Reviews

life is hard, but you can still find happiness

As soon as I was at episodes 3-4 I got super invested and then the investment fizzled out, prob because my break from the show went too long. It’s weird but after the first few episodes, I didn’t really feel like unpacking the show despite the great things it has going for itself. The thing I loved about this drama was the script. What prompted me to watch this in the first place was a tik tok with Miyeong talking about not caring if the world ended but the way she described her fatigue for her life and people was so relatable I had to watch. One of my fave parts in the script was Miyeong talking about wanting to be worshipped. That was pure poetry right there. The way the character expressed their emotions and worded their hardships really stood out to me so props to the screenwriter. This is one of my favorite scripts now.

The characters were great too. The brother ended up being the most interesting character, even though he was the most ridiculous at first. I personally really like Miyeong and found her to be relatable for the most part. The sister was decent but her storyline wasn’t as interesting as her siblings. The liberation club was heavily underutilized and focused more on the characters than the coworker group at the beginning. I would have loved to see them hang out more together so you could feel their different journeys coming together if that makes sense. Gu was really great. The actor did a great job with portraying the demeaner and facial expressions of the character.

The ending was kind of open but I’m gad for the most part the characters decided to continue on their journey to happiness despite life not being perfect and to me that was the point of this show. The human ability to continue to live and seek happiness even when life becomes unbearable. That message in itself was beautifully conveyed.

I def recommend this drama is you’re into slow melodrama type shows as you might get a lot out of this one. I must admit this show is more of a one episode a week thing for me but feel free to binge if that works for you :)
life is

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Epic Chinese mythology movie not to be missed

[PARDON ME, THIS IS LONG]

I'm giving this 10 stars, not because I'm Chinese (and naturally biased as many would probably think). I have never read the Investiture of the Gods (the novel on which the Trilogy is largely based), nor properly watched any relevant TV/movie production. (To those who are familiar with the original story, the Trilogy focuses on Jifa rather than Jiang Ziya who is traditionally depicted as the protagonist.)

I am giving this 10 stars, because I am truly in awe of the high quality of the movie consistently demonstrated in all aspects, a master-piece conjured with the blood, sweat and tears of a team of 8000+ crew: the mind blowing cinematographic effects, the exceptionally amazing actors (whether it be men or women, new or seasoned), the extremely elaborate costumes, the lavish grand palace and buildings crafted by 2000+ carpenters, the beautiful original scores and songs, the simply superb and talented Director Wuershan who has dedicated whole heartedly more than 9 years to the Trilogy while constantly striking nothing but perfection throughout... The list goes on.

I am very impressed by the new actors and actresses who survived 6-8 months in a very intensive training camp. Their daily routine usually ran from 5am to 9pm, 6 days a week, where they were required to undergo various types of training including riding, archery, combat, music, history, physical training, swimming and performing, all of which helped transform them into what warriors should look like 3000 years ago - not just the muscles, but also the SPIRIT! And yes, their acting skills may be debatable, but they are by no means awkward. They are meant to play roles that are in the teens/early twenties, which are exactly where they were when the movie started shooting more than 5 years ago. Practically all of them were new to equestrian, one of the many subjects they had to master in the training camp. By the time they graduated, they all became excellent riders that were able to perform amazing acts in concert. That's why the horseback riding shots are so breathtaking - no stunts at all. About this, I would in particular raise my glasses to Yu Shi (Yosh), the actor that plays Jifa. He has a reputation for constantly pushing himself to the limit, back then and throughout those years while waiting for the movie to be released (which was overdue for 3 years). There is a jaw-dropping scene where he turned around and shot arrows from the horseback without reins, something apparently so dangerous that no one else (the equestrian director included) in the set was able to complete. He insisted on performing the whole series of actions himself and after endless practice, day and night, he pulled it off with flying colors. I am sure this is only one of the many spectacular moments that he will be remembered for, down the line.

As for the King, I personally adore Kris Phillips' (AKA Fei Xiang) portrayal and I beg to differ from those who took the view that his acting was terrible. Anyone who goes to the movie with a peaceful heart cannot possibly have come up with that blatant conclusion. His dramatic expressions and awesome physique imparted life to the King who is known in history and novels as someone smart, strong, tall but most of the time, brutal... Many Chinese are of the view that no one else in modern days is better fitted to play the King.

Jichang, played by Li Xuejian, is another role that truly touches my heart. He is a veteran Chinese actor who has won probably all the awards in China that can be garnered. Some may laugh at the way he speaks in the movie, but please try to understand that he has been fighting nasopharyngeal cancer for more than 2 decades, which has seriously affected how he articulates and his hearing too. Why did they insist on using his own voice? It is because only that way, an actor could fully unleash to the audience what the role should really be like. Mr. Li's performance is powerful and flawless in every scene.

