Plot wise, like I said earlier it's pretty cliche. Nevertheless, the execution was still decent enough and entertaining. It has all the things a drama should, a funny comedic relief actor, some good friends, an annoying antagonist, and family. I have to say, the ending isn't that great but I guess it's happy *enough*, but still left me a bit hanging. Aside from that, the romantic development was pretty fast, since it's only 9 episodes, so there's little to no dragging (which is great!). The plot really is similar to Twilight, but much better chemistry between the leads, and no sparkling vampires. The antagonist is to be expected, and that plot line wasn't that irritating. It's also set on a university campus, so I really liked how it was a campus romance.
Even though I easily fall in love with drama OST's, this drama's music was very 'ehh'. It seriously was not special, probably because I expected more, much more. Even now, I don't remember any of the songs which is rare ( if you look at my other reviews you'll see why).
Re-watch value is not that high, mostly because the only version available I could find was pretty low quality, which isn't easy on the eyes. Disregarding that though, re-watch value based on purely the drama could be high, after all it's only 9 episodes and if you like a cute but cliche vampire love story. I recommend this drama a lot; it's so unfortunate how not many people know about this drama. (8.5/8.5)
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Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
This drama is a rather different republican drama, it's not about espionage, not about the civil war or fighting against the Japanese, it's not even about glamourous Shanghai. It's set between 1915 till 1921, but majority of the story happen between 1917 till 1919 and revolves around the New Culture Movement (or May Fourth Movement) and mostly set in Peking University. It's about young people trying to find a way to save their country, it's about introducing new ideas and changing customs that had been there for thousand of years.A little background first, Qing Dynasty was overthrown in 1911 and Republic of China was established, but life didn't change much. Most ports and a lot of important railways were under colonial control because China had lost multiple wars in the past century and Qing's government had been on a decline. Even with the new government, it was still rather chaotic times, there were warlords abound (and they continue to be influential and powerful in their various regions until Second Sino-Japanese war), the government was far more interested in infighting and power grabbing (as depicted in multiple cabinet changes throughout the drama), and there were many that wished Qing would come back.
I had imagine the drama would be relatively hard to get into, but it's actually not! The beginning loosely revolved around the creation and publishing of Xinqingnian/New Youth/La Jeunesse, which was a magazine created by our protagonist Chen Duxiu, and promotes science and democracy. It slamed Confucianism and classical Chinese while promoting using vernacular Chinese. It's during these times, the famed Lu Xun wrote his first vernacular Chinese novel, a short story called Diary of a Madman, where the narrator sees the traditional customs as "man-eating". Vernacular Chinese would end up making education much much more accessible to the common people. The drama even had someone that wanted everyone to abandon characters altogether and adopt latin alphabet. While this didn't end up happening, it set the grounds for the modern pinyin system that students use to learn characters \nowadays.
With some of these rather outrageous suggestions, there's of course some opposition, there's some that support the return of the emperor, there's understandably some that doesn't want to abandon thousand year old traditions and customs, there's those that sing praise to beauty and simplification of classical Chinese. These technical "antagonists" were portrayed respectfully and even somewhat adorably. They weren't backwards dimwits, multiple of them were well respected professors who had sound ideas and were remarkable in their respective fields. e,g, Gu Hongming was a notable polyglot and translator who studied for decade and half in UK and knew western culture as well as he knew Chinese culture, but he was a staunch conservative because he deeply believed in preserving the roots, he gave my favourite speech in the entire drama!
Like the movement itself, the drama mentioned and showed various political philosophy. The drama started with students arguing if constitutional monarchy or democracy was better, Hu Shi who idolises experimentalism was prominent part of the drama, anarchism and mutual aid was explore quite a bit through the Chen brothers (Chen Duxiu's sons), and of course Marxism comes into play late in the drama too. Despite my description, the drama wasn't like a dry political lesson, it was times of multiple parties debate and tried to see what fits China, I don't know how to describe the joy of seeing some of these debates. It helped that it featured so many well known people that pioneered or made great contribution to various fields in modern China. Seriously, some one off cameo might be a well known revolutionist :P
The culmination of the New Culture Movement is May Fourth Movement. After end of WWI, Treaty of Versailles was signed, but the German concession in Shandong province was transferred to Japan (due to Twenty One demands that's mentioned in ep 1), instead of given back to China, despite the fact China had sent tens of thousands of workers to the frontlines and contributed greatly to the war. It was the first time in a century that China was part of the victor's side, and everyone had hoped that might be the start of fighting back against colonial control. Unfortunately, the government had failed them, they simply didn't have enough power to demand it back, nor did the other countries care to get involve when it didn't concern them. This caused mass demonstrations all around China, starting with students and not long after workers as well, eventually this led to the government refusing to sign the peace treaty, the first time in recent history where China tried to fight back in diplomacy. May Fourth movement further promoted new ethics system, mobilised students and workers to express their dissatisfaction and protect their interest, led to reorgnisation of KMT, and contributed to the start of Chinese Communist Party.
