When Elvis Met Elvira
Can anything good come out of MangoTV? Occasionally perhaps and this gem seems to be one of them. I don’t think it is hyperbolic to say that this is perhaps the best rom com I've seen in a long time... in the vein of When Harry Met Sally but more grounded in real world issues. Both leads are upwardly mobile hardworking outstanding professionals in their respective workplaces but circumstances are such that they are stretched to their limits. They live precariously on the precipice as they maneuver the snake pits of corporate culture as "slaves" to their masters' bidding due to the necessity of holding on to their jobs where nothing is ever a guarantee. It's highly realistic in the way it depicts the dog-eat-dog work environment that's all too familiar to struggling wage earners in the East Asian context. In reaction to this global phenomenon there’s been plenty of talk about the Great Resignation or quiet quitting in the past few years. Gone are the days where a person remains in the same job, profession, industry for their entire working life. This drama reflects that harsh reality of a competitive labour market in the everchanging contemporary economic landscape and the need for adaptability. While it satirizes the milieu that it explores, it is at its core a sympathetic exploration of the men and women who live in the coalface of workplace grind.Elvis Han and Elvira Cai headline this office drama where romance is assumed to play an integral part of the work-life realities that afflict many overworked employees today. So how do people find time for courting and wooing in this day and age where men and women work long hours, barely have time for meals, are exploited by the employers competing with other employers for contracts and clients? It's a battleground out there and many are not past dirty tricks to gain the upperhand. A fact that inevitably spills into relationships with significant others.
Elvis Han's Xu Ziquan is an investment banker and for him, a rising star in the industry, it's the neverending chase for that next big deal that's giving him sleepless nights. He looks genuinely exhausted. (I suspect Elvis Han was nursing a cold for most of the shoot) If he can't clinch it, it's reallocations and retrenchments for his team. He meets Tang Ying (Elvira Cai) onboard a plane for the first time and the sparks are ignited. She's a corporate lawyer at the bottom of the food chain barely keeping her head above the water with a demanding supervisor on her back 24/7. She piques his curiosity during their brief exchange and apparently the feeling is mutual but neither expects to see the other again. Of course they do first through her sister then later they work together on a crucial M & A project. The two first decide that they are best suited to be friends and drinking partners in part because she has heard of his (overblown) reputation with women and in part because he is a bit of a commitment phobe. As they start to spend more time together, they begin to rethink their "friendship". Indeed can their "friendship" transition into a "dating relationship"? Not without a few bumps and wake-up calls along the way.
The push and pull is rather well done here and never goes overboard to the point of frustration. Work does get in the way. The leads are busy putting out fires on the one hand while rubbing shoulders with a whole host of potential obstacles to true love — acquaintances, colleagues, and clients. There are plenty of opportunities for them to look elsewhere and keep their options open till kingdom come but in the end they keep finding their way to each other regardless of admirers and ridiculous schedules. There are troublemakers strewn along the path of true love but once the main pairing make their minds up, they are a team in the making. Nonetheless what the series does even better is the way it deals with accommodation. With all the different kinds of relationships on display the narrative acknowledges that seeking companionship and making families is not only a human impulse but clearly constant negotiation is necessary to solidifying long-term relationships. The leads may tease and make jibes at one another but their conversation also have depth and thoughtfulness that show their commitment to each other.
There’s an important side story with Tang Ying’s sister Xinzi who is in search of the perfect mate that will check all the right boxes. It’s a long hard road for the spoilt princess type but through her experiences with a few men she comes to conclude a few home truths on her own.
The best thing about this is the script although it’s undeniable that the chemistry between the leads is fabulous and the direction is classy. The tension, the UST, the build-up is great. The dialogue more than anything else just sparkles especially during the banter between the leads. I find myself grinning from ear to ear as I watch their antics. Of course it’s even better in the Chinese. In a romantic comedy the repartee is almost everything. More than that however is the way the leads and their arcs are written. Tang Ying and Xu Ziquan are relatable people dealing with all the same kinds of issues that the rest of us know only too well. He’s no prince and she’s no Cinderella. They just want in on their piece of the pie. To make their mark in a complex world where they’ve been fed lies about their real priorities. They have their strengths and their flaws. Because they are decent people they try their best to get on with everyone even their bitterest rivals and sometimes it means they can’t say no. Sometimes it means that people who can’t take no for an answer take advantage of their good will.
All in all, it’s a wonderful 14-episode drama that isn’t driven (or hampered) by the usual incoherent adherence to romance tropes that plague a lot of rom coms in recent times. Moreover the length of the drama speaks volumes as to why this one is a cut above the rest.
And the OST... is outstanding. Just like When Harry Met Sally.
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Since I am going through a massive rewatch mission of old Martial Arts films; I decided to include other old Hong Kong/Chinese films to the rewatch party as well and what’s better than Wong Kar Wai’s genius pieces? After seeing this film again, I can fully understand why I loved it the first time. The magic magnifies even after years of first viewing.
