Reviews

Forgive me; I actually liked this drama. This is one of the only dramas I have watched more than once. I don't really have a good reason for doing so, but I'll try to voice why I loved this show so much.
I'll get some thing out of the way first: Wilber and Dean are terrible actors. Rainie's voice was cute but irritating. OH THE CLICHES!

BUT

the humor was there and was strong enough to bring me back another time. There was chemistry between the two leads. They were cheesy, albeit fun. I did say the guys were bad at acting, but all you have to do is suspend disbelief (that people could act so fake) and find the heart that's there.

I guess most people just don't see the cuteness and purity of this drama. If I were to rewatch any drama with horrible acting, cliches, and over the top fluffiness, I'd pick this one.

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The inseparable Hei-Bai Fengxi and The Quest for the World

Who rules the world (Wrtw) is a diverse narrative based on the novel "Qie Shi Tian Xia" (且试天下) written by Qing Ling Yue that stays true to it's title. A full politics driven drama that revolves around the power struggle between 6 States and the main Imperial State of Dadong. And I have so much to talk about so forgive me, this is gonna be long…

I was super excited for this drama for many reasons… I had high expectations also considering the star studded cast, this plot, the posters and the trailer that was definitely so promising… so that was the only reason why I started watching this right from the first day it aired it's Episode 1.


The strengths/what I liked —

✧ The leads compliment each other so well. (Bai Fengxi and Hei Fengxi)

Bai Fengxi is a strong righteous woman who is hard not to be liked. she is a total foodie so I know where her energy comes from lol. As cute and cheerful she looks while talking, the more clever she is while fighting her enemies with her white cloth or her sword… she loves to live a carefree life, traveling… with Zhao Lusi acting in this role, this turned out to be my favorite character of Wrtw.

Hei Fengxi is a smart elegant man who has got both brains and beauty. He never gives a chance to others to outsmart him… he is kind at heart with an ambition of world peace… what I love about him ~ He trusts Bai Fengxi as wise and capable and as his equal. He helps her often but you will also hear him say "it feels nice to be protected."

✧ the chemistry between the leads. Beyond romance, they have a level of friendship, trust and respect for each other. You can observe that they spend 10 years with each other in the martial arts world because this is the kind of understanding that only comes with time… because their minds are so much in sync and they can read each other through… yet they become childishly jealous and bicker which gets you all smiling and blushing…

✧ Of course, the good looks/visuals of Yang Yang, Zhao lusi and cast helps a lot. I have to admit I was fascinated by how gorgeous Lusi looked in those simple robes and damn! that hairstyle of Yang Yang. Just who came up with his whole Hei Fengxi look. Oh! He looks so good. And I officially declare, I want Yang Yang in more historical dramas.

✧ martial arts. Bai Fengxi does it in quick-witted way while Hei Fengxi prefers looking graceful even at that. I liked how those enemies got kicked down here and there just by blow of air or a slight push.

✧ it's fun to watch opponents respecting each other for being smart and accepting their mistakes with honour.

✧ one of the best supporting female leads till now — Feng Qiwu (acted by Xuan Lu). Two beautiful strong women (Bai Fengxi & Feng Qiwu) appreciating each other and it was one of my favorite scenes when even Hei Fengxi felt like a "third wheel" between them. I just love strong women forming a good bonding.

✧ Acting couldn't have been any better. From fighting, body postures to expressions everything was top-notch. Yang Yang, Zhao lusi, Xuan Lu, Leon Lai, Leo Rui Lin, Zhang Hao Wei, Carman Lee, Zhang Tian Yang and others all did a great job.

✧ Powerful and soulful OSTs. My favorite was the opening theme song ♪Unparalleled♪ (无双) by Liu Yuning and ♪A Dream Come True♪ (梦浮生) by Silence Wang was also great. These two are the kind of songs I will like listening to even after the drama ends.


The weaknesses/what I didn't like —

⚘ The main theme is family + palace politics with some super annoying characters. The plot holes lies somewhere in the politics part only like how everyone is so intelligent yet not even doubting the villain for once… and I like villains with reasons and well built-up around his actions… but they rushed over that… I wish it was explained in a better way.

