This review may contain spoilers
BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE THAT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER
This has become my second favorite xianxia ever!! I laughed l, I cried, i was pissed off, I love so many characters here. So many range of emotions in me during these 40 episodes. I wish it would be longer.I really congratulate all the casting members, writer, director, production and each member that made possible this BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE!!! Tian Yao and Yanhui now are my favorite couple! I’m going to miss them so much!! 😭😭😭
Yanhui and Tian Yao met because she mistook him from someone else and from that moment their beautiful journey started. She didn’t have a place to stay because she was expelled from her sect. He took her to live with him and his (fake) grandma. Tian Yao was unable to love anyone because he was betrayed 20 years ago by the woman that he fell in love. Time goes on and Yanhui started to like him because of a supposed love potion but then she realized that she has fallen in love because who he was and for the many things that they’ve lived until that moment. Because of the betrayal, he had decided to close his heart completely and to not love anyone anymore. His anger and desire of revenge for what the biatch SY did to him were his biggest impediment to fall in love but after so many beautiful things and Yanhui’s tender heart and all the great things that she did for him, his heart started to open and fell deeply in love with her as well.
They would do anything and everything from each other which made them my favorite couple ever! Their chemistry is something out of this world!
I’m so thankful for this drama in so many ways and that Liu Feng’s family had it to remember their son.
PS: I’m still waiting for them to consummate their marriage and a proper kiss from them. I would love to see them together in a modern drama ❤️💜❤️💜❤️
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Story
Same old, same old, 2 police officers whose relatives get murdered by the same person, are teaming up to create a new division based on the emergency call police department and their end-game is to catch that bastard.
Been there, done that, so what did Voice do to break the mould of crime dramas?
First of all, the concept of Voice profiling. Not sure if this is a thing, but even if it’s not, we accepted a crime drama about a walkie talkie that could make a 2 guys living in different timelines to communicate, why can’t we accept a woman who can hear extremely well? The voice profiling was original for me, gave a different vibe and an innovative twist to the all-too-usual police procedural recipe.
Furthermore, the impressive cinematography and music. The drama is gritty and dark in all the right ways. Creative directing, haunting dark colors and soulful music just came together perfectly and clicked, making a drama that not only gives off ominous vibes but it is also sinister only by looking at it.
Continuing, the incredible side stories. Every two episodes or so there is a new crime story introduced for the “golden time team” –the aforementioned new division created- to resolve. This is where the writing along with the directing and montage click together doing miracles. All of the side stories were intense, engaging, thought-provoking (although the first two ones were my favourite), well-written and did not drag at all.
Finally, the most important one, the marvelous core story. Cliché done right. The concept of putting a psychopath as the main villain isn’t foreign to dramaland; however the drama’s atmosphere, world-building along with the casting literally did miracles. More specifically, I appreciated that there was not a lot of red herring involved –crime dramas seem to think that we enjoy being led astray every 2 episodes for some reason; while, it felt like there is a whole story going on in the background making this drama look like a part of a whole. Effectively, we were focused on the police side of a bigger narrative - plot twists, havoc and despair ensued.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting how every character, plot device and potential twist are beautifully connected and intrinsically linked to the bigger picture. Good writing - the drama is actually so good even when you see the twist coming, you're still gonna like it anyway cause the whole aura of the drama won't let you a moment's rest.
Lastly, It would be a serious negligence, at this point, to not mention the exquisite Serial Killer. Undeniably, the drama owes how well it worked to its main villain. As far as I’m concerned we’re talking about the best villain I’ve ever witnessed creepy, scary, disgusting and disturbing, the type that crawls up your skin only by seeing his smirking smile. He enhanced the drama while simultaneously we do get the environment in which a serial killer is born that was spectacular to watch.
Honestly, not many drawbacks can be cited by me. If I could address one it would be the somewhat conveniently written side stories. But, come to think of it, isn’t every kdrama ever like this? Rich hot arrogant chaebols falling for poor innocent girls, silly coincidences and other cliches and we accept that but can’t accept a crime drama with stories being a little far-fetched or exaggerated here and there? This is dramaland, if everything was absolutely rational there would be no drama to watch!
