Reviews

It's really so interesting all by itself ... Gotta sayy

This is one of the cutest series I have ever seen , the characters are so cute their action are driving me crazy , I don't just understand why it have to be this much cute , well I thought I don't like university romance so much but after watching it I realised I really love this kind of story lines .
And the second couple took some time to sort out their true feelings , actually the main problem behind their disagreement was Van's toxic behaviour .
He couldn't stop myself from doing things that are harmful for a healthy relationship .
J and Jin I love them , turned out Jin secretly liked J from school days till university , he's such a good actor , idk how could he even hide that and pretend to hate him
J was such a tease when he got to know about his feelings before , but who knew that he'd fall even harder .
J at times didn't even care about his life and focused on saving jin's life , It wasn't pity that he had for jin but the love
I love the Intro waohhh the title song is firee Turns out it's you
~ The OST totally hooked me , I can't believe all the songs were differently sound beautiful . Crush on you by Sea is my favourite one for sure
At the ending they concluded the story pretty well .... Both the couples were so sweet and loving I am going to miss it , I used to wait for it every sunday now I don't have something like this to watch .

Leggi di Più

The meek shall inherit the earth.

This is a very funny, romantic romp through the antics of an unlikely couple in a marriage of convenience that turns into the real thing. Xu Qingjia is a talented young scholar who jilts a highborn lady to fulfil an old promise to marry Hu Jiao, a butcher's daughter. At surface, they could not be more different - he is book smart, humble, meek and measured in his actions while she is street smart, commercial, direct impulsive and a total gangster when provoked. As Qingjia hilariously navigates the challenges of his new assignment as a backwater county magistrate, they discover their differences are complementary and where it counts, their core values are the same.

The surrounding plot of this drama is yet another age old corruption case involving the previous generation with some decent twists. What's different about it is that it unravels slowly over the daily lives and trials of a group of humble merchants and working level government officials. The characters are colourful, often comical and avoid the most cringeworthy familial and love rival archetypes. The romances unfold at a realistic pace and have an honest, down to earth appeal about them. No one character is super smart, infallible or is the main driver of the plot. They all have strengths and weaknesses that make them at times succeed and other times fail. But together it is immensely satisfying to see their combined abilities enable them to prevail over the petty neighbourhood bullies, business rivals and corrupt politicians and win the day with their sincerity, persistence and hard work - the meek shall inherit the earth. Best of all, the ensemble cast is fun, witty and can be very, very funny without being slapstick.

I wouldn't say that the actors are among the best out there (its so great to see Tong Meng Shi/Uncle Wu Zhu from JOL as ML) but everyone delivers very solid performances and the cast somehow just "clicks". I really love how Tong Meng Shi manages to convey the henpecked husband with immense inner courage. Although not a huge Baby Zhang fan, I think she also managed to play the husband training shrew while retaining her femininity. I really enjoyed Gao Zheng and Yu Niang's story as well and I think the casting of Hu Jiao's bovine butcher brother is simply brilliant I laugh just looking at him!

This lively, riotously humorous watch that conveys some grains of wisdom about honour, friendship, love and marriage is a fantastic way to pass some time. I rate it a very enjoyable 7.5/10.

Leggi di Più

I was hesitant at first in watching it because I've come to know that its purely an action story and no romance at all.. you know I love love stories, but after few eps... I was like WHAAAAAT?! there is!! yup there is! believe me! to all of you who didn't watch this drama because you think there is no romance in it, then think twice! :D wanna confirm if I'm saying the truth? THEN GOOOOOO WATCH IT!~ ;)

have you tried lining up to ride in a roller coaster? what about being into a roller coaster? you haven't? are you curious to know the feeling? then go watch this drama for you to know, if you experienced riding it then you'll understand me why I compared it in a roller coaster after completely watching it. :)

This drama made me anxious, relieved, thrilled, frustrated, stress, it has its up and down, made me fall into tears then smile. I was supposed to score it 8.5 but then I changed my mind and I scored it 10^^ and yeah like the other said the ending was satisfying ;)

There is a touch of romance in it, something about 5%, I thought it was sad but towards the end it was beautiful :). Of course the story focus on the run, chase packed of action, hide and seek, and survival ;)

Acting:
all cast are great I love them all especially soo jin!! she soooooo cute and adorable!! asdfghjkl! Jang tae san, seung woo and in hye are my favorite character^^ ~omooooo!! I'm gonna miss them all of them especially soo jin!

Music:
damn! just from the very start of this drama you'l hear it! and boom! I like it!!~sooo cool!

for me I won't gonna re-watch it, 1 time viewing is enough. :)

recommended to everyone and highly recommend it to those who love a run and chase story.

Overall score 10! I don't give score technically I based it on my feels! :D

Leggi di Più

The saddest happy story.

This is a very simple, funny, and moving story. Twenty-five-year-old Qi Shuo is utterly devastated when his mother Qi Yue dies at an early age after a difficult life. He travels back in time to change her life. The teenage Qi Yue is just a somewhat lonely, happy-go-lucky young girl with no goals or ambitions. She hilariously accepts that she has an adult son and after some initial reluctance, happily goes along with his machinations without looking too deeply into his assertions. She is that kind of oddly naive, scratch-on-the-surface, go-along-get-along kind of person, which is why her life gets so messed up. Qi Shuo is determined to make her go on to university and marry Lu Xiao, a gifted physics student and more importantly, a good man.

