Daisuke
Tokyo
❤️beautiful though too short GL story in old China
?this will not be to everyone's taste as it may seem slow and the characters not very dramatic、 do not be misled by the fierce opening scenes since although there is partly a court battle background most of the story plays out as a gentle comedy of manners with same sex attraction MLs。 I love the characters 〜the eccentric apparently slow-witted magistrate Tao Mo who actually has laser-like intuitive wisdom and the cool intellectual Gu She hiding passion deep inside、as well as their jealous retainers quarelling with each other and the various others on the make around the town and court〜and seeing how they relate and develop and there are law court sub plots as well as the background political intrigue to vary the story〜the final episode is very moving and confirms this as a GL story （maybe most openly so Chinese one I have seen）〜 it is a pity as others say that the series does not continue longer especially given most Chinese dramas are usually 30 episodes at least （maybe for political reasons ？）?special mention for the very fine singer of the main theme。：゜(；´∩｀；)゜：。
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Holyland 2005
original adaptation is best ！ not great fan of yankee or gang dramas but I like here how it shows Yu transforming as an individual and also realising importance of friends both personally and in fighting 〜 and at a deeper level this drama shows a man in a real fight for existential survival and this lifts this drama above simple entertainment：he fights or he's bullied、 but even fighting and winning the battle never ends as life itself is a battle〜don't agree this is too short it is just right to ensure the pace and development of the story without useless repetitions of fights just for their own sake and for me there is no boring episode〜fights are exciting but scary〜 theme music great?Was this review helpful to you?
great drama of political intrigue
after slow start （maybe because I did not watch the prequel so not familiar with background）I loved this superlative action drama and very involving once you begin to unravel the overload of information about various courts intrigues and players〜one I watch many episodes together〜 also this drama really lives up to its name as it is episode 4 and I have not seen a single female： how do they reproduce？(^_-) as usually it seems with Chinese dramas the introduction songs are too long、 I assume Chinese audience like action shots with music as a distinct part of the show〜but though I like rock music it seems bizarrely out of place in this type of period drama〜my only criticism is the very unsatisfactory ending on which see separate comment with spoliers〜〜Was this review helpful to you?
original mystery treatment of the exam pressure trope
nearly dropped it after slow confusing episode 1 but after that it became EXTREMELY good mystery plot around the pressurised exam system but looked at very much from the teacher's viewpoint and examining their interactions, characters and motivations as well as how the students handle it 〜good example of Japanese drama taking an overused trope and seeing it from a new angle it has the best qualities of a mystery story in making you want to know what comes next and how the characters develop so I finished it very quickly〜you need to like following plot details and reading character, there is not so much action, but if you like a drama of this type the effort is worthwhile〜 ?Was this review helpful to you?
Inspirational message
certainly set in different background from usual school drama which I find interesting〜 there is room for some social class comment although of course a romanticised view of technical schools as this is fiction〜as to the girl in boys school trope、this has a different more original feel than similar dramas： of course heroine is too good to be true as we would all like to be but this is fiction！and then also a love triangle but it feels like this was put in as part of the formula and is not a main focus〜but interesting plot elements showing hard background stories of some students 〜such as one involving single parent、 another financially struggling〜 really add interest and are well developed though finally it is obviously intended as inspirational message for teenagers rather than realistic 〜still no boring part and I liked this more as I watch it really good show so 10 / 10Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
comments on the ending
?: just having seen the epilogue I think I can fairly see that my imagined ending reflects this and my disappointed review should be read in this mind as referring up to episode 36〜 I feel they could have included this ending somehow with the main final episode at same time though which would have made the series ending much more satisfying： still I am glad they made this epilogue though it could have been longer and shown more of how they came together again and their life together afterwards✳️✳️This review is only about the ending〜 I hardly know where to begin in reviewing the whole superlative drama〜 as it was for me！〜 especially how it captured the relationship of the two men （especially using your own imagination）in spite of the restrictions within which the producer had to work。 I have put off watching the last episode for some days as I did not want it to end.。The last episode very neatly resolved the various strands of the plot though the endings are rarely totally satisfying。 It was not exactly unexpected in terms of the ”quest” being an anticlimax like many similar stories or Cheng Ling as an adult being the ”heir” of the heroes、although the specific manner of the ending for Zhou Zi Zhu and Wen Ke Xing was unexpected。Of course I was very disappointed particularly as the closing song always promised they would be together for ever！The ideal of self-sacrifice is very noble but does not Wen consider it would be even more painful for Zhou to recover only to find Wen was no longer alive for him？？ I suppose all you can say is that if Wen did not use the Six Combined Cultivation method it would be a case of him losing Zhou eventually 。Of course I hoped ーas seemingly promised at earlier points in the storyーZhou could be healed and they could both live together away from the pains of the World〜however I see them united in spirit in the Afterlife and maybe Wen even present in spirit with Zhou in this life and eventually coming together again as soulmates in a new incarnation〜for me however the ending of 「The Untamed」 was much better and happier although I found the relationship between the two during 「Word of Honor 」closer and more appealing to me than 「The Untamed」〜 but now with the epilogue 「Word of honor」 and 「Untamed」 are my joint favorites but I still feel the Word of honor better at suggesting same sex relationship as in original novel??
