Reviews

Thrilling performance as always, oof!

I am someone who watched all 3 seasons of VOICE starting the first week of June, back to back, just because I can finish this season in real time. I undoubtedly got traumatised at points due to this but VOICE from s1 to s4 has been a super-thrilling experience all along, I must say.

Talking about Voice 4, honestly, It didn't feel as good as the previous seasons to me even though I am not displeased or something. So I am rather not that much pleased considering how amazing plot the other seasons were. Anyways, It was a good watch which thrilled me and was also frustrated because of the cult stuff features (which mean the drama served that part well).

STORY & PLOT:
The story follows the 112 emergency call centre team (Golta team) headed by Kang Kwon Joo with superhuman hearing ability and her team who move to Vimo Island Police Station with the purpose of catching a probable serial cyber killer by utilising their vacation time. An LAPD cop Derek Cho visiting South Korea on an operation joins them as the dispatch team leader due to circumstances. Together, they try solving a case and catch the serial psychpath killer with Dissociative Identity Disorder and similar hearing capabilities as Kang Center.

Just like the previous seasons, Voice 4 has one major case going on, on the background that involves a serial killer and with that there are multiple minor cases that the Golden Time Team solve which somehow also helps them in profiling the major case. One difference is, s1-3 involved brainwashing cult stuffs that were instigated by the murderer which was due to bloodlust but in Voice4 there is an actual religious cult where people are brainwashed to protect each other despite own's fault.

Personally, I am not very pleased by the story development because I had had very high expectations and anticipations from the 4th season since they've evolved through 4 years since 2017 and I feel they should have offered us something extraordinary. But I am not unsatisfied either because it was still good and me thrilled even awe-strucken by many twists and revelations. It has some really good plot devices that are worth anticipating for.

The story had a good & interesting starting and the first episode is good. It has a steady development till the end of 9th but the 10th episode felt a lil blunt at some moments but then it picked up the acceleration and ended with some cliffhangers. The lead antagonist character could have been a lot better. He somehow felt a lil less powerless and did some stupid things as well.

CAST & ACTING:
Umm... Well, we have been seeing the major cast acting since the season 1 and they are as good as before. Lee Ha Na as Kang Kwon Joo/Kang Center has always impressed with her acting and dialogue delivery. I can always witness the kind of aura in her eyes. Song Seung Hun as Capt. Derek Cho did a good job and he's definitely experienced in the industry but the thing that I noticed is he never wore his cop jacket while everyone else did. I mean we know that you're from America and very skillfull in the field but still, HAHAHA.

Son Eun Seo as Officer Park Eun Soo did good too but I think her part is a bit reduced in this season than the previous ones. Kim Joong Ki (Park Joong Ki) and Song Boo Geon (Koo Kwang Soo) are absolute eye candies for me and I have been loving them since the 1st season. I was actually surprised to see Kang Seung Yoon bcs I didn't see the cast before starting. Also, Baek Sung Hyun (Shim Dae Shik from s1) 's comeback in s4, that too as a freaking hot adult, was a delight to witness and there was definitely a solid character development for him. I was also happy to see the familiar faces like Lee Yol harabeochi and Kil Hae Yeon ahjumma in the drama.

Now the antagonist. Don't think of it like a spoiler because the production itself is openly bragging about it plus it was revealed in the 4th episode only. Lee Kyu Hyung as a psychopath serial killer with DID, did a very good job as he was given, BUT! IDK whether I am the only one or not; I think his character as the lead antagonist could have much more to do. He as the antagonist didn't seem as powerful as the serial killers of the previous seasons. The blame is to be shot at Ma Ji Won jakka-nim citing it was not a very strongly written antagonist. Anyways, I have loved his acting skills and been a fan for a long time and undoubtedly loved this too.

DIRECTION & SCREENPLAY:
I think I have already mentioned above it more or less before so let me keep it short. Voice have had amazing direction and production work since the season 1 even though they kept changing for each season. The way they edit the deja vu things or past sequences and try to connect and interpreting through the screenplay is very nice. The sound editing is apt as well that tries to have the audience thrilled all along the show. Voice is undoubtedly Ma Ji Won jakka-nim's best creation which he has been successfully pulling off to make the year's best thriller. Voice 4 for me somehow isn't as good as the previous ones, still a good show to give it a go.

ENDING:
It has a good ending. I was afriad they'll end it with a plothole or something illogical and unreasonable will happen but it was just fine, so I appreciate that. However, it felt a bit rushed starting from the 2nd half of the 12th episode. They were clearly trying to wrap up some minor plot devices so that they wouldn't have to worry about them further but that was absurd. In fact, the main antagonist was caught sonner than expected which somehow made it a bit unintersting but I think they had many revelations to do so they did rush it. In the last 2 eps, they basically tried to solve the puzzles of this season plus gave clarifications about some things which were left on hang in the s3. But again, few unexpected things happen which left me questioned. In fact, the epilogue of s3 showing a sneak-peak of Bang Jae soo (Kwon Ryul) with some mysterious woman which was expected to be answered in s4 has been extended to s5 and that thing will be the main story of next season. I am not sure what the writer is thinking but I assume they'll go for another season for sure to explain whatever they left hanging. It's A HUGE WIDE OPEN ENDING which raises plenty of questions and what happened at the very end scene is enthralling and frustrating at the same time. Won't spoil.

Anyways, they could have make 2 more episodes and give it a smooth ending by not rushing it even when they had a plan for s5.

