Reviews

RomCom, crime, historical drama, fantasy & Makjang make the dough for something standalone new

"Durian's Affair" is set among the wealthy - ´here´ (2023) and likewise ´there´ (long gone Joseon days). The time may have changed for Du Ri-an and her daughter-in-law, but the place has not. They are instantly catapulted from their Joseon days to recent today. Some of the wealthy family, who own the property today, have apparently reincarnated again in this family. They are especially well known to Du Ri-an. Now those involuntary time travelling ladies have to deal with the culture shock and the traumatic leap in time that actually seems as incredible as a dream, whereas in their own days they were actually in the midst of grieving over the loss of their beloved son/husband...

This bizarre, four-dimensional dramaturgical setting is providing a load of finely knitted entanglements and arising questions, yet unanswered. What had really happened back then? What's going on today in this family? Why the time jump? So what's next for the two Joseon-day ladies? How is everyone going to deal with this weird practical (and for some even emotional confusing) situation?

This production is full of zeitgeist of the 2020s, in which Anglicisms and Banmal (informal speech) are a matter of course, while in mass consciousness the curtain between different times and spaces has become extremely permeable. Yet, the icing on the cake: relationship dynamics in the fourth dimension. The people of that long gone time are not those of today. And yet... There are notions of their life back then, even if they cannot consciously remember it, as well as the option of making new decisions in their life today. Broken hearts, cupid's arrow, greed and passion, as well as a sense of responsibility or noblesse oblige... it's all mixed up through the perspective of the time-travelling ladies of days gone by. Situation comedy breaks through encrusted structures. The strangely insane is tossing and turning the minds of reincarnates and time travellers alike. Likewise, the strangely familiar is, too.

"Durian's Affair" is one of those KDramas that wants to break with established genres. The South Korean, but also the international market is currently being flooded with excessive KDrama productions. Thus there is increasingly space opening up for experiments... and that's what “Durian´s Affair” is, too. This KDrama is no RomCom, no crime thriller, no historical drama, no fantasy and also no classical Makjang. However, elements of each are richly included. Together they create something independently new. Anyone who is open to such an experiment should sit back, relax, shake off the usual expectations and get involved with the KDrama. It's entertaining. With some open questions that keep the suspension throughout all 16 episodes. There are also love interests. (Yes, plural.) All multi-layeredly entangled across time and space. Additionally, “Durian´s Affair” is even exuding a pleasant scent of humanness.

Be prepared for deliberate Sostenuto! The pacing is characteristic, since the production sticks consistently with the two outdated ladies from Joseon days. And in my opinion, those ladies are the ones who make the show as remarkable as it is. Regarding Du Ri-an and her daughter-in-law, all characters in the show as well as the audience alike can work themselves off. Nice!








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SIDENOTE: --- A reckoning with the lost virtues of a conservative South Korean society ---


“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” -Confucius

In my opinion, "Durian's Affair" is kind of a reckoning with pseudo-virtues of a conservative South Korean society. Du Ri-an and her daughter-in-law are catapulted into Seoul 2023 and show the elite clan around the Dan family what true Confucian virtue actually means. At the same time, they are caricatures as those virtues come along as an almost unattainable ideal. The two ladies from back then embody i.e. propriety, righteousness, integrity, benevolence, wisdom and trustworthiness in such an uncompromisingly consistent way that one cannot help but be amazed. Confucian virtues are inextricably linked to patriarchy. But the lesson in this idealistic self-image of a dignified, respectful life is given to us by two women! Adaptably creative, intuitive, respectful and well grounded. Timelessly human, righteous, wise and trustworthy.

Du Ri-an and her daughter-in-law embody the Confucian virtues, but more than that, they have transcended them without realizing it and found an answer for what these (and every other virtue, too,) are actually intended for: A source of self-confidence as a human being and dignity, from which a person can draw strength and grounding - even in the most adverse situations! In general, this as a prerequisite for any human, compassionate, authentic encounters. Those virtues had to be (necessarily, involuntarily) adapted by those ladies into a completely foreign century. (And they prove themselves again and again in every one of the three different households of the Dan family.) So it is actually about the core essence of any virtue: providing a human being with dignity and inner values as a compass – reaching out with the power of respect and thus transcending boundaries of specified classes, too.

