Reviews

Where do I begin?
I started watching this drama because it was the holiday season and I desired a good romance comedy, and I followed a friends recommendation and started watching this. I can't say that I instantly fell in love with this drama, but I did like this drama from the beginning.

Story:
Overall, I enjoyed the story immensely. So why did I give it a 9 instead of a 10? It's because you know who ends up with who. It's not going to shock you in anyway if you've watched any korean romance comedies. Other than that though.

Cast/Acting:
Perfection. It couldn't have been better. The only thing that was somewhat "different" was Dok Go Jin's voice. His voice is "different". In the end it becomes the most soothing voice though.

Music:
The music did its job very well.

Rewatch Value:
I'm not much of a rewatcher, but I probably will not rewatch this like most other dramas and movies.

Overall:
Overall, I enjoyed this drama so so so much. It's a great drama that'll have you laughing and crying in no time. It's one of the best Romance Comedies out there. Oh and the ending was just A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
So go and watch it! You'll enjoy it!

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How a bad lead character can ruin a show

This story is about a 70 year old woman that finds herself not being needed and feeling unwanted by her own daughter after spending her life raising her while running a restaurant. One day after an argument she leaves home and ends up at a shop where her appearance is changed, taking her back 50 years to her 20 year old self. Now in a much younger body she must decide what she will do and if maybe this is her chance to follow the dreams she abandoned long ago.

First this show has great side characters. The two male leads are great and fun to watch, the granddaughter is multifaceted, and the overall concept makes the story interesting. The music is also great which adds to the appeal. But, while I enjoy aspects of this show the things I do not enjoy outweigh the things I do. The cinematography is mostly done very well but the repetitive use of the close ups on the faces at a downward angle are really unflattering. It is such an odd camera angle and used so frequently that it is hard to overlook at times. The styling of the show also feels unbalanced making the show that is set in 2024 feel more like its decades behind.

The show's biggest blunder, however, is that it suffers from two major flaws. First is in the execution of the the main character's transmigration. Time travel and transmigration can be a bit tricky to get just right but there are so many examples of stories where leads went back in time or were able to start their lives over that were complete successes and that is due to the way the performances were delivered. As a viewer I have no problem with a 70 year old becoming a 20 year old again and having a second chance at achieving their dreams but for it to work the character has to feel like they are young again. This show gives us Mal Soon/ Do Ri who is taken back 50 years to appear as her younger self but she never once acts young. She continues to behave, dress, and speak exactly like her 70 year old self. This approach feels like a miss to me because I find that I can not connect with the character when she behaves in this way as it never feels like she is trying to achieve her dreams or change her life. She is just trapped in this younger body and instead of actively pursuing her dream of becoming a singer she is being dragged into it. This is also where the romance feels wrong to me. I can accept her falling in love with a man the same age as her appearance if she behaved that way but since she never sheds her 70 year old persona then the romance with a much younger man gives me a bit of the ick.

That leads me to the second major flaw and that is in the way the main character behaves. Mal Soon/ Do Ri is not a likeable character. She is arrogant and stubborn but without just cause to be that way and the way she treats the people around her is selfish. Her not being likeable at first would have been fine and would have shown character development and allowed the viewer to grow to like her. But 10 episodes in and this character is still not likeable. Not liking the titular character of a drama for the entirety does not make it an enjoyable watch. Especially for a show like this that is supposed to be a romance and a second chance at life.

The flaws are made more glaring when you see Park Jun become his younger self and actively accept the change and dress and behave as a 20 year old would. He still gives advice or makes comments with the wisdom of years as he would as an older man but he is believable as a young man and easy to root for. Mal Soon's daughter is another horrible character that you never find yourself feeling pity for because she is just as awful as Mal Soon. Even with the reveals that give some reasoning behind their actions I find that they are given too late in the show so there is no impact. The change in the characters occurs far too late in the series and is rather sudden instead of the gradual build up throughout that would have given the viewer more attachment to the story.

Could have been a good story but ultimately fails to capture any of the magic and 'what if' energy I usually get from watching transmigration stories. The last two episodes are touching but also confusing and ultimately underwhelming ending the series with many unanswered questions.

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Loving It

The Well Blended adventure plot and Romance subplot captivated me.

Xu Kai and Yu Shuxin have chemistry no doubt. It is that I wonder if Luo ZhaoYan and Yue Qi if this is in an GL line. The chemistry of the two characters is captivating although they have different love line which is also makes me feel giddy, hahaha. The characterization is perfect.
Cutie girl with Strong Fighting Skills x Dignified Master who pretend as a guy.
I'm fond of the two actress.