Normally I wouldn't spend so much time essentially spoilering the show, but this is all history, and rather complicated history that I personally didn't know much about (besides May Fourth), so I thought I'd go over the gist while gushing. It was a lot of fun wiki‘ing while watching the drama, and I'm glad it ended at 1921, since that way the drama was mostly uplifting. I'd say avoid wiki'ing if you don't want to know who meets their early demise (many do), but the drama will tell you when they appear for the last time anyways. The drama was surprisingly light despite the chaotic background and heavy historical basis, the humour was fairly natural and the characters were mostly very smart even though they argued a lot, the young people were super relatable and a fair few end up being world changing. These were 90s and 00s kids of the previous century and I can't begin to imagine doing some of the amazing things they do despite being the same age or even younger.
I actually love so many of the characters that I don't know where to begin, the Chen brothers were probably my favourite though, since they were rarely portrayed in dramas before this. They were resilient and idealistic, had a rather complicated relationship with their father that was portrayed pretty thoroughly throughout the drama. It's one of the biggest deviation from actual history, historically they would have been estranged for most part of their lives, and they likely wouldn't have been around for most the drama if it stuck closer to history. Zhang Wanyi and Ma Qiyue did amazing in this drama, I look forward to Zhang Wanyi's role in Daylight Ent's drama with Bai Yu + Mao Xiaotong + Song Zu'er, Ma Qiyue was only 14 when he played Qiaonian (who's 13~18 in the drama) so he has a bright future ahead of him! The acting was all around splendid, especially Yu Hewei who played Chen Duxiu amazingly (and won Magnolia award for it woohoo!) and Ma Shaohua who played the adorable University principal Cai Yuanpei that facilitate the awesome environment where various ideals could flourish.
Unfortunately, one of the few female characters with significant role started off rather terribly, playing a spoilt and unreasonable girl, she comes around rather quickly but it was jarring. I think her acting/her character was one of the few flaws of the drama, but she still have some shining scenes here and there, most notably a play that acts out the debates they've been having and notes the oppression that women have been facing. The other minor flaw was female characters don't get much screen time, a lot of well known female revolutionists weren't in Beijing at the time (they were in France or Hunan province, there are other dramas that do feature them), and they mostly weren't relevant to New Culture Movement. The few older women around were wives regulated to homemaking roles (despite one being educated and could be portrayed less stereotypically), younger women tend to play more active roles (all fictionalised) since students were first supporters of the movement.
Lastly, I must applaud the drama for the absolutely spectacular directing! Hot damn, I was big fan of the director after Advisor Alliance (do rec! Fun retelling of Three kingdoms!), but now I'm a super fan and will gobble everything Zhang Yongxin puts out (also got a Magnolia!). He has amazing eye for framing shots, he filled the drama with symbolism that I don't know how to interpret sometimes. I loved the astounding sequence that introduced Lu Xun and clearly referenced his story "Medicine", the goose bump inducing scene of Li Dazhao encountering a crying bride without a groom (likely a ghost marriage), the incredible usage of wide angle shots + heavy clouds to create heart aching scene that broke Chen Duxiu near the end of the drama, and of course the montage of Chen brothers as they leave for France stayed with me months after I finished the drama. The soundtrack was super memorable, the distinctive art used to denotes some important events was gorgeous, and I just love the aesthetics of the drama in general.
I've been sitting on this review for whooping 3 months because I don't know how to begin, I feel like all my words pale in comparison, sometimes explaining a scene without seeing it seems to make it lose all of its magic. This is the first time I found the entire drama just screams art to me, and I love it so so much that I want to recommend it to everyone. Please give it a try! I'm dump some interesting tidbits in the comment below, may or may not be spoilery.
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THE CON ARTISTS: a refreshing entertainer
Both the leads are quirky con artists with their own missions to begin with who clash at first few episodes leading to a sweet flirty romance with the overused tropes of childhood connection, male lead having trauma and even a contract marriage.What's new? Nothing.
What's good?
• the chemistry of all three couples
• those flirty banters
• pacing (not slow, not fast)
• no weird misunderstandings
• both leads relied on each other a lot so they had comforting bonding
• great friendships plus teamwork (I want to join Justice Committee too xD)
• satisfying ending
• a love triangle (but it brings comedy)(trust me you'll like Sheng Silin yet you won't like him enough to have SLS)
• sizzling OSTs
Now since FL's eyes have sort of a magic where just seconds of eye contact and whoosh~ any rich guy falls head over heels for her... such supernatural concepts can't pass over censorship so the story starts with FL writing a novel and all the rest happening inside her novel and ofc in end they make her meet ML in real life in some other way... personally I saw this start and end but ignored it since its all for censorship sake.
Half of the main plot is them trying to solve a past suspense that they tried to build which is flawed and predictable... but I love how GWIA is quite self aware of what they're serving us, like towards the end, the introduction of those comments saying —
« story felt cringe and mix match of every possible genre »
BUT
« they loved the yao-chuan couple »
Acceptance of all the cliches they're feeding you and this self mockery by the screenwriter impressed me.
OSTs
1. 读心人 (mind reader) — by Momo Wu [what a seductive voice!]
2. 猜星游戏 (game of guessing stars) — Meng Huiyan
3. 爱的回答 (love's answer) — Wang Jiachang
4. 别爱我 (don't love me) — Wang Jiachang
5. 谁的谁 (who is who) — Wang Kaiqi
6. Bad guy — Liu Sihan
7. Kiss me now — Dai Yanni (we know when this song was played xD)
The bgm was quite befitting and all those interesting steamy vibey songs. At least our ears were busy lol.
