Reviews

It’s one of those very bittersweet films that you’d cry with and yet say… “Damn, that was such a beautiful film.” I said that and will say it again.

Love Letter was a beautiful film in a wonderful setting and great plot lines. Though it was confusing at first, it still gives you a slight thinking that it has a reason for being like that. Then once you get to understand what in the world is happening, you’ll get to unfold what it was all about and why.

The film was very simple, not too dramatic or mind boggling. It didn’t even have any CG effects in it but it will show you extremely good actors, great story in the back ground and a really nice soundtrack to come along with everything. It also has this softness that has melancholy written all over the story but the sweetness seeps in with everything until it’s late to realize that you’re caught up with the story and would want more.

This left me weeping at the end but made me feel good at the same time. It surely made me want to recommend it everyone.

Leia Mais

I started this drama out of boredom and after seeing many recommendations about it....I didn't realize this was going to turn into a 10-hour marathon with not even a food break in between episodes. This is how immersed and fascinated I was by this drama.

Highest selling point of the drama? Its plot. I was expecting kids running a good grades related business, instead I got a high school outcast who could give any gangster/killer/healer dramas a run for their money. You would think this is not very realistic and yet through the screenwriting, acting and directing they effortlessly make you believe it's real.
More impressively they make you root for our main character regardless of how immoral or unethical are the things he does.

Extracurricular offers a refreshing take on the high school genre far away from cheesy and innocent first loves and yet much closer to today's reality of high school (to a certain extent). I'm glad this is a Netflix production, in fact had it been picked up by any other channel I doubt they would have shown such mature and triggering subjects at least not at a high school level.

TL;DR: Must watch drama! Probably one of the best dramas this year.

Leia Mais

It may have some minor subplot issues, but is still an utterly underrated Kdrama

Go Ah-in (Lee Bu-young) is a no nonsense woman whose only purpose is to do her job as a creative director in an advertising agency in the most perfect and flawless possible. At first glance, she was able to finally achieve her ultimate career goal when she was promoted as the first woman to be an executive director (Chief Creative Officer/CCO) at her company. However, Choi Chang-soo (Jo Sung-ha), Go Ah-in's superior had another plan in mind.

At first glance, 대행사 (Agency) is an office drama comparable to Misaeng, but given with a company director's POV instead of an employee's. Both are great in their respective stories, and just love them both.

But for this show specifically, I love that it has a fast-paced flow and deals with the intricate office politics and complex world of the creative industry well, especially for people without creative industry background like me. Each episode increases tension between the main characters, and their rivalry really makes the plot interesting. One may think that this "rivalry" may be tiring for the remaining episodes, but with the addition of new stories and characters along the way, the story just keeps more interesting as more layers are being uncovered.

It's also great to know their respective characteristics and alliances on each factions in the office politics drawn early on. It may be seen as boring as we already know which side a side character is, but it didn't bothered me as much.

Jo Eun-jung (Jeon Hye-jin) is the most "fleshed out" character other than Go Ah-in in terms of her background story. It's quite remarkable to see how she is able to balance out her duties in the office, despite her son's disapproval for his mother to work and resign instead. Also, it's great to show that despite her dilemma, she is fully backed with support by her husband and mother-in-law. With this stigma against working mothers in a conservative yet competitive Korean society, it's quite good, if not refreshing, to know how this show addresses this issue. But then again, I didn't like that the MIL and the father wasn't that helpful to Eun-jung in convincing the son for her to work.

Personally, I knew what the outcomes would be, but would is still gagged with how each outcome are shown. It's like knowing that there would be a plot twist, but doesn't know what that plot twist would be. This is true most particularly with the presentation cliffhanger at episode 8.

The only production lapse that I noticed was during a throwback scene on the second ep where the creative office used modern-type computer monitors when it was set in 2004.

After the 1st half, this show now focused to complex corporate drama and chaebol problems care of Kang Han-na (Son Na-eun). She has an eccentric character and seems reckless on the outside, but is actually smart, if not cunning on the inside.