The two time travelers come across as idealized caricatures of the bygone Joseon period, that is generally considered virtuous. As foreign ladies in Seoul 2023, they embody rather unreal, almost exaggerated ideals of virtues that are still upheld and (as it turns out) actually largely lost. And yet, the two ladies prove it: true, authentic dignity can grow from the upright embodiment of these virtues. This dignity matches its dramaturgical equivalent in the overall deliberate Sostenuto pacing of the K-drama.

The timelessness of the old values stands in apparent contrast to the growing western internationalized coolness and the elitist arrogant version of the new nobility, which however seems to have lost any grounding unless it is for money. It is rather obvious: a bit more humanness, morality, integrity, wisdom and trustworthiness would be nice here and there. What is offered above all is a shiny facade cushioned by the bank account. More or less covered underneath you find any human topic irrespective of class or wealth: longing to be loved, self-doubt, jealousy, gender issues, fear of aging, love in old age, temptation...

In "Durian's Affair" the head of the family clan may be a (actually surprisingly liberal) woman. Homosexual love can become a topic here, too. And then there are a few more time-sensitive issues in play. Yet, authenticity and sincerity are primarily triggered by the two noble, upstanding Joseon ladies... They may remind one or the other just by their attitude towards life, that human dignity is deeply rooted inside - even though one may have lost or forgotten about it along the way.

Don’t get me wrong. I'm not standing here for Confucian virtues. And neither does the KDrama. But it holds a nicely presented mirror to South Korean society, which to this day may hide behind the 'old, time-honoured' values. For better or for worse. If so, then it might be crucial to fill these virtues with life. Message: The present is far from that. Fascination? Yes. Attraction? Perhaps. But embodied? No. Two ladies from the past must be landing in 2023. (And actually they had to carry their baggage at home back then - a baggage whose weight was characterized by a questionable virtue (also) of the people of that distant time.)

“Durian´s Affair” rejects any kind of idealization. How nice, indeed! Yet it upholds authenticity (as a new and needed virtue?), basic for any respectful human-to-human encounter. As a value! As the true virtue! And with that - against this background - "Durian's Affair" becomes quite a progressive KDrama production. What a delightful surprise!





PS:
And then, the ending. It is open for all you can imagine. Any direction. You choose, where to go next. Drama just like the human condition (la condition humaine.) Like the wheel of existence, fueled by Karma! It goes on and on... A never ending story of birth and rebirth...

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Not Good, Could Be Better

I expected a little more from this highly recommended lakorn but was disappointed. The biggest disappointment was the female lead. She felt like an unnecessary character. For the first half of the drama none of her actions contributed to the plot and I nearly forgot she was the female lead at one point. She kept hating on the ML for questionable reasons. I get that she was trying to “protect” her sister, but her ways of going about it are really odd, especially after all the beatings she got from her sister. She’s unreasonably judgmental. Right from the get-go she assumed the ML was a bad guy because he took a pregnant woman to the hospital. She also kept bringing up his profession as an insult. Not to mention she has no backbone at all. Her sister did all sorts of horrible things to her and she never stood up for herself. There’s minimal character development for her. I did enjoy the interactions between the FL and the ML though. They had good chemistry.

The ML was also very disappointing. I was disgusted when he slept with the FL’s sister. Why did the writers think this was an acceptable plot line? Apparently, it was his way of "revenge," but there had to be a better way to go about it. Though the FL was unreasonable towards him at the start, he also did some unnecessary antagonizing things that WOULD make her hate him. This is a slap/kiss lakorn for that reason. His character really carried the show though. If the show solely focused on the revenge aspect of the ML, it would have been better. The villains were decent but generic. You have the evil, stuck-up rich madam and the conceited ladies you typically see in a lot of dramas.

The ending was good. It is a happy ending for anyone wanting to know. Ultimately I wouldn’t rate this higher than a 7. Maybe it’s because I came in with high expectations. I really did love the tension between the ML and FL, but wish the FL had a stronger character, more development, and more presence.