Wang Ziqi and Zhang Yuxi make a nice eye candy couple (those kisses though!)... for the most part, it seemed like they were just having fun, even breaking in and out of their characters a few times, idk how Zhang Yuxi controlled her laugh being every rich dude's so called dream girl. all those wigs, costumes... that cheap version of Marilyn Monroe still haunts me xD
Overall it was worth the time, I had a good laugh and chose to go with 2x option whenever I was cringed. Now that it has finished airing, its good for a binge watch I guess if you're in the mood of a silly cliched romcom done in somewhat better way.
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Based more on the original poem/story of Mulan than Disney version. She does join the army in place of her father, but we see how it affects her. She deals with death and grief and fear and killing. We get the real Mulan that went to war for over a decade.This a realistic movie, slightly dark tone because there is a lot of death, but it's the kind of movie that hurts so good. You will cry and then continue crying but you won't end up feeling depressed or sad. The story is fulfilling as we get to see Mulan grow and accept life as a soldier and the many different ways there are to be a hero. Vicki Zhou is wonderful as Mulan, and we don't spend a lot of time with the other characters, but we don't really need it. This is Mulan's story and it reflects that in the screen time given to our other characters. The music really helps finish the atmosphere.
There are parts that really got to me where I was sobbing but the situations were caused by war and so our characters have to deal with it. They act nobly and I was completely satisfied until the very end. As long as you don't question how they never notice she is a girl, you'll enjoy it.
I know I will end up watching it again. For when you feel like crying this is a great option. Hua Mulan truly transforms and even if you know how it ends you can still appreciate the sacrifices of our characters. I know the same scenes will still effect me in the same way.
A bit spoilery but not if you know the story of Mulan. The original version has her just returning home. This plot has a romance but they forced it into a bad ending. They continued on the noble character arc for Mulan where she just wants to take care of her father. Again this is the writers fault for wanting the dramatic hero, but it fits with the characters even though the other option would have been possible. So, I was a bit irritated, but for the sake of a better story it fits to have the drama, but I was annoyed because they built it up and left me hanging.
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Her own family ignored her cause her mother wanted it that way. Her so called senpai trapped her in a Stockholm Syndrome and took advantage of her.
No one cared to help her out and she finally started to be strong enough to break free herself.
It's what all abuse victims suffer from, the feeling that they're not enough and no one gives a $hit about them.
I doubt any k-drama would even gave a story like this cause they're all virgins and the hero is their first love.
From what I've seen in reactions about this drama, Koreans are right. No one wants to see the reality of someone who tried to escape an abusive relationship. Really a pity...
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Overall an enjoyable ride with great acting and scenery but plot and some characters are amiss
I really struggled to decide on a rating for this show. Overall I liked it but there are a couple of things that irked me.There are two main things I really liked in this drama, one of them was the scenery and photography with such beautiful landscapes. The other one was the acting. I think most of them did a great job, but I have to mention especially Ji Chang Wook, Kim Mi Kyung and Kim Do Eun, their characters and the way they portrayed them are of the best of the show for me.
The relationships between characters were very good and I liked the banter and funny bits in this show.
I like slice of life dramas so it's no surprise that I found the plot interesting and entertaining and I thought they generally did a good job in also including the sisters' story lines, although I do wish Jin Dal's story had gone in a different direction ultimately and didn't end up with her ex, but I give it a pass; and I wish they had dwelled more on Hae Dal's past as well as the present relationship with Gong Ji Chan. Other than that I do not have complains about the subplots in this drama, they were all entertaining. I wish I could say the same of the main plot but alas, I can't.
The main plot, this is what I consider the two story lines of main leads love story and the "scandal" of FL are unnecessarily unsatisfactory. I say "unnecessarily" because they had more than enough time to explore this in detail and have a more realistic and natural progression than the one they chose.
I didn't like how the conflict with Yong Pil's father was tackled and solved. If the change of that man had happened slowly from the start of the show and they had shown the change progressively it would have had a pass but as it is, that man didn't deserve redeeming in such a quick way. He was abusive both verbally and physically to both his son and the neighbours and it had been 20 years of the passing of the wife. He never had the excuse, but with the amount of time it had passed even less so. The man doesn't even stop to think twice about how his wife would feel at the way he was acting. I don't think he deserved forgiveness in the manner it was given considering how that plot line was developed. But I wish the story with Yong Pil's father was less melodramatic if it was going to be tackled like that. The show really made me despise him a lot, and I was very annoyed when it ended like that after all the drama. The script just decided to make him think in the end but realistically a man behaving like that doesn't change that easily or quickly, more so when everyone around him is enabling him and he's playing the victim. His sense of ego was way too big to see the light in that manner but of course we were running out of time in the drama so it had to be done quickly.
On the other hand, the plot with Eun Joo was also solved too quickly for my liking, especially when it was a major plot point in the story. This again should have been solved slowly throughout at least a couple or three episodes. I do also partially agree with some of the other comments here in the fact that FL should have been more active in the solving of the issue and that her character did suffer inconsistency throughout. At some points she was shown as independent and head-strong, and at others weak and very passive. There are a few instances in which I could see or agree with that passiveness, in a way in which when you're being attacked constantly it gets to a point you just want to avoid the drama and sit still and do nothing because you are just too fed up. But if they were going more for this idea I think it should have been done better in terms of execution. Her stance changed and was ambiguous at times so it could get a bit frustrating.
