Reviews

Suspensefully Good

This series is finally finished and though I am not an advanced writer I just like to express thoughts of how I view a show so hopefully it can help someone else trying to decide.

Cast:
Lee Yoo Ri (EunSoo) well known from her stellar acting in Father is Strange (great family drama if you haven't seen it) is the protagonist here. Her character here is really different from other one so its kind of hard to compare. My takeaway of common tropes in kdrama is the trance look/slow moving and it bugs me when it's overdone. Other than that she delivered well as a woman that is wronged. Yeon Jung Hoon (Kang Ji Min) as a loving father and persistent journalist is a polished actor and male lead. We can't stand most antagonists and you'll hate Lee Hwa (Kim Ho Ran) as the mother in law who is infuriatingly evil but man she is good. Go Na Hee (Woo Joo) is the little girl who is adorable and the heart of the storyline. The rest of the cast are excellent though if I could make adjustments, I would of given more family support scenes to Kwon Hwa Woon (Yeon Joon), the pro golfer, (EunSoo's childhood "brother") to add substance to her role of not having any family.

Storyline:
Maybe because I'm a fairly new "adoptee" of kdramas/asian dramas, I find this plot really compelling and interesting.....framed for murder, giving birth in jail, etc. I won't give more away. The thing is, the writer and production team did an excellent job weaving the story through from present to past and then gradually connecting the dots, keeping us in suspense but hungry for next and next. After all is done with the "who done it" and "why", in the heart of it is a beautiful love story of a man and a woman and a little girl. This is a well rounded great series (in my opinion) so if you are looking for your next drama binging, this is the one.

Overall: easily a 10 for me but I'm a novice..Let me know if you liked it afterwards. It might help me as an aspiring writer. Thanks.

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yakusuke's bad luck causes him to need kyoko's help constantly and although she forgets him due to her memory that resets every day, he starts to develop a crush on her. each episode features a new case; some are serious, but still, the drama remains light and can also make one laugh. also within each episode, yakusuke and kyoko's relationship starts to develop. it's a beautiful drama about seeing more in your life and how one should treasure the little things and other great things.

besides the story, i believe the true treasure of this drama is the actors' ability to make their characters shine. this is the first drama i've seen of gakky and i don't think she was a "turn-off" at all.. she may lack superior talent, but she also isn't a horrible actress that brings everything down. okada masaki is one of my favorite actors so it may be that i carry a biased opinion of him, but he really did a great job in this one. i really felt that he let himself be "free".. his expressions were always on point and he knows how to create a mood. he can make you laugh, but he can also warm your heart.

the music was great. i'm not one that normally pays much attention to it, but it was nice and fit the drama well.

i'm also not one to rewatch dramas, but i think i would watch this again if i ever got the time.

overall, this is a good drama to watch when you need something light. i don't think it's a complete must, but i think it's a drama that will definitely make you feel something for awhile.

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"Always find myself looking back at memories"

Before I begin I just want to say I first watched this drama a year ago and the story has stayed in my heart and will remain in my heart. This drama is my favourite of all time. There are no flying leaps and swishy capes. Nor is there any magic and cheesy romance. This story is heartbreaking and I still constantly think about it.

Story:
One word sum up: Mesmerizing
Explanation: For anyone that doesn't know, this drama is based on real history so those complaining about the ending are arguing with history lol. This is definitely a sad story with a sad ending. It's basically is 84 episodes of heartbreak, betrayal, and angst. It shows us a relationship once filled with love and passion crumble apart. It was a relief from happy ending dramas but it is also a drama that can not be compared with others and destroys you inside & out. It was an honest and painful look at love. A thing I loved about this show is that they showed multiple different types of love: sisterly love, motherly love, unrequited love, and of course romantic love. I do not recommend this drama to anyone with a weak heart. Its a harem drama and one based on real events so if you cant take harem you won't be able to take Ruyi. I've seen a lot of reviews saying they stopped when Ruyi became empress because they couldn't bare to see her in any more pain which is understandable but something I never could do. You feel every emotion this show conveys.

