Em andamento 28/28
Step by Step Love
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Abr 8, 2024
28 of 28 episódios vistos
Em andamento 2
No geral 7.0
História 7.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Musical 7.5
Voltar a ver 7.0

Leads chemistry is the only strong point of the show.

The drama is a mix of many cliche tropes summed together but the story and its pace has been quite good so far. The drama as every other romantic C-drama has SML and SFL who are gonna try to separate the leads but get rejected and like every other drama they aren't the type to hear NO so will continue with their shit till the end.

There are moments where the story felt a little dud but the sizzling chemistry of leads make up for it. Lu Yang Yang has improved a lot when it comes to her acting over the years while Zhao Zhi Wei is one good actor who can pull of both positive and negative roles well. Both the leads have strong chemistry and don't really hold back in showing it off.

I still think the drama could have been done in 24 or less as the last few eps will be quite draggy with the confrontations, cliche breakup and stuff. The ending is done fairytale, even the antagonists who have commit crimes and done shitloads of bad shit are easily forgiven and let go without any legal issue so it was quite crappy to watch.

It is a one time watch, if you are fan of the actors otherwise it can be ignored.

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1987: Quando Chega o Dia
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Jul 10, 2025
Completados 0
No geral 10
História 10
Acting/Cast 10
Musical 9.0
Voltar a ver 9.0
Esta resenha pode conter spoilers

Quiet resistance becomes power—ordinary lives spark change in this gripping historical drama

South Korea, 1987: a country under the control of an authoritarian regime, where freedom of expression is suppressed and political activists are brutally persecuted. Amidst this repressive atmosphere unfolds the KMovie “1987: When the Day Comes”—a political thriller that not only illuminates the events surrounding the death of student activist Park Jong-chul, but also showcases the collective power of a society rising up against injustice.

Director Jang Joon-hwan weaves a dense web of dramatic force, historical accuracy, and emotional depth—creating far more than just a political drama. He delivers a silent outcry for democracy, civic courage, and collective remembrance. The story is staged like a relay race: the narrative jumps between journalists, prosecutors, students, and prison guards, showing how many small steps ultimately lead to a great change. The film for me is not only a cinematic masterpiece but also an emotional appeal to conscience.

Rather than following a classic hero, the film presents a mosaic of individuals who make great change possible through small decisions. Camera work and editing are precise, almost documentary-like, yet never lose sight of emotional resonance. Especially impressive is how the screenplay transforms seemingly incidental encounters—such as between a prison guard and his niece—into milestones of a historic awakening.

Instead of drawing a clear moral line, the film presents ambivalence: journalists who walk a tightrope; a prison guard yielding to his conscience; a student who moves from cautious skepticism to resolute conviction; an official who refuses to look away at a decisive moment. Their actions are subtle, their words sometimes hesitant—and it is precisely this that creates a realism far beyond mere dramatic staging. It is the “little” people—the inconspicuous, sometimes nameless figures—who give the film its depth and authenticity.

These figures serve as moral compasses in a system that punishes any deviation. Their choices are not loud heroic deeds, but quiet acts of resistance that pave the way for change. While the great battles move the audience, it is these moments that linger—because they show how democracy begins in everyday life: through the courage to embrace humanity.
In this, “1987” achieves something rare: the film not only celebrates the victors of history, but honors those who stood in the shadows—without whose actions no light would have illuminated the dark corridors of the past.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SIDENOTE:
THE FRAGILE SEEDLING OF ‘DEMOCRACY’ and SOUTH KOREA IN 1987
South Korea in 1987 stood at a crossroads: The military leadership under Chun Doo-hwan clung to power, while the populace—above all, students and intellectuals—had been rising up with growing courage for years. The brutal torture and murder of student Park Jong-chul became a turning point. The subsequent response, the June Uprising, initiated the transition to democracy.

South Korea's path to democracy is remarkable for its dynamism and symbolic power – especially in the pivotal role played by ordinary people. While other countries liberalized slowly, the Korean people fought for their freedoms against a heavily armed and determined regime. The role of students, church networks, and the media was central—an example of how civil society can become the driving force for change.

The film does not depict these developments as a triumphant victory march, but as a difficult, fragile path on which many risked their safety, freedom, and even their lives. This realism makes the story tangible—and relevant.

