Realistic romance-action drama
I am really shocked to see low-scoring reviews for this drama. It has everything you want. It has bromance, romance, and action. The acting is great. Both lead and support actors/actresses are nailing their parts. The pace of the drama is realistic. It is a modern drama, and as a result, nothing magically happens. It takes time for emotions to be developed and mature.If you follow the pace of the drama, you will cherish every little development between the leads. I believe people who drop this drama or don't find it satisfying are the ones who are skipping along the episodes and missing important hints.
My advice is to take your time watching this drama, experience the lead's ups and downs with them, and you will have a magical time riding their emotional waves. This is a masterpiece.
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1STOP !!!!!
Don't say it's unhelpful just because I gave 9 and 10 to pretty much everything. I can explain, I swear !
I gave an Overall 10 because in my heart it deserves it.
I gave a 10 to Rewatch Value because it's really not the kind of movie you need to not know the ending to enjoy. The story is moving whether or not you know who end up with who in the end. Proof of that : I've seen it 4 times and I'm not regretting it. AT ALL !
I gave a 9 to music because it holds its place in the movie and because the two songs are stuck in my head forever. And I'm enjoying it.
I gave a 8 to acting because let's be honest here, it was awesome. But it's not a movie that magnifies actors, it's more about the story, so not 10. And not 9 either because the main actress could have done a better job, to my point of view. She did great, but I'm a picky watcher, if I may say...
Finally, I gave 9 to the story. Let's talk about this for ma moment.
For those, like me, who hesitate before watching adult movies like this one, let's be clear : THIS IS NOT PORN.
Really, you need to get past the first few minutes and see that this is really an incredibly realistic and thus touching, heart-warming, beautiful love story that will certainly make you laugh and maybe - if you're like me - maybe even make you cry. You will love it, you will love the characters, you will want this story to be yours and you will watch this movie over and over again, with ice cream on your laps, or with your boyfriend in your arms, or even with a bunch of girlfriends you want to get infected with K-drama addiction.
(after this movie, you make them watch Protect the Boss, or Secret Love, and you got yourself a K-drama Gang ! )
I just loved this movie, to have fun watching it !
^^
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1HER SECOND CHANCE : A FATE GAME!
For the level of entertainment or how this show had me on a chokehold for these two months, I could give it a 10/10... but when I started picturing it as smthg perfect, they added a few clichés to the game. Adding a character that is pure annoyance, who looks more like a filler, it only made some eps in the middle feel flat when the rest of the thing was popcorn-worthy. Without Yu-Ra this would be a 12 ep show and my rating would really be higher.Sadly it couldn't become that masterpiece show but kudos to the satisfying storyline and the ACTING... By a 'satisfying' story I meant those "yesss go girl, slay" segments of the drama especially in the starting where I rooted with my all for the FL. Female lead's personal character development in the first half was really well done among similar shows I've seen before. Later, be it some bitch slap moments or pity parties it was fun like a polite makjang with warm supporting characters.
on the other hand, I'm in love with my wonderful villains Su Min (Song Ha Yoon) and Min Hwan (Lee Yi Kyung). Never started pitying their characters but only had HATE and hate in my mind. Ngl they're too funny sometimes. I was baffled by their acting and perfect depiction of these selfish to the core characters. Idk anything else but I'm keeping an eye out for everything SHY stars in next, becoz she was such a perfect bitch with her baby face. She's what kept me hooked.
Park Min Young was okay as usual but I discovered Na In Woo ♡.♡ from this drama who managed to shine even though the story revolved around FL and ML had no story for himself. He even bagged all of our hearts with his green forest, puppy coded charisma. But y'all let's be honest, he's so so fictional. Nevertheless, if "fiction" is this tall and beautiful, why not haha. I can't believe he was called "ugly" when this started airing, like get your eyes checked man!
Their chemistry was also great in most of the scenes, seemed very natural and was serving already-married vibes lol. From OSTs, nothing is very memorable except ♪Wounds of Time♪ sung by Kim So Yeon.
So overall try Marry my husband if you want to be impressed by annoying character's acting and hate them a lot, an enjoyable revenge packed with clownish comedy. Usually very predictable but I was still pleasantly surprised by her fate sometimes.
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The cinematography was perfect, the story was well written, and the actors fit their roles well. The best part about its drama was definitely the characters and their relationships.
I love how the writers developed each of the main characters, but not so much that they were predictable. They grew along with the story, changing for the best, but also remaining true to their original selves. Character relationships grew in complexity and each one of them served a different purpose throughout.
