First let me start with saying that this drama is not perfect, it has its flaws, but the awesomeness will make you forget about anything else. It has an amazing cast, engaging story, and it just the right amount of romance and comedy to keep you glued to the screen.
THE CAST
You'll fall in love with the sassy, witty, and intelligent FL. She'll make you want to strangle her at times because she's just too curious and reckless at times and keeps getting into these dangerous situations. BUT in her defense she's an archaeology student who suddenly finds herself transported back in time to her favorite time period, as a history nerd myself I cannot judge.
The ML omg how can I describe this ball of fluff. He's just so precious, she drives him to the brink of madness and back but he can't just stay angry at her. His love is the purest thing.
There's is just too much to say about the supportive cast, second leads included. One thing for sure is that the acting is top-notch and this drama would not be half as good as it is without these amazing actors.
The main antagonist is not evil as portrayed by most dramas, that give you a Disney-like villain that is bad because that's just his only character trait. This guy has so many layers. He loves, he hates, he can be honest, he lies, he can be sweet, and he's pitiful. His major flaw is his greediness, though.
THE STORY
Not much to say besides that you'll learn a ton of Thai history. The drama setting is in a real time period with real characters that lived 300 years ago. This is the reason why the drama gets a little political at times but it's never overwhelming which often happens with Cdramas and Kdramas with historical setting. One thing I greatly appreciated is that the FL did not interfere with history. She let the events take their natural course, even if it broke her heart because some things were just sad but inevitable.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Watch this drama when you have time to binge it because it will suck you in. It is 15 episodes but they are 2 hours long which is 30 hours. I completed it in less than 3 days. It's 9:30 am right now and I haven't slept xD but it's oh so worth it.
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It feels like I was listening to a lovely song
This has been one of my most anticipated Korean movies ever since I saw the Cast line-up. So, I finally watched it and this totally reached my expectations. Infact, I feel empty now. I wanted more of this!A Year End Medley is simple yet overwhelms us with a bitter-sweet pleasure.
The movie starts from a full festive vibe where Seo Kang Joon is singing the Christmas song "Jingle bells, jingle bells… jingle all the way…" and everything is in like a happy to go state. Everyone can be seen gearing up for Christmas and finally when Christmas comes, we come across the other side of the coin. When most of the people are excited for Christmas and New Year with their friends or families, there are yet many people who have their own problems and loneliness to deal with… that's when this takes us on a "little" deeper ride but as the year finally ends, gladly everyone finds a "New Hope" in their life. It's like inspiring us to keep going on.
There are actually 5 different stories which are intermingled to each other. All characters were lovable. Yes! No negative or annoying character which makes this such a light watch. My favorite character was "Sang Hoon" (acted by Lee Kwang Soo) ~ a selfless, dedicated manager who supported a singer when he was in his down, he could have left him and signed up someone else but he became his pillar and made him a big star, when he was really popular, he didn't even try stoping him from signing into a bigger company so that he can get more opportunities. I loved how selfless and caring he was. They had a brother like bond which was truly precious to see. Infact, all 5 stories were special in their own way.
The Cast was the major factor that attracted me here and they all did a great job acting their own parts especially the Old duo – Lee Hye Young ( as Katherine ) and Jung Jin Young ( as Sang Gyu ) were great presenting a touching love story. It was the top notch acting that made this movie more memorable.
The best part of this movie is that it made us experience so many wide emotions in just two hours. All 5 stories gave me something. Then, the OST. Beautiful songs that match the situations. I didn't even realize how fast my two hours went and I was already done watching this movie. It's like a smooth ride perfect for a evening watch. I watched it alone this time but I would like to rewatch this with my family later…
Overall, just a bunch of ordinary stories wrapped up in colourful flavours which should be watched at least once.
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A mature and healthy romance that shines with its own light.
“Shine on Me” is, quite simply, a gem among romantic dramas. As a big fan of slow-burning romances, this drama is a masterful example of how to develop a relationship in a healthy, realistic, patient way, with a spicy chemistry that is built with intelligence. Although its plot does not attempt to reinvent the wheel or the genre, it stands out as one of the best romantic dramas I have seen due to its emotional depth and the quality of its characters.The first thing I would highlight is the profile of the protagonists: both come from wealthy families, but far from the clichés of arrogance, they are humble, hard-working, educated characters with admirable moral strength. The drama does not ignore their privilege, but uses it in an interesting way to explore envy and social dynamics (as in the case of characters such as Rong or their college classmates), adding a layer of realism.