The acting was good. The actors and actresses fit into their role nicely and the cast is full of beautiful people. The actress of the FL did what she could with her character, while the ML was great and had convincing facial expressions. Aunt Mam was probably one of my favorite characters and the actress playing her was phenomenal. The villains were also good. All in all the acting was superb.

The music was alright.

I do recommend this show, as a lot of people like it and it really depends on the person watching on how they feel about things, especially since this is a slap/kiss lakorn. However, go in with less expectations. I wouldn't rewatch this show aside from indulging in the super romantic and appealing edits fans make on Youtube, which is what originally lured me to watch.

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TOO SHORT!

Its not short and sweet, it is too short! I need more!

I love watching short series because netflix trained me to binge and its a torture to wait episodes weekly. However, the fact that i am wishing there were more episodes or at least longer ones is a testament that i fell in love with these characters and i would have love to see more, and to know more about their issue and characters.

Things i love:
1. Pacing
2. No mention of the word gay or homosexual or whatever their preference is.
3. No unnecessary dragging of the conflict. They were both adult enough to discuss and solve it.
4. Just the right amount of intimacy, and nooky nooky.
5. And lets not kid ourselves, Jang Eui Soo is so sexy even his hair deserves its own series.


Like i said, i want more. Maybe they can release an extended version. Will i recommend? Definitely!

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I just want to live, with you around….

Time Travel Done Right !!

Ever happened, even when all the pieces of the jigsaw are in place ...you feel that it still doesn't fit...that's the case with most time travel stories ...even when everything falls in place there's still this sense of perfect fit that I have always felt missing …
and after being disappointed so many times ...you just want to give up on your expectations and start believing that you would never find a show that will give you a sense of perfect fit and maybe what you are looking for is something that doesn’t exist...
I wanted to give up too ...but I just can't, I still have my hopes up every time I start a time travel drama....but to my surprise this time I want to yell loudly …
"I am not disappointed .... !!”

what was all this not so necessary plot build for ...??
(just to make you realize how much I liked this drama ....)

The drama revolves around Oh Ha Rin and her best friend for 10 yrs or shall I call the love of her life Ji Seo Jun who died on her 18th birthday and even after 10 yrs, regret's still holding her tight. One day she comes into possession of some mysterious photos that her first love left behind...with painful memories relighted she decides to burn the pictures....and to much surprise (okay, not for us) finds herself in the past ...maybe now she has a chance to create a future she wished for....but you know in drama land and in reality too, things can never be that simple right.....

For every time you change the past, the future will change too ....she gets few attempts of traveling back in time ...and obviously, in all those, she tries to create a perfect future by saving her love and friendship...protecting the people she cares for...but you got to pay for what you get ...every action has a consequence...and so does trying to change the past …
What happens next is what you are supposed to see the show for ...lol

Similar in premise and tone to other stories that deal with time travel ...this drama holds it better than most hyped ones with a rookie cast that'll gradually adapt perfection (in their upcomming dramas in next few years-hopefully ...lol) and a storyline that's "simply amazing".....(it doesn't mean every second was perfect, and trust me it need not be...)

The overall quality and technical aspects, including the visual effects, background music are unquestionably well-executed within a relatively shorter duration of 20 mins and 16 eps, the storytelling is compact with explanation for almost everything that happens and without the intrusion of unnecessary fillers....it makes you involuntarily press the next ep button.

As for the characters ..they give off realistic vibes with their actions and decisions most of the time...and the overall friendship and all the happy moments they share make the whole show warming and beautiful as is ...a must-watch if you ask me …!!
I give a special mention to the photo studio owner ...I don’t know why but he made it so difficult for me to not appreciate his guest appearance.

As for re-watch value ...even when I know what happens ...I can still watch it (even tho I won't cuz I never rewatch) ...but yaa that’s how much I have come to like this show …!!

As always the column for my fav quotes and dialogues :
“We can draw lessons from the past but we can not live in it”
“I don't think about the past, the only thing that matters is the endless present.”
“All I want is nothing special ...talking to you, holding your hand, spending an ordinary day with you are all precious to me.”
“When you touch the past carelessly there will be big trouble and misfortune.”
"There aren't right answers. But what we confirm is that the least regretful choice ...would nearly be the most correct one."
“Finally your standstill time begins to flow, at last, it flows to me.”