One complaint is that it would have been better pacing-wise had Han-na be developed into someone who can stand on her own despite facing failures, rejection, despair and loneliness. The romance subplot was just too transactional and there were virtually no chemistry between her and Park 부장. But if the writers really decided to insert this storyline, it would have made more sense had it was inserted towards the end (at least the last 2 episodes). I would have no complaints even if it was rushed since then again, I can't see the chemistry of said romance.

Being nit-picky as well, there were some things that this show failed to explained more. First, is Ah-in and her mother's story. After the episode 12 confrontation, I really hoped that there is more to be discussed and more emotions be shown to really have a a fulfilling closure on their issue. It ended even only through a text, which was appalling since it was built-up very well on the earlier episodes. Second, Ah-in and the budding romance with the CEO of a gaming company. The spark was already there and Ah-in could've enjoyed said romance, but it was just forgotten midway. What happened?

The ending was satisfying in a way that it wrapped the main stories very well, in a compelling but not overdramatic fashion. Yes, it was expected, but then again it was executed perfectly in such that it was not boring. The last episode was very engaging in terms of portraying the cooperation of Ah-in and Han-na for their "common enemies". It was the definition of women empowerment in a society where men are still dominant in many corporate aspects.

Still, every episode ended with a bang. I think the reason why it has a lower MDL rating is due to its delayed subbing. It's very surprising how this is not picked up yet by major international streaming platforms given its high ratings in Korea. It may have minor subplot issues, but is still an utterly underrated Kdrama.

SIDE NOTE:
It will be an unforgettable watching experience for the last 2 episodes. At times, I was reading English subtitles, and at others, it was Indonesian. I was really able to maximize my Korean and Indonesian skills just to get the gist of what they were saying. Still, it is a very rewatchable Kdrama and I enjoyed watching it despite some minor subplot issues.

Leia Mais

Hard Romanticker is set in a hard and unforgiving urban underground world. Every character is a thug. This includes the lead protagonist Gu played very convincingly by Matsuda Shota. The word 'romanticker' suggests the literal version of the word because this film is anything but romantic.

There really is no true plot to this movie. It takes place in the span of a few weeks and encapsulates a time period in this man's life. Unabashed and raw; showing all the nonsensical violence of the world he lives in whether it be by himself, those he keeps company with, his enemies and just about everyone in his sphere.

When I was finished watching the movie it took me some moments to think of what to say here in this review. This is a violent and dark movie and I came away from it having almost no sympathy for any of the characters save one. And it wasn't Gu. I suppose I had a sliver of sympathy for him in certain moments because Shota has impressive acting skill but ultimately the character was undeserving of very much. That said; overall, the acting in this was really great and as unsettling as the film is, the story is well told. They certainly were convincing but it is more than disturbing to think that this kind of world actually exists. Most of the characters showed almost no caring or sympathy toward one another. So harsh.

There are some movies out there where you can watch, appreciate the quality of writing and acting but yet have no desire to ever watch that film again. Hard Romanticker is one of those movies for me.

I gave the re-watch value a 'fair' (6) because even though I might not watch this again for the subject matter I don't want to lower the score unfairly and have people mistake it for bad quality.

The music was fitting. I am not sure what to say about it other than I don't believe this movie is the kind you walk away from even wanting or needing an OST. But the score was right for the film; sometimes comical and sometimes dark.

If you appreciate darker (and I DO mean darker) fare and don't mind intense subject matter than this is the film for you. But you have been cautioned here...it is graphic. And fangirl moment...even at his darkest, Shota impresses me with his ability to absorb into a character for good or ill.

Leia Mais

Honestly I really wanted to like this movie. I really loved Yashiro's character, I just wanted to hug him and tell him he was beautiful and didn't do anything wrong. He definitely deserved someone better than Momose. He made me cringe and want to strangle him every time he interacted with Yashiro. I really tried to give Momose the benefit of the doubt and say he was just naive, but he crossed so many lines in this short movie idk how anyone can call him endearing or loving. He's creepy as hell. "So what should I do??" How about deal with your own desires and stop trying to manipulate Yashiro? I know Yashiro needed encouragement to feel more confident but Momose was way out of line. The attempted rape scene really made my heart break because Yashiro should not have been apologising and asking for forgiveness for changing his mind.