As everyone knows, I am not a romance person or someone who cares about the “moving cinema” at all and I can hardly watch an artistic film and completely appreciate it but all of that is in a world and Wong Kar Wai’s productions in another world. Kar Wai is one of the fewest directors that I look forward to watch their romance tales even if I am not a big fan of the genre. Do you know why? Because he’s a master who knows how to portray love with the intense power of silence to make it feel gripping. The man uses only few pages of script and the rest is told through magnificent ways, the rule in Kar Wai’s films is: everything that’s unspoken is stimulating and even what’s spoken is full of wisdom and hidden meanings.
I am surprised at people who say: “Kar Wai’s films don’t have a plot”, I mean are you sure we’re talking about the same director and films? I am a fan of Wong Kar Wai and his splendid of ways of making love stories because many need to understand that romance films shouldn’t always be: met, smiled, fell in love, kissed and Tada Happily ever after tale story just like they shouldn’t be: met, fell in love, disease, death and cries . Wong Kar Wai’s breaks those rules to create outstanding pieces.
Now, let me just stop here or I won’t be able to refrain myself from talking about that brilliant director.
There’s a story behind this film. Actually, Wong Kar Wai found a problem with editing his film “Ashes of Time” (that was releases the same year by the way) so he left it behind then wrote and directed Chung King Express in the meantime. The film is about coincidences, brief encounters, loneliness and painful love but that’s not what this film is all about, there’s also warmth and fun to enlighten the watch.
Chung King Express is divided into separate narratives about two policemen; the first is about the dark heartbreaking side of love led by Takeshi (who gained his breakthrough due to this film) and femme fatale; the inside-conversation he had were simply intriguing in a way that would make you completely understand the character and its suffering. The second story outclasses the first if I may say. It’s not only because it’s less dark or because it had more run-time but also because it takes on other interesting turns. It’s about Tony who suffers the problems of post-breakup until a cheerful soul came along.
The acting was good and the characters were quite fitting for the storytelling. Takeshi still didn’t gain much experience while doing this film so Tony and his female lead merit more credit.
As usual, Kar Wai’s camerawork was amazingly done and the cinematography was quite alluring for the film’s theme. And let’s not forget ‘California Dreaming’ that was a great choice of theme music.
Watch this if:
-You like Wong Kar Wai’s films or you want to meet his work.
-You appreciate different types of love stories.
-You like artistic love films.
Do not watch if:
-You think Kar Wai films “don’t have a plot”.
-You dislike any of the cast.
Chung King Express is a stylish storytelling of love tales orchestrated by the excellent love stories’ director Wong Kar Wai with a notable set of cast.
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Série U-Prince: O Vaqueiro Bonito
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That being said, the acting and casting choices, I thought were actually perfect. Each actor portrayed their role as they were given (Though I'm not happy what they were given), the did a marvelous job. I despised the bad girl, I feel in love with the main character, and despite my best judgement I was drawn in by the male lead. The chemistry is what really made me keep watching this drama if nothing else.
The music didn't take me out of the show nor did it really fully bring me in. It was good, and fit with the type of teen drama.
Due to the mental and physical violence this portrayed I would say the re-watch value is a 2. I would re-watch the ending, when he redeems himself (barely) and the part where she is falling in love with him again, but skip mostly all the episodes but two.
Overall this drama is a 5.5 on the scale.
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What the hell am I watching and why do I keep clicking for the next episode
I pressed play purely for Ryan Ren, thinking I’d get some normal Republican-era angst. Instead, I got… whatever this sizzling carnival ride is. This mini drama isn’t a meal; it’s the chaotic street food you know will upset your stomach but somehow you need another bite.Republican minis are already a wildcard species, but this one said “hold my tea” and sprinted into pure unhinged territory. We have:
• People catching headshots like they’re collecting Pokémon.
• A heroine who gets choked like she accidentally respawned in a drama where oxygen is a side quest.
• Logic? Not only missing—never hired. Not even on payroll.
• A revenge-driven FL with a swapped face and supposedly high IQ who still manages to speedrun stupidity until the ML drags her out of danger. My eyeballs got a full workout from the constant eyerolls.
But chaos aside… it’s actually fun in that “I should not enjoy this, but here I am” way.
• Ryan Ren being tragically, dramatically down bad for his girl? Inject it.
• The OST slaps, even though I swear I’ve heard it in twelve other dramas and maybe on a toaster.
• The love-hate dynamic is messy, toxic-adjacent, morally questionable, and yet I watched it like it was high art.
Shockingly, the spice was on low heat. A simmer. A polite sizzle. Definitely not RR’s usual “burn your eyebrows off” energy.
