First thing to note, is that I watched this drama for Lee Min Ho. I recognized his previous works - like Personal Taste and Boys Over Flowers - and thought I should give this show a shot. I myself hesitated to watch it, (being a historical drama and all), but it's worth watching, and something I'd recommend to Lee Min Ho fans.
Now for the story itself (I'll try to keep this short), let's say that overall, it was lacking. The main problem I encountered with this series is continuity; a lot of it didn't make sense. A lot of the time I was left confused, wondering how the plot ended me up where I was. Ironically it was the main theme of time/travel that bothered me the most. In order not to spoil anything, let's simply say it had issues.
The acting left something to be desired, to say the least. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't commend the cast on their acting either. Furthermore, the relationships ... let's say, also had issues (at least for me).
Music is probably the only thing I really liked in this drama. The OST played well throughout the scenes, and managed to embed certain scenes/events into my head.
In closing, here's two things;
i. DO watch Faith because it is a good watch for those who enjoy historical dramas and/or Lee Min Ho (and/or the other actors/actresses - whomever you favour, i guess)
ii. DON'T watch Faith if you pay really close attention to the plot. Certain things will tick you off throughout the series.
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A lovely healing drama with bonus puppies
The meet-cute is the usual enemy-to-lover trope. The initial impressions of the leads are also quite stereotypical. Ambitious FL with a chip on her shoulder meets a cold, talented ML. We soon find out that they are actually decent people but both have damaged psyches. They might display a brave front, but their wounds run deep and they suffer in silence. There is a vulnerable individual behind the tough exterior.The Show could have taken the easy road and rely on tropey plots and cliché characters but thankfully it didn’t. It does stray close to some timeworn scenarios at times, but it managed to use them to its advantage.
I appreciate that the story is more complex than at first glance. The writing is layered which makes the narrative more engaging and thought provoking. The characters also have more depth and they are relatable. With only 23 x 30 minutes episodes, the pacing is good and there is no lag.
I won’t give away the interesting plot twists. Let’s just say that it is a nice mix of romance, humour and angst. The found family theme runs deep and resurface again and again.
The chemistry of the leads is very good. The romance appears to grow organically, and not artificially sweetened. There are some skinship. It is not very passionate but it is good enough.
It is not all smooth sailing though and there are some misunderstandings and rash decisions. They are resolved relatively quickly and are not allowed to fester. The best part is that the two leads complemented each other so well and each provide the other half what they longed for. The other CP's are the usual pairing of secondary characters but at least you don't feel that they have been forced together for no reason.
Acting is solid. There are no big-name actors here. The ML is a new idol turn actor with this show being his first starrer. I have to say that he impressed me. It is a measured performance. His role is made a little easier by being stoic and reserved in the beginning but he does expand his range as the show progresses. The FL also did well and turned in a decent, anchoring performance. The support cast generally pull their weight and rounded out the ensemble nicely.
The Show also shares duty as a docudrama about aging traditional artisans and the accelerated decline of their arts in the age of fast fashions. It did get a bit jingoistic towards the end but at least it is self-aware enough not to push through a flag waving but illogical resolution. The ending is balanced and consistent with the overall narrative flow. The added bonus of a decent amount of fan service is appreciated. I also like the fact that neither of the leads have to give up their dream/ambition. There is a middle ground as long as both parties are willing to work hard at it. I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the nuanced writing so kudos to the writer!
While it is not a high budget production, they did used their resources wisely. The rural locations are beautiful and full of character. The post production and cinematography combined to give us some memorable and poetic scenes. It certainly exceeded my expectations. The OST is pleasant and worked well with the ebb and flow of the scenes.
The Show is a surprisingly good healing journey and an ode to the aging master crafts people. Both the journey and the destination are enjoyable. Recommended.
P.S. The puppies are so cute, but someone should have told them they don’t stay puppies forever. But hey, who wants to be a killjoy. ;)
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Lifetime of Love, Regrets and Sacrifices
Happy, sad, happy, sad, and happy. Yes, these are the emotions I have been experiencing throughout this drama. When the times are good, everything is cute, lovey-dovey and funny. Then chaos strikes, I cry for the losses. And life starts all over again. Things become cute and funny once more, and I laugh. Just as the water is finally calm, chaos strikes again. I cry my eyes out for the losses, mourning for my favorite characters. It is really amazing how such a drama can fully capture our emotions and make us feel for the characters so much.60,000 years ago, almost everyone dies after the battle of the gods and the demons. Now 60,000 years later, the gods are reborn through the remnants of their spirits. They become the immortals, relatively young gods with lower power. They meet and fall in love all over again, until the true gods, who are within their subconscious, are awoken, and their minds merge and bodies taken over. At the same time, the return of the devil means another war is imminent.
