Reviews

A Journey of Discovery

Growing up is a process of discovery. You discover what you like and what you don't, who you are, who you love….. A million questions asked. Some answered, some not. Hopefully with the few answered, you’re prepared to face the world. You may still be searching for answers throughout your life. And that’s how life goes. This is a story about three best friends growing up together in the same neighborhood, their friendship through high school, college and working life. This is one of the best youth dramas I have ever watched.

The Chinese title Shàng Yóu means upstream, depicting also growing up is not easy, having to face challenges and making the right choices. The story is so well written, directed and acted - funny, cute, nostalgic - with characters elaborated with depth, from the main to the supporting leads. The attention to details is immaculate, capturing all the nuances of the era (Gameboy, concern of Y2K for computer systems, flip phones, huge bulky computers with floppy disks etc). The story has a span of 10 years from 1997 to 2007, starting from the characters’ final year in high school, throughout all 4 years of their life in college, and the final 2 episodes on their adult working life, marriages, relationship, each living a separate life. Nostalgic? This is life.

Xia Xiaoju (Hu Yixuan) has just moved into the neighborhood. She has no friends and hates her new home as she has to share a room and a bed with her little brother. She always feels her mother being unfair and always loves her little brother more (many Chinese families prefer boys to girls). Two boys from the same street quickly become her best friends as they help her adapt to her new environment and catch up with school work. One is gentle and kind, the other is rough and childish. Naturally Xia Xiaoju falls in love with the ‘nice’ boy. Little does she know that the other boy standing behind her, quietly doing everything for her, is the rightful one for her. Xia Xiaoju may be naïve and has overly low self-esteem at times, but she is determined and is always a friend one can count on.

I have liked Hu Yixuan’s acting. I find her very genuine and natural without having to try too hard. Her acting as a teenager in this drama is so impressive. I have always thought Tan Songyun (Seven Tan) the best actor who can look and act like a teenager. Here, Hu Yixuan is equally good if not better. As teenagers, Tan Songyun is tomboyish, whereas Hu Yixuan is a very convincing timid teenage girl who is not confident of herself and fearful of showing her inner feelings. I love her interactions with her friends and her family. Hu Yixuan has absolutely nailed the role.

Lu Shiyi (Richard Zhang), an aspiring doctor who is hemophobic (fear of blood), tall, good looking and intelligent, is playful when it comes to his childhood friends. He doesn’t miss an opportunity in teasing Xia Xiaoju whom he has a penchant in getting his satisfaction out of her misery by pulling her ponytail, palm-turning her head (watch this https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1hP4y1a7Uc), bear-hugging her under his giant armpit, bickering with her and calling her names (like Pig); he simply ‘roughs’ her up all the time like treating a boy and the bickering is non-stop. How Lu Shiyi treats Xia Xiaoju would have been called out in today's cancel culture, but here, his actions are cute, innocent and heart-warming. To me, that's how people, especially good friends, should interact with each other, sincerely and lovingly.

Richard Zhang has a very unique look with almond shaped eyes. He may not even be considered as good looking by many viewers but he embodies youthfulness, energy, mischiefs, rebellion that fit perfectly into the Lu Shiyi character; he brings the character alive.

Cheng Lang (Chen Bo Hao) is the gentle boy with straight ‘A’s in class. He is kind to everyone especially to his best friends to whom he would give up anything for. He always tries to mitigate between Xia Xiaoju and Lu Shiyi when they brawl, and Xia Xiaoju has a crush on him since she first meets him. I have never watched any of Chen Bo Hao’s work, but here, he aces his role making the Cheng Lang character so lovable, a perfect white horse prince for any girls.

Even though the romance is not the focus, the dynamics of the main leads are remarkable. I love how the main leads are smart and caring for each other. Their utmost trust between each other throughout the drama does not falter. Having said that, there are some slight misunderstandings between Xia Xiaoju and Lu Shiyi that lead to their separation for a rather long period of time after college.

Official Soundtracks (OSTs)
Despite this drama produces a number of new soundtracks, none as memorable as the two oldies:
“Do You Know I’m Thinking of You?” (你知道我在想你吗) by Taiwanese singer/composer Chang Hung-Liang (张洪量) in 1997. This song stirs up a lot of memories for many viewers. It also captures our lead characters’ feelings during those growing up years, from teenage to adulthood. It’s fun to watch how our character struggles to learn singing the song so that she can perform it to the one she loves.