Leia Mais

First, if you are under the age of 16, do NOT watch this movie. Due to numerous shocking scenes, this is not a movie that should be seen by a younger audience. I know that a lot of you might want to watch this movie because you really liked Gong Yoo's acting in previous dramas, but if you are 15 or younger, this movie might have a greater impact on you than you might think.
You've been warned.

Such a movie is impossible to rate. It's really hard to make the difference between the true story that captivates and shocks us, and the form, the way it is told, the movie. Personnally, on my MDL list, it is still rated N/A.

Story...well there is no story, those are facts. Those facts are, of course, adapted and the way this movie deliver that adaptation to us is outstanding. The dark atmosphere, the suspens that keeps us on edge, and the flashbacks system that makes things so vivid, everything is done to captivate the audience.

Thanks to all the members of the cast (who did an amazing job portraying their characters, especially the children and Gong Yoo...well Gong Yoo was simply exceptional) you will be trapped into this movie from its very first minute to the last. You will feel horror and despair as well little pieces of moved joy as you see the events happening as if you were there.

The music isn't a beautiful melody designed to make you cry every times you hear it, but it will make you feel calm, tense, or angry. It's really a part of the movie.

Rewatch value...honestly, it would be torture to me to rewatch this, but I'll still do it, because this movie is amazing and the acting astonishing. But I won't say it was beautiful. Although this movie is a piece of art, I'd feel sick to call it beautiful.

Since he got the main part, let's talk about Gong Yoo in this movie. His Kang In Ho is true, sincere, so kind and pure in front of all the horror happening before his eyes that it is impossible not to be moved by him. Gong Woo is definitly a top actor and I can't wait to see what he will do next.

But there is something bothering me about this movie, like all movies involving young actors.Even though this is all acting, I wonder how those children felt, when they were shooting some scenes...sometimes, I felt this movie was going too far...but this is only my point of view...

I know that my review is a little dark, but I just saw Crucible, and this movie is dark.

Leia Mais

First of all, right now my "sain" half and the cinéphile in me are fighting over this movie, so I have to write both point of views.

Cinéphile:

Firstly, it's a "silent" movie, so they never talk to each other, you only hear their sounds or the noise of the surrounding. Just this fact alone makes it thrilling and entertaining to watch.

Secondly the acting was splendid. Seriously. Since the movie is a "silent" movie, you can only focus on their faces, sounds and body language. And they really can pull it off. There are so many moments you wish you could find a bit of akwardness, a hint that reminds you that they are only acting, which would make it so much easier to watch the movie. But even in the most dreadful moments they will go all out.

Thirdly: The whole storyline and the metaphors. If you like cryptic movies that give you a lot to think about and to deciffer, this one is perfect. There are so many hidden symbols, repitions and insinuations, that you have to watch it at least two times to grasp it all. The storyline my not be new but it's a the hell of tragic comedy. One second you stare at the screen in disbelief and disgust and the other one you start to laugh insainly, astonished that you are even able to laugh in this situation.

Fourth the movie lives from it's great shots, those pictures from which you can't look away, the colours and the composing of every scene. You may not like the picture but it comes with a pretty picture frame.

The "sain" me:

The first time I watched it I was hiding behind a chair, plugging my ears not being able to watch some of the scenes. It was the first time in my life that I nearly threw up because of a scene in a movie. And I had a glass of soju after watching it.

So yes, it is an heavy one. If you can't stand violance or drastic pictures or even just a hint of it, you really shouldn't watch it. But, from an artistic point of view it's a fantastic movie. All those pictures say more then any word could ever say.

