Reviews

Intimate Relationships Are A Spectrum

Japanese BL writers are often fantastic at portraying life situations in a raw and realistically human way. As humans we are complicated and emotionally messy. We have dark sides and traumas that shape how we pursue romantic relationships and affection. In my opinion, rarely do we see media portrayal of a BDSM relationship in such an intimate and relatable way.

We’re introduced to Mizuki and Yoh’s relationship from Yoh’s perspective. From the beginning, according to Yoh, we believe Mizuki is quiet, domineering and unkind to Yoh completely unprovoked and without context. As the viewer, we’re led to think Yoh is a domestic sexual slave in Mizuki’s home with no other options in life, outside of his own free will. As we continue the series, we learn that Yoh seems to like the dynamic of their relationship and often resorts to pouting and childish behavior when Mizuki doesn’t show him the kind of dominating attention he craves. He often provokes Mizuki’s jealously and possessiveness so he can be the “victim” of Mizuki’s gentle yet “cruel” behavior. Mizuki seems to understand this dark side of Yoh and he happily grants Yoh’s wishes. Even cooking and caring for him when Yoh loses his job and falls into a state of depression.

While reeling at the loss of his job and his status in life, Yoh takes his provocation of Mizuki too far. On an animalistic and subconscious level, Yoh is provoking Mizuki to find out how much he cares for him. As a result, Mizuki’s jealousy rages and he resorts to stalking and possessive behaviors, to bring Yoh back to his side, even though Yoh never considers leaving him. Since the two never clearly communicate their feelings or emotions, they often run with negative and exaggerated interpretations of benign day-to-day situations. When Mizuki finally reveals his true feelings and tells Yoh he cannot breathe without him, Yoh revels in this revelation but still doesn’t verbally reciprocate his feelings to Mizuki.

I personally love the push and pull by Yoh and Mizuki in this series. Yoh and Mizuki have a codependent relationship that makes them both happy and anxious, simultaneously. They know how to press each other’s buttons and it all seems to be, at least from Yoh’s side, for the sake of sexual gratification and arousal. Are they communicating in a healthy way, no, is the relationship kind of toxic, yes, but is it a realistic slice of life, absolutely. It’s obvious that they love and care for one another, but they show it in a way that differs from what society deems as “normal”. BUT they also require what we all want in a long term relationship, reassurance and stability. After 3 years living together, I believe we, the viewer, are meeting them at a pivotal moment in their relationship. Will they give each other the emotional and verbal reassurance they need to sustain a long term relationship or will their relationship crumble under misunderstandings due to lack of emotional transparency.

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im not sure how some of the reviews rated this show with a 10. Its not the worst series, but it definitely doesnt deserve a 10.

First and for the love of god, why is Type's character written like the biggest asshole in town. If ever id meet someone like Type in real life id definitely run the other way. Yes there was a traumatic experience but its not an excuse to be an arse.

My advise to my fellow LGBTQ memebers here, dont ever date someone like Type in real life. He will make your life a living hell, this guy is so toxic and you deserve better. And also when your roommate tells you he hates gays like you, you go away as fast as you can, not secretly touch him when he is sleeping. That's called sexual harassment. And all the more reason for him to hate gay guys. And also, when somebody sexually harasses you, you dont open the cave to let them in, you go to police. The show is just not sending the right message.

One of the most annoying character ever is Tar. He was annoying in Love by Chance and he was as equally annoying here. (i dont hate the actors just the character). He was introduced so early in the show only to really matter in the last 2 or 3 episodes - and a bit creepy almost incestious onesided relationship with the stepbrother.

When i reviewed SOTUS, i said there was almost no intimate moments - this one is the exact opposite.

Hard to rewatch. I give it an overall rating of 6.

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This review is intended to be a personal opinion. I do not encourage or discourage people from watching what they like. It is intended to give you an idea of what to expect, but I always say, "watch and make your own judgement."

IF you like a series that has drama and gives you a heartache as well as headache, this is the one for you. Be warned, you will find yourself wanting to go through the tv or computer screen (what ever device you are watching this from) and shake all of the characters and yell "snap out of it" (thank you Cher!) I for one enjoyed the story.

Why the warning? Because...
This series it's frustrating, it's not fluffy, it can be annoying at times, but it's also funny, it's engaging, it tears at your most basic needs when it comes to love and unrequited love. The characters are so flawed that most times we either cheer for them or boo them. While some may find the premise of the story annoying, I'm actually happy that we got to see a different side of relationships. Not all relationships are stable, not all relationships are rainbows and unicorns, sometimes they are a bit toxic or imbalance in the sense that someone gives more than 50% while the other takes more from it. It was a well acted drama nonetheless.