There are very few dramas or TV shows that add so many sub-plots within the story. Normally, there's just one main plot line and two or three smaller sub-plots that rarely appear in all the episodes. However, this drama had quite a few and managed to show the watcher how it was progressing in every episode. I think that's what really made this show shine.
Lastly, I really loved the emotional value of this drama. It made me laugh, cry, scream at the screen and tear my hair out in frustration- all at once. Kudos to the writers for managing that.
There were a few parts I thought could have been done better; for example, a few character motives didn't quite make sense- but overall the King 2 hearts is really a masterpiece. There is no doubt that I am going to rewatch it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Are you bored of watching boring storylines, actors that can’t act, bad cgi, not that great of a costume/design, and most importantly no chemistry, well no need to look anywhere else this show is it, it has none of the factors above, Yay! (:Plot: You know how most shows are pretty boring in the beginning and only gets interesting around ep15 or more, well HSALF it’s amazing it’ll hook you in right from the 1st ep. it’s very comical but then you have to get your tissues ready since ALL of your emotions will be brought out you’ll get happy, sad/heartbroken, frustrated, anxious and last of all it’ll make you crave for more on what’s happening next. I love how they developed all charcters from how they were in the beginning to their personality towards the end, everyone changed significantly for the better or worse. Also the cgi and costumes were so well done that I’m just so amazed by it especially on ep61 the war scene just blew me away. Okay adding one last thing after finishing the show was I thought we were free from the demon princess but no she still got to appear for the last 2eps. Other than the demons princess thing it ended really well and was so emotional as JM vanished into air.
Acting: Hmmm what’s the word... ahhh it’s phenomenally amazing! If you watch it like seriously the acting will blow you away. I was skeptical if the casts in here can bring the charcters to life since it ain’t a easy task to do all the facial expressions and feelings in here. The leads had such an out of the world chemistry they’re literally the Perfect couple YZxDL. The acting here is so natural nothing felt forced or off.
YZ just stole my heart in this show she perfected her role so well and I’m glad that she was the one who played JM I don’t think anyone else can perfect the naiveness and pain the way she did. She’s the most pitiful charcter out of all like seriously she is, watch it and you’ll know. The cast was just perfect I’m sure some people will say that others can do better but like seriously who can other than this amazing cast from this amazing show?
Music: it’s gooood, especially Sa Ding Ding’s version it was just so emotional to just listen to it. Oh boy when it was played in the show I literally got goosebumps. All the other ost were so good that I had to search them all up and added it to my playlist. Also it’s so cool that one of the version the song were sung by the leads Yang Zi and Deng Lun.
Heck yea I’m definitely rewatching this amazingly true masterpiece many times. I don’t even know what am I suppose to do after it ends like it’s so so so hard to find a show that’s this perfect and I’m just going to say that this show is the best show ever to me it tops anything and it’s my #1 show. Totally, totally recommend everyone and anyone to watch this if they can but don’t feel pressured to watch it bc of my crazy little review.
Also if you’re in a withdrawal like me then I encourage you to watch the bts(behind the scenes) of this it’s so funny and I love how all the casts were so natural towards each other there were no awkwardness. You guys are so going to love the leads YZ, DL, and LYX after watching the bts they have such great chemistry together. To me this show can’t be rated it’s like infinite/10, that’s how good it is. I have never seen any show that tops this and let me tell you guys I’ve watched so many top rated/popular show where its not just as satisfying if compared to this. I’m sad cause after this show like everything other show will seem so bland, not up to par, and Ik for sure I will not be able to stop myself from comparing how well done this was. I don’t even know what I was doing before this show like what have I been watching? All the other shows really cannot be compared to HSALF. Also just to put this out I’m a big fan of the novel and I got to say that the show is better a lot better it went so much more in-depth and we got to know how or why a certain event or certain way someone did somethings.
So yes, overall I do recommend it, definitely do yourself a favor and try out this true masterpiece called Heavy Sweetness Ash Like Frost. 100+/10
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1
1Tragic but make it romantic!
If you ask me, how will I describe this drama? I have only 2 words: Beautiful and brutal. Contradicting but apt! The premise looks simple, but it is as deceptive as its characters. Kataoka Kinji, a yakuza boss, is being sent into hiding and his only companion is Odajima Ren, a stoic subordinate. What he isn't aware of is Odajima's true mission, which is to end his life.In this journey of 6 episodes, it managed to take that thin thread of deception and tackle loyalty, guilt, and the terrifying intimacy of being seen by the very person who is meant to destroy you. The story is written on the fragile spine of betrayal, breathing in those long sighs and silences, and standing ashore waiting for the sound of the gun that may or may not fire.
