Reviews

Good storyline and a must watch drama .

Let's first talk about its storyline It is definitely not boring, and it Keeps going better and better after every episode . Story is about Emperor's grandson who doesnt want to fight for throne but because of special circumstances And because of peace of nation he has to fight for it And in the process, he fell in love with the female lead . His father and brothers, who want the throne, are all useless , And for the throne, he wanted to kill li ni and in process many of his beloved one dies so he finally become crown prince ....

If we talk about actors they are really showing a very good chemistry . There are many few dramas every year who has such kind of great chemistry and they both are very strong and independent . Main lead very smart although all of the empire thinks that female leaders is a male But by first seeing her, he knows that she is a girl, which is quite interesting .

Music is also a very great and exciting which suits the war dramas and some osts are very relaxing I quite like them.

There are many few historical drama this year that I like most but I definitely know. This is one of them.

After completing this drama , i am feeling very happy because this is a epic drama ...

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I'm really unsure of my feelings towards this show. There were some things I loved, others that I hated. There were many times were I just wanted to stop watching the show, but I had to know how it would end.

My biggest issue was probably the male lead, Yoo Jung. With regards to the actor playing him, he did a really good job. But he does look a lot older than he should. Yoo Jung is just an unlikable character throughout the show. I'm not sure if the few glimpses of his past was supposed to make me feel sympathy for him, but it only strengthened my disdain for him. He has no redeeming qualities and frustrated me to no end. The Yoo Jung storyline was tiring and disappointing

The relationship between Yoo Jung and the female lead, Hong Seol, made no sense. They have absolutely no chemistry as a couple, it's uncomfortable to watch. It felt unnatural and forced. The way Hong Seol continuously rationalised and accepted Yoo Jung's actions because he did those things for her was upsetting as well, especially towards the end.

Baek In Ha and Baek In Ho were wonderful, I loved them. Honestly, I wish there was more focus on them. Also, Baek In Ho and Hong Seol had such a great relationship / friendship, you could see and feel their natural and effortless connection. They should have been together.

My disdain for Yoo Jung himself and his relationship with Hong Seol aside, this is a good drama. Phenomenal acting, and an okay storyline with compelling supporting characters. The ending wasn't as conclusive as I would have liked, but it wasn't too bad. I wont rewatch this though, I might just die from frustration.

I wouldn't recommend this to you if you're looking for something romantic and lighthearted, because this show is not it. It's also not exactly a dark or sinister show. If you're curious about it, watch a few episodes and see how you feel. And if you want to stop watching it, I won't blame you. You could even skip right to the last episode, you won't have missed out on too much, seeing as the storyline is very predictable.

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Not really sure why this show is so highly rated. The story was mildly interesting for the first two episodes, but then it dragged on too much.

The acting was fine with most of the actors but secretary Kim's actress really didn't do it for me. Reminiscent of Kristen Stewart, she seemed to have no facial expressions (or personality for that matter), and when she did manage a smile, it looked faker than a 16 year-old's ID. I felt no chemistry with her and the male interest and that was mostly because of her.

I have no clue how I managed to finish it, maybe because I was waiting for something better to happen, like a plot-twist that she's actually a secret agent coming to reveal the company's murky operations, or a closeted spiritual person seeking information about the human energy field (did he or did he not keep saying AURA! with a flourish?), ANYTHING that would justify that high a rating. I'll pretend I was smart enough to add this to my Dropped list.

I would not recommend this show to anyone, unless you have a bunch of free time and are bored enough to not mind burning some brain cells.

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The Perfect Winter Watch!

“In the past, no matter how hard I worked, how hard I fought, I would always feel empty. Since life is unfair, why do I fight like this? There is no place I have to go, nothing I want with all my heart, no one I need to be with. Until…we met one another in a snowstorm.”
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Where should I start? Perhaps with the statement that if you are looking for a fluffy Cdrama rom-com to watch in the middle of winter, Amidst a Snowstorm of Love is a strong candidate for you to consider. It is a drama full of cute romantic scenes, strong friendships, and endless support from so many different characters. I started this drama in the middle of a pretty bad Cdrama slump, and this was the perfect comfort drama for me to watch while it was coincidentally snowing outside. The leads meet in Finland during a snowstorm, and their story of love and persistence unravels from there. Additionally, much of the plot revolves around the pool table, as the leads are nine-ball and snooker players. Coming into this drama, I knew almost nothing about the sports, but I found myself watching each player anxiously as they competed, silently cheering them on. Amidst a Snowstorm of Love was adapted from the novel of the same name by Mo Bao Fei Bao (墨宝非宝). The novelist’s name may sound familiar; she also wrote the original novels for Go Go Squid!, The Flame’s Daughter, and One and Only.

The first ten or so episodes of the drama are essentially the build-up of Lin Yiyang (ML) and Yin Guo (FL)’s relationship. Lin Yiyang and Yin Guo meet in an evening snowstorm in Finland. The first third of the drama was a bit slow for me, but it quickly picked up speed. Lin Yiyang is an international student in communications, and Yin Guo has come to compete in a major nine-ball competition. Much of the drama is centered around their cute moments in Finland, or as I commented earlier, are basically snapshots of the two walking around in the snow. And of course, food, food, and food! The Chinese characters speak English for a good portion of the drama in Finland. Lin Yiyang and Yin Guo’s relationship is literally the biggest green flag you’ll see in CdramaLand. They are extremely considerate of each other, are amazing communicators (after countless dramas with stupid misunderstandings, thank you!!), and are supportive of each other’s goals. Their little WeChat conservation moments are adorable! Additionally, despite Lin Yiyang being away from the pro-snooker life for over a decade, Yin Guo didn’t hesitate at all when she told him she would support him if he wanted to compete again. Lin Yiyang was the Chinese snooker champion by 13, but soon ‘retired’ due to conflicts with the judges. Yin Guo also started nine-ball at a young age and is currently one of the top internationally-ranked players.