What makes “1987” so explosive, too, is its current relevance. The film is not a nostalgic project—it flickers as a warning signal in times when democracies around the world are under pressure. Even today, we witness how the erosion of democratic institutions often happens gradually: through indifference, disinformation, and complacency.

How easily we forget that democracy is not a given—that it must be actively lived and defended. “1987” reminds us that you don’t need a “big moment” to take a stand—it is everyday courage that counts.

“1987: When the Day Comes” thus for me is more than a moving film—it is an invitation not only to discover South Korea’s past, but also to question our own present. What are we doing today?

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His
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Ago 24, 2020
Completados 0
No geral 9.0
História 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Musical 7.0
Voltar a ver 7.0
Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
Miyazawa Hio is GORGEOUS XD sigh. Now then. Sometimes you just need a soft baby girl to remind you, that the things that 'sound ugly ' or 'strange' are just in our heads. When people look at gay people as though they're 'ugly' its just their own ugliness they reveal.

And how the biggest problem we all have is that when we lie to others, we're really just lying to ourselves. I'm not gay. I dont love you. Every time we do this, we're just making things worse. Because no lie stays hidden forever and no closet is comfortable enough to hide your gay ass for the rest of your life.

That cheating double life will destroy you and everyone around you.

And I just love how fresh that little girl's perspective was, it was like fudge, why didn't I think of that lol I missed her when the movie ended.


But so why not a full ten stars?

Here's the reason.

There was just way too much of courtroom drama, it just didn't suit the tone of the movie that they set. I would have been fine if it was just a few scenes, instead of being the entire second half of the film! It kills the closeness they were showing in the first half, I don't know it just felt wrong. Felt like that lack of bonding in the second half just didn't work.






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O Smoking
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
de LiN
Abr 10, 2022
8 of 8 episódios vistos
Completados 0
No geral 6.0
História 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Musical 6.5
Voltar a ver 4.5

4 Cs in a suit - Cringe Confusing Cute Casual

Almost dropped it because I thought it was another series taking toxicity too easily, but I was wrong. It´s just a bit cringe. :D

Glad I gave the dropping a second thought because even though there might be better LGBTQI+ Series out there, The Tuxedo still deserves some acknowledgement with the budget and behind the scenes work considered.

Production / Music 7.0 >> 6.5
This series has some awesome shots and moments, which, like the music, fit the overall mood and vibes of Tuxedo - that already makes me feel like it´s worth watching because they kind of make the rather casual plot more exciting. The music (+BGM) was well chosen and composed but still had a rather low impact on me/ was not that memorable.

Plot / Story 7.5 >> 6.5 >> 6.0
This is where it gets tricky and where the opinions divide the most. I agree that the story is kind of predictable and has a low pull-in effect on the viewer, however, the cliché overload and all the cringe scenes are still cute to me. Normally I´d heavily judge those stories if they were JUST based on certain clichés and I don´t think that this is the case here.

Acting/ Cast 8.5 >> 7.5
This is something that truly surprised me, Chap´s (Nawee) acting got so much better towards the end! His eyes started to become in charge of the mood-setting and even though he is not a perfect S tier actor, he still nailed the improvement, and I am here to acknowledge it, giving them the highest rating on this one. Green´s (Aiaoon) acting stayed solid and so did the rest of the cast.

Rewatch Value 6.0 >> 5.5 >> 4.5
I am glad for the effort of this series, but I am still a picky "rewatcher". HOWEVER, I´d still recommend it for a comfy series marathon during which you can cringe a lot. ((:

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Black Cinderella
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
de Maya
Jul 11, 2021
8 of 8 episódios vistos
Completados 0
No geral 9.5
História 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Musical 10
Voltar a ver 8.0
Really really really loved this drama.
Before watching this, I totally thought it would just be a high school fluffy drama but the story here is presented so well.
Everybody lived their part well, Keigo & Sora both possess a beautiful heart & Manaha is strong & cheerful.
Unlike other high school drama, I loved the fact that both ML are beautiful inside and out, no one is aggressive & pushy but they consider FL's feelings as a priority.
There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" Indeed.
I'm glad, I watched "Black Cinderella".

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Marcas da Maldição
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
de Kate
Jul 22, 2022
Completados 4
No geral 9.0
História 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Musical 9.0
Voltar a ver 9.0

Immersive experience that makes you part of the plot.

