Reviews

Love Torn Apart

Once I saw this was another heroic firefighter series I thought of ADWTF series that ended not long ago. As beautiful of a story it was, I could not stay awake long enough to get through an episode.
This is a different path and a little bit more interesting. I find myself staying awake and I binged the entire first 8 episodes.

It has backstories that need addressing of course but nothing to in depth that it leaves missing links. It tells the story of a young love divided by stations and separated by family. They both or heroic in their own way and resentment and hatred triggers hidden feelings that were buried away.

The connection the ml has with his coworkers/brothers in uniform are similar to most series with that setting.
Fl struggles to get her footing with coworkers due to her station at no fault of her own. Yet, I will say she does have a DGAF attitude about how you feel towards her, (while on her path to success for her career) in which I love.

FL only weakness is the ml Song Yan and her not being able to walk away from a very toxic family. I mean her mom used mental abuse to train and instill fear that followed her brother and herself well into adulthood. Yes, their mom and father are prime examples of Narcissistic Parents. Big brother is just as confused and suffers just as much if not more but you will learn why.

The two leads do have chemistry. It's not as deeply rooted as one would like it to be, but there is some chemistry between the two leads. There is one scene where Xu Qin seems to be pouring her heart out and she was very much in character. However, SY has a very one-dimensional look that showed little emotion besides a frown here and there. If it were not from XQ I could not truly believe they had a deep connection in the past or present. Butttt there is room for character development with his emotions and connecting.

I am not a fan of either lead but I have seen their work.
Yang Yang - is great at frowning and looking serious and also confused. Yet he has a great smile when he decides to. However, it does not really add the emotion needed for some scenes with her. This is probably because his character has been hurt and does have a career that could possibly end his life as well as others at any given moment.
Wang Churan- is great at looking like she has not one emotion which is again, what her character calls for in the beginning.
She received little love growing up. She was probably traumatized. (You will later learn why she’s so obedient as an adult even when her best interests are at stake.) She does however show emotions when faced with the ml. That would make sense since she has only experience happiness while with him. Her character also calls for an empty shell of a person trying to reconnect with what made her smile so many years ago. I must say she has bodied that type of character and I’m sure it’s what the producers had in mind when they casted her for the role. She may need characters that take her away from her comfort zone.
So, my only concern would be their chemistry and not how they look with coworkers. I mean who smiles while trying to save a life. That would be awkward, I think.

It’s cute, funny, loving, calming, refreshing and enjoyable. It can make a great go to after a very intense series when you need something more calm and relaxing in the storytelling approach. Their love seems to be very meaningful to them both and that's always an interesting outlook.

Pros
•CGI is pretty good.
•Plot seems to be pretty decent.
•Love involves only two people for now. (May change)
•Producers and crew seemed to have worked hard.
•Actors are doing phenomenal. ( most are seasoned)
•Shows the risk the firefighters take and the importance.
•No ridiculously complicated script that needs analyzing over and over.
•It also doesn’t give you too many accident scenes to tug on your emotions.
•It’s all about the characters and their growth in work, family, career, life, and love.
•Rewatch value is highly as of now

Cons
•Seen it once you have seen it twice. (Similar stories have been done several times)
• It has 40 episodes so drama is heading our way.

Leggi di Più

Short, Sweet and Decent.

This drama reminded me of a excerpt from "Me Before You", a romance novel by Jojo Moyes with a successful movie adaptation, which goes like: "...I told him a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did, but who found they were the only two people in the world who could possibly have understood each other."

Created by NHN Bugs and Produced by Red Nine Pictures plus Xanadu Ent., "Soundtrack # 1 (사운드트랙 #1) [2022]" is one of the initial Disney+ Original Korean Drama ventures. Written by Ahm Sae Won and directed by Kim Hee Won, the drama got only 4 short episodes with approx. 45 mins runtime, and stars Park Hyung Sik & Han So Hee as leads.

Soundtrack #1 is a story of two best friends of two decades at their early 30s, who have stayed together through thick and thins, but the fine edges of friendship & love becomes hazy as they are attracted towards each other while staying with each other for two weeks. Will they end up together?

Even so it is this short, given the title, characters living through words, lyrics and music was expected (at least it was me who did), however, this wasn't true for most of the part; not disappointed, still.

I think the synopsis and the concept of "friends to lovers" trope tell it all and provided a total of around 170 minutes short runtime, it's pretty much guessable what's gonna happen; but what we should be looking forward to are: the execution and the ending, while peeking through the messages. In my opinion, the show was able to revive and relieve the hidden thoughts within us, while attempting to achieve a decent score. Although the show feels short and felt lil off at few instances, the development was squeaky clean and satisfactory.

Han So Hee plays Lee Eun Soo, a struggling lyricist who strives to do better with her own accord and is honest & outspoken in nature. Han Sun Woo played by Park Hyung Sik is a budding photographer with aweing skills who has a shy yet warm personality. We have Kim Joo Heon, Park Min Jung, Park Hoon and Yoon Byung Hee as supporting cast, while Lee Jung Eun and Seo In Guk play guest roles.

