Reviews

Whodunit

Despite the rather unimaginative title, Who is the Murderer tells you exactly what this drama is about without the need to check the genres, tags or even read the synopsis. The thing with whodunits is the less you know heading into it, the better for your overall viewing enjoyment. In fact, I would suggest that you skip the synopsis entirely to avoid being spoilered.

What I did know beforehand though was that this drama is the third entry to iQiyi Mist Theatre’s Light On series for 2021. For the uninitiated, the Mist Theatre Light On series which was launched in 2020 focuses on high quality thrillers (typically crime) presented in short format (around 16 episodes or less). At least, that is the planning intent by the Chinese OTT provider. Unfortunately the first two offerings of the year, The Pavilion and Wisher, IMHO, didn’t live up to the high standards set as far as the quality of the screenplay is concerned and in comparison with some of last year’s higher-rated productions. The good news, however, is that Who is the Murderer finally broke that trend and turned out to be the best yet, of this year's batch. How the fourth drama in the series, Gold Panning, compares when it airs later this week remains to be seen.

Principal photography for the drama began in August 2020 with Wuxi serving as the primary filming location and the setting for Haizhou City, both of which are located in Jiangsu province. The director helming this production needs no introduction for he is none other than Sun Hao, who famously directed the much-loved Joy of Life. The plot is based on an original screenplay by Chen Wei Han and Kong You You.

A neo noir psychological crime thriller focusing on the mystery of unsolved serial murders that span a period of 17 years, from 2000 to 2017. The plot revolves around three main characters - Leng Xiao Ping, the hardboiled Violent Crimes detective who is haunted by the past; Xia Mu, the promising young police recruit with demons of his own; and finally Shen Yu, the enigmatic psychologist with her own hidden motivations. All three somehow discover an inextricable connection to the unsolved murders.

What I Liked

This drama is slow burn yet gripping where the suspense never truly lets up once it grabs a hold of you. The pilot episode starts off very strongly with frantic action and extreme urgency that establishes the background of the mystery. From the second episode on, it eases into an engaging tempo where the story transitions into the present day. The plot features a number of unexpected twists that are smartly written and delicately revealed. Utterly surprising yet makes total sense, with neither the fanfare nor suspension of disbelief. I especially enjoyed the subtle cat and mouse games that ensues between the three characters.

The roles are very well crafted, where each of the three main characters is given much depth and complexity. Merely stating that they are extremely grey with many dimensions doesn’t do justice to the elaborate characterization. The same can be said of the other characters, whether in a supporting capacity or simply guest appearance. Not a single character appears out of place in this drama.

The acting well and truly breathes life into the characters without compromising the ingenuity of the design. In Zhao Li Ying’s second appearance this year since Legend of Fei and after the birth of her son in 2019, her portrayal of Shen Yu is perhaps one of the finest in her career. Nuanced, sophisticated, calculated, and profoundly complicated. This drama wouldn’t be the same without her masterful performance.

Likewise Xiao Yang who plays the detective, Leng Xiao Bing. Aside from the brief instances of levity, the level of street smarts that he infuses into his character is convincingly smooth. His version of hardboiled isn’t overly gritty and actually comes across as quite affable. My first time seeing Dong Zi Jian and his depiction of Xia Mu is quite interesting, to say the least. He manages to convey the necessary emotions in face of challenges that his character gradually goes through, in the course of the story.

The production design is top notch, in terms of the cinematography technique and framing of the visuals, as well as the art direction. I love the application of softer colour grading, as opposed to the typical edgy darker schemes of noir productions. Additionally, the flow of the storytelling is not interrupted by the infusion of flashback sequences and references to the earlier timeline.

As far as the music is concerned, I enjoyed Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata during the stylish title sequence and the outro theme by Jin Minqi. Full listing as follows:

Moonlight Sonata
藏 Hide - 金玟岐 Jin Minqi
藏 Hide - 徐明浩 Xu Minghao
你看 Look - 金志文 Jin Zhiwen

What Could Have Been Better

In terms of the technical execution, the editing is somewhat inconsistent where certain scene transitions do not appear as seamless as it should to match the general quality of the camerawork.