Additionally, it was claimed that the drama had gruesome scenes and a lot of blood. Having grown up watching American TV shows this felt like child’s play to me but I do understand if some scenes were too much for some people. Everything is censored (actually, too much censoring going on to be honest), but be aware if you are sensitive to such scenes. Moreover, I read comments saying the side stories were boring and dragged, which contradicts completely what I said. I obviously disagree. Frankly, the side stories might be the best part of it all.
What's more, people argued that the drama takes a hit after a strong beginning. Strong starts bring high expectations too. I think the drama did well in keeping up pace, not dragging and staying strong plot-wise. Yes, middle episodes weren’t as strong as the first 2-3 but still a solid drama overall.
In general, Voice isn’t perfect, but it is time well-spent for sure. It is extremely thrilling; the side stories addressed interesting issues like child abuse, rape ect and were generally on the humanistic side of society, definitely struck a chord with me. The drama deserves a 9 for its flawless story line (side+main) +0.5 for the fact that it was utterly stimulating and increasingly intense with fleeting moments of strong sentiments and despair that just make the whole thing feel that much more real and emotional; I was at the edge of my seat during pretty much every episode either being thrilled or feeling hopeless.
Acting
I admit I was purposely avoiding Lee Ha Na. I only saw her once before Voice, didn’t like her. That being said, thank god I picked this because she redeemed herself completely. I couldn’t even recognize her here and I drew the conclusion that she just doesn’t match cute rom-comy characters, but rather darker ones. Her performance was impeccable here and she had great chemistry (as co-police officers) with Jang Hyuk. I’d love to see her in a similar role, or even in a melodrama in the future.
It is established how good Jang Hyuk is, and here is no exception to his unending talent. Fearless and brave character with a broken and emotional side, he pulled off his role immaculately and he was a perfect fit for it. Such a well-rounded actor, he can do everything. Respect.
Where have Kim Jae Wook been all this time? Flawless and creepy, an absolutely perfect match for his role, I need to keep an eye out for him in the future. I can safely say he made the drama!
Recommend
Concluding, I’d say don’t turn a blind eye to this drama, it’s really good. Crime and thriller drama fans I call out to you, viewers who enjoy intense and provocative dramas/stories that aren’t extremely complicated this is for you. I can’t see how someone wouldn’t be entertained by Voice if you disregard the convenient part and you don’t have a problem with some violence ect.
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Amazing True Love from HlSTORICAL Time until MODERN Time (MUST WATCH ONE & ONLY FOR THE 1ST)
why I wrote you have to watch "ONE AND ONLY" first, because your feelings when watching will be very much different if you start this without watching the first season...maybe you think you will still understand the story line but emotions, feelings and moods when you watch it will be much different ... well ... so you are strongly advised to keep watching the first season first, although you may read that the first season ended sadly but I guarantee you will be satisfied with the story and after that you would give 10/10 point for this drama with 2 season...actually this is my first time to write a review before finishing a drama as a whole....but my love for this drama has pushed me to write it....
In short, this drama begins with their very deep encounter and love story between a warlord and king of Nancheng who is very loyal to the kingdom, Zhou ShengCheng which has a called "BEAUTIFUL BONES " by all the people (because of his loyalty to the kingdom who always struggles to overcome the people, not interested in power, wealth or beautiful women only CSY who has melted his hearts) with his very beautiful and intelligent student, CuiShiYi. in historical times they both could not be united by fate where ZSC was accused by a cursed prince who was jealous and wanted to marry CSY had rebelled so that he had to end tragically and because of her love and deep loyalty CSY followed her teacher by ending her life too...but before she dies, she makes a wish if they meet in another life...she hopes ZSC can marry her first...and...
FINALLY HER WISH CAME TRUE , THEIR LOVE IS MEET BACK IN MODERN TIME....(FOREVER AND EVER)
Their suffering in historical drama finally brought them to modern life.
I've never read a novel from this drama before, so I feel I don't need to nor will I compare the story or characters of the cast to the novel....