Wishing Ahn Sae Bom jakkanim a goodluck for his future endeavours for he was able to make an up to snuff delivery through this, and,also, congratulations on his debut. Kim Hee Won PDnim surely is one of the leading lady directors who has created qualitative up&down shows through years. And, for a short show like this, she has indeed carried out the overall execution well. The cinematography along with light hue and warm pallettes, made it an easy watch though I am a bit unsatisfied about the sound editing.

There are a total of 12 OSTs which is actually a lottttt for a show of apprpx. 3hours, but would you say you didn't want it? No, bcs the quality is so majestic to just not ask for. Not gonna write a lot but surely wanna mention all of them, for I have come to love all of them...

# "Want to be happy" by Park Boram
# "Love beyond words" by KYUHYUN
# "Your tender heart hurts me" by DAVICHI
# "My Love" by Kim Jong Kook
# "Talk to me" by KIM JAE HWAN
# "Prettiest One" by Standing Egg
# "A little more" by DOYOUNG
# "Wanna be your lover" by Monday Kiz
# "We'll shine brighter than any other" by Lee Hi
# "Love Love Love" by SEOBIN
# "miss you more, I'm sorry by" Lee Yejoon
# "Love beyond words" by DOKO

What I didn't like...

# Han So Hee seemed to struggle a little; which wasn't really visible but for someone who has watched almost everything she has acted in, she appeared to be having a difficult time to fit into a role which is radically opposite from others played by her.

#Even though I am fond of all the OSTs, I believe the show needed to be longer particularly to utilize them well in the story.

# Given the title, characters living through words, lyrics and music was expected (at least it was me who did), however, this wasn't true for most of the part; not disappointed, still.

Final Remarks... "Soundtrack #1" is indeed a satisfactory delivery about love & friendship and the essence they offer you in life, even for a short period. Screenwriting, direction, performance and execution are overally good and up to par. Won't say it's a must watch, but definitely a short and sweet journey, that will entice you to core. Please go ahead :)

Leggi di Più

A beautifully executed story on what it means to love others, and yourself

Love Game in Eastern Fantasy was a wild ride as we followed the female lead, Ling Miaomiao, on her quest to “capture” the male lead’s heart. Although it does have elements of a typical Xuanhuan, its character development, the caliber of acting, and attention to small details help it stand out from others in its genre. Objectively speaking, the drama did fall short as it neared the end. But this really depends on how you decide to interpret the ending. After spending some time watching close analyses of the ending and parts of the drama on Chinese social media, I have a much greater appreciation for why the drama ended the way it did. Subjectively speaking, this was a cute and emotional drama that filled my heart to the brim with warmth. You're in luck if you watched Moonlight and enjoyed Ding Yuxi and Yu Shuxin’s chemistry there.

Adapted from the extremely popular novel “The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus”, the female lead is whisked into the book of her favorite author after expressing her disappointment in it. The world is one home to both humans and demons, but demon hunters diminish the possibility of coexistence between these two species. Aside from her initial side quests, Ling Miaomiao’s main goal is to reach 100% affinity/love of the ML, Mu Ziqi’s heart. Ling Miaomiao’s personality is the polar opposite of Lin Yu, the character she becomes in the book. Lin Yu is the third female lead, cunning and in love with the book’s male lead, Liu Fuyi. Ling Miaomiao’s bubbly personality is what has drawn so many people into this drama, as with her cute and loving dynamics with Mu Ziqi. Originally only caring about his “A’jie” (older sister Mu Yao), Mu Ziqi develops a strong connection with Miaomiao, who changes his worldview that there are other people out in the world who care about him.

The romance between the leads is not an “in your face” love story, but shows such depth that allows their bond to develop organically over time. As Miaomiao and Ziqi face numerous challenges together, their connection strengthens with mutual respect, trust and compassion. I will warn you that there are no outright kiss scenes, and have noticed this to be a complaint of many viewers. While an additional kiss scene may have been favorable, I do understand this approach to romance. By not relying on overt physical expressions of love, LGIEF is able to focus more on emotional intimacy and the growth of the leads’ affection for one another. (If you do want to kiss scenes, though, go watch Moonlight!)

The casting for this drama could not have been better. In fact, I think it was perfect. When the casting for this drama was first announced, so many OG novel fans expressed their disappointment on Chinese social media, demanding a “better” casting. Many of these fans have taken back their words, and understandably so. Having read around 20 chapters of the novel, the drama surprisingly sticks to many elements of the original book, down to the costumes. As noted before, the attention to detail in this drama is remarkable (and I will create a list near the end of the review). Each character has their own distinct style that complements their personality. Ling Miaomiao’s hair is filled with cute little flowers and tassels, while Mu Yao’s simpler yet elegant hair supports her role as an older sister figure. The costumes are designed by Yi Xiaoya, who also worked on Love You Seven Times and LFBAD.