Cast:
One word sum up: Perfect
Explanation: I wouldn't change one cast member. They all played their parts perfectly. Zhou Xun and Wallace Huo did such an amazing job. Watching you could really believe they were the people they were betraying. Zhou Xun showed how strong Ruyis character is. She always showed the perfect emotional reaction for Ruyi with each situation that came up. Even her just gazing out of a window makes your heart cry. Wallace Huo made me hate him with a passion because of this drama even now watching dramas with him in it I think back to the person he was betraying in this drama. You feel every emotion they betray.

Music:
One word sum up: Beautiful
Explanation: The main songs and the wordless musical ones were all spectacular. Lei Jia did an amazing job with the main ost. Every time I hear it the show's images flash in my mind. And of course, Mao BuYi & Zhou Shen did a fantastic job as with every drama ost they do.

Negatives:
Like I said do not watch this if you can't do harem drama or expect a fluffy sweet romance. This is a soul-crushing story. You would think with 84 episodes there would be a lot of filler but honestly, there wasn't except on the last few episodes but that was because of the wild situation at the end. There is a lot of drama and when I mean a lot I mean a lot. Lots of murders and torture. Everyone dies.

Positives:
They really put a lot of effort into this show and it comes through. From the food, clothing and decorations as the seasons change to the speaking manner and positions and placements of the cast in a scene. I could take 10 random screen recordings of this show and I would have an official-looking background for an ost song cover. They put so much detail into this show. The hairpins, hairstyles, and clothing all change helping understand the changing of times as this show goes on. They beautifully showed time passing and I have yet to find a drama that matches up to it.

Final words:
This drama is engraved in my mind like some of my most important memories I would rewatch right now but I'm mentally getting ready for it as it is very depressing but such a masterpiece. If you decide to start your Ruyi journey I wish you luck and hope you appreciate and love this drama as much as I do.

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I can't believe that I watched a bread baking drama, that was 30 episodes long, without being bored! It took a lot of persuasion from a friend to get me to watch this. The high ratings didn't even have me fully convinced, but from beginning to end this drama lived up to all the hype.

The entire cast was great. The first episodes are set in the past, and I thought the cast of younger actors were exceptional. I also thought the younger actors matched their older counterparts very well. Younger Kim Tak Goo hooked me into the story, and older Kim Tak Goo kept me hooked from the first time he smiled. I loved that the cast of "villains" had depth, and some characters walked the fine line between good and bad. I liked that Eugene strayed from the romantic lead path into her own interesting character. I thought Joo Won was really good at being very sympathetic, and equally distasteful, though I lol-ed at the look on his face as if something constantly stunk. Even the supporting characters really added to the story, so I had to give the cast a 10.

Though the show is about baking, the story centers around family betrayal, revenge, rivalry, and painful relationships between children and their parents. There are some over the top fight scenes, dramatic rescues, and heartbreaking confrontations, so don't expect to just watch a bunch of scenes about how to bake bread. There's also a good balance of sweet, and humorous moments, and the pacing is good as well. I loved that the romance in this was a bit unconventional, and was touching without being cheesy, or the central focus of the story. This drama also has something I find rare in most dramas, a great ending. They manage to give each character proper closure, and the ending felt just right.

Overall the story isn't necessarily original, but It wasn't predictable either. I laughed and cried many times while watching. There aren't many specific rewatchable scenes, and since suspense is mainly what kept me up nights watching, I'm not sure If I will watch this again. Yoon Si Yoon is so charming, that he may be enough of a reason to give this one a second look.

I definitely recommend this. The 30 episodes will fly by...

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A fun romance wrapped in a transmigration costume drama shell

Gemini is the gift that keeps on giving. I went in with typically low expectations for quality and high expectations for entertainment, as is my typical approach to costume mini-dramas. Gemini delivered on both fronts!