I really like the story line which is unique and has different characteristics from modern dramas in general, even though it tells the story about now but every time I see an ancient building or residence in this drama can indirectly bring me back to feeling warm when I watch OAO (this is also one reason why you should watch OAO first ) I also like writers to write about the differences in their characters from historical dramas to modern times, so I feel there is an interest for me to watch those differences.....
ZhouShengChen who is an innocent chemistry professor but super genius, responsible, mature sometimes a little shy feels sweet and makes me feel excited to see him especially when sees him in a relationship with ShiYi...he is full of warmth and concern for him, as if made me feel how comfortable it was to be his girlfriend...hahaha...he was reunited with the girl he loved so much in the past but couldn't be with him (because of the oath he made before he met CSY that he would never marry for the rest of his life made him felt guilty towards CSY at the end of his past life for not being able to return his love)
ShiYi as a voice actress who is graceful, beautiful and sometimes a shadow of the past can be seen in her mind makes her have a deep feeling for ZSC from the very beginning of their meeting. some things in the past that hurt her deeply are still a bad feeling in her and I'm sure all of that will be cured after she entered into a romantic relationship and married the person she loved very much from historical times to the present, ZhouShengChen.
and...i really like watching their developmental approach when dating...hahaha...their relationship is very sweet, adorable and mature as well as caring and warm...i really love it....
ALLEN REN and BAILU really are actors and actresses who are very potential and professional...two different characters in two periods of time have been presented by them very perfectly. the characters zhoushengchen and shiyi feel very alive in this drama...their acting is very good, beautiful and natural...as I said in the comments page, so natural that sometimes I forget I'm watching and this is just a drama...
I'm really hope that both of them and this drama both One and Only (season 1) and Forever and Ever (season 2) can get a lot of AWARDS for their really very good performance because they really deserve it...
I'm also very happy that they didn't omit all the soundtrack from historical dramas in this modern drama, and made us still can feel the environment that was brought to modern times...they were good at doing that...some songs added for modern times this also feels okay to me and is suitable for modern-day stories.
I can be sure I will repeat this drama because even before this drama ends I have used my free time waiting for the continuation of the new episode by re-watching this drama ... so for rewatch value, no need to ask again, I will definitely give full marks for it.
overall : 10/10 for this season 2
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3Journeys end in lovers meeting.
Pearl Eclipse is adapted from a beautiful, dark and tragic novel Madame Huzhu 斛珠夫人 set in the Novoland universe. It is an unforgettable and heartbreaking story about guilt, obsession, love and the futile struggle against fate that inextricably entangles the three main protagonists Fang Jianming, Emperor Dixu and Fang Haishi. Although the plot and many characterisations deviate markedly from the novel, the core message that we can choose our destiny but cannot overcome fate remains. Although not quite as dark as the novel, this is an angst filled, tortured tale about tragically flawed characters that won't appeal to everyone.The novel has heavy BL elements to it and the incredibly dark, complicated and almost parasitical relationship between Dixu and Jianming is quite well portrayed in the drama. It is by far the most uniquely fascinating relationship in this drama because they are so entangled neither has free will. Poor Haishi, hers was a lost cause from the start because Jianming already was inextricably bonded to Dixu by ties far more powerful than the baixi. Their depth of shared history and sorrow and Jianming's sense of guilt and his obsession with putting Humpty Dumpty together again are practically insurmountable challenges. And to Jianming's credit, while undoubtedly tempted, he avoids Haishi's many overtures because he already pledged himself to Dixu.
The drama seems slow to start because it took all three leads a surprisingly long time to get into character and to convey the many layers of their intertwined backstories. This is made more difficult because their backstories are told in flashbacks which works well in novels but is harder to do onscreen when the actors are not in character. I don't think it is particularly fair to pick on only one of them but they are all rather seasoned actors so it is disappointing. Xu Kai Cheng overacted in the beginning and he and Chen Weiting were not connecting. Their unspoken rapport only becomes evident later on and that is when the drama starts to get interesting. Even though I find Chen Weiting incredibly handsome despite the terrible wig and enjoyed his performance overall, I don't think he managed to convey the multifaceted, fascinatingly complex character that is Fang Jianming. While he nails it as the archetypal ice-block, noble idiot shifu, a more daring and intense portrayal should have delivered a better glimpse into the dark ruthlessness, frustration and temptation that torments the character.