Surely, there are areas that require improvements. The special effects - yes, they could have been better but considering the lack of funding and the fact that the Director had to pay out of his pocket to keep it going, I am only hoping the first Installment of the Trilogy could score better in worldwide box office so that more funds can be injected to improve that area which is very important to the 2nd and the 3rd installments. The plot - yes, some wonderfully shot scenes did not appear in the movie, which arguably could help audience understand better, but the Director had to make a judgement call in order not to compromise the integrity of the story line, and having a movie longer than 2.5 hours means more difficulty in getting it released in Chinese theatres, apparently...

Truth be told. I've seen the Creation of the Gods 4 times, all in iMax theatres. Each time, I was able to find details that I previously missed. Each time, I was able to feel more. Last time that I did such a thing was for Titanic, and I only watched it 3 times...

So if you have a big heart and are happy to embrace all cultures, may I urge you to give this movie a chance, and please do so in an iMax theatre if you can!

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The Boy From Ipanema depicts a love story between the main characters. They meet on a beach and overtime they slowly develop feelings for each other.

The boy gradually overcomes his memories from his first love as the focus on the relationship deepens.

This is a simple story without any confliction caused and purely concentrates on the main characters.

Would like to make a note that the animation in this was done creatively and beautifully.

The music was simple, easy-listening and fit perfectly into the movie to create an 'airy' yet beautiful feel.

I gave a low rewatch value due to the reasoning that the story is simple, and therefore it will be boring to watch again.

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Best C. Drama in 2023

I want to write a review but am too lazy to write a review so please understand me...sorry Bai Lu and Dylan Wang...love you too


Zheng Shu Yi is a hard-working reporter for one of China’s leading financial newspapers. She’s determined to land a front-page story, so she is pulling out all the stops to land an interview with one of the most talked-about young CEOs in the land – Shi Yan. For his part, the businessman is looking to make a series of investments in promising startup firms as a way of giving back to the community.

A mixup occurs between the two, and their paths cross again. But as they (inadvertently) get to know one another, they start to realize their destinies may be intertwined. Shi Yan discovers that Zheng Shu Yi’s extensive reporting career means very few people know more about local startups. He agrees to let her write a series of stories about his company, causing them to meet again and again. But could this blossoming working relationship also lead them on the path to love?

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Historical and/or political drama are not necessarily my cup of tea, so I usually avoid these genres. I started watching this drama solely because of its popularity, a recent show, a romcom genre, and the ending. I surprised myself I binge-watched it in 3 days!

Like:
- Eye-catching front cover (see my comment on costume below)
- Straigth-forward story line, no plot twist, no shocking surprises, no betrayal. Secrets here and there revealed little by little like pieces of puzzles.
- Not dragging, no filler scenes or conversation.
- Perfect casting, every actor/actress fit their roles well.
- Great chemistry between ML and FL
- Some reviews/commentsI read about actress Shin Se Kyung, that she was bland or stiff in her role as FL. IMO she nailed it perfectly. Hae Ryung role is non-chalant and no-nonsense, which distinguished her with from most women in the drama Joseon Era. We can see her character intro in the beginning when she prefers to read a thriller novel to a group of women who prefer to hear romance instead.
- Some reviews/comments I read about actor Cha Eun Woo's bad acting skills especially in the beginning of the drama. IMO Prince Rim is supposed to be socially inept being confined all his life and only communicates with his subordinates whom have been with him for a long time. There should be a character growth for Prince Rim once he is introduced to outside world thru Hau Ryung, other historians, the French guy, the epidemic area, and Seoraewoon. and how the plot develops. Cha Eun Woo did an outstanding job acting the character transition. I actually cried when Prince Rim broke his heart due to the King's banning him writing romance novels and confiscated his writing tools.
- No love triangle (although there are potentials), so no Second Lead Syndrome
- Amazing friendship and family relationships, and loyalty.
- Happy ending for OTP and most other roles. No death.
- At some point of the drama, some roles become ambiguous , you will be uncertain if they are protagonist or antagonist. The ambiguity adds the spice.
- Beautiful cinematography
- Brilliant costume: I like they chose pastel colored costume for the OTP, symbolizes their delicate and sweet romance. Even the light blue color for the female historian uniform is distinguished from the male historian uniform.
- The OST is easy on the ear. Some notable songs are "My Dream" sung by Yoon Mi Rae, the queen of OST; "Come Here" sung by Lee Seok Hoon, and "Please Remember" sung by the ML Cha Eun Woo.