— The romance —

I’m all kinds of happy with the development of the main couple, which hits many of my favorite tropes, including role reversal with a self-possessed, powerful, stabby heroine and a down-bad ML. It was a little too fast-burn for my tastes, because I typically tend to lose interest after the leads get together, but not here.

— Zhou Jun Wei as our hero —

What can I say? Zhou Jun Wei delivered. His expressions, his presence, his little side-smirks… ahhhh I just love him. He absolutely killed it. It’s a crime that he hasn’t been the lead in more dramas, especially full-length dramas.

His character is a classic Wuxia hero in many ways. Badass, devoted, determined, a beast in battle. When with the people he loves, he becomes playful, earnest, and genuinely funny in some moments.

The ML’s inability to feel physical pain, due to some MacGuffin he swallowed in his childhood, makes him into a fascinating character. First off, because it turns him into something like a rabid dog in battle, willing to take hit after hit and keep moving. The villain character comments at one point that, when his sect leader (the FL) is not there to keep him in check, he is little more than a madman. Second, his lack of physical pain makes him feel emotional pain all the more acutely. Consistently, he is a man driven by grief and love, making everything else in his life secondary.

Could the writers have dug deeper into the juiciest parts of his character? Absolutely. Though this is a mini-drama, there was enough space to explore, and they didn’t always capitalize on the time they had to do proper character growth.

— Zhu Li Lan as our heroine —

It was my first time seeing her in a drama. The first few episodes, I had trouble focusing on what her character was up to because, um, she is SO beautiful. I was too busy staring at her face 🤣

She begins as the clueless wife of a villainous prince and, in a sequence of transmigration loosely reminiscent of A Familiar Stranger, becomes a duplicitous and violent woman bent on revenge. ZLL plays both roles well but I very much preferred her in the “villainess” role.

— The plot —

The plot relies on well-worn tropes such as body-switching and revenge, but not so heavily that things get boring. Crucially, when things seemed to slow down, the writers threw in a wonderful twist regarding the villain which brought me right back to full investment in the story.

— Overall —

A gem. No filler, beautiful actors, fun twisty plot, doesn’t take itself seriously except when it counts.


— TROPES —
- ML falls first (a “loved you all along” kind of arrangement)
- badass anti-heroine
- master/disciple
- childhood friends to lovers
- reincarnation, body switching, revenge plot
- medium burn (?) with several instances of spice throughout
- arranged marriage, royal family politics

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1) The reason I watched this:

I don't usually watch Chinese rom-coms but this one slipped away when I was watching too many romantic comedies.

2) Storyline/Plot:

The general story isn't something special or new but the way everything was mixed together made the film's story interesting somehow.

Positive points:

*The film's introduction was a good intro for what will happen next.
*There were two well-written twits that you don't usually find in romantic comedies stories: that was a nice change.
*Leads mixture was really cool even though it wasn't that intense.
*Finally and most importantly, there were several hilarious moments to make the film lighter.

Negative points:

*Although there were a respectable amount of negative points but I will only mention that the revenge plot wasn't that great, it would have been much better if it was written otherwise.

Story: 7.5/10

3) Acting/Cast:

*Zhang Ziyi: It was a surprise to see her in a rom-com film since I only saw her in Wuxia productions before. I was convinced by her acting but I can't say the same about her character.
*Other actors were good too, they knew how to make it really enjoyablespecially Fan Bing Bing she grasped the evil role perfectly but So Ji Sub was a disappointement here (mainly because I rarely like Korean actors in Chinese or Taiwanese productions).

*The chemistry was believable but not that enjoyable.

Cast: 7/10
Acting: 7.5/10

4) The ending:

Although it could have been much better but script writers chose to make it expected. It wasn't bad overall.

The ending: 7/10.

5) My impression (How did affect me):

*Although it wasn't a special film, it was entertaining and I had fun while watching it.
*Considering the fact that I don't watch Chinese romantic comedies, this was pretty good.

My impression 7/10.