So I do think it was solved too quickly but I'm half half when it comes to the "how" it was solved. A part of me thinks it's realistic that we don't even see major consequences other than Eun Joo reading the new's article because life be that unfair in real life too, or because we can more or less imagine how it continues. But another part of me just wishes we had seen the consequences of her actions because she pissed me off so much lol
As usual, SML romantic interest tends to be very pointless and it's not exception here. He really added nothing to the story and had he been just another friend in the group it wouldn't have made any difference to the plot. Also although I do know people in the characters ages that hasn't had a relationship ever, I still think that having more than one character like that is a bit unrealistic. At least they should have mentioned them dating around but not settling or other things like that. Especially in the case of Sang Do I think it would have worked well. Oh, but you want Sang Do be interested in FL? Easy. Make him a divorced man for example, and he had a crush for her when young and when seeing her again he gets a bit of a crush back. I don't know, there are many ways. As it is, his story line was pretty absurd.
The ending is a bit, I don't know, I'm not disappointed but also not super happy and the cameo of whoever-that-woman-was was pointless. It reminded me of that pointless ending in "Behind Your Touch" with another cameo that added nothing to anything. I'm not going to lie I did wish FL had gone with ML to Switzerland. After being apart for so long I get it was not a deal-breaker to have a long distance relationship for some more time, but at the same time she being a photographer made so much easier in my eyes to move with him for a while and work from there. Either way, it was a cliché of one of the leads going away last second and it could have been avoided entirely, but oh well.
This drama doesn't portray the typical romcom love story with fireworks, so if you're looking for that kind of romance this might not be for you. It's a slow rekindling of a relationship in a more muted and realistic way. Sure, especially FL does act more like a fangirl with the butterflies at times but the progression is more subdued.
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A wholesome-hilarious Rom-Com
I stumbled across this show by accident when I was looking for a new BL to obsess over and- let me just say, I was not disappointed.When writing this review, 4 episodes (edit: now 7) have been released so far. But those 90 minutes of the show have already got me hooked like few other shows were able to.
The characters are absolute fluffballs. You know that feeling when you would give your whole world to them just by looking at them? Yeah, that's what I feel for Adachi and Kurosawa. The actor does such a good job at portraying this innocent yet realistic clumsiness of Adachi, while Kurosawa is just warmth and softness in person. Their chemistry is off the charts. If you need a fluffy BL couple (that cares for consent!!!!) this is perfect for you.
Not only does it feel like you were dumped into cotton candy while watching this, but you'll also wish someone would love you like Kurosawa loves Adachi. The way he cares for him is just so heart-warming. I promise you, you'll fall for both of them.
The supernatural aspect is well fit and none of the characters feels unrealistic AT ALL. They lightly tackle the stigma around two men kissing which just rounds off the whole deal. To top all this, the show is hilarious. I swear, I laugh every 5 seconds, either because of Adachi's adorable awkwardness or because of their wonderfully executed acting in relatable situations.
I can only recommend this drama to any rom-com lovers.
You won't regret it.
STORY
The story revolves around Adachi, a 30-year old virgin that suddenly, on his birthday, gains the ability to read the minds of people through touch. Unexpectedly, his fellow colleague Kurosawa seems to have a crush on him. And thus begins a wonderful little office romance.
The story is based on a manga by the same title. I honestly couldn't imagine a better made or more adequately executed adaption of the story. Of course, changes were made but they all fit perfectly into the concept and medium. And those changes are small at most. I must commend the writers. In comparison to the original manga, we don't get a view into Kurosawa's thoughts except what Adachi hears through his ability. This makes everything seem more down to earth and I really like the decision. The plot is well put together and just addicting to put it simply.
ACTING
My guys, listen, the acting in this is just grandiose. And not just the main cast, every single role is well cast and executed on an astonishing level. It's just so so much fun to watch each character unfold and it is so easy to fall in love with them. It's hilarious, convincing and realistic. If not for anything else, watch this for the acting.
OST
I'm editing this section in. Earlier I didn't have much to say about the OST because except Opening and Outro there isn't much happening musically but after a few weeks the Soundtrack really grew on me. The Opening Song [Omoinotake - Ubugoe] is such a catchy song I can't even think about skipping the intro because you'll catch me jamming to it. Furthermore, you should take a look at the lyrics of this song. It reflects Adachi's feelings and thoughts in the course of falling in love with Kurosawa. Especially after episode 5, I can truly see the connection.
The Outro Song [Deep Squad - Good Love Your Love] is also really enjoyable. I think they did a great job of choosing these songs for the drama.
REWATCH VALUE
Let me tell you, this show isn't even completed but I'm already on my 20th rewatch of those few released episodes. I don't know, maybe it's just the lack of affection and warmth in my life but the chemistry in this is addicting. This is my newest comfort drama. I can't stop thinking about them, I can't stop watching them.
Yeah, just give it a try. I promise you'll love it.