Yu Shuxin and Ding Yuxi really brought Ling Miaomiao and Mu Ziqi to life. Esther’s naturally bubbly personality shines through in Miaomiao’s character. The naturalness in Miaomiao’s cuteness showcases Yu Shuxin’s talent in bringing the character to life with authenticity and charm. Her portrayal of Miaomiao makes the FL very loveable and captures the essence of someone who radiates positivity without forcing it in her acting. On the other hand, there is absolutely no better actor than Ding Yuxi for Mu Sheng, who displayed a perfect balance between his aloofness and growing warmth. His embodiment of Ziqi (especially through his eyes, the emotions in his eyes!) really showcases the internal struggle of a character who begins as emotionally distant but slowly opens up to love and connecting with others. His overprotectiveness of his sister is a result of him being constantly suspicious of others’ intentions, and it’s so fun watching the relationship strengthen between him and Liu Fuyi. The chemistry between the leads is one of the strongest I have seen, and both leads exhibit so many emotions through their eyes alone. (And not to mention the eye candy) – There was a scene of Ziqi where it looked like he came straight out of a manga. As usual, Yu Shuxin dubbed her own character. I personally don’t have an issue with her voice, but as some do, I will put that caution out there. For me, Yu Shuxin’s voice perfectly embodies that of a bubbly girl. Ding Yuxi’s voice is dubbed by someone else, but there's an Easter egg at the very end. While the drama could have used DYX's original voice, they chose to use a voice actor whose voice was deeper and more mysterious, capturing the "Black Lotus" personality.

I couldn’t feel the same level of chemistry with the second leads. Their relationship was cute but felt flat throughout a lot of the story. It would have been more preferable for a lot of viewers if more portions of the later episodes were allocated to the main leads instead of the second leads. However, I do appreciate the quality of Zhu Xudan’s acting. She’s been an amazing actress for years and is finally getting the recognition she deserves for her role as Mu Yao. Yang Shize did a great job portraying Liu Fuyi, a mysterious man who later proved to have a complicated backstory. As for the other supporting characters, their additions to the drama added much more nuance and excitement to the story. Cui Cui (bamboo demon) is the cutest kid ever, and displays both courage and loyalty as a young demon. Everyone’s acceptance of him into the “friend group” also helped Ziqi to eventually embrace his true identity. The backstory of Ziqi’s parents, a love story mixed with tragedy and devotion, also added depth to the person he became. We are given an “ending” to most of the characters, depending on how you define closure.

Additionally, the production of the drama was phenomenal and was one of the many reasons for its huge success. The CGI effects elevated the Xuanxuan experience, immersing the viewer into the otherworldly setting. The visual effects were seamlessly integrated into the many battle scenes, magical moments, and beautiful scenery. Even the little dust demons who made up each percentage of Ziqi’s affection towards Miaomiao were cute and visually appealing. The novel use of the pixelated background for the ending of each episode also led to the new Chinese trend of making Miaomiao and Ziqi out of “perler beads”. The drama team took viewers’ wishes into account during production, eventually buying the rights to the song “Moonlight Thoughts”, a song popularly used for historical reels on Chinese social media (and, to fans’ delight, created an MV with the leads and a few supporting cast!) And can we talk about the demons’ nails? They were breathtaking! Cheng Duling (Mirror Demon) had less than 20 minutes of screen time and only appeared in the first episode, but her outfit was stunning. She was actually the third most popular drama character according to Chinese polls, beating main leads of other airing dramas.

And then…we come to the ending. I echo the sentiments of many other viewers who expressed their disappointment in the abrupt ending, where we weren’t shown the physical reunion of the main leads. The message of the story is certainly out there, but could have been executed in a more straightforward manner. However, besides the very last two minutes of the drama, I believe that the last episode was executed beautifully. Here, the leads don’t solely demonstrate the beauty of loving one another, but the beauty of loving oneself first before loving others. This theme plays a pivotal role throughout the drama, as we witness the dramatic change in Mu Sheng’s attitude towards others and life in general. This is something that sets LGIEF apart from other Xuanhuan dramas. We follow the leads on their love journey, but this journey is also one where they discover and accept their own selves. The way this idea stretched throughout the drama was done beautifully, and it felt like a full circle in the end. (And it was like a giant revelation.) I won’t elaborate too much as to not give away any spoilers, but I’ll include some other thoughts and observations in a comment below this review.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the past few weeks of following this drama (the wait was painful, but you don’t need to wait for the episodes to air!). The character dynamics were fun to watch, the story was gripping, and we got to see Ziqi’s affection for Miaomiao increase from -200% (yes, negative) to 100%. It was also such a treat to watch Ding Yuxi and Yu Shuxin together as main leads again after Moonlight, and they both exhibited their exceptional acting skills, once again. Although an extra minute of the leads together at the very end would have perfectly sealed the story together, the last episode ties the entire drama together very well.

Leggi di Più

THE RATINGS ARE WAY TOO LOW

Motel California is a beautifully crafted drama that delves into the complexities of first love and the emotional distance that can come between two people who are meant to be together. The story revolves around two characters who reunite after a long time apart, only to find that unresolved feelings and misunderstandings create a barrier between them. While the initial episodes are filled with angst and longing, it's essential to take the time to appreciate the gradual development of their relationship.

The frustration that arises from their inability to communicate is relatable, and the dual perspectives provided by both leads allow viewers to empathize with their struggles. Unlike typical dramas where one character pines away while the other moves on, both leads in Motel California are deeply invested in each other, which adds a layer of depth to their story. The slow burn of their relationship is both heart-wrenching and rewarding, making it a captivating watch for those who appreciate emotional storytelling.