Dislike:
- I have not found any

Note:
- Probably should add a tag of noona romance, as ML is 20 and FL is 26. It does not seem a big deal in the story since their age gap is never opposed in the drama, and one arranged marriage candidate for ML is older than him (Sa Hee).

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-----Story: (possible spoilers, but I tried to keep it vague)

When I saw the plot synopsis, I must admit I rolled my eyes a little. “Yeah, main girl can’t live without main guy because they are both special to each other…”

I have never been so wrong.

The plot was crazily fun. They sort of had a ghost-of-the-week plot going, and I think that’s what really kept the story going so strong. Each time Taeyang and CEO Joo met a ghost, they learnt something new and the story + characters could both advance at the same time. Between the ghosts, the main plot lurked in the background, and I had great fun trying to work out just what had happened between Cha Hee Joo and CEO Joo.

I felt they dropped the ball a bit from episode 12-16, but to be fair dramas have so much air time that it’s probably pretty impossible to make it entertaining all the time.

-----Acting/Characters:

The characters in the drama were so absolutely on point. CEO Joo was absolutely hilarious. I’m in love with the way he played his character. The way he developed through the drama was excellently done—he bit by bit with Taeyang’s help thought with his heart instead of his head. On that note, the relationship between Taeyang and CEO Joo is probably my favourite ever from a k-drama. It was bittersweet, fun, heartbreaking, and had me in stitches. Together, they shined.

Can I just praise the heavens that we finally have such an excellent female lead? I’m so sick of the ‘weak, can’t do anything without her man’ type. Taeyang was a much needed breath of fresh air. She wasn’t just there to further the male lead’s story, but she stood on her own and it was really freaking fun to watch.

I have nothing but compliments for ALL of the characters in this drama (yes, even Hee Joo, as much as I hated her). The side characters were great and the acting in general was stellar. Secretary Kim and Loose Lips deserve a special mention.

On criticisms, I would’ve liked to hear a bit more about Taeyang’s past and parents, so I was a little sad they didn’t explore that. Also, I wasn’t too fond of Seo In Guk’s (Kang Woo) acting. He wasn’t bad, but he just didn’t quite do it for me, which was something I was pretty upset about because he’s my favourite actor. Also I felt they flubbed Taeyang’s development at the end. They kind of just sent her away and had her come back a strong character. Eh.

-----Music:

I didn’t quite hate the repetitive love songs playing as much as usual. For me, that’s a big bonus.

----- TL;DR:

AMAZING. I would recommend that anyone watch this. The characters were fantastic, along with the acting, and it’s probably one of the best dramas I have ever seen. Kudos to the makers. 9/10

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An Average Drama that is NOT a Must-Watch. Or watch for Xiao Zhan and Alen Fang

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

A drama starring the mega heartthrob and superstar, Xiao Zhan, is not garnering a lot of attention (at least not on MDL feeds). This is quite surprising as “The Longest Promise” marks the return of Xiao Zhan in a period drama after his success in “The Untamed”. Is the female lead actress, Ren Min, to be blamed? Or her character? Or just the somewhat messy writing in the second half of the drama? Perhaps all of the above.

Zhu Yan (female lead)
I have seen my fair share of xianxias, and I don’t think Zu Yan is such an annoying character. Is she the best FL written? Of course not. However, I’ve seen much worse innocent, naive, pitchy voice female leads before. Zhu Yan though was innocent, she’s not naive and is quite smart in her own right. She might not always make the most thought-out decisions for half of the drama or follow repeated instructions, but she also is independent, courageous and reasonable. The hate on Ren Min is really uncalled for, as I actually think she did a pretty good job here.

Master/Disciple Relationship
This relationship is actually a lot more ‘tolerable’ as the leads met when they were children, then reunited by chance before they became master/disciple This makes the romance also more palatable as they already have very positive feelings and attraction towards each other before they enter into this ‘forbidden love’.

Main Romance
Viewers should be aware that the “slow burn romance” tag is no joke. This is one of the slowest romances in xianxia dramas. Do not expect cute and fluffy scenes between the leads. Their romance is slow, gradual and very quiet. Unfortunately, I don’t think the leads have a lot of chemistry. It’s very average. Even though Xiao Zhao looks great as the handsome Priest, he also looks a lot older than his 18-year old character. Ren Mi looks a lot younger and when they are together, they do not look like lovers. They look more like friends or siblings. The romance is not angsty enough, and not fluffy enough.

Supporting Romance
They could have been so much better. The shy prince and princess are really a cute couple. However, their scenes pop up here and there, and have no substance. Qing Gang and Bai Xue Lu fare a little better and have a more interesting relationship. Unfortunately, the initial setup of the romance is not done right, thus, making it difficult for me to believe Qing Gang’s strong and dedicated affection. The acting is great, but the writing of the plot is not. My dear merman’s story is probably the best out of all 3 supporting romances. I wish to see more scenes of him and his beloved.