In essence, if you are looking for a time travel with almost no plot holes, fast pacing, and well-written story ...then stop looking here and there ...go watch blue birthday!

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First off: I rarely watch revenge lakorns, mostly because no self-respecting man or woman should put up with that kind of abuse, let alone FALL IN LOVE with their abuser. I watched this one because it's the same director who did Full House, and I ADORED Full House.
WARNING: RANT AHEAD

THINGS I LIKED: Directing is exemplary (as usual). I especially like how this director humanizes the nang rai; Chaya really wasn't evil for the sake of being evil. They portray Chaya as someone who is so desperate for love that she will do anything for it. Childish, but mostly realistic.
The music was good, mostly. The dramatic music was definitely overused, though.
Peat and Kiew's chemistry was AMAZING.
Peat is SUPER HOT.
The romance between Kiew's friend and the bar owner guy was SO CUTE and serious relationship goals.
Those few episodes where Peat and Kiew were happy together made me so happy, though they were fleeting.
I was glad they showed how hurt Peat was. Instead of being just an angry guy up to his eyeballs in revenge, they showed us that underneath all that, he was deeply hurt (not that that justifies anything). In short, I loved the emotional depth of the characters.
I liked Kriss a lot until I realized in ep 9 he was probably evil.
The story is mostly unique; it followed a few stereotypes, but everything else felt very original.

Now for THINGS I DISLIKED (here comes the rant):
The overused dramatic music.
Peat was WAY TOO CRUEL. I desperately wanted Kiew to find somebody, anybody, better than him so she could stop suffering. I couldn't even be happy they ended up together at the end because Peat was so abusive.
Pest and Kiew's dad. I HATED the BS of "use your love to thaw Peat's heart because he still loves you." How DARE he ask Kiew to endure more abuse based on the TINY possibility Peat actually loves her! It doesn't matter if Peat still loves her, when he is abusive to her, he deserves JAIL. Period.
Chaya and Kriss. Honestly I would've shipped it if Kriss hadn't tried to ASSAULT her that one time. Messed up.
Peat's repentance came too quickly. It should've been a slow process of him learning from his mistakes, not one sudden revelation that made him good again.
Kriss. Oh, Kriss. His repentance scene is downright cringey. Not that I don't believe in repentance, but the guy TRIED TO KILL THEM AND RUIN ALL THEIR LIVES. NOT cool. Again, it's a slow process, not "Wow you just shot me but I forgive you cuz you said sorry haha lol BFFs 4ever!!" *facepalm*

Strangely, I still enjoyed the drama pretty well. I guess it's the same with all revenge lakorns: it's just a guilty pleasure. I've seen too many even more frustrating dramas to say this one was horrible, though I will say it could've been a lot horrible. If you like great chemistry in a guilty-pleasure lakorn, this one hits the mark.

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Spice Up Your Life

Now THIS is one drama that will either turn you into an ahjumma saying "omo, omo, omo!!“ every five seconds OR you‘ll save it for lonely nights and giggle yourself to sleep. ;D

Its steaming hot and rated 18+ for a reason, however don’t be too shocked by the very beginning ~ it’s not like that all the way through.
There is actually a story and I really loved the chemistry. The kisses were hands down the best I‘ve ever seen in a kdrama.

The spicy back and forth of the relationship(s) hit a sweet spot for me ~
I‘m not talking about misunderstandings but rather the "we both know we'll do it eventually but now for let’s flirt“ energy.
Also the writer was such a sweet guy!
I want one for myself ~ thanks! :D

There is room for season two and it would definitely improve my rating of this season to a 9.0/10 if it will be continued but it does end positively, so it’s fine this way too.

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STORY: The details section above describes this show well. It's quirky, funny, there are some serious sex scenes, but the whole show is really all about Maiding, this crazy otaku (only word I could think of) chases after An Zi Yan. Mai Ding is such a persistent pest! He's so adorkable (the only other word I thought of)! He tries SO hard to reach through An Zi Yan's walls and reach his heart and finally wins him over. There's some problems with family and gay acceptance issues that the couple must overcome.

Total run-time: Uncut version, 3h, 14m over 2 parts. This is actually a series of 15 episodes but what I watched was combined into two parts.

