Or as I mentioned, Shang Xi Rui is maybe more than merely a lover/partner. I guess that’s for the viewer's own interpretation.

The main reason why I did not give this a 9.0+ rating is because I got bored towards the 2nd half of the drama. The pacing is really good in the first 30 episodes. I enjoy the relationship development of the leads. I also really like the characters in all the opera troupes and see how they train, live together, and fight amongst each other. It was fun to watch the dance-off between Shang Xi Rui and Chen Ren Xiang. I also like the conflicts/politics of the opera troupes, and the respect the veterans receive from opera performers and audience. But when the drama turns political with the Japanese occupation, there’s too much talking and bad accents.. I understand the need for it but it’s not exciting or interesting enough, until the last two episodes. Even though the ending has a very strong political tone, I am interpreting it as a special way for the drama to demonstrate the unique bond between our male leads.

Lastly, you don’t really have to worry about the acting performance of this cast. They are veterans and they know what they’re doing. Big props to Yin Zheng for playing Shang Xi Rui, a multi-layered crazy genius. Huang Xiao Ming is very charismatic as Cheng Feng Tai and he is oh-so fine. I remember really liking him in “Nirvana in Fire 2”. The way he looks at Shang Xi Rui melts my heart. This is my first time seeing Merxat and Li Ze Feng NOT playing mature and sensible roles. I’ve seen them both in previous dramas and their roles here are so different and I’m glad they are taking different roles. As the female lead, Charmaine Sheh holds her own among a strong male cast. She’s wonderful as Fan Xiang Er.


Other Random Observations:
1. Yin Zheng looks quite old in this drama. He’s 9 years younger than Huang Xiao Ming but he doesn’t age as well.
2. Still some minor plot holes - what happened to Cheng Feng Tai’s nephew and brother-in-law in the end?
3. What happened to his little sister?
4. I like the opening theme song; it matches the feel of the drama
5. I appreciate the training that actors went through to perform on stage. Their mouths might not perfectly sync with the singing, but you can still see that they’re mouthing/singing those lyrics.
6. Yin Zheng, Tan Jian Ci and Andy Huang look beautiful playing the ‘dan’.

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Excellent Acting with different stories that can impact each of us.

Completed: 7/17/2022
Subjective Rating - 8.25-8.5
Objective Rating - 8.5+

This is my first omnibus-style drama and it took me a while to get used to it. And as a binge watcher, this is not the pacing that I am comfortable with. It was difficult for me to want to press "next episode" each time. It took me a long time to finish this drama and I have to watch one story at a time. Of course, this is very subjective and others might find all stories so compelling that they couldn't stop watching. Because of this, I am only rating this drama at 8.5. Additionally, a couple stories are not as interesting to me.

"Our Blues" takes place on the beautiful Jeju Island, a place I've been wanting to visit. Taking us out of the big city and into the more rural village provided us the opportunity to appreciate nature and this drama has beautiful cinematography and an amazing and soothing OST. I really enjoy the small town feel and the village lifestyle and community. However, it does take me a couple episodes to get used to the personality of the islanders. They are nosy, loud and rude, and just can't stay out of other people's business. But they are also kind and soft-hearted, and each character is ready to jump in to help anyone in a split second. That's the beauty of all the stories here and it's heartwarming to see there are people out there who truly cares. It's the perfect place for healing, to take a break or to ask for help.

Looking at the cast list, it's without a doubt that you do not have to worry about the acting performance of anyone. Everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, is excellent. This drama evokes so many different emotions that it's amazing how everyone is so good. I do want to point out a few that stood out to me:

1. Lee Byung Hun - the last drama of his I watched was "Mr. Sunshine". And what a different role he has in "Our Blues". I applaud him for taking such a different role and doing such a great job. You can't see a shadow of Eugene Choi in his role as Lee Song Seok.
2. Lee Jung Eun - I've seen her in so many other dramas in a supporting role and her acting here is off the charts. She plays the caring, loud-mouthed, nosy Jung Eun Hee so well. The first few episodes are about her, and I was mesmerized by her acting.
3. Kim Woo Bin - My first of his drama and I'm glad he's back after taking care of himself. I avoided watching "Uncontrollably Fond", so I'm glad to see him here. Kim Woo Bin's eyes can convey so many different emotions. I stare at his eyes and I am in love, and adding the fact that his character is so lovable, I've added Park Jung Joon to my "Ideal Man" list. LOL
4. Jun Eun Hye - Not only do I appreciate the fact that we have an actress with Down Syndrome in this show, but that she is not portrayed as the sweet and innocent girl. She is sassy and has a great personality. She is tough, will argue with you and keep you on your toes. And yes, people with disabilities do drink and cuss, and they want to be pretty and have a boyfriend/girlfriend.