The most fascinating contrast is embodied by Zhuang Xu, a complex and tragically human character. His story with the protagonist is a painful study of opportunities lost to fear and insecurity. As the head of a humble family with serious problems, he represents those who have no privileges. However, the drama avoids idealizing him: his passive-aggressive comments, his lack of confidence, and his indecision make him a gray character, intelligent but trapped in his own self-loathing. His arc is deeply moving in the sense that you first feel dislike and anger, but at least, for my part, in the end I felt a little sorry for him.
My favorite character, without a doubt, was the protagonist's cousin. His charisma, kindness, and the fresh and natural dynamic he has with her (supported by excellent acting chemistry) bring warmth and lightness at just the right moments.
The dynamic between the main couple is the heart of the drama. Their relationship is based on mutual security, unconditional support, and communication that, although not always immediate at first, never falls into unnecessary misunderstandings. Even a potentially major conflict such as the car accident is handled with maturity, without resorting to prolonged drama.
Impeccable technical aspects: The OST is a gem that perfectly accompanies every emotion, the costumes and sets are elegant and believable, and the kisses... are a solid 10. The narrative balances family drama and college friendships vs. corporate friendships well, and although some dialogues about business strategy and organization may feel a bit dense, they are essential to understanding the couple's shared ambition: to become pioneers in solar energy, a goal that gives meaning and significance to their union.
Conclusion: “Shine on Me” is a well-rounded, emotionally satisfying, and beautifully executed drama. It offers mature romance, layered characters, a positive message about teamwork, and a love that is built with patience and respect. Highly recommended for those looking for a story that shines with warmth, intelligence, and heart. In life, there may be many loves, but only one will be the right one.
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No No No No La La No
WTF!!!!!!!!!If someone I loved pretended to be dead for 5 yrs and suddenly appeared in front of me, I wouldn't even want to look at their face.
The grief from death isn't the same as the grief from a breakup.
The writer had been playing with this since the beginning by giving the doctor a case of pills to carry everywhere. Writers should stop trying to make the audience cry. At this point they just seem like the bad teacher that hits you so you become better. This is not a healthy way of creating emotions in people.
The last few 4 or so episodes seemed like fillers with lots of throwbacks and nonsensical plot lines.
It's ok to make dramas shorter. If a story can be told better in fewer episodes, do it! It's better than spoiling a story that was good to begin with.
This idea of going through hard times alone even if you have loved ones is an Asian ideal that I can't really understand and I believe it's so damaging considering the mental health and suicide issues that are so prevalent there. Especially in South Korea. We've seen so many idols die to suicide. Pushing this idea that you have to endure hardships alone and come back to your loved ones when you're "not broken anymore" and not cause them "trouble" is something that might make this issue worse.
I can't stand by this drama anymore. The ending message is very damaging to those suffering from any sort of illness.
I'm not even going to speculate about the ending. It doesn't matter. It is what it is. And it doesn't do it for me.
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A Fresh Breath of Air (no more c-drama cliches)
Rattan introduces not only a new type of genre (science fiction/fantasy) but completely new character dynamics. We truly have a strong female lead here, someone whose backstory and motive drives the whole plot. In fact, the male lead is more a side character who simply accompanies her on her journey after her revival. Some people might be put off by the foreignness of the drama, the fact that there are no old tropes, and I implore those people to spend a couple more episodes watching before coming to a conclusion. At least make it to the halfway point before giving a critical rating.For those who are confused about what the plot is, or feel there is no plot, the drama is also of the mystery genre. Over half of the 30-episodes are focused around discovering who the female lead is and why she does what she does. When the audience finally does discover all the information, the second half of the drama leads the audience to a much faster paced plot where Si Teng meets her goal and deals with the obstacles (or rather people) that arise as well as her budding feelings for Qin Fang.
Even if you're not here for the mystery plot, there's still much to savor from the drama: the beautiful scenery, Si Teng's stunning wardrobe, and the adorable slow-burn romance. A lot of the scenery is very uncommon in Chinese dramas, where instead of the old traditional architecture or modern skyscrapers, they filmed in Xinjiang and remote places like Shangri-la City.