The unconventional, comedic, and touching mother-son dynamics between a young man who cajoles, threatens, bullies, badgers and manipulates his teenage mother in line is the best thing about this drama. Qi Yandi and Liu Yitong's heartwarming chemistry and goofy humorous antics as they pursue Lu Xiao had me in stitches. This trio of young main actors really impressed me with their spontaneous and brilliant use of comedy to convey deep emotions. Arguably Lu Xiao is the less interesting role but Wu Difei hits all the right notes with his portrayal of a goofy, romantic and insanely hot nerd. The way his Lu Xiao silently sees everything and steps up to take the baton from Qi Shuo adds a resonating depth to this otherwise archetypal character. Qi Landi also compels as the effervescent Qi Yue who each time lives joyously in the moment, oblivious to any undercurrents until after the point of no return that leaves her shattered. But it is Liu Yitong's stunning portrayal of the quirky, intelligent, diabolical and selfless Qi Shuo, a young man-child that completely floors me. His Qi Shuo is a character that makes me want to laugh as hard as I want to weep. His impish, unadulterated joy as he basks in Qi Yue and Lu Xiao's happiness and affection with the barest sheen of moisture in his eyes is iconic. There is no justice in the drama world if this young actor doesn't go places.

This is a very entertaining and very funny drama that makes it easy for me to forgive its flaws from the choppy editing to some plot holes. It is not perfect and there are some digressions that including Qi Shuo's mini romance that are unnecessary. Even though unlike Qi Yue, I could see the inevitable ending speeding toward me like the white truck of doom, I was still shaken. Despite disconnected cuts that suggest the heavy hand of censorship towards the end, the final message remains intact - " The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There's only one moment for you to live and that is the present moment" - Buddha.

This is far from a perfect drama but it is still a story that will stay with me for a long while. It is quite simply the saddest happy story about the absolute, unconditional love between a child and their parent. I rate this as a very heartwarming and funny 8.0/10.0.

Leggi di Più

Laughing through misery.

Saying it is a heavy watch would be an understatement. Not only will the show fuel you with anger, it will not help you calm down by the end.

Showing the grim reality of the broken military system, sprinkled with comedy, made this quite an emotional ride. We are shown how a few good people are not enough to fix the environment where bad behavior is rewarded.

While it was amazing to watch the main characters trying to make even small changes, at some point they've hit the wall and needed to face the reality of how powerless they are - how they are also part of the problem. We follow a patient and introverted Joon Ho and confident and street smart Ho Yul, as they try to find and bring back defectors. During their job they face a lot of issues ranging from external issues like unsupportive and corrupted superiors to internal struggles revolving around morality and their own principles.

Warning needed - D.P. is filled with abuse, both physical and emotional, and justice is usually not served. The drama shows how it is, without trying to make the topic more approachable and easy to digest. You will be left with building up frustration, and yet glad, you decided to watch it till the end.

The cast did an amazing job. Everyone delivered both the emotional and the comedic parts well. I laughed, I cried, I shouted with anger. Biggest props to Koo Kyo Hwan for his portrayal of Ho Yul. Outstanding performance that made me fall in love with the character.

The production and the writing left nothing to desire. Mixing the tragic aspects of reality with well fitted comedic bits was done in a good taste, not taking away from the serious topic tackled.

Overall, one of the best shorter dramas of 2021. Not an easy watch, might be too much for some people - was almost too much for me. It won't leave you on a hopeful note, but it is a story worth witnessing.

Leggi di Più

From 5 to 9 is surprisingly funny and - at times - just as surprisingly moving.

I had my reservations before beginning this show, since I'm no fan of religiously oriented stories. Should you hesistate for the same reason, rest assured that, aside from the beautiful temple that plays as a setting and a few sutras read in the background, the monk hero is less religious than me - if possible.
In fact, here's one of those rare examples in rom-coms where the leads have physical desires. That a monk has to take more icy showers than your average CEO to suppress his wordly lust is an entertaining concept. Not to mention that, if you're a fan of Yamapi you may find this habit of his very pleasing.

As I said, there's a lot to laugh about while watching. Indeed, I'd say this is a rom-COM, where the comedic aspect wins over the romance. The romantic aspect, on the other hand, is seesawing, and I found myself laughing at the couple, hating the couple, loving the couple, re-hating it and re-loving it. There are in all respect more couples to enjoy here, even though I personally loved the side characters as a whole, not paired, if that makes any sense.

Don't expect some deep characterization because, in perfect from-manga-to-live-action style, the stress is on the characters' present actions, rather than how they came to this point. Hints, however, are given now and again, and I personally found those touching and well played out.

Out of the lot, I found the best acting performance to be that of Satomi Ishihara, solid, elegant and believable. A pity her character undergoes a few unwatchable tests that made me cringe on my womanly seat, but that's the plot and the actress won the challenge whether she had to be spunky or sad.
Yamashita's character requires him to be hilariously robotic, something he does very well, since he manages to convey quite a lot through his eyes. I appreciate this trait of him and loved it here. This monk can stretch your patience to its limits, but it turns out he's truly endearing and I'm very happy at his decision by the end - and I'm not referring to the very end.