As mentioned earlier, not all the stories touched me or that I find super interesting. Here's a quick recap (I tried to keep it without spoiler but read as your own risks).

Han Soo + Eun Hui
A very impactful beginning of a drama. Here we reminisce the past/first love, money issues and family burdens. The powerful confrontation scene in the hotel room was a big "WOW" moment for me. It was so quiet the whole time, no music and just letting two veteran actors duke it out. This story makes you wonder how you treat your friends and who are your real friends.

Yeong Ok + Jung Joon
This is when I fall in love with Kim Woo Bin. He's so warm and accepting that he doesn't care about Yeong Ok's relationship history. He believes in her and loves her, despite her lies in the beginning.

Young Joo + Hyung
What happened when Romeo and Juliet got together and have a kid? This story explores teen decisions and family support. How do we get parental approval when life has been so hard?

Deong Seok + Seon Ah
Postpartum depression is a difficult topic and not portrayed enough in dramas. This story explores the darkness of depression and how it affects everyone in the family, especially the child. It's important to have someone who doesn't give up on you and stand by your side until you are better.

Mi Ran + Eun Hee
When two best friends perceive their friendship differently, the result is a big argument and brawl. Eu Hee is the one that I wish she has all the happiness in the world. She's been there for everyone, her BFF and neighbors, but was hurt by her first love and BFF.

Yeong Ok + Yeong Hui + Jung Hoon
I love this story esp. the realistic portrayal of someone with Down Syndrome. Yeong Hui works, makes money, and wants what we all want. I love that she is the main character in this story and not just resorted to a few lines here and there. I love the complicated sisterhood and the friendship between Yeong Hui and Jung Hoon. The last scene when Yeong Ok was in the van alone was very touching.

Choon Hee + Eung Gi
What an adorable little grand daughter and what a fun duo she makes with her grand mother. They have such an interesting dynamic when they slowly learn how to get along with each other. I LOVE the scene with 100 moons!!

Deong Sok + Ok Dong
We knew from the start that there will be a story about this mother/son relationship. The reason why mom remarried was not surprising, but it's still heartbreaking nonetheless. Reconciliation and the acceptance/preparation for death are explored in this story. In the last episode, I am glad that everyone finds closure and we get to see all the characters back in a super fun way.

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Completed - 6/24/2022 - 7.75 rating

This drama, also known as "Do You Want to Warm Up This Love?" is a simple, uncomplicated and quite predictable romantic comedy. It's an original work that is not an adaptation of a webtoon or manga. That might explain why there isn't any over-exaggerated acting.

Let's talk about what I like in rapid fashion:

1. Simple drama for those who don't like angst or misunderstanding
2. No really annoying characters.
3. A few decent kisses towards the end - not passionate but better than others.
4. No evil ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, no evil parents, no evil characters
5. Interesting scenes of convenient store dessert making and shots - though can't be compared to the exquisite desserts in "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru".
6. Good chemistry between the leads; I enjoy their bickering and opposite-attract romance; also like the smirks and side-glances ML has towards FL.
7. I enjoy the mobile convenient store stories the most.


What I don't like:

1. My biggest complaint is the hiring of Kiki (FL) in creating new desserts. She was introduced as an Instagram food blogger and I can believe that she has excellent taste buds and her reviews are spot on. However, there has been no indication that she actually knows how to cook and make desserts. If she's hired as a consultant to provide feedback or be a taste tester, I can buy that. But actually being a dessert chef in developing recipes and making them? That's a hard sell. But since that's the main plot, it's something that I just have to ignore and go along with it.

2. I can understand Kiki wanting to move on from Takumi (ML) and start a relationship with Makoto (2ML). However, it's taking way too long for her to decide whether Makoto is the one or not. Her indecisiveness is disrespectful when Makoto has been so kind and sweet to her. I might not have second-lead syndrome, but I don't think Kiki deserves Makoto anyway.

3. On the other hand, I don't blame Takumi for not realizing his feelings for Kiki and continuing to be in a relationship with Riho (2FL). But once they broke up, it's so wrong to immediately ask Kiki out behind Makoto's back and ignore his best friend's feelings. That's not how you treat your buddy who has been you BFF all your life. Yes, Kiki has the right to choose, but at least be honest with you friend first and declare equal opportunity courtship.

4. Not a whole lot of excitement with the business plots. They are just OK.


All these listed might not affect your viewing pleasure, but they bug me. I guess none of these are huge flaws, and this could be a decent and easy watch if you are in the mood for it.