6) Overall:

*If you like romantic comedies then you would like this.
*Ifyou like revenge plots then don't expect much from this.


Overall: 7/10.

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The best thing to happen in a BL industry

If I could, I would give this show 10000 stars, but MDL only allows me to give it 10. It's worth much more. Beyond more, and nothing would be enough.

I have to say, I started watching this show from the first episode just for fun, not expecting much. I expected a cute, enemies to lovers storyline, something to kill time. Instead, I got more - so, so much more. Maybe I'm still a little bit too overwhelmed to put all my feelings into words, and that is because this show is it for me. It does everything right, from head to toe. And just when you think it's going to fall under your typical BL tropes; it doesn't. Instead, it fights them, even subtly makes fun of them at some point, and it's just so, so wonderful to watch, from start to finish.

First off, the plot.

It might seem very basic at first. It might seem like you know exactly where it's going to go and where it's going to take you. But the thing with Bad Buddy is, it took a basic plot, and turned it upside down. The basic enemies to lovers trope suddenly became so much more, and oh, look! They aren't really enemies, they aren't really friends either. But they are something . Then we have their parents who absolutely despise each other. And again, we think we know the story here, thinking it's something cliché. We hate on Pran's mother, thinking she's just a crazy hysterical woman, when, in fact, there's so, so much more depth to that whole plot and her hatred towards Pat's father, it leaves you astonished. Now? I want to give that woman the world.

Second off, the characters. Because I can't write anything else without mentioning the superiority of the characters.

Pat and Pran. What a perfect, absolutely stunning match. You can say whatever you want, but those two are just a perfect couple, played by superb actors with the chemistry that's out of this world. These two... they have drama happening around them. So, so much drama, never having a moment of calmness. But them? No, they are complete opposite. They are a steady, sure thing, not letting the drama around them affect their relationship at all. If everything around them is chaos and drama, they are a calm breeze keeping everything at bay. Sure, there are times where they get shaken up a bit and their relationship goes through small trials, but they resolve it quickly, with COMMUNICATION, and understanding and care for one another.

But you know what they refuse to let it affect their relationship? It's the biggest trial - their parents, and everyone around them who don't want them to be together. Breaking up looks like a typical, logical thing to do, to make things easier for everyone. But do they do that though? No, they don't. Instead, they find a way to still be together, to ease up their parents to the idea, even when things didn't look so bright. This is exactly why I never doubted them and didn't for a second thing that they broke up. That preview was a bust and it was obvious. It wouldn't be Pat and Pran if that happened.

Another wonderful fact about them is, they've been officially together from episode 7 till the end of the series, which is RARE. It's so rare to see a BL do that, and I am SO over the moon they did because it's the least they deserve. OhmNanon delivered their characters perfectly and I honestly cannot see anyone else doing it better than them. It's so refreshing to see how genuine they are and how it looks as if they seriously enjoy acting together and have a blast. It shows, it truly shows throughout the whole series.

Ink and Pa. What can I even say? I just want to thank the director for bringing such a nice, healthy, adorable GL relationship to a BL drama. It was such a nice surprise, I was doubting they were truly going to go with it till the very end, but I'm so glad they did. They also serve as a nice contrast to Pran and Pat, in a way where it's obvious that homophobia really isn't the main conflict as to why their parents don't want them together. It shows how their relationship could've been, if they weren't from the rivaled families. Even the dinner scene in the last episode, it's something Pran has imagined happening. Pat and Pran can't have that yet, while Ink and Pa can.

Hopefully, in the future, Pat's parents will call Pran their second son as well.