Shang Gu (Zhou Dong Yu) is a happy-go-lucky, one of the four true gods, doted by the other true gods, Tian Qi (Liu Xue Yi) and Zhi Yang (Li Ze Feng). She’s carefree and playful, but the stern teachings of Bai Jue (Xu Kai), one of the four, help her realize her potential, and she falls head-over-toes in love with him. Through him, she begins to understand the importance of her role in the universe. With that, she grows stronger and becomes the most powerful god of all. This growing pain doesn’t come easy. It takes her through enormous emotional struggle and eventual sacrifice of herself for the greater good.
Zhou Dong Yu’s acting hits the mark, as Shang Gu and Hou Chi, right on the spot. She can be girly and playful with a sweet mesmerizing smile. Then in one whiff, becomes a serious and powerful god feared by all. Many viewers complain that Zhou Dong Yu not beautiful enough, to that I would say beauty should not be the focus here, but her aura and acting should.
Bai Jue grows from a cold emotionless being into a person who can feel love and love in return. Many viewers complain Xu Kai can’t act, but to me, his acting is exactly right without overacting. As Bai Jue, he is cold and emotionless (ironically Tian Qi nicknames him, the God of Fire, Ice Cube), but as Qing Mu, he is not as cold and more animated. Xu Kai manages to show the distinct emotions of both characters very well, and through his eyes, he exudes passion, longing and turmoil. When he’s been wronged, the silence pain he endures shown in his eyes is so real, making the viewers empathize with his characters. When Xu Kai cries, I cry. Yes, Xu Kai can act and is excellent in portraying his roles.
My most favorite character is perhaps Tian Qi. After the drama “Qing Luo”, I really love Liu Xueyi and his acting. Once again, he’s given an excellent performance here. Over all, the acting from the whole cast is fabulous, from the main leads, to the second leads, to the kid, to the antagonists. Everyone has put up their best performances and it shows in the final production. The writing is good, the story is intriguing, the editing is coherent, the pace is just right (especially at the second half) and the CGIs are awesome.
OSTs
Absolutely must listen. So good.
My Verdict
The beginning episodes are very interesting with amazing CGIs. Then it becomes somewhat draggy with quite a bit of the to-and-fro, playing out the relationship development which I find rather boring. I must admit I did yawn a little here and there (maybe even dozed off from time to time) for the first 10 episodes as the characters are developing. Then the second life begins (around episode 16), ushering in the births of the in-between gods with the introduction of new characters. They are initially confusing and their relationship overlapping. Many viewers begin dropping the drama. Clarification comes later as the story unfolds. Then the pace picks up. The second half proves to be most enjoyable. As the antagonist grows stronger each day and finally becomes a full-blown demon, the whole drama becomes incredibly captivating.
Re-watch? Absolutely. There are so many things I believe I have missed on my first watch. Re-watching can help me catch the nuances, hence provide even better appreciation of the overall story.
For me, this drama is much more enjoyable than “Love and Redemption” (sorry LAR fans) as it captures the human emotions more realistically. For viewers who dropped this drama prematurely, do come back and complete it. You won’t regret it.
In “xian xia” stories, there is always a life 2.0. One can correct a mistake and make everything as according to one’s wishes again in the next life. But in our mortal world, regrets cannot be undone, deaths cannot be revived or life cannot reborn. It is therefore imperative that we treasure what we have while we’re still alive.
Great watch! Must watch! Bravo!
TWO THUMBS UP!
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Story-
Only side by side with you is relatively a good drama. Obviously the first negetive mark for this drama starts with the unnecessary 40 episodes but I guess once you get the kick out of it, you won't mind it anymore. However, one thing that really iritated me in this drama was flashbacks. Brace yourself people coz there are innumerable same flashbacks in every episode. Story was kind of a cliche but they didn't leave any plot-holes in it so I am giving an extra point to the story for that. Chinese dramas are master at leaving plot-holes and Only side by side with you wraps up every story quite well.
