The movie was a perfectly imperfect mixture of light romance, comedy and heist. Of course, it was not the perfectly detailed thrilling con games like others in serious genre, but it was exciting enough to keep you laughing and anticipating for the next scenes. The actors were the perfect cast, no one else can pull of Tower but Nadech and no one else can own Ina like Baifern did. Bank, Phuak and Kathleeya each shined with their characters, so did Ter who had a special participation. Overall, the plot was simple. It was about a woman who was conned by her ex bf, now seeks revenge with the help of another conman. The main
conflicts lie between trusting another with the probability of getting deceived again at high stakes, overcoming your own sorrows and meeting people who might share the same.
The Con-Heartist was entertaining and fun. Its comedy may vary with people's taste on jokes, but fun nonetheless.
The light romance leaves us wanting for more, but Nadech and Baifern's chemistry was definitely a win. It radiates in all their key scenes. The heist was fit for its romcom genre, still exciting to watch. And lastly, it is heartfelt because of all the life lessons that lies underneath its adventures.
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One of the best dramas that exceeds its expectations with well deserved popularity/ratings!
*️⃣ Ranked at the top for 4 days in a row, stayed on the list of popular high ranking dramas for 47 days and 56 days across all networks, received the top 1 spot as the best military drama on Tencent, and was the most viewed drama on the CCTV-8 channel ranking #1 for 15 consecutive days (basically throughout its entire broadcasting period) and for another 10 consecutive days upon rebroadcast on CCTV-1!!! *️⃣➡️ Check out the photos section for the data statistics
➡️ This link contains more data information on the ratings from various sources: https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/465493242
First off, this was a very well executed drama from the beginning to the end with a refreshing theme to watch. Each episode was filled with the right amount of emotions and momentum to keep you engaged/watching without ever feeling bored and it is not one of those very cliched storylines where the leads are just with the looks. Usually military genres do not spark much of an interest but I have to say that this was an exception - even the short trailers alone were enough to be intriguing. There have been so many dramas that are popular these days just because the leads are (for which the story itself is not exceptionally outstanding) and I can’t stress this enough because most people tend to choose what dramas to watch based on their biases rather than the actual plot, BUT it should not just be that way! This undermines other good dramas with good actors that also deserve recognition but fall short in popularity which is unfair. I noticed however that of those popular dramas, the overarching image for a handful of them appears to be that certain actors/actresses are typecasted where they play similar roles over various dramas following the same romcom storyline in different variations, and that essentially impedes acting improvement and establishes a digression of interest in a drama overtime as it lacks something new/fresh.
A truly successful drama is one that incorporates good acting along with a good storyline (with popularity being a minor boost) and a good actor/actress are those who are versatile and can deliver definitive emotions within their characters. This drama touched on all those points and although our leads, Gao Wei Guang and Hu Bing Qing are not among the more popular actors, their acting skills are noteworthy in this drama with their roles serving as a breakthrough image. They have displayed their diversified acting skills throughout their different drama roles and this is probably the best one. Gao Wei Guang as Qin Guan really exhibited the characteristics of what a captain should be. He is strict as needed but caring and funny on the inside which we see throughout his interactions with everyone on the team. It is as if the role was designed for him since you can hardly picture any other actor who could take on that role in the same way. On the other hand, Hu Bing Qing as Ning Meng also did really well in exemplifying the characteristics of a strong, smart, cheerful, and lovable female soldier who was unknowingly facing PTSD at the same time. She would always help others whether they were close or not because they were a team and proves herself worthy from time to time. I have to say that Hu Bing Qing is able to convey emotions in her character really well. In the beginning, her PTSD was made evident with various hints but it was pushed aside and was never actually addressed until she was hit with it in a similar scenario during a mission. You can see and feel her pain and desperation throughout those episodes that were solely focusing on her mental state 😢.
Analysis of the PTSD scenario
The sudden explosion was the main trigger to NM’s memories of the bus incident, leading her to recall visions of her brother. As she tried to come back to her senses to kill the lady that was trying to escape, she couldn’t control her emotions and her brother’s vision came back which was why it became in place of the terrorist, causing her to be caught up in an emotional whelm and unable to shoot, thus almost costing her and the captain’s life. That moment led her to start associating a terrorist with her brother. Therefore, every time she faces a terrorist (both disguised and real), she has those hallucinations and is afraid to shoot.
The PTSD issue had to be addressed at some point in the drama and they decided to make NM face it directly. Even though forcing her to face it head on was not the proper thing to do, it can be understood why the captain kept pushing her during the stimulated training setup as he was in desperation to help her overcome that barrier. The way they resolved her PTSD does not fully serve as a breakthrough from it entirely but the general idea was that she is able to get past it during a critical moment and it was brave enough for them to expand on this topic. This goes to show that no matter how capable you are, mental health always comes first, otherwise you end up losing to yourself. Her psychological problems should have been addressed early on for the best outcome but they wanted to focus on her persistence in becoming a part of the blue lightning team for her character development, or else it would have interfered with her eligibility.