ACTING/CAST: All did a good job and Mai Ding is too much!

MUSIC: This soundtrack is spectacular. I've listened to it many times. It's all in Chinese so very tough to get good English lyrics though.

REWATCH VALUE: Yup, seen it many times.

OVERALL: Lots of funny and feel good moments sprinkled with some good dramatic moments. Definitely worth your time.

TL;DR: A fun movie where the uke chases the seme in an effort to get the seme to fall in love.

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Ok, I'm giving this a 10, despite the backlash on this drama. Yes, there were 2 episodes that had me feeling disappointed, and there were things I wish they had included in the drama. But those couple of things, cannot turn me away from how much I love this drama. I think it could be my favorite or at least second favorite drama. First, can I say that the acting in this drama is phenomenal. Love this cast! When it comes to the story, it is so much more than a drama about romance. We see the story mostly from Seol's perspective. At first I thought the story was mostly about Jung and he was my favorite character, but then I realized it wasn't only just about it him, but it was about everyone. Everyone has their story, complexities, baggage and hurt. I love how this drama deals with psychological issues, and the study of different personalities, and how people effect one another (whether through love or pain). I have never been so tied into a drama before. It made me smile,laugh, cry, and get giddy. If you watch this drama only for the romance aspect than you might be disappointed. But if you go into it with an open-mind, knowing that this is not your typical cliche Korean drama, than you might possibly enjoy it. I know I did!

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Oh where to begin with this drama.
I feel the plot is kind of a cliche but written well, it can be great. And I honestly loved this drama. The actors were great, the progress was good, and overall probably one of my favorite Korean dramas.

I'll admit I only started watching this because of Song Ji Hyo. I haven't seen too much of her work and I'll also admit at times I did see "Running Man's Ace Mong Ji" from time to time during the drama. I feel it just can't be helped though.
I adored the chemistry between Song Ji Hyo and Choi Jin Hyuk. They fit together so perfectly in my opinion. Their cute scenes, fighting scenes, funny scenes etc were great to watch.

The supporting cast was great too. I can't remember all the names but I felt all the family members, interns, doctors and nurses were great. They had enough screen time to move the plot along and were just as important as the main leads. And can I just say the emotional scenes got me wiping the tears away. And that baby. He was so adorable!

One thing I do have to say is that I feel this drama could've been maybe a couple episodes shorter. Some things dragged just a little and I'm glad they didn't make it more than 21 episodes. Compared to others though, the plot being dragged on isn't as bad. Episodes moved by quickly so it honestly didn't feel like I watched 21 episodes.

Music was okay. Same background music and whatnot. Oh, I loved the sound effects that were always used. It just made things even funnier.

This is also one of the few times where I was happy with the ending. When the flashbacks of the drama and bloopers started playing, I sat in front of my laptop feeling satisfied. Wish there could be a special or something later on.

I would definitely watch this drama again and recommend it to anyone. It's a good drama to watch during down time.

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1) The reason I watched this:

Simply because this is an action drama, I just love watching action dramas and IRIS seemed to be the right choice at the time.

2) Storyline/Plot:

The general storyline was written in a good way, there were a lot of interesting cliffhangers all over the drama, action-suspense packed with romance thrown every once in awhile.

Postive Points:

*Being an action drama that's full of suspense isn't something new yet to see this type of drama in the Korean industry is rare that's why it would feel appealing.

*Main Genres:

--->Action: Considering the fact that this is an action drama, it contained many fighting scenes which were attracting to watch. The action element was set in a way that would make the viewers anxious about the next fighting development. Well, martial arts scenes were practically absent, only guns and free wrestling yet it felt right for this kind of drama plus fighting all over the drama was cool to follow.

--->Suspense: The suspense element wasn't very interesting like the action element yet that doesn't deny the fact that it had an important effect through the drama and the story's development. It's true that it wasn't present ever since the beginning but the fact that it got extended every episode was a smart move to make the audience wonder about what will happen next.

--->Romance: I wouldn't say it's fully a positive point but it was the right amount for an intense drama because in action-suspense dramas, too much romance would ruin the whole plot. Here, romance participated in the story's development by making it more captivating.