Korn and Wai. Listen. I am so glad, SO GLAD, we didn't get a typical "Oh, they are together as well!" Instead, they made them become good friends and colleagues, burying their old rivalry and deciding to do something together. It's nice. Even though I still didn't and don't forgive Wai for the way he outed Pat and Pran. That was a shitty and pathetic move and I'm glad he's become a better person since then, and I hope somewhere, behind the scenes, Pat and Pran got their much needed apology. However, he still didn't apologise in front of us, viewers, so I cannot really condone his actions. That being said, the complexity of his character plays a really important role in a better part of the series and I guess it's a good message. Each one of us makes some bad decisions, each on of us has prejudices that sometimes take over us. Not everyone is a good person. But everyone can change to a better, and do better. And I guess Wai kind of did that. Korn, though, Korn is a legend. Enough said.

Such tridimensional, well-written characters is what makes this BL what it is. If it weren't for that, it wouldn't be half as good. Characters make this story not basic, it makes it for what it is. God bless all of the characters, honestly.

Third off, music.

Goddammit, if I could sell my soul for Nanon's voice, I would. Bad Buddy incorporated music so, so well within the story, there is not one moment where it's awkward. I have three of my favourite scenes which are related to music. First is the one where Pat plays the xylophone, the second one is Pran singing Our Song in ep 11. Third one is in the last episode, where Pat and Pran are playing around, playing their songs, and their parents hearing them, and finally showing some kind of acceptance. Everything around them is related to music. Music plays such a huge part in their relationship. Music is what broke them, but it is also what mended them together. Even though Pran's mum took him away when he was playing music with Pat, years later she smiles and lets them have their music. Together.

There is so much more I could write about this wonderful series. I could talk about it for days and why I think it's as impactful and downright amazing as it is. I would strongly recommend everyone to watch it, although it did ruin other BLs for me and raised my standards even higher, but we're going to ignore that.

Thank you, Bad Buddy. Thank you, PatPran for making my fridays better. It was a wonderful journey.

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Just as a note, I never write reviews, but this movie touched my feelings so much that I feel like I should share why I think everyone should watch this film.

I don't think I disliked anything about this movie. It made me realise certain things, that you don't get anywhere if you don't try your hardest. I've always been someone who doesn't try their best, and I've always done the minimum possible when it comes to studying, that's why whilst watching this I could picture myself in a similar situation.

The story is in itself like a lesson everyone should learn, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of this movie. I don't know how much I can say without spoiling anything. Basically if you think this movie is all about laughs and a straight road to success, you've got it so wrong. It's so much more than that on many levels, it shows you the life of a student which never tried at school. It shows you the hardships of studying, hardships of life itself. Everything from the brothers story to the family problems was what made the story even more worth watching. Don't expect to watch this without shedding a tear or two, because I did, and I never cry with movies to be honest. It might have been because I'm probably too emotional at the moment since I'm going through a hard patch myself.

The acting was on point. I literally felt everything from all characters, I felt like I was being sucked into their world and right on the spot, all the tears whether of sadness or joy were there. I related to some at times with hard choices to make concerning friendships and school.

If I were to summarise this into three words I would probably just say: Watch this movie
You won't regret it, you'll probably think about it for a while after its finished, you might find some motivation in it to do something you've always wanted to do because that's what this movie has done to me, taught me to never give up.

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A story of love and pain

The second season was as good as the first one. Kim Go Eun as Kim Yu Mi did a fantastic job of portraying the real-life struggles of a woman trying to find her happy ending. The time jumps made the story feel more realistic as nothing was too rushed. Jinyoung and Ahn Bo Hyun portrayed their roles very well. Do not expect any twists and turns but you will still be entertained.

In the end, we also got a happy ending that was not as predictable for those who did not read the webtoon. I am really happy that Yu Mi did not get back together with either Ba Bi or Woong. It truly felt as if she got her own happy ending. The final episode wrapped the series nicely.