Khai is an unlikable character in the beginning of the story. He is narcissistic, arrogant, self-centered and a man-who*re. But he is a college student who lives his life as he sees fit, regardless of who he hurts so long as he gets what he wants. Those attributes are a turn off for many viewers, but Khai is a character that does exist in real life. By the middle of the series, we still don't see what's so great about him other than his looks, but we are told to believe that he has some great redeeming qualities. It is why Third is in love with him. Which brings me to another point, WHY IS HE in love with Khai? We never really get to know this. However, Khai does start to show some good qualities, such as when he tried to not interfere between Third and An when he believed them to be together.

Third in the beginning of the series was a character many people empathize with and wanted to protect, but from my point of view, he was equally to blame for his own misery. He had plenty of reason to move on from his love from Khai (specially when Khai treated him like crap) yet didn't. But, this type of character again, does exist in the real world and some people have a hard time learning to love themselves enough to say "I'm better than this and I can find someone better than him."

CAST:
Gun as always takes on the character's story and gives it life. He is able to portray the flaws of the character excellently and you believe him 100%.

Off's acting has improved quite a lot from his previous works, While many may be used to his comedic side, it's nice to see that he can have range in acting. He portrayed an unlikable character quite well, evident by how many viewers did not cheer for him.

White: His character was a great supportive friend to Third. At times I actually said, "Third go for Two"

The rest of the cast did really well in driving the story along and while I would have loved to see more of the side BL couple of Earth and White, it's typical of Thai BLs to never truly develop secondary couples.

onto the Technical stuff
Cinematography: Amazing use of color, wide-shots, close shots, Etc. The team took great care in the way they filmed this .Music: Amazing music and great use of it in the drama. Did not seem out of place at all.
Inspiration: I really enjoyed that the drama was centered around classic romc-coms and that each episode was titled after those movies.

Cons: I didn't like the trope of the teacher and student relationship. It wasn't organic and just belittled both characters in my opinion.

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Honey as Lube, GO WATCH IT

THIS IS SO GOOD. Like actually GOOD good, not “I watch for the pretty faces” good (although yes, the faces are stunning). But I mean well-written, emotionally intelligent, gorgeously acted good. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts and Im pretty sure they are not acting, they are in a whole relationship and forgot to tell us. (I am in fact delulu)

Anyway the chemistry between jin and akin is ridiculous. These two accidentally invented a new form of communication via eye contact because GOD DAMN, the way they orbit each other?? the tension?? the softness?? it’s so natural it makes other shows look like staged table reads. (Ya I am shading some bl's so what) THE POINT IS...it’s warm. it’s intense. it’s addictive.

The writing is tight, thoughtful and they actually use the characters' personalities and histories to drive the story, not just to sprinkle in backstory when it's convenient. everything connects.

Ok now let’s get into why boom and smart are actual sorcerers.

Boom’s physical acting is a whole experience. like, the man acts from his spine, from his kneecaps, you can tell what his character is feeling from the way he slumps his shoulders or tightens his hands. He uses his body language so so well.
And Smart’s vocal acting is unreal. the way he shifts tone depending on who he’s talking to, what he wants, what he’s scared of...ugh it’s so precise and layered. Sometimes he says something soft and i’m like “oh no... oh NO he means that.” his voice will crack just a little and suddenly I am spiraling.

And their scenes together?? good god, all of it is magnetic. I was locked in. The range is INSANE. like one minute I was laughing because akin is being a lovable menace and the next I am pausing the show to just BREATHE.

And YES. yes. there is a certain infamous scene involving HONEY (I know ya'll came in here for that trending honey scene) which sounds unhinged (because it is) but it’s also deeply emotional and a whole metaphor for love and indulgence and knowing someone so well you can give them exactly what they crave. It’s symbolic and it’s sweet and yes jin knows what akin likes and wants to give him everything and that is beautiful. I was deeply moved and deeply stressed. Peak television. okay, I want to frame it and then power wash it.

I hope boom and smart get everything after this. I hope they win awards. I hope they get roles that challenge them and let them show all the layers they have clearly got stored up. And I hope everyone watches this show so they can scream about it with me.

WATCH IT, fall in love. and text your friends “YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS” every 5 minutes. (Because mine screamed at me after saying I will drop it at episode 1, I picked it up and I love it so give it more than one chance please)

You’re welcome.