“Love You”(喜歡妳) by Hong Kong musician Wong Ka Kui (黄家驹) / Beyond in 1988. Sung in Cantonese throughout, this is another well-loved song that took Asia-Pacific by storm during the era. It appropriately expresses the adoration of our characters for each other and the moments they have together.

The use of harmonica and guitar to play the background music, simple and nostalgic, further captures the mood and conjures up memories of the time by-gone.

My Verdict
Growing up means changes. Things may not always turn out the way we plan, and our plans may not be as perfect as we have hoped them to be. We all need to learn to adapt to changes. Our characters change over time as they begin to understand life better. Not only they become stronger, they also become better for themselves and others.

Everyone can relate to this story one way or another. If you're a youth, you'd love this drama because you can relate to almost all the characters here - they can be your friends, your family, even yourself. Whoever you may be, you'd love this story too because it helps bring back all those memories of youth. Superb acting and captivating writing bring you back to those by-gone years of innocence.

I don’t usually watch youth dramas, but this one is a gem. Everything is so natural. It is so funny that I laugh so hard, and yet, I cry when I see my characters struggle. However, I have to point out that, like in most other Chinese dramas, lazy writing towards the ending spoils the whole otherwise wonderful drama. I wish the writers have been more thoughtful towards this end. It's such a pity because the whole drama has been so good. The last 2 episodes are just not keeping up with the initial momentum and quality. There are so many lost opportunities that the production team could have made this drama so stand out.

Despite from the "less than perfect" writing for the last 2 episodes, I still love this drama nonetheless. All the scenes are tastefully shot. I particularly love the scenes when Lu Shiyi rides a creaky bike taking Xia Xiaoju at the backseat. That beautiful screen shot encapsulates the whole story, Shàng Yóu.

Must watch! TWO THUMBS UP! BRAVO!

Leia Mais

The only alternative of MGIAA is MGIAA itself

MGIAA (My girlfriend is an alien) is one of the most popular Chinese modern dramas amongst the international fans . I really didn't have that much hopes for it cause most of the time second season can't beat season one.But this one did.Yes the storyline of season two is better than season one.Actors Bie ,Wan Peng,Wang You Jun all did an excellent job again.Especially Bie.The part he portrayed to show the sweeter part of Fang Leng alongside the cold part of that character just melted me.He has become more cuter .Second lead couple is not annoying at all . They are so adorable. Since this types of push and pull romance are one of my favorite genre so after watching first season about 3 years ago I have tried a lot of sweet rom com,but not a single rom com couldn't replace it . Finally season two replaced or suppressed it. Sweeter enough.The cinematography and visual effects were so much better than previous season.Feel the same chemistry between leads . This is a must for sweet rom com lover.A lot of scenes make me feel that the romance in this drama is nothing but magical .Not a single boring moment.Very heart warming, fluffy,funny. Just loved it.

The main difference between first and second season ~ First season basically focused over Fang Leng's amensia and sweet romance.While second season basically focused over love, relationship, romance.This season give a lot of informations of relationships.This drama is a full package tips to get into a relationship .It is a must for current and future lovebirds to get some tips .And the good thing is second season didn't focus over Fang Leng's amensia part that much.It is a plus point for me. The only thing that bothered me in the whole drama is the new third wheel character "Jiang Shiyi". But his parts are not that much before the last 10 episodes so his irritating part is quite negligible.

Warning ~~~ The amount of sweetness is too much to handle for singles.

My one and only request that never judge this drama without completed it,you are gonna miss a lot of twists.


Ignore my grammertical mistakes please.

Leia Mais

I remember watching this movie and being really impressed by the characters. Or the writing of them. Each of our main characters really gets a voice and has a story to tell. Even the ones that aren't present get the chance. I feel like, in a lot of gay movies out there, there's a really strong focus on only the two gay characters, which is fine, but I guess this was refreshing in a way. I really liked the way the story reveals itself to our characters. It has really smooth transitions as well. I don't know. I found the story really touching. Each character is dynamic with their own struggles and their unique way of expressing themselves. I really liked it. Ah sorry if this isn't very helpful, but I thought it should be known it was a story worth watching.