Haishi of the drama is well fleshed out and far better dimensioned than the novel. It is refreshing to see a brave, capable female character that speaks her mind and goes after her man relentlessly. And her outraged and shocked reaction to rejection just cracked me up because I am sure it is something that a flawless beauty like Yang Mi is personally not accustomed to. While Haishi and Jianming make for a stunning couple, their chemistry emerges slowly and it does fall far short of the sizzle of TMOPB. This is partly because it is supposed to be a hidden, taboo romance; one that is so incredibly ill fated that knowing better, Jianming avoids; while true to her nature, Haishi rushes recklessly headlong into. As much as I applaud Yang Mi for doing her own voice work here, it is a mediocre performance that reflects years of neglect in this area on her part. She already naturally has a young and very feminine voice that should not have been made even younger and quite so girlish. It does not fit the role of a woman passing herself off as a man and it conjures up uncomfortable images with respect to this already forbidden romance. Although she improves towards the end, I can't help but think her usual voice dubber would have elevated her performance considerably.
While I do not like the way Tilan was written, she is the catalyst that enables the drama to take another path. But it is unfair to have practically all of Dixu's darkness heaped upon her and their relationship got so toxic I struggled with the turn around, in particular on her part. She also seemed a lot stronger and smarter in the beginning where she passively aggressively standsup to Dixu. Unfortunately her character was truly thrown under the bus to enable the end outcome. Zhuoying and Zheliu have the only non dysfunctional relationship in this drama that is a welcome relief but oddly boring at the same time.
What I like most about the adaptation is how it is faithful to the novel in terms of how it takes us down the path of the dark, hopeless entanglement between the three main protagonists and then turns it around. At the darkest moment, Haishi convinces Dixu to give himself a second chance which sets in motion an unwind of this vicious circle into a virtuous one. One change leads to another that reveals another layer of each character and get to see them change and grow into a formidable, united force against their enemies. It is a very strong message that we can choose our destiny, ie. how we live our lives and even though ultimately we may or may not be able to overcome fate, the journey is more important than the destination.
This is a very high value production with lavish costumes, sets and some intense and brilliantly choreographed action scenes, notably the epic battle reminiscent of Lord of the Rings at Hangguan Pass. Yet despite a few riveting action scenes, this is largely a character story with very little plot movement. Despite a few thrilling encounters especially in the early episodes, the various sub plots to overthrow the emperor Dixu are not properly fleshed out and don't tie well together. There are interesting villains in the book that get dumbed down to obvious cartoon characters with boring motives that can't even hide well in plain sight. The ending feels like it is missing scenes and beloved characters like Zhuoying and Zheliu's story is ended cursorily almost as an afterthought. The final plot is anti-climatic, predictable and completely premised on the stupidity of two characters. The plight of the mer-folk, their tears for pearls and how this fantasy story that begins and should end with them gets lost as a result of changes made to the character stories.
I have very mixed feelings about the ending. I think the most fitting way to end this is about 20 minutes into the penultimate episode (47) where journeys end in lovers meeting. The final episode and outcome for most of the couples are not deserved, made worse by a weak and rushed end plot that is not earned. They ought to have stopped while they were ahead. That said, Haishi and Jianming's final scene is both actors most moving and resonating performance in the entire drama. But while superficially the important aspects of the drama are faithful to the novel, the final product lacks the finesse, symmetry and haunting dark and cruel inevitably of the novel. The novel is fated and inexorable while the drama is fated and unnecessary. I rate this between 7.5-8.5; it will feel more like an 8.5 to those who stop ~20 minutes into episode 47.
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An amazing journey of self-discovery
I know there are at least a few people who are on the fence about starting this drama since it's heavy on politics and it's not everyone's cup of tea. It sure is not mine. Yet, here I am, loving this drama and recommending it to everyone. And here's why...STORY
Would I call it realistic? Not really. Did it bother me that it was unrealistic? No. Why? Because it was cohesive and consistent. I know that political dramas can be boring for people who are just not interested in the topic, and that's why adding some unrealistic, but definitely grabbing the attention plot points made this drama more approachable for a wider audience.