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Okay, i don't know how to begin, I was one day bored without dramas or something to see and i saw someone that said that this movie was amazing, so i began and the story it's about an earthquake and the lifes of the people after that and it seems normal but OMG it's so amazing, then we see Yuichi (Shota Sometani) a simple guy but he has really bad "parents", well, they don't deserve to be called parents, and our lead girl that she's in love with him, well...you can say it in that way LOL
The acting: It's beyond the perfection, i was so inmersed in the movie, they were perfect in their roles, all the cast was amazing, I hated the parents and it was a movie that I'll never forget (because it was perfect)
The music was fine, nothing that I'll remember forever
Rewatch value: I have seen this movie 3 times and I'm not a person who likes to rewatch dramas or movies.
Overall: if you have a good cast, little bizarre things that are typical in japanese movies, two leads with a dysfunctional family then JACKPOT! If you're looking for a good movie you must see it, you're not to wast your time

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Take My Brother Away is one of those series that may not look like much at first glance, but are actually extremely good, both in quality and presentation.

First of all, while the series mainly revolves around comedy, it's also very heavy on drama. Most series have a hard time juggling between both aspects, but Take My Brother Away does so almost flawlessly. It's amazing how they managed to handle both genres in such a fluid manner.

Acting is easily the best thing this series has to offer after the main plot. Both the main leads do a great job. Joseph Zheng as Shi Fen is particularly outstanding. Sun Qian also does a good job as Shi Miao. Secondary actors are not too far behind. All of them do a great work portraying their respective characters and imbuing some depth to them.

What I like the most about this drama is the heavy focus on sibling / family relationships instead of romance. Both Joseph Zheng and Sun Qian successfully manage to portray a brother-sister relationship that feels natural (and definitely non-romantic. God bless). That's very hard to achieve. Similarly, Hu Yong Tao (Wan Sui) and Ma Bai Quan (Wan Xing) offer a different and more fantastical, yet still valid, sibling relationship. Compared to Shi Feb and Shi Miao's more down to earth relationship, the interactions between the Wan brothers are a breath of fresh air.

Of course, Take My Brother Away isn't without some problems. The most critical is the odd episode structure. Most episodes are very unfocused and mix various plots in weird ways. Some sub plots serve little to no purpose to the main one. Some episodes have 2 consecutive main plots that have no relation to each other. It feels weird sometimes.

Would I recommend this series? Yeah, definitely. It's sort of a hidden gem amongst Netflix's catalogue of Asian dramas. I haven't heard much discussion about it. Go ahead and watch it. You won't regret it.

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Out with the Ancient & In with the Modern

Finally this elf on a 2 year shelf saw the light of day. I watched this primarily because of LYN and his character as this was again a different role and character for him plus I believe this was his first real foray into martial arts characters. I also knew QJJ from a previous series and a few of the supporting characters. Ironically though they never had a scene together here LYN plays sworn brothers with ZME in Eternal Brotherhood and that was filmed back in 2021, while here the latter was Lucky's Shifu. In any case, I'm glad I watched this as it it was all about out with the ancient and in with the modern.

Pros: They didn't skimp on the martial arts here. That was my number one favorite thing in this entire series. Every episode had at least one great fight be it long or short, the quality was fantastic. From camera angles to the fights themselves. Everyone went all out. Considering they used some actual history here (which I only knew through speaking with others), it looked pretty authentic and believable. From costumes to sets everything was very well done, even the accents of the different region's characters was a nice touch. Favorite OSTs were LYN's and his with JF who played HQ (his lady love). LYN has a very wide range in his vocals so to have someone who can not only match him in harmony, Melody, and power, was impressive to say the least. They made the song sound like something from a powerful western genre.

When it came to favorite characters, I liked MSD aka ML or QJJ the best though ZBF played by LYN came in right on his heels. I like how we didn't know exactly when MSD switched sides because he was always so private and secretive about it, even struggling with it a bit. ZBF was morally grey because of his ambition but a protagonist nonetheless. He was willing to give everything up to live a peaceful life at the end, it's a shame they never got a chance. MSD and ZBF though started out on opposite sides, still respected each other and towards the end there was even a bond between them that was obvious. When these two would lock swords, it was a feast for the eyes. I'd rewind a lot of their fights because that's how awesome they were. Other favorite characters were Gege, LL, Lucky, Getai, the monks, some of the members of ZBF's sect that died, even HQ though she started off whining, she never wavered from her support of ZBF even choosing to die with him.