You could say that Lin Yiyang took the initiative for their romantic relationship, but both of the leads were drawn to each other from the get-go. It was so sweet to see Lin Yiyang and his friend Wu Wei taking time out of their day to show Yin Guo and her cousin Meng Xiaotian around Hull, Finland. Lin Yiyang would go on such long train rides just to see Yin Guo again! They’re both more introverted, so as they got to know each other, it was more common to see them eating and chatting over the phone than actually speaking to each other. And after Yin Guo went back to China, they continued to talk to each other over the phone nonstop. The communication between the two is mature and impeccable. There are no stupid misunderstandings at all, and although both leads have attracted a lot of admirers (especially Lin Yiyang), there is just an amazing level of trust that leads to absolutely no jealously at all. I also appreciate the fact that the ML and FL’s admirers backed off after seeing the two together. Thank you, thank you!

Another essential aspect of the drama is the undying support the characters pour on each other. Not only does Lin Yiyang help Yin Guo get ready for her first competition in Finland, but the support is mutual. As Yin Guo slowly learns about Lin Yiyang’s past, she and his old friends are thrilled to learned that he wants to go back to professional snooker. And the bromances are so funny and heartwarming! Even before I knew that the novelist for this drama was the same for Go Go Squid!, I could see similarities between the close-knit friendships tied together by a shared love for the sport. In the beginning, I thought that Yin Guo’s other cousin, Meng Xiaodong (Xiaotian’s older brother) would be a problem in their relationship due to his seemingly hostile past with Lin Yiyang, but I was so wrong. Meng Xiaodong turned out to be one of the most supportive people towards both their relationship and Lin Yiyang’s return to pro-snooker. (There’s plenty of eye candy as well, but that’s just a plus!) We also witness the rekindling of friendships between Lin Yiyang and his former peers whom he left years ago.

I would say that the only major roadblock in Lin Yiyang and Yin Guo’s relationship is Yin Guo’s mom, but she wasn’t much of a problem either. I won’t say why she wasn’t initially supportive of them being together, because it’s explained in the drama. However, her initial dislike towards Yiyang is pretty reasonable. I also think that this progression from dislike to a loving embrace really shows Lin Yiyang’s character changing for the better since he was that stubborn and haughty snooker champion as a teenager. Some people were unhappy with the lack of "subtance" in the drama, but then were upset about the mom. (Just an example of how we can't cater to everyone.) I’m also going to take a minute here to appreciate his amazing teacher, Mr. He Wenfeng. Lin Yiyang was his last student, whom he treated like a grandson. Mr. He is the teacher all of us want, and Lin Yiyang wouldn’t be where he was at 13 or today without his guidance.

In my opinion, Wu Lei and Zhao Jinmai had amazing chemistry. It didn’t help when their characters were so loving and supportive towards each other either! Even as opponents, every clap and congratulations were extremely genuine and everyone was happy for one another, no matter who won or lost. All the actors and actresses made the rom-com enjoyable, with plenty of smiles and laughs. The OST is cute and perfect for the leads' happy moments together. Amidst a Snowstorm of Love was the first drama I’ve watched that shines the spotlight on the pool table. Since I know basically nothing about snooker and nine-ball, I can’t testify to whether the drama showed gameplay correctly, but it sparked my interest in the sports. And given that China is currently very high-ranked internationally in terms of snooker and nine-ball, the drama also was able to raise awareness for the sports in China, and of course, outside of China.

All in all, Amidst a Snowstorm of Love is the perfect cuddly winter watch! It is a perfect combination of romance, friendship, and healthy relationships across the board. You are not only transported to the world of pool, but also get to experience a Finnish winter and amazing love story. It’s definitely a plus if you start this drama when it’s snowing outside. (That’s what happened for me!)

Thanks for reading!

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Fun Antics with Unexpected Depth: A Seamless Transition of Laughter and Heartache

Let me start by saying how much I’m in love with this drama. Somehow it has just the right amount of comedy, tragedy, fluff and angst; the romance here is romance-ing, the chemistry is chemisty-ing, the flow is flowing - everything is just perfect. And I absolutely love the OSTs. I understand that enjoyment is subjective and not everyone might share my sentiments but personally, I have not come across a drama which I enjoyed this much in a very long time.

This is one of the rare dramas where watching the trailer actually inspired me to watch it. I went in expecting lots of comedy and was not only not disappointed but was also pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story and the characters. All the characters (both main and side) are complex and layered, and the actors did such an amazing job at bringing them to life that you can’t help but end up loving or hating them.

On that note, this was my first drama of Cheng Lei and Wang Churan as main leads and am I in love? They are such a talented and beautiful duo that I couldn’t even decide who I liked more and literally loved every second they were on screen. Not to mention the visual fest - the costumes and the styling are totally on point and simply so beautiful that I had to rewind a few times just to appreciate their beauty.

The chemistry between the main leads is also impeccable. They are balanced characters and match each other’s energy really well. I love how much they trust each other and communicate quickly to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings, and while some secrets still remained, it’s not frustrating and if you see it from the ML's POV, it's really understandable.