Back to the review, The show is comedic and you will not get bored. The 1st episode for me is captivating that you want more episodes.

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Made for Mindless Binging

Double Love is a good pick if you're looking for hearty laughter, fluffy romance, and fun engaging characters.

Adapted from the novel "Master, your wife is AFK again" by author Da Ju Mao, the story centered around Lu Wanwan, a female actress who is trying to make her mark in the acting industry without counting on backdoor connections, and Han Jingmo, a star, and expert game player.

The plot itself was the usual idol drama - a bumbling yet bright and warm rookie actress meeting a cold but admirable popular male artist and how they fall in love online and offline. There were cliches like past encounters leaving a deep impression on one of the leads and the usual show business shenanigans like scheming actresses trying to sabotage the FL's career and get between the two leads.

The storyline may not be new, but the show was fun to watch. The main CP's love story was endearing, and I love watching their journey to success in their careers and personal lives. The humor and wit were on-point, and the interactions between the characters were so heartwarming that they pulled me into the drama. Plus, issues and misunderstandings were resolved quickly, making it an easy watch.

Unfortunately, the show suffered from some terrible editing, and key scenes were cut, leading to viewers' frustration and confusion. I strongly recommend looking through the comments for links to the cut scenes for a better understanding.

The CGI for the game was pretty good, and I enjoyed watching the matches and the characters. There were some hilarious setups in the virtual world, especially when juxtaposed against the characters in real life.

The chemistry between the main couple as well as among all the characters was organic and engaging. I was rooting not only for the main CP but also for the low-key relationship with BL undertones between another pair. I adored the dynamics of the Lu family and the sibling relationship between Wanwan and her brother Lu Guang Han. They were hilarious, teasing and bullying each other but also so supportive and protective of each other.

Zhang Sue Ying was the highlight, honestly. Her character was full of energy and spunk and brought so much life to the show. ZSY's acting was so natural and realistic, like she became one with her character, Wanwan.

As for Bi Wenjun, he was somewhat stiff in the beginning, but he got much better in the later episodes. I was not wild about how they styled him as the top star Han Jingmo, and I preferred his look in the game. However, he was still eye candy, and together with ZSY, they made a great-looking couple, especially during their scenes on the red carpet. Han Jingmo was the perfect ML - faithful and consistent, always looking out for Wanwan...although he can be childish at times.

In general, the cast was great, and there was a fun rapport among them. I did find the side couple's story unnecessary and uninteresting. I would much rather them show more sweet moments between our main CP.

The OST was awesome. I never skipped the ending credits because of the song, 'I Wanna Be Your Love' sung by Bi Wenjun. It is a sweet song played during the main CP's romantic scenes. The opening song, Tiptoe, by Xu Mengjie, was catchy too. For posterity, I listed the song list at the end of this review.

Overall, do give this show a try! It would be a shame to miss out on the comedy, fun and satisfying ending. Whether you need to cure bad-day blues or just a distraction, watching this show might just do the trick!

OST List:
* Bi Wenjun (毕雯珺) - I Wanna Be Your Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztJE7NwDhOg

* Xu Mengjie (徐梦洁) - Tiptoe (踮脚尖)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLq-5sam6O0

* 打扰一下乐团 - Fearless (无畏)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uFefnf9A9o

* Jin Wenqi - No Trace (无迹可寻)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umsk7wFO8Bo

Album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/52w5EV0C36g1EsEmGX4nDK?si=mX8-ZjeRQBiiMuPIBNS-cA

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Wow, what a drama. Started strong, finished strong. The middle was also semi-strong but a few episodes fell beneath the "strong" category for me. They were just "good", and not breathtaking, which is why I gave it a nine.

Storywise, this was a great drama. Lots of twists and turns. It also broke a lot of stereotypes.

The actors and actresses did a terrific job on this drama.

The music was pretty good. I probably won't listen to it too much now that i've finished the drama, but the songs fit each scene perfectly.

As for rewatch value, i don't rewatch dramas generally, but this is one I could see myself rewatching in a couple of years.

Overall, this drama was a solid drama that had me on the edge of my seat, and severely lacking sleep these past few days. I can fully say I understand why this drama is currently ranked #1 on MDL.

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The Servant is a retelling of popular South Korean folk tale The Story of Chunhyang, and can either be viewed as a prequel or a sequel to the 2000 film, Chunhyang.