The conceptual vibe of the storytelling is quite pronounced throughout the drama, which may compel viewers to strain their concentration in making the connection to certain plot points. This appears to be a stylistic choice rather than a deliberate attempt to dramatize the depiction of events. Sometimes it works and at other times, it becomes somewhat confusing.

As much as I have enjoyed Dong Zi Jian’s performance, I feel that his appearance does not suitably match his characterization at times. He looks more like a college kid than a promising police recruit or probationary detective. His mannerism as well as propensity to disregard authority and instructions are somewhat jarring compared to the other characters who appear more believable in their roles.

Finally, the ending. It did feel somewhat underwhelming. I honestly anticipated a more mind-blowing conclusion to the whole overarching mystery...

Overall

Notwithstanding the criticisms, Who is the Murderer represents a return to relative form of iQiyi’s Light On series and is one of the stronger C-drama thrillers to be released this year. It may not be flawless and while it doesn't end as strongly as it starts, I do appreciate the intricacies of the storytelling and the compelling performances of the leads, particularly that of Zhao Li Ying.

Leia Mais

A simple and beautiful story about love and grief

This movie will be in my memories for a very, very long time.

The whole storyline was nothing out of the ordinary, but that was precisely why it works. It was so, so relatable that it hurts to think about because it reminded me of my own experience in life with my grandparents.

I cried throughout the entire movie. The cinematography was gorgeous, and reminiscent of growing up in an Asian household.

I highly recommend this movie. But it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea. If you're a fan of the slice of life genre, then this movie is for you.

Nothing dramatic happens throughout the movie, it just tells a story about a grandmother who is dying, and how the family deals with the aftermath of the heartbreaking news.

Leia Mais

Best Lakorn of the Year

The review might be biased from my side personally,
Since this drama is all about positivity , you'll be reading this without any negativity.

anywho. lets start summing up

If you're someone who's looking for a family drama/lakorn that is not too intense but its everything inside like humor, laughter, tears. fun, romance and friendship, then this one is the best yet you could ever watch in your life.

I started watching this lakorn since 2 months ago. Never missed any episode. Every episode was worth the wait. Binging all the way through and so much emotions going through within this two months because of this show itself. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, and mostly I smiled all the way.

Now lets talk about the actors & the characters
Toey - Watched Toey's performance in Timeline before (the same co-star with James Ji). Was deeply touched. Completely a different developed character with what she's playing as Mata. I did read lot of news and reviews for the main character that Matalada only and can just be played by Toey. That she is Mata and Mata is her. I can see why.

James Ji - One word, natural. Quite natural as Penneung/Purim, The way I see it, he's just playing himself in the lakorn as himself cause sometimes I forgot, he is James Ji and Penneung is his character.

The chemistry for both of them is undeniable. I've been following up the news, events and project about them since Timeline which is in 2014. I could say, they're just passed as lovers in real life. But it takes two to tango as what they said. Anyway, just happy and glad that they're very close in real life too. That what makes Mata and Penneung is perfect for each other.

I'll summed up the others characters as short as I can. Tri-Pang-Riri, just happy and satisfied that they can be friends. Not picking any side for the pair really either Tri-Pang or Tri-Riri, cause I love their characters very much. They had their own wounds and reasons.
Father Grace, speechless for this character. He is the main one and the reason why Mata was born as one of the most loveliest person in the planet. Same goes to Aunt Vee.
The Cage - Type of gang that I think everyone should have or meet at least one time in their life. So much fun
The doctors - Type of gang or family that everyone needs, supportive.

Music
Love, love and just love. Just wish they have a full soundtrack list and score. Would love to add in my spotify list.

Overall
8/10. Pretty sure will watch it over and over again after this cause I'll miss them.

Possible sequel - positive to say, its possible. For Pang-Tri-Riri perhaps. Maybe Mata & Penneung with Tee Ruk (their baby) too

Now, to those who is missing Matalada. I strongly recommend for you guys to watch Timeline. Also, prepare tissue 🥹

Leia Mais

a masterpiece that's it

Oh my fcking gosh! That's all i'm saying for the end. This drama is depressed, dark and it has a very hard content! 2022 kdramas are so weak and very awful so far, but this one is amazing!