Negative Points:

*The negative points that I can think of are related to the suspense element; it's true that I previously mentioned it in the positive points column and it's true that suspense made this drama more interesting yet when there is suspgense and mystery there should be "truth revealing" at/near the end but that wasn't the case here. Yes, we get to know many things but it was left open in an annoying way.

Story: 9/10.

3) Acting/Cast:

*Lee Byung Hun:

I am not very familiar with him as an actor so I wondered if he could pull off an intense role, I also kept questioning his ability in delivering emotions through his acting and the answer was: Good action actor, I liked his skills whether in action or in the dramatical scenes (even though there weren't many).
Kim Hyun Jun was an ordinary action lead male character, I can't think of something special about his character since I've seen it many times before yet it wasn't boring nor usual to watch. I enjoyed his scenes especially his action scenes because he had some respectable action moves.

*Kim Tae Hee:

I like this actress but I believe that her previous roles weren't that interesting therefore I was happy to find her in an action drama with a an intense role. I wanted to confirm her skills and I am satisfied; her perfomance was good enough to make me like her even more.
Choi Seung Hee was an acceptable character, it's true that her action scenes weren't that special and I wanted her to be more strong yet it was good enough to keep the entertainment.

*Other Cast:
As for other main roles, I believe that they were satisfying as actors and characters. Supporting roles were good, I have no complains about them. I specially liked the second lead female as an actress and as a character.

*Relationships:

--->Friendship: I liked the realationship between Hyun Jun and Sa Won all the way through the drama whether it was bromance or conflicts. The friendship between Hyun Jun and Kim Sun Hwa was good too, it's one of the fewest times that I liked the relationship between the lead male and the second lead female.

--->Romance: There was great chemistry between the main roles, the romantic scenes between Hyun Jun and Seung Hee were always good to watch.

--->The Triangle: It was different and much better from other usual boring Korean triangles.

Cast: 8.5/10
Acting: 9/10.

4) The ending:

Don't expect too much from the ending, it's one of the storyline's flaws since it doesn't answer the suspense questions yet it's expected for this intense drama. The ending will leave with lots of questions, it could be considered as an open ending or maybe they're preparing questions for a second season or a film, in that case I wouldn't consider it as an ending.

The ending's rating 7/10.

5) My impression (How did it affect me):

*Usually, an action drama is always interesting for me but this drama had great bonuses: Romance and suspense, which means that I fully enjoyed it from the beginning till the end.
*There's no chance that you will get bored while watching this drama. You can consider it as a thrilling ride that will take you through amazing events and awesome action scenes.

*Is this drama memorable: Yes it is, the fact that it is one of the fewest Korean action dramas, I think it worth a spot in my "unforgettable dramas list" and I am still hoping for a second season, I think it would be good.

My impression: 9/10

6) Overall:

*If you like action-suspense dramas then you need to watch this.
*If you like action dramas with romance thrown in it then IRIS will fit your taste.

*IRIS is a drama that you need to watch when you're looking for a respectable action story with lots of mystery and suspense and let's not forget that it has great main roles.

Overall: 9/10.

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A sparking marble in the grass

The first couple of episodes, while charming, had me fearing mediocrity. But over time, I grew to see a surprising level of quiet depth and maturity in the leads. These young men have been hurt and are still dealing with hurt. One is more naive and hopeful, though, while the other is disillusioned with reality and terrified.

Takara's fight to not fall into the same depths as his mother and fear of himself the moment he mirrors her behaviors, even slightly, in particular, stood out to me.

"If I want something, I must have it."

What it must be like to fear your own wants and feel the need to push your desires aside in case you just might take a treasure into your hands, keep it from the world, and unwillingly crush it.

I would like others to see what I did, but I understand if you don't. Regardless, I found this a precious watch that I almost want to keep to myself. My own "treasure."

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Yes there are sex scenes and you know what? They're really well done--sometimes sensual, sometimes raunchy, other times like a work of art. It honestly adds to the experience of the movie. If you're bothered by sex then don't watch?

I've watched The Treacherous twice now and I loved it even more the second time. The cinematography is really great and the acting is really well done too. If you're into saeguk dramas, you'll love certain aspects of this like the inclusion of pansori by the narrator as well as some of the character, the traditional sword dancing, and of course the ever present court politics.