Where the original Story of Chunhyang (and earlier film adaptations of the folk tale) tells the story of the beautiful courtesan's daughter and the handsome nobleman who falls for her, in this retelling this classic love story takes on a new dimension.

Bang-ja has worked in servitude to Mongryong for many years. He's satisfied with his existence until one day he encounters a woman who changes his life forever. Both master and servant fall for the beautiful Chunhyang at first sight. However, due to his lack of status, Bang-ja is convinced he doesn't stand a chance against the aristocrat, Mongryong.

I have to say this retelling of the original folk tale was quite moving to watch.

Where Chunhyang (2000) is an upbeat, pure love story with likable characters all around, The Servant is a poignant story of long-suffering and sacrifice. It puts a more mature spin on the original story, and solicits a deeper emotional investment from the viewer.

Both films are great for different reasons. In Chunhyang I loved the feel good story of young lovers discovering each other for the first time as well as the skillful direction of the film by Im Kwon-Taek. In The Servant the hero's strait journey to be with the love of his life is what touched my heart.

He was a very sympathetic, worthy, if tragic, hero, portrayed superbly by actor Kim Ju Hyuk. Though powerless & trapped by his low class Bang-ja revealed himself to be the true noble, a man of honour, wisdom & sound character who, for the sake of love, suffered through much humiliation and hardship. A number of the supporting cast put in notable performances as well, in particular Oh Dal Su's In No, Bang-ja's compatriot & mentor. The Servant was also surprisingly modern in tone and mood. It took on a somewhat tongue-in-cheek approach towards its handling of sexuality. It may seem a bit contradictory to the period in which the film is set, but it worked somehow with the overall arc of the story.

In closing, I'd say both films are well worth a watch, though it's not mandatory to see one in order to understand the other. I'm giving The Servant a 10 (as I did Chunhyang) for its story & Kim Ju Hyuk's performance. The ending was beautiful and bittersweet. Just an overall enjoyable watch that I'd recommend to everyone.

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Honestly felt more like a kpop fangirls wet dream rather than an historical coming of age drama. Which is a pity, because the actors did really well, but the writing was horrible.

I honestly don't know what the writers were thinking because the characters were interesting, but not developed enough to be interesting or matter and the acting wasn't that bad, Go-Ara is a brilliant actress but her character was written so badly she couldn't show her skills. Park Seo-Joon did a brilliant job with what he was given, although he wasn't as badly written.

The worst character was by far Han-sung. His character was so interesting - A fun-loving young man who loved his peasant brother dearly, opposed his families views, and had the burden of being the sole heir. THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT WAS IMMENSE. But he got no development and was shown perhaps once every other episode. He was a big part of the shift in direction towards the end but his dynamic with various characters wasn't explored so it was more of a fact stated than actors showing this - again, writers fault, not the actors.

Some characters had interesting histories but weren't explored at all - mainly the Hwarang who didn't know who his father was.

The romance was just thrown in their for the sake of showing some kissing. Park Seo-Joon and Go-Ara did well enough to show that their characters cared for each other, but story wise, the romance wasn't needed. I cared much more for the dynamic between Hyung-Sik and Seo-Joon.

The plot had potential, but showrunners focused more on Go-Ara walking around depressed than moving the plot forward.

Overall, the acting wasn't bad at all but the showrunners left no room for the actors to, well, act. The characters were so 2D that it was like asking an actor to act as a lifeless corpse.

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Do not miss out on this drama!

This drama made me smile so much. It's a story of healing and love and heartache. It's hilarious and sad and beautiful. I loved it very much. This is one of those dramas I know I will rewatch again, chasing that feeling of watching it for the first time that I will sadly not feel again in quite the same way. But in the words of Winnie the Pooh: "How lucky am I to have had something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

Run, don't walk to watch this drama. I don't think it's for everyone, but if this drama is for you then I know you will love it as much as I did.

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Comic relief with great chemistry bwteen taynew

Watch it and you will find yourself laughing and gushing over taynew's chemistry after a long tiring day!
The music score, the background effects, the pace of the story is just perfect!
Newwiee's elegance and attitude to play Kanit, who is a flight attended, meets your eyes and Tawan's nonchalance and rowdy aura as Toto shows the moment he appears on the screen! Taynew's chemistry is the reason why their fans stick with them even after 10 years into the BL industry. And the role they play in this as TotoKanit shows how talented they are indeed. It's been just the first episode and you can already see who well they have acted.
Mond, Ryu, Tui, Oab and Kapook are also playing their part to perfection!
Other than great acting, the story is also the reason why one should go for this show. The love between two people from different economic class can be cliché but what makes this story special is that how a super elegant and materialistic man like Kanit falls for someone who unapologetically bears a crude persona (toto).
There are plenty of other sweet things kept by director (P'Jojo) which probably the fans will be able to relate!