CONCLUSION:
Overally, this season of Voice is a good thriller and definitely worthy an one time watch so go ahead and finish it. Despite some drawbacks, it was actually enthralling to watch, though I ended up with mental disturbance at some points so I had to drop it for few days and then I went back watching.

I don't how others interpreted it, but when the news about this season came, from the title "VOICE 4: JUDGEMENT HOUR" , I thought this season is a good-bye to VOICE, one of the longest running Kdrama franchise. The phrase "Judgment Hour" is something like the final verdict/decision hence implying to the end of this series. But the way it ended with the introduction of some new plots now I think I was wrong and there will definitely a next season. Well, as long as the jakkanim offers his talent and we tend to enjoy it, then why not? HAHAHAHA Let's wait for the updates from the production team.

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True North

For fans of the critically-acclaimed Kingdom series, this is a much-awaited production that has been a long time coming. Officially designated as a Special Episode and “Sidequel”, Kingdom: Ashin of the North is a feature length film that serves as the prequel to and the basis of the upcoming season 3 (as I understand it at the time of writing). For viewers who are interested in watching the entire series and have not seen the preceding seasons, I would advise starting off with those before embarking on this one. Both seasons 1 and 2 released only 12 episodes between them so it won’t take too long for viewers to get up to speed with the complete sequence of events.

The production team remains the same, with Baeksang-winning screenwriter Kim Eun Hee as the creator and showrunner, as well as the art direction and special effects crew. The only notable change from season 2 is that Kim Seong Hun, who helmed the first season, replaces Park In Je in the director’s seat. The franchise is developed by AStory while the production and distribution rights are retained by Netflix. Unlike the first 2 seasons which were filmed on location in Gyeonggi and North Gyeongsang Provinces, principal photography this time took place solely in Jeju Island.

In addition to the gorgeous panoramic vistas of the new filming locale, the overall tone is somewhat darker and more chilling, in comparison with the earlier seasons. Nonetheless we do get the exact high standards in production values and overall quality of the cinematography, set designs and, of course, the special effects encompassing the visuals and the zombie makeup, which is particularly praiseworthy. The action choreography and the stunts involving said zombies and humans alike deserve as much acknowledgment. The original score is composed primarily of dramatic orchestral music while the ominous BGM is generously applied throughout to great effect as well.

In case anyone’s forgotten, here’s a quick refresher. During the ending scene in the final episode of season 2, our protagonists Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji Hoon) and Seo Bi (Bae Doona) find themselves in a creepy, dilapidated and seemingly deserted village in the northern borders while investigating the origins of the saengsacho, the source of the scourge that plagues their kingdom. Cue the dramatic entrance of a new character right before the end credits begin rolling - the mysterious female figure in a dingy room filled with chained up and boxed up creatures, presumably zombies. Who is she? Is she a villain who created or started the outbreak? Why is she smiling? Well, now we finally get the answers to all our questions and more.

She’s none other than the titular Ashin of the North and this special episode chronicles her origin story. From her humble beginnings, the calamitous circumstances that ensued thus setting off an irreversible motion of fate-altering events that kicked off in the North before eventually engulfing the whole peninsula of the Joseon Kingdom. Epic, cataclysmic, action-packed, thrilling, evocative, and incredibly brilliant. Kim Eun Hee has done it again and expanded on the original concept within the space of 90 minutes to set up a new direction for season 3. You’d expect nothing less anyway from the screenwriter who brought us Signal.

The main cast this time around is headlined by the wonderfully experienced and award-winning Jun Ji Hyun as the eponymous character. With a screenplay that is fully devoted to her character, she carries this show with consummate ease as she projects an aura of darkness and conviction alongside her dynamic range to breathe life into the mysterious Ashin. During a recent interview with Kim Eun Hee, she stated that the role of Ashin was written specifically with Jun Ji Hyun in mind, because of how impressive she had been in the films The Thieves and The Berlin File, incidentally both of which I had watched some time back. Although she is most well known for the dramas The Legend of the Blue Sea and My Love from the Star which established her reputation as a romcom specialist, JJH is extremely versatile and adaptable to diversely multifaceted roles than people give her credit for.

In any case, I thought she utterly nailed her portrayal here that enabled viewers to be engaged in the story and invested in her character’s journey of evolution. Acting chops aside, her action sequences are quite realistically executed as well. She appears very fit and certainly looks the part of a fearsome bow-wielding warrior. I think she has lost even more weight as can be seen in her recent photo calls promoting this show. Meanwhile the talented and prolific child actress Kim Shi Ah portrays the young Ashin while Park Byung Eun returns as Min Chi Rok of the Royal Commandery.

No amount of words will do justice to the spectacle that is Kingdom: Ashin of the North, because seeing is absolutely believing and there is much to be observed in this production indeed. The only downside for me was that it was too short - I wanted...no, needed more! 16 months was definitely worth the wait, especially now that we know for a fact there’s more to look forward to in the horizon. I only hope the wait won’t be as long.

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I am really sad at all the hate this drama is getting, I don't understand it. I absolutely loved this drama!

You have to take it with the context, there are only 3 episodes so the story does not go into great detail, but with the time that they had I thought they nailed it! What made this drama as great as it is was the casting, Benz and Prom's chemistry between their characters had me blushing the entire time I was watching. I mean look at Praram's smile how can you not just melt.

I hope they either give Benz and Prom another series together or possibly redo this story but a full series so it can go more in depth into the storyline!

Benz's acting really made this drama to be honest, he is a very talented actor and I constantly found myself forgetting that he was both Pralak and Praram and that he does not actually have a twin. I will definitely be rewatching this drama as I cannot get enough of these characters, my favourite of the En of Love's so far probably!