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Honestly this was probably one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. While the film had just about every genre in it, the most memorable was probably the comedy.
The action scenes were fun to watch and well executed but I was blown away by the comedic acting that Kim Soo Hyun presented. I never thought I'd be laughing so hard when I went to see this. Park Ki Woong was perfect in his role as a aspiring musician and also provided a lot of laughs. Lee Hyun Woo really was definitely the right choice for the role of the high school aged spy and his character's back-story was my personal favourite. Also the movie really showed the difference between idol actors and "real" actors in my opinion. I just can't imagine the movie being so good if they had used idols. The acting by these 3 rising stars was amazing and they just proved yet again how talented they really are.
Although I would have probably liked a different ending, I walked out of the theater happy. In fact, when the movie ended I was simply left wondering when it will be released on DVD because it has a huge rewatch value in my opinion - and is the type of movie that I would make everyone around me watch ^^

I'd recommend this movie to anyone looking for a good action film or a comedy. While there is a little bit of romance, it is definitely not an important/big part of the story.

Warning: this movie contains a lot of eye candy. not recommended for the weak at heart ;)

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standard university Thai BL

Overall: this is a classic Thai university BL, it's not going to win awards but I was entertained. 12 episodes about 40 minutes each (I watched on double speed) on YouTube, Viki and iQIYI (dependent upon country).

Content Warnings: non con picture taking, manipulation, non con touching (asleep), see the comments with a spoiler about potentially something else, stalking, kick, dub/non con kiss (asleep), vomiting, domestic abuse/slap

What I Liked
- that Ai actually had a conversation about his love at first sight
- happy to see two queer actors Arm and Porsch (who are a real life couple) are in a BL
- several cute moments
- funny moments (but some were likely unintentionally funny)
- Nhai's dad
- I dislike the circumstances of that scene in episode 2 but this was the best handled out of all that I've seen with clear check ins, aftercare, etc.
- they communicate with one another/poor communication doesn't drag on (also they avoided the ep 11 curse)

Room For Improvement
- I liked the initial set up and thought we'd see Ai struggling with Nhai's flaws but instead Nhai became reluctant and petty with Ai head over heels in love for unknown reasons
- multiple side couples were tossed in but not developed
- cartoonish villain
- that finale was...a choice, open plot threads, kind of jumped from scene to scene (still had cute moments though)
- how the dads acted in that flashback was terrible (also not a clear flashback)
- nonsense things (Nhai is in aerospace engineering?, how they packed all that stuff camping, etc)
- subtitles on iQIYI had quite a few errors but I didn't take off points for it although I think it hurt the audience's understanding of the plot
- in ep 2 I wish they didn't have Nhai directly crying afterwards because it seemed like he didn't want to, however I actually don't think that's the case. It was a combo of reasons including Nhai worrying 1. he forced Ai, 2. he ruined their friendship and 3. he got in between Ai and Ai's crush (because Nhai hadn't figured it out yet lol)

Title Information - a wonderful person explained in the comments what Long in the title means: "Fall/drown in love in thai means "ttok long rak" , "long" is the short form of this so yea the title means the story of how Ai fall/drown in love with Nhai"

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This drama totally blew me away so much that I just have to give it a perfect 10 in all categories. I started the drama with little expectation as I basically watched it due to the plot synopsis which got me interested. I love dramas related to mystery and court cases.

I Hear Your Voice got me hooked right from day ONE due to its unique and original plot. There are quite a few cases in the drama, which is not surprising given its genre. However, the amazing part is how the scriptwriter manages to weave all these cases into a seamless drama comprises of elements of romance, comedy, suspense, thriller and friendship. There is never a single episode which is draggy and if not for my work commitment, I believe i could have marathon this show within 2 days.

Everyone acted superbly in the show and are truly lovable and realistic in their roles, even the villain has his own story (I won't reveal more on this though). The OSTs are excellent and catchy and they just make the whole experience of watching the drama even better.

I am sure I will rewatch this show in the future as it really warms your heart and makes your day. Give it a try and I am sure you won't regret the time spent, it is truly one of those rare breed among kdramas.

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Destiny is all about the choices we make and the chances we take

I never liking "The Main Guy" in any version of "Fated to Love You" before, but I have an exemption for Wang Xiyi.
His character is more well-written, more lovable, and more sensible 一 so, I'm giving second chance to this drama.