Central Ideas/Themes
I liked how they placed the emphasis mainly centered on females because it is a unique sight given that it’s a military genre where in many cases would occasionally be male centered (as seen in a prior military drama: Ace Troops as well as in the upcoming Glory of Special Forces). Those plots normally focus on the male's growth as a soldier and although there are some female characters, their roles do not contribute much/directly on the battlefield but this was the first to challenge that with female soldiers. We got to see both male and female soldiers together on the front line and grow together in the process. This is primarily why the drama stood out and makes the better plot. It was introduced right from the start about the needs for recruiting female soldiers into an elite team and even though the reason they gave for the recruitment was not the best, the point was made clear that female soldiers are just as important as male soldiers and it breaks the stereotypical view that women are weak and establishes equality. Through their persistence together we see them grow stronger both physically and mentally overtime. There were many instances that effectively showed how females were just as capable as the males or even smarter. During the male/female barehand battle training, the females were able to win through using tactical skills despite the fact that they were not as strong as the males in terms of strength and the same results during the devil’s week team battle when the special forces team thought they could easily defeat the female soldiers. The main terrorists throughout the drama were also females (the one that got away in the very beginning and the main boss behind everything) and it all essentially shows that thinking wisely is the key to winning and strength is not all.
Training/Action
There were many training scenes particularly in the first half and that is because the main purpose of the drama was to give more insight about the life of soldiers and honor them for their hard work. For the most part, soldiers just train regularly to improve their strength/skills to fight in war and the drama does a very good job with its realistic portrayal by providing various rigorous training scenes throughout. Although training took up most of the episodes, it was interesting to watch with the different tasks they had to go through (devils week) that tested different aspects of their abilities.
Each of the major terrorist battles involved different situations and techniques carried out under different settings for their mission which was very interesting to see. The desert scenario in particular was the most impressive where the team had to take into consideration the dry/dangerous climate conditions and also move through the dark to stop the terrorist team in action.
All the actors/actresses received some training under real soldiers prior to adapting their roles in regards to learning about the proper etiquettes of a soldier and all the action scenes (fighting, training courses, explosions) were done on the scene by themselves without the use of any substitutes - you can see the hard work they all put in during the behind the scene footages where they were injured a few times and were pulling through in the cold weather/water. Those action scenes were all done nicely and my heart was beating fast for the team during the terrorist battles near the end as things were getting much more intense. That one final battle where everyone were all ready to risk their lives for the safety of the people was very heart-wrenching and brave as we see them mentally prepare for the worse and go through the bloodshed, reminding us that soldiers are very honorable for what they do. We don't ever actually see/know what is happening during a war in exchange for peace/safety and this was effectively represented as the foreign president arrived at his destination. He was never aware that a forceful fight was happening behind the scenes upon his "safe" trip and the phrase "Let the living live a better life" primarily defines this disparity.
*️⃣ Based on one of the director's interview, certain scenes/scenarios in the drama were adapted based on real events that had happened previously.
Teamwork
The display of teamwork/team spirit was phenomenal. From purely competitors trying to join the team to becoming very close brothers and sisters that cannot bear to separate in the end. It was really nice to see that everyone was needed in order to make the team complete. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and they were all able to use them to the team’s advantage by helping at certain moments. When they were met with difficulties, they were always there for each other/together and encouraged each other which is what a team should be: going through ups and downs together. During devil’s week their companionship was very touching, giving up their only supply of food for others or for something else they felt was more important. It was the first time they genuinely became a true team and no longer just thinks with “I” but in terms of “we”. All of their backstories were just as important and very emotional.
I loved how Ning Meng was able to befriend everyone slowly and change their views of each other, especially Yang Shu, since she was hard to get close with mainly due to that fact that she was always so full of herself and looks down on others.
Qu Bo’s addition to the team later on was honestly a pretty nice touch to the storyline too. We got to see a different side of his character through a reflection of his true inner thoughts on the relationship with Lin Yi as it made him view things differently. He came to see/understand that working hard is the key that goes hand in hand with the responsibilities of a soldier’s duty and the spirit that makes up a truly good team. Thus, he sees blue lightning team in a different perspective and wants to join/help them succeed with their mission.
*️⃣ Interesting notice: The upside down curl up competition with Zheng Zhong from the special forces team, mirrors the pull up competition between Ning Meng and Yang Shu previously which shows that they like to outright compete to prove themselves in order to solve their problems. This was also seen in the beginning where Ning Meng competed with Xu Dong Dong and Tong Meng Yao in the training obstacle course to get them to apologize to Li Si Si if she won and during another private competition between Ning Meng and Yang Shu for the best candidate selection as the team assault leader.