Kataoka is written like a man who is trying to remain gentle in a world that keeps punishing softness. He is aware of the danger, maybe even of the betrayal brewing beside him, but refuses to meet cruelty with suspicion. His insistence on kindness may look foolish but it becomes an act of power. Odajima, in contrast, is the kind of man you mistake for cold until you realise he is just tired. Tired of killing, of surviving, of existing. His loyalty is both his prison and his weapon. Watching him falter, hesitate before pulling the trigger, linger too long in a gaze he shouldn’t return was devasting and made him and that world look so much human.
What follows between them isn't fluffy romance or love turning yakuza into a saint redemption arc...but something murkier. There is no rush, no grand declarations, just very long stretches of silence that are enough to drown the miseries of both of them. Somehow, the story stops being about whether Odajima will kill Kataoka, but more about whether he can still live with himself if he doesn't.
Their relationship is equal parts longing and equal parts regret, and the writing doesn't try to sanitise the messiness of it and I think that is where the drama won me over! Both of them are morally grey characters with twisted and tragic pasts. There is a glimmer of hope and laughter here and there in their interactions but it is fleeting. I won't say it balances the grittiness but it definitely softens it to not choke and trip on the darkness. Also, their kisses and NC scenes were done very well!
Coming to the antagonists, it feels comical calling them antagonists because in the yakuza world, it’s never about good versus evil. It’s more like figuring out who is less bad, or maybe bad in a way that still follows some twisted kind of principle. Kirii Keito, all arrogance and envy, wants to eliminate Kataoka not just for power, but for being everything he can’t be -loved, respected, human. On paper, he is a terrible person but once I stand in the worn-out shoes of a child who never felt loved and was neglected, he just seemed less monstrous.
If I am being objective, we could have used 2 more episodes to flesh out the journey better because the last episode did feel a bit rushed, and the editing was a bit messy. It just felt a little short. But in any way that didn't hinder my enjoyment at all.
Acting-wise, everyone overall delivered. It was my first time seeing both the leads, and I think they both did pretty well. The opposite attract trope was played well. I can sit and nitpick but I don't want to.
Cinematography was another aspect that floored me. I have a soft spot for anything filmed near water. And I liked how significantly it was used. The past and present colour grading was fabulous too. They managed to ace the atmosphere.
Overall, this isn’t a BL that hands you easy comfort. It’s deliberate, restrained, occasionally cruel in its honesty. It was such a delight to see two "dangerous" men realise that love in this world is not a promise of salvation but a mirror showing who you really are when all the worldly masks fall away.
I would definitely recommend it but please read the TWs (dubcon, violence) and don't go in expecting fluff. It is anything but that!
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1
1This review may contain spoilers
They're soo in love, their off-screen chemistry, I'm going to miss them. When is the S2 coming out!
{ Detailed Review }This bl is insane, I love each and every part of it
They had intense chemistry , but the relationship just started and clashed Idk how long we needa wait and chu san too .
But I'm sure liu yi will come back .
the first episode was quite classic , and my expectations were not so high for itt , but I didn't bailed just after the first ep , cuz uk I didn't wanted to regret later .
And I'm glad I continued watching it otherwise I would have missed another actual art work .
It started getting more and more interesting . I slowly understood it's an enimes-to-lovers trope and it engaged mee so much , the more I watched , the more I got fascinated.
I loved the way they stared at each other instead of ignoring eye contacts , He chu san and xiu li got very close , I could tell from the beginning that san was the one who will fall first and I knew ittt with that much care liu yi will fall hadder .
Focusing on episodes :
I can literally tell from their reactions that they do have feelings for each other but trying to hide them
ohh I remember that part were chu san was literally staring at his butt heheee , how can forget that part .
In the further episodes I gotta see liu's possessive side , I love to see him getting overprotective of chu san , like not letting others touch things given by san and say anything bad about him .
Well , He chu san is getting more crazy bout liu that he literally dreamt about them uhmmmm . Look at how shy he was the next morning while washing the bedsheet 🫣 , when he saw xiu he actually avoided eye contact that part was extremely adorable .
Look at He chu san teasing liu yi about his fake girlfriend Mei , he knew about liu's feelings sooo , he teased him , ik san actually likes his jealousy side .
I literally wanted to cry when sam expressed his worry for lui yi , I can see how much chu san actually matters in liu yi's disturbing and horrible life .
San came at the correct time in yi's world , when he lost his family ( sister and big bro ) . It's not his fault for being a gangster it's just the situation pressures him to be one , I could totally understand liu yi's emotional condition , he needed someone to support him at that crucial moment , it's some kind of fate that brought them together .
They're like the two poles north one and south one , which could help them understand each other and help the other one . Honestly , I loved the way liu yi pampered sam when his dad suddenly fainted , and ik he cares for sam so much too .