Perfect cast, amazing acting, great music, well written & interesting plot. The child actors oh my god, i think they are in the same age like me, like wow, they are insane, i think their career will grow. I watched it because of Kim Sung Kyu, because he is my favourite actor of all the time & well it worth it. That man is an amazing actor, all of his dramas are a masterpiece. Also Kim Dong Wook's acting, goddamn, he's really talented as well. I don't know a lot about Chae Jung An, but all i've seen was a beautiful & talented woman who deserves to be casted in better dramas.

About the plot + characters: Maybe this drama is hard to watch for some people, bullying/school violence is a really "important" thing in this kdrama sadly, and the ending was a heartbreak. I have to say the female lead wasn't so important, tbh she isn't really a lead character, she is just here. The two male leads, oh gosh both of them are a rollercoaster. But i think both of them deserved better. I've seen the movie but this is way better!! Cheol had more screentime, he deserved it. But i thought only Hwang Kyung Min will die and then Jong Seok watches it. But sadly no, both of them died "did what Cheolie always wanted...". Also the way Kyung Min said "let's go to see Cheolie" broke my heart. Then i started to cry and i guess i'm not the only one. The last scenes of the kids made me cry as well. This drama deserves higher rating, ranking and it deserves to be popular. I don't wanna compare this drama to 2521 but this drama deserves that 8.9 rating more than 2521 (imo, please don't k-word me i love KTR with my whole heart). That's a 10/10 from me!

Leia Mais

Strange, but Good.

I kid you not, this mini-drama would've probably been buried beneath the plethora of mini-dramas getting released every month, had it not been for the very impressive performance by the cast. I barely watch mini dramas as almost everyone of them have terrible acting or is just plain wish fulfillment.

Also, had this been a full length drama, I can foresee the wars that would've taken place in the comments section. (Some people might find some scenes particularly triggering or difficult to watch.)
Coupled with a very tropey and common storyline, almost similar to something written in a wattpad fiction, Maid's Revenge was hilarious and an emotional viewing experience for me. Hilarious because it's entertainment value is 100%, if you manage to turn off your brain.
The final episodes start to descend into a more serious atmosphere, though.

Emotional because somehow, the writers managed to convey that each character was different. [For example, by episode 2, we barely know about the Governor, except that he is an almost insane muscled dude who had a penchant for pulling a gun on literally everyone who stepped on the wrong stair.]

By EP20, we are aware of everyone's intentions, goals and why certain characters made the choices they did.

I had begun this for Chen Fang Tong, whom I had seen in Always Have, Always Will last year. Having never seen her in a serious role, I wanted to check this one out. Plus, the release schedule along with the run time was perfect for me to watch everyday.
I was not disappointed by her performance. The male lead, Dai Gao Zheng was surprisingly a strong actor.
The entire small cast were excellent and convincing.

The storyline/plot was delivered well. Within roughly three and a half hours, we have a clear idea about everything. Kudos to the production team for that.

Chinese Republican dramas are something I washed my hands off a long time ago, so this might be the first one under this genre. I was wary about certain tropes that helped me predict the turn of events.
The plot has several acrimonious elements towards the end.

I won't say I'm completely satisfied and I certainly won't say no to seeing the two leads paired again in a proper drama.

7.5 might be an overblown score. But, for a small budget production, it was surprisingly well made, minus the budget constraints. It was entertaining enough to keep me hooked and I for once, do not regret starting this.

Leia Mais

Red or Black, Fan Xiao is loved

I thoroughly enjoyed this series from the first episode to the last. This was truly entertaining, the main requirement of any production. Fan Xiao has set the standard for the most likeable villain. He plotted his way into Shu Lang's life and suffered for it. While his intentions were diabloical, he did free Shu Lang from the parasites of his life. Unfortunately, he in turn, became the main destroyer to his happiness and peace.

I felt no pity for Shu Lang's ex boyfriend and brother. They were both expertly played with and discarded. The fall out due to the duplicity from Fan Xiao destroyed his pride. He did say, "If you are lying, keep lying, don't ever let me find out." Ultimately, the bond between them would see them run through the gamut of emotions and whoever stood in their path. Fan Xiao's retribution was always sure.