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I was contemplating whether or not to watch this series as I had some free time and I love binging series. There were a lot of conflicting reviews but I went in anyways. If you're reading a bad review, take it with a grain of salt. This isn't necessarily an amazing BL or one full of drama and action or gimmicks like other BLs. It's a lot more subdued, kind of gave me My Dream the series vibes. It's a quiet BL and none of the characters feel fake. It's all real, except a few plot points that do feel weird like Mork's illness. I think the main conflict of having someone opposed to their relationship is a little easier to understand since they are younger than a lot of other BL characters. College students or ones already in their workforce make it hard to see them as afraid of their parents. I have to say I wasn't invested as much in Mork and Tee as I was with Morn and Gord. That was a surprising couple that honestly made me smile the whole time even if it never went too far. I was originally going to give this a 7 because that's what I gave Sotus which was good but I didn't particularly like Kongpop and Arthit as a couple. With this I thought the show lacked a bit but Mork and Tee were well performed and likeable so I think this deserves an 8. Give it a try.

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"Suffering is the human condition" in art form.

"Moneyboys" is a raw, visually stunning drama that exhibits the gritty and provocative lifestyle of young, gay escorts. While there are some steamy moments, the story focuses less on the "customer service" aspect and more on what motivates these characters despite the risks involved. With an impoverished upbringing and the weight of his family on his shoulders, prostitution is a means of survival for protagonist, Fei.

What we get as viewers is a study on this character. We're taken through a series of experiences and events that make up Fei's life. We witness how the stigma of both his sexuality and profession effects his family life and the mental toll it takes on him. Through Fei's various interactions with other characters, a clear theme rings throughout the film: the sacrifice of one's happiness for the sake of others. Lovers sacrifice themselves for the ones they love, young adults sacrifice themselves to meet family expectations, LGBTQ+ sacrifice themselves to fit the molds of society. When does the cycle of suffering end?
The story finds its anomaly in Fei's childhood friend, Long. Unlike the often numb and apathetic Fei, Long is brimming with life. He sees the perks of being a money boy as a way to live happily for himself and not for the sake of others.

Before I had a grasp on the film's narrative, I was already in awe of its cinematography and editing. The moment I clicked play, I got the feeling I was in for an artistic experience. Atmospheric lighting and color grading sets the dark and solemn tone for the film. Neon colors pop through the screen. There are some close-ups and shaky camera shots that make for intense moments, but you'll mostly see the use of still-camera wide shots. Frame by frame, it appears as though characters are moving through a sequence of modern life art pieces. It doesn't linger on one shot for too long though, especially in the beginning. Scenes are often fleeting, dialogues seem to end just shy of a complete conversation. A stylistic choice that gives the film obscurity and keeps it from dragging, but disappoints story-wise. At times, I was left wishing I knew more about what these characters were thinking and experiencing.

Aside from maybe one actress with a bit part role, all actors were convincing. Lead actor, Kai Ko, did well portraying the emotionally detached Fei. He surfaces the character's vulnerable side in ways that feel both realistic and relatable. The charm and charisma of Bai Yu Fan's Long is definitely one of the film's highlights. There aren't many dramatic acting moments so if you're worried about it being a tearjerker, you're in luck. "Moneyboys" is pulsing with emotion but it isn't necessarily a sad movie, just realistic. It's a bit longer than the average 90 minutes, but very much worth the watch.

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A story of what if, chance, hope, and belief

In this story there are nods to Shakeapeare and Greek tragedies - if you enjoy those types of plays then you'd enjoy this.

There IS a romance here, but it's old school. Lingering glances, touches, unsaid words and comfort. Tons, and tons of it. The show is very ASMR-y with its presence. Up until the last 5 episodes. That's when everything has been building meets the peak and the outcome of actions comes back to haunt people.

One could say this is a tragedy, a tragedy of love, a tragedy of 'what if' 'should I have', 'did I love enough' etc. But, the beautiful thing is the woman who thought of others instead of herself, broken, but given a chance to heal and fall in love again. A man who also thought of others, worked eight years with nothing but hope in his heart and regret, fell in love with someone who gave him that hope learned to heal.

That to me is the purest kind of love.

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Honestly I have a hard time understanding the ratings of this drama.
Compared to many other overrated ones, this one had at least good acting for the most part and a interesting storyline.
The directors made the plots twists appear slightly overdramatic when they were not but the story was still very interesting to me.
I really liked how they portrayed the work of judge and the characters were overall very refreshing.
The romance part was not smothering the rest of the story which was GREAT, and I was happy to see a more mature and realistic romance story instead of the usual cheesy cringy stuff between bright girl-cold guy.
In this drama, I was able to see more realistic main leads with more complex personalities.
So I recommend!

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'If you could freeze time and you weren't dying, what would you do?'

This was a very subtle, yet, in my opinion, a most important central piece for this movie.

The story of the movie isn't innovative in any way, it has a predictable central plot, but it brings some unique surprises while it reaches its ending.
I wouldn't have loved it so much if the story didn't twist so interestingly towards the last half an hour. I would have just thought that the movie was nice, but yet another typical, self-sacrificing love from one of the leads towards the other's happiness. And if it were so, then Sweet November would have been the more plausible story for me... but it turned out that the story was beyond that and it made me give this movie a special place in my heart.
Now, what really made this movie such a big hit for me were the actors... I mean, oh my God, the acting was among the best I've experienced, I was absolutely sucked in and I absolutely lived their pain, love and happiness alongside the two. Seldom do I fall in love with both male and female leads in a movie, so allow me to be excited :).
Time to go deeper into the movie!
I have to say that I really enjoyed how the story had, along the line of the plot, scattered interesting visual images that would fixate into my mind and give new meaning to the movie:

The numbers that would suddenly appear before his eyes every time he would waver as to giving up his love, to further enforce that time was running out for him were very interesting, especially when his career goes on the line for him excessively playing Cat Girl's song and his boss threatening his job, the shirt with 88 written on it suddenly popped before his eyes in order to assure him he was doing the right thing.