The team slogan “The harder it is, move forward” should be properly translated as “to keep moving forward especially when faced with something more challenging” was a very powerful statement that kept the team’s persistence and motivation going under any circumstances they were in. It constantly reminded them that they can surpass anything with a positive mindset.
Romance
Qin Guan and Ning Meng pretending to be a couple on the final mission definitely made up for the romance we all wanted to see from them. It blended into the storyline perfectly as the focus is primarily mission oriented and was actually the only other way to make them be together that made sense, as opposed to forcing a happy ending that doesn’t quite fit. The part where they received blessings from the foreign president to have a child soon and everyone started making fun of them as they heard it in the hearing device got me good 🤣. It was too funny and shows just how compatible they are together (even in disguise and in the perspective of an outsider)! They are so cute together!
Their formal attires were a plus and looks so good on them. It’s probably because we always see them in their military uniforms so that was an appealing appearance haha.
It was also evident that they like each other through their interactions near the end (last battle and hospital scene) and everyone sensed/knew that 🥰.
Also, not to mention all the little things that the captain did for Ning Meng after giving her a lecture was very funny and sweet:
➡️ Asking Hao Zhe to give her the book she wanted to read while being locked in as punishment in the beginning and beating around the bush to the detachment leader with an excuse to end her punishment
➡️ Getting everyone to find a place to order a cake late at night to arrange a birthday surprise
➡️ Putting in good words to the chief of staff about giving her the chance to join the exchange meeting on the discussion of tactic skills after her constant pestering
➡️ Going back to the training place to find a new flower to give Ning Meng after seeing that the one confiscated was withered badly but denied doing so (it was obvious he went to find a new one since he didn’t take back the flower and also the new jar which Ning Meng caught on fast haha 😂)
~ And of course there was a new meaning to the flower now. It became a memory with the captain (a gift from him) which to her is a stronger motivation than when she found the flower standing alone in the rain to not give up
➡️ Going to the movies with her and accepting her gift after rejecting the first time (he cannot bear to see her heartbroken 🤭)
Love doesn’t have to be shown with physical affection for viewers to know/feel that it is there between the leads and this was done wonderfully in the drama with just words, thoughts, and actions. It was the proper way to incorporate a subtle romance element that fits into the military theme and successfully avoids any unnecessary cringiness that happens in many romance integrated dramas when it’s overdone.
There were also many implied side couples besides Xu Dong Dong & Lin Yi being the most obvious ones:
1. Tong Meng Yao & Guo Xiao Wei with the constant arguing/bickering against each other whenever they meet
2. Li Si Si & Tie Quan when TQ mentions how he wants to lessen the difficulty for LSS when he saw how the girls were training really hard while wearing the heavy sandbags
3. Yang Shu & Qu Bo when they rooted for each other (QB rooted for YS to win the pull up competition against NM while YS rooted for QB to win when he represented the blue lightning team to prove himself capable of carrying on Lin Yi’s position) and also with their interactions in the final mission
4. Zhuang Qian & Jing Ke where it was slightly implied when JK said wanted to go up against ZQ in the male and female barehand competition
*️⃣ The members were paired up most of the time through their lineup (evident during the brick/board training & devil’s week) which I thought was pretty funny.
OST
All the songs fit into the story really well. They are catchy after listening to them throughout the entire drama.
I was particularly surprised about Hu Bing Qing’s voice when I found out that she was the one who sang the ending theme song ("You and Me"). She can really sing and would have no problem becoming a singer as well! The song has a very soothing melody that can fit into any circumstances, happy or sad, which we see it play throughout various scenes in the drama. I am glad all the songs are available on Spotify which is very helpful.
Shortcomings:
1. Certain scenes may be exaggerated but it still brought the intended tension up to point.
2. It can be seen that some scenes were cut in between with the abrupt transitions at some point but the overall flow was fine.
3. The villains were not smarter than they should have been in order to increase the tension that Blue Lightning had to face with them to make the battle more intense. Blue Lightning team basically took down each and every subordinates as they encountered them rather easily until facing the main mastermind behind all of the evil plan.
Final Points:
Don’t hesitate to give this drama a try just because it is a military genre. It starts and wraps up nicely and is very promising. You won’t regret! Eagerly awaiting for a season 2! The casts were all amazing and worked really hard for the production of the drama! ❤️❤️❤️
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Proof that (university) romcom’s can still workk!
Every time I think I’ve had enough of the university romance series, Thailand proves me wrong. Since Khemjira, Domundi have really stepped up their game!Coming into this series, I was fully expecting to be underwhelmed and was just using it to placate my boredom. However, only one episode in, I realised that this show was not that.