The King was the most interesting character, mostly because this is based off true history. My understanding and knowledge of Korean history is mainly from what I've watched in dramas (lol) so I'm not sure how much artistic license they took with the portrayal of this tryant king, but MAN was he out of his goddamn mind! It was insane! But that's what makes this movie so wild and enjoyable--there are almost no limits to the insanity...its raunchy and violent at times, but that's supposed to be the point. The film explores greed, power, lust, revenge all very dark and entrancing themes that really draw you in. The camera work really helps to add!

Honestly, the rating is probably so low because you have viewers who are used to watched sappy, romcom movies and dramas and this is definitely no where near that sort of story. If you're looking for something gritty, explicit, exciting, sexy, and just insane you will not regret watching!

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I will remember you, will you remember me?

This is a heart warming, unabashedly tropey love story about how true love conquers all. The OTP face a daunting obstacle: Feng Mianwan's (Chen Yuqi) mother is blamed for Jing Ci's (Yu Menglong) mother's demise. Nonetheless Jing Ci shields her from his revenge driven aunt and raises her as his companion/maid. They are childhood sweethearts but when he can no longer protect her, he finds a doppelganger, arranges for them to swap identities and doses her with an amnesia drug to forget him and their past. In her new identity Mianwan/Ah Yuan evades her (doppleganger's) engagement to the noble Mu Beiyan, dresses as a man and goes to work as a fledgling constable. In her new life, she grows into her own person and finds meaning in her existence. Her guardian angel Jing Ci joins her in a new identity as a county official and together they investigate criminal cases. They eventually stumble upon a larger conspiracy with ties to both their identities and extends to the highest levels of the empire. 

While this is mostly a lighthearted and fun love story, there is a sad undertone as Jing Ci's health is failing and he struggles to conceal his feelings for Ah Yuan. She does not remember him but falls in love with him all over again. His intention is to selflessly see her happily settled with someone who can expect to live a normal lifespan and who can protect her but who is he kidding? Love is never ultimately that self-less! Both characters are strong and intelligent and have an enjoyable rapport with the other couples; confidantes and allies who help them unmask their enemies and reveal the secrets of their past. I particularly liked the princess who is a fantastic and loyal friend with her own rather charming love story. 

There is broad consensus that Yu Menglong's Jing Ci deserves an award for best characterization ever of a plank. Although the character is supposed to be unwell, in pain and stoic, he impressively took being plank-like to a whole new level. He has this amazingly eerie ability to seem deathly still and expressionless while speaking or in motion. Given the excoriating feedback, I feel a bit bad for the actor who clearly over-intrepretred the character and was also probably camera shy the way his eyes avoided the lens the whole time. To be fair, there were the rare one or two scenes when Jing Ci's feelings for Ah Yuan overcame him that were well acted though far from squeal-worthy. The one saving grace is he and Chen Yuqi make for a very stunning and romantic looking couple. Am a big fan of Yuqi who has really honed her acting skills and was convincing as a smart and independent minded character who knows what she wants and is not fooled or daunted by Jing Ci's seeming indifference. I really appreciate this smart and strong female lead character who is not obnoxious or dislike-able, which is more than I can say for several similarly themed 2020 releases.  She is a total delight from her remarkable ability to absolutely adore her plank to her subtly comical eye rolls at Mu Beiyan's ridiculous overtures. And no, I never shipped her with Mu Beiyan - her Ah Yuan is way too capable for a dilettante and (nice) dufus like that. While Mu Beiyan is a well written, likable and much better acted character, I still find it impossible to ship a love rival who is better made up and coiffed than the female lead!

The story overall is not terribly original but the cases are interesting enough. You will not win armchair detective of the year if you spot the bad guys early on or unravel the conspiracy on your own. Some of the plot twists are a bit lazy but the characters are quite colorful and stop short of being too archetypal. The ending was well done, wraps up most loose ends and delivers a final and very satisfying coup de grace. It won't rock your world but you won't have to retreat into the fetal position to get over a gigantic slump after it ends either. I would have rated this higher (7.5/8.0 ) if Yu Menglong's performance managed to improve towards the end.

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