Acting-
I discovered William Chan people. My greatest discovery in C-dramas ever! It is going to be difficult to get over him for a while coz he's such a good actor! The drama was nothing great but the acting was superb by everyone especially the two leads. Main girl is a strong independent and quite a cool woman. I liked her character alot. Actually I enjoyed all the women characters of this drama. I even enjoyed watching the obsessive An Ning too, maybe because she was not THAT cruel or messed up as other evil second female leads. All the other characters, their development with the story and their acting was on point except for the few minor ones which could be ignored.
Music-
Love love loved the music. The opening theme, the ending theme by William Chan himself and all the other OST's were good. Anyone would enjoy the music of this drama.
Re-watch value-
I don't usually re-watch Chinese drama coz they're super long like this one, but I might re-watch some episodes of this again to see all the muscle and dimple of William Chan. I swear people just watch this show for the fabulous him.
Overall-
On the side note I actually kinda liked this drama. It was nothing extraordinary but you would enjoy it. I certainly didn't get bored of watching it atleast. 40 episodes are big commitment but once you are into the drama, I don't think it would itch you any more. Go watch it.
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Scissors... Dog Walks...Riding...and...Mushrooms?
First off, I'd like to apologize for episode 9...blood of the holy ghost, how do I explain that unholy episode to my ancestors? I thought scissors were a device used for cutting hair... but boy was I wrong. Ob-un did all that while having a sword wound!! Child?? And did Ob-un dog walked Shan up those stairs?? Also, Ob-un's villain laughter had me weak, dafug you mean, uhuhum uhuhum hummm. Boy, stop playing.Listen, these actors are brave. Kudos to them for being able to act these scenes in front of so many crew members. Tutor a better human than me though, cuz after that stone bed scene, I'd have pulled Yim to the side and acted like that one k-drama and go... 'Listen buddy, I didn't want to say this, but like, my family have 30 cows, and my mom knows a monk...get dressed, we getting married.' No but, seriously, how you go back to being friends after all that??? This is the wildest they've been.
And like, as if that scissor scene wasn't enough, we had the dog walk, which imma be honest got cringy in the middle, and that double riding in the finale... Susan, I think someone can get pregnant from all that. And the second leads also had that couch scene which had full on display cheeks and the whole demon lord thing in the finale. How these actors look into each other's eyes after that? Cuz, I can't even make eye contact on public transport, I always have to act all creepy like something interesting is on the floor. Like one time on the bus a baby smiled at me and I tried to hid behind one of them thin poles, cuz I ain't trying to have no awkward stare offs with no baby but like that's...wait, what was I talking about?
Right, mushrooms. yes, I definitely needed whatever mushroom those two took to fully enjoy the first couple of episodes of series. It was soo boring. Before I knew they were on mushrooms, I was like, does TuturYim need paper that much? I’ll start a go fund me, ain't no way they out here on this bus acting a-fool, cuz what in the bloody hell was that? Literally, as writers, I’d assume they’d try to steal a library or type on a rock, instead of acting like frogs on a public bus, the second-hand embarrassed I felt stayed with me until that Thursday.
I had high hopes for BOTW. TutorYim are one of my favs from Cutie Pie, so I'm seated for whatever they do, but this show took some time to get into. I didn't care for the plot that much, and all the childish over the top-acting nonsense didn't help. And what was Shan's work? And was it me or there were too many characters? The writers tried to give everyone their moment, but really, I did not care one bit about that wedding. Up until that point, I'd be lying if I said I noticed him being part of the writers. Her dress was beautiful though.
So yeah, it disappointed me, cuz the plot didn't hold my interesting, and I found it boring in some parts. Yes, the cutsy outfit in their writing space scenes were cute, but I didn't really care for it, but I liked those cute things they had in their hair. and I had no idea what half of the characters were going on about until much later. I did like some things, like the Costume plot. They looked sooo good as ancient characters. Really, I wanted to watch that plot-line instead. Sin and Jingjang's story was cute and I liked it.
CHARACTERS
I liked Shan and Ob-un, there weren't any unnecessary drama between them, and even the 'big fight' when Shan lied about his eyesight ended with a reward so... But I felt the show had too many characters, and I barely remember half of them. That one character who acted like a bad face mask, confessing to Shan but getting turned down and coming back like a bad lunch, trying to pull stuff, like boy be quiet and go hug a tree. Literally, in the finale when he was there during the proposal going 'kiss kiss kiss' I was like.: 'wait that guy is still in the show?' lol.