The characters were beautifully brought to life by one and all. Li Hua showed himself to be the most loyal friend to Fan Xiao and was just as humorous. This would not have been the same without him. Yun Qi, Hao Yi Ran and Kou Wei Long did great. The 15 episodes each held a moment or moments that would make it not feel tedious to view. Some portrayals did border on melodramatic, but that's China. The budget and production was on a bigger scale than most which proved to be an asset. Script was a bit expected but not completely so. The deftness at which Fan Xiao smoothly schemed his way through needed to be told.

This should be viewed as a fantasy and not with morality to be enjoyed. They did well. Loved it and can't wait for the special.

Leia Mais

I especially enjoyed the irony in this title, because like most love stories, finding love and keeping love is not at all easy. It is anything but, a piece of cake.

For me, this movie was a hot mess. Severely flawed leads, random Michael Jackson’s Thriller/ Drag Show-esque Play scenes thrown in, and a storyline that is a bit all over the place. Also, abusive relationships… abusive relationships…. EVERYWHERE! From verbally, physically, sexually to emotionally. (Or guys who only want one thing) However, the FL was not an innocent flower herself, and very much a self-sabatoger in both her life and relationships. Honestly, she was her own worst enemy in this film. Towards the end she starts to grow, and becomes independent, successful and happy. And then, SPOILER, decides to go back to her emotionally abusive relationship that cheated and lied to her… and it was made to look like a happy ending… YUP… that happened.

However, all in all, I cannot say that regret watching it. It was an okay film and it kept me interested the whole way through wondering what would happen to this odd bunch of characters. In addition, the acting was really good especially given the questionable plotlines. I also appreciated that during its intimate scenes it was more realistic in that it wasn’t necessarily glamourized. There was awkwardness, there was laughter. It wasn’t always sunshine and daisies. And since I find this this a rarity in most movies, I found it refreshing.

Overall, it was okay. Worth watching once, if you want a mature drama that is less romanticized and closer to real life in that it contains flawed characters, who do not always make the best decisions, and things do not always work out perfectly in the end. However, very low re-watch value.

Happy Drama Watching!!

Leia Mais

[*My first time writing a review. Sorry, it might not be good :/]
Gosh, where should I start? I really didn't expect myself to like this horror movie. It wasn't so scary, but the story really moved me. I cried buckets at the ending! :'(

Story: Wonderful. The story was not the best, but very wonderful. It's a bit scary at times, but the overall story really moves you.

Acting/Cast : Love Park Min Young's acting in here. I could see her expressing every of her line very well. The acting was quite good overall.

Overall, it is a good movie to watch. If you're into one of those VERY scary horror films, this one isn't for you. But if you're not into super scary movies, and you want a horror movie with a good story line, I recommend this! ^^

Leia Mais

I decided to watch My Dear Boy out of boredom and it’s something I don’t regret. My Dear Boy is a drama about a boy and a woman who find comfort, friendship, and love together through the trials of their lives. I’ve seen many noona romances before, and though this isn’t anything new story wise to add to the genre, it has a warm feeling to it and was a joy to watch.

The story of My Dear Boy is very simple. Our male lead, Ahn Qing Hui, encounters our female lead, Luo Xiao Fei by accident because of their messy love lives. Though these two are very different, an odd friendship blossoms between them. Though the story is simple, the best thing about this drama is watching the budding friendship between our leads and how they grow by being there for each other. This drama is more than just romance, but about growing up, dealing with the complications of love and falling in love with someone, dealing with your career choices and what you choose to do with your future. These are the great things about the drama, though it’s not all perfect and it does suffer from a few flaws and that’s mostly pacing. This drama could have benefited from having lesser episodes and 16 probably would have been better. Also, some things could have been a little more clearer in the narrative during the latter half.