Incantation is a 2022 found footage horror movie directed by Kevin Ko, loosely inspired by a real life case that happened in Kaohsiung in 2005. That said, the real events give more of a framework for the plot, and nothing that actually happened in the movie was related to real events. Apparently, it’s not easy to find any truly reliable info about it in English.

Incantation might have one of the best opening sequences of any horror I have ever seen. By directly addressing the viewer, presenting the optical illusions in the context of the power of will and personal framing, and by asking the viewers for help - it’s hard not to feel the immediate immersion. Breaking of the 4th wall is an aspect that comes back quite a number of times during the movie, which made me far more engaged than I initially thought I would be.

What about the plot? We are presented with two different timelines - present time of Ronan trying to gain the custody of her daughter and the bond with her, and the past timeline explaining the fear and ritual she was a part of a few years ago. As much as it’s a horror, it’s also a drama - showcasing the variety of emotions a parent can feel in relation to their child, and the actions they are willing to take to help them.

Are the scares actually scary? Truth to be told, the few jump scares I’ve got were a bit disappointing? The core value of the show is the eerie atmosphere, which was built in a perfect way. From the start we know, the plot is leading to some awful events, so even the happy and warm moments between the mother and daughter feel bitter.

Incantation is a movie that obviously cares about the details of world building. The Buddha-Mother, hand gestures associated with it, chant, symbols and rituals were well designed and planned - created a cohesive picture of that fictional spiritual belief. That’s why, even though I knew it’s not real, it was impossible not to feel affected by what's happening on screen - especially during the “directly addressing the audience” moments. The minor detail I was especially impressed by, was the use of the after-image closer to the end of the movie. Small, clever trick that felt like the last nail in the coffin for me.

The acting was perfect. While all the adults did an amazing job, with Ina Tsai portraying the conflicted emotions, fear, desperation and hope in a clear and realistic manner, the one that surprised me the most was the little girl Huang Sin-ting who played Dodo. Not only was her performance great, it was amazing to see a child act like a child in a horror movie. Why they always try to present the kids as demons incarnated with cold and detached behavior is beyond me.

Any flaws? I do believe the movie was slightly too long. Keeping it around 90 minutes instead of 110 would be preferable for the pacing to feel more tight. While I understand it was important to present the relationship between Ruo Nan and Dodo in great detail, the moments diluted the tension quite a few times. Personally, I could do without a few jump scares, especially the “cheaper” looking ones - the movie just did not need them.

Best to watch for scares: alone, evening/night, headphones on, no distractions.
Best to watch for the analysis: buddy watch, talking about the symbolism as the movie progresses, trying to predict the outcome.

Trigger warning; trypophobia, child neglect/child harm, body horror, gore.
The movie has some rather… gross moments. Also, might be too much for people who strongly believe in the supernatural - I can see it messing up with someone a bit.

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Queen of No Marriage
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
de Scandy
Jan 5, 2012
21 of 21 episódios vistos
Completados 0
No geral 10
História 10
Acting/Cast 10
Musical 10
Voltar a ver 10
underrated drama, though there was a hype about this drama in taiwan.

i didn't want to watch at first because the main lead is old and i didn't really like ethan. but after watching the first episode i couldn't stop watching it. the story is not boring at all and focuses not just on the happenings but also on the people's feelings. i can finally enjoy watching the main role - as a reporter - trying to get the truth from famous people and confront them - as a strong-willed and fair woman. ethan is just like her back-up and i really liked it. the characters flew with the story instead of the story going with the characters. i hate it when a drama contains a actually nice plot but it ended up focusing on the characters and not on the interesting story anymore. i laughed, smiled and cried while watching the whole drama.
and the OST is jus perfect.