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Great Character and Career Development of a Strong Female Lead

Completed - 6/12/2022 - Subjective rating - 8.75, Objective rating - probably 9.0+

“Master of My Own” has received rave reviews due to Seven Tan’s character and her portrayal. I have to agree that she was great in this drama. The drama doesn’t have any glaring flaws and I enjoyed it quite a bit, and it’s very binge-able. Despite that, my gut reaction after watching “Master of My Own” is not an automatic rating of 9.0+. There’s something missing that I can’t really pinpoint. It doesn’t quite move me? Not dramatic enough? I don’t know. However, this is a great drama and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a drama about the character and career growth of a strong female lead. Don’t expect fluffy cute scenes or lots of skinship.. The chemistry is there between Seven Tan and Kenny Lin, but this is not about a great love story.

Seven Tan/Ning Meng (Lemon) - It is so nice to see Seven Tan in a mature role and not as a teenager anymore. I have enough of her loud/outgoing, tomboy roles with a mushroom bowl haircut. She looks absolutely stunning here in her hair and makeup with nice tailored and fitted suits. Her portrayal of Lemon is great and convincing. We followed Lemon’s journey from a more introverted secretary who has to endure her supervisor’s insults and torture, but continues to believe and works towards her dream to be an Investment Director. Seeing how she grows and works towards her goal is the best part of the show. Her upbringing and tight and loving family creates a big contrast to the male lead. There’s no instant success, nor having the male lead to always help her to solve her problems. We see Lemon falls down, picks herself back up and then excels in her career. Along the way, she meets people in her life and career where she treats them sincerely, and they in turn are there for her when she most needs help.

Kenny Lin/Lu Ji Ming - Before I started watching this drama, I had heard about how our male lead is a jerk and could be quite intolerable in the beginning. Maybe my expectations were low and I was prepared, I am pleasantly surprised that he doesn’t bug me as much. Yes, he does talk down to Lemon, denies her strengths and potential, and is unwilling to give her a chance. However, maybe it’s due to Kenny Lin’s acting or the writing of the character, I never dislike him that much. I’ve seen my fair share of mean and abusive bosses in dramas, and his character is not as despicable (at least to me). When we are introduced to his family, we finally understand why he acts a certain way. Definitely, Like Father, Like Son. The best part of Lu Ji Ming’s journey is his character development. We witness his personality change throughout the show, and it’s mainly due to his interaction with Lemon and witnessing how she works towards her ultimate goal. When you compare how he behaves in the first episode and the last episode, you can really see a difference. And I appreciate the gradual change. There’s no love at first sight and immediate personality change because of a romance arc.

Romance/Love Triangle - As I mentioned earlier, this is not a romance-heavy drama. However, there’s definitely chemistry between Kenny Lin and Seven Tan through their interactions as boss/subordinate, colleagues in the industry and business partners. I look forward to scenes when they are together, even if they are bickering and screaming at each other. This is probably the slowest burn romance I have seen, and I actually don't mind. What I do mind is the disappointing kiss that we got after waiting for so long. There are actually more dating scenes between Lemon and her senior, Su Wei Ran. I read spoilers before about the issue that Su Wei Ran had which caused Lemon to break up with him. I was actually worried that the issue would be dragged out for several episodes. However, I am glad to see it resolved rather quickly, because our amazing female lead does not take crap from others anymore. I do pity Su Wei Ran and am glad that Lemon actually did go out with him for a while. Their short relationship forces Lu Ji Ming to re-evaluate his feelings for Lemon, and also encourages Su Wei Ran to reflect on the type of person he wants to be.

Supporting Cast - Let’s talk about Director Xu. If all women (actually everyone) has a mentor in their life like Director Xu, we will be living in a better world. Personally, I am thankful to have supportive supervisors in my career, and I also strive to be a good mentor and supervisor to my staff. We are missing characters like Director Xu in Chinese and Korean dramas. We’ve seen enough abusive bosses, why not great ones who see your potential and want to nurture that? The bromance between Lu Ji Ming and Ceng Yu Huang is quite fun and satisfying. They are so different, yet they are there to support each other. There’s something more enticing about a great bromance than a great sismance. Why is that? The supporting cast is solid and I don’t feel that there’s any annoying character. That’s a big plus!

Investment stories - I enjoy the side plot of different investment stories that Lemon helps out - textile factory, exercise company (reminds me of Peloton), household appliances. Each story is simple but it provides some ‘warmth’ to this drama. It’s nice that they ended up inter-connecting with each other. On the flip side, I think I am missing some ‘edge-of-my-seat’ type excitement from all the investment stories. Yes, there are crises and troubles, but not evoking a lot of emotions from me.

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Short, Simple and Easy to Watch

Completed - 6/6/2022

A very short drama special about two individuals meeting at the Marriage making company. Within an hour and 5 minutes, this special is able to tell the love story of our leads from disliking each other, building a business relationship to friendship and then falling in love. The plot is simple but engaging and I don't feel like I am missing a step in their relationship. Chemistry between the leads is pretty good. There are some laugh-out-loud moments, which could be perceived as over-the-top.