The cast is really good. Both Ruby and Derek do great jobs with their roles, especially in their emotional scenes. I really did believe in the chemistry between them and when I talk about chemistry I’m not simply speaking on a romantic level, but that they work really well together, and they never felt awkward around each other. I really believed in their friendship which I think is the best thing about this drama. I thought both Qing Hui and Xiao Fei were well written, interesting characters and Ruby and Derek embodied them bringing their characters to life. Watching their story made you want to see them grow and get their happy ending. I also liked the other male leads and I thought they were great additions because they weren’t so one note and they never felt like they were there to solely cause problems between our leads. They were well written and well used. I do think some of the supporting cast could have been used better. Shampoo’s appearance at one point felt off. The same thing with the Qing Hui’s friends. And some of the characters, mostly the family members, fall prey to the common tropes of the ‘I’m against the relationship so I’ll do everything to ruin it’.

Overall, this drama was a fun watch. It’s not perfect and has some flaws here and there, but it’s enjoyable to watch and I loved tuning in every week. Ruby and Derek are great and it’s a joy watching them both.

I recommend this drama if you’re a fan of Ruby or Derek, or noona romances because this is a nice addition to the genre. Simple, sweet, fun, and heartfelt.

Leia Mais

I always been absolutely in love with spy stories, specially when in comes to WWII. this masterpiece tells story of Ming family, an old and prestigious merchant family of Shanghai during the Japanese occupation time and their efforts to protect their country from Japanese invaders together with their love for each eachother, difference of opinions and their confrontations. I am still fascinated by the family bond between them who gathered together and made Ming family which was more than blood made on love and understanding.

writing is genuine, with a fast pace, full of traps as it was a dangerous era for spies and patriots. as the drama unfold new twists come and you are always kept on your toes to know who works for who and who will survive this.

And for the cast, If you are like me and after Nirvana in Fir left impatient with the desire to see more from Jin Dong, you have a heavenly time here. Ming Lou is what Mei Chang Su was for Nirvana in Fir; He is mysterious, mature, sharp (cynical even at times) with the mind which able to see the slightest details of the possibilities ahead. He is one of the most complicated character of the dramaland and a delight to watch. He's my bais in this drama. and his interaction with his sidekick Ming Chen (played by Wang Kai) is one of the best I've seen ever. the only disappointment for me was the romance story between funny Ming Tai (played by Hu Ge) and stiff communist girl, he fall in love and I didn't get it! but all the way women of the story are badass too and cool to watch. I wished Ming family adopted a girl too just imagine such a badass she would have been.

in a nutshell it's a spy drama plus great twists and some historical lessons on China in that tumultuous era. It has drama, family, friendship, comedy and an exceptionally intellectual plot.just be aware that story is kind of draggy in a few last episodes. and maybe a bit rushed ending, still a great drama ride.

for rewatch value I started to rewatch it again just as I finished it.

Leia Mais

Beautiful Darkness

A really interesting thriller drama that explores the flaws and weaknesses of human nature through each and every of its characters in great detail. The story as a whole doesn't leave you in awe, but the mystery is handled really well with every episode offering a new piece to the puzzle, while still keeping you in the dark. The beautiful cinematography and atmospheric direction only add to an already well-executed series, amplifying its darkness and giving it a distinctive identity.

As for the acting, I can only praise the cast. All of its members are accomplished actors with experience that contributed to this beautiful result, portraying their characters in the best possible way. Especially, the girls did a magnificent job and truly got to shine.

I definitely recommend this series to fans of the genre. It's a well-paced show that doesn't drag or gets boring. It successfully keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last moment.

Leia Mais

Watching this short + sweet drama was akin to eating a piece of chocolate

ᰔ Story ᰔ

❛❛Natsumi, your shoulder was just too comfortable to sleep on. I'm sorry...❜❜

❛❛If you want, I'll lend you my shoulder anytime, whenever you can't fall asleep.❜❜

—And that's how their adorable relationship began.

Natsumi met Haruto (who came along with her friends) when she had a drinking party at her home, she knew him from before but they never interacted until then. After having a few drinks, everyone got drunk and decided to sleep at Natsumi's house, but Haruto ended up resting his head on Natsumi's shoulder while asleep.

Natsumi half-jokingly said the next morning that she can lend her shoulder to him, but only during Wednesdays because she doesn't have to go to her part-time job on that day; However, Haruto takes it seriously and stays at her house every Wednesday, just to innocently sleep on her shoulder.