THE STORY:
Although the plot on paper sounds so uninspired, I love that Duang and Qinn’s personalities match their behaviour, which I believe is one of the most important aspects of series like these, with pretty simple, character-focused stories.
Plainly the plot is ‘guy sees a cute guy, flits with him, and they get together’. However, the way it’s presented on screen is so enjoyable and genuine. Dang is a passionate and genuine lover who is flirting with a guy he truly likes. I also love that we see Duang’s feeling develop from initial attraction to genuine love. Similarly, Qinn’s character was well written. He takes Duang’s pursuit of him seriously and considers important factors that may determine their compatibility. This makes all the different stages of the series so enjoyable as you see a clear plot and character development.
I also love the balance between cute funny scenes, and more serious and mature moments.
ACTING/CAST:
The casting of this series for the main couple was perfection. I don’t remember the last time I watched a similar relationship dynamic to the one in DWY, but all I know is that it’s now my favourite. The actors portrayed their character so well, that I have been enamoured by the series since I started it. i loved how they showed a significant level of emotional maturity whilst still maintaining the energy of young university students.
Rewatch value: I would rewatch this show 100x over due to its simplicity and sweetness.
Warning: TeeTeePor occupied my attention so much that I honestly paid no attention to the other couples and have not much idea what was going on there, so I won’t necessarily be addressing them.
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Day of Kidnapping
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"I have never been more free than the 20 days I was kidnapped"
Just finished watching this one and have enjoyed every moment of it.Twelve episodes, neatly packed up and a story that wraps up perfectly, nothing unnecessary, and no long dwelling.
The cast were amazing, you were annoyed by the bad characters and cheered on the good characters, but most of all you just want to relish and enjoy the amazing chemistry between the Kidnapper and the girl. What an incredible story supported by some incredible acting.
I'm not going to say much more, to be honest you just need to go and watch it. The music is good but you'll be right with the characters most of the way. Binge this one, it's good for your heart.
Even though I rate this drama very highly - it's not the most important thing in the room to talk about here, Yuna. Wow she is probably one of the most talented actors i've seen in a kdrama in a long time and I don't just mean among the younger ages, she's absolutely brilliant. Different approaches to different aspects of her performance throughout from the start when she's trying to come to terms with this "father" she has no memory of to when she realises who she is and is easily, easily the smartest person in any room, to little playful moments with the back scratching stick where a giggle sneaks out and to that absolutely heart breaking moment at the end when she reads what's on the scratching stick and goes from smiley face to inconsolably in tears with a transition that is completely believable. How has someone so young got the ability to recreate these things so well? I have no idea, but without doubt Yuna is someone to watch for, she's going to light up our screens (if we're very very lucky) for years to come.
Special shout out to Yoon Kye Sang who played the kidnapper and was the perfect counterbalance to Yuna's stunning talent, superb chemistry and interplay between them.
100% recommend.
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The story of the drama is being told from Shinsengumi's perspective, and I felt like it was pretty fair. The only bad comment could be the pace and character developments,which were a little slow. There are no breath taking action scenes or tear jerker twist and turns, because the story more likely focuses on the caracters as well as the incidents. The acting is fairly executed since all the actors are pretty well experienced and well known. The music on the other hand was simply no good. I think especially the intro music is a complete failure. I do understand that they wanted to do something militar and heroic but to me it was simply annoying. Lastly,I recommend this drama not to those who want to watch a japanese version of "sageuk" but to those who want to know more about Japan's history lead by good actors and a little fiction to be more fastmoving. If you are interested, the rewatch value is higher and if not,than probably lower. Overall it was a good executed Taiga, which was a little slow and in my opinion a little sugar coated,but not boring and very educative.
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I Told Sunset About You Part 2
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" it has different mood, different storytelling, it's like a whole different colour " - billkin
This was deep and realistic. Personally i really liked part 2 cause it clearly showed the fact " the only thing constant in life is change " . Now points everyone should keep in mind before watching this1. Don't compare it with ITSAY
2. " it has different, tone,storytelling... It's like two whole different colour " - billkin
3. It's not for kids and desperate ppl who are here for some cheesy/fantasy romance
* VERY VERY MINUTE SPOILER AHEAD*
THINGS I LOVED : 1. MUSIC : it is as amazing as ever starting from the osts to bg score i loved it.
2. END
3. OLD CASTS
4. story as a whole
5. PRODUCTION AND ACTING
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKED :
ep 3 end , yes that's it i don't like only this except that i love the rest.