Music? Nothing to talk about.

I think I'll rewatch this one day, either because I'm a rewatcher by nature or simply because it managed to draw me out of a slump with some welcomed laugh and a deserved (?) Yamapi fix.

Leggi di Più

This movie should have been made silent... I mean with no words... I honestly would watch with the same pleasure as I just did... the words in this movie were even distracting... ChulSu's silence was telling so much... so much... the words were unnecessary...

This movie is perfect with just the light and bitter-sweet music and perfect, so perfect acting, the colors it has, the beautiful yellow and deep blue, the calm air it has around...the words are distracting...

If you think you are going to watch a story how a girl made a human out of a boy raised/born as a wolf, you are so far away from what you are going to see in this movie. This is a story about people, how some people look like monsters and are the most humane beings you could find, this is a story about people that look nice, but the worst monsters you could have the misfortune to meet... this is a story about choice and responsibility we bear for every person we meet in our life, how our smallest action can influence their life, how their action - could influence yours, how careful you should be with the words you use, as you never know what it will mean for the person before you...

I am really fighting for words with my brain to explain in what a mess I am right now, this movie just blew the air out of me, and I am really fighting to bring a string of cohesive thought back into my head (that is full of guitars, alphabet letters, yellow fields and blue forests, books and sweaters, shoe-laces and pencils, and finally JoongKi's eyes, oh, those eyes...)

In the beginning I mentioned about the words in the movie, well, believe it or not, JoongKi says only 10 words in the movie (and you'll be sane enough to hear only 1 of them, as then you'll still be holding on, but when the other 9 will be said, you'll be... as I was... weeping into you blanket/pillow, not to wake your parents...)

This movie was one of the most beautifully shot movies I have ever seen, so much calmness and so many colors...

Leggi di Più

Every actor hopes his first project after mandatory service will be a hit. Jung Kyung Ho luckily can set his hopes to rest; they've been realized. Cruel City will likely stand as the best drama of 2013. Even if better appears in the coming months, nothing can take away its status as top-notch noir.

Writing for this series remained consistent and strong throughout, even maintaining good pace. Characters rarely failed to behave in an intelligent manner. The much-lauded, flooring twists are just as crazy as you've heard (and better yet, even supported by prior evidence in the story). What is most impressive to me though, is that the script remains faithful to itself and the spirit of the genre. We are shown a seedy, pessimistic world which is…well, cruel. Potential viewer expectation aside, this kind of darkness is what we were promised from the first and delivered at the last.

Nearly every lead was dynamic, from Shi Hyun and Hyung Min to Jin Sook and Safari. Even the hardcore villains had strokes of complexity which made most more than mustache-twirling monsters. These grounding factors may not cease our hatred of them, but at least add some level of understanding. Yoon Soo Min likely is the weakest link of the main cast, her arc included; she needed a bit more weight to contend on equal footing with the other plot lines. The completion of her journey manages to be satisfying nonetheless.

Jung Kyung Ho shines brilliantly as both star and main draw of Cruel City. Decadent charisma pours from him in droves, lending his Doctor’s Son an impossibly fierce magnetism. The most compelling action sequences belonged to Kyung Ho also; I quickly fell in love with his sharp knife skills and cat-like elegance. It's important to note he filmed the final episodes with a nasty back injury; his epic performance is not only a product of talent, but dedication and hard work. This drama was also very kind to Lee Jae Yoon, whose slowly developing Hyung Min I gradually gained affection for. He portrays the team leader as smart, sympathetic, and steady -- with a shot of menace to prevent him being a boring goody-two-shoes. Honorable mentions go to Kim Yoo Mi and Yoon Hyun Min; their respective characters Jin Sook and Hyun Soo are over the top cool and attractive. To say I became deeply invested in the fate of both of them is an understatement.

“Love is dead,” according to one of Cruel City’s most recognizable themes: Kim Young Jin’s “Wound.” My love for the music will never die, though. It is stirring and atmospheric, always well-utilized in show. Even instrumental tracks are memorable, though the rare vocal was always delicious. Many fans here at MDL went crazy trying to find out their artists and song titles before the soundtrack was released.

Leggi di Più

I have absolutely no idea why there are so many negative reviews about this drama

Listen.

I'd like to begin with the fact that yes, many people have different tastes and this might not suit some but it truly wasn't THAT bad as the majority comments say.

I, for one, enjoyed it IMMENSELY. In fact I came out, feeling sad that it ended.

Let's start with the storyline, shall we? There's not much spoilers in this little review but i tagged it just in case.

So it begins in a fantasy realm where our mc Rembrary is a very powerful healing figure. Then he transports to the actual human realm & switches places with a washed up idol Yeonwoo. Min gue did that drastic change in plot really well. You could FEEL Rembrary's confusion and anguish so really kudos to him.

I liked the corny parts too, the comedic bits didn't seem too overwhelming & out of place. It made me laugh out loud many times.

What I don't get is how people expected an aspect of realism when it's purely fictional, even a fantasy genre at that.

It started off good, the premise was promising and with only minor hits in between, it generally delivered well.