The main point of the drama was the development and growth of the characters. It's a story of believing in yourself and what you stand for, fighting for the right. Discovering that just because there are winners, does not necessarily mean there must be losers. How to play the game that will make not only you achieve your goals, but also make everyone around you content. It's about slowly realizing your strengths and ways to use them. Figuring out that wanting something does not necessarily make you a bad person who is only led by greed. Many interesting lessons to learn with our main character. An amazing journey of self-discovery.
CHARACTERS & CAST
I was not sold on the idea of Ji Jin Hee being the lead of the whole drama. Especially after watching the first two episodes. Him being surrounded by all the strong and captivating side characters made me worried, if he can truly lead the whole show. And oh boy, I was wrong. Now I would say he was born for this role and he aced the character. Seeing Park Moo Jin slowly grow without giving up on his principles and beliefs was an amazing journey. It was refreshing to see a really smart main character that was also empathetic and, to put it simply, a good person.
It's also worth mentioning other characters that won my heart: Cha Young Jin, whom I loved to hate at the beginning and then just simply loved. Han Na Kyung who was the MVP of the badass team. Oh Young Seok, who made the drama even more thrilling to watch. Yoon Chan Kyung who was the true politician - I never knew where she was standing and what her motives were. Is she good? Is she bad? I guess you will find out for yourself, if you decide to watch it.
OTHER
The show also talks about some serious issues in a realistic and not patronizing way. It helps with understanding the reasoning for specific choices characters make. The cinematography and the way it was shot was beautiful. Definitely a high quality production. The music was good; it was not exactly grabbing my attention, but it's a political drama, the ost is not the main focus here. The ending was perfect, and everything I could wish for.
Overall, I did not expect to like this drama as much as I did, but it will probably stay as one of my favorites.
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2
1Love in Dahuang is cruel, lonely and makes your soul bleed - A deeply emotional analysis.
Season 2 of Lost You Forever drops you straight into the tragic, painful, full of yearning madness that is the brutal world of Dahuang. It brings with it the same excellent cinematography, gorgeous sets, beautiful dialogues and haunting music score that was the signature in its first season.However, this season is more raw, more bleak and more unkind to your heart as it follows the journey of our broken characters and their futile love. Ultimately, it is a story of what could have been, what never will be and what remains.
✔️What could have been - Xiang Liu - The glorious dragon of all our hearts
At times, watching this season, it felt like this was Xiang Liu’s world and we were all just living in it. The nine headed dragon has to be one of the most complex, deeply layered and nuanced characters on Chinese television. With his life shaped in torture, the shackles of a lifelong oath dragging down his very being and undying loyalty to a doomed army hanging over him like a cloud, Xiang Liu is the most devastating unsung anti-hero I have ever seen.
Even though he started his journey with borderline villainy, he is soon revealed to be sacrificial, noble and selfless in a way that is both self-punishing and painful. His love for Xiao Yao is real, thoughtful, tender and pure even as he tries to bury it under constant denial. He builds her up in a way no other man has ever done. With tough love, unexpected tenderness, hidden affection and needed ruthlessness, he makes her the kind of woman who she has always wanted to be.
Someone who can rely on herself, who belongs and who is strong and unafraid. Ultimately, he is the one who understands her on a soul deep level - he is her teacher, her best friend, her soulmate and also the man she can never have. Always there to pick her up when she needs it most, always there to save her when nobody else can.
To the very end, his goal remains to do what is best for her even if it plunges him into infamy or rips his own heart out. He wears the mask of her worst tormentor when in reality, he is the guardian angel who makes it possible for her to have everything she has ever wanted. His love, unlike others, comes with no conditions. The only condition he has is her happiness.
Tan Jian Ci’s acting was phenomenal here. He was capable of displaying so much emotion in a matter of minutes. His fearless, vicious, demanding, deeply sacrificial, stubbornly duty bound, frustratingly complex, unflinching, vulnerable, SEXY ASS SIN portrayal of a dragon with a golden heart, that is so broken that he knows nothing else, completely wrecks your heart.