In the end, this drama is a paradox: simultaneously absurd, entertaining, and brain-cell-destroying. You’re not meant to think. You’re meant to vibe. To cackle. To surrender to the nonsense. Recommended for days when your IQ is on vacation and you just want fast-paced chaos with a side of Ryan Ren being hopeless for his girl, and yes, a happy ending for the leads ;)
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Tudo Que Eu Quero Para Amar é Você
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I don’t honestly dislike it because the cast was immature, I disliked it because for me to see a person change their life goals to follow someone is not great or to see someone so infatuated with someone that they completely ignore the realities in front of them, it’s toxic and it’s scary to me. There was no real plot, no major events. Just a bunch of immature people infatuated with each other. Sadly it took about 25 episodes for our crushers to acknowledge their feelings. This is tooo long for a 32 episode series. So what we got was our female lead being pursued by those who wanted to be with her and her disregarding them to be with someone who hasn’t acknowledged or shown a love interest in her. This went on for many many episodes.
The positive is that....the acting was good.
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O Véu
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Captivating spy thriller, intelligently questioning the philosophy and ethics of secret services
"The Veil" is a really exciting, all-round first-class KDrama in the secret service milieu. The world of spies, the unconditional obedience to orders and professional ethics as well as the swampy terrain surrounding ´right´ vs. ´wrong´ / ´good´ vs. ´evil´ is not only extremely exciting, but also multi-layered and downright critical. (With "Moebius: The Veil", the makers provide background information on some of the central characters of the series in an equally gripping 2-part prequel.)
At the center of the "The Veil" is an excellent agent of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), who suddenly reappears out of nowhere one year after his mission had gone wrong. He has no memory of the past year whatsoever, but is determined to find the cause of failure at that time.
The international title of the KDrama refers to the veil of the protagonist's memory that is lifted in the course of the story. At the same time, it also refers to the veils within the NIS behind which many secrets are kept hidden, and what happens when someone wants to lift them. In the original, however, the title is translated "Black Sun" and refers (no less symbolically) to the phenomenon of the solar eclipse.
MBC spared no expense or effort in the production of "The Veil". With this series, the station is celebrating its 60th birthday in 2021 in a successful way that is well worth seeing. Not only excitement and action are guaranteed, but also an intelligent story that is up to date. (See side note below.) The gripping script is multi-layered with numerous characters who repeatedly move back and forth between the poles of good and evil - eventually, in this intelligence service profession it is neither clear who is who, nor is it unambiguous why...
The overall first-class cast has proven itself altogether through their strong, convincing presence. Namkoong Min in particular gives everything here. He is hardly recognizable compared to e.g. "Stove League" from 2019. For "The Veil" he had trained intensively and gained 10 kilos of muscle mass. He impresses with his powerful physicality, which gives his role even more weight. In that sense, he also performed all the stunts himself.
(Apropos stunts.... this KDrama has its bloody, brutal side, too... for some it could be a bit challenging at times...)
Right down to the camera, light and music, everything is of the highest standard. Since both the characters and the story are so sophisticated and complex with many details, the KDrama is also suitable for re-watch - even if you know how it ends...
"The Veil" is a captivating spy thriller of international caliber that intelligently questions the philosophy, mission and ethics of the secret services from multiple angles. The story also deals with recent history and political past, with present and future ´NIS´ of South Korea.
------------------ SIDE NOTE: --- political/historical context of the NIS ---
The NIS has only had this title since 1999 - and not anymore since July 2020, to be precise. (The story is from 2018 though.) The history of South Korea's intelligence agency is paved with some abuse of power over its own people on South Korean soil.
The South Korean intelligence service originally goes back to the KCIA (Korean Central Intelligence Agency) from 1961, which General Park Chung-hee had initiated. The responsibilities included overseeing and coordinating both international and national intelligence operations and investigations by public and military agencies. The power to get involved in political events (unsolicited and without permission) was correspondingly great. With all this, the KCIA is also one of the elite of Asian secret services in terms of the demanding training.
Following the end of the military dictatorship by General Park Chung-hee, who was assassinated in 1979 by the then head of the KCIA, the KCIA was purged and operated as ANSP (National Security Planning Agency) from 1981. Their most important tasks included spying on North Korean activities and, for example, the suppression of political activists of the pro-democracy movement in their own country.
In 1999 ANSP became NIS. For its part, the NIS actively intervened in domestic politics in favor of Park Gyun-hye (daughter of the former dictator) during the presidential election in 2012, prompted by the head of the intelligence service, Won Sei-hoon. In fact, that NIS campaign against Moon Jae-in resulted in him narrowly losing the election. Meanwhile, Park Gyun-hye has been in prison since 2016 on serious corruption charges, and Moon Jae-in has officially been in office since 2017 (-2022) as the 12th President of South Korea.
In 2020, the government, the presidential office and the ruling Minjoo party agreed that the state secret service NIS should stay out of domestic politics in the future. In connection with corresponding reforms, the NIS was renamed "External Security and Intelligence Service". Illegal actions by secret service employees, abuse of power or interference in domestic politics will from now on be subject to severe penalties.