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2-Storyline/Plot : At first, I felt it's just the same plot as other rom-coms films that I've seen before (nothing different), I was even a little disappointed. However, as the film went on I became extremely amazed and I kept having this question in my mind: "how could the story turn around like that?"; I really appreciated the turn it took.
3-Acting/Cast : It's the first time that I see those two actors; I believe they've done a great job in this film. I wil be looking forward to see them in other productions.
4-Music : Yes, I appreciated the music because it was cool somehow; not too loud not too smooth.
5-Rewatch value : Hmmm, since this film contain a final twist, I believe it would be useless to watch it since you've already seen the core of the film.
6-The ending : One of the greatest endings that I've ever seen in chinese romantic comedy films; the twist at the end was so nicely done.
Wriiters managed to fool us around until the very last end, I really didn't expect or anticipate that: I really love it when an ending surprises me.
7-Overall: At first I was going to give this a 5 or a 6 but then when the twist came along I became greatful that I gave this film a chance; it totally deserves the time that I wasted on it.
P.S : Don't be fooled by the summary or the publicity pictures; this film has something that will surprise you because it's not your usual dumb romantic comedy film.
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Poetry in motion.
This is a really fun and adorable school romance drama that will steal your heart. It carries the underlying message that education should be a universal right but it does not necessarily produce a moral person.Wen Renjuan is swept off her feet by a seemingly wicked man from a different world in a brief but unforgettable encounter. They reunite at the prestigious Zhuxiu Academy after Luo Qiuchi wins a place in a national poetry competition. Of course it is impossible back then for even elite young women to be formally educated, in a co-ed academy no less! But since the setting is so much fun and it avoids the muss and fuss of the cross dressing trope, let's let that one slide. This is mostly a coming of age character drama that explores class conflict and how different students of Zhuxiu Academy respond to competition, envy and disappointment in academics and relationships.
The best thing about this drama is watching the character and relationship development of the two main couples - it is literally poetry in motion. Both couples are lovable and so convincingly "belong together" I have a hard time picking a favorite. Renjuan is the character that grows the most in the drama - she blossoms from a timid girl into a feisty, clever and simply irresistible young beauty who fights fiercely for her beliefs. Lu Xiaolu is simply a joy to watch in this role; she has the cutest, most natural facial expressions and gestures that convincingly conveys the innate goodness of Renyuan's nature. The way initial attraction turns into love and how Qiuchi and Renjuan grow together as a couple as they get to know and understand each other is just breathtaking. I particularly enjoyed watching Qiuchi temper his natural possessiveness and protectiveness towards Renjuan to give her room to make her own decisions and judgements even when he knows she is not on the right track. With quiet, gentle but unyielding insistence, Wenjuan bends Qiuchi to her will and helps him accept and let go of the bitterness of his childhood losses. This is one of the best, most realistic couples I have seen in terms of how their relationship grows from strength to strength.
In sharp contrast to Qiuchi and Renjuan, Hang Ruxue and Qing He are a much more reserved, less demonstrative couple. But it is clear their feelings for each other are conveyed less with words and more with deep soulful glances and actions. It is just as moving to watch the skittish, love struck Qing He's confidence grow as she wins the heart of her strong and silent general. Xie Binbin's Ruxue is so intimidatingly endearing I hope to see him in many more lead roles from now. I also love the camaraderie between both couples and how they support each other. My favorite character however has to be the boy emperor - he cracks me up every time!
Where this drama falls down is in the plot and the pacing. It opens really strongly with a fresh and exciting initial meeting between the leads. We get a lot of great action and thrilling twists in the first 10-15 episodes of the drama and the plot unfolds at an engaging pace. However, the overarching plot peaks too early and then lapses into a series of charmingly heartwarming but bland school related short plots that lack complexity and are easily resolved. It helps that it hones in on the dynamic between the couples and is so well done that I didn't mind that the plot threads water. However, both relationships peak shortly thereafter and while the lovey dovey couples are adorable, the pace is slow from then.
The main problem is that the villains are revealed very early on but they hang around until the bitter end. It does not help that the writing gets sloppy and illogical things happen in the ending arcs. For example, Renjuan's hard won martial arts skills evaporate in thin air so that she can be helpless and easily overcome by the villains as is required by the plot. The villains are also repetitive and unimaginative with shallow and tropey motives. The final (usually best) villain could not get any sympathy from me, I just rolled my eyes at his boring histrionics. It is not a lot to ask that the most complex villain in the story does better than that! At least two of the villains could have been tackled together and this could have been a much better drama with about 10 episodes fewer.
I consider this a heartwarming and good character and relationship drama with some truly entertaining moments. And I am sure you will watch one of my favorite and most hot, squeal-worthy hilarious a moments at end E5/beginning E6 at least two times... I rate this a very enjoyable 7.5 but I had it at 8.0 until about the last 10 episodes.
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Xiang Bei is a deaf but successful executive workin in a top company. Due to what happen 20years ago and the tragic death of his mother his life mission is to seek revenge and claim back what rightfully belongs to the Lu family under the urge of his maternal grandfather. But this plan became difficult and complicated when Yi Nian enter his life. Yi Nian is the daughter of his enemy but her kind, cheerful and straight forward personality despite himself finds himself drawn to her. Yi Nian is someone who values love and accepts people readily. But she's no push over and you see her challenging Xiang Bei in many instances.