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Feast of the Gods
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
de Ako
Jun 5, 2012
32 of 32 episódios vistos
Completados 0
No geral 10
História 10
Acting/Cast 10
Musical 9.0
Voltar a ver 8.0
I've just finished this drama, and I immediately felt that the first thing I had to do was to tell everybody to watch it, simply. It reminds me a lot of shining inheritance which is my favourite drama . The story is really great, many things happen, there's always something for the protagonists to discover. No really, you've got to watch it. Well, it's only my point of view but I think it's a pity if you don't even try. All the things that I prefer in kdramas are in this one, all reunited. But be careful, If you want to enjoy this drama at its most, don't spoil yourself ! (Don't worry the end is great ^^) I completely fell for Lee Sang Woo, he reminds me of park shi-hoo (not physically but for his charisma) I also couldn't stop singing the songs while I was watching. I give this drama a 8 for rewatch value because I'm certain I'll miss it very much and I'll want to see it again. If there was one drama which I would buy in DVD it would be this one ! Hope you'll enjoy it and hope my review helped you ! (Sorry for the mistakes there could be, I'm french and I am only 15) :)

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Vamos Comer
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
de Sara
Abr 30, 2014
16 of 16 episódios vistos
Completados 0
No geral 9.0
História 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Musical 8.0
Voltar a ver 7.0
First of all. This drama will make you hungry for sure ! :)

At first i wasn't really sure if i should watch it cause the title ''Let's Eat'' wasn't very appealing to me to be honest. But i was hooked by the first episode! Lee So Kyung is soo loveable. There was nobody on the show that i disliked. Everyone was so adorable! It's a really light drama but not boring at all! I really liked the romance too. So much chemestry! *__* I'm really gonna miss all the characters.... :(

the ending was just perfect... it even made me tear up a little :')

What i learned from this drama ?

If worrying could make worrying go away, then we would have no worries... so let's eat :)

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Lipstick
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Set 14, 2014
12 of 12 episódios vistos
Completados 0
No geral 9.0
História 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Musical 8.0
Voltar a ver 7.0
Here I am, sitting in the chair and wondering why this drama doesn't have one single review? Why doesn't anyone talks about it and watch it? Probably because it's an old drama and these days you get to see reviews only of the new dramas and the most popular and still I don't understand why is it like that. Because these old Japanese dramas are really something the best ever made in Asian cinematography and I don't say that without strong facts. For example, Lipstick is not a popular and famous drama at all, I picked it up 'cause of the Hirosue Ryoko, she's an outstanding actress for real.
And once again she did an amazing job in portraying the character of a tormented soul and a girl with many scars who commit some crime and in a facility for juveniles she then meets a warden and simply fall in love. Well, who wouldn't fall for the brilliant Mikami Hiroshi?, who was equally incredible in portraying the character of a unrecognized artist with secrets and who also slowly, through many conversations fall in love with her. It was so delightful to watch the two of them , how they talk, how they always use imagination and metaphor for their topics and how they gradually started to develop feeling for each other. I was honestly so hypnotized by the uniqueness of the scenario and the story, I liked very much how they in almost every episode mentioned some famous writer, painter, artist who was important for society, I liked how she had so vividly strong imagination and talked about difference between LOVE and ETERNITY, I remembered this sentence:" You have two buses. One is for Love and everybody is inside, talking, holding hands and smiling, but in some next stop they had to get off, the bus moves on. Everyone can see that bus. The other one is for Eternity, it's empty and the bus doesn't stop. Do you see it? Eternity is more important then love, it gives you freedom. "- something like that, maybe I didn't wrote exactly the same, but the point is there. Whole scenario was simply beautiful, I don't know which episode I liked more and which sentence was more perfectly said. With their chemistry which was so patiently built they made it to pull you in and become fascinated by them. So for the acting I give a ten. Not to mention Kubozuka Yosuke who is a pure genius and of the most outstanding actors ever, I adore him in every role, whether it's a drama or a movie. And in this one he was of course amazing, so twisted, dark and one truly lonely soul, he was a great addition to the whole drama.

Music was appealing quite fine, intro song was really good. As for the rewatching, I thiink that I could watch it again in some distant future because it's a really good drama.
Definitely one thing is sure and that is that NO DOUBT J-dramas from the '90s are the best from every angle and that more people should be aware of that and make time to watch more of these kind of dramas, it's such a pity for them not to be seen and to be forgotten by the rest of the people. I can easily say that I always enjoy more in watching older dramas because of their emotional, mature, deep, natural and realistic content unlike now days shows. This one will for sure stay in your mind.

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Xi Qian Hua
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Nov 10, 2023
30 of 30 episódios vistos
Completados 0
No geral 8.5
História 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Musical 8.5
Voltar a ver 8.0

Interesting 2nd life (redemption arc) but unsatisfying romance

“Scent of Time” does not seem to be a very popular drama and the main reason is due to its unavailability. I believe Youku did not have the drama available for their international audience. But HBO seems to be picking that up! The synopsis of the drama on MDL is also incorrect as this is not a drama about transmigration (since it’s a censored topic in China). The novel is about transmigration, but not the drama.