ACTING/PRODUCTION:
The main actors, Jing Tian (role Si Teng), Zhang Binbin (role Qin Fang) and Zhang Yichi (role Yan Furui) are all great at their craft and the interactions all feel very natural. Even the child actors for Wa Fang and young Si Teng act very well. If there are complaints about acting from second leads, I do want to remind that the production team for Rattan doesn't have the extensive budget of other dramas like Eternal Love or Ashes of Love, so please be more lenient. In fact, Bai Jin is even acted by the director himself. Even so, the team went through a lot to get good scenes i.e. for the first scene when Qin Fang revives Si Teng, they filmed at a very high altitude, where it's very cold and they had to bring oxygen tanks.
Not to mention, the two leads have great chemistry. Their off-screen interactions are absolutely adorable. When they first appeared in public together to promote the drama, they looked so happy together that the search Jing Tian and Zhang Binbin acting like newly-wed couple was one of the top 5 searches on Weibo that week. There's also a Happy Camp episode coming out soon if you want to see more of them together!
Interestingly, Rattan was a surprise drama, no one expecting the popularity that it currently has. On Douban (the Goodreads of Chinese cinematography), not only does it have a 7.8 rating, it boasts 140k reviewers (most dramas have around 60k and a 6.5 rating; anything over 7.5 is extremely impressive and rare). All of these are testimonies to the greatness Rattan is.
CONS:
Personally, the main issue I have is that the plot can be very confusing, which knocked down the overall rating from 10 stars to 9. The drama is based off of a novel written by Wei Yu and so sometimes knowledge on text doesn't translate well visually without narration. Especially near the end, where it picks up pace, it can get very confusing what is happening and why it has occurred. I feel like more time could've been taken to go over these scenes and the backstory. There are also some unanswered questions like: did Qin Fang ever realize who Shan Zhigang was? Why does Bai Jin hide the fact that he has powers and what exactly is even his role? etc. I didn't mind as much since I could get the general gist, but I can understand how that may be frustrating to others. The drama may have benefited from extra episodes or cutting out whole sections of plot, instead of following the novel religiously (like the last 2 episodes were kinda unnecessary and made me much more confused).
ENDING:
Finally, about the ending, some of you are worried about it having a sad ending. The director actually filmed two endings. The one in episode 30 is more "sad", i.e. Qin Fang and Si Teng don't end up together in the traditional sense (I still don't think its sad though, it has a nice cause and effect circular nature to it), but there's also a special, which provides another ending, which people have enjoyed much more, where Qin Fang and Si Teng do end up together, so no need to have qualms about that if you don't like tragedy.
CONCLUSION:
WATCH THE DRAMA. Whether or not it ends up following your preferences, I believe the freshness of the plot/setting/characters are all worth a try.
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Okay..now on to the substance: The other day at work I was describing to a friend the premise of this show. She does not watch any Asian Drama...but now she wants to watch Love Shuffle. I haven't seen a premise where 4 people meet, discussing love and its woes then decide to play a game where they shuffle partners. All of these people are pretty flawed, some way more than others. Each has their own motive for participating; some reasons are benign, some...not so much. Each character is written slightly off from normal which made them seem more real. Does that make sense?
It was fun watching the partners switch and wondering who would end up forming connections. Each partnership and how people related to each other kept me interested all through the drama's run. This show is unconventional which just gives me the warm fuzzies.
At 10 episodes the great thing about Love Shuffle is the story is tight. No room for filler and fluff.. 10 is all you get and the writer and director did a good job of making 10 all you need.
Watch Love Shuffle. It's grown up, it's silly, it's quirky and strange...And those are the elements that make it pretty Kick Butt!
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I Feel You Linger in the Air: Uncut Version
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UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST BL OF 2023!
When you cast the right actors and put them with the right director and writers, YOU WILL GET A MASTERPIECE!Highly recommend this show if you are looking for the following:
• Impeccable Period Drama.
• Impressive characters development.
• All types of couple (Has BL, GL, and even Straight).
• Complex and unpredictable storyline.
• Excellent acting of the cast.
• Amazing chemistry of the three couples and the whole cast.
• Realistic and un-sugarcoated life during the 1920's.
• Angsty and heavy drama.
• Right amount and right timing of comedy.
• Excellent songs and background music that fits a period drama.
Anyone who loves BL and Period Drama should watch this show. Nonkul and Bright are both spectacular in giving life to their characters.
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ONE OF THE WARMEST KDRAMA EVER
NAVILLERA will remain one of the warmest Korean Drama ever for all the nostalgic & happy vibes it gave through out the entire thing.Struggling with your age, when you're on the edge of your life and winning over all the obstacles with hard work and determination to soar within your dream and turning it into a gift, is the greatest message that the drama offers to us.