I didn't watch any of the other adaptations before so I went in with a pretty fresh mind, minus the very blatant spoiler the synopsis gave out but personally I feel like knowing the ML's situation made a lot of his early actions make more sense and added more depth to them, like his absolute trust in the FL, his interactions with other people, the court sessions, etc. so I can't really say I mind it.

The plot itself can come off as a bit shallow at first, but it gradually dives deeper into a darker and more complex storyline without it ever feeling too overpowering. The flow and balance are so good that the comedy and tragedy can coexist without either losing its charm.

The pacing of the story is also just perfect for me, and I was hooked from the first ep but it could be considered a little fast for some people, especially since the transmigration plot and timelines can be a bit confusing but when it all clicks, the story is really good and it gets better with each ep. I watched it while airing and every episode was worth the wait, so props to the entire production team for creating this amazing drama cuz I loved every minute of it.

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"A life without love is like a year without summer."

That's a Swedish proverb in my title. I am a winter person, but what good is the cold of winter, without the warmth of summer to give it sweetness? Summer means happy times and good memories as well. One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter in order to remember the warmth that life as well as nature provides you with.

"Our Beloved Summer (그 해 우리는) [2022]" is a story of such warmth, enthusiasm and vehemence; a love story that's worth telling and worth witnessing. It's about the growth, the progress and the upswing of a relationship that thrives even on the verge of vanishing. This is definitely an unique tale that'll bring all kind of emotions out of you and make you experience numerous amount of perspectives of life.

Kook Yeon Soo (Kim Da Mi) and Choi Woong (Choi Woo Shik) were highschool batchmates, persuaded to film a documentary portraying the first and last students of the class together. The documetary goes viral and by the end of the filming, they fall for each other and start dating, which lasts for next few years until they breakup for unknown reason. After 10 years, as they end up working together for a while, they have to film again showing their current situations. How will they cope up with the lingering feeling for each, as they move forward in their lives individually? Well, for that, you have to watch the drama by yourself.

Choi Woong is an Innocent, ingenuous and artless teenage guy whose free-spiritedness has made him the last student of his class though noone has been able to recognize his skills & intellect and what his future beholds. Kook Yeon Soo is a brilliant student, though self-centered and a lil unkind. Despite everyone's assumptions about her she lives an honest life by adapting to her reality.

Kim Ji Woong (Kim Sung Chul) has been the closest friend to Choi Woong since elementary who has now become a documentary PD. NJ (Roh Jung Eui) is a super-successful Idol star who is very honest and kind-hearted. Go Eun Ho (Ahn Dong Goo) is a friend to Choi Woong and his manager. Lee Sol Yi (Park Jin Joo) is the only friend of Yeon Soo and a pub owner. Jung Chae Ran (Jun Hye Won) is the Asst. PD at SBC.

Some old, familiar and experienced faces among supporting character are Seo Jung Yun (Lee Yun Ok) and Park Won Sang (Choi Ho) as Choi Woong's mother and father respectively. Cha Mi Kyung (Kang Ja Kyung) as Yeon Soo's grandmother. Jo Bok Rae (Park Dong Il) as the main PD at SBC.

The child actors for Choi Woong and Ji Woong, Song Ha Hyun and Kim Ji Hoon also did a great job. They were so cute and were able to portray demanded emotions aptly.

Special mention to Lee Joon Hyuk and Kwak Dong Yeon who played guest roles with badboy characters which actually felt like guest roles.

The plot development is steady though it doesn't look like it bcs of longer reminiscences from their highschool days and some flashbacks from their childhood. At the beginning of each episode, they show the progression of the 3 main characters when they were immature teens; combining them won't seem like a consistent tale bcs there are 3 different pov-s for each of them, which is fairly balanced. Also, some of the episodes in the later half, exceptionally, has the pov-s of the current timeline, one of which is given to NJ. Similarly, the ending of each episode is accompanied by epilogues to provide the audience with references.

The pacing is the only problem that lies with the production and editing. It isn't consistent; somewhere slow and somewhere fast. This could have been avoided but it was manageble for me ngl. Talking about the episodic progression, It took me 2 episodes and a half to be hit by the mood of the drama. The furtherance was good, 4th was a bit off in terms of substances, I felt. The ending of 6th felt like an ending of a story itself, I mean ep1-6 somehow felt like a show. And I was wary about what more is left. But to respond my questions, they provided me with a unhurried, warm and beautiful journey while the two parties go on a quest of love and attempt to eradicate all the odds on their way.

The finale week (15th & 16th) came as a surprise. Just when I thought they've forgotten about few things and are gonna end the show with cute moments and jolly fillers, they slapped me with the most important topics to be considered. I am so so so happy they didn't forget them. Honestly, I think those 4 episodes could be better executed but fine. The last 2 episodes are like truckloads of sadness and pain, they got many peak moments and tend to be gloomy for most of the parts. All loose ends were wrapped well in there and even though a lot of things happened in the last episode, it didn't feel rushed.

This is the directorial debut for Kim Yoon Jin PDnim who was, in fact, the producer for one of the 2020 best "It's Okay to Not be Okay". Despite that fact, the job he has done in this drama is so first-rate that it proves all the competence his skills behold. The screen editing, the screenplay management, the storytelling method and the overal execution is well taken care of. The pacing was perfect for the genre providing apt vibes; it's not exactly a warm pure romance but the painfully beautiful vibes wouldn't have been felt without the moderately slow screenplay. The cinematography is perfect; given the genre, mood and messages the story wanted the audience to catch, it was quite successful in doing that. It is beautiful and particularly the warmth could be felt through the camera lenses.