Leia Mais

The listener and the speaker

Republican era, around 1930.
Rain is pouring down that fateful night in Jingcheng City. As we watch the good-natured Dr. Chen Yuzhi cycle his way home, seeking shelter under the eaves, we're diving headfirst into a plot full of viscious crimes and interhuman relations.
-It's the moment Chu Ran and Chen Yuzhi step into Jiang Yuelou's life and decide to stay, that we realize that Jiang Yuelou is the unspoken center of the story. -

It didn't take me long to light ten stars, as I got so attached that I might be devoting my first written preview to this drama.

Background music
One of the reasons to call this a classy drama is beautifully drawn tapestry of sound. The show decided upon subtle background music, the original soundtrack composed of very decent melodic ballads and only a couple instrumentals that are very well timed, accompanying sequences quietly, giving more importance to emotions and spoken dialogue. This gives it a pleasant, mature vibe.

Production
Omnium-gatherum summary of everything that caught my eye from episode one.
•Killer and Healer is free from overdrawn sequences and cheesy-slowmotions.
•The cinematography brings in gorgeous shots, developing into beautifully framed sequences here and there.
•As we're situated in the republican era, we get to see tailored suits and beautiful attire. Women are wearing gorgeous dresses and every single citizen that we see roaming the streets of Jingcheng has their own, beautiful outfit of the day. Even upon close proximity, the costumes look thoroughly authentic and high in quality.
•The drama leads us through a collection of sets that are very well thought through (however wow, it is cold!).

Plot & Characters
The plot itself is relatively solid. Various other points make up for the ones lost to a common storyline. The plot isn't particularly new, yet unravels a beautiful story of faith. It's told by steadfast characters, and also introduces a brave and clever female lead, Chu Ran, that wonderfully concludes the trio alongside Police-Chief Jiang Yuelou and Doctor Chen Yuzhi.
Every other character that gets introduced throughout the story isn't any less holistic and just as vital.
While the storyline itself contains alot of criminal action, it pays special attention to interhuman relations.
With a strong focus on the steadying relationship between Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi, it opens up on more then just bringing peace to Jingcheng City. We follow Jiang Yuelou, as he learns to regain his trust in the people around him and finds his safe-place within Chen Yuzhi, who meets him with unconditional faith. With every episode, the picture grows bigger, as we slowly get to know Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi as a person and start to sympathize with the characters introduced to us.

The ending: The ending comes around very unexpected. Yes, initially, it is bad and very tragic. This might be a spoiler. However, the ending lies in your power. For a happy ending, hop out from ep 37 at timestamp 29:15 and click here for a seperately uploaded end
https://youtu.be/FC696_RYeEw

Acting
Completing this with the strongest asset.
It's the actor itself that eventually shapes the character, forms it and introduces it to the audience. The characters I see are consistent and compelling, each drawn with their own unique features. The acting is impressive, the whole cast stunning. Every single actor within Killer&Healer convinces with performance. The chemistry between the leads grows extremely palpable as they enter each others lives and naturally learn to trust. Eventhough, due to censorship, scenes got shortened (not harming the plot), emotions are portrayed beautifully through micro-expression, faces full of emotions and long lasting glances. So much so that more isn't needed and it lies in the perception of the audience to view their relationship.

This drama is and was a very, very pleasant watch. I would rewatch it all over again. The biggest joy lies within the unfolding, unspoken emotions between the leads and the quirky supporting characters.

Leia Mais

Korea once again delivered.

The poster captivated me into watching this and I couldn’t find the right words to describe the series as a whole – it was not perfect but far from bad. I do not know why but it feels like something is missing throughout watching. I wasn't that hooked up, unlike the other ones that I've watched. One thing is for sure, Korea served us one great plot.

For the story, I do not have anything much to say. It was cute and somehow fluffy. Once again, I like to point how most Korean BLs including this one stays away from a school setting. I love how each series produced by Korea explores or tackles a unique plotline. Far from cliches and third parties whatsoever. And given that Korea or most Koreans are conservative, I loved how they didn’t incorporate the idea of homophobia throughout the series, it felt like they were in a world without judgement. The story is cohesive.