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A Little Bit of Everything on a Robust Menu
This drama didn't look like much from the get go; in fact they wrapped filming this year so was very surprised when it popped out. I was only watching because BJT is one of the people I follow and wanted to see how he fared in a costume drama. He definitely delivered the goods and so did the rest of the cast. This drama had literally a little bit of everything on a robust menu.Pros: First time I saw BJT was in YAMH last year so I knew he could play fierce and comical characters; I wasn't sure if he could handle a costume drama where some mild fighting was needed. He very pleasantly surprised me though and his character YZ was my favorite. The facial expressions, in between lips talking, loyalty, drunk kissing etc made his character really stand out amongst the plethora of princes.
This is the second costume drama I've seen this year that very heavily focused on sisterhood and made even the most annoying female evolve into someone likable. The outstanding bonds that were grown between all of the women thanks primarily to the FL's ingenuity and grace, was quite beautiful to see. There was very little pettiness and infighting which is so common when there are multiple women involved in these dramas, that it made it very much like a breath of fresh air as there were a lot of women in this one. Same went with the men; though they divided themselves into two factions of good vs evil, the brotherhood of good was full of kind and talented men.
The comedy was the best part of the series. You were constantly laughing at the antics of literally everyone. The 3 antagonists were all handled appropriately and when the time came though at the beginning it did feel like the 2nd Prince got away with murder while YZ was either ignored or punished. What I liked was that every single character except him evolved during the duration of this series. Even the Emperor understood when he was wrong (though it took a bit of time) and grew to make his kingdom the most modern. Not a single character was without flaws and that made them even more realistic. But there were almost no cliches or tropes and misunderstandings were cleared up very quickly and in a smart manner where each character grew from their mistakes even the 2 last antagonists where it didn't feel like a redemption arc but actual evolution. The romance was subtle until the end and it made the right kind of sense for the leads.
The costumes, scenery, sets, OSTs were all stunning and fit what was needed. It was very obvious that this production team was in the upper tiers and knew what they were doing.
Cons: You'd think with so much positivity how could this drama not get a perfect score but it did have a few cons though they were minor. What I wish they didn't do was focus on the side couples so much, for starters. There were episodes in the beginning and middle that barely had the leads have onscreen time or together. One of the strangest was Song Wu, who I legit fast forwarded in the beginning because she was a spoiled annoying brat, but the way she got with her husband was way too fast. Here you had an entire show filled with princes and their wives slowly getting to know each other and deciding whether to stay together or not and she meets him in the street one day because they share a name and she's magically in love and so is he and after just two more episodes of them barely seeing each other, they're ready to get hitched. It just didn't fit the speed of the rest of the drama. Her evolution was the fastest out of the entire cast and also could have been slowed accordingly. It was like they spent so much time on the other side couples, they had no time left for her.
With all the talk and addition of food, this show needed a new title at first. In the beginning it was very annoying that the FL spent most of her time talking, working on, doing things with food. Like it didn't seem that there was more to her but thankfully as more palace intrigue took over, all of that was tapered and moderated. For many episodes, she was the human talking menu and it got old quick. Was very glad the character of Yuan Ying was brought in when she was because she was the perfect addition to the household and leveling that portion out. That's it. No more cons.
Would I recommend it? Do you even have to ask lol! 100% would. It's a feel good drama bringing comedy and modern thinking into ancient times. So if you want to laugh a lot, love great sisterhoods, brotherhoods, and strong family bonds (be they immediate or cultivated), this is the show for you!
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Please Remember Me
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Excellent Start then Depressing and Left Question What and Why?
While not being EXACTLY the same in any way, it has a very similar trope and 3 act structure to Hard To Find which is makes it very difficult not to compare it itself to. No spoilers similarities have the story broken up into three acts: amnesia present, past, remembered present.The strongest arc is "amnesia present" and could absolutely be watched as a stand-alone of people who don't remember each other falling in love. Their time together was glorious to watch, even with the knowledge that "something" more in the story happens in past and with (at that time) no knowledge of what happens after this "end scene". As a stand alone it would be unfinished but still solid enough you could fill in the blanks with what you think happened in the past /will happen in the future.
The next arc, The Past, takes you back to have more understanding. It was good but not "quite" to the degree of the first arc. It seemed as though the original romance in the past was "missing" something, mostly just time to show their feelings more slowly developing as well as lingering questions about the mythology surrounding what happens on the screen. That said, it was still GOOD overall. Part of the emotional investment comes from knowing what happens, having seen parts of it in first episode, and then watching every interaction with hidden knowledge of what's to come. It leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting to watch the screen through your fingers. The final end of this arc was rather abrupt and there was essentially NO transition between it and the final arc which was jarring. However, again, you could theoretically stop watching at this ending and fill in final blanks yourself and have a semi-satisfying ending.