Acting
Overall, I think the acting is great all around. Xiao Zhan is the main attraction and he does not disappoint. I think Ren Mi did fine as well and maybe a little better than expected. Alen Fang (merman), Wan Chu Ran (Princess Bai), Wang Zi Qi (General), Marcus Li (Chong Ming bird) and the rest of the younger and veteran cast all met my expectations. I don’t think there’s a weak link. Luckily, there aren't any annoying side characters as well.

Pacing/Writing/Editing
I was having an enjoyable time in the first half of the drama. The pace of the drama is average and decent. The stories of the disciples up the mountain are interesting. We also get to know each of the main characters pretty well. Fight scenes and action picked up in the second half, as well as politics. Unfortunately, despite the pace being faster due to the fight scenes, the writing also gets messier. The backstory of the Demon and Ice tribe is not well done. There’s more telling us what happened, instead of showing us what happened. Editing got choppy and scenes pop up here and there without continuity.

Production Value
I was quite impressed with the CGI Sand Monster in the first episode. I thought the drama opened with a BANG! However, then I realized CGI is inconsistent. There are fight scenes with great visual effects, and then there are scenes so obvious that you know the green screen is right there. The fight scenes and CGI are average and I do no like the slow mo action scenes. Xiao Zhan is the only one who uses his own voice for dubbing. I applaud his effort and maybe being in a play has helped Xiao Zhan build up confidence and experience. I think he did an OK job but it was definitely encouraging. Unfortunately, everyone else is dubbed by voice actors and there is no live recording at all. The sets are not bad and I do like the costumes and accessories. The music and songs are fine, but not memorable.

XianXia Tropes
It’s interesting how “The Longest Promise” does not have some common tropes, e.g. evil second female lead who won’t take no for an answer, super cold male lead (ML here is cool, but approachable and not overly rude and cold), or many love triangles/squares/pentagons. But then, in the second half of the drama, we have noble idiocy, common and predictable miscommunication, and a very xianxia ending.


Overall, “The Longest Promise” is a very average drama. It is not a must-watch but if you need to curb your thirst for Xiao Zhan, then it’s not bad. There are many better xianxias out there.


Other Random Observations:
1. There are some scenes that are very Harry-Potter and Lord-of-the-Ring like.
2. Chong Ming Bird is a good sidekick and provided a little comic relief (not much).
3. The kiss scenes are few and disappointing. Side-hugs appear uncomfortable and scripted/pose-like.


Completed: 8/1/2023 - Review #336

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Not worth it because of one character...

To be fair, I've watched Hello Monster a long time ago and I don't have any memories of the series at all. I remember some scenes (especially the fantastic acting of Do Kyungsoo) but I don't quite remember the rest of the series so I couldn't really compare with this one (except the beginning of the plot). And maybe because it was a long time ago but I remember liking the Korean series.

This Thai version... not so much.

The actors are good. The plot is well written. But there is one big problem for me... the female lead.
She was insufferable from the start and, from episode 4 or 5, I couldn't see her on the screen anymore and I had to skip all of her scenes (especially the ones with the male lead). I re-read my comment on the Hello Monster series and I was already saying at that time that I didn't quite like the romance. But I don't remember hating it that much! That Thai version seemed to have worsened the female character. I mean... she is a cop but she's scared on a crime scene... She also is and admits to be a criminal herself because she's a stalker but the male lead doesn't seem to be put off by this news... She says to Pathomkarn that she hated Tanwa at first which is a total lie. She never hated him and, even though, she doubted his innocence in the first few episodes, she never disliked him, on the contrary. She also prefers that her attacker run free just for her to stay in Tanwa's home. Well... I can go on and on with her...

Also, she is the reason I hate the ending. Because, of course, we can't have an ending with the two brothers being happy together...

So, I may be unfair to the series because of one character but, sometimes, one character can spoil an entire series...

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Heartwarming but empty

18 Again is a beautiful story that doesn't really go anywhere. While I enjoyed the journey, in the end I'm left wondering what all of it was for. To explain what I mean, 18 Again is the retelling of the movie 17 Again, and that's the first problem. It's a retelling of a movie, and it's a 16 episode drama. To make up for that extra time, a lot of conflict and story and character development needs to be added if it wants to keep the attention of its audience and still deliver the impact of the story. And honestly, at first it didn't really feel like it was falling short of that. The family of Hong Dae Young and Jung Da Jung is broken and believable. Each member of the family has their own life to live and worries, and problems that need to be addressed before it reaches its finale. There's definitely a lot more character in this drama than there was in that movie, because there needed to be. But maybe not enough.