At the same time, his duality shines through in the form of Fangfeng Bei - a carefree, playful, witty, flirtatious casanova that is even more painful to watch because it dangles the possibility of how different things could have been in another life for both us and Xiao Yao.
The “what if” here is so strong. What if Xiang Liu was just Fangfeng Bei - a man who could love without restraint, live without burden and could accompany Xiao Yao for the world to see? What if he gave them a chance? What if? What if? What if? It’s enough to drive you insane.
It’s like Xiang Liu had an unspoken connection with my eyes. Every time he came on screen, my eyes cried tears of blood. I felt like a live wire of hurt as I saw him kill all the longing in his heart, stomp on the love he thought himself unworthy of and march towards an end that was as devastating, unstoppable and glorious as the man with all these jagged edges himself.
It’s almost sadistic the way the author of this drama lets us know the depth of his love, the tenderness of his heart and the ultimate compassion behind his sacrifice. It’s an unbearable doomed secret that hangs between us and Xiang Liu. The one we want to scream at the world and the one he wants to bury. And bury, he does.
A serpent with the sweetest sting, a dragon with a fire that burns only himself, a man with a heart that is boundless - Xiang Liu will forever live in my heart as one of the most memorable and formidable characters I have come across in ages.
✔️What will never be - Cang Xuan - The wolf who tore the sheep's clothing
From the very start, Cang Xuan has shown to be a man capable of absolute mercilessness if he is pushed towards it. A strategist who can do away with all personal feelings for the end goal. He has forever been a cornered wolf, clawing and manipulating his way to power so he can protect the one he loves. He has worn the cloak of civility, he has made compromises for the throne, he has hidden his anger under the guise of a smile - all so he could be the man who calls the shots.
Now, he has it all and yet, his head hangs low under the weight of the crown he fought to put there. His love for Xiao Yao has been the oldest and coldest friend he knows - his underlying motivation for everything. What he feels for her has simmered and bubbled under his skin since they were children. After all, she’s the only person in his life who he trusts without question. The only woman who has been with him through thick and thin.
However, Cang Xuan has been suppressed for far too long, been forced to muzzle his fangs for too long and this season, slowly his veneer of politeness has started to chip. His desperation and his need for her has started to congeal into an obsession that is as self-destructive as it is selfish.
Slowly, you see him unravel as his need to keep her next to him, his festered bitterness and his damaged soul that has been deprived of love for way too fucking long threatens to propel him off a cliff where there is no coming back from.
Cang Xuan is a deeply unfortunate, tragic hero and Zhang Wanyi’s delicate portrayal made this flawed, broken and wholly human character always easy to empathize with. On one hand he can be beyond ruthless and decisive for the things he wants and on the other hand he oozes this childlike fear and insecurity when he faces Xiao Yao. He is king to all but at her feet alone and it’s eating away at him that she cannot see it.
He cannot get the love he is starved for, so he feeds himself with more and more power - it keeps him full yet malnourished. Until, he is nothing but a famished wolf, yearning for a love that is always at the tips of his fingertips and yet millions of miles away.
While, I definitely feel like the drama declawed him in the last few episodes, and stuffed his wolf back into the sheep’s clothing, there is also some reprieve in seeing this character come into his own and make peace with his ambitions while ultimately choosing a path that keeps his conscience clean and his hands bloodless.
✔️What remains - Tushan Jing - Weak spineless noodle who is the only option available
One of my biggest gripes with this drama was the way they executed Tushan Jing’s character. He is spineless and cowardly to the point of being intolerable. Always weeping and coughing on the side, always waiting for other people to clean his messes, always the least interesting person in the room - the only thing Jing has going for him is the ten or so episodes of the first season where he endeared himself to viewers as the pure and untainted Shi Qi.
Since then, all his actions are just explained in dialogues. The show wants you to like him just because the script says so. He is good just because the script says so. Deng Wei is the weakest link of the cast and fails to manage to bring forth even a hint of a second layer to his character.