I love how they modified this drama into a fresh one, and less-evil schemes and characters.
From the "Marriage by Accident" to "Accidentally Married," I got good laugh by this kind of accident.
Even tho it was turned to he is cheating his girlfriend, for me it was much better than cheating his wife later on.

As we are knew from previous remake and original story, the ML is supossed to drugged by FL's uncle(in law), and that was the ultimate reason why ML is sleeping with another girl, even thinking he was slept with his girlfriend.
I'm glad for this version, they are changed the whole about that night. So, the ML is reflect on his own mistakes, instead blaming someone else for the incident to happen.

And I like the way the FL is changed thru episodes.
You can see she start to change her apparance, her character, and her confidence.
I really love this part. She is willing to change because of ML not because she was hurted by ML.
Unconciously, Xiyi is always help her to boost her confidence and ask her to change a little for his sake too. So I found Xiyi is very doting as husband; even tho he always told himself that all was because he is Ximi's father.
I also like how Jia Xin is freely to choose what is she want to do, they didn't ask her to resign, but instead Xiyi is change her position and job to make her work less and being respected by other coworkers. Even tho Jia Xin is slowly resign, not because she was asked to but she want to.

I do pity Anna, in this version, she is the victim. But I don't really feel sorry because she always put herself first.
She is the most shameless person I've ever seen. I had enough of her bullshit and useless effort towards the end.
Actually I like how Xiyi slowly to draw line between them as time passes so Anna realize that Xiyi doesn't love her anymore.

Like other cdramas, we are always got secondary couple.
Anson's finally got a loveline!!! His life isn't revolved around his boss anymore.
I love Anson is always sarcastic and blatant-ly talking to Xiyi whenever he does mistakes.
His love-story with Jia Xin's friend, Siqi (Yes, our snail also finally has a loyal-friend), is quite cute. I love to see their bickering yet romantic even tho it just a contract relationship.

After the miscarriage incident, actually I cried a lot.
Ofc it'd hurt to anyone who experience this kind of thing, especially they are waiting the baby to born.
Both Xiyi and Jia Xin having hard time to face each other. Both of them are blaming themselves much.
It is understandble for Jia Xin to leave, she need times more than anything.

It's ended safely but I feel a little bit unsatisfied with how they solved the paper incident.
Anyway, this one is good and enjoyable to watch. Not a really tearjerker because I find Zhaolin's crying is funny to watch.

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Oguri Shun and Ikuta Toma together in a drama after 8 whole years? I was sure I'm gonna like this drama the moment I heard the news, but I had no idea that this drama was going to be SO good. It's the best jdrama I've seen in a long time. I couldn't wait for the next week's episode. I honestly can't think of a single thing I didn't like about it, but let's take a detailed look:

* Story:

Ryuzaki Ikuo and Danno Tatsuya are two orphans who grew up in an orphanage called Mahoroba. When they were there the woman who took care of them and was like a mother to them got killed by someone before Ikuo's eyes. The were threatended by the police not to reveal anything and the case was mysteriously covered up. Determinded to take revenge for her death, 20 years later, Ikuo has become a detective and Tatsuya has risen to the ranks of Yakuza, in order to find the truth and expose her murderer.
(Based on the manga series "Ouroboros" by Kanzaki Yuuya)
It may sound cheesy, but believe me it's a lot more complicated and unpredictable than what it's expected to be, keeping you on edge up to the very end.

* Acting/cast

the two protagonists: they were both very realistic and convincing. When it comes to Oguri, everytime I see him in a drama/movie, I'm blown away by his acting skills and talent and this time was not an exception. Ikuta on the other hand, did a fantastic job as well. I always liked his acting, but I think now he has matured as an actor and he was absolutely flawless.
the rest of the cast was excellent too, especially Ueno Juri, who supported her role really superbly. So were the two sweet kids who played litte Ikuo and Danno.

* Music

One word : fantastic. The main OST "no one" by ENA and Sakura by Arashi fit perfectly to the drama's atmosphere and to characters's psychology, linking harmonically to the plot

* Overall

a fantastic drama with a great bromance, much suspence, a little bit of romance and plot twists, leading to an unexpected climax as it is progressing, that will draw you in feels.

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A Journey of Discovery

Growing up is a process of discovery. You discover what you like and what you don't, who you are, who you love….. A million questions asked. Some answered, some not. Hopefully with the few answered, you’re prepared to face the world. You may still be searching for answers throughout your life. And that’s how life goes. This is a story about three best friends growing up together in the same neighborhood, their friendship through high school, college and working life. This is one of the best youth dramas I have ever watched.

