Reviews

the cliff took the wrong victims, it should have been the writers of the second half

it's rare that a show appears to give such clear insight into behind-the-scenes drama but if you told me the same writers wrote the story before and after both character and show fell off a cliff halfway through, I wouldn't believe you.

first half was a moderately entertaining, somewhat formulaic historical drama with all the lost child, palace abuse, ridiculous CGI wolves, and contrived finding oneself in bed with the enemy tropes that your heart desires.

second half was like one of those meals made with leftovers from the fridge, only the chef has no sense of smell or taste and their glasses are steamed up so they don't see too well either. it's a mess, with things that might have been edible if they hadn't been cooked all together with stuff with a best-before date of 2016.

highlights were the flawless Liu Lingzi, whose tightly controlled Meng Zhenzhen deserves far more praise and a far better drama for her skills; Liu Xueyi's peerless cheekbones and always solid grasp of his characters; Gao Han's crying; many of the sidekicks; Meng Huaijin and the weird cousin relationship; and being amused by how many viewers thought the 3rd and 4th prince were the same person. the OST is delicious by itself and Reno Wang's outro track has found a permanent place in my Cdramas playlist.

the lowlights are too numerous to mention and ultimately all of these efforts were overshadowed by a storyline lacking any type of integrity.

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...can they be ever reunited?

the question is simple but the answer is heartbreaking, the truth is harder than expected...

moving story about an actual case that never been resolved...the movie is based on a true case which makes the story even more painful to watch in addition the victims were only young and innocent boys

the movie represents well the family bonds between parents and their children, the hope to find the lost ones, the desperate state the parents are in, the opinion of the outside world, etc etc
it also represents well of what hardship this case brought to the different people that are involved in it

the actors did a great job throughout the movie... you could feel the emotions so sincerely and also could imagine the parents' state during that time very well
the characters were well portrayed and the story was well set out

IMPORTANT NOTE: the movie has some fictional scene in it around the ending (don't want to spoil it)
if you are interested about the case you can always google 'frog boys' / or even '1991 Deagu case'
there was another movie made in 1992 as well called 'come back, frog boys'

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It's a Dramafever original! My expectations weren't high to begin with, but I was cautiously optimistic since a) It's Dramafever's first drama and b) It' only seven 7-minute episodes.

After the first episode I knew it wasn't really good, but hey, it's important to try and it might improve.
After watching the whole drama, I can safely say it's been a while since I saw such a humongous dumpster fire.

Story: rushed and unconnected. They tried to squeeze in the whole 20 hour drama storyline in 49 minutes. It didn't work. Even the cliches seemed rushed. Still, we glimpsed the following: getting drunk, piggyback ride, eating food from street stalls, rich heir and poor girl trope, rebellious heir, love triangle, second lead syndrome, tsundere male lead and the poor girl getting a makeover trope. Ugh. Add in the open ending, terrible "inspirational" one-liners and a general sense of hopelessness as to where this plot is going and what you get is a whole new level of unwatchable. Honestly, if it wasn't this short, I wouldn't have made it.

Filming: do you like a shaky camera with lots of refocusing and jump cut scenes? If so, you're up for a real treat. My personal favorite was the scene in which they walk down the road - it lasts 5 seconds and has 3 jump cut scenes. We're on one end of the road. And now in the middle. And now at the other end! Wasn't this exciting? Yay.

Acting: I dislike insulting actors for their work so I'l just say the nicest things I can. They didn't stutter and the second lead's dancing was better than expected.

Music: boring but passable

Rewatch value: it has one? Honestly, if you want to watch a romantic short drama you're better off with pretty much anything. May I suggest Another Parting, Between Friendship and Love, The Boy Next Door, She is 200 Years Old? They're all under 2 hours long.

Good points: imagine all the money you'd save on plane tickets if all it took to travel across the ocean was to get drunk and pass out near the sea.