I don’t have much expectations, but because I liked Zhou Ye very much in “Back from the Brink”, I want to check this out for her. And, she did not disappoint. Her acting was a standout among all the younger actors and she carries the show on her back. Her character, Hua Qian, is very easy to root for. She's smart, observant, and courageous. She was given a second chance to correct her past mistakes so that there’s a better outcome for her and her family in this second life. The redemption arc is a highlight of the show and I think it’s pretty well-written. There are plot twists I did not expect and the story is very engaging throughout the 30 episodes. I just wish the ending was a little better and longer.

Before I watched the show, I thought the romance plot with 3 male leads would be the highlight for me. You would think a reverse-harem would be a focus. Not quite what I expected. This story is about Hua Qian’s growth as a person. The men in her life are just a part of her character development.

Zhong Ye Lan was the first man in her life. One she was obsessed with in her past life and tries to undo all of that. Zhou Ye Lan has a lot of screen time in the first half of the drama. Though I like parts of their story, I do find Peng Chu Yue’s acting a little lacking, especially when compared to Zhou Ye. His character is more muted, and more quiet. Thus, it requires good acting to not appear bland and wooden.

Zhong Xi Wu as the Lord is an interesting character. He has a unique relationship with Hua Qian and has much better chemistry with her than the other two male leads. I just wish we got more screen time of the two together. Their romance is quite subtle on Hua Qian’s part. It was hard to see whether she had feelings for him, except for that one item (which I shall not spoil) and was shown in the later part of the drama. It’s also interesting to see Zhong Xi Wu lose his cool when it comes to Hua Qian. He actually lost his cool a little too fast and uncharacter-like for a lord.

Hua Rong Zhou is the trusted guard who vows to protect Hua Qian with his life. This character appears too perfect and boring. He’s also bland in the beginning and Zhang Yi Jie’s acting is a little wooden. He was much better when he wasn’t a lovesick puppy following Hua Qian around. I like that when he’s talking back and being a little bossy. Other than that, Hua rong Zhou is not charismatic enough to be a male lead.

The rest of the supporting cast isn’t bad, except for Mu Yao, played by Zhao Qing. Her acting is the worst of the bunch for me. She has that one bland look and dead eyes on her face all the time. The veteran cast (Elder Princess and FL’s parents) obviously did a much better job than the younger cast.

The production quality is pretty good. I like the hairdos, accessories and the costumes of the female cast, and the sets and props look decent. “Scent of Time” only has 3 songs in its OST but they are lovely, just a little overplayed. I am however disappointed with the dubbing. I wish the main cast had used their own voice.

Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. It has its fault, but as a whole, I like the pacing, the redemption and character growth, and I am really becoming a fan of Zhou Ye.


Completed: 11/9/2023 - Review #375

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A Vingança da Criada
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Set 22, 2022
30 of 30 episódios vistos
Completados 2
No geral 7.0
História 4.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Musical 3.0
Voltar a ver 3.5
Esta resenha pode conter spoilers

General Abs

I saw this for the Abs. Was not disappointed. The leads and second lead actually performed really well. Kissing scenes were 🔥🔥🔥🔥They definitely did not shy away from those scenes. Although the female lead seemed to have swapped brains with a pigeon, the actress performed it really well. I might be blinded by his abs but the ML was also great in his performance of a domineering, trigger happy but brain dead inlove General. Saving grace in the plot movement was Liutenant Liu, bless his brain. The 2nd lead was very 2D in his evilness but also a little brain dead, he's a manipulative turd with the conscience of a rat. The actor was so convincing in this role that I might prolly just tag him as evil in any other role he will play in the future.

If you are looking for great storyline with great character development, better move along you won't find that here. But if you are looking to be entertained and/or just looking for a way vent your frustrations out watch this and shout away at your screen because will give you a LOT of reasons to scream.