The Chinese title Shàng Yóu means upstream, depicting also growing up is not easy, having to face challenges and making the right choices. The story is so well written, directed and acted - funny, cute, nostalgic - with characters elaborated with depth, from the main to the supporting leads. The attention to details is immaculate, capturing all the nuances of the era (Gameboy, concern of Y2K for computer systems, flip phones, huge bulky computers with floppy disks etc). The story has a span of 10 years from 1997 to 2007, starting from the characters’ final year in high school, throughout all 4 years of their life in college, and the final 2 episodes on their adult working life, marriages, relationship, each living a separate life. Nostalgic? This is life.

Xia Xiaoju (Hu Yixuan) has just moved into the neighborhood. She has no friends and hates her new home as she has to share a room and a bed with her little brother. She always feels her mother being unfair and always loves her little brother more (many Chinese families prefer boys to girls). Two boys from the same street quickly become her best friends as they help her adapt to her new environment and catch up with school work. One is gentle and kind, the other is rough and childish. Naturally Xia Xiaoju falls in love with the ‘nice’ boy. Little does she know that the other boy standing behind her, quietly doing everything for her, is the rightful one for her. Xia Xiaoju may be naïve and has overly low self-esteem at times, but she is determined and is always a friend one can count on.

I have liked Hu Yixuan’s acting. I find her very genuine and natural without having to try too hard. Her acting as a teenager in this drama is so impressive. I have always thought Tan Songyun (Seven Tan) the best actor who can look and act like a teenager. Here, Hu Yixuan is equally good if not better. As teenagers, Tan Songyun is tomboyish, whereas Hu Yixuan is a very convincing timid teenage girl who is not confident of herself and fearful of showing her inner feelings. I love her interactions with her friends and her family. Hu Yixuan has absolutely nailed the role.

Lu Shiyi (Richard Zhang), an aspiring doctor who is hemophobic (fear of blood), tall, good looking and intelligent, is playful when it comes to his childhood friends. He doesn’t miss an opportunity in teasing Xia Xiaoju whom he has a penchant in getting his satisfaction out of her misery by pulling her ponytail, palm-turning her head (watch this https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1hP4y1a7Uc), bear-hugging her under his giant armpit, bickering with her and calling her names (like Pig); he simply ‘roughs’ her up all the time like treating a boy and the bickering is non-stop. How Lu Shiyi treats Xia Xiaoju would have been called out in today's cancel culture, but here, his actions are cute, innocent and heart-warming. To me, that's how people, especially good friends, should interact with each other, sincerely and lovingly.

Richard Zhang has a very unique look with almond shaped eyes. He may not even be considered as good looking by many viewers but he embodies youthfulness, energy, mischiefs, rebellion that fit perfectly into the Lu Shiyi character; he brings the character alive.

Cheng Lang (Chen Bo Hao) is the gentle boy with straight ‘A’s in class. He is kind to everyone especially to his best friends to whom he would give up anything for. He always tries to mitigate between Xia Xiaoju and Lu Shiyi when they brawl, and Xia Xiaoju has a crush on him since she first meets him. I have never watched any of Chen Bo Hao’s work, but here, he aces his role making the Cheng Lang character so lovable, a perfect white horse prince for any girls.

Even though the romance is not the focus, the dynamics of the main leads are remarkable. I love how the main leads are smart and caring for each other. Their utmost trust between each other throughout the drama does not falter. Having said that, there are some slight misunderstandings between Xia Xiaoju and Lu Shiyi that lead to their separation for a rather long period of time after college.

Official Soundtracks (OSTs)
Despite this drama produces a number of new soundtracks, none as memorable as the two oldies:
“Do You Know I’m Thinking of You?” (你知道我在想你吗) by Taiwanese singer/composer Chang Hung-Liang (张洪量) in 1997. This song stirs up a lot of memories for many viewers. It also captures our lead characters’ feelings during those growing up years, from teenage to adulthood. It’s fun to watch how our character struggles to learn singing the song so that she can perform it to the one she loves.

“Love You”(喜歡妳) by Hong Kong musician Wong Ka Kui (黄家驹) / Beyond in 1988. Sung in Cantonese throughout, this is another well-loved song that took Asia-Pacific by storm during the era. It appropriately expresses the adoration of our characters for each other and the moments they have together.

The use of harmonica and guitar to play the background music, simple and nostalgic, further captures the mood and conjures up memories of the time by-gone.