PLOT & FINALE.
They did have one with Ob-un and Shan's past and everything, then of course them writing that bl. I just felt like it was all done in a jumble. The execution made the plot come off boring in same parts. It felt like after episode 9, they sort of ran out of ideas and we got long 'papapa' scenes and just filler stuff. Literally, what was the point of the finale, and what did we really get? The story felt concluded waay before the finale, so it just felt like a filler episode. Though, I was happy Sin's partner came back.
All-in-all, interesting plot done in a messy way, but as a fan of the leads I still tuned in, and enjoyed some episodes. I recommend it all bl lovers out there, watch it if you have some time or you looking for spicy bls, cuz...episode 9..blood of the holy ghost that ish was wild! I am looking forward to TutorYim's next work, I'll be tuning in, hoping without mushrooms.
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Underwhelming Female Lead Outshined by 2nd Female Lead
I finally decided to watch this old drama since there's nothing new worth watching right now. The biggest issue this series had was that the 2nd lead couple stole the entire series from the main lead couple. The main couple was so bland.The Good:
- ML (Leo Wu): although his acting was still pretty stiff in this series, I do enjoy watching him. He's grown to be a better actor in his more recent work (Love Amidst in a Snowstorm, Love Like the Galaxy).
- 2nd FL (Zhao Lu Si) did an amazing job. She really portrayed the character development very well from a young, helpless, naive cry baby to a compassionate, determined and capable princess.
- 2nd Lead Couple (Princess Le Le Yuan and the guard Hao Du) were way more interesting than the main couple. Both actors showed believable character development and had great chemistry. I rooted for them from the start.
- The emperor Li Shi Min was very likeable and delivered a solid performance.
The Bad:
- FL (Dilralba) was a disappointing. This actress is better suited for support roles. She's beautiful, but her acting is mediocre. Her posture in this series was terrible, like a turtle with its neck stretched out. It was so distracting. Her portrayal of such a lofty character like Li Chang Ge was underwhelming. She failed to evoke any emotion from me.
- Main Lead Couple: zero chemistry between Ashile Sun and Li Chang Ge. They felt more like an older sister/brother relationship.
- Storyline: overall it was a solid storyline with some plot holes that made no sense. Li Chang Ge character was over emphasized too much that it became ridiculous at times. She's supposed to be a young teenage girl but somehow has convinced experienced generals, royal officials and tribe leaders to follow her lead in major warfare? She was supposed to be a skilled martial artist but couldn't beat royal guards and was always getting captured. She was constantly being saved by Ashile Sun.
- The slave girl (Mimi): how does a slave girl get to roam around at free will everywhere, be arrogant and demanding to people, etc. It just made no sense at all. She was a very annoying character.
OST: It was edgy and fits this type of storyline/series but it wasn't my favorite.
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O Demônio Negro e o Príncipe Branco
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It was VERY cheesy. Good for young kids to enjoy but not for me lol
This was probably the first time ever in my life where a girl made my heart skip and beat so fast, that ending was amazing and nana is amazing for it.
Huge plot twist and I wasn't even paying attention to the whole thing.
It was more like abuse and weird submissiveness to me that didn't make sense because she could have just said no many times.
Any way I won't watch this again because it's just not my taste. They were too young to act like this and I'm too old to watch youngsters act weird, although they're probably my age today.
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The Cute Kid Carried 2/3rds of the Show w/Help from the Leads
I have seen some of the cast in various shows before but this just looked like a rom-com that I may have enjoyed. To be honest though, it was very underwhelming. The reason it got the score it did was because of how messy the script was and that I essentially had to ffw most of the 28 episodes. The child actor was the best thing out of the entire show and he was smarter than his parents and all of the adults combined. He legit carried 2/3rds of the series with help from the leads.Pros: Not too many of those here sadly. As I mentioned the kid actor would probably be favorite because he would be the voice of reason for his parents and their constant quarrels. The leads had a great chemistry when they were together and there was decent comedy. The supporting cast was actually good (save for gorilla glue) when they were by themselves. But when the script started throwing them together at random, it went down the drain. The story had a lot of potential from the past to the present and growing and understanding, it just threw too many monkey wrenches into the mix which will be discussed below. I liked the flashbacks at the end of each episode as it explained what happened 5 years ago in detail.