Don't you think this guy is so adorable when he is jealous , he's like a pookie baby , who keeps on babbling around , so Ik now why he's a BOTTOM, what a pookie gangster .
What a mafia , he can't even do anything when chu san actually kissed him instead of ignoring like a adorable baby . Ik he kinda liked it but he's just trying to avoid the fact , he is already in love with a young college boyy ( even though he's not )
Idk how are they going to balance all of it together in just one episode
The second couple still are stuck as enemies and chu san just confessed to yi , I am very interested to know what's happening next , honestly i don't want second couple to just stay as hookups .
It's the exact type of drama that I love the most . It's actually worth watching , a lot of people are actually loving this and me tooo .
**THE OUTCOME WAS SO BEYOND EXPECTATIONS**
I got to see liu yi's after reaction , he was so happy literally laughing and dancing around just like a man who got his first love , I loved his reactions even though chu san missed it , honestly i wanted them to share a meal together when san returns and spend a special night , and wanted yi to quit his position and start a very normal life with sam by his side . I wanted him to brag all about san and I want to see sam's dad's reaction so much .
Howw it's so small .
So , it's quite sad that it's completed , chu san and liu yi finally realised their feelings , I could see how worried yi was when san got kidnapped and harrassed and I knew it from the way they kissed , how much scared they were and that joy .
But , I didn't expect the part when he actually got arrested leaving sanin tears , me too I literally cried , they just got together , but didn't even got time to spend with eachother . The most miserable part ever , I cried when liu yi said “wait for me ” .
They never deserved that ending , I thought they'll probably get out of that place
and live a normal life together .
Now we don't know how long it's gonna take for liu yi to return , when will they meet again , what will change between the officers , how he's gonna take revenge . They left us hanging with 100 s of unsolved questions .
In some way it's good that it ended this way cuz it's quite hard to balance all of the things in a single episode .
But the bad thing is that we don't know if there'll be a S2 or not , what will happen to the relationship that they built .
Hints for Season 2 ::
The questions that leads us to the second season.
• The officer , needed to talk about what .
• what happened to the fat gangster.
• how chu san got away from the fat ganster .
• what was he doing with those people throwing money or stuff .
•how will the officer take revenge for his brother .
• who is the actual killer .
• The relationship between the officers .
• the police officer and that gang leader Both were eliminated through the exact same signature killing style .
Biggest hint : liu yi told chu san to wait for him .
So , I'm not losing any hope yet , These key points strongly indicate that we are headed for a second season ( there's a lot of unsolved questions and mysteries ) .
I'm so happy that literally nodded and confirmed that there'll be a season 2 in their latest live stream on insta or tt .
Xixi zhaooo plssss don't play with us , we already have c bls season 2 trauma ...
Overall I recommend you guys to watch it , it's exactly perfect if we remove the ending .
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Complementing couple; Faithful Love; Outstanding Production
Don't sleep on this drama! Perfectly all I wanted in 1 drama. I want to rave how good this is in the hopes more people will give this drama a watch.Unlike the trailer or the opening theme or the ending theme.. this drama is NOT frivolous or cheesy or over-the-top comedy. It has drama but not melodramatic, the romance between the leads naturally developed and tug at your heart strings..sometimes cute and sweet but always very believable. Theres silly antics and some good humour too.
The direction is spot on. Because all the scenes come out beautifully. What makes this drama special is because you dont expect it to move you BUT it does. All the emotional scenes are well crafted and well acted out. I become FL and ML's champion, I root for them, I care for them. I'm with them every step of the way and truly invested.
The cinematography is gorgeous. Their wedding scenes was grand and beautiful. Many backdrops at the manor was picturesque.
The true star of the drama is how beautiful the writer wrote Xi Ruo and Hong Bin's love. Almost tongue in cheek because Xi Ruo is the 'sweet liar'. Yet she comes clean and confess to ML before the wedding. Unlike other contract or fake marriages, both leads are a picture of happiness during the wedding because there is already affection and attraction. Even as XR still harbors secrets, HB isnt oblivious or stupid but gives time and space to XR.
I love when HB said to XR " To believe you or not, is up to me. But to trust me or not, is up to you". And from the moment he took her hand in marriage he has always chose to trust her. He exemplifies how a husband should be: trust, respect, cherish, protect and love his wife. Throw in his puppy face..thats a bonus.
So all the antagonists, all the hard moments, as watchers they dont become frustrating because XR and HB never falter. Time and time again we even get surprised by the neat plot.
Hong Bin and Xi Ruo is such a complementing couple and they truly give off lovers, husband wife vibes. Kudos to the leads and their acting as well as Director Cheng that helmed this amazing production.