My Verdict
Growing up means changes. Things may not always turn out the way we plan, and our plans may not be as perfect as we have hoped them to be. We all need to learn to adapt to changes. Our characters change over time as they begin to understand life better. Not only they become stronger, they also become better for themselves and others.

Everyone can relate to this story one way or another. If you're a youth, you'd love this drama because you can relate to almost all the characters here - they can be your friends, your family, even yourself. Whoever you may be, you'd love this story too because it helps bring back all those memories of youth. Superb acting and captivating writing bring you back to those by-gone years of innocence.

I don’t usually watch youth dramas, but this one is a gem. Everything is so natural. It is so funny that I laugh so hard, and yet, I cry when I see my characters struggle. However, I have to point out that, like in most other Chinese dramas, lazy writing towards the ending spoils the whole otherwise wonderful drama. I wish the writers have been more thoughtful towards this end. It's such a pity because the whole drama has been so good. The last 2 episodes are just not keeping up with the initial momentum and quality. There are so many lost opportunities that the production team could have made this drama so stand out.

Despite from the "less than perfect" writing for the last 2 episodes, I still love this drama nonetheless. All the scenes are tastefully shot. I particularly love the scenes when Lu Shiyi rides a creaky bike taking Xia Xiaoju at the backseat. That beautiful screen shot encapsulates the whole story, Shàng Yóu.

Must watch! TWO THUMBS UP! BRAVO!

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The only alternative of MGIAA is MGIAA itself

MGIAA (My girlfriend is an alien) is one of the most popular Chinese modern dramas amongst the international fans . I really didn't have that much hopes for it cause most of the time second season can't beat season one.But this one did.Yes the storyline of season two is better than season one.Actors Bie ,Wan Peng,Wang You Jun all did an excellent job again.Especially Bie.The part he portrayed to show the sweeter part of Fang Leng alongside the cold part of that character just melted me.He has become more cuter .Second lead couple is not annoying at all . They are so adorable. Since this types of push and pull romance are one of my favorite genre so after watching first season about 3 years ago I have tried a lot of sweet rom com,but not a single rom com couldn't replace it . Finally season two replaced or suppressed it. Sweeter enough.The cinematography and visual effects were so much better than previous season.Feel the same chemistry between leads . This is a must for sweet rom com lover.A lot of scenes make me feel that the romance in this drama is nothing but magical .Not a single boring moment.Very heart warming, fluffy,funny. Just loved it.

The main difference between first and second season ~ First season basically focused over Fang Leng's amensia and sweet romance.While second season basically focused over love, relationship, romance.This season give a lot of informations of relationships.This drama is a full package tips to get into a relationship .It is a must for current and future lovebirds to get some tips .And the good thing is second season didn't focus over Fang Leng's amensia part that much.It is a plus point for me. The only thing that bothered me in the whole drama is the new third wheel character "Jiang Shiyi". But his parts are not that much before the last 10 episodes so his irritating part is quite negligible.

Warning ~~~ The amount of sweetness is too much to handle for singles.

My one and only request that never judge this drama without completed it,you are gonna miss a lot of twists.


Ignore my grammertical mistakes please.

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The listener and the speaker

Republican era, around 1930.
Rain is pouring down that fateful night in Jingcheng City. As we watch the good-natured Dr. Chen Yuzhi cycle his way home, seeking shelter under the eaves, we're diving headfirst into a plot full of viscious crimes and interhuman relations.
-It's the moment Chu Ran and Chen Yuzhi step into Jiang Yuelou's life and decide to stay, that we realize that Jiang Yuelou is the unspoken center of the story. -

It didn't take me long to light ten stars, as I got so attached that I might be devoting my first written preview to this drama.

Background music
One of the reasons to call this a classy drama is beautifully drawn tapestry of sound. The show decided upon subtle background music, the original soundtrack composed of very decent melodic ballads and only a couple instrumentals that are very well timed, accompanying sequences quietly, giving more importance to emotions and spoken dialogue. This gives it a pleasant, mature vibe.

Production
Omnium-gatherum summary of everything that caught my eye from episode one.
•Killer and Healer is free from overdrawn sequences and cheesy-slowmotions.
•The cinematography brings in gorgeous shots, developing into beautifully framed sequences here and there.
•As we're situated in the republican era, we get to see tailored suits and beautiful attire. Women are wearing gorgeous dresses and every single citizen that we see roaming the streets of Jingcheng has their own, beautiful outfit of the day. Even upon close proximity, the costumes look thoroughly authentic and high in quality.
•The drama leads us through a collection of sets that are very well thought through (however wow, it is cold!).