Such a wholesome and overwhelming drama to witness when you're seeking some comfort in your life. Character development of all the characters have been shown in very short yet in very handsome way. Hats off to Song Kang & Park In Hwan for delivering such a beautiful & graceful chemistry through out the show.
Portraying ballet, a form of art, and explaining life through it, is the major theme of this drama. You will smile widely, laugh, and cry from time to time. It indeed tugs your heartstring with its essence.
Apart from the final performance titled Navillera, the scene that touched my heart was when they hug each other for 1st time before the sepration The last scene was the most beautiful for me when Song Kang and Park In Hwan meet across the label crossing and greet each other through theor ballerina style.
Words might fall short but you will never be able to stop describing how beautiful a drama can be.
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2The mountains are high and the emperor is far away 山高皇帝远.
Under the Microscope takes a detailed look at some of the ancient financial shenanigans that eventually collapsed a dynasty. It is an adaptation of a documentary written by Ma Boyong based on rare ancient folk archives from the Ming dynasty. The Ming dynasty's demise was in large part due to the inability of the government to properly manage its finances, particularly with respect to tax revenue collection. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away 山高皇帝远/shān gāo huángdì yuǎn; thus local fief lords and officials in remote locations were able to do as they please. Social unrest frequently erupted as a result of local officials' failure to carry out central government directives due to both incompetence and corruption. That is the backdrop against which this ancient tax puzzle cum murder mystery unfolds.Shuai Jiamo is an orphaned peasant and a math savant. He is known in Renhua county as a simpleton and is probably either Aspergic or mildly autistic. He makes a simple living providing field measurement services. In his spare time, he counts cards for his only friend Feng Baoyu, playboy and scion of the prosperous Feng's Ham Shop. He is obsessed with accuracy and when he discovers discrepancies in land records, he tries to track it down. In the process, he stumbles across a misallocated tax that awakens long-dormant memories of the day his whole life changed. Without considering broader consequences, he obstinately decides it must be made right and single-mindedly sets out to rectify these errors. All sorts of vested interests from fief lords to various county officials are affected and conspire to frustrate him. First they turn Chen Renqing, a wily lawyer whose justice and honour can be bought by the highest bidder, loose on him. They also inflame peasants across all eight counties of Jin'an Prefecture, ensuring that chaos, murder and mayhem ensues.
Zhang Ruoyun steps out of his comfort zone in this role of a character that is not always in the moment and relates to others in a different way. Although he seems to over-act in places, the brilliance in his overall interpretation is how insidiously he plants the seeds of doubt. Is the over-acting deliberate and in character? Is the real Shuai Jiamo the one who chastises Feng Baoyu for not paying more heed to his sums and observes that he will soon have a brother-in-law? Or are the glimpses of cunning, empathy, even wit and humour just inconsistent characterisations? Is Shuai Jiamo really that simple and traumatised or does he have complex hidden motives? His nemesis the shrewd and cynical Chen Renqing certainly believes the latter. Leaving these questions largely unanswered makes this yet another fascinating and memorable characterisation by Zhang Ruoyun. His incredible chemistry with Wang Yang thrills and delights in new ways as their roles here force them to connect across entirely different wavelengths. Wang Yang is always at his best in morally ambiguous roles and delivers a wicked and empathetic performance as this lawyer on a white horse. It is also nice to see the limelight shared by Fei Qiming (Feng Baoyu) and Qi Wei (Feng Biyu), who also deliver hilariously engaging portrayals.
This is a beautifully shot production with a detailed eye that captures the humble, tattered and vivid humanity of the common people and the contrasting texture of their venal overlords. The devil is always in the detail with these kinds of accounting and mathematical puzzles that do not lend themselves well to screen adaptation. But this production creatively and humorously dresses up the inherently dry subject matter and does its best to avoid too much exposition. The plot is well paced and the conspiracy builds to a climax that shook me and left me speechless with my heart in my mouth. The villains are well foreshadowed but the reveal still satisfyingly ties up loose ends. Some bad guys got off too lightly but this is realistic and somewhat dictated by historical fact. This is a superbly well-written and entertaining ancient grassroots story that will appeal to anyone on the lookout for fresh themes and stories. 8.5/10.0.
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Don't let that happen to you. Read on further and know why you should give it a chance. Bear wimme since it is a little long. :)
King Of high School doesn't bring anything new to the already established genre of romantic comedy. The plot seems predictable and the actors not veterans in their fields. What invited me in was definitely the awkward dance moves in the teasers that TvN released for this show which inspired many other upbeat teasers for many dramas by main broadcasters in Korea.