I find I really like how opposite Xiang Bei and yi Nian is. Yi Nian's existence is like a light to his pretty sad and miserable life. She was the balm to his emotional suffering. She would speak out what she could see through his cold exterior and tendency of holding secrets and pain. She accepted his deafness and treated him with no difference. In fact in her subtle way she encouraged him to accept himself. There's quite a number of scenes and her confession which I find touching. I must say I love the lamps she designed.
This drama is not without faults and require heavy self-editing to improve your viewing experience. I had to dig deep into my patience before finding good memorable scenes between our two leads starting from ep 10,11,13 & 15. My self editing means skipping scenes of business rivalry, scenes of extreme hatred or characters I don't like. I focus on interaction between Xiang Bei and Yi Nian, Xiang Bei with his mum, Yi Nian with her best friend and her best friend's own love relationship. That means keeping my fingers on the cursor and able to finish the drama in 2.5 days.
Acting wise is passable. I find their chemistry linger at 80% max. Could have been better. But the love story between then I like. And I thk with the exception of him jumping into the water to rescue her, no cliche scenes of stumbling and accidental kiss. In fact I kind of feel the drama requires a bit more kiss scenes for my romantic side. All in all I enjoyed it. I love the dancing scene, the catch a movie scene, and some of their conversations that still lingers in my mind after the drama has ended. Give this a chance but do some self editing...
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A Heartwarming Journey
I went into this drama unsure about it, even questioning if it was worth my time. In the first half, I was seriously ready to tell the female lead, "Girl... divorce!". But by the end, I was completely invested in their story. The drama turned into a surprisingly heartwarming and emotionally satisfying journey, and I ended up loving it more than I ever expected.Plot Summary: At the beginning, the female lead is frustrated with her marriage. She lives with a meddling mother-in-law and feels like her relationship with her husband is stagnant. The male lead is close to being a "mama’s boy" who does not stand up for his wife, and their marriage is strained because of his mother's interference. The couple seems to be at a breaking point.
At its core, the drama explores the realistic challenges of marriage—the little frustrations, the miscommunications, and the changes that come with being in a long-term relationship. The female lead deals with a meddling mother-in-law and a husband who has trouble standing up to his family. It’s a candid look at how marriage can be full of ups and downs, and the idea that it’s not all hell or heaven—it's somewhere in between.
The male lead’s character development was one of the biggest highlights. He starts off as a passive figure, just going along with whatever his mother says, but by the end, he undergoes a meaningful transformation. He learns to stand up for his wife, becoming more self-aware and emotionally mature. His growth was something that really made the show feel rewarding.
I also loved the moments of humor and lightheartedness sprinkled throughout the drama. One particularly memorable scene had the leads involved in a dare-or-truth game, which led to some hilarious moments. There were moments when they were silly and playful, but also when they shared genuine emotional exchanges, making the balance between the two feel just right.
And that plot twist at the end? Emotional and satisfying! It added a whole new layer to the relationship and made everything come full circle in a way that was so heartwarming. I went from being skeptical to falling in love with their journey.
The final moments were what really solidified the show’s place in my heart. It was with a line about how "Prince and Princesses don’t always end up together happily ever after"—but it was real and grounded, showing how far they had come. Instead of a fairytale ending, it embraced the imperfections and unpredictability of life while still leaving us with hope.
Final Thoughts: Despite my initial doubts, this drama completely turned things around. It’s a perfect mix of humor, emotional growth, and real-world struggles in a marriage. I went from being ready to drop it to feeling connected to these characters by the end. If you’re looking for a drama that doesn’t just focus on grand gestures, but on genuine development and heartfelt moments, this is definitely worth a watch.
I’m giving it a solid 8.5/10—a fun, emotional, and surprisingly heartwarming journey!
Some moments i liked(SPOILER):
The Dating App Twist: The female lead downloads a dating app for work and matches with a man, not knowing he is her husband. She is upfront with him about being married, so they just chat as friends. However, unbeknownst to her, her husband saw the app on her phone and decided to match with her to understand her better. This twist was a huge revelation, and the emotional development that follows was a turning point for both characters.
Male Lead’s Growth: One of the most rewarding aspects of this drama was watching the male lead’s growth. At first, he simply obeys his mother, but as the drama progresses, he begins to stand up for his wife. His decision to match with the female lead on the dating app is a key moment. He realizes how much his wife needs emotional support, and this sparks his change. His slow but meaningful transformation was incredibly satisfying and heartwarming.
Mother-In-Law Dynamics: The relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law starts off tense and antagonistic, but it evolves over time. The mother-in-law, while overbearing, isn't portrayed as a villain—her actions are more a result of her generational perspective. The emotional development between the two women added complexity to the narrative and showcased the importance of understanding different viewpoints in family dynamics.
Key Moments:
Red Nails: One hilarious moment was when the female lead made her husband get red nails as part of a dare-or-truth game. It was a quirky moment that highlighted their growing connection and the playful side of their relationship.
The Bike Ride in the Rain: The final scene is a beautiful and emotional culmination of the couple's journey. They end up riding bikes in the rain, just like the grandma did earlier in the drama. The leads reflect on the realities of relationships with the line: “So prince and princess end up together living happily ever after? No, how can that be possible, even the North Pole is melting, how can anything last forever?” It’s a perfect nod to the imperfection of life and relationships, showing how they’ve grown to embrace each other’s flaws and cherish the small moments together.