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Coffee Prince is hardly an undiscovered gem, but like the best coffee shops, it’s a warm, inviting place to pass the time. It gently reminds that life’s small pleasures should be noticed and savored, and that choosing love, for a person, a profession, or a place, is worth whatever heartache or stigma may tag along.
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A coming of age & slice-of-life masterpiece that I will never forget
My review will contain spoilers, but I'll warn before spoiling, so you can read the safe parts before watching the show! Also, be ready, this is going to be long, but this drama is so excellent that it's hard to stop myself lolIf you look into my profile, you will know how many korean and chinese dramas I have watched. I rarely write reviews, but I feel like I need to write one for Northward (and also I've been obsessed with this drama since day 1 so I hope writing it all out will help me think of something else lmao).
If you're hesitating to watch this drama : go ahead and try it. This is a masterpiece. But you need to know two things before going : first, this drama was made to be realistic, no character is perfect ; second, while watching, you must analyze the characters yourself through their dialogues and actions and not let characters tell you how A or B is (even when they're talking about themselves). If you're confused about my second advice, here is what I can tell you : in life, you don't necessarily understand your decisions or other people's decisions. You can misinterpret other people, and misinterpret yourself, especially when you're young. So if a character tells you he did this for Y reason, or he thinks X, that doesn't mean it's true. You need to look at what they do and what they say when confronted to the situation to actually know how they feel about something. So, while watching this show, you musn't take everything at face value, you have to analyze their actions and dialogues to actually know the truth If you don't, you're likely to misunderstand them.
This is actually the reason why I loved this drama so much, and why I say it's a masterpiece. Weirdly, my favorite scenes are almost only scenes where characters fight or confront each other, because that's the moments when you actually understand the characters motivations and sufferings. Otherwise, they don't talk about it, just like we don't spend our time talking about what we feel or why motivate us to do X ou Y. We only talk about it in specific contexts.
I know a lot of people hated on Wanghe sometimes, and I get it, but he's definitely my favorite character here. He is so complex and realistic and a mess (just like 4D people are). He was a delight to analyze. I've been supporting him since the beggining and seeing his growth was such a pleasure.
Every character is interesting, very well written and complex, even the less important ones. I admire the screenwriters for how they managed to create such deep and realistic characters.
The cinematography is exceptional ; I was already a big fan of Yao Xiao Feng after seeing Tender Light, and his work here is just as wonderful. I am very peaky regarding the cinematography of the shows that I watch, so when I compliment it, it means it really is great.
I wrote an analysis of the first 28 episodes a few days ago ; you can find it here : https://mydramalist.com/740015-bei-shang#comment-21293186 .
--- SPOILERS AHEAD ---
I am SO glad it wasn't a sad ending. I was scared they would end it with Fenghua dying because she deserved so much better, and I felt like Wanghe had gone through enough deads. First Siyi's grandma, then Siyi's little brother, then his employee. And he blames himself for each of them. I can't imagine how much he would have blame himself if Fenghua died. He would've thought he should've made a move on her sooner to enjoy her presence more.
But thanks god : it did not happen. Everyone got the happy ending they deserved.
I am glad the drama didn't push the Siyi/Wanghe agenda too much. As I said in my previous analysis, for me, Wanghe never truly loved Siyi (as a woman). And I don't think Siyi feelings for Wanghe were very deep either. They probably were more linked to her fear of being abandoned, and she may have felt like Wanghe was "abandoning her" everytime she saw him with Fenghua (which made sense, because Wanghe never planned his future with Siyi, outside of his promises to "take care of her", that were, to me, the proof he had a savior syndrome with her). At the end, when they're all watching footages of the younger them and we see Wanghe and Fenghua's interactions, it's so obvious that Wanghe already had romantic feelings for her (even the friends make fun of them and say they're "having a date on the balcony").
I loved LOVED every Wanghe/Xingchi confrontation. As an anti-capitalist myself, I saw my own ideals in Xingchi's, and yet I sided with Wanghe, especially in the fight episode 31. To me, Xingchi thought too high of himself. He thought only his values were important, and that his employees were stupid to put their lives on the line just to get money. It was easy for him to dismiss Wanghe and them by saying they're "evil capitalist". But, in my opinion, it only sounded like a selfish character who imposed his values on other people. I would even say... he sounded like a priviliged character. Just like Wanghe said, it's easy to say money isn't important when you're not hungry ; but when you need money to survive and support your family, money IS (sadly) important. Aknowledging that doesn't make Wanghe the evil capitalist everyone thought he was (including Fenghua). On the opposite, he understood better than anyone that the true problem was political. People shouldn't have to put their life on the line to survive, but the truth is, they sometimes have to, and he could only make sure they would get correctly paid for it. What Xingchi did was foolish and selfish, and not truly for his employee's wellbeing, but he was too immature to understand it. If he wanted to fight for what was right, he either had to climb in a waaay higher position, or make an union with his employees and protest against the politics, or make his own business with his own rules (like Fenghua). Instead of thinking he knew better his employee's needs than themselves, he should have asked himself why they were ready to put their life in danger just for money. And he should have understood their distress, instead of dismissing it and stopping them from making the money the needed. To me, that fight showed that, despite Xingchi's sad background, he was still a boy who knew he had parents and friends who were ready to provide for him if needed. Not even once did he try to understand why people were desperate for money.