Where everything falls apart is the last arc. Beginning with the no adequate transistion between arc 2 and arc 3 the entire editing process becomes a mess of trying to figure out what's happening on the screen and WHY. Conversations attempt to explain but feel like they refer to things you haven't watched, scenes are cut off and then the next scene begins causing you to rewind to make sure you didn't miss something, and characters start to have their "final thought transformations" so to speak (where they make up their mind to do one thing or another) but your left scratching your head on WHY they changed. As for the main leads, there are decisions that can only be said to be NOBLE IDIOCY on steroids. These decisions lead to an ending that makes you ask yourself AGAIN what just happened and fail when you try and see a bright side. It is very easy to say the last arc NEEDED at least 3-5 more episodes of scenes spread out to give every character the needed story wrap-up and follow-through to make the journey more satisfying and logical.
Aside from the editing issues with the story, I need to make note of the use of CGI and music.
While the actual music wasn't bad most of the time (pretty actually), it is VERY jarring to see someone playing a flute and HEAR a piano solo or piano/violin piece.
Secondly, the cgi was AWFUL. To the degree many scenes using it had the look that they could have been edited on one's phone using free editing software. For many scenes it was distracting but it didn't really get in the way and was good for an eye roll. There is one scene however where NO, it absolutely ruins the scene and I'm almost mad that such an emotional scene had such cheap effects slapped on top of it.
Act 1: 9/10
Act 2: 8/10
Act 3: 6/10
Final verdict 7.5/10
In the end I WILL recommend this but with a heavy warning of depressing themes and traumatic events playing out on the screen like watching a train wreck and that you WILL end the show with questions and probably not be satisfied with every characters individual arc ending.
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The Woodsman and the Rain
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Even still, something about this movie made me smile. And although the movie is very, very quiet with slow pacing, I would often--and suddenly--laugh out loud at a small gesture or response from one of the characters. And as the credits rolled, I found myself feeling quite happy and hopeful.
Emotions and situations in this movie are expressed in the simplest of ways. There aren’t any long dialogs or monologs to articulate the characters feelings or relationships. But much is said in the smallest of actions or gestures, and I really loved that. It makes you perk up and pay more attention to the subtle details.
My takeaway from this movie is that you just never know. You never know what small surprises or circumstances life has in store for you. Even when you immediately asses a new situation as bad or unwanted, it may just be exactly what you needed. It may indeed be a blessing in disguise to clear up the rain clouds all around you that you’d forgotten were even there. I appreciate this message, as I have found it to be a certain truth about life. Change isn’t always a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it’s usually good!
That being said, this movie isn’t for everyone. And many will find it boring and probably drop it less than halfway through. I considered it, but I’m really glad I stuck with it.
It served as a pleasant reminder that even when there’s rain, the sky will clear up again, eventually.
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This is a story about a man and only about him, strictly from his perspective. It's as if the movie was written for So Ji Sub and if you are his fan this is a must see. But then again, if the main actor was someone else I would say the same thing. There is nothing special about the plot, but it's well thought with no holes or loose ends, the script and directing are flawless, acting is great too. There are no over the top bloody fighting scenes, no gore, no bloodbaths. Alongside the action there is a wonderful love story, it brings a certain balance.
The ending reminds me of a computer game, that's when I realized that this movie is soulless. It didn't stir any emotions in me, the plot is predictable and if you have watched enough Korean gangster movies you will guess the plot twist too. But as mentioned before, acting and scenery are superb so it's still worth watching just for the fun.
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Boys Over Flowers
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Because love is the only thing that will help you become the adult you’re supposed to be.
I just finished watching this drama. It is rare for me to write a review but about this, I could not stop thinking so I am writing one.Well! This was an amazing play. The best Thai drama I have watched so far. The cast was amazing, they played their characters perfectly. The drama honestly portrayed the era in which it was made, i.e., the cyber bullying concept and the outfits of f4. I have watched Korean version as well, but I liked this one more. Fortunately, contrary to prior versions, the FL's optimistic side was highlighted more than her poverty. Gladly, she didn't do anything embarrassing.
Bright was the reason that I started watching this drama. I saw few clips and couldn't resist watching it. I waited for each episode anxiously. The group f4 was very friendly and smart. This drama had me crying and laughing. I am sad that it ended. I might watch it again and indeed the ost and Fan made mvs for this drama are the best.
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Then her struggle as a concubine began and I finally remembered that in the drama 'Dong Yi' Jang Ok Jung was ordered to poisen herself after having done so many bad deeds. At that time Choi Dong Yi even entered the scene arousing my hatred for the writers.
I'm glad that I didn't drop the drama as I would have missed the great ending of the drama. (JOJ writers manse! JOJ writers manse! JOJ writers manse!)
To be honest I've started this drama only because of Kim Tae Hee as I'm not really a Saeguk fan nor was I a fan of Yoo Ah In since Fashion King. But both Kim Tae Hee and Yoo Ah In excelled themselves and did a wonderful job. It's by far the best drama of them I've watched.