Seo In Guk certainly caught my eye and i have loved this man from his Reply 1997 days. Seo In Guk plays this high schooler who gets to be his hyung at his workplace due to some behind-the-scenes stuff happening. Romantic and office hijinks issue as the consequence of that. This drama takes some time to kick start so don't expect fireworks and instant excitement with this drama.
Seo in Guk was undoubtedly the star of the show. Every expression, every gesture and his body language genuinely expressed what he was feeling at that moment. Playing a high school kid when you are already 26 aint easy. to top it off the character of Min Suk was not easy to play. Seo In Guk played Min SUk with so much conviction that i wanted a high schooler of my own. His childish anger, his laughs,his arrogance, his smile, his pure and kind heart are all indications of a great man he is going to become. In that he is a plain contrast to the adults in the show who are too serious for their own good. Where Min Suk goes he turns everybody's lives upside down and gives them a taste of fun and cheerful stuff that life should be made of. . He is like a sun on a cold wintry morning because he brings warmth and screen presence with him. The fact that he is so handsome only adds on to this young actors talents. Did i mention how utterly awesome Seo In Guk looks when he curses? Mind blowingly hot that it makes me wanna curse too. :D
Lee Ha Na is purely a delight to see on screen. Soo Young is a total contrast to every other kdrama heroine because neither is she some naive innocent girl and neither is she worldly and arrogant. She is someone who goes all out for the ones she loves regardless of the fact that that could lead to some very awkward and downright embarrassing situations. That doesn't mean she is weak and cries all the time. She is one of the strongest heroines who knows when to open her mouth and spurt out some swear words or give some much needed advice or speak harsh words to set someone straight. Jung Soo Young will grow on you and after it is finished you will remember how strong, bubbly, lovable and adorkable she was. She is played with a lot of gusto and heart by Lee Ha Na and now im a fan.
The chemistry that Min Suk and Soo Young share is similar to having two high school kids experiencing first love for the first time. They are utterly adorable and totally childish with each other. The age gap didnt feel too much because in real life they are so close to each others ages and frankly Seo in Guk is too much like a puppy in love which just turns my heart to all time fangirl high.
The relationships in this show are the heart and soul of the whole masterpiece. The writer reminds me in a lot of ways of the writers of Reply 1997. Everybody and i mean literally everybody gets screen time in this show from the side office workers to the grandpa. The talent of a writer shows in the way they treat the show's smaller characters. The writer here gives them a life of their own irrespective of their contribution to the plot and fleshes out these characters who are least stereotypical and one-dimensional. I love the office workers who are a bunch of kids bowing to another kid. They fill the screen with lots of necessary laughs and cutesy side romances as well. This is possibly the second show after Can You Hear My Heart in which i loved Every.single.character barring just one.
The ever immortally handsome Lee Soo Hyuk came out of hiding and played a flawed and loveless man whose life is filled with thorns and after meeting the bright Soo Young understands that life is much more than money and success. His bromance with Seo In Guk is another highlight of the show and i loved all their childish quarrel, their little squabbles and bro fights.
Halbe and Min Suka should have a show of their own with the way they act like a family. The grandfather-father-son trio are a delight to look at with their sassy talks and crazy dinner table antics. Soo Young and Yoo Ah are probably the bestest of sisters in dramaland who are mature and know what family and relationships mean. The best friends of Min Suk deserve an applause for being such amazing besties who stand tall with their BFF through thick and thin.
There are no betrayals in the show. There is no villain. No bitchy women are here. No monster-in-laws. No meddling relatives. There is no action and neither any over the top stuff happening. Its just a slice of life drama unraveling before our very own eyes with a certain beauty.
Watch it if you are in mood of a little romance, some crazy laughs and adorable family relationships.
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Vinganca em Terceira Pessoa
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A sad & highly topical social issue, dealt with in a palpable, exciting, sensitive, touching way
"Revenge of Others" is set in the world of South Korean high school students. No teenage squabble, but a story with substance and depth. With flexibly intertwined subplots, it offers a sad and highly topical social issue, dealing with it in a palpable, exciting, sensitive and touching way. Should you watch? Yes!"Revenge of Others" (like "Weak Hero Class 1" in 2022) deals with the topic of mobbing /bullying. In Korean, the slang term 'wang-ta' is quite common, and for me helped for a better understanding of the special and increasingly dramatic situation surrounding bullying at South Korean schools, which can even lead to suicide. (See side note below.)