ᰔ Characters ᰔ

Natsumi - She likes photography and carries around a camera everywhere. She's pretty naive and innocent, but not stupid or annoying. Her internal monologues are always relatable and hilarious. She's overall such an adorable character who you'd want to befriend if she existed in real life!

Haruto - For him every day is special and supposed to be a festival about something, sometimes it's Marimo day, sometimes it's orange day, sometimes it's fish-stick day, sometimes it's dogs-and-cats day, and he makes sure to 'celebrate' each day with the fl. He's bit of an eccentric, knows how to cook, is really caring, and has a positive outlook on life. He's basically the perfect person for the fl.

There's relatively few characters that appear in this drama to begin with and the focus was only on the main characters, but that's exactly why I believe they were quite well-written and the reason this drama didn't feel draggy. There was also no third party trying to separate them or anything, and a tiny misunderstanding between the leads only lasted for a few minutes lol.

ᰔ Visuals/Music ᰔ

The visuals are extremely pleasing to the eyes, the shots are slow and smooth with a tint of warmth, the colour scheme is somewhat autumn based and I personally found it really homely and cozy; it's perfect to watch on a cold day. The bk music and osts also complimented each scene that they accompanied. Despite this drama being pretty short, I'm sure it wasn't low-budget or at least didn't appear to be so.

Leia Mais

Intriguing opener but terrible plot development

Mainly going to review the plot because the other components (acting/cast and music) were great.

I really liked how the story was captivating from the start (different from typical C-drama openers) and there was always a new story or goal for at least one of the characters/pairs. However, the plot did dragged in the middle because there's a lot of couples and the drama goes into each couple's story at some point. Each character/couple's "story" refers to their romantic lives, family relationships, AND work/jobs, so you can probably see why this drama ends up at 50 episodes... They also introduced a few new minor characters in the middle, which gave a nice break from the main characters' endless stories but also meant there's someone else's story to follow now.

IMO, the drama would have been more interesting if they expanded on Mowgli's adapting to civilization and the FL helping him adjust because that was what intrigued me the most. And it's not that I didn't enjoy the other couples, but if they only focused on one or two primary couples like most dramas do, then the drama could have ended wonderfully at the typical 20 or so episodes. Also worth mentioning that the story went downhill in the end, everything became super unrealistic and the ending was just unsatisfactory and weird. There was a lot of potential with this novel story but it didn't turn out for me.

Overall, it was still a good watch to kill time, but not amazing enough to get you hooked and waiting anxiously for the next episodes to come out. If I rewatched, I'd probably watch the first half of the drama again and stop there.

Leia Mais

First, if you are expecting a happy ending, then this movie is not for you.

This movie is on a different level. We are so much used to movies or dramas where the MC suffers from memory lost or amnesia, but this one is the other way around. The people around Azusa forgets about her in a couple or hours or just the next day. But Takashi was different, he was able to remember her, until...
(Well I will just let you watch to find out what really happened)

Like I said, it was very different, I don't know if I have encountered or watched a live action drama or movie like this yet. If I may compare it for similar situations, I can say it's from Boku Dake ga Inai Machi. But in Boku Dake, people only forgot about him as a result or consequences for his attempt to change his past. But here, people just forgets her after a day of meeting her, even her family.
I think it is really hard to be in that situation. It is a different story if you're the one who forgets, but how about if you are the one being forgotten? Even your own parents? And even if you try to live on your own and be independent and find a job, how? People might just even forget hiring you.

I still have a lot of questions in my mind right now, asking myself how will I able to surpass that? The last scene gave me a lot of emotions, I can't explain which of this emotions I should really feel. I was on tears, not much, but my heart is crying, for Takashi & Azusa. Like why? They were so sweet in the videos Takashi watched in his laptop. I want to say a lot of that scene, but it would have been spoiler.

The actors did well in their portrayal of the characters, abd the plot is somewhat different, or at least the situation for the lead characters to me, but the flow of the story was just simple and light. It is watchable, at least good enough if you're not the type to always go for happy-ending.

Leia Mais