For one: i liked that the romance component was kept lowkey so we could focus on Rembrary AND the gigantic pile of tasks he had to accomplish to go back to his own realm. It also gave time and room for better development. Had the romance been early on, I really don't think I'd buy into it. Esp in the later episodes, where they have to MEAN alot to each other in order to take steps that they did to protect each other. Yall will know when you watch it. I think the transition from fan to friend to helper to lover was just fine.

So yes, a slow romance is better than a shallow one.

If I talk about the characters, I liked the mc, i could see him struggle and learn and care and bond. So yes. That made me root for him. Mingue really did the double roles well, i could distinguish between the two just by the look in their eyes.

FL, tho started off a bit shady (that saesang bit i got irked a little but they explain it later so idk but it gets better i promise), and i do feel like her backstory needed more weight perhaps? But she was actually smart and added to the resolution of conflicts rather than just being there as a place holder in the series. She's a capable woman who knows how to utilize her resources for the benefit of the team she manages. If not for her, Rembrary wouldn't have solved half the shit xD

The band members were enjoyable to watch. I wanted more depth to their stories but then again I realized it wasn't their story to tell and we had to focus on our mc. Still I would've liked to see more of them.

One complain i have is: NOT ONCE DID WE GET TO SEE WILD ANIMAL PERFORM IN THOSE GORGEOUS FITS PLS I WAS CRYING AND SCREAMING EVERYTIME THEY GOT INTERRUPTED JFKSKDKSKS

Anyways, the supporting characters were alright. Samjae was so cute and comedic, that man had nothing up there in the head except vibes and air.

Moving onto quite a few important topics that were talked about in the series which I haven't seen anyone acknowledge yet: the talks about mental health, the overall toxic environment that goes in the showbiz, how unpopular ppl are treated, how idols are reduced to nothing but dirt if they don't bring anything to the table, how hard it is to stay steaddfast when chances don't work in your favor, how taxing it is to keep hoping despite knowing it's going nowhere. Plus, there were a few discussions about human nature, selfishness, desires, greediness and goodness. The balance between the two.

So yeah. That was something to watch and think about.

I would say overall it wrapped everything up nicely. I did want the Evil One to actually do something, you know, evil but he was just a man desperate to be loved back.

The last few eps get slightlyyyy draggy what with the Redrin wind up and I thought her reasons didn't add up but like. meh. I didn't care enough about her. I just wanted my boy Rem to unite with the people he's come to care about.

The few plot twists that it DID have left me SHOOK. I did not see those coming at ALL. So kudos to the writer for getting some OOOOs and gasps out of me. That was something.

All in all, it was a good watch and i will definitely rewatch it. It's that light kdrama you search for after you're done watching something heavy. Shits and giggles, a bit plot, fun characters, cute dynamics, weird squads that no one saw coming AND REMBRARY HAVING GAY SCANDALS LMAOOO

I REQUEST you not to go in searching for something mind boggling or life changing (that I've seen ppl expect in the reviews here) bcs it's not. It's a simple plot, simple characters trying to navigate plot conflicts to the best of their capabilities. The good thing is it doesn't get boring. Atleast it didn't to me. It kept things dynamic and that made me not drop it and mind yall, im a very notorious dropper. If I don't like it, I drop it. So extra accolades to this series for that.

I would recommend everyone to atleast give the first 3 eps a chance. If it's up your alley, you'll have a blast and if it's not, well there's plenty of fish to pick from.

That's all I could write bcs i couldn't just watch it get absolutely shit on. It really isn't THAT bad. Kudos to the whole staff for pulling it off.

Hope this hot mess of a review helps someone discover their new fav drama. Happy watching everyone!!!

Leggi di Più

I really thought people were exaggerating, but unfortunately they screwed up everything on final episodes. The only thing that was outstanding in this drama was the mature and understanding relationship between the main leads. They always solved everything through talking to each other but in the last 4 episodes the writers just thought were a good idea changing this amazing couple dynamic. It made no sense that Yang Hua, who always were straightforward about his feelings, simply not being able to answer QS twice when she asks who he would choose between her and Yao Yao.
Then, instead of talking about the problem, YH just came with the stupid jealousy game to make QS come around with her feelings, he even let her thinking he was that boy's father. That was so out of character and the last no sense was that reunion. YH wanted her to admit and tell that she love him but in the end they get together and she still never confesses her feelings. That separation seemed so meaningless. I feel the writing was just messy, a lot was obviously cut and the end was completely unsatisfying. It's a shame because even though I skipped a lot, until episode 34 the drama was good and the main leads romance was one of the best I ever saw. Yang Hua is simply a perfect man, so precious, I will just keep this in my memories and forget that stupid end.

Leggi di Più

BEST 2024 costume drama!

So Satisfying all the way through!!!!

Li Yun Rui & Meng Zi Yi Underrated for YEARS finally gets their big break!

Li Yun Rui - Always the supporting role. He was ML3 in Love like Galaxy. Supporting characters in many.
Meng Zi Yi - I always thought she looks goddess like and can act well enough for idol dramas, yet she never gets roles like Dilraba.
The pairing imo is fantastic. Both tall and beautiful, chemistry brewing.