I hope other dramas can learn from this drama. Lovers who only have eyes for each other, hearts never waver and whose relationship is built on communication and trust. And emphasized background is not important and the meaning of family. Perfect Perfect Perfect all around. The stamp of humour just makes it more fun. Its now time to rewatch again.
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While Lu Tian Xing was pretending to be Xiao Lu and both parts of him were falling in love with Tao Le Si, the show was full of cute and entertaining romantic comedy moments. But soon it became full of weepy, pity-party moments and those were less enjoyable. The biggest problem, however, was the aftermath of the reveal. They just couldn't figure out how something like a fake identity would end so they did a 180 into melodrama land and the only real evidence of that half of the show was the opening. With the shortened length, the ending felt rushed and there were small plot lines that got dropped.
For what they were given, I enjoyed the cast. Aaron Yan was good at the dual role and even into the later episodes. I did prefer some of the minor cast- Butler Fu was the best part of the show in the beginning and I was sad that his role diminished so much. Out of the supporting cast, I liked Miao Miao and Ting Wei. I kind of hated Gai Xian mostly because he came off as a creepy stalker. Personally, I think the standout in this show was Beatrice Fang as Huan Huan. Huan Huan was awful but she was supposed to be. The slow personality shift was really good.
I liked the music in the show, specifically the opening theme.
I just don't think I would watch Fall in Love With Me again. While I enjoyed the beginning of the show, nothing stood out as a scene I'd want to go back and rewatch.
Unfortunately, this show lost it's way. The first half and the second half didn't mesh well, making it feel like two completely different shows shoved together. It's sad because I liked it at first and then didn't like it so much anymore.
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One of the best K-BLs out there!
I knew from the start of this drama that I was going to love it… and I stand correct!Noq this is how you do a KBL-Drama! Acting, OSTs, Visuals etc. were just amazing! I have this drama as one of my most favourite BLs ever. The chemistry was amazing too… though the kiss could’ve been a bit better lol but that kiss in EP 10 showed how much they improved.
I would like to see a Season 2 except I want the focus to be more on the other lead couple as I think there are still things we need to learn off of their story. And I need my kiss! (Tbh kisses in this drama aren’t even needed cause their chemistry is just that great)
This is sitting up there with one of the best BLs released this year (2023) highly recommend to those who have yet to see this :)
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First this drama is the best one this year YES IVE SEEN ALL THE HOT KOREAN DRAMA 2016.
so before we get in. Lets talk about what most people expect from a kdrama or so i figured from comments and my own taste.
FIRST you want romance ? Check . Family values and strong bonds ? Check. Best friendship and relationships where everyone works hard to help each other ? Guess what its there.
NO naive characters here ! Everyone is so badass ! Our main lead isnt a push over goody 2 shoes lost in his own heaven. You push him he will push back. Talk shit get hit.
The story is simple and overused but its not the center at all.
Lawyer get alzheimer while still having unfinished business.
Family and close ones support him. Falls in anepic battle against conspiracy.
Each episode gives a life lesson. Every moment for this man is like 10 years.
I need to remember. Never forget what happened because of me.
The family bonds and his wife and kids make the show more fun and just your heart hurts WITH happiness when you see how they help him along the road without our lead noticing.
CUTE EYE CANDY COUPLE? Hot damn!! Romance / family / mystery / friendship / suspense and lil bit of medical all in this drama.
Best of the year so far.
Yes ive seen signal. This shit is better .
10/10 isnt fair.
I dont need to talk about acting since the male lead is A list actor. No bullshit good looking guy who cant act.
Ahjussi is here to win
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"CHEAK OUT" ON RISK OF LOSING YOUR BRAINCELLS!!!
I Officially CROWN THIS BL AS 'the bane of my existence and the object of all my regrets *100000'GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK!!!!!
THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING!!!! AND I WILL BE BLUNT HERE!!!!!
I HAVE SKIPPED THROUGH 80% OF IT, EVEN THE NC SCENES!!!!!
I LOST MY Remaining braincells Watching this AND had to put bleach [3 TRUCKS FULL OF BLEACH] in my eyes to forget this horror>>> rip braincells💀. RIP EYES AS WELL☠️
Where do we register for our "I SURVIVED "CHECK OUT"!!" t-shirts???
WATCH IT ONLY IF YOU LIKE-
Cheating, like the actors, basic story, just want NC scenes, want something other than high school BL's, attractive guys, toxicity, bitchy female character, liars .
WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO ME-
bland music, Bad NC scenes, Cheating, Long and cringy dialogues, No character development, No chemistry, boring/slow paced[ I watched at 3x speed], jerk characters.