Bad points: everything else

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While the drama plot is nothing to write home about, the acting was superb. Austin Lin has always been a strong actor who can bring any character to life. In this romantic comedy, he continued his awesome performance as the opportunistic He Jie. He switched effortless between a dashing prince charming to a lovable mischief-maker. But he isn't the only one in the show who can act. I was pleasantly surprised by how great the leading lady was as well. Lin Hao Fei's Lu Zi Xing was the right balance of cunning and vulnerable. The unshed tears pooling in her eyes was enough to make me want to hug her and tell her, "Don't be sad, baby girl. Everything is going to be alright in the end." Then there is the bromance. I was torn between wanting Gong Cheng to stay away from that no good He Jie and wanting them to be the best-est buddies in the whole wide world. Huang Jun Jie's Gong Cheng was so cute when he was being strait-laced, doubly adorable when he was clueless to Pei En Cai's flirting and needed He Jie to decode it for him. Of course, I can't forget about He Jie and Logic. Shh. Their interactions are hilarious in a very different way. He Jie constantly complained to Logic about the rules of the manga world. Logic, then, dissed him for drawing a brain-dead manga with gazillion plot holes. The drama "Unexpected" made me laugh so hard.

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Solid Start, Rushed Romance, and Room for More

I went into this show excited, especially since I’ve discovered my love for police and crime dramas after watching NCIS: Hawai’i for the WLW ship, Kacy.

Before anything else, I already want to tachle downfall of the show. It's how stupid the characters were. For such a deep story arc, they were so naive and lacked cleverness. For a person who loves the police procedural genre, the characters, especially Tul, lacked the signature beloved badass and smart charm I was looking for. Because genuinely, how are you the highest ranked police officer on your team yet rely so much on the work of you teammates? Make it make sense.

The first few episodes were solid, episodic yet engaging, especially for me as someone who didn't read the book going into it. But Tul and Run’s love story felt rushed, more like it was there because they’re the leads rather than something that naturally developed. While their shared passion for their craft and moral righteousness could explain their connection, the way they got together felt bland and forgettable.

The show had potential for deeper storytelling and more buildup in their relationship, but with only 10 episodes, it stuck to a simple, generic plot. That simplicity, while necessary for clarity, came at the expense of creativity in building tension and integrating romance with the action-crime theme.

That said, I can’t deny the charm of their pre-relationship banter. It made me wish the lead-up had been longer for a more satisfying payoff. As for the police and medical elements, I just wish there were more action scenes. The standout moments were Tul saving Run from the old man during her solo investigation and the trio’s clever plan to catch the Raindrop Killer dupe. While the latter wasn’t action-heavy, it showcased their strategic thinking, something I wish we’d seen more of.

Still, I’m grateful for this show, it’s a pioneer in the action GL genre with solid production and great attention to accuracy, setting the bar higher for future projects in this space.

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Lovely lovely endearing drama

When I first saw the headlines that Bailu and Allen Ren are the main actors for this drama, I was expecting the drama to follow the typical enemies to lovers theme. This is because in every single past drama that Bailu acted in, she always portrays a charismatic, confident girl. But here, her role is soft, ladylike, extremely courteous and polite. It’s a completely new look for Bailu fans!
The love between the two leads are extremely adorable (powerful respectable general + kinds introverted lady), and their chemistry reflects how experienced and mature both actors are at acting :)
This drama will worth your time!

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It was cute, until it got cliche...

The first 20ish episodes were pure cute. Male and female lead had SO MUCH chemistry, and the second leads were adorable in their own way as well
and then the typical Asian drama cliches^TM hit and I almost wanted to just walk away from the drama...

But then the drama does end on a better note, so I still gave it a redeeming 7.5. It's like when the cliche's hit, just turn on fast forward, and the chemistry between the leads is super worth it I guess.

The little epilogue at the end was very satisfying to watch too.

Would recommend if you got the time and want some sugar in your life (and don't mind a little bit of Asian Drama Cliche.

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I mean, having Min Ki as a killer? Why make crime look hot?

The very start doesn't look promising, but as soon as the movie continues to evolve it somehow sucks you in. It is a very balanced movie - it has humor but at the same time it has a very serious and sad topic. It is very ''Korean'' - so, it shows the reality of life. I noticed them portraying lots of it, thus I really prefer them over western ones.

Back to the movie - the start is a bit boring (at least for me), but as it evolves it becomes interesting. The plot is very easy to follow, nothing is secretive. It's easy to watch, if you can take lots of blood and gore. Acting - is amazing.

Even though, I wouldn't watch this movie again. I think once was enough. It is not bad, but I definitely watched better ones.

Still I don't regret spending time watching it at all.

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This is a dark romance with well executed plot and great acting. While it is not my favorite drama, I had to give it a 9 because it was so well done. This is one of the first serious J dramas that I did not get frustrated with due to large quantities of seemingly unnecessary tragedies befalling the characters. The story was resonant, the characters were complicated and round, and I never got bored. The ending was fitting, poignant, and took time to properly wrap all the ends. Nothing was rushed or overlooked.