The plot is NOTHING special as it's about 2nd chance in life trying to change fate. But unlike the ###s drams before, this is done right with a powerful 1st episode. On a cold snowy night, enters ML w/ silver hair saving the FL from a crashing carriage. Their eyes meet and the scene gives off that that same "A Familiar Stranger" vibe. (Same Director). Ep ends with them falling through the shattered glass into the abyss. Then time freezes as she slowly floats back up passing ML signals the reverse in timeline. The visuals are incredible, the best 1st episode ever! Can other directors just learn from this one?

The next 5 episodes ML/FL hardly have any interactions as they are building up the storyline. Ep 8 on the chemistry is on fire! Of course, if you are impatient and just want the leads face smooching then stick with your short dramas. This is a beautifully paced slow burn romance properly done (IMO) and I am loving every episode w/o skipping any scenes.

The not so perfect:
1. Blossom .... Y Y Y Y Blossom? Why can't they translate the title closer to the Chinese title?
2. ML, bad (General's) hair. umm his face is long, and you just up dewed another 3" of extra dry fake hair
3. Typical one-dimensional bad stepmother, bad uncle, bad dad, supporting actors but MOST of them had a glimpse of turnaround.
4. Insta fall from ep 1. ML/FL needed a bit more scenes ep 2-6.

For the first time 34 episodes felt so short.
All Top notch:
1. Director
2. Story telling
3. Visuals, creativity - Best 1st episode ever!
4. CPs! "Grape staring at raisin" FL big eyes staring at small eyes
5. Perfecting Casting - big or small roles
6. Characters. There are several characters switch between good and evil & the actors pulled it off!
7. Satisfying Ending. No botched up ending with quick killing of the entire cast. No ending ending. No Rushed Ending.
8. Script - Beautiful (level up Chinese.... Yeah my 3rd grade Chinese had issues understanding but I know it's well written
9. Music - elevating scenes

Emotional Hits:
1. Every ML FL scenes
2. Emperor, ML scene Ep 14
3. Yuan Tong realizing he really loves FL
4. Parting scene Wu Shan, FL scene
5. Ep 1 Death of emperor scene
6. Dou Ming .... tragic ending scene

LOVE LOVE LOVE I shall rewatch whenever there's a C-drama dry spell. (This year was a long dry spell)

Leggi di Più

Don't watch this if you cannot accept human and robot relationships

This is the drama that made me look forward to Mondays. I would rush home from work every night just to watch the live stream in raw, even though I didn’t understand Korean. A lot of people gave this drama negative comments and a low score because they couldn't accept the FL and a robot falling in love. Well, hate to burst your bubble but, this has always meant to be an interspecies romance and they never masked that fact or tricked you into believing it wasn't. If someone thinks this kind of thing is not okay, then the drama is simply not for them. It doesn't mean there is a problem with the quality of the drama itself.

The Message
The title “Are You Human Too?” is a mockery to humans that have lost their good in humanity. A pure robot, Nam Shin III, that always thinks for others first is meant to draw a contrast to bring out the dark side of human nature, and have us reflect on what it means to be human. When I first heard about this premise, I was worried whether they would be able to deliver this message well. But this drama never failed to meet my expectations. At first glance, it may be unfair to compare a perfect robot to flawed humans, but the morale of the story is not to conclude that robots are better, it’s that humans, although flawed, should strive to become better and sometimes to humbly learn from a robot who has outgrown its owner in kindness and justice. In the story we can see characters who have been blinded by their dark sides and have forgotten about humanity. This humanity, hopefully, will be restored through Nam Shin III, who teaches these people an important life lesson about being selfless.

The Plot
This is a sci-fi drama, but it’s not the type that keeps you at the edge of your seat from the very first episode. Rather, it focuses on character relationships and how each affects the other. That being said, there are more than enough mind-blowing plot twists and shocking cliffhangers to keep us engaged. The ending of each episode had my mouth gaping in awe, as I wait another one more week to watch its resolution. Unfortunately, the plot became a bit draggy in the middle half, and there were certain episodes where nothing much happened. There was definitely some potential that they could have explored about AI and the sci-fi genre, but they didn't. The drama was still largely entertaining and the first of its kind, so there's that.

The Characters
First, I would like to give a thumbs up to Seo Kang Joon’s stellar performance acting as a robot and a human being. This is his first time starring dual roles, one of them being non-human, but he was able to differentiate the personalities really well. You could tell which was which just by looking at their subtle facial expressions.

In this drama, the villains, or more accurately the “flawed humans”, are the ones that drive the plot. Despite being a pain in the neck, these characters are inevitably 3-dimensional, each having their own backstory and motives that drive their actions. You may wish for their downfall in one moment, and pity them in another. All in all, they are realistic characters that you would understand where they are coming from no matter if you agree with them or not. It goes to show that humans have both bright and dark sides, and villains can also be victims at the same time.

The Chemistry
I really appreciate how beautiful the OTP’s relationship is. Despite not having a lot of screen time or skinship together, they have great on-screen chemistry and their bonding is amazing. Their relationship taught me about what it means to love someone, and that love isn’t a feeling or emotion, it’s a value that you live for. Nam Shin III can comprehend emotions but he can never feel them, but it doesn’t stop him from experiencing love and becoming truly like a human through breaking the boundaries of robotics.

The OST
I have most of the songs on replay, and every time a song was released I’d download it within 3 hours and listen to it. All the songs were good and fit the scenes very well. One of the songs worth noting is The Longing Dance, which really enhances the cinematic atmosphere of the drama.