Also, when she returns from her date a little drunk and she sneaks in his bed, he feels really comfortable, but he gets up an leaves her after he sees 20x on the little pin-board next to his bed, reminding him of his days left.

Another nice image was that of him letting time pass again in the photo studio, when he decides to start on of the clocks, that is the moment when he knows time cannot stop and his love won't find fulfillment.

The cactus he chose as a gift for her is quite unique in its symbolism also: that species of gymnocalicium is a hybrid cactus, the colored top has no chlorophyll, so it needs to be put on top of another cactus, a green one, in order to get food and survive. That is, for me, the nature of their relationship, a symbioses, where one cannot survive without the other, neither can it let any ham come to the other, as the pain would be felt by them both.

Shall I answer the question from the beginning of my review? It's not a spoiler per say, but it will reveal, if you think hard about it, the ending of the movie, so I'd advise you to stop reading, if you don't want to get a glimpse of how the story id finished.
*** When time freezes, they could reveal the storm of feelings that boils in their hearts... Only when time freezes and everyone around them stops, will they be free to love one another, just like to birds flying towards the sky ***

Hope you enjoyed my review, have a great time watching the movie !

P.S.: Did anyone else got creeped out by the doctor after you saw in the ending he was a bit of a stalker?

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After 12 Weeks of laughter and tears this drama has come to an end. This was just an amazing love story between the King and JOJ. From start to the finish i was just memorised and in awe with this drama. The writers have done a very well done job (round of applause), also there are many Historical dramas about Jang Hee Bin but this one for me showed me who she actually was and not the evil person they make her seem out to be.

The acting was just lush Yoo Ah In is by far the BEST KING, every Monday and Tuesday i waited to see him, he will melt your heart. Kim Tee Hee also did an amazing job. However the story dragged on a bit for like 4ep but it picked up right away that's why its (1 point away from a 10)

Please, please, please please do not hesitate to watch this drama give it a chance you will love it as much me and the other hundreds who watched it.

THE BEST DRAMA FOR 2013 FOR ME :)

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1) The reason I watched this:

Mainly because I read the manga and wanted to see the drama's adaptation. Then, I found out that Okada Masaki is the lead actor so I became more excited to watch it.

2) Storyline/Plot:

Honestly speaking, the storyline is kind of silly but it wasn't boring or unattractive, it was surprisingly enjoyable.

Positive Points:

*This drama is one of the nicest manga adaptations that I've seen so far.

*Main Genres:

--->Humor: I remember laughing several times during this drama, mostly in the third or the fourth episode. There were some hilarious moments in here that I had to pause in order to continue my laughter.
The style of Japanese comedy has always proved its way in making any drama lighter and enjoyable.
The comedy scenes weren't randomly present, it was nicely calculated in order to bring laughter when it's needed; that concept was highly appreciated.

--->School: This drama can also be considered as a school drama since it had all the elements that indicates so. The school side was the most hilarious part with a teacher like Hanazawa Yumeko who was really fun to see around, also the kendo teacher (Ryo's father) and all the classmates that made this part enjoyable.

*Another positive point that I should mention; it was really fun to see Asuka's Otomen friends and their ways of hiding their true self; it was very hilarious at many points.

*The imaginations moments that the characters had were always great and enjoyable.

Negative Points:

--->Romance: the romantic concept wasn't appreciated, I would like to think about this drama as a funny school drama rather than a rom-com; it's really better to think about it that way because romance hasn't deliverd much that can make you watch the drama because of it.
The romance was the annoying light type sometimes, it wasn't completely hateful but I can't possibly mention it in the positive points column.

Story: 8/10

3)Acting/Cast :

*Okada Masaki:

I like him as an actor , I've seen many of his dramas and appreciated most of them. Here, he had the most adorable role ever as a very "cute" role. He didn't fail my expectations; he's always a great actor so I was right for watching this drama because of him.
The character wasn't very different from the one in the manga, actuallly, it was more appealing. I always focus on characters when I watch a manga/anime adaptation in order to see their potency in portraying the orginal ones. Here, I must say that I liked Asuka's character; the way he was trying to hide his love for girly cute things while being the tough kendo captin that everyone loves and finding friends that share his Otomen self in the meantime: It was more than satisfying as a live character adaptation.

*Kaho:

I only saw her in "Tokyo Girl" but I don't judge an actor/actress over a film so let's say that I am not very familiar with her before this drama. Here, I believe that her role was nicely done although I believe that her acting skills are lacking something.
The character didn't attract me, at least, not the way Asuka's character did. I loved the times where Ryo was saving Asuka; those where some great moments.
Ryo's character can be clueless while being on a tough girl mode. It's true that I didn't fall for her character but as a manga adaptation it was an acceptable character.

*Other Cast: I loved the remaining cast, every character in this drama had a unique concept plus there were funny characters everywhere!

*Appreciated Character: Tonomine was a very appreciated character all the way through the drama whether he was Asuka's rival or tough mainly man; he always had interesting scenes.