The female lead in Motel California has sparked a lot of discussions, with many labeling her as a red flag. However, it's essential to recognize that her complicated feelings and reluctance to fully engage in her relationship stem from a deeply rooted backstory. Her experiences of feeling hated and abandoned, coupled with a strained relationship with her father, shape her character in a way that makes her relatable and real. It’s not uncommon for someone to protect themselves emotionally, especially when they’ve faced such turmoil.

What I appreciate about her character is the depth and complexity she brings to the story. She's not just a simple love interest; she embodies the struggles many face when trying to reconcile their past with their present. Her journey reflects the reality of being human—feeling vulnerable while also striving to be strong. The internal conflict she experiences, especially as she sacrifices her first love for her own emotional safety, showcases her strength and vulnerability.

While it’s easy to get frustrated with her actions, it's crucial to understand her motivations. She’s a character who evolves throughout the series, and her development is a testament to the writers' ability to create a nuanced portrayal of a young woman grappling with her identity and choices. This complexity makes her journey all the more compelling, and it’s refreshing to see a character that feels so authentically human...she is a character who embodies the complexity of being human—making mistakes, feeling regret, and attempting to mend those errors while sometimes needing to take a step back. This frustration is a reflection of real life, especially when she stands in contrast to the flawless male lead, who is calm, collected, and unwaveringly loyal. While she may appear villainous to some, her struggles add depth to their relationship, which is both thrilling and heartwarming, infused with a palpable angst.

The chemistry between Na Inwoo and Lee Se Young is palpable, and their performances convey a range of emotions from longing to love. Their eyes tell a story that is both heart-fluttering and deeply emotional, capturing the essence of their characters' journey from fear to a warm embrace. This drama is beautifully crafted, with a cinematic quality that feels like a movie experience. The soothing OSTs enhance the magical chemistry shared by the leads.

While the pacing may be slow at times, it is undeniably addictive as the story unfolds. It may not resonate with everyone, but it’s worth giving it a chance—don’t just rely on ratings. The acting is exceptional, and the overall experience is one that leaves a lasting impression....

Leggi di Più

Draggy story-line and fake looking studio set. Otherwise a good series.

Despite having 2 of the biggest names in the c-drama industry in Zhao Liying (ZLY) and Wang Yibo (WYB), the “Legend of Fei” will be regarded as a disappointment of 2020. The series will gather a lot of internet traffic, talked about by various fans for its plusses and minuses, dissected over its story lines and its adherence to the novel, discussed on Zhao Liying’s apparent discontent upon completion of filming, etc. To the fans of the 2 main characters, there is nothing wrong with the series. But to me as a hardcore fan of Chinese costume drama, and who just wants to watch quality series, there is plenty that is wrong with “Legend of Fei”. And it is reflected in the Douban’s pedestrian rating of 5.6 score with over 200K reviews.

Before I dwell on why this drama disappoints me, let me highlights the good points about this web-series. The casting is obviously the drama’s strong point. Zhao Liying and Wang Yibo – the 2 main protagonists in these 51-episode costume drama – are highly accomplished, successful, marketable and very sought after actor/actress. Zhao Liying is the queen of c-drama. Most of her drama was a sensation, and this one is special because it marks her return after giving birth to her first child. Wang Yibo is currently the hottest male actor in China due to his success in “The Untamed”. The strength of these 2 main characters alone should give this c-drama considerable mileage and headstart from internet buzz, traffic and interest particularly from both hardcore fans. Even the supporting cast were established actor/actress like Zhang Huiwen (Yimou’s girl), Chen Rou Xuan, Sun Jian, etc.

As of late, there has been many instances in c-drama of pairing older FL with a much younger ML, and this is also the case in Legend of Fei. There is a 10 year gap between ML and FL, but you don’t feel the gap as ZLY looks much younger than her actual age. I don’t think even Yang Mi or Tang Yan could carry the 17-year old persona better than ZLY. Tang Yan was heavily criticized for her portrayal of a young Yanyan in “Legend of Xiao Chuo”. Similarly, Yang Mi did not fare much better in “Legend of Fu Yao” playing a young Mary Sue character devoid of any imperfections, while being protected by the all-mighty Crown Prince of the Five Kingdom. What sets Zhao Liying apart from Tang Yan/Yang Mi is her petite and slim figures which belie her actual age, and that makes playing a 17 year-old Zhou Fei – believable. Did you watch how Zhang Ziyi got blasted for her betrayal of a 15 year-old teenager in the first 8 episodes of “The Rebel Princess”? There were even critics who stated that the producers of “The Rebel Princess” should have gotten a younger actress to play a young Zhang Ziyi. Zhao Liying does not have any issue playing a young Zhou Fei because she looks young. Not sure whether in 5 years time that would still be the case. On an unrelated note, her skin looks flawless on a close-up. You could see skin imperfection on Zhang Huiwen who is an unrivalled beauty in her own right, so it can’t be down to post production magic.