This drama is recommended to people who like deep messages about humanity, love, 3-dimensional villains and a cute puppybot companion. If you don’t mind interspecies romance between a robot and a human, definitely give it a try!

Leggi di Più

Entertaining but also frustrating

The Princess Royal turned out to be one of those polarizing dramas where many viewers enjoyed the series thoroughly, while others condemned it as a terrible waste of time. This drama scored higher ratings on Douban than another show with an 8.9 rating on MDL and breached 10,000 on Youku’s popularity index. Yet, if you read the reviews and comments on MDL, you will see many with an opposite sentiment.

In the beginning, there were folks who judged the FL character based on her actions in the novel, and despite the scenes not even happening in the drama, began hating on her. As the show progressed, some complained that the novel had better scenes and the drama should have included them. Furthermore, fans of Zhang Ling He lamented that his ML character got less screen time than the SML and was not a strong enough character. Others wanted a full-fledged romance story and felt that the show spent too much time on palace politics and the interactions between the FL and the SML.

Lucky for me, I was not influenced by such factors. Not having read the novel, I could start with a clean slate. Also, not being a major fan of any actor, I was not comparing the amount of screen time each character had. While I enjoyed the development of the leads' romance, I was most interested in seeing how the leads would triumph against the villains when given the opportunity to redo things. The show drew me in because of its interesting premise of giving multiple characters a second chance.

**Why Entertaining?**

Having not only one lead but multiple characters being reborn into an earlier period of their lives added a nice twist to the usual story of a second shot at life. Moreover, we got another twist where instead of the ML being the tsundere one with all the power and prestige, it was the FL, Li Rong, who started off with a colder and unapproachable personality. As the Princess Royal, she was the political heavyweight with the backing of her noble family's background. In contrast, Pei Wenxuan, the ML, came from a humble common family and was married to the FL as her Prince Consort.

I liked Li Rong because she was unlike the stereotypical strong female lead. She had plenty of flaws but also had her own strengths. With conflicting personality traits, she was initially misunderstood by many viewers because she was cold and harsh on the outside towards Pei Wenxuan and yet showed care and thoughtfulness for him through her actions. Those viewers who supported and defended her against criticism finally felt vindicated when Li Rong showed character growth as she learned to trust the ML and revealed a warmer side. Through this growth, Li Rong also became freer, dropped her defensive wall, and expressed her feelings towards Pei Wenxuan more openly.

What added to her appeal for me was her complicated backstory. In her first life, Li Rong was no Mary Sue; she was not your usual FL who was perfect and good, and her only fault was trusting and loving the wrong people. In Li Rong's case, she was so proud, and her pride led her to misunderstand Pei Wenxuan and cut him off. She ended up in a relationship with Su Rong Qing, the SML, for many years while her marriage to Pei Wenxuan was just a sham. This setup also led many viewers to condemn her, but for me, who cares? The story was about them getting another opportunity to change things and start afresh, so I was more interested in what happened in their present (second) lives.

Zhao Jinmai did a good job as Li Rong. She was supposed to be young, and she certainly looked the part with her baby face, but she was able to portray the emotions of someone who may look young but had already experienced over 40 years of life. A life that was not easy, being entangled in palace politics. That said, there were times when I thought she was not regal enough and did not give that feeling of gravitas that someone in her position should have.

As for Zhang Lihe, whether or not he got sufficient screentime, I don't think anyone can deny that he found his stride in this drama. This is his best ML role so far, and he completely embodied Pei Wenxuan as a sunny, besotted man who was also calculating. Pei Wenxuan was also prideful like Li Rong in his first life as her Prince Consort, and when given another chance, decided not to waste it by hiding his love for Li Rong like he did the first time. In the second life, he wore his heart on his sleeve, and having understood Li Rong so well, was patient and willing to bear a lot for her. To me, he was an endearing simp who had it bad for Li Rong but was not a wimp. He got things done in his own way and was a brilliant strategist with his political maneuvering. He could also outshine anyone, including Su Rong Qing, during his jealous fits. Minor spoiler alert: the scene where he played the erhu in the middle of Li Rong's and Su Rong Qing's performance was just the best.

I enjoyed the progression of their relationship in the second life. Mostly through Pei Wenxuan's efforts, the leads actually talked through their issues. It took them the whole of their first lifetime to second-guess, and ultimately scheme against each other, so the second time around, they made sure to communicate. There were times when I thought there would be misunderstandings again, but each time, one of them would try to move forward by sharing their feelings. This was really the best strategy for Pei Wenxuan to win Li Rong over this time round.

With the romance underplayed during the last quarter, the show put a heavier focus on palace and court politics, which I also found entertaining. The show emphasized how blood ties and affection would always take second place when it comes to power struggles among the royal and noble families. This drama did a pretty good job depicting how people will stop at nothing to retain power for their family names and were mostly propelled by self-interest. As frustrating as it was to watch, it was understandable given the history of the Chinese empires. At least for me, it gave more depth to many of the characters in this show. It also added more nuances to the relationship between the leads as they navigated conflicts between the royal and noble families and survived being in the center of political struggles and turmoil. Seeing them together left a good feeling, and I was satisfied with how they ended.