Seriously, I’m proud of those people who are wasting their time into this long and messy af series. The characters were too problematic in many ways.
A FRIENDLY ADVICE TRY TO IMPROVE THE PLOTHOLES OF THE SERIES NOT FOCUS ON SEELING US PORNO!!!
*Nine- Narcissist in a way. It wasn’t sexy at all to covet other people’s boyfriend. SUCH A CHARACTER 🚩🚩🚩
*Daonuea- Childish af! This character is probably one of the worst BL characters of all time. Naiveness to its highest. CHEATER!
*Tee- A BOY WHO LOVES A NAIVE BOY. Ughhhh also a character. I can't stop laughing at how Tee was all like trying to guilt trip Ice to give up his dream job, and Ice was ice-cold!! Literally, Ice was like I'm gonna have a hot makeout session with you, but that's about it. I'm totally leaving you tomorrow. And I couldn't stop laughing.
*Boat, Ice and Candy- MESSY AND IRRELEVANT CHARACTERS! Dust of the series. only good thing here>
*Preaw- A GIRL! SHE ALWAYS SPILLS HER TANTRUM ALL OVER THE PLACE. DESERVE TO BE CHEATED FOR HER ATTITUDE.
The series was too long and too messy. Not recommended for those people who had heart failure due to its boringness. Expectations was far from fair. ALSO IN EP8, THEY COULD’VE JUST MADE A FOR NINE AND PRAEW!
I really really DO NOT understand the need to complicate things. Put the damn uncut version on IQIYI and finish it!!!!!
FAN ONLY???? 25+??????? UNCUT??????? BRO are you giving us a BL or selling us PORN.
8 EPISODES IN AND I WILL SAY IT MAY GET BETTER BUT FOR NOW ITS NOT WORTH IT!!!! TRY TO WATCH IT AFTER ATLEAST 10 EP ARE AIRED!!!! FOR ME NOT WORTH WASTING TIME!!!
ONE LINE WARNING- "It is so bad I want to give you a zero, but that is not possible, so I give you a 1."
This is by far the worst drama I have ever watched, and if you look at my list you will see that I have watched a lot over the years.
Story: BAD
Acting: BAD
Directing: BAD
Editing: BAD
Product placement: BAD
All of it was bad. Am I sorry I watched? YES. YES. YES. I LOST MY BRAINCELLS HAD TO BLEACH MY EYES TO REMOVE THIS HORROR AND BASH MY HEAD TO A TREE SO THAT I COULD FORGET I EVEN SAW THIS EVER>>
Better to remember the name of the director and the screenwriter in order not to lose another 12 hours of your life.
note it>>> for future references> fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me>
"Unforgotten Night" and "Check out" were in a competition for the most ridiculous Thai BL of all time. PEOPLE ARE really not sure which one will win.
I think check out won with flying colors >>>>>
WORST BL EVER>>> EVER>>>
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Ok, first off, there has been a TON, and I mean a whole lot of bad ratings/reviews for this movie. Because of this, I can honestly say I was very hesitant to watch this movie, judging from the reviews. But... I still watched it so I could judge for myself :)
So to start, it's not like the bad ratings didn't have a point. Let me make this a little clearer for you guys. The movie was not HORRIBLE, per se, but if you're one of those people who enjoy romantic, action/adventure, melodramatic genres which evoke those deep feelings inside of you, this movie is definitely NOT for you. It is a light-hearted movie with no real "deep" meaning behind it. So if you're one of those people who enjoy watching comedic movies, this MIGHT be the movie for you (and let's face it, there's definitely some crime and a little action mixed up in there somewhere too). Continue reading if you want to know more ;)
Story: I can sum my feelings up in one word: Meh. It's not like the storyline was a BAD idea, but I felt it was the kind of plot which would have been amazing had it started off a 20+ episode drama. However, being made into a movie, the plot didn't reach it's full potential and therefore was a little repetitive (let me just say that he didn't get kidnapped just once, nor did he try to escape just once- and that was in a hour and half movie). And yes, the storyline sped by WAY too fast, and it left me blankly staring at the screen for a solid 15 minutes just to figure out if I had the facts right.
Acting/Cast: No complaints here. The acting was quite good, it didn't seem superficial at all (except when purposely made to look superficial), and I enjoyed watching them. Let's face it. Jae Joong might be some very sweet eye candy, but his acting didn't lack at all. Also, Ji Hyo did a very good job with her two-sided character. All the other minor characters also did an amazing job, making me crack a smile here or there.
Music: Honestly, I don't even remember hearing any music in the movie. It's one of those movies which don't really need music to get the point across, or to evoke feeling from the watchers. But since I didn't cringe because of completely mismatched, horrible sounding "music", I gave it a 7.