*Relationships:

--->Romance: I can't possibly speak about romantic chemistry because romance wasn't heavily present. Instead, I will mention that Asuka and Ryo's relationship was really cool to watch.

--->Friendship: Asuka's relationship with the kendo members, Tachibana, Ariake and especially Tonomine was literally mesmerizing.

Cast: 7.5/10
Acting: 8.5/10

4) The ending:

The closer scene was one of the nicest dramas closures. Overall, the ending was cute and adorable.

The ending: 8.5/10

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

* I really enjoyed this drama, I think I enjoyed it a little too much.
*Laughter moments were very present so there weren't any chance to get bored.
*I really appreciated the characters in this drama and the adaptation overall.

*Is this drama memorable: Yes, it is. I still remember its event (especially the funny moments) even though I watched it a long time ago.

My impression: 8/10

6) Overall:

*If you read the manga then you would appreciate this drama's adaptation.
*If you like funny dramas then you would enjoy this.
*If you're looking for a romatic drama, you shouldn't expect much from this.
*If you like Okada Masaki, you need to watch this because it will give you another image aboout this actor.

Overall: 7.5/10.

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My Absolute best out of the three parts. Everyone was just so spirited!!!I legit found myself hailing tagon!! and then at the end hailing inaishigi!! The next season is gonna be so hot cause i find it hard to pick sides as i just love everybody.

The music was alright, they still repeat the same music so......
The whole drama is actually realllllllyyy quite sloooowww and very few things were accomplished or nothing was Lol. However it's a pretty lonng story with two more seasons of 18 episodes so I get it!!

Lets give a hand to song joong ki as Saya for being so smart to connect all the dots. This guy is also the craziest character in this series but he's so lovable that I just don't care about all the evil things he does or thinks of.
And tagon is just one step ahead of everyone, this guy actually knows what he's doing(lol) I support him as king but i'd be a lot happier if he wasn't a dictator LOL
I love how the characters are ever evolving and you just can't even predict what who is going to do next. Even the newly introduced characters are awesome!!Tagon has become a whole new person. Taelha has finally opened her eyes. Tanya has actually brought her A game!!from timid to brazen. Eunseom is no longer naive...that guy is cooking up an army!

Will Taelha and Tagon still love each other deeply? Tanya has the hearts of arthdal(LOVE), Tagon has the hearts of arthdal(FEAR), Eunseom has the hearts of the ago tribe. Like who will win!!?? Igutu Vs Igutu!! What will happen when the sword, mirror and bell meet? I can't wait to see the look on saya's face.... fam!!......At this point my brain is now fried!!

I recommend this to EVERYONE from anywhere. It gives you a break from a lot of cliche stuff we all watch. It's super interesting and fun!!

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Beautiful Short Series

This was really something special, with a really unique plot, relatively sensitive depiction of mental illness, top-rate acting, beautiful cinematography, and one of the best OSTs I've encountered for a BL.

I was dubious they could stuff all this into four episodes, and while they don't quite accomplish it, it's done better than I expected. This is a series that respects its audience and doesn't load most of the run time with flashbacks. The actors really committed to this, inhabited their characters, and weren't afraid to demonstrate love and affection - it feels real.

It did need one more episode or so to fill in a couple of gaps - there's one in particular that really needed a better resolution - but a budget is a budget and you have to do what you can. More happened in this than the majority of series with 12 50-min eps, so I can't really complain.

This has the best soundtrack I've heard in a BL in a long, long time. The endcredit theme is perfect.

Anyway, I highly recommend this - you have to pay attention though - it's not something you can watch while doing anything else.

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54 and a half hours, 3 days, countless of emotions and I am finally done with the phenomenon that is Empress Ki. I am not one to generally make sweeping statements but if I were, I'd adamantly insist that this is one of the best dramas I have ever seen as of yet.

I am sure that if someone with a critical eye was to peruse through this review, they'd "Tsk Tsk" just like El Temur did to show his condescension for things he thought beneath him but I am past the point of caring. For I am hopelessly and utterly in love with everything about this drama, blissfully ignorant to all of its flaws and honored to have witnessed characters that made me feel all there was to feel and more.
After I was done with it, I felt so emotionally spent that it was almost physical. Every waking moment of my existence had been consumed by this production and the withdrawal symptoms were kicking in with a vengeance. Now, there is so much to say, but not enough words. I want to shout its praises from the rooftops but I'll settle for writing this review that can't possibly ever truly deliver the amount of feeling I had for this drama.

This is a story about vengeance, lust for power, loyalty, sacrifice, the blurry line between good and evil, the ugly side of human nature and lastly one woman's quest for justice. You cannot go into this if you don't want to get invested because trust me you will. It will possess you and maneuver you around like a puppet until its characters' emotions are your own, their pain your pain, their heartbreak your heartbreak and it will make you want to burst from all the sensory overload.

If I am to be honest, I admit that I have never seen a more brilliant piece of acting before. From the minute roles to the colossal one's every single act is done with perfection.
This was my first time watching Ha- Ji Won and six episodes in, I had already added her to my favorite actress list and vowed that I will not stop until I had followed her into every show she ever starred in. Simply put, she is my Queen. Her acting is so real and raw that it breaks you every time and leaves you in awe. It's really no surprise that she won a Daesang for her role.