I like how they incorporated dancing into the story. The character’s lives were completely opposite but they found the right spot to meet in the middle and change each other. The pacing was quite good given that the length of the whole series is just like a movie. They didn’t put unnecessary scenes as fillers to make it longer and they maximized the time they have to deliver a considerably good series.

The actors fit their roles, not to mention their visuals. But in terms of skills, they were able to portray their character nicely, I am satisfied with how they executed emotional scenes, it didn’t feel awkward at all. It seemed natural.

I do not have any comments about cinematography, camera angles, OSTs, and other technical aspects, they were okay to me.

Overall, this is a good watch if you do not have anything much to do. Korea once again delivered a good one. The title really fits the story because they do make each other’s heart dance.

Leia Mais

Fun, but a "pretzel" ending

I'm a critical because I have a background in production, so you may think some of my opinions are harsh. First, I want to comment on the actors. My criteria for good acting is, if I can suspend reality, immerse myself in the story, and emotionally connect with the character, the acting is good. If the audience doesn't relate to the characters, everything else is irrelevant, because the viewer won't care about what happens to them. I cared about these characters. It was especially fun watching the FL and ML bicker and banter as their relationship developed.

The plot had good doses of mystery and mayhem, romance and evil, comedy and tragedy. The production values were good; the sets were believable, decent camera work, the CGI wasn't obvious, the costumes were attractive, etc. I liked the music because it was well integrated into the scenes, and didn't distract from the action. The genre is Wuxia, which I watch because I love martial arts choreography. I particularly liked the small details that made the ML's "wolf" abilities more realistic, like how he could whisk around so fast he was almost invisible, how his ear twitched when he used his augmented hearing, and how he could transform. There was only one instance of seeing his full transformation, which was disappointing. His character arc was well-defined, however, because he went from stone-cold to warm and affectionate. The FL had less of an evolution, but was a good contrast to the ML.

Unfortunately, the last two episodes were disappointing. Great writers can write great endings; mediocre writers can't. I like it when the audience gets rewarded with a cathartic moment at the end; sometimes it's joy because it's a happy ending, or a sigh of sadness because it was tragic, or they have a flash of insight because, although the ending may not be what they wanted, it was appropriate. Instead of a climatic moment, I felt betrayed. The reveal of the villain in episode 35 used an old, worn out, plot device to supposedly create a surprise twist. But the plot had to be bent into a "pretzel" in order to make the twist work. Instead of the twist being a dramatic moment, it was laughable, probably because I'm not Alice in Wonderland who "believes as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
After the reveal, the writer tried to stuff too many emotional ups and downs into the last episode. Some of it was satisfying, and the "dénouement" was good. However, after I managed to stay immersed in the drama's fantasy world for 34 episodes, I couldn't sustain it during the last two episodes, and crash-landed back into reality with a giant thud.

Leia Mais

I consider this drama a little gem in its genre. It doesn't have a tremendously eventful plot, no big, earthshaking truth to be revealed in the last episode, no memory loss, birth secrets or time jump - forgive me, I couldn't help it.
It tells an ordinary story in a refreshingly modern way, without giving up on those elements we inevitably associate to k-dramas and make them into the shows we are all addicted to: a love triangle or square of some sort, love obstacles of various nature, parents who meddle but without being completely unreasonable or out of this universe evil and a corporate sub-plot.

I wouldn't call this a romantic comedy. I think it's more of a life drama. There's romance, of course, and there's a mature, clever humour, but both these aspects are rationed throughout the narration in a sedate and yet very effective way. This is why I believe I do, I do isn't for you, if what you're looking for is a typical rom-com. The pace may deter some, and others could find the raised issues uninteresting or controversial.
I loved it because it offers the viewer a range of different points of view on subjects which are very common in real life, and not so common in the Korean drama world; there's no judgment involved, no stance is presented as better than the other. It's up to you to decide what you would do and how you would react in a similar situation.