So yeah, go and give it a watch. You will only want more of it!

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Great acting meets somewhat weak writing

This show had a fantastic start. As I begun watching it I was certain it would be one of my favorites of the year, a certainty that slowly waned over time. Now it's solidified as a wonderful drama, I will probably never revisit again. The first half was really strong, but it was after the 10 episode mark, (when one of the supporting actors, who in my opinion shined brighter then all the others, left the show) when the writing became repetitive and boring. It was however rescued by a powerful ending that left me in tears.

The premise of the drama was what drew me to it. I was led to believe it was about terminally ill patiens who goes on a killing spree to rid the world of evil before they die. This is not quite what we got. Am I disappointed? Only slightly.
I personally love moral dilemmas, and watching dramas that make you question what's right and wrong. This one wasn't as morally grey as I'd hoped, but the wonderful acting and heartwarming story more than made up for it.

The strongest point this drama has going for it, is the representation of female friendship. It delivers it with lots of tears and laughter. The women of this drama carried it on their back since the beginning. Their ride or die friendship more than made up for some of the boring parts of this drama. I loved how with Seyeon and Mido's help, Insook found the will to live for the first time in her life. Not just survive. Too bad it happened on her death-bed.

If you are like me, and hate dramas where the police are bumbling idiot, leaving the main characters to deal with everything, then you won't be disappointed with this drama. The police are intelligent (aside from a select few), and work hard to sove the case. They were in my opinion a delight to watch (especially you Cho Shiyoung, I fucking love you). The sad trade-off is that the main characters lack a bit in the brains department. I blame Insook's brain-cancer. It messed a bit with her critical thinking skills.

The acting was what in my opinion made this show worth watching. Everyone was believable in their role, to the point I cried when they cried, and laughed when they laughed.

But I would like to finish of by giving special appreciation to Do Sangwoo who played Detective Cho Shiyoung. This is the first drama I've seen him in, and I've truly found another actor to look out for. For many of the episodes I found his scenes to be the most interesting, and I was sad to see him go a little more than halfway through.

All in all, a good enough drama that I'll recommend to everyone who likes this genre.

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I liked Song Yi Ren's other college campus romance series this year more

I'm kind of in the minority here, but I didn't much care for this series and thought that Aaron Deng was stiff as a board with his acting. I also had a bit of issue with how brusque and rough Qin Shen acted towards Yuan Qian all the time. And that whole jealous boyfriend act was probably intended to be cute and comedic, but it actually made me annoyed and uncomfortable. Instead of seeming like a protective boyfriend, Qin Shen came off a bit controlling--it bothered me that Yuan Qian and her roommate friends seemed okay with it just because Qin Shen is good looking, and because Yuan Qian likes him. I feel like it gives out a bad message that it's okay to let your boyfriend push and pull you around, and be forceful with you, as well as dictate who you're allowed to be friends with, when in reality, it's a big red flag.

On the flip side, I also got annoyed with Yuan Qian's overreaction to wanting to keep her relationship with Qin Shen a secret when they first started dating. It was highly unnecessary, and unfair to Qin Shen.

I DO give props to the guy who portrayed Song Si Yi--he was really natural and likable. There were moments when the character got annoying, but it was hard to completely hate him. I'm also extremely happy that he pretty much backed off of Yuan Qian peacefully when he finds out that she and Qin Shen are a couple.

Overall, this romance was awkward and all sorts of uncomfortable for me. I kind of liked them more in their pre-dating phase when they were first realizing they liked each other. Those moments were super cute.

I watched this series because of Song Yi Ren, whom I started loving ever since I saw her performance in 'Ever Night.' And if I want to be honest, while her character was overly childish in 'The Best of You in My Mind,' I felt like that series had an overall better tone, better acting, and better love story. Gala Zhang is definitely a much better actor than Aaron Deng.

This was a rather predictable, feel good, college campus love story that had it's cute and sweet moments. For starters, I absolutely loved both Yuan Qian and Qin Shen's roommates. They made this series a lot more fun. And while I didn't care for the main romance nor the main couple, I still felt like Song Yi Ren held her own pretty well.