This KDrama spotlights a Seoul high school where there appears to have happened a suicide. Everyone is shocked. Some know more. But if the sister of the victim, who has been living separated from her brother for many years, would not try to get to the bottom of it, then this would be a sad case of suicide without a murmur. It probably happens all too often in one way or another that fundamental questions in an apparently obvious case are left unanswered. However, this KDrama bravely wants to get to the bottom of the matter and its circumstances - here in the person of Ok Chang-mi.
As so often in the context of bullying, the adults don't look too good and don´t offer anything promising for making a difference regarding those fatal peer group dynamics. They are left outside. The high school students have to find a way for themselves to get along with their classmates - if possible highly adjusted underneath the social wang-ta radar (or at least with a solid network).
"Revenge of Others" is a production for the international streaming market. Things rarely get too brutal at Disney, though. The amount of violence is therefore limited (compared to e.g. "Weak Hero Class 1") and instead there is more room for relationship dynamics in side plots, causal connections and shades of gray.
By the way, in connection with "Revenge of Others" there is also a whole series of promising actors to admire!
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SIDE NOTE: --- Wang-ta in South Korea ----
With Wang-ta, the focus is not so much on the 'act' - bullying or harassment - but rather on the entire context of active and violent marginalizatin of an outsider. For example, it can be used as a swear word for the excluded person or as a description of the bullying activity. In a collectivist society like South Korea, group affiliation and group interest is paramount. This applies not only to the family, but also to the school class and also to the peer groups within the class or school. Unfortunately, this value system results in a fatal situation when it comes to actual bullying: bringing shame on the group, the outsiders are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Whether it's because of school performance, family background, origin, belonging to an undesirable minority, looks, dress, a handicap, an unusual belief or an abnormal inclination: Wang-ta is a label that no one wants to personally be confronted with. Everyone agrees on that. At the same time, Wang-ta becomes a free pass for more or less cruel mobbing/bullying. Worryingly, perpetrators, victims, and witnesses alike accept the premise: all forms of bullying, almost anything related to Wang-ta, is permissible. The perpetrators take advantage of this, the victims immediately feel even more inferior in terms of their shortcomings (of whatever kind), and the bystanders silently nod the action as justified - or even actively join in. There is no moral barrier against this specifically cultural, collectivist background. It can even get out of hand. There are cases where the entire school has ended up participating in one person's wang-ta. From a Western, individualistic point of view, this is perhaps difficult to understand, because apart from group norms there are other socially recognized ethical principles that could be introduced as a serious confrontation of wang-ta behavior. Unfortunately, this hardly is the case at South Korean schools with a collectivistic social culture.
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SIDE NOTE: In connection with this KDRama also an additional side note on
--- Punishment vs. Suffering of Victims ---
The psychological trauma for the bullying victims are with long-lasting effect. Unfortunately, the punishment of perpetrators is not proportionate to this day. Punishment is rather harmless - it may be annoying to the perpetrators, but not really a deterrent. Far too much must have happened before expulsion actually occurs. A corresponding entry in the files is actually completely deleted two years after graduation. In fact, nothing is left behind on the perpetrators' side. On the other hand, from the memory of the victims the experience cannot be so easily erased ...
The documented cases of wang-ta in South Korean schools (yet many are not officially reported) have steadily increased over the past three decades. According to a study by the Ministry of Education, between 2013 and 2017 the cases have more than doubled from 11.749 to 31.130. There are also increasing numbers of victims who saw suicide as their only way out. It has now been empirically documented that South Korean pupils with a personal Wang-ta experience are more suicidal than those without. Suicide is by far the most common cause of death among 10 to 24 year olds. Almost 1.000 young people took their own lives in 2020 alone.
In respect of the lack of serious consequences for the perpetrators in Wang-ta cases and their comparatively unsatisfactory punishment, a kind of vigilante justice has been established among the families of the victims concerned. "Revenge of Others" picks up on this (similar to "Angry Mom" a few years earlier) as a theme in variation.
In fact, facing a lack of serious alternative punitive measures it seems not uncommon for relatives of victims to pay someone of the same school age to take care of an appropriate 'punishment' - i.e. 'undercover'. Clearing up violence with violence is of course a dubious solution. Sadly, this seems to be the only way to show real consequences to the perpetrators and give the victims at least minimum size satisfaction. ...Although it should be probably considered more of a satisfaction for the relatives of the victims, because the victims themselves still have to deal with their psychological wounds and scars for a long time. Revenge does not undo the painful experience of mentally and physically harassing exclusion...