Wanghe, on the other side, definitely made mistakes, but he was trying to actually change things in a way higher scale than Xingchi. The scene where Xingchi sees his ex employees eat outside and screams about how unfair it is that the cafetaria got shut down, meanwhile Wanghe actually takes action with his boss to provide correct meals to the employees, shows exactly that - Xingchi was all talk, Wanghe tried to take actions. He's definitely the most misundertsood character in this show : he was not cold-blooded, he just believed he could actually change things from the inside, even if it meant making sacrifices by doing things that did not align with his values and tiring himself out.
One of my favorite scene of the show is when the company refuses to pay compensations for He's death. The way his heart hurts, and he loses balances, and he feels sick, how he throws up in the toilets and curls himself up, all of that filmed as if it was a horror movie : to me, that's when Wanghe realized how much his efforts were in vain, and how evil the world was. He was in so much pain it literally made him sick, but no one knows about that. He doesn't talk about it. And he will forever be seen as the "shark that thrives in Beijing" (to quote Xingchi's lines to describe him).
Wanghe was never thriving in Beijing. He had failures after failures, and a huge pressure on his shoulders. Remember how he was told by his father, as a child, to succeed in life to make him proud? How many promises he made to everyone, that he would succeed and be there for them? And how he thought he needed to be rich to deserve Fenghua? He was not thriving, he was dying inside trying to succeed. In a dialogue with Fenghua, he says himself he can never show his vulnerable side (which shows that he is already suffering) ; later, he says to Haikuo how tired he is in Beijing (and yet he chooses to stay there for the funerals). In Beijing, the easy-going and (apparently) confident Wanghe was so stressed out he had stomach issues (they're mentionned in the beginning of the adult era, as something recurrent for him). But no one aknowledges that because Wanghe just never complains.
Another of my favorite scenes (I think it's my top 1) is the fight between Fenghua and Wanghe in episode 24. That's when Wanghe needed a wake-up call, because he was making ruthless decisions. Xingchi and Haikuo both tried to confront him about it and both only managed to make him angry. The only character who knows how to handle Wanghe is Fenghua : he goes to her already pissed off about his fight with his friends, persuaded he's in the right. Fenghua knows it's useless to scream or attack him. She begins by complimenting him, making him dream of the future he so desperately wants (him being successful). When he takes the bait, and starts seeing himself in this success and tells her he will make her as famous as him, she slaps him with the hard truth : "that day will never come, because I need to stay away from a company who doesn't treat well their employees". BAM. And then she calls him cold-bloooded. DOUBLE BAM. I loooved this scene so much because you can see just how hurt he is. He didn't question himself before that, and if that worked, it's not only because it's Fenghua (of all people) who tells him that, but also because she handled him just right. She's such a smart girl, and the only one who actually gets him and knows how to get to him.
To conclude this (way too long) review, I need to talk about Chen Rui and Haikuo. I loved, loved Haikuo. He was a sensitive lost boy and a certified lover boy. He took so much after his father, and I mean it in the best way, because Yan Lin was the best father of the show (imo). Chen Rui was my second favorite character after Wang He (Fenghua is not in this ranking because she's so much better than the other characters). His crave for his mother's akwnoledgment was so touching. I just love his confrontation with his mother in episode 27 ("the boy who is worthless in the eyes of the world will be recognized by his family. all he needs is just a little trust.").
So, this review is way too long, but hopefully there are people as obsessed by Northward as me who are willing to read all of this. The fact that I have to make myself stop here because I could talk about the details of this drama for hours just shows how good this show is!
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I wanted to watch something like thisss...
:::::Highlights:::::•Solid Horror Atmosphere
•Intense Chemistry
•Unique Genre Hybrid
•Visuals & Production
•Appealing "Slow-Burn" Romance
This series is damn good , every episode gives me goosebumps , every episode contains new twists , and literally ends in such a way that it makes me crazy waiting for the upcoming episode , literally each one of the episode makes me think in a different way , along with the leads solving the problem I also get so into solving the case , finding logic and guessing what can happen... This drama is really interesting , I wanted to watch something with genres like horror along with mystery and most importantly romance..... Who is the reason behind this murders , where is the cop who is said to be dead??? I am so excited but the episode got delayed..... It is exactly I wanted to watch from a long time , it has mystery , horror but doesn't lack romance at all , I am really loving this one 13th episode is going to be more interesting , I just want to know what's gonna happen soon . As the I expected the things ended up very peacefully , things with king , p'singha's sister ... Thup was really dedicated and loving boyfriend throughout the whole series , he was understanding, naughty and supportive and narakkk mak .. :)
Ost was too good, I got to learn about a lot of things about thai traditions and rituals , this serie itself is so damn different and interesting fr , I got to see something new it made my every Friday interesting , I never got bored ..