HDY's marriage is falling apart, and he doesn't really know why. He and his wife argue a lot and he's frustrated by the situation he's found himself in after giving up on his dreams of being a basketball player to support his high school sweetheart and their twins. He lost his chance at glory and years down the road, with their marriage crumbling, he's starting to feel regret. Through some magical, not really explained means, HDY becomes young again. He has a second chance to live the life he could have had before. Honestly, it's not a bad premise. It's fun and heartwarming to watch him befriend his children and get to know his family all over again as a classmate and not a father/husband, but that's about all the show does. He gets to know his children, stalks his wife, and misses them until he inevitably gets them back. There are minor conflicts sprinkled throughout to keep you interested, and about a million fake-outs of his wife or someone else finding out who he is, but the stakes are low and there's never anything to worry about - the worst that could happen, which obviously was not going to happen, was that the wife was going to end up with the second lead.

Shows like this rely on interpersonal relationships to really make you feel things, and there doesn't need to be an element of danger for a drama to be interesting. But conflict can take many forms, and without it, a story is made up of fluff. I cared about the characters but they weren't doing much of anything.

I have to say though, the moments that matter were done well. I wanted to see the couple back together, I wanted the children to succeed, and I did have fun along the way. The relationship with HDY and his kids was sweet and wholesome, and I did look forward to more episodes week to week. It was only after finishing it that I was able to take a step back and really assess the time I'd spent with these characters and what it all meant. I realized that the hype and emotions I felt at the start never went anywhere, and while the ending left me satisfied on one front, it left me realizing just how little story there was.

I could sit here and nitpick all of the details of this drama that left me unsatisfied. But at the end of the day, I enjoyed it. And, if you're looking for a story that does a good job portraying the average couple, that doesn't romanticize marriage like so many romances do and that makes you feel like the relationship they have is real, this is right up your alley. It's fun, it's cute, and parts of it will melt your heart. Just remember going into it that what you see is what you get, and it may fall short on substance after you meet that halfway mark.

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Ignore social media comments, this drama is worth the journey

Quick verdict: This story gets high marks due to its mostly tight storytelling, outstanding cast, great character development, and strong portrayal of women. However, it tried to squeeze too much at the end, and the vague-ish ending didn't help matters. It is tragic, however, that due to the many negative comments on the ending on social media, many people would give this a pass. It is especially tragic because the interpretation of the ending may differ for the viewer.

In this review, I'll argue why it's worth watching, and that the ending may not be what many assume.

Note: I have a much longer and more detailed review up at my blog: http://tinyurl.com/7raa495d

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ENDING

*Quick summary:* The war left a toll on many; many of the Six Realms Halls men were wiped out, but Yuan Zhou and Ruyi survived, faked their deaths, and lived a quiet life in seclusion. Eventually they had two kids, Ning Shi San and Ren Lu.

--

It's extremely weird to be a part of the minority who 100% believes A Journey To Love ended happily for Ruyi and Yuan Zhou.

Now, I didn't read spoilers when I watched the dropped episodes. When it dropped, I watched it almost immediately because I knew if I was spoiled I'd probably lose the motivation or heart to watch it, and I didn't want them to influence me too.

Anyway, when I saw the ending I was SO relieved. Oh phew, our leads survived and are now happy with their quiet, secluded lives. Then I came online. Oooh boy.

What a weird mind f*** it is to see people 100% believing the opposite.

I read all their reasons for believing that, and it didn't make sense to me at all. (PS: This doesn't mean I think you're dumb for believing that, by the way! Just that our brains are wired to see things differently.) So, I rewatched episode 40 thinking maybe I misinterpreted it.
Nah, I came back even more sure of my theory that they faked their deaths.

I think people are really hung up about how they died. But these things are very easily explained.

Yuan Zhou had a rather public death, being pierced by multiple spears. But to me his survival can easily be explained by:
- The "life preservation pill".
- The snake skin armor that the Pan assassins had worn in episode 20. They were so effective that Yuan Zhou had to instruct everyone to aim for the neck and head. Pretty sure our men would've taken some of this armour! Yuan Zhou, determined to fulfill the promise to Ruyi to "stay alive" would've worn this armour. It would've helped him survive the spears to a degree, but he'll probably be badly wounded.