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The Drama of 2022 That Has Everything You Could Ever Want
I think it's safe to say this is one of the best things I've ever seen.I loved this drama so much.
I've never written any reviews on here before, but I think this one deserves it.
The drama has ended, but it will always be with me.
I was sceptical about the drama having only "16" episodes (there were so many stones unturned), but everything was executed well.
They gave us an excellent, satisfying ending; it has to be one of my favourites. Everything tied together perfectly at the end.
I have a lot of respect for the writer; it was their first drama, yet all the elements were perfect, and they included so much in just 16 episodes!
The characters were all complex and interesting.
I love Kim Hye Soo, and she was brilliant in this. Her character is one of the best female leads I've seen. She's strong, understanding, kind, and just the best. All of the Grand Princes were perfect; they had their flaws, but that's what made them so lovable. I adored getting to know them and their stories.
All of the characters were fantastic, including the Queen Dowager in all her evil glory (I despise her guts, but her character is admirable).
I think Under The Queen's Umbrella is severely underrated; people automatically deem it boring because it's a historical, but I have to say, I never felt bored, not even for a second.
This is one of those gems that surpasses all your expectations. (Even though I actually had a lot of expectations because I love Kim Hye Soo)
Historicals have a stereotype, one of being boring, but sometimes you need to look at the broader picture and give things a shot.
This drama is full of everything you could want: mystery, action, romance, politics, strong characters, and more!
This was a heartwarming and lovely show, and it is one I will rewatch time and time again.
Highly, highly recommended!
If it's not obvious already, I give it a 10/10.
No, scratch that; this drama deserves a 1000/10. (I still can't believe it is the writer's first drama. Everything, and I mean everything, was perfect.)
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1Great Story, Amazing Acting, Best of Chen Feiyu
Just as I thought Chen Feiyu’s acting somewhat lacking in Ever Night, he gives me a bombshell here in this drama. While I thought only Song Weilong has those eyes with words that cannot be spoken, Chen Feiyu possesses those similar irresistible gazes that make the viewers' heart ache. As I thought this drama is "just" another youth drama with immature characters and silly storyline, this story touches the real challenges of youth in the cutthroat IT world today.Lighter and Princess or L & P, is adapted from a popular novel. "Lighter" depicts the lighter that the male lead possesses whereas "Princess" is the nickname given to the female lead by the male lead. The story is narrated by Zhu Yun (Zhang Jingyi) of her encounter starting in her freshman year in college, 2012. The story has a span of 7-8 years with four years in college, 3 years in adulthood (not shown in details), and the current year of 2019. L & P has also come to mean "Lucky and Power" in the story.
In college, Zhu Yun is an innocent girl, but she is not naive. She is intelligent but unafraid to ask questions and to admit errors. She is obedient and responsible, at home and at school; she is the perfect daughter all parents want – an obedient child who never lies nor defies the parents. Having said that, Zhu Yun later begins to tell white lies and secretly defy her mother who is judgmental. I wish Zhu Yun had stood up to her mother and given her an ultimatum: “accept us or lose a daughter”. Zhang Jingyi puts up a perfect performance here as an uncertain and yet determined Zhu Yun. The actor’s adorable adolescent look and demeanor make her so convincing and lovable.
In romance, a perfectly good girl has to meet a totally opposite character. Here, Zhu Yun meets Li Xun (Chen Feiyu), an outrageous, arrogant, untamed, super intelligent, confident and unconformable character. Li Xun is a very misunderstood character, not only by people around him, even many viewers also don't understand him and therefore condemn him.
Here, I want to address some criticisms from viewers about Li Xun. Many viewers complains that Li Xun is misogynistic. Li Xun is definitely not a misogynist. He looks down on people not because they are women but because they are being mediocre. Those people he looks down on are usually people who get to high positions through connections, either they have powerful relatives, or they bribe their way through; these people do not have substance. This is a common phenomenon happening around the world. People buy their credentials and tout themselves as the experts, sitting in high positions, receiving high salaries and benefits, claiming credits for everything, while the real people doing the actual tasks receive measly compensations and no recognition. This is what Li Xun despises. He despises people with no substance but still have no self-realization to try to improve themselves further. And to improve, he laughs at those for reading and memorizing from text books. For him, improvement means getting your hands dirty, making mistakes and learning from the mistakes. Contrast his attitude towards Ren Di. He likes Ren Di because he feels she is authentic, pursuing her passion even against her father's will. He helps her in every way he can: financial support, a place for her to live, and extra school credit points from his coding club, etc. All these prove that Li Xun is not misogynistic.