When it comes to OST totally fire , still hooked on Poohpavel's Pray
The ending episodes were off , I did kind of lost my interest , and I probably knew that it'll be a happy ending .
But believe me it's worth watching , the chemistry is good , best for those who enjoy thriller/mystery stories and don't mind a darker atmosphere in their romance .
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I loved it but it was stressful
I have watched this a long time ago, but I realized I haven't made a review yet. I rewatched it recently, coincidentally. I love this couple very much. I relate to both of them in many ways. This is one of those cat and dog BLs and I was very happy with it. But it took me some time to find that happiness since every episode Dao cries because Kluea can't communicate. I love Kluea, but the guy didn't help himself nor Daonuea. It was a little frustrating, but I could take it. My BIG problem was that Typhoon guy. He was so annoying and his face made me angry. He wouldn't leave Dao alone and it got me so mad, the way he would pry into Dao and Kluea's business being so nosy and not giving up like, dude, get a hint. Dao got me stressed when he decide to "date" Typhoon too. I'm glad it's over and they're happy now being the cutest in Our Skyy 2.Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Let’s start with explaining why did I decide to watch this movie. Well, there are two main reasons: firstly, because Eita is in it and I always wanted to watch something with this guy and secondly, the poster – it intrigued me and reminded me of a movie Amelia; it also fooled me to think this will be a hilarious comedy. So I gave it a try.
Reasons why did I give it a 10:
1. It’s beautifully shot – every scene is like a work of art. Bright colors, intriguing details, breath-taking scenery… Even those moments when it is obvious that there are used some special effects (like the amusement park at the top of the building or prison walls,)they are not cheap like in many other movies I’ve seen, they just deepen the unreality of this world. I’m not an extreme aesthete and I don’t attach particular importance to those things, but in here the beauty of the movie was just overwhelming and couldn’t be overlooked.
2. It has amazing actors – although at first I thought Eita would have a bigger part in this movie, I wasn’t disappointed at all. He did a good job portraying a lost young man with no particular purpose in his life who tries to know more about his aunt he never met. As for our main heroine, Matsuko… well, Nakatani Miki did an awesome job portraying her. Her acting felt so real, that sometimes it was really painful to watch this movie – I was thinking while watching it that this woman was suffering so much, too much for such a fragile person, I could understand her pain and why she was making a mistake after a mistake, and all that thanks to this amazing actress who made this character alive and real.
3. Its story – there wouldn’t be so many praises from me if I didn’t find this story captivating and judging from my score you can guess that I found it as such. This movie showed in a very realistic way the life of Matsuko - from a child who was craving for her father’s attention to a miserable woman who was betrayed by all men she loved and who was sorry for being born. I’m a psychology student, so I’m always looking for reasons for one’s behavior and here I found perfect explanations for Matsuko’s self-destructing ways of acting. It wasn’t like some things were made just to amuse the viewer or just for a sake of making things more dramatic; it was more like a study of a person’s life, a very realistic study may I add. It left me crying many times (and I’m considered to be a cold-blooded person), because it made me see how easy it is to make yourself miserable and feel like there is no way out. And another advantage – even if this movie tells a heavy story, it is not extremely depressing, more like it's emotional and touching. It leaves you with warm feelings and wet eyes.
To sum it all up, I cannot praise this movie enough, I gave it a 10 without hesitation. If you’d like to take a break from overly dramatic, clichéd movies, try this one – I'm sure you won’t regret watching it.
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Mesmo se Este Amor Desaparecer Esta Noite
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Not as emotional as the JDrama version, but hitting well either way.
There are two kinds of viewers in the world.People who avoid emotional pain, and people who knowingly rewatch stories that emotionally ruin them just to confirm they can still feel something. I, unfortunately (or perhaps very predictably), belong to the second category. I watched the Japanese version of Even If This Love Disappears From the World Tonight years ago and loved it deeply. So when the Korean adaptation quietly arrived on Netflix, my immediate thought was, “Surely this won’t hurt me again,” which, in hindsight, was an objectively hilarious lie.
For those unfamiliar, the film follows high school student Kim Jae-won (Cho Young-woo), a quiet, reserved boy who agrees to date Han Seo-yoon (Shin Shi-ah), a girl living with anterograde amnesia that prevents her from forming new memories. Every day, Seo-yoon wakes up with her memory reset, relying on journals and notes to reconstruct her life. Meanwhile, Jae-won makes it his quiet mission to give her something worth smiling about each day. It’s a premise that sounds deceptively simple, but like many gentle autumn romances, it carries a hidden frost beneath its warmth.