It’s almost like the drama makers hate him because he’s given the least impactful screen time and even when he isn’t he wastes his moments with the same redundant facial expressions we have seen from episode 1. He is never Xiao Yao’s equal and is more of an adopted pet than a partner. All he does is get sick, cries and causes Xiao Yao to mother him.
He is a very useless character overall - bland, uncomplicated and a man who would always be on a lower level than his woman. Which is also why, it’s the most understandable why Xiao Yao would be attracted to him given the rough life she has had and why he is the only real option available to her. So, while I understood his appeal to Xiao Yao, it still didn’t mean I had to like him as a character and I couldn’t help but yawn every time his scenes came on screen because of how much of a snoozefest they were.
✔️Xiao Yao - The Queen of Broken Hearts
Xiao Yao - one of my favorite female leads ever - really took some hits this season. She was at times frustratingly indecisive, forever hung up on a man when that’s never been her character, stupidly self-blaming and had some moments that were downright naive. That said, Yang Zi’s excellent portrayal made her impossible to dislike for me. Her acting is one of the best I have seen by any C-drama heroine in my entire life.
Xiao Yao is a woman who wears her past and troubled childhood like a cloak. It’s always there, lingering at the back of her mind. She is a product of her upbringing and abandonment is a word that rules her deepest phobias. That is why, even when you dislike the decisions she makes, they fall in line with her character. You understand why she does what she does and you can’t begrudge her that.
Her underlying strength never vanishes even at her lowest; she is clever and scheming when she has to be, and she never loses sight of her passion that lies in healing people. While I do believe her life revolved around the men more than I would like, Xiao Yao is still one of my favorite characters.
There's something so nurturing in her that speaks to the broken men she comes across, something so wounded that reaches out to others with similar wounds, that there is never a question as to why she is the one all these men are pining after. That said, as compassionate as she is, Xiao Yao’s wrath is a cold, cold dish and when served, it freezes the other person to near death.
Yang Zi’s phenomenal acting made me feel her loneliness, her pain, her anger and her hopelessness. She has always only ever wanted to have someone that would put her first and it’s impossible to forsake her for it.
Even if it pains me to say it, her ultimate decision is the most realistic and practical one among the very meager options. Cang Xuan’s love is shared by the throne he sits on and tainted by all the women he must marry for the sake of power.
Xiang Liu, who is without a doubt the one she would be with if she could, is imprisoned by a debt that will never be paid. A debt that has become his identity - it’s all he knows, all he has ever known and parting with it, means parting with himself.
So Jing - simple, unimpressive, easy to handle Jing - is the safest option for her heart. She doesn’t need saving because she can save herself. She doesn’t need fame because her lineage gives her enough of that. She doesn’t even need the epic, unforgettable love anymore because all the torture that she has faced over the years has beaten it out of her.
What she needs is just a partner, fully devoted and simply there, right next to her with no other responsibilities other than staying with her. In Jing, she sees the innocence that she herself has lost and preserving it, means preserving a part of herself.
By healing him, she heals herself and so she fights for him with such devotion because despite all the pain, he has brought her happiness that is simple- a simplicity she has forever craved for and I won’t hold that against her.
Because, despite the men you root for, this is ultimately Xiao Yao’s story about the love she lost, the love she never had and the love she gained. It’s a journey of how she met these men who changed the very trajectory of her life - who broke her some, who healed her some - and who left different kinds of impressions on her heart.
❌ Some Flaws this drama had:
I am not going to say this drama was perfect because I did find some flaws in it. For one, the plot did go in circles at times and the action/war scenes were poorly executed. There is a lot of telling rather than showing as well. Other times, there were unintentionally funny scenes that didn’t go with the tone of the drama. (Even if they were few and far between.)
However, the biggest flaw was the last few episodes. Rushed, messy and deviating from the original novel. It baffles me why the drama chose to make some of the choices it did in order to reduce the brutality and tragedy of the original novel. I think it made the story more audience friendly but it really felt like defanging a lion and turning it into a house cat.
The fates of these characters in the novel were there for a reason. They made sense because their personalities and actions led up to those conclusions. So, meddling with that, especially in the case of Cang Xuan, just made a lot of things feel underwhelming for me.