⚘ the names - Even the two main leads have similar name and looking at the complex court/palace characters, new people keep entering with a new name and even different identities. Even the city names made me go off…
( but I appreciate all those MDL'ers who cleared other's doubts in comments section and even that one discussion page with whole family/relation details )

Nevertheless Wrtw was a great drama, worth my wait for so long as I got to be so excited after a long time, the leads kept me hooked up. No matter how some plot holes affected me, at the end of the day, I still love the leads and will come back to watch Bai-Hei Fengxi and some other characters I loved. I will skip all the palace scenes though…

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This dramas message really is PRICELESS. I enjoyed every hour of it. Though the story isn't that original - underdog story of a man who finds joy in the priceless items of this world, like friendship, loyalty or a rent for 500 yen - it's perfect in it's execution and pace. It give's you a warm and cuddly feeling every episode because it's strongest point is the light hearted relationship between the characters. And there is one theme I really love - different people that form a family by going through hardship and adventures. I remembered how awesome japanese are at forming friendship bonds and this drama does it in a really cute way. A MUST for every Kimura Takuya fan who loves chemistry (I do).

Story 9/10 - Because I think it's not a new story and I still did not see the ending I give it a 9. But certainly it is easy to watch for a full hour, well paced and with an awesome message behind it. The japanese like their stable jobs and a little while back it was normal that a company would employ people for their lifetime. But since recessions struck this country hard "restructuring" became a synonym for angst. Kimura playing a homeless guy with a bright personality might give people hope to not give up completely after falling into poverty (people over there tend to do stuff like suicide). It's a story that gives hope through trust and friendship - still an all-time favorite. Throughout the series there is always the same question coming up - do we value what we have? Didn't money, greed and comfort zones destroy our joy in the simple and priceless things of life? You can checkout yourself - how much are you able to handle? When do you surrender to selfishness?

Acting 10/10 - well what should I say? It's Kimutaku. That guy is a natural at comedy. The rest of the cast is just as awesome with Karina (Nikaido) and Nikai Kiichi (Moai) or Fujiki Naohito (president of miracle electronics). Can't find any miscast - all are really great at what they are doing.

Music 9/10 - Who doesn't like the rolling stones? Come on^^ I jumped through my room when that came in the ending. again. and again. Well the rest is not that special (sounds like a pirate movie) but totally solid stuff.

I would watch it again. Really. And Overall - 9/10 - really a great drama.

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Better than expected but still so predictable...

After "Love in the Moonlight" I did not expect much... but at least it was not painful to watch. It's still sooooooooooooo predictable, sooooooooo black/white characters and sooooo much forced drama. At least the pictures are pretty, even prettier compared to "Love in the Moonlight".

And because it is as it is, I have not much to say about it. To have a relationsship with the a man whos uncle killed his mom, seems a bit too ridicilous for me especially when his first move was to "steal" his scent and burned his village. For me, this whole story did not make much sense. Most of the time I felt bored out of my mind, because after episode 2 you can predict excactly what will happen.

Overall a medicore show framed in beautiful pictures but very shallow and very trashy. So if you want to watch it, be my guest, it's one of the better shows in the (two) month(s) of crap thai BL.

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Smooth storyline without the extra romance in a criminal, investigation drama

The drama is an adaptation of Korean drama Hello Monster (2015), but it very much has improved the storyline in the original.

Watching the original, I was very much disappointed by all the plot holes and excessive plot they have between the main storyline and the side stories of crimes and romance. It could have been better if there were some clarity as to why the characters suffers their fate or act a certain way. However, if you are into a bubbly crime solving drama then that one is for you. Not to say that the original was bad, it was very good in the chemistry between the characters and introducing an intriguing story in 2015.

When Mouse (Korean Drama) came out, I am blown away by how amazingly tight knit a crime drama can be while showing more realistic characters' reactions. Upon hearing the Thai remake of a high potential drama, I had a high expectation going into Remember You (2021).

The first quarter may not be as amazing introducing the characters and their chemistry as the original but making it pass halfway will be worth it. To be honest, I was unimpressed by the first few episodes as they are somewhat a bland replica of the original until I discovered the plot fix in the first crime case they solve together. It shows me the potential the rest of the drama is and I am glad I didn't give up on it. Plot holes in several occasions in the original were filled and improved, unnecessary plots/storylines were trimmed, characters finally have more realistic feelings, and the ending is a close ending (I won't spoil it).