Ending: The final twist shows how far the couple has come. The male lead’s growth and understanding of his wife’s needs come to a head in the final episodes. It’s a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion where they choose each other despite the challenges and imperfections, signaling that while "happily ever after" might be an unrealistic expectation, their love has evolved into something real and beautiful.
P.S. I realistically would've preferred if they divorced to be honest.
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Pining at its finest
Korean BL’s have either been a hit or a miss these days. This drama isn’t dry at all, in all honesty it is pretty good. I’m not going to rave about Zuho being in it, or how that isn’t a a bad thing etc. I’ve done that in the comments and everyone has their own opinion on that. My opinion is to give this show a chance and enjoy it. I like Zuho and Sf9 a lot, how could I at least not find this entertaining.Luckily for me this drama is more than entertaining. It has great moments of chemistry that by the first few minutes where the two leads are in high school and the story is set up, you can pinpoint right away that one clearly and so desperately pines for the other. That is all credit to the actors, both of them, but for Han Joon’s character specifically. He bit hit tongue twice.. looks like that can only be directed so far. He took that intuition and fully went with it, so that is a reason for me to buy into this chemistry if the setup didn’t already do that.
Childhood friends to lovers can be cheap. But Han Joon’s and Yoo Jae’s bond is different with them both being guys. There isn’t that attraction that people will assume is thee because they are the opposite sex, so that’s why I find it interesting. You have Han Joon liking Yoo Jae but knowing it most likely won’t be reciprocated. The moments of his conflicts with expressing his feelings and being upset about that are brief, but the actor knows the characters feelings that you don’t need to much explanation on that. I’m sure there would be if the drama was longer… which is where things seem to be so easily solved if this drama were.
It’s a stunning show with how it’s not super high budget, the music is calm and the ending ost is really upbeat and I like it. Some editing is off, but I’m just glad a show I’ve been waiting for is finally here. I’m glad that the actors are into their roles and aren’t shying away. Zuho I give so much respect for this. He clearly knows his character well also and is versatile with the many emotions his character has to pull off here. Jealousy, attachments, stress, anger.. love love love to see it
My only gripe is this show needs to be longer. It’s only because the endless potential I see with the all so interesting story. On the surface it’s childhood friends with one liking the other. But there’s a whole lot more. Both of the friends have similarities with being poor, they have unfortunate circumstances and adversities that they have calmed and healed with by being so close. I wish to see those internal struggles outside more, specifically with both of their home lives.. but this drama isn’t long enough to have all that without it being choppy. So the attempt that is going to be made will push through for me, but it could be better if fully fleshed out. There is so much to fit with so little time, but it is really interesting to watch nonetheless.
The acting is really good for the leads. The chemistry is there and has my heart pumping from looks alone. The cinematography shines at moments and other times it is just the drama moving along. So this drama is harmless.. and it could become a complete bucket of cold water over the heads of people who doubt it if it comes through with the chemistry that the actors have- but will the production let them?
Unfortunately not. The last handful of episodes unfortunately are rushed and packed with so many things that there isn’t enough time for. The jump from dating and being together is a bit off.. only because there is only so much affection that was allowed to pass through. In a broader version I can only dream about this would’ve been a 10/10. For what it stands for though it was pretty good. Not perfect at all honestly. It had a lot of gaps I had to fill in with the editing and cuts just because it simply isn’t long enough. Lots of potential, too much potential that it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
I enjoyed the chemistry but wished it would’ve been pushed further. It would’ve shown them and their difference from being just friends to being a couple better. It would make more sense for it- but again it was just a lot of potential. Potential is a good thing, for the whole show though it was underwhelming but not horrible. I’d binge in a day if I watched it again.
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Cinema at its most, when it comes to political thrillers
Among the South Korean cinema audience in 2023/24 "12.12: The Day" sure was a great success. Production costs were thus recouped after 12 days already. Even beyond the national border the movie is considered among the bests South Korean films of 2023.The story takes place in a world of uniformed men where stars and suits call the shots. There is talking, negotiating, and telephoning. There is also shooting, but comparatively little. The action is limited, even as various military units are actually invading Seoul to reinforce Chun Doo-hwan's security forces. However, it is cinema at its most, when it comes to political thrillers. "12.12: The Day" is compellingly captivating and knows how to stir emotions.
It wasn't long ago that the military in South Korea was thus actively involved in politics. Yet, Chun Doo-hwan's military revolt in that particular December night is a chapter that has long been given comparatively little attention. This KMovie now contributes to making these decisive events of the time conscious and helps to not having it forgotten. (Perhaps the right film at the right time... without knowing sort of preparing the public opinion for another momentous December night yet to come at the end of the year 2024…)
In any case, the right actors were in front of the camera – the KMovie is consistently high-caliber and lives from the strikingly concise character portraits. The names of the true historical figures were minimally altered to allow for more dramatic freedom. (It certainly helps as a non-Korean audience to know a bit about the political and historical context. However, the dynamics are outrageous even without this knowledge...)