The music was just perfectly used in the drama. Especially in the sad scenes (Don't why I liked these the most too...)
I would definitely recommend this drama for Saeguk, Dong Yi and romance fans. It's definitely a beautiful love story.
PS: Now I can forgive Yoo Ah In for Fashion King although I know it was more the writers fault than his...
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No Boundary Season 2
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Absolutely No Rushed Ending Here
Do Not Watch This Without Watching Season 1. Nothing will make sense if you do.STORY:
The story plot is what appealed to me the most if not the chemistry. The plot isn't predictable, unlike other dramas. i often find myself wondering how they are going to solve some cases or problems. I really hate rushed endings and as you can see above, there are no rushed endings in this drama.
ACTING:
I have to admit; sometimes, the acting can be a little cringy. But overall, the acting was fine. The chemistry between the two main leads is phenomenal.
MUSIC:
Talking about music, I actually have the theme song in my playlist. the OST really suits the scene that they play in also.
REWATCH VALUE:
Lastly, but not least, the rewatch value. I gave it a 10/10. I've always wanted a drama where the FL has a higher status than the ML and this drama gave me that. I hate where the dramas often have a weak female lead that can't even protect herself. Definitely go watch this drama.
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The Princess' Man
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The Imperial Coroner
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Great Mystery with Some Romance & Comedy Wrapped in an Entertaining Package!
Unfortunately, some outstanding dramas like 'The Imperial Coroner' have slipped under the radar amidst other big-budget and star-studded ones. For those who have yet to see this show, it is a must-watch because this show is nothing short of stellar. Although crime mystery and political intrigue were the primary themes of this show, it had romance and comedy interwoven naturally and perfectly into it. Brilliant writing, excellent production, engaging characters, and well-chosen background music were among the many factors that make this show so golden.*** Storyline
I truly enjoyed this drama for its entertaining mystery plot and where the detective part was genuinely well-done. The process of solving the cases was immersive for me, especially when the clues made sense and were not just red herrings to throw off the audience. I am impressed by the amount of research that went into the scriptwriting and how the individual cases all factored into the larger mystery. The overall plot was solid, and the ending was satisfactory, with no stones left unturned. However, I could not rate it a perfect 10 is because it did lose some steam towards the end with the main villain not being so smart in moments of panic. His actions were still understandable, but I felt that they lacked the usual thoughtfulness and strategic planning. Ultimately, I was left feeling that the writers wanted to wrap up the show nicely and hence went down that path.
The writers were thoughtful with the details introduced in the scenes. I greatly appreciated how the writers did not "dumb it down" for the audience. Many shows would have the characters explain the obvious details, wasting time and scenes. Not this one! Each element and dialogue moved the story along nicely, and the logic presented was coherent and sounded plausible. I liked the re-enactments by the FL and ML (and the skinship that usually came along with it). I thought that it was very creative with the illustrations during the autopsies, the visuals for the flashbacks, the code deciphering, and multiple interpretations of words and meanings.
For me, it is the cleverness of this show that makes it so likable for those in the mood for something thought-provoking.
Minor side note and spoiler: it was the first time I saw the tea brewing ceremony being performed by men. Perhaps I have not watched enough period dramas :-)
*** Characters & Cast
The storyline was not only well-written, but the characters were also relatable. No character was superfluous, and most characters thought, behaved and reacted like how we would in real life. The show devoted enough screen time to each character so that the audience could understand their intentions and actions. The execution and pacing were smooth and provided enough insight for us to connect the dots and predict upcoming events. That said, it was never predictable and certainly kept me entertained to the end.
Best of all, there was little use of cliches; no sibling rivalry over palace politics, no toxic behavior from the male leads, no tiresome love triangle, and annoying third parties. The romance was the icing on the cake, but it was not necessary to keep one engaged. Prince An/Xiao Jin Yu and Chu Chu were the main couple viewers followed, and it was a quirky but wonderful match. As Chu Chu's and Jin Yu's backgrounds were steadily revealed, the progression of their romance felt organic and suited the nature of their characters well. Despite romance being only a sub-plot, the show told their story well.
Other relationships were valued in this show and portrayed in a wholesome manner. Like the ML and his brother so protective of each other, the FL's family made up of all men being supportive of her, the secondary couple cutely and silently crushing on each other, and even the loving bickering between Minister Jing and his wife. One favourite quote: "Girls are supposed to protect girls". The sismance and bromance will grab your heart and endear you to the characters. I love the simplicity of these relationships. It seemed just right, juxtaposed against the complex political schemes and the power struggle between the eunuchs and ministers.