On a final note, I DO wish we could have delved a bit deeper into Qin Shen's past with Ling Wei and Jia Si Chen so we could understand why Qin Shen was always so cold to Ling Wei. There were hints that she had done some unforgivable stuff, but aside from being persistent in her crush and pursuit of him, I didn't quite understand the backstory. There was a short bit where it sounded like Ling Wei used Qin Shen's friends to obtain what she wanted? I'm not sure. I would have also liked to see more about the story behind the parents and maybe some resolution about their objections to Yuan Qian and Qin Shen's chosen college paths.

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Best show I’ve seen in a very long time!

Not all episodes are available yet, but I’m really enjoying this one. The main couple is great together. The way they play off of each other is fun and sweet, but not too sweet. Watching Lin Gengxin play the fool for a bit is absolutely adorable. He’s one of my favorites and this is a pleasant change from the always stoic and arrogant role. It will be fun watching the layers peel back on this character. He’s had me giggling quite a bit. The female lead is awesome- intelligent, aggressive and capable, while still kind and caring when she should be.
The CGI chicken is a bit hard to swallow, but that doesn’t last very long. The demon goo (I don’t know what else to call it) is hilarious. They are still introducing the side characters, Li Zi Feng obviously has more happening than they let on yet, and I’m still not sure if he’s going to be a good guy or a bad guy. It’s not a predictable story line.
This show hooked me almost right away and I can’t wait for more episodes!

Update: I’ve finished the first 10 episodes and wish they’d release the rest sooner. The side characters are developing well, and I may have shed a couple of tears already. Love the slide to Grandpa, I laugh harder every time I see it now.
Please, please, please have a happy ending.

Episode 28 and I still love it. It’s a wild rollercoaster ride of heartwarming, heartbreaking, happy, sad, romantic, sweet and tragic. Very intense. I had to take a break for a couple of days because it was wearing me out emotionally. (Actually, I got angry at one of the plot twists and had to calm down, ha!) Now I’m back at it and still completely hooked on the story. Have I mentioned how much I love Lin Gengxin in this one? I would say it’s possibly his best role so far. It’s also rare to find a really well rounded female lead, but I like this one. Capable, competent, intelligent and not emotionally stunted- she’s rather awesome and fun to watch. The support characters have also developed well, throwing some strong twists into the story. Absolutely one of my favorite shows.

And it’s over. Wow. Loved this so much. The side character stories (Mofang and Fu Rong) are as endearing and heartbreaking as the main characters’. You Lan even had some surprises. I would definitely rate this in my top 10 favorites of all time. It was worth the wait, and I hope to see more like this. Just awesome, on every level. You will think you know the story and the ending from the get go, but there are plenty of twists and turns. What a fantastic ride.

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Our life experience in this world condensed into a beautiful cinematic exhibition

This is my first review for MDL, so please be kind with me 😊

I stumbled upon this movie by chance, but I am very grateful to know that this "type" of movie exists. I know this is based on the video game "The Exit 8" but it is unlike any other movies based on games. This has lots of esoteric symbolism. Everything in this movie has a meaning. I mean, everything! Hidden in plain sight.

Cinematography and directing are tight and very interesting, to the point that we as the audience can feel that we are involved in finding the "anomalies" and making decisions (I found myself shouting "move ahead!", or "no! go back!") basically becoming part of the movie. We just don't watch passively. I'm not familiar with Genki Kawamura's other works (the director of this movie), but will be sure to check out more from him. Top-notch screenwriting as well.

The entire cast' acting is amazing, especially the main lead, Kazunari Ninomiya. It's one of his best performances. A cameo appearance by Nana Komatsu is also a welcome addition and perfect for the role (because she's now a mother, right?).

Now, what makes this movie perfect is not the production, but the hidden meaning behind all the esoteric symbolism, because it can help us in finding the realization. It is up to us to find the subtle clues by paying attention to the details of our surroundings, and then make meaningful connections (This poster represents one thing, that "walking man" represents another, the boy represents that, and so on and so forth).

Once we are able to make a connection about that whole experience of being "stuck in the loop" actually represents our life in this world, this movie can help us to exit this matrix. All we need to do is to keep moving and pay attention to our surroundings (see the signs, anomalies, glitches in the matrix, etc.), not get distracted by things this world offers — like things that are not essential or needed for our escape, also to persevere and be patient on our journey, and to not repeating the same pattern of mistakes again that can make us to regret. Those are the values brought up in the movie.

Simply said, this is ultimately the best movie in years. Of course, only "those who get it will get it, and those who don't won't", but even if you don't seem to get it, just pay attention and be patient in watching the movie (patience is required, as in living a life in this world) — then try to make a connection to your life. Your life may not be the same again.

Good luck in finding the exit!!

10/10

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