Leia Mais

solid couple dynamics (uncut version)

Overall: I loved the communication and chemistry between the leads in the beginning but there was some nonsense writing. This is based on the book with the same title that I haven't read and I reviewed the series based on its own merits. 12 episodes about an hour each. Aired uncut on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/u23sfk7obd6z87j/k4101c5i4r4-EP01%3A_Knock_Out and the first 2 episodes are on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0xfFEdKNq0

Content Warnings: murders, torture, beaten up, violence, blood, slap, punches, grief, manipulation, drugging, kidnapping, non con touching/molestation (flashing lights beginning of ep 8 until around 8 min)

Watch Suggestions (to focus on sweet/steamy moments and take out most content warnings but a ton of plot will be missed)
- start episode 1 at 44:30
- episode 2 skip 31:45-34:20
- watch episode 3
- episode 4 skip 13 (keep watching if you enjoy boxing)-28:10
- episode 5 skip 12:50-27:30, 36:20-42:30 and end at 1hr2min
- episode 6 skip 39:10-48 and end at 55:55
- episode 7 watch the beginning to 3:30 (keep watching if you enjoy boxing) and 6-6:40
- episode 8 watch 23-25:30 and 46:45-49
- episode 9 watch 33:30-35:30
- start episode 10 at 13
- episode 11 watch 3:50-14:05 and 19-25
- episode 12 watch 5:10-5 and 36-end

What I Liked
- chemistry/tension
- communication (falls apart later though)
- set up the characters and plot well
- that Keen was not a damsel in distress, he actively tried to solve his problems
- excellent massages
- symbolism with the handcuffs
- caring moments
- intimacy, the check in in episode 5
- finale wrapped things up pretty well
- production value

Room For Improvement
- a ton of nonsense/because the writer said so stuff like a character wouldn't sell his car but was okay possibly dying if he didn't sell his car, a diuretic wouldn't work like that (maybe it was a translation mistake), a journalist just went into an active crime scene and what was the end goal because anything collected likely can't be used in court, why didn't a character say anything to another character earlier in episode 8 or apologize right away, there weren't any security cameras on the premises after they've had problems, the dad staying behind etc.
- too many antagonists, I get that it was supposed to be a bit twisty but watching all at once would have been easier, there were a ton of characters and it was difficult to keep track of all the baddies
- started the series with a flash forward but about 18 minutes later that scene happened, which doesn't annoy me as much
- episode 3 talking about her weight
- the slap in episode 5
- love rival/jealousy

Leia Mais

After spending more than a decade in Hollywood, John Woo decides to go back to his Asian roots to deliver a Chinese war epic.

I really dislike the word “epic”, I believe it’s over-used and misunderstood by many but if I can call a film epic then Red Cliff must be one of the fewest that are allowed to have that description. I saw the DVD release of Red Cliff back in 2009 so I initially thought it was only one film but later on, I re-watched them separately and I am able to judge each production on its own.

Now, as a usual part for my historical productions’ reviewing, I must give history credit and allow the film to be put in its exact temporal and special frameworks. It’s because I am history’ lover that I can’t help but narrate some facts that happened in real life thousands of years ago, so let’s have a little round in history before reviewing the film itself. You can always skip this part if you find it boring.

The year is 200 A.D, the late Han Dynasty and the place is the famous China. Cao Cao (Prime minister of the Han Dynasty), the most cunning, evil and fierce man in the Chinese history took control over Northern China and made the emperor a puppet ruler but that wasn’t enough so he decided to embark an attack on Southern China’s ruler Lord Liu Bei who is known by his generous deeds and strong general followers. Cao Cao led a huge army of eight hundred thousand soldiers to conquer the south which forced Liu Bei to seek alliances with other Southern Lords, the young ruler Sun Quan and military expert Zhou Yu. In order to convince them, Liu Bei sent his prime advisor and the most impressive strategist in Chinese history Zhuge Liang to accomplish the mission.

Cao Cao’s enormous army is constituted with surrendered lords so there was no loyalty and thus he always feared betrayals, which makes him envious of Liu Bei’s side that’s full of great generals that aren’t only loyal but they’re also quite strong. However, no matter how great the generals are, they’re massively outnumbered by Cao Cao’s army so how can they overcome it? The answer can be found out either by reading history or watching the film because I would be spoiling things if I mention it but let me warn you that this film doesn’t exactly provide the entire answer.

Enough with history, the film itself was well done in a way that would let you get to know what happened even without searching it up. The storytelling may not have been flawless in any way but it did deliver what has to be told. John Woo is known for his badass action films and I do agree that they’re his strength point but there are other elements that people forget or refuse to notice about his works such as the characterization. John Woo is a master at building his characters by using the brotherhood and honor elements and he didn’t change his rule in this film; he only reduced the amount.