The film offers an exceptionally candid portrayal of a crucial momentum in South Korea's recent history. Despite its politically and historically almost documentary-like dramaturgy, the KMovie manages to stir the emotions of the South Korean public today. Especially among the younger audience, it quickly became common to post a screenshot of their heart rate captured by their smartwatches on social media during the 141 minutes of the film to document their outraged indignation.
Even though "12.12: The Day" sometimes seems documentary, it is not a documentary film. The KMovie understands itself as historically precise. Yet, at the same time equipped with dramaturgically pointed degrees of freedom it allows itself to further increase the emotional density, too, and thus amplify the intensity of those impactful hours of that particular night.
By the way, the original title "Seoul Spring" subtly refers to the "Prague Spring," in which eventually hopes for democratization were also abruptly dashed by military force – however, in another country and ten years earlier.
-------------------- HISTORIC SIDE NOTE -----------------------
The era of Park Chung-hee's military dictatorship abruptly ended with his assassination on October 26, 1979. Meanwhile, any high hopes for democracy were quickly dashed by security commander Chun Doo-hwan amid the ensuing turbulences and power vacuum. Together with the so called Hanahoe connection, consisting of his classmates from military academy, Chun Doo-hwan promptly and forcefully seized his opportunity: Having the military intervening in politics again… Thus, the hope for true democracy after Park's death was brutally dashed on December 12, 1979, as the new dictator was already waiting in the wings. The KMovie mainly revolves around those 9 decisive hours: how Chun Doo-hwan managed to win over, persuade, or push key people to side with him and carry out a military coup with a momentous impact for the nation.
In April 1980, he became head of the KCIA (Korean Central Intelligence Agency). In May 1980, he declared martial law. He is responsible for the Gwangju massacre, for the suffering of people in various cleansing camps, and for the torture chambers of the KCIA. On September 1, 1980, Chun Do-hwan officially took office as president and remained a rigorous dictator for 8 years.
It is truly sad, almost outrageous, that in the end, during that decisive night in December 1979 only the commander of the capital guard and a vague 100 of his people dared to really oppose the revolting military commanders around Chun Doo-hwan. Thus, not only the masterminds of the military coup and their Hanahoe comrades are to blame for the coup's success. Unfortunately, many more for various reasons quickly became opportunistic or switched sides out of fear. For 9 hours, a bitter power struggle raged behind closed doors of different operations centers in the middle of the capital Seoul. And on the streets of their own country the military pointed their weapons at each other… (…again).
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I love the premise of best friends to lovers. Think of it as an Asian 'When Harry Met Sally' but with more heart and more dialogue. That is probably not the most accurate description but it is a nice story nonetheless. I think it is not as good as the Taiwanese one but better than the Korean one. Ishida Ren is so lovable and the perfect guy that could be. Mitarai is selfish and flawed but here she came off as less mean than Ariel Lin's portrayal in the original one.
The story is predictable but not as cliche as one might expect. The romance between the leads is a slow burn and you would just be longing for action all the time ; but there is little of it. It's not a fast paced drama but still a lot happens in every episode to keep one entertained. I really enjoyed the premise of Shibuya and the execution of all subplots.
I must say the casting was very well done in this one. The only miscast was Mitarai's boyfriend and because the original version guy was so good. I feel like this is a very good version and adaptation and you can enjoy it even if you didn't watch the original. The main leads are fantastic and everything is nice and lovely. The emotions will get you and Ishida Ren will win you over no matter. Watch it for him. The actor is awesome and that's all I can say.
It is a nice break from mean "bad" boys of dramas who treat the girl like crap. It is nice to see the nice guy as the lead but after a while you wonder if he's the second lead after all. Just watch it in one go. It's worth a weekend binge watch.
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1Yakuza lovers story
I love every minute of this series. It’s hilarious, wild and crazy, with humor in the lines. It’s not perfect, but I don’t mind that. It will no be everybody’s cup of tea. Japanese TV drama’s (teribi dorama) are incomparable with Thai or Korean drama’s because of their intenseness, eye for detail and lessons that can be learned. All problems will be solved in the end and strong script and play.The series was not available through Disney+ Europe (yet), so I watched it on Drama Cool with the disadvantages that this brings. Subtitles where not available for episode 9 yet, so I will rewatch that episode again later, to get the true meaning of that episode. This drama is very populair in Japan and outside Japan.
I watched it in 1 go. It was surprising, cheesy and entertaining. The lines where sometimes lovely over the top.
Story
It’s manga based. I’ve never read any manga in my live, but will check this one out. I like that they kept clear throughout the series that being together could end any moment, because of his background/profession. You can see that it is not a high budget series. The usage of light and filter felt good. Production well done. Non toxic relation.
Music
The music was good. Especially the recurring instrumental piece with electric guitars and I think cello’s. Can’t find that on the OST list.
Acting
I like the cast, well done. I came for Kimura Keito, I love the acting of Furukawa Yuuta, his facial expressions (eyebrow!). Japanese series don’t show intense kiss/bed scenes in the way Thai dramas do. I didn’t miss that. The way they filmed these moments was good. I love the effect of the cherry blossoms: it showed a world where there was just the 2 of them. Both ML as well as FL where busy with character development in their own way, especially the FL. Don’t expect to much on learning their background and childhood story’s. The series doesn’t go that deep. I didn’t miss that.
I’ll rewatch it when I’m in the mood for it.
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