Cons: So much potential in this script but it was wasted. The past and present at first, it was understandable why both leads would be at odds but then once things started to become clear we still had an FL that refused to let go of her narrow-mindedness and it would just be this constant 1 step forward, 2 steps back. The amount of times something needed to be said or a kiss happen and they were interrupted went from silly to tropey and boring. Felt like their second chance start being interrupted by CJJ and back to the bus accident we went was more of a filler then anything else because it brought the leads to odds again and it either shouldn't have happened or placed earlier so it was more cohesive. It was so mismatched and out of place that it seemed like they ran out of how to move onto a proper reconciliation and needed to throw something in there that was already over with and understood.
Both support couples getting together was so confusing and ridiculous. One ran over her younger dude with a car and then turned into a cougar ravenous after her prey and the other happened like a very bad whiplash. One moment SML is finally going to confess to the FL after 4 years of hoping she'd randomly like him, the next he really likes gorilla glue, baby voiced, stalker chick and is ready to turn himself into a pretzel to show his affection when he couldn't utter two words towards FL. It was so out of any realm of understanding and just beyond confusing. I didn't feel chemistry between either couple. They were literal fillers when they--sans one--could have just been great friends and support systems to the leads. This was essentially two very forced romances on the audience that didn't need it.
What in the what was up with the villain? He wasn't even on anyone's radar other then being a lewd and womanizing bastard and then in the last literally 6 episodes they turned him into a viper of a monster that was ready to sexually assault, run over, beat up, harass, extort people, kill dogs, and lord knows what else. That Ding dude was a more believable villain than CQR because from his first appearance until his arrest, he was a predator. But they didn't do that to CQR, who didn't even appear in a half a dozen episodes. There was no evolution to his character, so to go from like 0 or maybe a 3 to infinity in antagonist land in literally under 10 episodes was ridiculous and a disservice for a person playing a supposedly important antagonist character. There were many other plot holes like this.
The literal flip of FL from "we're not meant for each other" to "yep, we're together", was too spastic and sudden. It could have been done way smoother. ML had promised her a zillion times already that he'd take care of her but only when he spoke for her to CQR after she'd beaten him up, then she was like "ok I'm yours." It needed a much smoother transition. No wonder in the last two episodes ML's heart started to give him problems again. She was so busy with her own life and world that it never even dawned on her that he was in trouble, even when his sister told her that he would hide things so not to worry others. Like that angered me because everyone was feeling bad for the FL but in this case, the man has gone above and beyond and you supposedly love him so much but you can't tell that he's not being honest with you? And you know so much about the heart and whatnot? It was quite unbelievable.
Would I recommend it? Only if you like messy plots. But personally only reason it got this score is because of the adorable kid. And I'm not rewatching this again. A lot of folks liked it and more power to them but it's not for everyone.
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YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS GUYS!!!
10/10 that’s it. I don’t even know how to express my feelings about this show to be honest. Starting with the plot. It’s amazing. I watched OITNB series before so I really like that vibe. Tho I like Clairebell more5555. I have been following the two main actresses. Pangjie and Mabel has an undeniable chemistry and they can show it on the screen. Hopefully there will be more seasons because the 8 episodes won’t be enough. 3 more episodes to go. I recommend this thai gl to anyone and everyone!(;Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Clube de Anfitriões do Colégio Ouran: O Filme
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The soundtrack was nice and I am planning on buying it from Amazon.jp as soon as I can,
Costumes once again were superb but I didn;t like the small changes they made to tamakis. I think that is because I had gotten so sued to how he was in the series.
I will not spoil anything but I will say that if you are after a few laughs, watching Tamaki be dramatic, the twins being devilish and other such events which you'd expect from the show, watch it ASAP!
Will rewatch this as soon as I can :D
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Blooming like Blueming
The Eighth Sense was a masterful lesson in care and vulnerability that pulled no punches and went all out, not just in terms of outstanding cinematography and immersive storytelling but also diving into the mindset created by depression, trauma, and anxiety as well as the behaviors that result from tackling them alone and with support.The character of Jae Won embodied depression and trauma recovery so well:
Looking out at the world and your own choices from a fishbowl view. What you want to say and do and what you don't become blurred like water. And even being able to see it clearly doesn't mean you can reach out; grasp it. You're sitting outside yourself, numb to the world and unable to express what you truly want to because everything is just so heavy, and how could you drag someone else into that and weigh them down with you?