I honestly didn't know about Lee Na Eun jakkanim before watching this drama but given her experience in writing only one short webseries prior to this, she has done a fabulous job, no? I am very much willing to read the original webtoon now. Notably (for those who don't know yet), the drama is a sequel of a webtoon written by the same author and the same title (그 해 우리는 - 초여름이 좋아!). Simply, the webtoon is a prequel for the drama involving the highschool documentary days. I love how she has focused on the character dynamics of not just the 4 leads, but also the seemingly minor supporting characters. I particularly loved Ji Woong and NJ's backstories. The method of storytelling, the monologue notes during the backstory remembrance, the narrations and most importantly the plot development... everything is so good, I swear. I also loved how she has made the characters interpret various thoughts.

Nam Hye Sung PDnim is a super familiar name among the Korean composers and has composed for so many dramas, on the top of that for many excellent ones. There are 13 OSTs in total (by the time I write this) and I seriously love all of them. I usually cite my most fav or top 2 but I wanna mention more than that...

#1 "The Giving Tree" by Lee Seung Yoon is my most favourite. The soft beat song with pleasing vocals is about reminiscing the sweet memories of the past whose warmth is still heartfelt.

#2 "Drawer" by 10cm again is again about reminiscence but with a romantic and aesthetically beautiful tone which could make you cry. 10cm never fails to do his job.

#3 "Our Beloved Summer" by Kim Kyung Hee is the theme song for the drama which is a refreshing harmony and pleasant call for love.

#4 "There For You" by Kim Na Young is a soulful and emotional song, which is known to be her forte. It strikes out one's insecurities in a relationship. I particularly loved the rhythms.

#5 "Summer Rain" by Sam Kim which has the softcore melody that makes your heart flutter, no doubt he is proficient vocalist. The song is a very comforting one.

#6 "Maybe If" by BIBI is a song of 'What-Ifs'. It narrates various possibilities while dissecting the decisions of past to pick out the regrettable ones. BIBI's pointed vocal is so on point.

#7 "Christmas Tree" by BTS V is an eulogy to love. It perfectly depicts the art of loving and the feelings of being loved. Taehyung's vocal is like cherry on the top for this track.

Other OSTs are...
"Squabble" by Ha Sung Woon
"I Will Make You Happy" by Jang Beom Jun
"Even Now" by Yang Yoseob
"Home" and "Why" by Janet Suhh
"Red String of Fate"by Kim Kyung Hee

"From a philosophical pov, love is all about giving; it's what you give, and not what you take." This is an anonymously quoted line that we all know of but lemme assure that Our Beloved Summer goes beyond all the definitions and breaks all the barriers, in order to come forward with its own interpretations. I will try my best not to spoil while explaining this and please note that the next few paragraphs are descriptions relating to the show's scenarios.

For the world to become beautiful, the golden precepts to live by are mutual understanding, respect, tolerance, forgiveness, and love. OBS signifies how important these 4 factors are, in love. Love is love, no matter what but one must be aware of how to love and be loved, and to acquire that knowledge, we must be willing to learn each and every day out of it. OBS also shows how important its to learn despite the pacing and time period taken, bcs what matters is when you come back with full comprehension.

The feelings of not being loved anymore leads to insecurity which works like a poison in a relationship. Even in the strongest relationships, the fear of judgement by your partner is the mark of guilt and the burden of insecurities. Self-esteem, ego and reasonable pride are some elements contributing to it and I'm glad they didn't forget to sort out the lil knots left to untie at the end of the drama, even though it was late.

Honesty is the best policy- as you've heard, but my friend! It takes immense courage to be honest in a relationship. We often forget that we are mere human beings, and not magicians who can read others. So it's important that we tell things to others and also become a good listeners. Hiding is like lying to your own and it accumulates to further treachery. At the same time, opening up to your partner not only relieves the pain to some amount but also comforts your soul. This is another factor they've emphasized in the drama.

"Because nothing would happen If I don't do anything" is a line from this drama which implies that our choices or decisions are what shapes our future. It doesn't matter whether we joy over it or regret it bcs it's already too late to go back. We might have another chance to set things straight but that again depends upon the others involved. Because In the end, that was the choice you made, and it doesn't matter how hard it was to make it. It matters that you did.

"Please keep loving me." was a desperate call from one of the characters in this drama. We all wish to be loved for only ourselves and nothing extrinsic, but what exactly is the necessity and is that entity sufficiently reserved to elicit love alone? Well, the answer lies in our hearts with some reasoning left for our brains to do.

There is a great gift in conflict that is resolved heart to heart—it’s a deeper understanding. You just need to be willing to do your part to dive deep for the pearl. That's the greatest message "Our Beloved Summer" gives away to it's viewers. It simply is being deeply in love than being crazily in love. This drama truly brings out the most basic thing about a dating relationship.

I think I could be the only one but It somehow reminded me of Yumi's Cell. They're not similar in any way but the fact, that both of them are about processes and not constant or regular outcomes, is what makes both of them unique. I came here solely for Choi Woo Shik, Kim Da Mi and Kim Sung Chul bcs I have always loved their performances. Not having read the webtoon, I wasn't expecting much when the drama was still in making but when the hype about it started going up the hill, it took my level of anticipations with it and I am proud to announce that, it has exceeded whatever I thought It'd be.

Final remarks... Our Beloved Summer will remain in the top 10 list of Kdramas based on youth life essence for many years to come. The drama is character-driven and each & every aspect of this drama gets an near perfect score and the credit must go to the entire cast and crew. Couldn't be grateful to all of them for this beautiful piece of art which is thought provoking and very heartfelt. This is definitely a must watch. My ratings reflect how much I loved it and tbh it had it's own flaws whicu are in fact negligible but to be fair, I can't give 10/10 haha.