The most important thing in conclusion is it gives the spotlight on the main relationship - the brothers amongst the less important one the original pushed it to. Also, the characters are reimagined very well and I love them passing the first quarter (sorry but the original characters were sometimes off from what they are suppose to be like female cop, little brother etc. who are supposed to know how to fight).

Now that I have watched the whole drama, I think it was great that the first quarter was slightly boring since the main character did not know or even have hope that his brother is still alive to be so motivated.

Ps: There is no OST or song in the remake (hence the 1 point in Music) but I'd rather have cinematic soundtracks than OST that is put in wrong moments.

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What can I say? This sweet rom-com was just a treat from beginning to end. I'm a sucker for a sweet romance and I gobbled this up. It's not anything new or clever or perfect - but this is the first drama in MONTHS that I have been excited to watch and binged on. Kim Young Kwang and Jin Ki Joo both did a fantastic job and the second leads were dorky cute. The side plot with the secretaries was my only knock on the story rating (and probably the unrealistic way prosopagnosia was handled - but honestly I didn't really care about that.)
My "10" is solely based on the fact that I loved the lead romance, I loved the music, and overall was just
genuinely happy while watching it.

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I loved 'Cruel City'- every plot turn, sequence and pace of the story, the characters, the relationships and even the ending, though it could have been different.

The story is told brilliantly. Great, beautifully written characters. The casting was perfect. Fresh admiration for Jung Kyung Ho. He hit the ball out of the park as the Doctor's Son. And of course, the drama hugely benefits from the rest of the cast, who were all unique and great.

Loved the OST, especially the one that plays at some defining moments/cliffhangers.

Romance isn't the focus of course, but it carries much charm and impact. There aren't that many scenes between Shi Hyun and Soo Min, but we can feel their connection through most of the drama.

I don't know if the plot is perfect. It probably isn't. There were times in the first half when the actions and reasons of many people seemed silly and um..(can't say more, might be a spoiler). But in the overall plot of things, it's negligible.

About the ending- as I said before, it could have been different but as it is- I could see it happening.

I definitely recommend this drama..to all who won't mind having a little-less-than-perfect ending to a great drama watching experience.

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Fresh story with great acting skill

This is my first chinese drama that I follow on going after I encountered Dongfang Qingcang (LBFAD is my first ever CDrama). While waiting for it to air, I watched Dylan's past dramas, and I can say his acting becomes so much richer and more versatile in every drama, start from Meteor Garden, Evernight 2 and so on. While DFQC is his most iconic role, Xiao Duo is his richest character with so many layers and I can say he gave XD justice. XD is much more than badass and cool domineering character, he is also the softest sweetheart, the most romantic lover, the best friend and the best leader for his men, cunning, smart yet silly sometimes, etc. so many layers of his characters yet Dylan played them all very well. I can't sense any DFQC left in him beside the badass and domineering side.

I really enjoyed this drama, its story is fresh and unique, the acting skills of most main actors are superb and supporting roles are great too (except Tongyun). I love how it was directed, fighting scenes are awesome and the drama set is beautiful. Even the ship set when they went to west shu is beautiful too.

But this drama has its flaws too. The flow of the story is sometimes choppy due to censorship, FL charachter is sometimes unconsistent, a few scene doesnt make sense, but it's drama anyway... the murder of XD brother plot is overused, they should make Prince Nanyuan the real culprit and Bu Yu Lu still be the traitor IMO.

The ending felt unreal since it was just it, they just showed the CP escaped together. They didnt give us any extended scene to show that they really live happily ever after! BUT, I think the drama did not really have to tell us about that moment, it already showed how it ends, not properly, but they showed us. The main protagonists got what they want freedom, free to be with whoever they want to be. The villains got what they deserved. Murong Gaogong was showed falling down to the ground, its his falling. They stopped it there. It wouldve been better if there was a naration of what happened to him, but no. But they showed us how he got his karma. He got badly injured thus he can have any child! He became eunuch himself literally. And he was slowly being crazy and lost his mind, mentally sick. And the kingdom would never accept that kind of King. They didnt show us, but it was implied. So, tho I want more for the ending, but the drama said just it. They already gave us the closure, dont asked more since it will need more effort, more episodes lol.