The one hiccup I could see is Ruyi's internal dialogue when she bombed the Pan leaders. She said that life is empty without Yuan Zhou, when she bombed the bad guys. This could be explained by two scenarios:
- She wasn't sure that Yuan Zhou survived, and decided to kill herself, but changed her mind later. She did promise Yuan Zhou to stay alive, and she also told Yang Ying that she's not the type to kill herself. How did she survive? Uh, this is the same woman who could speed up to the leader of the Beipan troupe, rip out his throat, and return to cradling Yuan Zhou, in seconds. Her survival is easier to explain than Yuan Zhou's.
- It was her way of saying that she'll be joining him in seclusion. Even if there were vibrant cities to visit, life is lonely without Yuan Zhou. Remember, she didn't want to live in seclusion at first, and that was the reason for their break up.

If I were to stage my death, I'd do it this way - in the most dramatic and public way so that will be no doubt left of my demise.

And I think they did it SO WELL that even the viewers were deceived lol.

When it comes to wounds, we shouldn't judge whether a character can survive their wounds by our real-world standards. I know that our other Musketeers had less grave wounds and died, but they probably weren't as determined to stay alive like Yuan Zhou and did not plan for all kinds of contingencies - life preserving pill, snake skin armour etc.

I still remember in one wuxia I watched, a female heroine managed to survive numerous stab wounds because she took a pill that allowed her heart to beat super slowly so that she would not lose too much blood. So, who knows that pill could do for Yuan Zhao?

Some people say that I believe in this happier ending because it's a form of copium. Not really. I would've been fine if they did a "they all died and reunited in heaven" thing.

But based on clues, and the way the scenes in the last few minutes were laid out, it was just far more logical for me to believe that they faked their deaths than it was a dream/afterlife.

It is a far bigger stretch for me to believe that Chu Yue was guided by a random spirit kid to heaven. (For one, that's a rather Western view of the afterlife, and Chinese afterlife is a little different. As far as I know, unless you are an immortal, the dead can't have kids in the afterlife.) Also, the insinuation that she kinda lost her marbles towards the end was insulting to me. And why would she dream up a random kid instead of Shi San?

That scene with everyone on the grasslands riding away? Well, to me, it was Chu Yue's idealistic imagination of how the group was in the past as she yugged Ning Shi San. So, it made sense that scene was dream-like.

I would've been more convinced of the afterlife theory if they showed Chu Yue suddenly appearing in the CGI fields, looking dazed. But she arrived with her men, and we saw a shot of the school before that. Later, we learned that Ning Shi San lived next to the school with his parents. Why show us that unless to indicate that this rooted in reality?

I believe everything took place in the real world, and Chu Yue is about to meet our beloved couple.

Ruyi and Yuan Zhou began their "Journey to Love" coming out of hiding after faking their deaths. Now the story ends with them faking their deaths again. Ending a drama about spies and assassins this way was perfect for me.

It was Ruyi and Yuan Zhou's dream to lead a normal life. While Ruyi didn't want to leave a secluded life, she eventually came around and decided that the "world will be too lonely without him" and joined him in seclusion.

Using Chu Yue instead of Yang Ying in that scene was good, because Chu Yue wouldn't have known all these small details about their plan on how to live their lives in seclusion. Remember how Yuan Zhou said that in their new lives, he would keep Ruyi healthy by hunting and farming? And he did just that, growing grapes and making wine for her. They also named their children after two people whom they loved: Shi San and Yuan Lu.

Would I have preferred an ending where some of our men survived and we were shown Ruyi and Yuan Zhou alive having dinner with their kids? Of course. But well, the director decided to go down this route, perhaps for it all to be "stylish".

But the more I think about it, the happier I am with the ending. Of course I would've done anything to get our men back, but war is shit and awful, and people die. In the end, I thought the ending was poetic and very fitting.

PS: Anyway, if you believe, like most, that they're all dead, it's okay, but if you're going to argue with me that I'm wrong to believe what I believe, I won't respond to you.

I'm just sparing myself the energy because I've read through every single explanation of why the dream/afterlife ending "made sense" and none of the explanations hold water for me. No point arguing about something that can't be verified (yet) anyway!
It's a pity, however, that so many who were spoiled about the ending has said they won't continue with the drama. I think they would be missing out on a lot.

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when breaking up with your ex becomes mission impossible...

[lots of spoilers here]
I saw a comment underneath one of the episodes that perfectly sums up everything you need to know about this drama: "it's as if they(leads) live in a pool with piranhas, everyone around them bites a piece of their heart"

My anticipation for this drama was high and I could not wait to finally binge it but a mere few episodes in I was already questioning my time spent sitting in front of the TV.
I like risque dramas, give me complex characters that make poor decisions out of their willful heart and melodramatic back and forths... yet all IKILY made me feel was "hmm..." and "interesting..." - but not the good kind of interesting.