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The Ambiguous Focus
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Ago 14, 2019
6 of 6 episódios vistos
Completados 0
No geral 8.0
História 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Musical 7.5
Voltar a ver 7.0

The Search for Identity & Self-invention

I just saw the full length movie version of The Ambiguous Focus (2017) not the 6 episodes drama (2018) and was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of both the story and cinematography. This is not your typical BL movie with fluffy, hilarious, or angsty scenes about teenage love. Right from the start the viewer is pulled into mature scenes with a gay couple trying to maintain their relationship.

The male leads, Nan and Zhe, know each other since school, their love story is shown in the prequel Kinematics Theory (2018). Both males are introverts, one is highly intelligent, highly sensitive, struggling to become a writer, the other is a good looking sporty guy who earns a living for both of them combining an office job with housekeeping. Just like the title their story is told, and filmed in a cryptic way, with different points of view from both men alternately, complemented by comments of their friends.

Plot
Nan and Zhe are nearing their 10th anniversary together, Nan is secretly saving money to buy a new apartment for them which makes him vulnerable for a rich guy named Jimmy who likes to bribe and sabotage Nan into a relationship with himself. Suddenly Nan's father must be hospitalized and from that moment on Nan's lot spells disaster, forcing him to make rash promises and decisions that have a huge impact on his partner Zhe, and his own future with Zhe.

Pros
I've read a lot of comments on the sadness of this movie, or the quality of acting, but I don't see it that way. First, the story has an open ending, second the actors were eye candy, their acting above average even natural at times, third, I found the story beautifully told, not overly dramatic... although living in a homophobe world is dramatic enough as shown in the side stories of gay friends who aren't living on cloud nine either.
The scope is on relationships, and questions about love. "Do I really love this person, or do I love it that he needs me, and I need him? Do I love him so much that I can withstand other alluring people?"

Cons
Misunderstandings are needed in a script to give a boost to a story, but I hate it, personally. A lot of grief could have been avoided if the characters would speak their minds. Further I disliked the passiveness of Zhe's character, but again, that's personal taste.

Verdict
This movie reminded me somehow of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest". It shows that people are busy with image building and pleasing others, but it all comes down to our search for identity and self-invention to make relationships work. Go watch it!

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A Aliança dos Conselheiros
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Jun 9, 2022
42 of 42 episódios vistos
Completados 18
No geral 8.5
História 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Musical 8.0
Voltar a ver 8.5

The king maker is king of kings.

Note: There are some statements of well known. historical facts in this review. They are by definition not spoilers but be warned in case you are unfamiliar with the history of this period.

Sima Yi, courtesy name Zhongda. History's most cunning grifter, a man who stole a throne and an empire more than once! I always enjoy dramas like this because they bring larger than life historical characters to life and deflate them into close to normal human beings. I never imagined Sima Yi would be portrayed as such a timid, groveling, deceptively harmless and well, just ordinary fellow. Or that he would be so terrified of his wife. That just cracked me up. Audacious.... sacrilegious even.... love it!

The drama opens with Zhongda, a brilliant scholar and tactician, welcoming his firstborn son Sima Shi into the world. His father Sima Fang is a shrewd and influential minister of the Han Imperial Court. By then, warlord Cao Cao had already openly seized power and repeatedly bullies the Han Emperor into a sniveling, terrified puppet. Zhongda unwittingly catches the eye of Cao Cao as he deftly extricates his father from a dire situation. He goes to extreme lengths to avoid serving Cao Cao who is both keen to make use of his talent and wary of it at the same time. Recognizing his innate cunning and ambition, Cao Cao regards him suspiciously as a double edged sword and comes close to killing him dead many times.

Initially I was surprised and a little bit underwhelmed to see such a timid and groveling Sima Yi. But the layers peel away very satisfactorily to reveal his hidden ruthless nature, his scheming and bold ambition. He is a king maker, someone capable of securing the throne for Cao Pi, the less favored son against Cao Cao's own wishes. He then proceeds to steal an empire for Cao Pi but this part seems whitewashed. I doubt Liu Xie was really that eager to so simply hand over the throne. Not surprisingly, he also intervenes in Cao Pi's succession plans. At that point, it is clear that Sima Yi the king maker is king of kings; that three generations of Cao rulers' succession is determined by this man. Notwithstanding his many contributions, Sima Yi is portrayed as a selfish and cunning character who parleys his own interests ruthlessly. He manipulates two revered ministers into sacrificing themselves to ensure Cao Pi's ascension, but it is clear his primary motive is to save his brother's life.