A life drama is only successful when the characters are well outlined. And this is the true strength of I do, I do. I myself was amazed at how gradually and yet fiercely I got attached to some of the characters, mainly the two leads. They are both so well portrayed I ended up identifying without having a trait in common with either one.
Acting is spot on. I consider Kim Sun A a guarantee. I may not like all the dramas she acted in, but it's never been due to her. She enters the character in such a plausible way, she does not create fictional characters but real persona. Always believable, never predictable. And let me add how wonderfully satisfying it is when you finally land on a drama with an intelligent, self-assured, successful female lead who does not passively accepts events but make them happen!

The character of Tae Kang has been an amazing revelation for me. A cute thing who looks like a puppy and acts like one is all I believed he was in the beginning. I was very wrong. He's tremendously endearing and such a blend of childlike enthusiasm and caring maturity I couldn't help but being completely captured by him. My admiration goes to the actor for capturing the essence of his character and portraying it in such an adorable way.
The chemistry between those two is also a work-in-progress. Their feelings grow as the characters grow. We fall in love with Tae Kang the moment Ji An does, not before. I loved this aspect the most, as I am usually very frustrated by knowing a truth which the characters will be oblivious about for three quarters of a drama.

The secondary characters are normal people. They make mistakes, they gossip, they laugh, they get angry. With the exception of "madame CEO" - and her horrid taste in figurative art, allow me to add - I liked them all. Everyone has an arc and a role in this story. They are not thrown in just in order to fill empty spaces.

The music isn't unforgettable, but I must confess the main theme is addicting and the instrumental pieces very well chosen.

This isn't a drama I will run to re-watch as soon as it's finished airing. However, it has many delicious, thought-provoking and poignant moments I'll be more than happy to immerse in again in the future. I recommend this drama to everyone who likes a solid, modern script, unusually believable characters and a no-nonsense plot.

Leia Mais

Would highly suggest this drama to anyone who is searching for a good Sageuk. Was wonderful from the very first episode to the last episode with no annoying slow filler episodes in between.

The plot for the story was very tightly written so there are no huge holes or what the heck moments to deal with. It was also a great romance as well as providing the viewer with great historical context. If you are looking for a historical drama to watch this would be my #1 suggested drama.

Also the episodes are short so the 108 episode count is misleading. It is not at all a hard drama to get through.

Leia Mais

You'll fall in love with it slowly

when I started this series I rly liked the synopsis and the little twists and turns of the story
and now after completing, it almost feels magical , I always loved this actor but felt like he needed a story and a partner that matches his emotions in the same way he does every time.
I finally found it , the actress rly did such a great job portraying the FL's emotions the story rly suited them ( it was my first time watching her drama)
I loved the pacing of it as well, contrary to popular believes that it was too slow , it's just the right amount for an introvert I do connect with them they're rly so cute together and perfectly matched each other.
the post credit scenes after most of the episodes were just as beautiful
the side characters and their story were so good as well not too weird characters just the right amount
even the SML was adorable
I consider it a rly wholesome comfort watch for when I needed the most
waiting everyday for episodes to release was a joy in itself

Leia Mais

Moon River is not Boys Over Flowers but it sure is darn entertaining. The main lead, Ming Xao Xi is a martial artist who gets accepted to the prestigious college Gaung Yu University. There she encounters the cold but insanely popular and handsome Mu Liu Bing, Feng Che and Dong Hao Nan. Her existence shakes up the entire school and even the close friendships of the popular kids as she falls into a unique relationship with the leader of the trio. So while this plot sounds very similar to the Boys Over Flowers/Meteor Garden/Hana Yori Dango series, the show pulls in you and keeps you anticipating with laughs, cute romantic bits and the oh so bad drama-addict habit of clicking to the next episode right after finishing one. (You know that kind of habit...it's 1 O'clock in the morning; you've watched about 10 episodes in one setting; so you think to yourself just one more; and so you watch one more, but by the time you call it quits its sunrise?)

This drama has both its pro's and it's cons. The cons being the loops in the plot, the "unnecessary" drama and dare I say, the acting from the main leads who can sometimes come off as either annoying or "what is that face you're making!?" (Though I have to say I have to give Tseng Pets her cred for rocking that ugly bowlcut and old grandma getup/toe socks throughout the entire series while still acting out Xiao Xi in a way that was realistic and fun.)