Another plus point to me was the wardrobe. Love them. The costumes on Zhao Liying are simple but beautiful and it outlines her slim figure. Zhang Huiwen is gorgeous in anything she wears. There is not anything particularly hideous that stands out like Zhang Yaqin’s (Fei Kou’er) thief character that made her look short and stubby. The costumes were pleasing to the eye and not too striking in tone and color.

The fight choreography is average at best, and mediocre at worst. Even-though this is a jianghu/wuxia type of drama, there are not very many fight scenes in it. There is not an excessive amount of slow-motion fight sequence either, and that makes it bearable. In fact the whole fight sequences looked slow and choregraphed, and gave the fight scenes rather “unnatural” feeling to them. But at least they are bearable to me – it does not give me that cringeworthy feeling every time Zhou Fei wields the sword and engages or kills the enemies. I like it when Xie Yun uses his qinggong and flies/glides effortlessly from one end to the other. It was beautifully choreographed.

The sound track was nice and I really enjoy the opening track. The CGI was average, and was only limited to very few scenes especially involving animals. There are plenty of CGI involving snakes and the snake charmer, Ying HeCong – a Great Medicine Valley’s disciple played by Leng Jiyuan.

Now why was this c-drama disappointing given all the plusses above? There are 2 main reasons why I believe this is an average series; and disappointing because it has limitless potential from the casting of 2 very famous artistes. Firstly, there is a fake studio setting that keeps popping up in this drama. It is so fake, that it makes me very uncomfortable. The fake studio scenes feature secondary forest, and were used extensively. It was certainly very disturbing to me because everything looked so fake. It reminds me of 80s Hong Kong films and I have not seen this type of mediocre studio-set production in any of 2020 historical costume drama, even from those low-budget ones. Even “Novoland – The Castle in the Sky 2” had a much better studio setting than “Legend of Fei”, and I was very critical of “Castle in the Sky 2” for its rather cheap-looking set. I could understand if they have to use studio setting for a place like the cave inside the mountain where the treasures were hidden, but they could find a nice forest and film the scenes easily rather than building a cheap looking set.

My second grouse was the overall pace of this c-drama. The pace is awfully slow – I mean really slow. I could go and cook myself a dinner, and come back and watch the end of an episode and not miss anything. Fillers are being added to make the drama longer than necessary, and at times, watching it feels like a drag. Too many unnecessary scenes where the 2 main leads just talk endlessly and pointlessly. The scenes before the Demon’s Convention, Episode 29, illustrates my dislikes with the series’ pace -- too draggy. This drama could have been shortened to 35 episodes and we won’t be missing much of the storylines. The whole storylines are not worth 51 episodes especially when the first few episodes were speeded up to quickly introduce the ML (Wang Yibo) into Episode 1. In the novel, the ML and the FL did not meet one another right away. The producers of this c-drama were too eager to get the ML into the action, when there are 50 more episodes to go.

Now the ending – typical. Some will like them, some won’t. I am in the negative camp. My overall verdict of this series is 6/10. Give it a miss unless you are a die-hard fan of Zhao Liying and Wang Yibo.

Story - 6.0/10
Acting - 7.5/10
Music - 9.0/10
Rewatch value - 5.0/10
Overall - 6.0/10

Leggi di Più

This drama explores multiple aspects of marriage, to cheating, to divorce, in a way that helps you see both sides of each couple and allows you to understand their feelings. It explains well the consequences of each action, and how others could be affected, even sheds some light on the complicity of getting a divorce in Korea. And even though it is such a heavy subject, there's plenty of laughs and love.

I find it annoying that 16-20 episode dramas are always one or two episodes too long, unnecessarily stretching out the story just to fill space. However since there's only twelve episodes, not a moment is wasted here. Song Ji Hyo and velvet voiced, Lee Seon Gyun are amazing as the leads, portraying every emotion of a struggling couple from start to finish, but what's great about this drama is that even the side stories are just as interesting. I honestly loved the PD Ahn and Writer Kwon couple most. Lee Sang Yeob played PD Ahn so well you couldn't help but find him adorable and fall in love too.

Leggi di Più

* Story :
This is the story of the first Empress Dowager of Chinese history.
This is a story which takes place before the beginning of the Qin dynasty.
You are following Miyue, a princess who was told to be in the future the one who will impact greatly on the country. She's has a very strong personality, despite her mother having no social status and was only a servant of another concubine. Miyue and her sister Mishu, the oldest daughter, and the daughter of the queen. Despite their social statues are as different as a lion is different compared to a cat, they have really good and close sister relationship.
They grow up, they fall in love, they slowly change, they became enemies.
It's a love and hate story.
But it is also the story of Miyue, of how, a princess like her, grew up to be the first Empress Dowager of Chinese history, and how she established strong foundation to the unification of China for the later Qin dynasty.

I see 3 parts in this story:
1/ Miyue as a Princess, as a big sister, and as a teenage girl with her first love.
You will watch her grow up in a very difficult environment despite her being a princess, how she's going to keep herself real and virtuous, and how she starts to spent her time on knowledge, how she's teaching her younger brothers to be a good man when they grow up etc.
2/ Miyue as a servant of the future Queen of the Qin country, her older sister Mishu, then as a concubine of the Qin King, and how this king will impact on her greatly.
I won't say much, but this part is really important for Miyue : she's had a strong personality when she was young, but with him, she's going to have more and more ambition and quit being a teenage princess but slowly step by step, becoming an intelligent woman.
It's also a part where you see how Mishu is changing because of her selfishness, also because of her misunderstanding, because she's also a mother, and how these sisters are slowly distancing themselves from each other.
3/ Miyue as a responsible mother, then as a political leader + her 3rd love story.
To put it shortly, you're going to see how Miyue try to reach her ideals and how she's going to sacrifice herself for the country.