As for romance, tho it was cut every here and there, but I assure you, just by looking at XD lustfull gaze, you'll get to know that they're quite wild couple, lol. And IMO, even with all of those cut, their chemistry is still on fire!

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It is a con within a con made by a con who knew a con and got conned by another con.

Confused by that? Well this movie is such a mess that after watching it, that sentence will make complete sense to you. This whole movie starts with a team of people who we don't know yet that have already established themselves as a team and goes to meet another team in China to get a heist job done. The whole time everything is happening in a slow paced with no real understanding of who the characters are. The only thing you understand is that betrayal is on the rise. You legit can't trust anyone because nothing makes sense.

You're only bonus is Ji Hyun, Hye Soo and Soo Hyun who look lovely. You get a flash of abs, very brief. Some lovely shots of Ji Hyun and Hye Soo being serious babes. The only thing this has going for it is that the actors in the film despite a terrible script and stupidity everywhere, act well in it.

The worst thing about this movie is that this shit is TOO LONG. I felt drained watching after getting halfway through it.

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This is my second time writing a review so cut me some slack please
So this movie is adapted from the manga of the same name and i absolutely love that manga
it is like a breath of fresh air from the most of the serious drama's out there
So,the movie starts with Sugihara Kohei, a college student who has distanced himself from others unconsciously because he is hard of hearing
The one thing that the film touches upon and I find quite good is that Disabled people also deserve to be treated normally like others and do not want any kind of special treatment
The actors did a good job especially Tawada Hideya-the person who played the role of Sugihara Kohei
also they did not distort the manga at all so that is quite a positive point
also altho i liked it but i don't think that it is a movie you can't watch more than once
so it does deserves to be watched at least once if you are into BL's and stuff
I'll leave the links of the manga and the movie below so do make sure to give it a try!
thank you

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Steve Jobs on Crack

Where would you even begin with this crazy hot mess? The first 3-4 episodes were acceptable despite moving too fast and creating many gaps. However, as the drama unfolded, it became clear that it was biting off more than it could chew. Right off from episode 5, the drama became an irrecoverable mess. The pacing was erratic, jumping between weak fabricated plot twists, jarring narrative and bloated segments with no sense of cohesion. The drama was throwing everything at the viewers to see what sticks. Action, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, melodrama, the drama couldn't decide what it wanted to be nor it managed to mix any of them well. The characters felt like caricatures rather than fully developed individuals, and their motivations often seemed arbitrary, inconsistent and generally weak. If the drama wanted to go for stupid ridiculousness then why not raise the stakes to match? Not even the ending could measure up to its intent despite its "supposed" twist.

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painful and beautiful

I began watching this BL with no expectations. In the first episode, I encountered a character immersed in a dirty and disorderly environment, lacking the will to live. Surprisingly, he survived a close encounter with death, and a grumpy angel awaited him in his room after being discharged from the hospital.

As the story unfolds, we are led through a peculiar journey between Koki and his angel. Over time, Koki notices subtle changes in his life. Revisiting all these episodes, I realized that the plot goes much beyond. I've been through the same situation as Koki, and, bro it's dreadful, but just as he found a reason to live and discovered that life isn't so bad after all, I realize that this is a true work of art.

The relationship between them deepens as the angel reveals its fragility: its wings fall when Koki is sad. This unique dynamic adds an emotional layer to the plot, emphasizing the importance of small joys in Koki's life.

As Koki rediscovers himself and finds meaning in seemingly trivial things, the drama's message becomes clear: life, despite its challenges, reserves precious moments.

This BL not only captivates with its unique narrative but also offers a sensitive reflection on the importance of finding joy in small things and valuing life, even in the most challenging moments.

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Terrific plot paired with an almost total absence of charismatic characters

Robots are perfectly fine. They do lots of cool things. They can vacuum. They help build cars and other stuff. Some robots are even helping with medical procedures. This is all good stuff. There’s lots of robots on screen too from the droids in the “Star Wars” universe (mostly entertaining) to the invaders from outer space in Michael Bay’s “Transformers” franchise (less positive things to say about them) and the robots that look human like “The Terminator” or Data from “Star Trek: The Next Generation). [reviewer’s note: apologies for the list of references to Western fare]

Robots can be a contributing element for an entertainment production. When they are, it’s because they are usually imbued with human-like personalities. Sadly, the reverse works less effectively. Human characters meant to be more robotic in their personality rarely seem to engage viewers. This may seem like an odd introduction to a drama set in modern day South Korea with no sci-fi or fantasy or supernatural element but rather named after and with running references to Greek mythology. Before this all connects, a digression:

“Chimera” is a drama focused on a serial killer that uses incendiary traps to kill. A spree thirty-five years prior to the current timeline ended when a suspect was apprehended and committed suicide in police custody. A new string of deaths is now following the same patterns. That’s the show.