Let’s start with the leads, because this film lives and dies by their performances, and thankfully, it thrives.
Cho Young-woo continues proving he’s something of a chameleon among his generation. His portrayal of Kim Jae-won leans into restraint rather than dramatic flourish, embodying a boy who feels deeply but expresses sparingly. There is a quiet steadiness to Jae-won, the kind that feels like a steady campfire in late October: warm, dependable, but with embers hinting that something fragile burns beneath. Cho balances that tenderness beautifully, portraying a character who shoulders emotional burdens without ever announcing them. Jae-won’s promise to bring joy into Seo-yoon’s daily life feels both earnest and heartbreakingly determined, and Cho captures that balance with remarkable subtlety.
Then there is Shin Shi-ah, who honestly surprised me in the best possible way. My only prior exposure to her was in The Witch: Part 2, where she delivered a physically intense, emotionally restrained performance as Ark 1. Seeing her step into Han Seo-yoon feels like watching an actor open an entirely new emotional door. Seo-yoon could have easily been written as purely tragic, but Shin injects her with humor, charm, and an almost stubborn optimism that makes her incredibly endearing.
What struck me most about her portrayal is how she layers Seo-yoon’s emotional reality. On the surface, she’s bright and playful, someone who embraces each day with enthusiasm. But beneath that brightness sits a quiet, almost subconscious sadness. There’s this delicate sense that Seo-yoon understands, in her own way, that every beautiful day she experiences comes with the cost of losing it again. Shin communicates that tension with subtle expressions and emotional transparency that feels painfully real.
And yes, this might sound like an oddly specific compliment, but Shin Shi-ah delivers some of the most emotionally convincing crying scenes I’ve seen from younger actors in recent dramas. Emotional vulnerability on screen can easily slip into exaggeration, but her performances feel raw without ever becoming overwhelming. It’s the kind of emotional honesty that makes you instinctively lean closer to the screen.
The supporting cast also deserves recognition, particularly as the film introduces several fresh faces that feel like promising additions to the next generation of Korean screen actors. Joo Yoo-jung as Choi Ji-min, Seo-yoon’s best friend, stands out in particular. Ji-min begins as the dependable, grounded presence in Seo-yoon’s life, but her role evolves significantly as the story progresses. Joo handles these shifts with impressive control, carrying the emotional weight of certain later scenes with a quiet strength that leaves a lasting impression. Supporting characters often function as emotional scaffolding in romance tragedies, and Ji-min’s presence here is both narratively vital and deeply human.
Plot-wise, the story admittedly leans into familiar territory. Memory-loss romances have existed in various forms across media, and this film doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel structurally. However, cliché is not inherently a flaw, particularly in a genre built on emotional resonance. What matters is execution, and the Korean adaptation distinguishes itself through tonal balance.
The first half leans noticeably lighter than its Japanese counterpart. At times, it almost flirts with rom-com territory, and I found myself laughing more than expected. These lighter moments don’t feel out of place; instead, they create a sense of comfort and familiarity. The film invites viewers to settle into the characters’ daily rhythm, enjoying their small joys and playful interactions. It’s a bit like being handed a warm drink on a chilly evening , you relax, you smile, and you momentarily forget there’s a storm slowly gathering outside.
When the narrative begins to shift into heavier emotional territory, that earlier warmth becomes incredibly effective. The contrast sharpens the emotional impact without feeling manipulative. The second half explores themes of sacrifice and love with a quiet, almost poetic tenderness. Without revealing specific details, the film asks a deeply uncomfortable but beautiful question about how far someone might go to protect another person’s happiness. It doesn’t scream its answers. It simply lets them unfold slowly, leaving viewers to sit with the emotional weight afterward.
If the film has one noticeable flaw, it lies in its runtime. The Korean adaptation is slightly shorter than its Japanese predecessor, which results in a faster pacing of certain relationship beats and background elements. While the emotional core remains intact and the second half wisely slows down to give viewers space to breathe, I personally found myself missing some of the extended character exploration present in the original. The Japanese version allowed certain emotional threads to simmer longer, creating a slightly fuller narrative tapestry. That said, the Korean film still delivers its emotional crescendos effectively, proving that impact is not solely dependent on length.
Ultimately, Even If This Love Disappears From the World Tonight succeeds as both an adaptation and a standalone romantic tragedy. It honors the spirit of its source while embracing its own tonal identity, supported by two remarkably well-cast leads and a strong supporting ensemble. It is a film that wraps you in gentle warmth before quietly placing a weight in your chest, leaving you with the kind of lingering emotional aftertaste that feels oddly comforting despite the tears.