I don't think I have ever felt more strongly for any female heroine before Niang. The intensity of love that I felt for her was crazy. She's a woman of power, deadly beyond measure, a master mind and the definition of strength. In Asian Dramas, there is always more talk than walk about how intellectual the heroine is. Producers use the classic element of make believe and create so much hype that people really start to see the MC as smart and witty even when there are no visible actions to back it up. In the synopsis it would be stated repeatedly how much of a genius she is, the characters in the show would boast about her relentlessly but in reality she usually turns out to be a hollow personality-less beauty vessel constructed on baseless compliments.

Niang doesn't roll that way. She is the real deal from the start; a highly intelligent woman, a schemer, a warrior, a meticulous planner and a ruthless executioner. She doesn't need other people to gass her up, because everything she does speaks for itself. She doesn't require saving because she is the savior. She is a Queen in every sense of the word and honestly, I would rather kill everyone -love interest or not- if they dared hurt her. My heart clenched whenever she faced a setback, my fists pumped and I screamed joyfully every time she was victorious, I cried with her, I smiled with her and I rooted for her every single time. I can honestly sing odes in way of her perfection and it would still not be enough.

Before I started with the drama, I had heard a lot of praise for Ji Chang Wook and when I saw his face and got a glimpse of the character he played I had instantly stuck my nose up, jutted my foot out and turned the other way. I thought that there was no way that I'd ever root for such a privileged, weak and spoiled wimp of a Prince. It didn't help that I had hated characters like him in the past (See: Goo Joon Piyo from Boys over flower, Mike He from Full house, Yune from MiSa) but as I watched, piece by piece the ice around my heart fell off until I was effectively boarded and happily sailing on his ship.

Ji Chang Wook is a gem and I truly believe he deserved a Daesang too. Ta Hwan is a highly flawed character and an anti-hero at best. He's selfish, cowardly, naive and obsessive. For one good deed is followed by a hundred missteps on his part and there were multiple times where I wanted to just slap him senseless. But despite all this, JCW made me fall in love with him. A lesser actor or any other actor for that matter, couldn't have even dreamed to do the same.

He's the type of character that you'd love to hate and hate to love but soon enough you see the deep scars he harbors, the purity of his heart and you understand him. In a palace full of people under his command, he's utterly lonely, horribly abused by everyone he trusts, constantly forced into his insecurities and you cannot help but weep for him and the pain he has had to suffer. Once you understand him, every horrible action he commits doesn't make you hate him, rather it breaks your heart. I had so much affection for him that I bawled every time he was either volatile, helpless or bordering on insanity. I honestly prayed for his relief.

As for the other male lead, I had my doubts about Joo Jin Mo at times but soon, I realized that he held his own too. Even though I felt like Wang Yu was way too likable I did come to adore him. The loyalty his men showed to him, his persistence in fighting for his country and his devotion to Niang warmed my heart. Plus, the guy has really beautiful and expressive eyes.

As far as the couple ships are concerned, Ta Hwan and Niang was the only one that made sense to me. Sure, Wang Yu and Niang have some heart warming moments and their love for each other is supposed to be strong but the moments between Ta Hwan and Niang are simply emotionally intense. There is so much misery between them but their relationship is powerful. She builds him up when he's nothing, she's his support system and his love for her is obsessive because in the midst of so much cruelty she is his only friend and confidante. The only time he attempts to be selfless is when he's with her and she makes him want to be a better man.
Tbh, they both were my babies and they absolutely dominated the show.

The beauty of this show is that everything bad that could possibly happen; happens. In most shows you don't have to guard your heart because you're sure that when things are their absolute worse, a convenient plot device will somehow come in handy and save the characters from catastrophe but here, there is no such luck. The villains are extremely fleshed out and three dimensional which makes it all the more easy to despise them. This drama truly depicts that 'evil is bad that believes it's good' and that is the most dangerous thing about the awful one's because somehow they all have reasons that are wholly justified in their eyes. People I liked transitioned into horrible power hungry monsters and people I hated with a passion tried to force me to feel pity for them. It was such a mixture of charcoal and pristine that I was constantly in a whirlwind.

I'm not going to lie; I bawled a lot in this drama. However, none of my tears flowed when people died or were killed rather they were for the tiny moments; the moments where the helplessness of the characters was shown, the moments where they are trying their best to hold on but falling apart, when they are striving to fight madness but stumbling and it's so beautifully heartbreaking that it wrenched out sobs from me.
This drama is filled with small immensely impactful scenes that combine to make the whole production powerful.

The side characters are very strong and multiple story-lines make the drama diverse and interesting. I majorly love me some Tal Tal; the smart, loyal and brooding man that you just can't get enough of. Wang Yu's men were always a source of happiness; Jokho and many others too make the list.

One thing I agree with many reviewers was that I too wanted the MC's to take a breather. From start to finish they are battling complication after complication and I desperately wanted the sweet moments to be drawn out and for them to bask a little more in the fleeting happiness they were granted. I mean, I wanted to see the faces I love express joy so badly that after finishing the show, I spent hours watching behind the scenes and blooper videos to lighten my heart and seeing those actors laugh and goof around filled me with inexplicable warmth.

As far as the ending is concerned, I'll dole out the same advice a friend gave to me and that is to not dread the tragedy too much for it's something that's bound to happen and you might actually find it quite acceptable. Who knows?
I have said so much, yet I feel that there is so much more to say. I am positive that I can write a thesis on my love for this drama and still not be satisfied so I'm going to end this here.
Every single second of this is nerve wracking in some way, the violence isn't over-produced, the action scenes are beautiful, the dialogues are excellent and although I never really re-watch seasons even when I say that I will, this is one season that I'm absolutely certain that I will binge re-watch and will most probably once again, be strung like a live wire because of all the feels.