The story starts off really well and builds nicely towards the romance. For all the romantic drama lovers, if you are like you me, (a crazy fool for cute romantic skinship and words) you will definitely enjoy the romance that takes off here. While the beginning and the romance makes for the beginnings of a good drama, the downfall comes near the end where you may or may not feel content with the ending.

While this drama doesn't exactly hit right out of the park, it is still a good watch and I'd recommend this show to anyone who is looking for something to watch. There is humor, romance and action all in one. This drama also shows the growth of Ming Xiao Xi as she tries to find her place in a new environment and adjust to the blissfulness and sourness of love. This isn't the type of drama you would take seriously, seeing as there are many similarities here with Boys Over Flowers, however what makes this series stands out is the main heroine Ming Xiao Xi and her great resilience to overcome different obstacles that occurs in her life and through her special relationship with the 3 princes of Gaung Yu.

Overall I give this drama an 8.0 for making me the crazy drama fangirl I am for skipping study sessions just to watch each episode as it was released. The music was excellent here (The Intro is hella addicting and the ending music is my most favorite song from this OST [Sung by Pets Tseng]]) and this is a drama I can say for certain you will want to re-watch.

Leia Mais

Well first off, I really loved New Tales of Gisaeng. When I first started it I got stuck around episode 7 or so and took a few days off from it. I was determined to finish it though so I continued on. What I love the drama is that Ah Da Mo and Dan Sa Ran had so much chemistry.

Story: The story was pretty good. The fact that Dan Sa Ran was a foundling and the route she took in her life to supplement this was a bit different from other dramas. People usually try to live their lives better after learning something so shocking; Not sink further down not minimize the damage. I think the idea of using Gisaengs is something that many dramas have not touched upon, it really brought an old world feel to a modern age situation. I do think it was a little cheesy how everyone was connected by the Gisaeng House but it didn't take away anything from the drama. The only thing that people may find fault with about this drama is the fact that it took so long for the secrets to come out and to find out anything really. The other fault would be the story progression in episodes 40-50.

Acting: I absolutely loved the casting for this drama. Im Soo Hyang is perfect for the role of Dan Sa Ran. Dan Sa Ran is wise with classic beauty and a cautious but loving heart. Sa Ran's character was played perfectly, more so than any other character. Ah Da Mo was played by a new actor and while he was shaky in the first couple of episodes, you could see that he loosened up and really embraced his role as the cocky rich son who falls in love and is willing to give everything up. Geum Ra Ra had a lot growth in the drama, going from the spoiled rich girl to someone who really wanted genuine happiness. At first I was not sure how her character could redeem herself because the actress looks arrogant but she pulled it off and I developed a new found respect for Han Hye Rin.

Acting;Other characters: As far as other characters go, for the stepmom I don't think they could have found anyone as annoying as they did, the adoptive father was soft as tissue, and the sister took the family ties further than anyone else in the drama. The hospital director was very stoic and I felt he could have displayed more emotion. The head chef played the bereaved mother perfectly also.

Music: While I think they played the same song too many times, I can't really complain because I loved it. Kim Ye Won/Kim Shin Ah (the Vietnamese girl from Romance Town) sings the ending song for this drama. It is titled Yeonjungga (Song of Passion). It was beautiful and sad and seemed to match the drama perfectly. During happy times they would play a more upbeat song that still conveyed elegance.

Rewatch Value: Well I think that the rewatch value for this drama is pretty high (I've watched it twice already and will watch again) I think that for many of the actors to be old and quite a few of them to be young and new to the acting scene, you realize a lot of the differences between the generations. Watching it over you can discover new things and think of the situations from different perspectives. I know that the number of episodes is a turn-off for a lot of people but the drama really is worth it.

Overall: Overall I think this drama was absolutely brilliant, by far my favorite drama. This isn't just a one dimensional view of the drama. Considering the acting from Im Soo Hyang and Sung Hoon to the unique storyline, to the beautiful ending song that sprang up at best times during the drama I think this drama is a must watch.