P. S. Might comeback sometimes to edit bcs I feel this is a bit disorganized since I had a runny nose while writing, hehe.

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I WATCHED IT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
 If you have to prioritize, watch the first episode and judge for yourself, because some tricks and stretches are telling for the overall quality and worldbuilding. Are you OK with random commoners using Lee last name (and it somehow being an important factor for maliciously choosing a crown prince's substitute)? How about a poison that has to be re-taken every 15 days otherwise the afflicted person will die? Or a poison that makes the survivor immune to all the other poisons in the world? Do you buy the reasoning for hiding crown prince's face behind a mask? Unless you really can't stand prolonged misunderstandings and great love built on lack of communication (or even shared screentime), you'll be OK with the rest.
(And speaking of the setup, I have no idea what were they thinking using prince Sado's name, since it can't even be considered an alternative, rice box-free version of that story. Maybe the writer had something planned but she forgot about it in a meantime? Or wanted to troll us with a prospect of a tragic ending?)
Despite all the plotting, accumulating power and changing teams going on, there's not enough plot to last for 20 hours (and a 5 years long time skip during which 1st female lead regressed and everything interesting apparently just happened to the other three). Some matters, like finding a poppy field, could have been resolved around 1/3 of the show and don't even start me on that jar that no-one bothered to come and get until the very end. Really. There were two quests in total and they were both lying sidelined waiting for a person in charge to get to his or hers grand moment, because everyone else was too busy creating misunderstandings, being a noble idiot or passively looking from behind. Right, they needed to make an antidote too, but that just happened last minute.
To make matters worse, due to the episode getting split in half it wasn't 20 eps but 40 shorter ones. So double the cliffhanger / wet blanket combo and add general lack of fluidity here and there. With that being said, it's not a show to watch for the plot and the overall pacing fits what little character development we see. Except most of it is thrust upon the second leads.
Storytelling is mediocre at best and very predictable in a short term (still engaging on a longer run). You can have a drinking game for everything that happens on cue and every seam that shows through. Expect lots of convenient timing used for the sake of the dramatic effect and main characters doing nothing and getting away with it, because events resolve themselves without them. I'm not even talking about overused hijinks like the main girl coming back from her task all down and changing her mood midsentence, saying to the crowd's relief she suceeded, or that scene when the crown prince was being mourned only to show above someone's shoulder and ask who's dead. And let's ignore that General who fought Jurchens, because he's such a stock character I physically cringed every time he spoke. His lines were like something a kindergartner with a wooden sword would improvise, that kid that gets some episodic part because someone has to do it, and maybe doubles as a tree. Someone on kissasian commented it's like the writer was using a textbook on how to write a segeuk and I fully agree. It's a second rate fanfic writing in a high budget decorations. Easy on eyes and ears, engaging, but only until you take your eyes of it and start looking at the whole picture. With a different cast and lower production value, it'd be unwatchable.
The romance is bland and angsty. They meet, they instantly fall in love, some misunderstandings happen to them [enters 'came from the dead, pretends to be his own lookalike' trope sprawling over the better part of the middle], they separate, they're back and everything is all dandy. The end. The second leads meddle into it, but they never had a chance and weren't even looking for a different options, so there's no thrill. Fill the empty spaces with speeches on the common people suffering under Evil Corp, the legitimacy of power, qualities of a good leader and apologies towards villain who was clearly forced by a circumstances and badly run country to turn evil, poor thing. The show takes itself very seriously, but comes off silly and pompous despite some original concepts thrown at the beginning. I wish writers had a better idea of showing Ga Eun's independence than making her going blindly her way, without consulting people around her and making informative choices. I'm not saying asking for permission, but communicating with a person she supposedly loves that much. I suspect reasons for that are not exposing her trait as much as having her in one place with the second male lead and under his power, and giving the first male lead an opportunity for a dramatic run through a city stopped on crossed halberds. She could be much more than that -- and she was, but it derailed.

WHAT'S IT WORTH WATCHING FOR:
 Hm. Let me think. YSH was born to play royals. He's charismatic, commanding and has them dramatic gazes covered. And not forget his deep voice. But we didn't need a 20 episode drama to confirm that. Both he and KSH are wasted in their roles of a sheltered prince taking a responsibility and a trophy girl. A kind, caring, underinformed trophy girl fighting for a justice. With 15 minutes of a heavily reused footage her character had more impact on the story in Goblin than here. Wait, I meant to stay positive. Both leading actors managed to carry their characters thanks to their charisma and breathed some air into subpar writing. Both second leads showed improvement compared to some of their former works. Second female lead comes quite a way from a creep playing with her knife (or was a needle?) and inflicting on herself a wound to match with the one the crown prince got to an independent, succesful woman standing against her family and making great sacrifices. Second male lead shares 1st lead burden and tries to navigate in an unfamiliar environment until he can't take it anymore and breaks apart. Villain is entertaining to watch and not omnipotent (close, but not), but towards the end he's getting out of character (or was he always delusional?). The other villain has a motivation so murky and changable I won't risk a guess what was she actually plotting, but I doubt it was intentional anyway. At some point it looked like we've got a few more secret organisations to stir things up, but keep your hopes low. As soon as they were introduced, they got tossed away. [Looks like that's as far as my positive attitude can get me.]
Rating it anything below 7 is mean towards production team and actors, but the writing really brings it down. You can safely skip that one, but if you feel like watching something light, why not give it a shot and see for yourself. [But don't even a light show need a more convincing romance, if nothing else?]