Despite how Li Xun looks and behaves, deep down, Li Xun is a decent and kind person who loves his mother and sister dearly, and cares for all his friends even he himself is in a dire position. He is compassionate but doesn't give a damn how others think of him. Only Zhu Yun knows how he thinks, puts up with him and stands up for him throughout.
Both Zhu Yun and Li Xun are classmates in computer programming. But Li Xun is well ahead of his class as he is a computer whiz kid and a brilliant programmer but he doesn't use this skill for hideous crimes. He humiliates everyone as they seem childish to him with their shallow knowledge of the course. Everyone hates him for his badassness, and yet loves him for his ingenuity. Li Xun doesn’t follow frivolous rules; he finds generally people only care about how things look on the surface and not the substance inside, so he calls them fake. I love how he looks at everyone, a classic condescending look. Li Xun is a person with an attitude, and for me, that's Chen Feiyu’s natural look; Chen Feiyu fits into the Li Xun character seamlessly as if the character is written for him. In real life, if your boyfriend is such a character, I empathize with you, but in a romance, this type of personality captures the viewers’ imagination. I am so in love with this character.
According to readers, in the novel, Li Xun is flamboyant and has many girlfriends but none last long. Here in the drama, the Li Xun character has been whitewashed – instead, girls throw themselves at him, but he doesn't even look at them as if they are non-existent; they usually leave him alone after getting humiliating scolds from him. None of the girls attract Li Xun’s attention, until Zhu Yun comes into his sight. With her, he experiences jealousy and longing, and with him, she always believes in, no matter what. I really love how their relationship develops, slowly and steadfastly. It takes half of the drama for the trust and love to blossom before the couple is officially together.
College life ends at Episode 22, and the kids graduate, each starts their work life, further education, or something else (spoiler). Three years whizz past, present life continues. Our characters struggle with life, career and revenge. This is the beginning of romance 2.0, mature, steamy and sensual. Here we can see the growth of the characters compared to their college years.
The official sound tracks and background music are beautiful, capturing the ups and downs of our characters, and the mood of the story. I'm so glad that my favorite singer, Zhou Shen, sings one of the songs, Fireworks.
My Verdict
For me, not one episode is considered redundant or boring as I relish every scene and every moment. I really enjoy watching how the characters being carefully explored in detail, giving viewers multiple dimensions of the two main characters, both have flaws, both learn from their mistakes, and grow to become better person of their own. The writing of the characters is very realistic. In life, all of us could come across many of these characters: a child with outrageous hair color and an attitude, a sister who is also the perfect daughter, a classmate or a colleague who sabotages your projects and stabs you on the back, even the parents of Zhu Yun are the typical Chinese parents that many Chinese viewers can empathize with. There are many fine and sweet improvised moments of the love birds; this is candy for any romance buffs. The love is pure and deep, and reciprocated. The sacrifices are relatable. The humor is subtle and delightful. Not least, Chen Feiyu is a heartthrob.
In China, the Li Xun character is an outlier, but in the west, he’s a norm. Therefore when he's being called a "bad boy", my heart aches. What bad boy? Just because he doesn't conform to the norm? It upsets me that such a beautiful soul is being treated so unfairly by a society that demands conformity. Many people are fearful of making life changing decisions. Li Xun is decisive and fearless. Once he makes up his mind, he doesn't look back. For me, this is a highly valued quality and is well depicted, among others, in the multiple times he helps the hesitant Zhu Yun in clicking the submit button.
As Zhu Yun puts it, “He never looks back, confident, courageous, energetic, care-free. Forever with a determined direction, never with self-doubt.” These are the qualities all viewers would be inspired by the character.
Towards the last few episodes, the writing becomes soften with somewhat conflicting messages; everyone, including Li Xun, compromises in achieving a win-win outcome. The writing even has Li Xun get back in line with what society expects of him, and what it means by success - wealth. Nonetheless, this slight change of tone has not reduced my excitement of the Li Xun character and my enjoyment of the overall story.
This drama captures my heart, my imagination and my emotions, hence deserves a 10/10.
TWO THUMBS UP!
BRAVO!
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