The story was ever winding and moving, you never felt bored or like it was dragging anywhere. They only found the treasure at the end but the entire thing was about it though with other things too. The ever changing alliances between good and bad also kept things interesting. Not to mention the cheesy introduction that was placed as the opening credits in some of the episodes. When good characters perished, they were given a send off of small clips and a song of how they affected us as viewers or what they wish had happened as opposed to what did. Some really left you feeling the way they died was unfair although you knew the body count would be large. Those clips left you teary-eyed. The show overall was good.

Cons: At first I wanted to add WJL to the pros as he was an important part of the trio and finding the treasure, I really didn't like the way they wrote the character at the end. He was the most stubborn of the three but also the most gullible, naive, and ultimately just plain stupid. He never evolved, in fact he got worse. It was like yes he could recite laws and scriptures but he never knew what any of them of them represented or truly meant. He was dumber than a donkey and it caused him to kill people without even thinking. I hated the way he killed ZBF and HQ (who was technically innocent in his charges to begin with); he executed them by gunfire and a battalion of people; ZBF was severely injured and WJL didn't even fight him sword to sword like he did ZBF's juniors but ambushed him; it was an embarrassment. He went back on his promise to MSD and ZBF in regards to the seal. He literally became the very thing he supposedly despised. The writers really did his character dirty. I would have understood if he never understood why the revolution mattered and stuck to his ways but the fact that he never really understood the very things he learned and became the absolute worse of himself, was de-evolution. In the beginning, he seemed funny because he was like a cat with nine lives, but at the end he just became a repetitive monkey and I was very glad he off'd himself.

LAJ who played the spy aka "lady love" of WJL was probably the worst character in terms of over acting and being horribly unconvincing. If it had been anyone but WJL, she would have been dead long before the third to last episode. I think she was miscast, simple as that. You had all of these actors in both good and evil roles that were nailing it and then you had her and it just fell flat.

Felt like the ending was rushed because they really had to step up the body count; so it took off with YHJ the money whore taking his sect mates, & officially betraying ZBF by severely wounding and nearly killing him twice (second time they were saved by MSD and Lucky), followed by the annihilation of the sect and ZBF and HQ's murders at WJL's and army's hands, bald asswipe general's death, then Lucky, LL, the Japanese spies, and finally WJL himself. All in a span of 2 episodes. Way too much, plus they located the treasure and still had time to give all of the good characters their send offs. They could have spaced that out way better.

Would I recommend it? Despite the flaws as each drama has something; I really enjoyed this one very much. If you like a good storyline, with great martial arts, this is the story for you. Enjoy it.

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Story: The story is very light and It's really funny especially when they are mentioning western celebrities (you'l get me if you watched it) . You can actually learn morals in this movie just don't get fooled with the title, it's really misleading.

Acting: The cast is amazing Especially the lead girl she nailed the childish yet pure character so hard. about the male lead i didn't like him at first but then his character grew into me as the movie goes on.

Music: The Soundtrack of the movie is awesome. Hey Say Jump: White Love will play at the ending credits.

Rewatch: Yes. If you're having a bad day. I'm pretty sure this Movie can make you smile.

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Despite the dislike that’s always targeting Japanese detective dramas, I happen to L.O.V.E them. However, I do admit that they usually fall under the same criteria but The Long Goodbye is entirely different from any Japanese detective show I’ve ever seen.

The Long Goodbye is another adaptation of the very popular Raymond Chandler’s novel. While watching this drama you would get the exact feeling of watching an old Hollywood noir film with all of those pitch-black moments and intriguing tension. However, that doesn’t deny the persistent existence of Japanese fingerprints such as post-war atmosphere and some elements that represent Japan alone.