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Healing drama they said, Healing drama it was.

If the objective of the drama was to make every shot look like a painting from that time period, that was successfully satisfied. The soft cool color grading and the sweeping shots of the fields and single trees: a dream! The chemistry of the whole cast especially the clinic family was so tightknit and so much fun to watch. Many of the previews were describing it as a healing drama and due to the sincerity of the script and the casts’ skills in thoroughly portraying their character’s traumas and how they got them, I actually did feel like it was a healing drama because we went through that process with them. However, I wish they included more “psychiatrist counseling therapy” cause that’s in the title, leading to my main complaint that there was too much screen time for the antagonists planning their evil plans only to be basically re-explained later. It was nice to see the different patient cases that Poong and the Gye Soo clinic family would help, just like in other modern medical dramas. However, I think the build up to the climax at Hanyang would have accelerated (and not dragged a little like some reviews had said about the middle half) if all of the cases had either developed Poong and Eunwoo as medical practitioners (skill and counseling wise) or if each case had given us clues about the "final battle" at Hanyang discovering who killed the king and how they got away with it. Some of the patient cases felt a little rushed being resolved and were just there to grow the sweet relationship between Eun woo and Poong (those moments I won't complain about because they were all highly anticipated for me personally:). There should be a trigger warning in the first episode (at least) because the make up team did an incredible job of making all the “soft gore” stuff look really real. The OST (especially Solji’s and Sohyang’s) really illustrates the mood of the drama and the background instrumentals were sometimes really funny during appropriately comedic scenes esp with the off tune flutes whenever Manbok said/did anything (he is truly comedy central haha).

To me, it looks like the directors and the screenwriters had the overall goal of making a healing drama and went in that direction while successfully balancing mystery, romance, and family comedy on their plate. It wasn’t too much for each genre, contributing to an overall very soft healing drama…except for the last ep.
So here I am rewatching each episode AGAIN for the nth time while I wait for season 2 after almost losing IT to that cliffhanger.
Final note: the two main leads Hyang Gi and Min jae are obviously seasoned actors because all their emotional scenes tore my heart out. Deep sincerity in their eyes and body language every time.

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I’m absolutely loving this drama! Let’s start with the story. The story is beautiful written, thou it’s not perfect but in every episode, I can see what’s the writer trying to convey, and for almost every married couple out there, it hits right home. The main aspect of the story is how to find the almost forgotten love that demised by hard reality, but the love between Jin Joo and her mother made me bawling my eyes.. T____T  The story also made me reflect how I treated my parents after I married, how to cherish what you have, count your blessing, and appreciate your partner. The balance of comedy, romance, even touching scene almost too perfect.. after crying my heart out, I laughed almost as hard because Dok Jae and Jae Woo! Dok Jae you are such scene stellar!

The cast is perfect! The character of second lead is almost too perfect even I was secretly hoping that Jin Joo will end up with Nam Gil..

The music is spot on.. the rewatch value is also record high for me.. even I will rewatch it again after I finish writing review.

I can say this is one of the most enjoyable drama ever.. the problem with it, I think the SLS is too hard..

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A+++! ( ˘ ³˘)♥

This seris is so sick omg! I STILL LOVE IT AWWWeee!! !!!!ATTENTION !!!! If YOU NOT can't stand THE BLOODy And Murder scenes, than DO NOT watching this serious. If you even do it, told you sis/bro! ( ˘ ³˘)♥ The cast and the scenes and THE characters are so genious, The music was totallllyy impressive and the music can make the situation more touching and moore sentimental and SUCH A GREAT ART! UWUHE CHARACTERS AND THE STORY LINE WAS GREAT! but here is a thing for everyone who loved this series,and I know you will agree with it uwu! DEAR DIRECTORS, WE NEED SEASON 2!! UwU ( ˘ ³˘)♥

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Don't put high expectations.

Alright so I had extremely high hopes for this one because the sypnosis sounded so cool. Seriously, two detectives try to solve cold cases with a detective from the past using walkie-talkies. And knowing it's not one case but mutliple cases, it sounded promising, it won'thet noring they won't drag the subplots we get to see different criminals the way Hanyeong would profile them and use his 'skills' the whole new way of solving the case but the way it was underwhelming. So disappointed. It's not a bad show, sure it's interesting you want to know what would happen but the way the main idea was used very badly as, more of something at the side rather than the whole point of the show. First off, they didn't solve any cases together. Whenever someone discovered something and they tell it to the other, the other already knows about it. One of the two detectives in the future doesn't even know about the walkietalkie-future-past-communication until the 14th episode which takes away from how well it could've been. The only time she used the walkie-talkie was basically her crying the whole convo and getting sentimental.
The way each time they were on a case they each detective solved it on their own, they could do without each other. The potential this plotline could've had and it just missed it. Another thing was the characters' writing they were written very badly. I'm a person who cares more about the characters than the plot, I would watch a show with an okay plot if it had great characters and would drop a show of a good plot with bad characters. This show didn't have well-written characters or a good plot as I've previously mentioned. The characters are very one dimesional, it seems like they have no life outside of the cases they solve, no other acquaintances, nothing. Which made them seem very dull and unlikable in my opinion I couldn't stand them and the way some lines sounded so forced. Like all three detectives are made up of one personality. Righteous, wants to know the truth,have no sense of humour, no quirks absolutely zero personality besides that. Each time I watched an episode I was not very hooked or interested with what was going on and then it ends at an intense part so I go for the next episode only to be underwhelmed with the events as they unfold. The ending of the show didn't feel satisfying at all??? I know they tried to pull an open ending but it just seemed like everything is starting all over again with the whole confusion and repetitiveness of the whole plot all over again. Was not a fan.
I'd give it a 6.5 stars because it could be enjoyable to a lot of people I just feel it could've been done way better.