What this film excels at beside the stunning cinematography is the war techniques. We get to see John Woo's interpretation of Zhuge Liang's "ba-gua" strategy, the fighting abilities of each general and the amazing portrayals of several wars’ strategy although the major battles were saved for the sequel. The use of slow motions and the clever built up of battles and action is an extreme plus point for this film.

The acting was high-class. It’s really challenging to find good actors who can give the famous historical figures their right characters and what’s best than Tony Leung, Kaneshiro Takeshi, Chang Chen, Fengyi Zhang and several great HKC actors for the job? They did quite well with their characters but I’ve got to give Tony higher credit for the way he made Zhou Yu feel so firm just like the history describes him to be. It’s one of my favorite Tony’s roles up to date.
There’s also Takeshi who made Zhuge Liang, which is one of my favorite historical figures ever, feel so vivid but maybe a little more too humorous than he should be. To be honest, I thought Takeshi was too “pretty” for the role. I like the guy, I really do and I believe he’s a great actor but I wasn’t too confident to see Liang being portrayed by him. However, after watching this, I was proven wrong and my doubts went into thin air.
The women department in this film felt a little unnecessary but still fitting. I liked Vicki Zhao’s casting and role but I am afraid I can’t say the same about the first big screen’s appearance of Lin Chi Ling.

The music for this film was pretty suitable for the theme and the rewatch value is high because this is one of the greatest films’ that deserve to be reviewed.

Watch this if:
-You like Chinese history or you like to get to know it more.
-You like war films’ because this is one of the best.
-You like John Woo’s films.

Do not watch if:
-You dislike war films.
-You dislike any of the cast.

Red Cliff is surely one of the greatest war films ever made with the touch of Asian history and some Hollywood cinematic techniques delivered by the master john Woo in the most beautiful way ever.

This review is for the first part of Red Cliff and the second part is coming up next.

Leia Mais

They wanted me angry and they succeeded.

I'm left frustrated, which is exactly what the writers wanted me to feel. If you're looking at One Ordinary Day expecting a satisfying conclusion, you're looking in the wrong place. This isn't a drama that will give you the sort of clean, neatly closed ending that many crime dramas do, and it doesn't want you to feel good. They have an angle and they stick to it, and that's exactly why I respect this drama so much.

I'm sure I'm not alone. We're all sitting here after watching episode 8, wondering what, exactly, we just saw. Angry at the police and prosecution for the absolute joke of a case they formed against Hyun Soo, annoyed at the judge who sentenced him and every person involved who let the investigation of the Guk Hwa's murder become the joke that it was. We're frustrated with the prosecutor's promotion, the team leader's peaceful retirement, all the while our lead is stuck in prison while his very stressed-out lawyer goes and does the police's job for them, only for them to take credit for his achievements in the end. So without an apology, after watching a man die in his arms, Hyun Soo is tossed back out into the world, the family that had begun to doubt him acting as though nothing ever happened. He's expected to return to his ordinary life after all of the unfairness he experienced, knowing first-hand just how corrupt and broken the judicial system is. There's no big, dramatic reveal of who the real killer is, no flashback to the night of the murder, and no repentance from the people who botched the investigation and even demanded the death penalty for our innocent lead. Nothing.

The last several minutes show Hyun Soo returning to life, sombre when surrounded by his family, living in a house with "murderer" vandalized on the wall, buying cigarettes and consciously aware of the eyes around him. Even free, he can't return to his old life. He can't fix anything, and this is his new reality.

So One Ordinary Day doesn't leave you fulfilled. Like its characters, you're bitter and unsatisfied. But you're thinking. You're thinking and reminded of just how warped the world can be, and that's exactly what they wanted. That's some pretty good storytelling, wouldn't you say?

And, you know, the stellar acting didn't hurt. I loved seeing Kim Soo Hyun in a drama again, and Chae Seung Won is as amazing as ever. So I'm angry, but I'm very glad I watched this.