/! what is good in this drama, it is also that the script took a lot of fact of the real history :)

* Acting / Cast :
Nothing to say, perfect.
Betty Sun improved so much, she was not acting Miyue, she WAS Miyue.
Big up to MaSu, to LiuTao and to Fong Alex, who impressed me with their acting skills! They were great really...

* Music :
Well, the music disappointed me...
speaking the music only, it was not that good, and i think it did not match the drama.
like the music in the legend of zhenhuan were a perfect marriage with the drama
but here i want the music and the drama to divorce, and ask LiuHuan to create another music, and ask Liu Lianzi from the heaven to sing one more time.
But the music with the instrument that Miyue is often playing is really good.

* Rewatch value :
well it's a very long drama, but if you ever have free time, definitely recommending to rewatch this drama :D

* Overall :

minus 0.5 for the music. it is not horrible, it is in reality very pleasant to hear, but i just NOOOOOoooooOOOOOOO these musics because it doesn't match at all the drama.

Leggi di Più

Ahh, this one, this one is the definition of Masterpiece! I mean if you lookup the definition of "Masterpiece", all its synonyms combined would not give the justice of how amazing this drama is!!

If you can stomach the dark ruthless reality that we tend to ignore, I strongly recommend you to watch this.

There is no filtering the truth here, no flowery feeling that K-dramas usually give. This drama is dark & brutally real. You know how there are usually some politics/not interesting subplot in dramas that you just want to skip, well this one doesn't have that. The story is flawless and well balanced, there is no stupid mistake, no plot hole, nothing that made me flinch for a second.

The characters are complex and well developed. They are not perfect little imaginary ppl; they are real with depth and dimensions. Their pasts and their hopes for future enable us to understand their present and their actions. There aren't any filler characters, no one that you feel he's just there to fill the space/time/episode. Every one of them serves a purpose, and adds something to the story.

What I love about this drama is that it doesn't tell you everything; it gives you enough information and leaves you to be the judge. I'm not talking about one scene or one episode, but rather throughout the entire drama. It never tries to make its audience feel in a certain way ... it just tells you the facts and leaves it up to you to interpret it and to understand the characters/story.

Cruel City is like a good wine, the more time passes from watching it, the more you realize how amazing it truly is. It is a drama that makes its audience ponder upon life, good, evil and the gray between them. I'm sure I will watch this again and again and for this it gets 10 for rewatchability from me.

The choice of music in this drama is phenomenal! I loved all the musics that were used specially the OST, I mean even the music makes me think deeply!!

I don't think I can ever compare this to any other drama or any TV shows in general - well I haven't watched breaking bad, but other than that I've watched all the famous TV shows you can think of, and Cruel City not only doesn't lack in any aspect, but it rather makes the others lose face in comparison. It has created its own space on top of my drama/TV Shows/movie list.

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He is a true king and she is his princess knight

There was not a single moment in this drama where characters were OOC.
Amazing chemistry between leads and the heartwarming story line was something I can never forget. They were so true to themselves and their love.
From the start to the end of drama it was not a let down. Not a moment felt draggy and pointless.
LX and ZY were amazingly played by chen fei yu and zhang jing yi. You could see the emotions in their eyes. Their love and guilt and regret.... it was so heartwreching and beautiful to watch these two together.
The story line was meaningful and had a lot of lessons in it.
Almost all the characters had depth in their personality. There was no complete black and white -except for FZJ that was a true trash- and I cried when I finished the drama just because it was truly beautiful.
I'm glad the drama ended on a high note and didn't disappoint at the final episode.
The song tracks were so so beautiful that I couldn't resist playing them over and over.

I will rewatch it again because I can't get enough of this truly wonderful couple!

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I've got to be honest, when I first saw the number of episode this series had, I actually took a step back. I kept seeing so many GIFs of it over Tumblr and so many raging about what a great series it was and I was really glad that I decided to catch up when it was barely starting to get to episode 30 or so.

This series. First off, I adored the main female lead. She was always very strong and set on her ways. Sure, she had her times when she was infuriating but she was the reason why I always kept coming back. Her pride and way to get things that needed to get done were always so great to watch.

The remainder of the cast, was also infuriating at times but everyone of them, no matter how much you hated, you wound up connecting on a higher level. We knew exactly what drove them to be that way and the way their characters went on with their lives throughout the drama was wonderful to watch. The good guys you wanted to protect and always have a happy life and the bad guys you wound up wanting to throw things at them and violently scream at the screen (or maybe that was just me...). The cast was excellent! Everyone of them were great.

The music was also very beautiful. I cannot wait to get my hands on the soundtrack.