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dark but compelling drama about caste and bullying in school setting
First a general point. it is unfortunate that the traditional emphasis on community, family, groups in Japanese society, which has tended to stamp on anyone out of synch with social norms and hierarchy (though now improving in more liberal cities) is truly reflected in the type of bullying in schools typical of Japanese school drama and especially in this drama looked at from the angle of caste。 Like others I thought this drama would be more comic but it is actually quite depressing with the bullying tropes and unremittingly dark 〜actions of some students in this drama are extreme to point of sociopathic but this I suppose is part of the fictional exaggeration for dramatic effect。 however despite the darkness it hooks you as a very good school mystery genre for the first 10,5 episodes and the the evil is counterbalanced in that it is effectively being challenged by Baba (and later her friends)。especially moving is the genuine feeling and character of Baba's passion in the last episode which unravels the mystery and the darkness。it is also a good satire at times on uncaring or just ineffective teachers and teacher to teacher bullying (in one episode at least)。the final episode is nicely finished and neatly resolved、 though the festive side departs from any sense of realism and is rather out of character with most of the story 〜I also find it interesting how the argument comes full circle with the students ultimately demanding the very class system which through the abusive caste system shown in the drama produced thee bullying problem： it seems what they want is not to retain the good part of Japanese communal spirit while getting rid of the negative effects〜 an ideal solution indeed if it is only possible in reality！still this is a drama where fictional dramatisation is used very well to examine real social problems and lifts it above pure entertainment〜 though I am happy to say bullying is becoming less of a problem in my experience〜finally I really liked the music of Exile。Was this review helpful to you?
great K-drama mystery drama with original theme
Intense gripping, superb drama in the best traditions of K-drama： keeps you guessing from each dramatic episode cliffhanger to the next： Han So Fun、 brilliantly played by Moon Geun Young (have not heard of her before)、 is like a fierce terrier dog who will not let go in her quest for the truth until the end。 there were so many different strands to this drama and the family relationships were so complex it was really difficult to keep up with them all as well as the two big stories of Han So Yoon's sister Hye Jin and the serial killer story, apart from all the sub-plots and character development、 and I wondered how they would all be sewn together at the end but this was done superbly〜 my only slight disappointment was the uncertainty regarding the fate of the super-obnoxious Seo Chang Gwon, very well played by Jung Sung Mo and how the "chairman” came to be there at the end I assume Park Woo Jae with his "detective instinct"、again brilliantly realised character played by Yook Sung Jae、intervened。It is good to see him develop so well as an actor in a lead role from his support part in Goblin although the fresh bright character type is the same。Choi Jae Woong must also be mentioned for his portrayal of the "Young Lady" Kang Pil Sum. however I can not think of a character who was not good in this drama.From earlier review as I watched:
not exactly the beginning I was expecting 〜the heroine seems pretty neurotic but if I discovered a corpse I suppose I would be too(๑⃙⃘°̧̧̧ㅿ°̧̧̧๑⃙⃘) meanwhile it's the usual bubbling cauldron of K-drama mystery including ruthless local businessman・politician、 alienated wife、rookie junior policeman providing the light relief、spooky village gossips and weirdos、obnoxious school students and teachers、 casual romance 〜riveting so far plenty to hook me into seeing how it develops though at 16 episodes I wonder if it can retain interest？yes it is keeping me waiting for the next episode seems to be classic mystery K-drama〜I decided to try this because of yook sung jae and as expected I like his character best！
yes, it obviously did keep my interest www〜and was one of the few dramas I finished in very short time two episodes at a time sidelining other dramas I am watching could not recommend too highly〜 will look out for this writer and actors
╭( ･ㅂ･)و ̑̑ ˂ᵒ͜͡ᵏᵎ⁾✩
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Heartwarming romantic drama
Lovely heartwarming drama set in beautiful hotel and surroundings with eccentric quirky characters and nice stories： any romantic like me will like this〜after first few episodes about revival of the hotel there mainly very good episodes on individual themes which worked quite well and enough variety to maintain interest but I think it was the characters and their development which provided the main interest 〜〜where is this hotel I would really like to stay there I must reserach！theme music by American singer only thing I don't like but give 5 for other waltz music〜Was this review helpful to you?