**Why Frustrating?**

Where the show failed for me and why I could not give it a higher rating was how Su Rong Qing was portrayed. This character got a lot of hate for being the clingy SML who could not move on and later as the main villain, got a lot of screen time. I believe the show wanted to elicit sympathy for him, given his backstory and complicated relationship with Li Rong in the first life. The show probably also wanted a more complex villain whose actions may have seemed rash and selfish at first but never wavered from his desire to protect and ensure the safety and happiness of the ones he loved, including Li Rong. Also, by adding him to the mix, perhaps the show wanted to create more than just a sweet, flat romance between the leads.

If a more veteran actor had played the character, I might have developed a soft spot for Su Rong Qing and felt bad for him. However, Chen Heyi's portrayal did nothing for me. At the beginning, I did not really notice him except as a plot device to drive the leads closer. Later, when he turned out to be the main villain, I was not surprised to see him featured more. After all, like many other shows, villains tend to have more screen time during the buildup to the climax to drive up the angst factor. However, never once did I feel sympathy for Su Rong Qing. It could be the writing, but unfortunately, Chen He Yi's acting was not enough to depict this lost soul. Even in the end, I could not feel the hopelessness and defeat that Su Rong Qing must have felt, trapped with no way out between his family, duty, love, and his own desires. Even the music and numerous flashbacks failed to stir any emotions within me.

The acting of others also missed the mark for me. The actress playing Consort Rou, for example, had the oddest expressions, almost like she had a constant twitch. For someone who was featured quite a bit, I found it somewhat distracting.

**Overall**

Despite the lackluster acting of some, I love that the characters were shades of gray. We had antagonists who felt justified in their actions, people on both sides helping each other, sometimes for justice but mostly for purely selfish interests. Then we have the protagonists who made bad decisions, said and did things they did not mean in the heat of the moment. The show scored points with me for its dynamic characters who struggled with their actions, who were not always clear if they were doing the right thing or what the right thing even was.

This was certainly not a "always feel good" show where the good ones win all the time but it certainly provided the satisfaction I wanted. I was half expecting some open ended dream sequence but the ending was a proper and complete one.

Aesthetically, the set designs and costumes were well done and indicated the high budget of the show. The costumes were lovely, especially for Pei Wenxuan, and his clean hairstyle highlighted how handsome he was. The styling for Li Rong and Shangguang Ya was also nicely done, especially their hairstyles and accessories.

I also found the OSTs fitting and memorable. For posterity, here is the playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLaG0k-PXfnd8aOjOOxIaKTGfGdB4VKtm (maintained by Peachy Blossom) or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/28GuPBlliOm48KGAl2fefJ?si=c8ba7e1257c24081

I recommend that you try this drama out and see for yourself. Thematically for me, The Princess Royal is a show that encapsulates life in many aspects and topics. It touches upon self-awareness and personal growth, love (romantic and familial), respect and loyalty (to self, family, country), politics, societal obligations and problems, the balance of power and inequality, friendship, and more.

Leggi di Più

Y'all about to be real mad, but it must be said

This review will be long so grab some tea if you will because tea's about to be spilled here.

Heads up first: I did a mini post on this drama before it aired about what I was expecting so if you want to check that out just click on my profile then go to feed.

Disclaimer: Everything said here is my own PERSONAL OPINION. This review is not meant to hurt anyone. I have also not read the novel so I have no prior context to the drama.

P.S If you just want a summary of the drama just skip down to the Rewatch value section.

Plot/Story: 3.0
The plot of this drama could've been so much better if the scriptwriter actually focused on the plot and not so much on the talking/conversations that's so repetitive over and over again. Most of this drama is just people having conversations. In short, it's a speech driven drama, too much talking and not enough action. It would've been a bit more interesting if the solutions to the problems were a bit more complex. Also, everything was just really obvious. There's barely any mystery which makes the story so bland. The drama pace is slow and the tone throughout the whole drama is just shallow as in there's not enough dynamics. The characters developments could've been done so much better too. Also, too many unnecessary deaths, why introduce new characters when they going to die within 5 episodes?