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30 episodes of slop before it gets good

So I was slogging through episode after episode of this terrible show out of blind loyalty to the author (Jiu Lu Fei Xiang). Then, near the end and long after I should have dropped it, it actually got pretty good. Truly a surprise.

I guess I’ll start with my issues with the first 30ish episodes.

This show is so unbelievable cheesy. Take the whole superpower thing, for example. If you think of the ML as a Marvel superhero, he’s not that bad- interesting premise and all. But if you're not comparing him to cartoons, then he comes across as… well, cartoonish.

His transformations are accompanied by thumping music, CGI effects, slow motion poses, and hair blowing in the wind. It’s clearly meant to be heart-pounding cool, but I found it super lame. Maybe because the proper buildup isn’t there, so rather than being emotionally invested and caught in the moment, I’m just sitting here rolling my eyes.

And then there are other scenes that seem meant to be squeal-worthy cute, moving, or touching. I was not moved or touched. They were cheesy. Maybe it’s because I didn’t connect with the characters that I just couldn’t get in the proper mood.

As for the characters… let’s start with Li Shuang, female lead and world’s most unbelievable general. I think we’re supposed to like her. She’s strong, capable, noble, and selfless; all she needs now is somebody to appreciate and take care of her. We’re supposed to enjoy watching her find love.

It might have worked if she had any depth to her, but she comes across more as somebody’s one-dimensional image of a paragon of virtue. She is constantly spewing platitudes about protecting the common people; her flaws include failing to take care of herself (because she’s so selfless), her emotions include sorrow for the peoples’ suffering, and her desires include world peace and prosperity. Get the idea?

I think that without any depth, to make her feel more real and relatable, all her moralizing lacks sincerity. She’s too artificial. About half the time she said anything, I rolled my eyes.

As for the ML, his defining feature for the majority of the show is his puppy-like devotion to the FL. He has hints of being clever or thoughtful, but most of his actions center around his obsession with her. You can’t blame him- it’s chemically induced- but that means even more that their romance is founded on nothing.

Sitting through 30 episodes of these two going through all the motions of a sticky sweet romance was truly a struggle. Manufactured cutesy scenes, sappy moments with slow mo and flowery music, incident after incident requiring skin to be bared, sacrifices and rescues, etc. I was either cringing or bored.

On top of this, both leads at times acted in ways I found extremely frustrating. For instance, the unnecessary hostility towards Mo Yun, whose goals are not contrary to theirs. And that poor Crown Prince- despite being a saint, the FL somehow has no empathy for him. As the show itself says, you can turn somebody down and still be kind about it. Their childhood friendship seems to mean nothing to her; she can’t pull out a hint of genuineness or regard for him.

Shows define their own reality. The obnoxious behavior is presented as justified and noble, which left me irritated and further resentful against the two leads.

I had a brief moment of enjoying the show somewhere in the middle, when Lu Xin (female doctor) gets some character development, and Mo Yun appears. In general, I found Lu Xin alternately annoying and very likable. I did like Mo Yun, but some of his character arc was also really cheesy (the detached sage learning to love… lol).

With this second couple, I liked them individually, but the romance between them felt forced- maybe lacking in chemistry or something. Couldn’t quite get behind.

As for the villains, the empress dowager of Yao comes across as deranged and evil- kudos to the actress. I was satisfied with her story and resolution. The Taijin side… more complicated, didn’t quite like.

It isn't until almost 30 episodes in that the ML finally regains his old memories. At this point, the show suddenly gets much better. The ML is more interesting, with much more personality as Prince Annan, and I actually began to like the FL and empathize with her. Li Shuang even has her first moment of humanity, with a genuine and valid regret.

Even more, the way it all plays out between them is at once cute/sweet, and heartbreaking. I guess the previous 30 episodes of sap were setting up for this; it’s a lot more poignant when you understand what was lost. I legit found it touching.

This arc is not without its eyebrow raisers. For one thing, there are now TWO of them competing for the spot of Most Virtuous Soul. The setup / situation is also a bit contrived. But I was willing to overlook all this. All in all, well done, +1 points (yes I was about to give this a 5).

There is some more last-minute drama afterwards which I didn't find too compelling, but it's so close to the end anyways.

Acting-wise, I’ll address first the complete unbelievability of Li Shuang as a general. It’s easy to blame the actress, and I think that’s part of it, but there are other components too. Things like: her voice; her pretty clothing and jewelry when everyone else is wearing armor; outfits and scenes that highlight her creepy level of skinniness; choreography that showcases her poor fighting technique; so on. I don’t want to bash on Song Yi, but maybe she wasn’t the best choice for the role, and maybe also direction/production could have done some things differently.

Other actors did well. Cheng Lei of course had to show a lot of range for his dual personalities and I thought he did a good job. If you like to see Cheng Lei shirtless, this is the show for you. Darren Chen as Mo Yun and Bi Wenjun as the Crown Prince both showed really good expressions with their eyes. I felt even worse for the Crown Prince with how troubled and hurt he looked at times, near the end.