And then there's someone like Ji Hyun, not a savior or an angel but a person unexpectedly possessing gorgeous boldness and frankness, who understands and even when he doesn't is there to push when the net is wound too tight and listen when it's suffocating but Jae Won needs to undo it alone.
The Eighth Sense is more than a romance. More than a Queer drama. It's cinema at its finest.
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There's no real plot
Even tho the show is not over I'm over it. I got tired of it very quickly. I just keep watching for Fourth and Gemini.Fourth and Gemini did a great job with what they were given. They're great actors and I feel like their talent was wasted on this series.
It feels like mlmu was going for a sitcom vibe. Every episode had a different story and an ending of its own. Which is just completely the opposite of the manga and makes a mess. They also cut very important stuff or changed it which ruined the reasoning for the character to be the way they are and act the way they do.
For example Atom not getting involved with food was supposed to be because he got bullied when he was a little kid cause he was chubby. That explains why he has such low self esteem. But they changed it into his mother getting hurt which was so random. If the accident caused scars on the mother's body it means it was very serious and probably traumatizing for little Atom but after he burned the chocolate he was back to his old self which is not how a traumatized person would react after such an experience. That could've been a good moment to let him talk to Kongthap and let Kongthap comfort him.
Also after Kongthap gets upset that Atom forgot about the university he wanted to go to, in the original manga, Atom tries his best to make it up to him and plans the entire trip including booking the hotel. Then Kongthap asks to talk to him about something and Atom is sure Kongthap is going to break up with him cause he always feels like he doesn't deserve him. They didn't show it in the series. So when Atom's mother tells Kongthap about Atoms fear of losing the ones he loves it doesn't hit the same cause we never saw his fear. She said he pretends to be strong and independent but he doesn't. That's the entire thing about Atom. He is a messy cute little fellow, that has no idea what he is doing. He needs others and needs their help.
Kongthap is a simple character so they couldn't mess him up too much. But they failed to show his humanity. Kongthap was studying hard in order to make sure he gets into the university so he and Atom could be together. He didn't rest while Atom studies. That shows how much he loves and cares for Atom.
They cut parts of him being protective and possessive over Atom. Him being jealous that Atom is studying with his cram school teacher and asking Atom to study with him instead. Or even a sweet moment like when Atom hugs him in the hotel. Kongthap asks him to stop hugging him cause it makes him feel things. Atom breaks the hug straight away in panic.
There were moments in the bts that were better if included in the episode but for some reason got cut. Like Atom worrying about Kongthap when he passed out which I don't understand why they cut it out.
And let's not talk about the wasted musical episode which was so unnecessary. The manga is long enough and considering how many parts they cut, they could've used that time for something better. I love the songs but I still think it was a waste of time for the series.
That's about the plot. Now lets talk about the terrible directing that made both Fourth and Gemini look bad. I don't know who thought that getting a camera right in their faces was the right way to go. Or filming from weird angles. And the amount of time that they had their eyes almost completely shut because of the sun so you can't see any emotion whatsoever and they can hardly look at eo cause the sun is burning their eyes. And the terrible editing, sound effects that were too much and the brightening filter that made everything seem so unnatural.
I hope they get a better series next year. A one where they can showcase their acting skills better. A more serious one. A better written one, better directed and better all over.
That's it. That's all I have to say.
Edit after ep 12: this ep was worse than everything before. We clearly saw Atom's mother accepting Kongthap last ep just to get Atom coming out to her in this one. Explain. Also they tried to make her a mean parent only for this ep which made 100% no sense cause she was always caring. When Atom got sick she didn't tell him it's his fault for staying up all night. She isn't a harsh parent so wtf is this nonsense of her telling her son to basically not be a loser. But surprisingly enough (or maybe not so surprisingly because I know his true abilities) Fourth made the coming out scene so emotional even tho it made no sense. His raw emotions and his shaking voice had me in tears. His and Gemini's acting are the only good thing about this show.
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Cuteness Overloaded ;D
Who would have thought I would find myself smiling like an idiot, grinning all time.If I've to describe it in word one without even thinking... I would say 'sweet.' Of course having a cat as one of the main characters is going to be adorable. But this just doesn't remain cute. In terms of story, its development, how characters are portrayed... how everything unfolds, it sure impressed me as I started it without any expectations.