I continue to be quite impressed with Hasegawa Hiroki's acting. It wasn't just believable, it was real. The chemistry between the lead couple was some of the best I've seen in a J drama.

The soundtrack was strong, and unique. There was one piece that had a wild Celtic sound to it, another that was reminiscent of "Once Upon A December" from Anastasia, as well as a variety of other music. It was used to great effect to enhance the action and different moods.

I will be rewatching this. I may already know the basic story, but the story is so rich in detail and characterization that it really doesn't matter. I also have a good ending to look forward to again.

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Loaded with absurdities and confusions, this film makes us wonder how much we really know about someone we believe is our friend. Random encounters immerse our protagonist in a sad and fascinating story. Quoting a character: "you have been dragged into a story that is not yours", and that intrusion is what makes the movie so captivating.

Story:
Full of Bob Dylan music and a deep love for animals, the story shows innocent and noble characters like Shiina and mysterious and extravagant ones like Kawasaki. While dealing with friendship, values, disease, and revenge.

Acting:
Gaku Hamada perfectly portrays that person who only tries to fit in, he is the impressionable provincial. Eita, on the other hand, represents very well the long range of expressions that his character demands.

Overall:
How valuable are the bonds we create? Who is lying? Who says the truth?
Coupled with a sharp criticism of racism by many Japanese towards foreigners living in Japan, this is a valuable and worthy film. Because ultimately, Shiina also feels like a stranger, even though in his own country.

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If you love mature romance dramas this is the drama for you. In a world where the pretty and young dominate the romantic aspect The first half of my life stands out. From the cast to the story everything is very adult. Everyone has there own thoughts and opinions and nothing feels too dramatic. This story is one that can happen to anyone and I enjoyed it very much.

Story: All surrounding characters in their mid 30's to early 40's. I love how naturally every plot point occurs in the story. Nothing feel forced it doesn't feel like the writers were adding in a lot of filer. The dialogue is everything and a basic conversation between two chracters is always interesting.

(Fair warning the female character is whiny in the beginning but she gets better I promise.)

Acting. Top notch! A1! Everyone in this cast played their chracters to a T. If you've watched Jin Dong in other dramas you know what kind of chracters he gets type cast as. He lectures and gave me surgeon character feels at some point but his execution of his monologues are always great so it didn't deter me from watching the drama. The chemistry ,not just between the female and male lead, but the entire cast can be felt and I really loved it.

Music: Smooth jazz, loved it.

Rewatch: not unless there is a season 2.

Give this drama a try I promise you will enjoy.

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Who was the guy who decided to turn a 20 episode Taiwanese drama into a 6 episode one? With episodes of only 40 minutes? Where does that guy live? And why does he still have a job?

It's possible there's a super cute drama in here desperately struggling to get out but who the hell would know. This was nothing but a disjointed, incoherent mess from beginning to end. Nothing makes sense, everything is super rushed and the whole thing is ridiculous. Oh and there's clearly a season 2! Which... if they knew that why not spend these six episodes having them fall for each other and then the next six on the separation, noble idiocy, family opposition, public scandal, arranged marriage, kidnappings and Rise of the Big Bad - rather than trying to do all those things in TWO EPISODES.

Oh yeah, there's a plot here somewhere. An Idol gets a bodyguard (Eugenie Liu) who is a huge fan of another Idol (Jasper Liu) that Idol 1 is pretending to be dating. The bodyguard is the daughter of a Triad boss. The daughter of the Triad boss has no concept of professionalism or boundaries but she does attempt to murder several people - attempted murder is supposed to be funny I guess.

Ignoring the bad writing and terrible pacing, the female lead's fangirling is super super annoying and I see nothing in this that says she fell for Adorable Jasper rather than Adorable Jasper's public image and that is a big big problem when I'm supposed to believe they're SO MUCH IN LOVE after they met a week ago and slept with each other once.

This is transparently aimed at 14 year olds who fantasise that if they met their Idol (who conveniently is exactly like his public image) then said Idol would fall madly and instantly in love with them and only something as crazy as a mob boss, mad fans and the paparazzi could keep them apart!

Jasper Liu is adorable I guess but his character is paper thin; practically a chalk outline. The female lead's entire character is a problem from beginning to end. Which is, thankfully, not that long. Since this is only 6 episodes. And subsequently a giant mess.

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