But first the positive: THE best thing about this drama are the CATS! This is the first time I actually saw cats looking super happy on screen, constantly demanding pets and cuddles. Totally adorable!
Visually the drama is pretty too, it’s not dubbed which is very pleasant and the opening OST 我知道我愛你- 韓紅 is very beautiful, low key but pact with emotion. Would have been PERFECT for a historical tragedy drama or Wuxia.

To put it simply, there would be no story had it not been for the absurd EX and every disapproving family member (both her side of the family and her ex's). Those are supposed to be additives yet here it is the main story. Take out everyone but the leads and they would have been together in like 2 episodes - happy ending!
Even for a remake of ONS, it should not be THAT easy. If the entire story of a romantic(!) drama depends on supporting roles to work, it's just not a good story/script.

The ML is very kind, the fact that he fell for someone who was still in a relationship doesn't really fit that but I have to admit I did enjoy parts of their romance especially around ep18-19. The writing between the 2 leads is also quite good. I'd say it's a love story between a guy that is too good for his own good, and a very human, more self centered (but not selfish) FL. A quote by her fits perfectly "I made you a sinner for no reason". Because neither of them would have had to feel bad had she set proper boundaries at any given point.

I tried and tried again to sympathize with Xuo Nuo but it was just impossible to beat the unfavorable script writing.
After the 10th "surprise" phone call from her ex in front of ML I gave up trying to be on her side. Don't get me wrong - I didn't hate her but the whole fun about dramas that involve emotional cheating is trying to justify their feelings and the constant thrill and angst about possibly getting caught. But in the case of this drama it can only be considered emotional cheating because the ex does not accept the break up... had it not been for that the drama would have ended at EP9. But they drag it out sooo much, just to keep the "forbidden" feel of the lead's relationship alive, which makes it feel incredibly forced and draggy. That feeling is only solidified by highly questionable actions and lack of sense regarding Peng Yu An's character.

The big elephant in the room of this drama is her Ex Boyfriend Peng Yu An, who is one awfully written character. At first I thought okay he is just your average douche bag. But then I was like oh okay so he actually does love her in a messed up way? And then back to okay just a jerk and so it goes back and forth. I don't think it's fair to write him off as the cheater because they both did it (emotionally). His interests were business, hers were of the heart kind.
He differs in a way from other similar characters, as he does not accept nor acknowledge the FL breaking up with him in the most delulu way that even a soap opera would not think of. Telling people he will marry her and such. But then going back to tell someone else he will break up with her as she does not fit his family's standards, while also telling her he wants to marry her?? Expressing his dislike for the woman his father chose for him. Then proclaiming his true love for FL again, while also promising his business partner they will marry?? What is going on, haha. Honestly I can understand his dad not taking him seriously in any of his endeavors regarding love.
There are also countless other characters that want to keep apart the leads, but I shouldn't spoil everything...

Again - I feel like I need to defend my stance here because every episode I thought to myself I WANT TO LOVE THIS but I JUST can't :( ... it was always 10% off course in the most annoying way. Where everything started to piss me off a little. Did I end up hate watching? - slightly. But also I don't hate it completely... I did enjoy parts.

ENDING SPOILER
------------------------

Ending was weak but happy. Literally everyone who was nasty af before suddenly accepted reality without even a moment of realization, just straight up "okay this is the finale, let's turn 180 degrees and be happy". The ex's ending to me is neither good nor bad but definitely too short. Initially I thought it was defeat with a bit of hope for his own future (becoming more aware of his own hobbies, breaking free) but now I think he just gave in, he won't care what that woman thinks. He just picked the first common interest and went with it. I highly doubt he actually moved on. And to be quite frank... I don't trust the script writers of this drama would actually be smart enough(in the context of this drama) to write a complex ending for him. He was but a massive plot device.


Some inconsistencies, that aren't really that big of a deal but I still wanted to mention it (spoilers):

- why did everyone look down on him for being a vet? Even he himself said he is "just" a vet. Don't these people know veterinary medicine takes longer to study than human medicine?
- the timeline of his age, their struggles growing up and him becoming a vet doesn't make sense.
- it was early-late winter the entire drama, do they really want to tell us multiple couples fall in love within 3-4 months and marriage is already topic nr1? What's the rush.
- pulling a "the fault in our stars" move for that one couple was cheap. It was wrapped up too fast to actually have an emotional impact. That entire story line was unnecessary and out of place.
- the english OST was a pain after hearing it one too many times each episode. Dreamed about a dream that I just dreamed? Julie, Julie I don't feel good today? Lord have mercy!

Tbh this drama is the kind of backstory quarreling parents of leads in other dramas have... not sure if that is something to aspire.

Ultimately I still gave it a 7/10... why? Because that's pretty much my lowest rating for dramas I finished and didn't hate but rather found disappointing and meh.