The best part of the show would be the leads. I loved their characters, personalities. If you see Xiao Xiu (played by Gia Ge) you wouldn’t have to force yourself to believe she is a cat coz it feels so natural, from the very first scene of hers, the way she talks, the body moment, facial expressions even from the small gestures… you got cat vibes. I never expected this level of acting from a rookie actress like Gia Ge. She has only 2 dramas on her name this being her second drama and first time of having such a big role.
The same goes with You Lun I’m the first time seeing him... His acting is just so soo tranquil so is his character, Chi Yan. Chi Yan is calm composed, kind but kinda antisocial (having only one friend), distant from the world.. Living his life alone, and no intention to be different than this. His reactions are precious when Xiao Xu enters his life and makes it upside down and how their interactions happen, how they start to like each other.. The all process of these things happening, a big character development (but in a natural way) is so soothing and satisfactory to watch.
The weak chain of it would be the antagonists, as his character is not fully developed and nor having any proper reason for what he did. In this part, the writing was weak… but other than that there’s almost nothing that bothered me. Side characters, their stories are interesting. But nothing really overshadows the main lead’s story. This is so predictable, the story is simple as like any interspecies romantic story. But the characters, the small details, the acting, execution, the sizzling chemistry everything makes it more special different than usual. And of course, it is filled with sweetness.
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One of my favorites!
The ratings for this on MDL has made me lose all faith in the rating system, so I am ignoring it from here on out. If this is a 7.8, then I am really missing out on some great dramas by thinking the ratings here have any basis in reality. The Matchmakers is a 10/10 drama with an incredibly tight and complete story that is so well written. There is comedy gold, cuteness, romance, and Shakespearean intrigue. I have never seen any kdrama like this and would put it right up there with Mr. Queen. I actually enjoyed this one more. Just for Rowoon's facial expressions and the brilliant comedic interactions between him and his servant make this worthy of rewatching, but the whole cast was great. I highly recommend this!Esta resenha foi útil para você?
A Drama Which Certainly Doesn’t Have A “ Shining” Charm…
‘ Shining Like You’ is one of those dramas which upon paper sounds brilliant. It isn’t particularly original concept of “female lead goes to art school behind her parents’ back” and the “potentially handsome love interests” but there was still a lot of unlimited ground to explore messages, character growth and social themes. However the end result of ‘ Shining Like You’ is a mixed bag of wasted screenwriting and character writing potential with poor-editing and a discordant buildup.
On a positive note the acting is decent enough ( aside from a few questionable line deliverances) and the drama is a fairly lighthearted watch. The premise isn’t overly complex and follows typically obsequious lead Lu Qi Yi ( Wang Xi Xuan) rebelling against the wishes of her parents to attend a course in foreign languages at university by instead enrolling in arts school. However due to her more timid nature Qi Yi soon finds herself an outcast by struggling to fit in amongst the more expressive and extroverted personalities on campus. After an initial awkward meeting Qi Yi soon attracts the attention of outgoing and popular art student Fang Yan ( Simon Gong).
So if the concept and the acting aren’t the drama’s major problems then what exactly lets down ‘ Shining Like You’? Ultimately the downfall for the show can be found through two main factors; character writing (one of the drama’s major cataclysmic letdowns) and of course plot coherency. To address the former issue it is important to establish that plot coherency is crucial within dramas for viewers to make sense often of a storyline or setup . Of course sometimes screenwriters can purposefully make plot coherency more enigmatic for viewers with the intention of reflecting themes or messages ( dependent on the plot or storyline ). However , in “ typical” romance dramas such as ‘ Shining Like You’’s plot coherency is nearly always quintessential to helping viewers root for certain characters, understand developments of relationships and keep us intrigued with events that are soon to follow .
Naturally ‘ Shining Like You’ isn’t devoid of a basic plot but its descent can be found as a consequence of a mismatched narrative and timeline as a consequence of sporadic subplots , arbitrary jump scenes and disjointed patchy editing. As a consequence a quintessential moment could suddenly be skipped by a sketch scene or an arbitrary moment, which became confusing for casual and devoted watchers alike to keep up.