An undeniable must watch.

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Bow down for love.

I finally finished it. I ended up taking a lot of time pausing and trying to make this drama last longer. I was reluctant to say goodbye.

Song Zuer captivates with a natural charm that blends playfulness, wit, and vibrant energy. Xiao Qiao, in contrast, embodies quiet strength and intelligence. She faces adversity with deliberate care and unwavering courage, always thinking ahead. Her deep understanding of Wei Shao guides her every move, and she stands by his side as an equal—never idle, never reckless.

Rather than allowing him to face danger alone, she shares the burden, fiercely protecting him, herself, and those she loves. She gently challenges him to see the Qiaos in a different light—an idea he struggles to accept at first. Yet she holds no resentment. Aware of the wounds he carries, she responds with patience and empathy, slowly helping him release the past and find peace—to truly bury the hatchet.

Liu Yuning’s Wei Shao commands attention without a word—his presence alone shifts the air. With sharp features and a cool, unreadable expression, he doesn’t chase the spotlight; he is the spotlight. He’s not the man you run to, but the one you instinctively follow—back straight, breath held. Yet beneath the warlord’s cold exterior lies a flicker of warmth. When he breaks down before Xiao Qiao, the depth of his love, pride, and pain bleeds through every glance.

Liu Yuning delivers a performance both fierce and tender, capturing a rare duality—dominant yet vulnerable, righteous yet enigmatic. His understated intensity, commanding voice, and raw martial edge give him a wolf-like energy that’s magnetic and nearly impossible to imitate.

These two demeanors create this electric “wolf and fox” dynamic. Both characters are written to extremes, and these two actors push those extremes in a way that makes their chemistry almost untouchable. Their on-screen connection feels fated.

The Wei brothers were an absolute delight to watch, each bringing unique personalities that lit up every scene. They truly embodied the Wei clan’s reputation for strength and spirit.

At first, I wasn’t particularly fond of Wei Yan, but over time, he grew on me. His personal journey—coming to terms with his past and striving to become better—added depth to his character. He played a key role in strengthening the bond between the wolf and the fox, acting as a catalyst for their relationship. Over time, he proved himself to be a sharp-witted companion and a dependable ally during the final conflict. I gained a newfound respect for him; he’s undeniably flawed, but he owns those flaws and integrates them into who he is.

Of course, can’t leave out Wei Liang and Xiao Tao, who were an absolutely charming pair. Their relationship started off with playful bickering, which quickly became their unique love language. As the story progressed, that lighthearted banter blossomed into one of the most heartwarming romances in the entire drama.

What made their dynamic so endearing was how effortlessly they matched each other's energy. By the end, they had become a couple you couldn’t help but root for—sweet, sincere, and impossible not to smile at.

The women of the Wei family—Wei Shao’s mother and grandmother—were standouts during the final conflict. Both displayed remarkable strength and resilience. While Wei Shao’s mother initially clashed with the main couple, she eventually transformed into one of their strongest allies. She is not an amazing character, but she changed for the better.

In contrast, his grandmother was a steady force from the beginning. She was the voice of reason and the key figure without whom the relationship might never have been possible. Wise and composed, she never boasted about her insights, yet she approached every serious matter with gravity. Most importantly, she supported Xiao Qiao from the very start, despite her ties to the rival clan.

I found the power struggle within the Qiao family interesting, particularly between the leader and Xiao Qiao's father, who was one of my favorite characters. He reminded me in some ways of Wei Shao's grandmother.

Da Qiao and Bi Zhi’s story is parallel to that of Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao. I really enjoyed their dynamic, although some of Bi Zhi’s choices sometimes felt off to me. Da Qiao was almost always supportive of him. While Bi Zhi might have become a general, deep down he was just trying to give the woman he loved a peaceful life. They were also one of the couples that demonstrated the most mutual understanding and care for each other.

As for the villains, they were strong but came off as a little too easy to win against at times.

The story’s pacing is sharp and well-balanced, with both narrative arcs—political drama and romance—equally engaging and never overshadowing one another.

The plot unfolds in the aftermath of a devastating betrayal between two once-allied clans. Wei Shao, who witnessed the tragic loss of his loved ones at a young age, harbors deep hatred toward the Qiao clan. However, fate takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself falling for Xiao Qiao, a member of the Qiao family. She enters the Wei clan through a political marriage intended to halt an impending revenge plot and initiate peace talks.

The heart of the story lies in their romance. What begins as mutual hostility and manipulation gradually transforms into a deep bond rooted in trust and empathy. Their growing connection becomes a challenge for the main antagonists, as Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao develop an unwavering understanding of each other. Remarkably, they never blame one another for the actions of their families. Wei Shao is able to see Xiao Qiao as an individual, separate from the clan he despises, choosing not to project his anger onto her. In turn, Xiao Qiao respects his role as a leader and forgives the difficult decisions he must make under the weight of his responsibilities.

The romance in this story blossoms at a gentle, unhurried pace, skillfully weaving together light-hearted humor, tender exchanges, and a powerful, slow-burning chemistry that draws you in. It’s not a tale driven by a consistent trope of a relentlessly toxic or overbearing male lead. If you’re looking for a drama built around emotional manipulation or cold indifference disguised as passion, this is not it.

At its heart, it is Wei Shao’s deeply personal and emotional journey. He begins as a proud, battle-hardened leader, defined by his authority, sharp instincts, and the weight of past grievances. But as the story unfolds, we witness the transformation of a man long guarded by resentment and power. Slowly, he begins to dismantle the emotional walls he has spent years building.