Edit a few days later: There is one scene that bugged me a lot and probably influenced my rating. If you are a romance lover or like the leads you might really like this drama. All my ranting in this review goes to say, that this is just my opinion and someone else might love it. HOWEVER here goes the scene near the end that made me very frustrated with the writers:
ML is drunk, sitting at his bed and having a very pitiful look. FL goes into his apartment and sees his ex made him some sobering up tea (note: the ex did not drink with him she just saw him downstairs and brought him to his apartment), she leaves once FL is here and they don't have any quarrel or anything. FL goes to ML bedroom and I thought she would go comfort him... boy I thought wrong. He is in a sorry, close to tear like state and asks her "will you leave me too?" (hinting how a lot of people in his life have left him before). FL, instead of comforting him, asks him twice "what do you mean?" "don't you trust me?"... it was so obviously a vulnerable side of him he showed and also drunk talk but she took it very seriously and instead of comforting him, she got mad and left. GURL WHAT. For all the scenes we saw before, the only logical thing would have been for her to tell him that he doesn't have to fear that and comfort him... as a means to portray some healing... and show a difference compared to the people that actually did leave him. But no she does the exact-opposite. Resulting in a short separation at the end, which was just very unnecessary and forced. I know FL mentioned a few times in this drama that she is not as good as a person as ML and such but that was very out of line. She knew he was drunk and he said so very pitifully... mans just needed comfort. Why take it so seriously? And even if she was so hurt by it... talk it out during the day, don't try and argue with a drunk person when you are sober. end.

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If Deities could write fanfics… this would be it.

Never thought I would see the day, where a Deity would plagiarize a Human’s work in order to solve her love life and make it into a masterpiece. Hopefully he can get more views and ratings if all goes well...

We can’t cancel a Deity after all, or can we?
Humans can’t but the laws Deities abide from might...
If only he had a compliant main character to work with, his job would be easier said than done.

Then again, the way Ho Yoon messes up with her life at first, really makes me wonder if we aren’t all in the same predicament.
Maybe that’s why one of these days, I was heading to the kitchen and ended up in the living room instead.
Perhaps, the Deity above is messing around with my GPS system and playing me like a SIMs character of sorts, well at least I can honestly consider that he is being considerate when it comes to my dieting plans, by keeping me far away from the fridge.

Either way the story is super interesting for a such a small drama, and the cinematography its pretty good actually, considering all the effects used in the transitions for each scene.

Some scenes do remind me of certain dramas though, like for instance, in the first episode when Ho Yoon and Myung are crossing that Tunnel it reminded me of the most iconic scene in Goblin. And in fact, there’s also a scene where Chae Kyung is wearing a red scarf, so the vibes are right too. Then again, the tunnel has a symbolic value through the theme presented.
The whole drama inside a drama inception plot, was very entertaining to say the very least, and the references of dramas with the pun of the names is rather hilarious. “The Accounting of the Married” and “Sky Cash” for example, both with the most dramatic parody plots ever created.

And well the acting in general wasn’t bad throughout the series, I enjoyed every character the actors portraited, so kudos for this cast.

The fact that Ho Yoon plans fail because he starts to get too attached, get to all of us at a certain point in our lives. I mean we all end up having a crush or falling for a character in a book, right?
Because in a way that’s what Chae Kyung is to Ho Yoon.
The female protagonist of his masterpiece novel of a Lifetime.
One where he is about to become a part of and with the main role no less.
Their Fate is written in paper and sealed with twine.
It’s an unavoidable destiny. That they are meddling with and against.

Nevertheless, it’s quite an enjoyable drama that can be seen in a whole afternoon, with only 10 episodes in total with around 20 minutes each.

“Some lives are long as a novel. But the other lives are short as a poem.”

It resumes well this drama, it might seem short like an idyllic poem, however, it’s as fulfilling like a novel should be.
The OST isn’t really that memorable in my ears, but its pleasant on certain parts that it was played so I guess it worked somehow.
I really recommend watching this drama, if you’re currently waiting for updates on any on-going drama just to fill the gap like I did or give it a try if you do prefer short stories.
But then again, I guess the ideology that less is more, can be applied to this one.

“If first love comes true every time there’s first love, the world would cease to exist.”

This plot will definitely surprise for the events and topics it works with, despite eventually falling under the category of a potential love triangle, the way the story unfolds precedes time and fateful encounters.

“If you’re meant to be, you’ll end up meeting in one way or another.”

If I ever re-watch this story again, it might take some time and if I ever do so it’s for the nostalgy.
Perhaps whenever it rains or whenever I do order a caffeinated drink, I will remember this by...

And I am fine with that

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