To its credit, this setup is surprisingly good. There is more than a bit of chemistry and science and it is presented in a way that the average onlooker can make sense of. It’s a different approach to creating a serial killer character. It also helps to physically separate the killer from the crimes so the entire scene can be captured without revealing the identity of the chimera killer too early. As characters become suspicious and then are discovered to be not bad guys or at least not The Bad Guy, the narrative nicely keeps springing action scenes and surprises at a regular clip. Had an equally accomplished cast of characters been participating in such a narrative, it would have been a terrific show.

There is one. Kim Su Hyun’s Eugene Hathaway, an FBI profiler that’s been shipped overseas, would have been the ideal character to lead “Chimera” and build the show around. She’s intellectual but also empathic. She excels in a high pressure environment. And Kim Su Hyun shows why she’s appeared in two of the biggest cinematic franchises on the planet (the MCU and Harry Potter).

But the show is instead built around Park Hae Soo’s Jae Hwan, a detective that is a maddeningly inconsistent character. At times, he is utterly befuddled at the worst possible time and finds the absolute worst thing to do. Other times, he is Mr. Cop Cliche: bristling with superiors when told what to do, playing the bad cop type in an interrogation and convinced that his half-baked hunch is all he needs to take down his target. Park Hae Soo does what he can, but with all the focus on him, it’s an impossible character to salvage.

The rest of the crew is where the robots come in:

The doctor - calculating
The special investigative team leader - grim
The lawyer - quiet
The police vet - subdued
The mother - withdrawn
The CEO - restrained
The CEO’s wife - buttoned up
The CEO’s wife’s brother - resolute
The closed circuit tv police officer - shy
The other police officers - so much the typical police character that they could be faceless

That’s the theme. One robotic character after another appears on screen and when they show up, they tend to be there for extended appearances. Granted, not every fictional character needs to be some wild carnival barking exuberant rainbow of personality, but the calculus should not be to take three monotones, put them on couches and let them mumble to each other for a good chunk of an episode. The collective ends up being a group that’s difficult to connect with so when cast members start getting picked off, it’s a shrug and an “oh well” and let’s move on.

It helps less that Woo Hyun appears with regularity in “Chimera”. Somehow this gentleman who, in person, might be the kindest and most charitable man in the hemisphere regularly gets work despite the fact that he is one of the top five most graceless actors in the industry and the only one of the five that didn’t get the work because his day job is as a successful idol.

Layer in some lame explosion special effects, conventional camera work, no interesting OST to speak of and a regular pattern of alternating stronger episodes with slower episodes and the production as a whole simply never gains more than a modicum of traction.

In a better vehicle, Park Hae Soo and Kim Su Hyun could be a phenomenal pair of actors. “Chimera” is not that show. Not recommended.

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Hey guys..Instead of writing this review i should be either sleeping or studying but i couldn't hold myself 'cause this drama was so OUTSTANDING !!!

First of all, the cast was a total success since I'm a huge fan of Ji sung and hated as much as hell Bae so bin after watching brilliant legagy..Of course I can't forget Hwang Jung Eum ..The chemistry between Ji sun and jung eum was great but the love story that started with revenge was even more pleasant to watch..How that hatred turned into love just by watching each other and getting to know the other party is my favourite ..

More then that the ost was incredible I really liked ' incurable disease - navi ' and ' tears stole the heart - ailee '..It was choosen carefully and fitted the scenes..

I also liked this drama because there isn't to much of the scary step-mother scenes that i hate the most plus the step-mother liked min hyuk and didn't bother Yoo jung alot..well it's a change from the other dramas that i've watched ..

I'll definetly rewatch it and enjoy it as if i was watching it for the first time..This drama is for sure going to be one of my favourite top 3

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