All five main characters were consistently intelligent and skilled in their ways. Together, they made a formidable team, and one can tell that the actors had a great rapport with each other. These actors were new to me, and their inexperience did show. In general, though, the acting was good, especially the main ML, Wang Zi Qi. His facial expressions were on-point, and he aptly displayed a myriad of emotions, especially in scenes with the FL, who evoked all sorts of feelings in his character. Su Xiao Tong as Chu Chu made me laugh whenever she displayed her wide-eyed expression during the WTF moments. However, she did carry this expression throughout the show, and there is room for improvement. Ultimately, Xiao Tong was still believable as a bright, talented, and observant person who was incredibly good at her job. Yet, she was still an innocent and naive girl who just came into age and got exposed to a world beyond her family and village. There was character development as Chu Chu displayed more maturity in the subsequent episodes. I like that, unlike other C-drama female leads, Chu Chu was always poking about or doing something useful instead of just standing around.
As far as villains go, Eunuch Qin had one of the best wicked auras that I have seen. Kudos to Mu Huai Hu for his portrayal. He was a complex and nuanced character - displaying signs of missing his masculinity, was as crazy-smart as the good guys, and was able to anticipate and react accordingly. I often waited for him to make his deductions and clear up my confusion :D For someone powerful whose intel was wide-reaching and first-class, he was undoubtedly surrounded by some pretty incompetent lackeys. A lot of the comic relief came from his bumbling minions.
*** Cinematography & Music
Overall, the show used its small budget efficiently to put together a great and unique story. The way the camera caught the facial expressions and gestures like a raised eyebrow or a paused hand, and the attention paid to small details like the way the candlelight fell on faces, the sweat on a character's face who was in pain, the tears and snot streaming down when one was truly crying - all of these added depth. The focus on other elements also made it feel stylistically different from other dramas, like the different opening credit scenes, the transition from one character to another when telling the epilogues, and the conservative use of actual songs to underscore poignant moments. It was only after the first 20 episodes when I heard an OST played during an emotional scene. Still, the background music and sound effects were fitting. The opening instrumental piece was nicely done and set the appropriate tone of seriousness. As for the featured songs which I liked a lot, I have listed them here for posterity.
- This Life Unfinished (此生未了) by Audio Monster , HITA (音频怪物/HITA)
- Parallel Worlds (平行世界) by Wang Ye (王野)
- Heart's Fate (心缘) by Wang Mo Han (王莫涵)
- The Rest of My Life (余生) by Chi Yue Han C.J (池约翰C.J)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thzztiHVm0I
Side note: Having watched so many c-dramas, I am quite jaded to the dubbing choices for most shows, but I wished that they have picked a better voice for Chu Chu. The actress already looked appropriately innocent and naive, but her dubbed voice did not do her character any favour.
*** Romance
The sincere and straightforward romance between Jin Yu and Chu Chu totally captured my heart. Their love was adorably nerdy. Even their "love tokens" were practical and can be life-saving! Despite being new to love and still trying to work through their feelings, both did not shy away from sharing their thoughts with each other. Chu chu being guileless and pure was disarming to Jin Yu, who fell for her first. Jin Yu found his perfect half when they could speak anatomy and when Chu chu understood him even when no words were spoken. I found it charmingly funny that when one could not expect to squeeze an ounce of romance out of the most logical moments, Jin Yu can still be romantic.
I love how the drama used the supporting characters as devices to voice out the growing feelings of the leads. Little comments here and there helped the romance along for our fumbling main couple. Not only that, there were no grand gestures necessary; subtle acts like Jin Yu peeling grapes for Chu Chu or her unconsciously hanging onto his clothing for support were more effective in making my heart flutter.
The secondary couple, Jing Yi and Leng Yue were more emotionally knotted, secretly longing for each other but too proud to take the first serious step. Jing Yi was more obvious but assumed an air of rakishness so Leng Yue could not take him seriously. Fortunately, their roundabout way of getting together was not frustrating to watch and instead provided a nice contrast to our main couple.
It's been a good run with shows featuring non-toxic male leads, including this one. The men respected the women, and everyone appreciated each other for who they were and their talents. They have complete faith in one another, and their trust never wavered. I like that the characters did not do silly stuff, and they actually communicated openly. Jing Yu, for example, shared details with Chu Chu so that she became more cautious and more worldly. Instead of trying to keep her safe by separating from her, he kept her next to him, knowing that she was the safest being with him. Xiao Jin Li (Jing Yu's brother), Jing Yi, and Leng Yue tempered each other and kept each other from making rash decisions.
*** Overall
I do recommend this well-put-together show. It is seriously one of the most under-rated dramas on MDL, but hopefully, with an impressive Douban rating of 8.4 and through word of mouth/reviews on MDL, more fans will pick it up online and rave about it.
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