Over all, or the TLDR version: If you want a historical drama that will give you TONS of feels, have TONS of strong actors that you will cheer for, have SIDE characters that you will adore a little too much, have EVIL characters that you will hate too much, do watch this one. The many episodes may be daunting but I promise you that (even if this drama gets dull for you, it never did to me honestly) every episode is a ride within itself and you will keep coming back to see what happens to these beloved characters.

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BOY ISSUES JUST GOT BIG

TO ALL THE BOYS

Boys don't cry, boys aren't emotional, boys are supposed to be strong, But what's the most beautiful moment of my life?

This show is a lot for an average person to take in, when dealing with abusive parents, poverty, family pressures, PTSD, suicide, promises, and everything that is part of a teenager's life. Seven beautiful boys from Seven different families living in Seven different worlds come together and are obviously trying to navigate the complexities of teenage hood, growing up, I'll be honest until now I'd never thought that Boy issues could get as big as Girls make theirs seem or even worse.

This is one hell of a bumpy and perfectly toxic friendship if you could sum it up and there'll most probably never be another show that beats this drama at that. A detailed account of the pain most people go through but you do not notice, the lies most people tell themselves to feel better and people who feel they get more than they deserve and those who get less instead, I had never imagined there could be a show that sheds more light on the meaning of youth and the pain of survival, the true meaning of perseverance.

The bromance is swoon worthy, every bit of it tastes no different from hot chocolate on a cold night. We've seen kids dealing with serious issues in EXTRACURRICULAR, WEAK HERO CLASS, THAT MOMENT AT EIGHTEEN, SCHOOL 2013 and AT A DISTANCE SPRING IS GREEN but perhaps none of those shows could hit deeper and more real than BEGINS YOUTH has

This is a show for the heavy hearted especially because it deals with primarily broken characters that are trying to heal. All relationships come pretty intense and vibrant and yet the characters seem very fragile but persistent when enduring everything. Besides, It is commendable enough that most of this series speaks to people who have gone through some of the worst extremes in life than one could imagine.

No show made me smile and cry just as much eventually especially when dealing with overbearing parents, rigid societies and corrupted institutions because you would be surprised that high school life could become a physical and psychological living hell where we are all trying to survive. No show made me understand the meaning of living life and the need of not wanting to give up on it.

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Production-wise, it is a very well done drama. I liked the use of illustrations to show battles and fires and flood.... I was expecting more use of it because it was unique.

The script wasn't very good imo. It was trying too hard to sell the audience that the characters **ehemChanggeehem** were smart. In almost every episode someone was saying "you are so smart". Huh, where? Changge is making a bad decision in almost every episode, puts people in danger (better said, made them killed); she is also supposed to be a smart strategist, and all she said was "let's put this group to the right and this to the left" and the other party was "wow Changge, you are so smart, be my right-hand commander". It didn't help at all that at the same time I was watching another drama where the smart MC is actually smart, and the script is actually good, so I was like, She is supposed to be SMART ???

First episode, Changge is this intelligent, tomboy girl who knows how to fight, physically and mentally. Second episode, Changge swears to take revenge. 40 episodes later and all Changge did was saying a few blah-blah and oh, she was the smartest; as for the battles, where was the girl so agile who could fight? She was constantly saved by others; the forever damsel in distress. I was expecting Sun to save her every time she messed up, and yup, here comes the hero. I don't mind damsels in distress, but I do mind when the plot is trying to sell me this brave, strong female character that isn't. Yueyan was stronger imo.

Unfortunately I didn't fall in love with Yueyan/Hao Du as I was hoping. She has a lovely character development (she actually overcomes them ON HER OWN, unlike Changge) but the romance was... ehhh, she loves Shuyu for 40 episodes, gets her heart broken and in the same episode realizes Hao Du is the one. Ehhh.

OST is excellent. Performed by the King an Queen of CDramas OST.

This drama was 10 episodes too long; should have ended around 40 at least.

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Don't listen to the cliche korean viewers!

This is a kind of drama that I try so hard to find. why? It's free from all the unpleasant and repetitive elements of many korean dramas. Now, what do I mean by unpleasant and repetitive elements generally present in 80% of the romantic korean dramas?
1) Childhood/prior acquaintance (the ML and FL have already unknowingly acquainted; i.e. their love story is fated) This is also present in one of my most beloved korean drama CLOY, which is pretty recent.
2) PTSD (even in many of the famed korean dramas , you will see that this element can't be avoided)
3) Rich ML, Poor or clumsy FL
Also ,this drama has very realistic and interesting storylines. I can understand if you don't find the main couple's story that attractive, but the progress of the story can be reasoned . The side storylines are very distinct and cover broad issues that one can face in relationships.
Please note that this is not the rom-com as written in the details section. Expect a slight melodramatic romance from the main couple. This is a light watch ,so don't expect very high emotional turnover

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I really enjoyed this drama, from the story-line to Jung Kyung Ho's acting and everything in between. It is filled with sweet/cute moments and silly situations or happenings b/c of the main guy - Kang Min Ho - 's heart transplant. He starts to have emotions and unconscious thoughts like his donor, from taste in food to taste in women! It might sound ridiculous but it's hilarious and honestly quite sweet. ^^ I enjoyed it from beginning to end, the acting was well played for every character, the comedy was excellent - I laughed so many times at Kang Min Ho's actions, sometimes even just one look or one expression would get me laughing :P I loved the "Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Wendy & Tinkerbell" references ;)

All the cast did great jobs - especially Jung Kyung Ho as Kang Min Ho & Kim So Yeon as Kim Soon Jung - Their interactions were always funny & cute. The actor (won't give out the name) who played the villain did a great job at making himself a believable villain. This was also the best role Ahn Suk Hwan has ever played! A kind-hearted dad for once who didn't have a stupid laugh between every word. PLEASE play more character roles like this one!!!