Acting/Cast: 7.5
Y'all about to be real mad but it must be said: Yukee Chen does not give the presence of a main lead. That being said her acting was okay as CXZ. To be honest I wasn't really expecting much from Yukee Chen because a lot of her roles seem to be type casted to me. Not to be rude, but I hope she takes a break and take time to explore more roles. When I was watching the drama I felt that CXZ could've have a different facial expression or something during some scenes which just goes to show that Yukee could've explore more with her character. For example, a lot of the time when she's having conversation (not with the SGT personally) she either has a blank space out look or her eyebrows are crunch. She's supposed to go from naive to a strong female lead but how come I don't see that? Barely anything changed about her. Honestly, I was shocked when SGT died and she tried to revenge SGT by trying to kill Yuwen Muyuan. Like girl....what happened to the mature think before acting girl you were? Maybe I can't blame her acting too much because of the way the script is written but I would give her acting a 5.5/10.
Leo Luo is really good at this role too bad the other actors are good too so I can't say that he carried this drama (*inserts* crying face emoji). Honestly, everything I watch his drama he brings something new to the plate. I like his way of flirting, it's the scholar type of flirting and not the hooligan type (although it would've been interesting). I wished they would've add scenes of him flirting with other girls so that his role as a flirty playboy is more believable because it's really not believable seeing how barely any girl approaches him besides FZ. I know that he's supposed to have a bad reputation and whatever but his role is literally flirty playboy who makes women fall for him. Even if he has a (fake) history with FZ he should still be an attractive flirty playboy. The scriptwriters made SGT so weak which I really dislike. His brains are also meh. Can't deny Leo Luo has a pretty smile and can really act heartbroken. SGT has more chemistry with his father and Leo's acting proves it. He has more chemistry with SGX than CXZ. That is the tea. When he was conversing with his father before the execution and they cried and yelled at each other. That was my favorite scene. So much emotions there. His acting: 9/10.
I think the rest of the cast did really well in executing their roles.
Yuwen MuYuan, his acting is good, but not much facial expressions for his role. I'm disappointed because he has so many scenes but his character is not written off as an expressive person so he's basically almost the same in every scene. I expected more, but came to be disappointed. But I do see more of his acting when he's acting with other people in the scene or with himself or others when CXZ is not in the scene. His acting 7/10.
FZ wasn't that annoying to me and I understand her point of view. She was naive and loved too much, but she redeemed herself by knowing what's right and wrong later. She's not evil either. Y'all get mad at FZ for being naive but only annoyed when CXZ's naive doesn't seem right. At least she tries to fix her problems by acting instead of avoiding and not communicating. The actress that plays FZ graduated from Shanghai Theatre Academy no wonder her acting is good. I hope to see more from her. Her acting 7.5/10.
TBH I really liked QM's character because he's open. He knows what he wants and his rights and wrongs. I think he really did this role justice. His character is a bit of a coward tho. Overall not bad from the actor. 8.5/10.
All the dads acting are good, but CXZ's father maybe a bit overacted. SGT's father definitely delivered more to the plate tho. Acting: 8.3/10.
Lord Lu, he legit gave me Ning Yi's vibe sometimes from Rise of Phoenixes. His eyes looks cunning whenever he has a plan. He doesn't overact when his character is angry which I think it good, but I think him at the end was a bit dramatic in front of SGZ grave (but I guess it's because he's still angry at what happened to SGZ). His acting: 7.5/10
I can go through every character but I'll stop here.

Music/BGM: 6.0
The BGM for the first 24 episodes were so bad. The first 10 was the worst. Random music was just being played here and there. This rating would've been higher if it isn't because of the BGM at the beginning of the drama series. I LOVE the OSTs. I hate that in CDramas the music is released as the drama airs, so the reason why some of the songs weren't used in the beginning episodes is because the songs are not released yet and used in the drama. Ratings would've been higher if not for the bad BGM.

Rewatch Value:2/10
What I meant by rewatch is I'll just watch what's on the MV of the OSTs. I could watch the first 3 episodes and the last three episodes without the episodes in-between and still know what's going on. There's nothing that makes this drama stand out/unique/important messages enough for me to rewatch. The costumes and setting are good along with the hairstyles. The props does look a bit fake like some of the peach or whatever flower trees and the weapons. The fighting scenes are good but nothing too impressive. I wished the characters timing for a certain outfit was more thought-out. I like that they reused outfits, but please don't do that when the characters are at different stages of life because it confuses me. For example, you're telling me that CXZ still fits in the outfit that was made for her 17 year old self and she still wears it/fits her after 2 years? They shouldn't have changed her outfits so frequently then. Maybe it's only me that's bothered by it. Also the ending wasn't rushed but the last few minutes of the last episode was rushed. Their wedding was basically 5 minutes long, and to be honest they're not even officially married because they didn't do it the proper way and the drama just decides to end there. Um...okay then.

If I were to sum up the drama in long story short it would go like this:
He saves her.
They talk.
He saves her again.
She searches for him because he's a man that pops here and there and everywhere.
They flirt again.
He helps her with her problems.
They separate.
She almost died from an assassination attempt/ falls off a cliff.
Surprise, she's not dead.
He searches for her.
he saves her again.
They flirt.
She confesses.
He's insecure and conflicted about his life and feelings so he rejects her.
She heartbroken and they leave each other for a year.
Met again and starts flirting again.
This time he wants a relationship with her cuz he's finally over with his conflicted emotions/self.
They confess and starts their relationship.
Second FL comes in and drops a bomb that she and he slept together.
Main girl misunderstands even when main lead said it was not the truth.
She doesn't believe him when he believed everything to her. Oof.
They don't make up for a long time.
When they do, he dies the next second, but SIKE this is a CDrama and people never dies falling off a cliff (that is if they MLs tho).
He comes back with a different identity, but uh...he legit still looks the same and even carries the most obvious thing that identifies him. His fan, smh.
She founds out its him and got him to reveal himself after she tries to jump off the same cliff he fell off. Note: That's not healthy and never attempt suicide.
Now it's her time to die.
He tries to save her.
Blah Blah Blah
Surprise, she's not dying.
They join hands together.
They get marry, but not actually married because they didn't do the proper wedding tradition which is the bows at the proper time (which I always assume is noon sharp).
The end.

I went on for too long, but I hope this review helped you. If you read to this far, you must have a lot of patience. Thanks for reading my review.

Overall: 4.5/10

Leggi di Più