The fight choreography is… not the best I’ve seen, and not that well executed. I admire the creativity of making her main weapon bow and arrow, but it really is not a short-range weapon, and having her rapid fire for close range combat just makes her sloppy technique even worse. Her sword swings are also uncontrolled. There are some battle scenes but they are all pretty standard.

This is definitely not a low-budget show, with lots of fancy costumes, sets, and extras. The CGI quality seems pretty good, and I did like the music on its own merits. But production can’t save a bad plot.

Ultimately, is it worth it to struggle through 30 episodes to get to the good part? Not sure. I did feel some really great emotions at the end, and I was interested and invested. But, ya know, a good show should have that all the way through, and >75% slop is kind of a lot.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





This show has a happy ending. The characters really could have achieved the whole thing with much less drama, but I guess it’s a show after all. About half of the last episode is devoted to telling you where everyone goes. It’s bittersweet for some of the characters but not that bad.

I had a lot of sympathy for the Crown Prince throughout the show. He gets pretty ruthless for a moment there, and I was afraid he would spiral into villainhood (the fate of all too many SML, it seems). And yet I wasn’t sure what he did that was wrong or blameworthy, except maybe when he failed to properly read her mind (right). Luckily they turn that around and ultimately he becomes a good emperor. I like him as a character, but all this personality yo-yoing is too dramatic, getting dangerously close to character assassination.

More than anything, I was really bothered by how FL treated him. I felt she should have at least given him closure, along the lines of “I really treasured our time together but we both need to move on.” Even at the end, he’s clearly struggling and she still can’t say anything nice to him. It somehow falls on our ML to say just one kind thing- “you are a good emperor whom the people love”- to comfort this lonely soul.

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I can't believe a cast this good would make a drama this bad.

"When the Stars Gossip" is a high-concept drama with a cast that includes many of my favorite K-drama actors, so why is it so terrible? This "opposites attract" space romance starring two K-drama romance icons, Gong Hyo Jin and Lee Min Ho, should be an automatic hit, but instead, I found myself hating it more and more with each episode.

Was it really that bad? I consider it a bad sign when you want characters to die just so you can stop the repetitive storyline and put everyone, including the audience, out of their misery. This was surprising since the writer and director are each behind all-time favorite dramas of mine "Jealousy Incarnate" and "It's Okay to Not Be Okay". Those dramas share some of the same cast, and a little of the same quirkiness, but lack two major things... characters and a story that I liked and cared about. Even a cameo from Jo Jung Suk just reminded me how terrible this drama was in comparison. There's also a pretty clear pro-birth slant that is so heavy-handed the drama becomes completely nonsensical to support that theme, instead of building on characters and real relationships.

In this story, Lee Min Ho plays Kong Ryong a non-astronaut OBGYN sent to space as a "tourist". We quickly learn he has a secret task that involves attempting IVF in space for a colleague of his who is desperate to have her deceased husband's baby. Gong Hyo Jin plays Eve Kim the commander of the mission who is by the book and doesn't appreciate having to babysit Ryong even before finding out he's planning to do something that can get them all in major trouble.

Both characters are extremely stubborn, so it becomes a war between her suspicion and his sneakiness, which gets pretty old quickly. Obviously, this is a clear setup for an enemies-turned-lovers scenario, but the problem is that their attraction to each other felt super forced and lacked any chemistry. I think the fruit flies and mice had better chemistry than they did. Add to that their complicated romantic relationships on earth, and the story gets messy, full of triangles and betrayals, but it still feels flat and boring. To avoid spoilers I will leave out the details but it all felt either comically obsessive or very superficial, and the only couple I was even slightly interested in wasn't a main one.

The romance is weak but I think the theme is the real problem with this drama. There is a recurring moral dilemma that comes up several times in the story where a main character rallies for an embryo or a pregnancy to the point of risking their own life and the lives of others. Over and over we are told of the importance of giving life a chance while through a character's selfishness or singlemindedness lives are put at unnecessary risk. This made it very hard for me to empathize with this POV, and it just became more and more annoying every time it came up. Then about 1/3 through the story it became clear where the story would likely end and for some reason, I forced myself to see it through. Why? The actors.

One thing I did like was the community and banter among the space team. I even loved hating Oh Jung Se as Kang Gang Su because I loved seeing him in a mean role. He really is a great actor with an amazing range even if the character was written to be super one-dimensional. I also thought Lee Cho Hee was great as sisters Lee Min A and Lee Donna. I truly believed they were two totally different people. The mothers were great and charming as well. It was mainly the supporting cast that kept me from dropping this drama when watching the same arguments was becoming too much to bear. Unfortunately, their stories are filler and don't get much development or resolution.

Don't even get me started on the stupid lottery ticket!

Would I watch this again? Absolutely not. I barely made it through to the end and once it got to the climax that was supposed to be emotional I felt absolutely nothing but a desire to know if it was really finally over. The ending was predictable, vague, and unsatisfying. The soundtrack was ok, and having moments of space life was cool at times, but there was nothing enjoyable enough to make me want to watch any of this again. You also have to suspend disbelief a lot to get through the action sequences and give up on science actually making sense during other sequences. I would applaud the plot's audacity if that made it more entertaining, but it did not.

I think maybe if the writer had less of an agenda in their storytelling this could have been an interesting observation about motherhood, those who sacrifice for the chance, give up their chance, will never have that chance, or step into the role when needed, but instead it felt like too many of the women characters were given the depth of baby machines in this plot leaving little room for nuance while male characters had god-complexes over making fertility happen no matter what. It's hard not to see this as pro-birth propaganda, especially with a main character named Eve.

Overall, if you’re wondering If I would recommend this drama, I would say abort mission!

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