fantastic in every way！！
rollercoaster of bizarre mix of tragic and comic but charming〜 only K-drama seems able to capture this mix of comic and tragic, light and serious in each episode。as it goes on it goes far from original idea of going into dreams with all kinds of scenarios crossing between afterlife and life and the back stories of main characters and their soul relations that adds interest〜what a fantastic finale:I had to watch last two episodes together and really did not see all that coming and I am happy with the ending〜and unlike some K-drama this was very well-judged length not too drawn out to lose the tension and fascination with the drama 〜I thought I saw Yook Sung Jae's cute face before and of course it was in Goblin！look forward to more by these lead actors *(*´∀｀*)☆Was this review helpful to you?
absorbing TV drama
テレビミステリードラマ：content of this drama shocking and depressing in many ways 〜！but very good drama。 I struggled to know the main focus in the start as it kept flashing back and forward between youth and adult but the puzzle fit in the end〜 to summarise I think it was good when setting the background and characters in the first few episodes and builds up tension very well in last episodes but it was spun out rather too much and became slow in the middle maybe to fit 10 episode serial format〜 every character here was conflicted so the drama was as much about character as plot maybe like Greek drama each producing his/her struggle〜bitter-sweet ending。still well worth watching but as I know the plot not a drama I will rewatch I think〜Was this review helpful to you?
Ima Koko ni Aru Kiki to Boku no Kokando ni Tsuite
4 people found this review helpful
Sharp satire
I really feel for this guy spinning in a vortex of conflicting interests〜 just how I feel watching this show but it keeps my mind sharp to try following what is going on and seeing how he survives〜〜highly recommended sharp satire、very minor romance not a problem for me though it had its place in the plot but was the weakest aspect of the drama。one of those cases where I had it on my list for some time but should have watched it sooner 〜even the music's good variations on theme of J S Bach！ superlative tight plotted and produced drama with good actors all round and rewatchable〜〜Was this review helpful to you?
brilliant surreal school drama
凄いだよ〜a school story with total violence breaking out in first episode but manages to be funny with it〜 incredible mixture but it mainly works, but although always serious issues are introduced some of the resolutions are weak。 school drama like this I think would never be allowed as school drama in 2021〜I do not agree this is at all typical of Japanese school drama now。 Nakai and Matsumoto are surreal anti-heroes in an education system ruined by political correctness。the ending is also surreal with the actors observing themselves from outside and therefore in context very clever。classic〜definitely re-watchable.Was this review helpful to you?
Another watchable Chinese fantasy production
finally I enjoyed this series very much as the characters developed and for me this and the fantasy were the best parts。 it was disappointing the relationship between Zhao Yun Lan and Shen Wei was sanitised by censorship but unfortunately not unexpected and you have to learn to use your imagination in these Chinese dramas〜 some actors are better at being suggestible than others：here for me only 7０％。It was also a learning curve working out how the double characters fitted。 I think the less good part was the production values、 very basic with the same unconvincing cardboard sets and props throughout and the total populations of Haixing and Dixiang in crowd scenes seeming at most 40 or 50 people: must be the budget〜also the obvious and very artificial and mostly unconvincing attempts to insert straight romance between certain characters。but looking beyond this the larger story including back story was very well developed coming together nicely in the second half Music was good especially closing song。Not close in quality to 「The Untamed」 but a very good show that had me watching one episode most nights to the end of the series which means for me it must be very good。Was this review helpful to you?
gentle quirky humor with a serious side
on this drama I revise my original view：if you expect a proper sci-fi story do not look for real sci-fi hereーany sci-fi element here disappears pretty quickly and it really becomes a slow but fun and homely drama with nice characters that also touches on some thought-provoking and serious life issues as it goes on。 if you do not mind a slow kind of youth drama and Japanese quirky provincial humor it is worth sticking with this drama it leaves you with a warm feeling in the end 〜music not especially to my taste and re-watch value low but 8.5/10Was this review helpful to you?