Rewatch Value: I'm quite surprised at myself wanting to watch it again. It's the first time I've ever even thought of rewatching a movie right after I finished watching it. Reasons? It's short, funny (some people may disagree), and well, why not?
Overall: It might not be as funny as some other dramas/movies I watched, but I don't regret watching it. In fact, if you're thinking of watching this right now, I suggest you do it with a couple of your drama lover friends, with a bowl of popcorn with you and a comfortable place to sit and enjoy. It didn't make me laugh as in tears-streaking-down-my-face-rolling-on-the-floor-OHSHOOTCRAMPS, but there were many times when I smiled and chuckled a bit. And let's face it. Most of the time, I was just smiling at Jae Joong and his adorable character ^^
P.S. If you're a fan of Jae Joong, I just want to tell you that he is so hot in this movie, that you'll find yourself wanting to open a window. JS.
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This review may contain spoilers
Women on the ball. Delighting, enraging, inspiring, concerning. Excellent script. High-end KDrama.
"Agency" has it all. Viewership has skyrocketed, as have ratings. "Agency" is the hit. Cool freshness, fashion, speed, one or the other rivalry as well as all categories of human manners, even the lowest, underline the handpicked lifestyle ambience. This all guarantees a lot of fun, seriously...The topic hits the South Korean nerve of the time. The nerve of women in particular, I should add. What may appear to Western eyes as an entertaining office drama with catfights has a completely different explosiveness in the eyes of Asian, especially South Korean viewers: The deeply hidden, rousing topic of the time, which affects everyone, is ´population decline´. The critical nerve bubbling on the surface revolves around ´sexism´ and ´misogyny´. The incumbent President Yoon proclaimed that these topics could be shut into history books, but "Agency" gives him the lie, right on. The KDrama clearly demonstrates how up-to-date it is. More than one South Korean woman in this story, no matter what position – down to the generation of the mothers of those mothers in the series - will find themselves here. And more than one man as well...
It is pleasing to see how razor-sharp and competent the female protagonist proves herself in this man's world. Also pleasantly refreshing side effect here and there: alternative model approaches for female vs. male management styles. And then there is the extravagantly privileged and insolent Jaebeol of the youngest generation who eventually is inspired to break free from her heavy chains of family-clan expectations. Besides their punching power, both lead ladies are palpable, too. Watching the series is a pleasure, even if the topics touched on may also arouse rather different feelings as well... A colorful bouquet of thematically critical, plot-relevant threads is dramaturgically subtly intertwined. In addition to the two female leads, there are also diverting (women´s lib) moving stories about Go Ah-in's employees and colleagues.
Stellar, good-humoured actors. Excellent script. A wonderfully balanced mixture of fun and seriousness, of pace and depth. The coherent details were undeterred on a differentiated, complex overall picture of the current business world. High-end KDrama-'pleasure' – delighting, enraging, inspiring and concerning. And while we are at it, "Agency" is innocently, smilingly, prettily and yet cleverly and valiantly placing a feminism-sting, too.
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SIDE NOTE: --- Misogyny and population decline in South Korean society ---
Without women it won´t do. But South Korean President Yoon has now officially messed with them. There was an enormous wave of protests when he announced that he wanted to abolish the ministry, which had been set up around 20 years ago to support women against sexual assaults and for equal rights, arguing the issue was no longer an issue. Immediately, around 800 organizations formed and stood up. President Yoon, who is promoted and sponsored by a strong conservative, patriarchal current, has blown a hornet's nest. His world – that of macho men – is obviously different from that of contemporary South Korean women.
It is a given fact, that misogyny in South Korea characterizes everyday life throughout all classes. Neither an entrenched, male-dominated business world from the bottom up to the boardrooms, nor professional disadvantage and discrimination of women in the workplace, belong to history yet. In the contrary, recently it has even been fuelled by the election of the current President Yoon. Fortunately, there are opposing movements and criticism. The KDrama "Agency" uses a socially critical magnifying glass here. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go, although a drastic reflection is desperately needed, in order to be redirect economic development towards a positive light.