This brings us onto the second dilemma of ‘ Shining Like You’; the characters. One of the biggest elephants in the room is evidently our female lead Qi Yi. Our main female lead is the epitome of a carte blanche female lead. She’s used by the screenwriter to move the plot along when necessary but she rarely has more definitive characteristics or traits to make her feel sentient. For example considering that it was one of the major focal points of the entire drama, there’s little explanation or depth given to her her goals or raison d’être for applying to the arts school in the first place . Arguably she does make a quick passing comment towards “chasing her dreams” yet it’s hard to really understand or relate to Qi Yi’s drive or exact motives for hiding her attendance from her parents, when the drama has rarely delved beyond the surface of her goals, past or exact motivations.
There’s naturally a big dilemma with the female lead’s “ personality” also. Qi Yi is intentionally supposed to be an “ introvert” but it often felt as though the series was never sure how to present her entire character persona. Introverted main characters can often be tackled in versatile ways by screenwriters from being simply “reserved” to “antisocial”, but opportunities for characters to grow, develop (or at least be explored in more depth) are often key to shaping out an introverted main character as an individual.
To some extent ‘ Shining Like You’ desperately tried to do this with Qi Yi and her “ difficultly to fit in” and “ reserved nature”. She’s supposed to be “shy and sweet” but it was hard to truly feel as though our female lead was seemingly struggling or suffering as a consequence of her personality. Qi Yi was often surrounded by allies or at least close acquaintances and therefore never really felt on the “ edge” of social exclusion ( as the series was desperately trying to make out in the beginning ), she was never really singled-out or excluded particularly by a greater majority of her peers( sans the cliche “ bully group” who picked upon more than just Qi Yi) and when she did exhibit “ antisocial” moments during the series her attitude was often petulant and childlike rather than moody or aggressive. Whilst the drama does try to offer a turn around by Qi Yi suddenly becoming “ prettier and more outgoing” , this was often ineffably unexplained.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad if the series had offered that Qi Yi’s immaturity at times was a byproduct of the way her parents have treated her or her upbringing . However instead of at least giving Qi Yi time to mature or explore her feelings, the female lead was treated in a similar manner to a rag doll ; an object of affection for the male leads , whilst happily obliging to having her emotions torn apart by not just her potential love interests, but not putting her foot down against a fake friend in plain sight also.
This also brings us naturally onto the discussion of side characters in the drama. On one note the show does really shine through at times with how more unlikely characters have difficult pasts or can prove themselves to be true friends in time of need. However like a lot of cliche romance dramas ‘ Shine Like You’ and the dreaded “ best friends formula” is torn apart from “ friends to enemies” with the creme de la creme of cliches; “the dreaded love triangle”.
This brings us onto one of the biggest flaws of the drama between the actual lacklustre romantic series between Qi Yi and Fang Yan. Respectfully the chemistry between Wang Xi Xuan and Simon Gong is hardly passionate, but it is not where the major flaw of the series lies .
Whilst trope-worthy, screenwriters and directors can often strike gold by using time and scenes to allow characters to know one another or feel conflicted with their feelings. In ‘ Shining Like You’ it’s hard to really define one particular moment where these two characters really develop their relationship beyond being classmates or having early impressions of one another. There’s the evident side argument about their gradual feelings and helping one another out when it was necessary for the exposition, but this rarely allowed for more definitive writing opportunities.
Consequently it was bitterly ironic that it is was easier to root for who we were supposed to “ dislike” (as viewers), second male lead Du Ang ( Zhou Cheng Ao) , as he had more initial interactions and chemistry with the female lead. Of course rather than using this as an opportunity for the series to allow the male lead to come to terms with his own feelings or develop interactions between the main love interests, the drama enjoys using this time to make Fang Yan the typical “ moody, short-tempered and jealous potential love interest”. The ending consequently felt disappointing by failing to wrap up some major plot points.
So what is the ultimate takeaway from ‘ Shining Like You’ and is it actually worth watching? ‘ Shining Like You’ tries hard to create a “ lovely and cutesy love story” between our main leads. To an extent the series flourishes with satisfactory performances by our main cast and some more insightful side characters having their own backgrounds and pasts. On the other hand the series has a patchwork approach to storytelling and narrative with a feeling of discordant coherency between characters and the actual storyline. Slow pacing and sporadic plot jumps lead to poor and lacklustre character building and interactions between our main leads. Ultimately whilst ‘ Shining Like You’ might not make a bad binge-watch drama, there are certainly more entertaining, well-written, engaging and classic love stories in dramas to watch than this one.
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