This somewhat mini-drama depicts a long mystery, it’s not the type of murder that will keep you on your toes to know the truth but it’s certainly the type that creeps into you to give you a nice blow at the end. The suspense part wasn’t fully used but the mystery build-up and revelation were absolutely captivating. For some reason, this drama wasn’t slowly-sailing at all, you’d expect such a drama to become heavily gloomy at some point but it didn’t. Of course it wasn’t humorous either but the use of the dark aura came with moderation; the poisonous relationships, the filthy lies and the intolerable truth didn’t come in one blow. It was slowly building up until it was mature enough to be revealed.

The name of Asano Tadanobu as the main lead of this drama was enough to make me blindly watch this; it’s not only because he’s one of the greatest Japanese actors alive or because he’s one of my all-times favorite actors; it’s also because the man can choose his roles so well. He’s also films’ star so getting the chance to see him in a drama is one of the better news I read this year. Leaving that aside, his portrayal of Banji Masuzawa was consuming, although his character was silent and he couldn’t do much about it but he was able to make it perfectly charismatic and when he snaps; all you have to do is sit back and see how high-profile acting is supposed to be like.

Other actors for this drama were also amazing. First there’s Ayano Go; someone who slowly building his acting to reach greater levels; he was able to make his character quite appealing even with the little running time. Second, there’s the definition of Japanese beauty Koyuki; she was impressive in Aiko’s role, I had a difficult time comparing this to her previous “innocent” housewife roles. Finally, there’s Furuta Arata; man is a very-underrated Japanese veteran actor, he rarely got roles to shine in them but in The Long Goodbye, he was finally given justice.

The cinematography for this drama was quite catching; Japan in the 1950’s was brought to current days with glamour. As for the music, it was too perfectly-chosen to fit the drama’s developments and tension built up. Other than that, the narration must be the strongest point amongst side effects. Takito’s way of narrating was too intriguing to describe, not only his wonderful tone or use of words; but there’s also this artistic and vibrating meanings behind it.

Watch if:
-You’re looking for a different type of Japanese dramas.
-You like Raymond Chandler’s novel because this is a fine adaptation.
-You’re into dark, slowly-building types of mysteries.
-You like Asano (Duh!)

Do not watch if:
-You’re looking for your standard Japanese detective drama.
-You can’t handle slow-sailing mysteries.
-You dislike noir dramas.

The Long Goodbye is an unusual Japanese detective drama that falls between noir and mystery. It may not be to everyone’s liking but it’s absolutely a drama that was able to distinguish itself from the crowd.

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I don't usually watch 2,3 or 4 episode kdrama like this one. The last time I watch drama with only few number of episodes was Ma Boy & Sirius. And I don't quite like them. My impression of this short type of series is not that good. Because sometimes,they're a bit rush toward ending,more eyecandy than the story itself,and kinda have messy plot.But this one is different.It totally caught me with many feeling.

I think AM deserved more attention. It has similar vibe as School 2013 but with more romance essence and Reply 1997 without Kpop things.I love every bit of humor parts in it. So funny,cheery,captivating & I feel like smiling throughout the episodes. The sweetness of it bromance part will make you become more in love with this bunch of high school boys. Without one of them, they're incomplete. It also made me miss my schoolhood days aloot -.-

What actually attract me first to AM is Kwak Dong Yeon. I love his performance in My Husband's Family. He really knows how to act despite this is only his second drama.His so many expressions is his charm. Ahh I really like this boy. He have something in him that can attract ppl. I can see that he has a bright future ahead as an actor. He's like the second Yoo Seung Ho to me :D And the heroine,she reminds me much of Sulli(fx). The one new who stealing my attention here is Yeok Ho. He's so good potraying his character as Brown Bear.Such a cute nickname though :P I might follow his next drama after this. Not forget to mention the other supporting actor like Kwak Jung Wook as a BF of Jong Woo.He's soooo cute & looks young with his haircut in this drama. All the actors really did a very2 good job here.

No need to say more. A must watched drama!! Even if you're not a high school student anymore *like me*, you will love this for sure :)

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