Sima Yi's great rivalry with Yang Xiu is rivetingly played out in the bitter succession battle between Cao Pi the worthy son and Cao Zhi the favored son. Both are ambitious and brilliant tacticians but they couldn't be more different in nature. Yang Xiu is arrogant, outspoken and extremely intuitive. He cannot help showing off, often over estimating himself and underestimating his enemies. This cost him his life and Cao Zhi the throne his father so badly wanted to give him. In sharp contrast, Sima Yi avoids attention and while he is is often underestimated, he has a healthy respect for his enemies capabilities. His final conversation with Yang Xiu, someone he empathized with, respected and learned from as a worthy opponent illuminates how Sima Yi managed to hang on to his head through many dangers. I have not watched Wu Xiubo before and I was hesitant about him as he is not the image that jumps to mind when I imagine Sima Yi. My concerns faded almost immediately and I cannot think of a better actor to play the role of Sima Yi as characterised by this production.

This drama largely sticks to history in terms of the key events and leading characters of the day. Told chronologically, the drama unavoidably peaks with the exit of the veteran actors who also play the most interesting figures of the day. This drama's highlight for me was Xun Yu's (played by none other than the fabulous Wang Jin Song) opposition to Cao Cao's decision to form his own feudal state. Their bittersweet final exchange that touched upon their long friendship, mutual respect and alignment that turned into reproach and disappointment is a powerful, memorable and compellingly acted drama moment that only two actors of such caliber can deliver. I can recommend watching this drama for that scene alone. I feel pity for anyone attempting the role of Cao Cao after Yu Hewei. I almost wept with joy at the perfection of his rendering of Cao Cao in his twilight years; the ambitious warlord stymied by the limits of his own mortality and torn by his succession dilemma between his most worthy son and his most loved son. Needless to say he is as bad a dad as he was as good a warlord and statesman. Ironically, Cao Cao sows the seeds of the downfall of his own empire as Cao Pi is also a terrible father who also messes up his own heir. Whereas the Sima family in sharp contrast are paragons of Confucian family virtue, the foundation of a moral society.

When it comes to the inner palace and familial relationships, the storytelling embellishes wild history and heavily fictionalizes the historically insignificant aspects. I was sad but unsurprised to see Cao Pi's deep friendship with Zhongda become distrustful and utilitarian after he becomes emperor. While I understand the audience appeal, it is well known that Zhongda's relationship with his wife was much less cordial but I love Liu Tao and was happy to buy into this Disney version. However the whole song and dance with Lady Bai and how Zhongda was "forced" to accept her went too far and just made me roll my eyes. I expect a man of that status in those times to have concubines I don't see the need to waste so much time suggesting he meant to be monogamous when he definitely was not. I also was not compelled by the chemistry between Cao Pi and Lady Guo but at least they didn't try to suggest he didn't have a harem. Lady Zhen's story could well just be speculative history but she is the character I felt the most sorry for in this drama.

The Advisors Alliance is the first instalment of Sima Yi's story and ends with Sima Yi retiring from active duty under Cao Pi. By then, Sima Yi and his proteges had succeeded in pushing through agricultural and structural reforms that made Cao Wei great and restrained the power of the Cao clan warlords. It is a fascinating account of how an understated and often under estimated Sima Yi was ruler in deed if not in name. His machinations paved the way for the Sima clan's rise in influence which eventually led to the founding of the Jin dynasty, which many still argue was not a legitimate state. I enjoyed this enough to rate it an 8.5 and will probably go on to watch the second season Growling Tiger, Roaring Dragon which focuses on his rivalry with Zhuge Liang.

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Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou
26 pessoas acharam esta resenha útil
Mar 9, 2013
11 of 11 episódios vistos
Completados 1
No geral 9.0
História 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Musical 8.0
Voltar a ver 9.0
I was intrigued from the onset with the bookstore. The actors, scenery, and pace is very watchable and soothing. This drama uses the unspoken dialogue as the dialogue. Thus the actors are filling in the spaces with their stories, lives and secrets. The bookstore business I the US is fading art yet this drama critically illustrates its importance in the lives of others. If you love books, mystery/treasure hunting and the voluminous quiet of a bookstore this is worth the watch.
Why watch? I confess, I own a bookstore ;) and yes we have all these kinds of characters enter our store&life;.

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