"Let us Meet' also provides enough background information about the leads to give us an idea of the societal pressure of individuals living in that era. Women are opposed to arranged marriage with strangers during these 'modern' times. As Kyungsung (old name for Seoul) is changing, marriage is not necessarily about love but looking for the right conditions, such as money, status and education. With the Japanese occupation as a backdrop, this drama special also provided glimpses of what life was like for women. Do not expect a deep dive into these socio-economic issues as that's not "Let us Meet" is about, and besides, it's too short.

I would recommend this if you just want something short, simple and easy to watch.

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A drama full of good people

Completed - 6/3/2022

"Fight Song" is a light-hearted drama about two individuals who have hit rock bottom in their respective lives. They met through chance and decided to start a time-limited relationship to help each other out. We especially cheer for our female lead because she's so full of life and spirit. She faces both professional and personal hardships in strides, and becomes the role model for many.

The romance between our leads is cute, awkward and adorable. With two novices in love, they navigate their unique time-limited relationship with a lot of curiosity and naiveté. Their interaction is really adorable. However, I do feel that their relationship is lacking some romantic vibes. For once, I hope the drama is a little longer, so that we have more time to see how they slowly develop feelings for each other. I would have loved to see more romantic and heart-fluttering scenes.

I do recommend this drama if you are looking for something positive and cute. This is one of the very few dramas that I remember, where every single character is a good person. No annoying co-worker, parent, or love interest. I also like the two songs, esp. Star Train. Our male lead has a great voice and I very much enjoy the acoustic version, though it might just be a tad overplayed.

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Good first half but slow second half

Completed - 4/18/2022 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0

Having binge-watched season 1, I am glad I took a little breather before diving into season 2. Season 1 wasn't a very enjoyable experience for me (see my review here: https://mydramalist.com/profile/voicelesslove/reviews/203095). But taking a break allows me to reset and I enjoy this season more than the last. It might also due to the fact that there are only 20 episodes here, yet I still feel the pacing is quite slow at the end. You will need to watch season 1 first before this one, otherwise, nothing will make sense.

First Half of the Drama:
Season 2 continues where it was last left off. Our leads went through the Abyss, and the first half of the drama was set back 1000 years ago. I really enjoy this story arc, much more than the present day storyline. General Duan Mu is a character I can root for and is likable, much more so than the happy-go-lucky deity in season 1. I follow her journey of shouldering the burden of the Duan Mu army, continuing to fight for gender equality and the never-ending fight to prove that she's worthy of being the lead general. Zhang Yan (ML) proves to be a great support system for her emotionally, physically and in warfare. I enjoy their romance here - quiet, mature, supportive, and honest. On the other hand, we also see a different storyline about Hong Luan (2FL) and Wen Gu (2ML). We found out why Wen Gu was so attached to Duan Mu and why he likes her so much. Actually, who would not like General Duan Mu. At first, I wasn't a fan of Duan Mu's fiancee, General Hu Lu, but his character grew on me. He also had an amazing battle scene that was full of emotions and strength. His part was small but he made an impression on me. The villain of the drama was slowly incorporated into this portion of the story. I knew there's something fishy about him when he regained his past lives memories. You just knew he's up to no good.

Second Half of the Drama:
I would have given this drama a solid 8.0 or even 8.25 if it's not because of how slow the second half is. Now that everyone is back to the present day storyline, it's no surprise that the goal is to eliminate the villain. Unfortunately, I found our villain to be very one-dimensional, cartoon-ish and not "sophisticated" enough. I personally was bored towards the last few episodes and had to increase my watch speed. The scenes are slow, the talking is slow. On the other hand, after a very mature romance in the abyss, I suddenly found the romantic words spoken between our leads to be somewhat cringey. I did not like Darren Chen's acting when he has those sad puppy (somewhat bored) eyes. His facial expressions and eyes lit up more when he's in the playful and bickering scenes with FL (as in season1). Darren Chen is a very handsome guy, but I don't know why I find his more emotional/sad scenes to be less attractive. I prefer him being the quiet support of General Duan Mu. But a bright spot is introducing me to Gu Zi Cheng (who played Wen Gu). He has one of the more interesting characters in this drama. He's cool and aloof yet smitten as Doctor Wen Gu, then turned into revengeful Demon King, then loyal and faithful as Soldier Wen Gu and lastly as the young and innocent new Wen Gu. Towards the end of the drama, there are quite a few plot inconsistencies and plot holes in regards to Duan Mu's magical powers. Without going into spoilers, I feel that it was quite a stretch for her to have those powers in the final fight.

Overall, I feel that the drama could combine both seasons into one. A combined 40 episodes (instead of 52) is probably enough to tell its story with better pacing and a tighter storyline. For my personal enjoyment, I enjoyed season 2 more than season 1, thanks to the plot in the army.

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