Verdict:
Even If This Love Disappears Tonight is a tender, emotionally layered romance that gently lures viewers in with warmth before quietly breaking their hearts. It’s the kind of story best experienced slowly, preferably with tissues nearby and enough emotional space to let its themes linger afterward. If you have the opportunity, I wholeheartedly recommend watching both the Japanese and Korean versions. They share the same emotional skeleton but carry different tonal textures, and together they create a fuller, richer exploration of love, memory, and sacrifice. Both are worth experiencing, and both leave behind a lasting emotional echo that feels bittersweet in the most beautiful way.
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Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
The 1 Litre of Tears special takes place after the actual drama events have taken place. Aya has now passed away and everybody is doing their best to live on with their own lives. I'll be writing a spoilerless review..
Mitsuki is a girl diagnosed with the same disease as Aya, the biggest difference between her and Mitsuki would be how Aya tried full out believing she could beat her illness.. Mitsuki is only 15 years old herself, Yet she refuses to accept any shape of treatment from the doctors, This main doctor being Asou Haruto. She is given a book, Or a motivational diary moreover by one of her rehabilitation friends. This mysterious diary, As she starts to read inside of this diary she find herself becoming more and more dragged into the feelings of this girl from the book. This Ikeuchi Aya-san, Who was she?
Interested in knowing she starts asking around and finds out that Asou has had relations with her before..
Through this special you will find this being a summary of the drama in itself, along with how you'll be presented with a few new people and a better ending to the story. How did family and friends live on after Aya's passing?
I pretty much liked the special. They managed to do it pretty well, And it has by my opinions a better ending than the actual drama had even though I liked the other ending to...
This special was just as sad as the actual drama. It had me crying under almost the full out special. The musical score was pretty good. Mostly the same music as it originally was in the Drama though with a few new songs added.
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This is a wonderfully crafted masterpiece that evokes the strongest emotions in a person's heart. The movie is set in the DMZ of two Koreas and portrays how different people can set asides their differences and be able to see each other in the purest form, that we are the same, brothers and sisters.
I found myself on a roller coaster ride of emotions, laughing one minute, in with tears in another. All the actors and actress have done a superb job in this one. The most emotionally powerful scene was the last scene. Only a photograph but conveys so much meaning and emotions.
Definitely a must watch movie, no matter where you're from, you will be enchanted and inspired by this movie's magic, and understand a bit more about what it means to be a person.
Did I mention The master Park Chan Wook who later directed the infamous "Vengeance series" one of which - Old boy went on to win the Grand-prize of Jury at the Cannes, directed this one?
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Hard to watch, but more than worth it
I went into this hoping for a light, fun watch. It's about a teddy bear! Cute and fun times await, right? Little did I know I would be frustrated beyond belief for the first few episodes, only to be won over and eventually more attached to these characters than half of my real life peers.It's hard to watch to begin with, but not in the way a devastating true story might be. No, it's just genuinely difficult to get through the first few episodes when the characters seem to be such awful people, and when it's frustrating and weird. Talking furniture with horrifying CG eyes? I was very upset to look at them!
The central characters are one dimensional from first impressions, and then as the show progresses it has some of the best character development I've ever seen. The reasoning behind peoples actions, especially Nut's, is fleshed out in a way that completely blindsided me over and over. He seems like an unreasonable, selfish person but with time and context, he becomes incredibly sympathetic. But he's not painted to be a perfect person, and he has to work through his issues. But that's addressed! So many times, things that I see other shows gloss over and ignore are addressed and worked through. I didn't expect so much depth and heft to come from what I thought was to be a goofy show.
The issues that are touched upon are heavy, but they're done with a lot of care. I've not really seen another show call out the same things that this one does in such depth and precision, and I am a bit sad because I feel like some viewers might not be as resilient as I tend to be with watching unenjoyable things. The first episodes might turn a lot of people off, understandably, but oh my god to not watch it would be such a loss.
It's also long, essentially you're watching 16 movies, so there's a lot to unpack. It would be a disservice for me to unpack the plot here, even though every part of me wants to do so. I have thousands of things to say about this series, but I'll do that elsewhere.
I will be gushing about this show whilst condemning it for awhile to come. The ending, without spoiling too much, was very hard to bear but it still managed to be a happy one in its own way. Endings are very difficult, and I know some might not be happy with this one, but when watching how everything plays out it's what makes the most sense.
I doubt I'll ever rewatch the series in full, but I'll definitely go back and watch my favorite scenes, which there are a lot of.
I can't say I recommend this to everyone, even though it's probably one of my new favorites I can admit it took a lot of patience. But for the people who do watch it, I really hope it can touch them the way it did me.
Also, it feels so ridiculous to be talking so seriously about a show call The Miracle of Teddy Bear which features absurd sentient furniture, but it's one of the most serious and uniquely beautiful shows I've seen. Obviously it's got its moments, but at it's core it's a fantastic story that made me experience every conceivable human emotion to such extreme degrees that I'm going to need genuine recovery time.
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