Leia Mais

Fifty Shades of Pink

Fifty Shades of Grey, this isn’t. There are parallels to be drawn involving primarily the contractual relationship trope and the BDSM theme, if it isn’t already apparent. That is where the similarities end, however. Despite the R-18 rating, I would consider Love and Leashes to be much less intense and provocative but rather more fun and heartwarming. After all, this film is meant to coincide with this year’s V-Day which takes place in just a couple of days. Hence the more upbeat and romantic vibe, this is definitely a case of love being slowly unleashed.

Jung Ji Hoo is your average salaryman working in a 9 to 5 job. Unbeknownst to his co-workers, however, he has another side to him - one that involves a fetish for BDSM. One day, due to a mix-up by the delivery service, a female colleague finds out his secret. What transpires subsequently involves a whole lot of awkwardness and embarrassment as well as the resulting suggestive intimate moments, before eventually leading to something more profound.

Directed by Park Hyun Jin, who also co-wrote the screenplay adaptation with Lee Da Hye, the source material is the Naver webtoon entitled The Moral Sense conceived by Gyeoul aka Winter, which was serialised from 2015 to 2018. The original score was composed by Kim Hong Jip and Lee Jin Hee, with Lee Sun Kyu playing the guitar. Principal photography took place from April to July 2021.

What I Generally Liked

Running at just under 2 hours, I thought the film was rather entertaining and eventful. The concept is refreshing, by Korean or even Asian standards, for a mainstream production distributed globally by Netflix. You don’t often come across BDSM-themed romance as the main feature of the story and in this case, the subject matter was handled in a very tasteful and mature manner.

For me, the main takeaway from the film has more to do with the relationship dynamics in terms of the emotional connection between two individuals rather than purely the explicit nature of the BDSM acts themselves to be manifested as a comedic effect or cheap thrills. I particularly appreciated the nuances drawn from the eventual growth of both leads and the organic evolution of their relationship. Additionally, the film explores elements of office politics and gender discrimination that are very much borne of a deep-rooted patriarchal culture.

Given the involvement from Netflix, the film unsurprisingly delivers reasonably high production values. I’ve enjoyed the overall quality of the visuals presented and the set designs, while the accompanying music score nicely complements the ambience of the scenes.

My first time seeing both Seo Hyun and Lee Jun Young in lead roles and they gave a pretty decent account of themselves in their portrayals of Jung Ji Woo and Jung Ji Hoo respectively. I haven’t read the webtoon but I do think they managed to personify their characterizations the way they were intended to be convincing and relatable to viewers, to a certain extent.

The ML is just adorable, almost like a puppy who loves playing with whips, handcuffs and candle wax. The FL, on the other hand, is like a deer caught in headlights. At first, anyway, as she gradually gets a hang of the whole situation. In fact, her transformation from the down-to-earth girl next door to a dominatrix behind closed doors is quite remarkable.

For the most part, the film comes across as quite lighthearted but things do get a tad serious in the final third, where we get to observe a bit more substance in the portrayals of both leads as they finally deal with the repercussions of their actions. I honestly feel that Seo Hyun generally did more of the heavy lifting in this film.

Final Thoughts

As a feature length film that is meant to be mostly a romance comedy, I think the scope of the storytelling is quite extensive. Perhaps certain aspects could have been fleshed out more, such as the respective backstories of the leads and interactions with the people around them but I honestly think those aren’t particularly major issues. For all intents and purposes, and without giving too much away, I was rather pleased with the final outcome and closure to their story. Suffice to say, all’s well that ends well.

Leia Mais

I enjoyed it

I rate this show highly, not only because the acting is good. Mental health is a difficult area and a taboo subject. We all suffer from mental health issues to varying degrees and at different points in our lives. This show to me brings this issue out in the open and perhaps will enable some of us to appreciate the problem and develop some understanding. I feel that this is what has led to some negative reviews. It was very brave of the writers and producers to run with the story line.
Aside from this tricky issue, the show was fun, cute, well thought out and well performed. Admittedly there were a few times when it dragged a bit. I liked that there wasn’t the love triangle and the romance of each couple was heartwarming and at times the antics were hilarious. Of course you had the not so nice people and it was justifying to see good win over bad. Steadfast love and a willingness to stay together, cute scenes and many funny moments. I laughed and cried. To me it was a feel good love story, just what I want when I’m watching romance dramas.

Leia Mais