Plot & Characters
The plot itself is relatively solid. Various other points make up for the ones lost to a common storyline. The plot isn't particularly new, yet unravels a beautiful story of faith. It's told by steadfast characters, and also introduces a brave and clever female lead, Chu Ran, that wonderfully concludes the trio alongside Police-Chief Jiang Yuelou and Doctor Chen Yuzhi.
Every other character that gets introduced throughout the story isn't any less holistic and just as vital.
While the storyline itself contains alot of criminal action, it pays special attention to interhuman relations.
With a strong focus on the steadying relationship between Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi, it opens up on more then just bringing peace to Jingcheng City. We follow Jiang Yuelou, as he learns to regain his trust in the people around him and finds his safe-place within Chen Yuzhi, who meets him with unconditional faith. With every episode, the picture grows bigger, as we slowly get to know Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi as a person and start to sympathize with the characters introduced to us.

The ending: The ending comes around very unexpected. Yes, initially, it is bad and very tragic. This might be a spoiler. However, the ending lies in your power. For a happy ending, hop out from ep 37 at timestamp 29:15 and click here for a seperately uploaded end
https://youtu.be/FC696_RYeEw

Acting
Completing this with the strongest asset.
It's the actor itself that eventually shapes the character, forms it and introduces it to the audience. The characters I see are consistent and compelling, each drawn with their own unique features. The acting is impressive, the whole cast stunning. Every single actor within Killer&Healer convinces with performance. The chemistry between the leads grows extremely palpable as they enter each others lives and naturally learn to trust. Eventhough, due to censorship, scenes got shortened (not harming the plot), emotions are portrayed beautifully through micro-expression, faces full of emotions and long lasting glances. So much so that more isn't needed and it lies in the perception of the audience to view their relationship.

This drama is and was a very, very pleasant watch. I would rewatch it all over again. The biggest joy lies within the unfolding, unspoken emotions between the leads and the quirky supporting characters.

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An intriguing drama that captivates from start to finish!

I chanced upon “The Glory” (雁回时) airing in WeTV when I came home from a trip more than a week ago. The summaries I’ve read intrigued me, so I started it and I was hooked! I was binge-watching episodes during my free time such that I quickly caught up to the latest happenings.

The story is about Zhuang Han Yan, who was sent away as a baby due to some supposedly prophetic words from a Taoist master, saying that she is the barefoot ghost (赤脚鬼) and her birth caused her grandfather’s death. She was raised by his father’s friend and his wife in Danzhou, both of whom mistreated her. Due to some turn of events, she was able to break free from them and come back to the capital, falling unconscious at the gates of the Zhuang residence in the cold winter. Her sudden return threw the entire family into an uproar, and she also caught the attention of Fu Yun Xi, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, with whom she has a marriage agreement that was decided by their parents. These led to a series of events that unfolded one after the other, with secrets being exposed and the truths eventually coming to light.

STORY / PLOT 📚:

“The Glory” is a drama that encompasses many themes. It is a story about one woman’s quest for a family that had been denied from her when she was born. It’s about her quest for justice/revenge and her goal to break free from the “barefoot ghost” reputation that had followed her from birth. It focuses on the mother-daughter relationship, friendship, the sometimes complex family dynamics, and even romance, albeit the romance is slow-burn and somewhat subdued (more on that later). Then there are the political and investigative aspects in the case of the fallen Pei Da Fu, the powerful eunuch who, during his lifetime, had amassed a fortune and had many cronies in court, the most prominent of whom is the so-called adopted son.

As I watch each episode, I can feel the excitement and anticipation since there is no boring moment. It’s like when one episode ends, I’m drawn to continue, and before I realized it, I’ve been watching for hours and I’m way past my bedtime. Indeed, the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. There are also a myriad of other emotions and reactions such as happiness, surprise, tenderness, sadness, intrigue, anger, and indignation. There are some emotional and touching scenes where I cried a bucket, e.g., between Zhuang Han Yan and her mother Ruan Xi Wen, between Zhuang Han Yan and Ah Zhi. Other relationships also tugged at the heartstrings such as Zhuang Han Yan and Chai Jing’s friendship, the push and pull between Zhuang Han Yan and Fu Yun Xi, the father and daughter dynamics of Fu Yun Xi and Ah Zhi, among others.