Leia Mais

An epic fantasy immersed in island lore and mystery

I am basking in the afterglow of this drama as I write this review but I shall try to be impartial or as impartial as I can be considering I have given it a perfect score.

So with no further ado, here are the reasons why I loved RLIAGL:
1. It has a mix of genres: fantasy, mystery and romance seeped in mythology.
2. The leads are working adults. (I am old and if you are too you know why this point is a good thing)
3. Great script writing and intriguing story board. Every episode brings a new meaning to the overarching storyline and keeps you hooked. The format of the episode also lends well to the mystery and keeps it interesting.
4. Good acting by everyone involved. Also, leads are cute eye candy.
5. Amazing score! The OST for this show is really really good.
6. Production quality is high and the visuals are also good. I loved the cinematography of this show.

The reasons why you may not like RLIAGL:
1. The romance is a slow burn. Its slower than a sloth climbing a tree. Its so slow that you might think there is no romance. And that would be because the romance is not the main part of this show, it's the mystery of why it ain't gonna rain in this land no more.
2. The story also starts of slow. It takes the first few episodes for this show to grow on you and while it does it might bore the socks out of impatient people.
3. The female lead could have done certain things better (a lot) . But that is no fault of her own it's because of the script writer.
4. The audience as well as secondary characters get the drift way quicker than the main leads. A few times I wished people asked the right questions instead of going about in a tangent, but that was the fun of the show and I didn't mind it as much.
5. It's quite melodramatic. Everything has an epic consequence like the world ending or people dying.
6. I was dissatisfied with how they resolved the environmental degradation issue. (You'll know what I'm talking about only if you watch it. :P )
7. It is not a Kdrama. It is from Taiwan and a lot of people don't watch shows from here. On the other hand, I have no idea what you are doing reading this review in that case.

Story/Acting Overview:
A woman believes in the stories her grandmother taught her when she was young and before she was abandoned by said grandmother. This is her journey as she navigates through life, meets & parts with people and begins to question her beliefs.

With a great cast, production and unbelievable scriptwriting, this show has all the right elements to be a blockbuster in my book. I enjoyed the acting by the entire crew. Toem was my favourite actor with Fali coming a close second. Loved the layers in their character.

As mentioned earlier, the story is infused with island lore and mythology with small folk tales at the beginning of each episode which portend some major events which might occur in each episode. The format was great and lends to watching it one episode a time as it feels like each episode is a chapter in the RLIAGL book.

While the romance is a slow burn, I enjoyed it as I never thought of this story as a romance but as a fantasy mystery. I was more interested in understanding the characters and Kawas than I was in Tian-Di & Orad's love story. As we move further into the story line, we also come to understand why their romance is such a slow burn. Past events and future situations play a vital role in their romance.

Overall:
Overall, I enjoyed this show way more than I expected to at the start and by the end it had grown on me. As the story reaches towards its climax the pace also picks up leading to an amazing ending. There are plot twists that I wasn't expecting and therefore, was quite blown over with the revelations.

A perfect 10 from me (9.5 ~ 10 all the same) as I know I will end up rewatching this and it's perfect OST.

Leia Mais

Love helps finding your wings

If you liked the first season, you'll love this series. The continuing story of Novoland The Castle in The Sky is set in the same fantasy world, only with different characters, and another plot that can be seen in its own right.

Story
Season 2 follows the love and adventures of Feng Ru Che, daughter of the blue-eyed, golden-winged Feng Tian Yi and his earthling wife Yi Fu Ling. Just like her parents Ru Che falls in love with another specimen, that is the famous and never aging magician Xue Jing Kong. Their love story reminds me of Eternal Love of Dream (2020) and Goblin (2016). Magician Xue rescued baby Ru Che eighteen years ago, their fate bound forever. There’s a second love story as well that goes beyond enemy lines, with a few episodes about military training and bonding in war time.