This isn’t just a love story—it’s a quiet surrender. Wei Shao doesn’t simply fall in love; he bows to it. Not in defeat, but in reverence. He lays down the armor forged from pain and pride and kneels at the altar of love—not out of weakness, but out of strength and trust. In Xiao Qiao, he finds not just a partner but a safe haven, someone worthy of seeing his vulnerability. And in doing so, he chooses tenderness over vengeance, devotion over pride. His submission to love becomes the most courageous act of all.

Now, about the visuals—I absolutely loved the artistic direction they took with the drama. The color palette and gradients used in the sets and costumes, especially the wedding attire, were stunning. The title card shots for each state were also beautifully done, showing just how much attention to detail went into maintaining visual consistency throughout. It was a visually captivating experience with fantastic cinematography. While there weren't many large battle scenes, that didn’t matter much, as they were never the central focus of the story.

I also really enjoyed the background music during the emotional scenes—it added a lot of depth. The opening theme, sung by Liu Yuning, was excellent, and overall, the entire soundtrack was well-chosen and perfectly fitting.

Overall, this was one of the most put-together and well-written dramas of this year so far. I know it has its flaws, but it is a story I enjoyed, with moments that vary from touching to laughter-inducing. It's a drama that I could easily see myself rewatching in the future.

"Dripping water wears through stone; with a beauty by my side, sorrow and hatred dissolve.

With gentle affection and tender grace, even a noble man bends his will for true love."

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A VERY realistic take on Japanese LGBT life and its society that affects all the characters

Thanks for Furritsu for the subs. I finished watching the remaining episodes on Billi

So I really liked this drama, it’s different. To me depressing or not happy endings stories like this one really interest me. I don’t get emotionally affected by stories like these (because I don’t see it as real).

Oh yeah I am going to talk SPOILERS for this series.

Story: The good half of the story (episode 1 to 8) focus on Mieko and Makio, their friendship and their involvement with Eiji who they all met working part time in a restaurant. With the POV being on Mieko making her the main character of this series. This changes in the final two episodes (8 to 10) where the POV is more general and focus on Makio and Asato general relationship.

For me I liked how realistic and down to earth the story is. Mostly you are following the lives of Meiko, Makio and Eiji (in the 1st half) and Asato (in the later section). For me I don’t think this is a BL story, as while Makio relationships with Eiji and Asato are shown the story does’nt completely focus on Makio. As the story covers Meiko story as she progresses in her life. Also the portrayal of how society views LGBT relationship is completely realistic compared to the fantasy of BL. I just thought things
like this happens in real life and that’s fine, people are in one situation and the next moment they move on to another.

Characters

Meiko: Is such a refreshing female character, she's interesting character, but yes thinking about it she's really stupid for the actions that she did. What I like about her is that she's relatable and reminds me of myself, she is an observer but wants to help when she wants to. Her friendship with Makio is amazing. I understood her downfall when she volunteered to be a surrogate mother, thinking she would help Makio and Eiji’s relationship but as a result it was the one of the catalysts to cause the breakup of Makio and Eiji. Because I could see that is not what Makio wanted. Ok her actions were VERY selfish and egoistical of herself, but in a way she was'nt a baddie in my eyes, she really valued Makkio in her life and I see it as she did'nt mean to intentionally break the relationship between Makkio and Eiji. She's like WAY better than some toxic female characters in most BL dramas these days.

Makio: From the outside he’s a very happy go lucky kind of person. He also doesn’t think much when he decides to date Eiji. The thing is this series does'nt really show you what kind of person Makio really is so you have to judge from what you see him on the screen. But when he dated Eiji and moved on to Asato just shows that he really wants to get into a relationship with a guy the BL way lol (like date a guy with no judgement on his gay status, no child, just have the guy to himself)

Eiji: A really interesting character. I like how honest he is with himself but too shy to stand up for himself, like how he just confessed to Eiji after a misunderstanding and the same when he confessed to his parents but to me he feels like he rather please others rather than thinking about living in a way he wants to. But sadly he is a prime example of being influenced by how society views LGBT subjects. He wasn’t mentally strong to maintain the relationship he had with Makio.

Asato: A late comer into the story. He honestly needed more episodes than 2 to get to know his character. But he’s at least more emotionally stronger than Eiji, I liked how casual his relationship with Makio is and how naturally they became lovers. From being ex-classmates, to bickering about rubbish, to being casual friends and to being lovers. Felt natural and down to earth. He has his own personal problems career wise (and with his granddad) but not related to his sexuality.

Directing: Really slick and felt natural. I LOVE how the ending credits are shown.

Music: It's not really there, snice it's trying to show real life so most of the scenes have no music. I do like the ending themes tho.

Postives: Very high production values, very good acting, great directing and a very realistic story about LGBT life. I liked all of the characters in this story.

Negatives: The Asato and Makio storyline needed more episodes than two. It was a very sudden change of pace from the Makio, Meiko, Eiji storyline.

Overall: More than words IS NOT A BL drama in my view. It’s more like a slice of life drama with the characters being LGBT and how society affects them. Many BL fans might be disappointed in the way the story focuses on one couple for a good amount of episodes only for them to break them up and gives little time to set up for the second couple to form. But I found this story to be SUPER REALISITC because stories like this happens in real life. I don’t know if BL fans think the story is depressing/sad because one couple ending is not happy at all, I thought it ended on a happy hopeful tone to it.

But for those looking for a mellow down to earth slice of life drama with gay characters this series might be for you.

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