As I mentioned above, the romance between Zhuang Han Yan and Fu Yun Xi is slow-burn. There are definitely sweet moments and affectionate gestures between them. Some are subtle/indirect, such as longing glances and lending support behind the scenes, while others are more obvious, such as holding hands, intercepting marriage proposals, jumping in to save her from a raging horse, the hugs and the few sweet kisses, etc. More explicit displays of their affection is very much welcome, but I'm still happy with how the drama portrayed their relationship's progress. They started out with distrust and suspicion as they schemed and pushed their own agenda, developed respect and admiration for each other, vacillated between doubt and trust, and finally learned to trust and love each other.

As for the ending, I'm satisfied with how they executed it. Everything tied up nicely, and even if there is a question or two, they’re minor and does not affect my enjoyment of the drama. What Zhuang Han Yan said towards the end is a fitting wrap-up for this series: “Any place full of love can be my home.” (有情之地, 处处皆可为家) ❤️🏠

ACTING / CAST 🎭:

Chen Du Ling’s star shines very brightly here. She gave an outstanding performance as Zhuang Han Yan 👏. She conveyed different kinds of emotions through her facial expressions, eyes, mannerisms, and tone of voice (kudos to the voice actor too). Zhuang Han Yan is an emotionally scarred woman who has experienced a lot of pain and trauma during her young life. All these molded her into the kind of woman she is – smart, savvy, independent, strong but with a soft spot, kind and compassionate but not a doormat, and does not easily trust others.

Xin Yun Lai was able to portray the serious, stoic and somewhat mysterious Fu Yun Xi quite convincingly, though I would prefer more facial expressions in some instances. But one could argue that his character is supposed to be that way. I like how he poured his heart out when he confessed his emotions and love to Zhuang Han Yan in one of the latter episodes.

As for the couple’s chemistry, it’s palpable and they truly make a good pair. I can feel the tension from their first meeting. There is this push and pull in their relationship especially when they were getting to know each other, which adds to the tension (see above on their relationship’s growth). They are well matched, both in looks, wits and temperament.

Wen Zheng Rong is a seasoned actress who has appeared in many dramas. She gave an excellent performance as Ruan Xi Wen, Zhuang Han Yan’s long-suffering mother. She showed those raw and pent-up emotions brilliantly. At first, I was mad at her, and then I came to sympathize with her as I learned of what she went through all those years.

Yu En Tai nailed his role as the manipulative, self-serving and duplicitous Zhuang Shi Yang. Some think his acting is exaggerated and overly dramatic, such that it’s distracting and annoying. But I think that’s what makes his portrayal so effective. By the last few episodes, I was strongly rooting for justice to be served.

Jinna Fu was able to capture the essence of Chai Jing. She is Zhuang Han Yan's loyal and trusted friend, her support during her difficult days in Danzhou and even when she arrived at the capital. She is skilled in martial arts and protects her whenever she can. Their friendship is precious.

I couldn’t write this review without giving kudos to the talented and adorable Huang Bo Si, who played Fu Ling Zhi / Ah Zhi, Fu Yun Xi’s daughter with his first wife. Ah Zhi is such a sweet and loving child. She is so innocent, smart, and yet also mature for her age. She never fails to touch me with her favorite line, “When we miss our mothers, I can hug you, and you can also hug me” (我们想母亲的时候，我可以抱一抱你，你也可以抱一抱我.) 🥰. This kid has potential, and I look forward to seeing her in other dramas.

The other supporting cast gave great performances as well, such as: Wang Yan as the 2nd wife Zhou Ru Yin, He Hong Shan as the competitive Zhuang Yu Shan, Li Sheng as Noble Consort Miao, and Song Pei Ze and Chen Kang as Fu Yun Xi’s reliable right-hand men Mu Feng and Mu Yan, respectively. They add depth, excitement and some humor to the drama.

OTHER THOUGHTS 🔮:

I’m satisfied with the overall production and costume design. The costumes look good, and the color combinations are nice.

The soundtrack is excellent and fits the drama so well. Hats off to the team who chose the songs 👒! The ending theme song, “Blade” (刃), is Zhuang Han Yan’s anthem. The song is written for her! It sums up her journey fittingly. “Flame” (焰) is Zhuang Han Yan and Fu Yun Xi’s theme song, while “Cut” (剪) is a tribute to Zhuang Han Yan and Ruan Xi Wen’s relationship.


FINAL VERDICT ⭐️: “The Glory” is one of those dramas that left a lasting impression on me. It’s worth my time and attention, and I highly recommend it!

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