The current demographic trend is closely linked to the economic and social situation, which is shaped by antiquated patriarchal beliefs. Those old (apparently always happy to be taken off the socio-cultural shelf, dusted off, polished to a high gloss and then put back again) convictions stand in stark contradiction to the high pace of the high-tech modernity of everyday life in South Korea. This tense paradox is already having a negative impact (not just on women's attitudes towards life, but also) on the country´s economy. The official statistics on population development from August 2022 show declining numbers for the first time. Actually, the country's birth rate is the lowest in the world. There is no trend reversal in sight. The population will continue to shrink. And that is already and will even more so affect the economy. The proportion of women in the working population (at 55.1 percent) could certainly be increased. Although South Korean women are very well educated on average, only a little more than half of them actually bring their skills into business life. Among men, on the other hand, 73.7 percent are employed. This is due not least to the misogynist attitude in all areas. The difference in pay between women and men is estimated at 31.1 percent. Nowhere else in the 38 OECD countries is it THAT bad. Added to this is the disadvantage on the career path. Work-life balance is in its infancy, because the motto is: woman to the stove. Executive suites are for men only. Women are rarely seen here. And if so, then often only for ornament or to fill the image of an empty marketing shell (similar to "Agency").
It's high time that the many misogynists among South Korean men (including their president) arrived in the present. In the long run, a trend reversal can only succeed jointly – at eye level.
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Great Plot, Steamy Romance, Intelligent Jokes
This is one of the most endearing and light-hearted historical dramas of 2020. I almost missed it because of its cheesy title. But within the first episode, I was totally sold because of the outrageous jokes they use with the playing of an accent that leads to a misunderstanding of a mission. The misunderstanding is hilarious and adorable.The Story
Xiong Xiruo (Xi Zi) is a comic book artist. Her favorite subject is the legendary tale of Duke Li and the inhabitants of the Li mansion. Duke Li has 2 sons. The oldest son is a fearsome general who wins in every battle and is nicknamed God of War. The second son is a flamboyant artist who lives a free lifestyle outside of the mansion. Duke Li also has an older brother who is a kept hostage living in the Song mansion and a baby brother who is younger than his own sons. Because Xiong Xiruo’s depiction of the Li family is such outrageously slanderous, she’s being hunted down by Li Hongbin (Xia Ningjun), Duke Li’s oldest son.
Xiong Xiruo, apart from being a genius artist, she also has an eidetic memory; she has the ability to remember every detail of anything she sees. For this skill, she is being commissioned to sneak into the Li mansion to draw the four luó hàn (luó hàn are monks in the Shaolin Temple). However, due to the strong regional accent of her commissioner, Xiong Xiruo mistakes the terms luó hàn to be luǒ hàn which have the same homophone (but totally different meaning) of naked men; in Xiong Xiruo’s mind, she thinks she’s been commissioned to draw four naked men for a whopping 2,000 coins. The scenario unfolds thereafter is hilarious as one can imagine.
Li Hongbin is fearsome and Xiong Xiruo is fearful of him. His favorite line is always, “Death by the paddles”. Trying to avoid being killed, Xiong Xirou feigns her pregnancy and forces Li Hongbin to marry her. To escape an unwanted marriage to another woman, Li Hongbin agrees. Out of his expectation, he falls head over heels in love with Xiong Xirou and cannot let her go despite of her lowly background.
The Acting
Both main actors Xi Zi and Xia Ningjun are new to me and I love them both. As Xiong Xiruo, Xi Zi is adorable with her big round eyes, button nose and pouting lips. Not extremely elegant and sophisticated looking as other actors, Xi Zi brings in an air of unpretentiousness and endearment. Running with her hands swinging in the air and cross-dressing as a boy, she is refreshing. I just love watching her teasing Li Hongbin and get him agree to her demands. Fast witted and crafty, Xiong Xiruo always manages to come up with all kinds of crazy stories to get herself out of her predicaments. This is Xi Zi’s first drama taking a main female lead role and she has done a great job.
As Li Hongbin, Xia Ningjun is extremely good looking with a cold heart. He has no interest in any women. All he wants is to protect the country and his territory. Xiong Xiruo is frightened of him and calls him a big monster. However, when he falls head over heels in love with her, he becomes the most loving and protective man any women could ever ask for. As a relatively new actor, Xia Ningjun’s performance is convincing and very enjoyable.
My Verdict
This is one of my most enjoyable series as it is delightful and refreshing. The viewers can see the love of the OTP develop over time slowly. Apart from the initial faked pregnancy which is quickly and voluntarily revealed to Li Hongbin, there’s hardly any more deceits or misunderstandings between Xiong Xiruo and Li Hongbin thereafter. Their chemistry together is unmistakable; their bonding and love for each other are strong. There is no complicated familial relationship such as step children or concubines. Both parents are wise and loving; Duke Li is deep but always humble and kind. All he wants is a harmonious family which is an overarching philosophy passed down for generations for the Li family. At the end of the drama, all the antagonists get their deserving punishments. There is no lazy writing off any characters for a quick ending. Despite there may be some simple inconsistent logic and flaws here and there, this is still a very enjoyable drama for all ages. Don’t miss it!
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