Acting/Cast
It seems a mission impossible to surpass actor Zhang Ruo Yun as the dashing Feng Tian Yi, but I found Xu Zheng Xi very capable of acting the part as Magician Xue. He has this demure, stone face, that brings to life the stoic Master of Ru Che. Yes, he is good looking, but we mustn’t forget he’s eighty years her senior according to the myth. Actress Wang Yu Wen matches him perfectly as the quick silver Ru Che who seems to combine her mother's spontaneity with the whirlwind energy from her father. I loved their chemistry and interaction. The other cast members were good as well, all though I didn’t see any character development in Yun Mu Yang, the foster brother of Xue. Last but not least the anorexic boy Xu Yu who constantly fights against Xue is pretty interesting, but what exactly is his purpose in this story other than oozing with fairytale vibes? I hope his origins get more attention in the next season.

Music
The soundtrack is built further on the theme of the former season, so if you liked that, good for you. The soulful melodies pulled at my heart strings for sure.

Rewatch Value
I’m a sucker for old fashioned romance with hot kissing scenes, so I will definitely rewatch not only the second, but also the first season.

Overall
I liked the beginning better than the ending of this series, but if you're in the mood for Intense- Soulmate-Destiny-Willing-To-Die-for each other- Love, look no further. The story shows true love helps finding your wings.

Leia Mais

Overall, this Chinese drama was well-made and it didn't have as much cringy scenes as other Chinese dramas. The production values, dialogues, and CGIs were great quality. Now, onto the storyline, the story started out interesting, hooking us in with young leads. The young leads were so cute and honestly, I always looked forward to the flashback in the beginning of each episode because we were able to connect with the characters and how they grew over the years. I liked the first half of the series, when the leads were building relationships step by step and getting closer to one another. But for the second half of the series, the writing somehow changed direction, there were so many plot holes. Especially ep 24, it was totally unnecessary and the biggest plot hole was when Helen was able to see during day times. Then, ep 25 rolled around, the ending felt out of place and rushed. Not only the drama finished with a huge cliffhanger but the leads were pretty much strangers in the end. I don't know if the series renew for a season 2 because if not, I'm really disappointed. The ending could be nicely wrapped up if only PiPi's ex-boyfriend and her "best friend" did not take up much screentime (I always skipped whenever they popped up on the screen).
All in all, this drama would be in my top 20 favorite Chinese drama because of the plot, pacing, and chemistry but I don't think I will rewatch it anytime soon.

Leia Mais

So at first I had my doubts about this drama because I half expected it to only promote outside beauty and you that you can only find happiness if you're pretty. I was pleasantly surprised however, that it was more about learning how to accept yourself, overcome obstacles using your own strength, and standing up to your fears. The romance in this was beautiful and I liked how the writer emphasized the two leads finding strength in each other.

plot: So the plot was brilliant. I loved the whole revenge vendetta thing. It kept you glued to the screen waiting to see what big revelation would be unspun next or whose dirty secrets would be revealed. I especially loved the chemistry between the two leads. They made the cutest revenge duo ever. They had so many cute moments together I often found myself laughing out loud and simply grinning from ear to ear as I watched their ridiculous yet heart warming encounters. They made you really want to cheer them on as they struggled and overcame their obstacles together.

characters/actors: First of all, I just want to say, the female lead was gorgeous. I didn't find it hard to believe at all when everyone was calling her a beauty. I also found the female lead before she got plastic surgery adorable in her own way and thought she was a brilliant actress. I loved how the female lead was strong and could handle herself and that she even had the desire and ambition to grow strong and independent so that she could take on her challenges without having to burden anyone else. She wasn't whiny or needy which sometimes happens in dramas so I didn't find myself overly annoyed with her. As for the male lead, all I can say is he was amazing. I loved his and the female lead's adorable little conversations and found their witty banter charming. I especially loved the compliment game.

music: the music was really good. Nothing really caught my attention or stood out but it was appropriate and suited the drama very well. The instrumentals for the super intense/crap just got real scenes were amazing and really built up the intense mood.

overall, I'd say this drama is a must watch! Although i'm still kind of waiting for that very late apology from that grandma (you'll know it when you watch it and then you'll be waiting too) but other than that, it was a beautiful drama about finding yourself and overcoming your obstacles as well as delivering the much deserved justice to a bunch of douchehogs who need to take a few years off to rediscover their humanity.

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