The OST fit the drama but was nothing too impactful - the song I remember the most vividly is Dong Wook & Min Ho's Ringtone song: "Each Time You Do That"/"?????" by Toy/?? - If I had a cellphone I'd make this my ringtone^^

Yes, I would re-watch this - even if it was just to watch Jung Kyung Ho's adorableness some more ^-^
I recommend it for anyone who loves cute romantic dramas with a splash of detective/business...

"People forget love with the excuse of work." - Kang Min Ho

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Sizzles while it fizzles.

A massive fire devastates Qingzhou on the night Dayan's Weibei army triumphantly reclaims the city from Xiyan. Suspected of razing the city to the ground, the Weibei army is disbanded in shame while their leader, Prince Murong Jinghe is sent to his fief. To Mei Lin whose world collapsed that day, that was not justice; far from it! Rising from the flames, she transforms herself into an elite assassin for the Shadow Works. Her first assignment is to infiltrate Dayan as a Xiyan beauty bride to assassinate the "Butcher General" Murong Jinghe. She must complete her mission with all due haste to obtain the antidote to the deadly toxin the mysterious master of the Shadow Works uses to control her.

The stage is set and Murong Jinghe's entrance made my my jaw drop and my mouth go dry! Sinister and unspeakably handsome, insolent, casually malevolent and utterly unforgettable. When his cold cynical gaze collides with Mei Lin's wild, ferocious one, the screen explodes into flames. I was seated for what promised to be the ultimate revenge drama, a dark, passionate and twisted enemies to lovers story. I can't remember the last time a drama hooked me so completely from the get go. So I hushed my inner voice that protested the fact that they seemed to reveal the entire plot by episode 3. All too soon after, their thrilling dark, combative chemistry and one-upwomanship tit-for-tat turned into a moving unbreakable alliance that made them both so vulnerable I feared for them. Even though the plot falls apart around them, I enjoyed every moment of the torrid, ardent, connection between Jinghe and Mei Lin that was so effortlessly conveyed by Liu Xueyi and Wu Jinyan. They captivated me with their intense screen presence and the way their chemistry still sizzles while it fizzles through every silly, illogical, emotionally harrowing arc the script made them jump through.

This drama was by a wide margin, my biggest disappointment this year. As someone who read and more or less forgot the novel 春花厌 or Spring Flower Disgusted, I should have known that you can't make a symphony out of one note. There simply was not enough plot to do justice to the exciting concept and delicious character designs. Unfortunately Murong Jinghe, who was a ruthless scumbag for most of the novel, got whitewashed so early in the drama I thought he was body swapped into his adorable little white dog. Nonetheless, I enjoyed watching the enemies become allies and then lovers. Exceptional visuals and the couple's chemistry got me through the boring digression into the romantic filler arc that saw both leads regress into lovey dovey country bumpkins. The all-important revenge arc however disappointed me deeply as Mei Lin was unforgivably short changed of her vengeance so we never really get to see her slay as an assassin nonpareil. The drama should have ended at that arc instead of soldiering on for another mind numbingly boring eight episodes. The entire final Xiyan arc was ridiculously melodramatic and Zigu's love story was yet another filler arc, one that was in poor taste. Jinghe turns into a noble idiot who entrusts a well-meaning but incompetent young idiot with a task that was way over his pay grade. After all the blood and tears, I almost laughed out loud that they were ultimately foiled by a flower chomping, superstitious old fool. The drama comes to a full circle with the novel in that no one gets an ending that they deserve.

I won't lie - even Liu Xueyi and Wu Jinyan's phenomenal acting and charisma could not save this drama, it just made it barely tolerable. None of the other characters are interesting or well written enough to make me invested in their stories. Baron Chen's Murong Xuanlie is quite well portrayed but is too archetypal and his story and motivations quickly becomes repetitive and boring. Luo Mei's moral code is too mismatched with that of Xuanlie that as a couple, they are completely implausible. And Yue Qin was written to be such a lame character that there really was no room for Bi Wenjun to shine. What promised to be a dark and riveting story about love, revenge and justice turned out to be a sober warning about the ravages of war. Everyone from the common man to the king in the high castle is not safe and lives regretfully ever after.

This was a story that was written by four different writers and it shows. I can easily rate the first 3 episodes of this drama 8.5-9.0. After that, it barely holds an 8.0 for me and after episode 24, it is barely a 6.0. I think a fair rating overall is 7.0 but I throw in 0.5 more for Liu Xueyi and Wu Jinyan's acting to call it a 7.5. Watch at your own risk and use the FF button liberally.

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