And yet, they decided to keep one of the most cruel fates in this story, just like it was in the novel, even when audiences prayed for some reprieve there. So, I am not sure what the point of those changes really was because I am sure the amount of scenes they modified, they ended up pissing off fans of each of the men.
✅ Final Thoughts:
So yes, while I had problems with this drama, it was still very much a story that pulled at all of my heartstrings. I felt so much empathy and so much grief for these flawed characters and I feel that overall, the writers did an excellent job weaving a narrative that was so compelling and so utterly agonizing.
There are some excellent supporting characters in this drama in the form of the bratty but endearing princess Nian, the wise Xiyan emperor and the lovable Haoling king. They all have moments that steal the show and allow you to look at the main protagonist’s actions with a different perspective.
Lost you forever is an extremely character driven slow burn story which is why I think this is best seen 2 episodes a day. You have to sip and feast on it like a mug of cozy hot cocoa instead of downing it like a tequila shot in one go because if you do that, you’ll be left coughing, sputtering and bored.
Ultimately, this is a story about love but love is not the end goal. These are complicated characters who all have their own motivations to do what they do. And, while they crave for a home, for companionship and for a future - they don’t necessarily base their choices around it. As a result, there are more or less no antagonists in this drama - just these complex people with their own internal struggles, fighting their own demons.
I had already read many excerpts from the novel, so I knew how most things were going to go and yet, when I saw it all come to life on screen, my feelings still got manipulated like I was a puppet on strings. I cried, I laughed, I stressed and I despaired. For that alone, I feel like for me, it was a drama worth watching and I cannot give it a lower score.
So, this is without a doubt one of my favorites and 100% Jeana recommended.
***
To Xiao Yao,
You don’t have to be alone anymore. May you have somewhere to go and have someone to rely on. Wishing you a lifetime of peace and happiness.
Xiang Liu
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This review may contain spoilers
Booty Call Appointments
Oh, Mr. Khun Elyes, now talk about a guy you wanna punch under a mistletoe. Yes, this show is not called 'Very Nice Tall Guy My Boss' but damn Susan, did Elyes have to be so good at being a red flag? He got under my skin so much, I'm lowkey having beef with a fictional character. And can someone please slap Pat with a rubber chicken? cuz I'm this close to throwing the holy Bible at his head. Homeboy is so pathetic I can physically see myself losing braincells with every decision he makes.Reasons why this show gave me headache, and yet, cuz I'm nosy and love drama, I kept coming back for more. This is the whole romance plot sums up in one:
Pat: I love you so much Khun Elyes. Do you love me too?
Elyes: *crickets* y'all hear sumthin?
Pat: Well, then you have to leave. I have my dignity.
ME: Dignity? Where? Child where is it?
*Khun Elyes and his long legs leaves*
*Five seconds later*
Elyes: I bought you bird nest soup. I'm gonna take care of you, although you don't need it.
Pat: bird nest soup? You are the best human in the whole wide world. *In-love noises*
Me: Child, that's not bird nest soup, that's literally water with rock salt and some plantain leaves, ask him about the feelings thing.
Pat: I love my water soup. *opens legs*
ME: Ah, there was your dignity... ON THE EFFING FLOOR.
This show lived up to its title. It promised exactly what it said it was gonna give us, a bad boss. What it didn't though, was how my blood pressure was going to hit the roof because of Pat. Homeboy had me fighting to stay sane with every decision he made. Pat was in love with a boss who had a schedule for his booty calls, treated him and his feelings with no care, and still he kept forgiving him, and coming back for more. Pat, son of Adam, please, quit!! He kept threatening to quit every 2-3 business days, then comes running four seconds later.
Like, tell me why you gonna love a guy who makes you drive him to his booty calls, schedule the appointments for his hoes, and knowingly plays with your feelings, and is somehow also still hung up on his ex who cheated on him? No, but Elyes is an asshole with a capital jerk! He's the kind of character you wanna shove down a long cliff, then throw a bulldozer over just to be sure.
Cuz, literally 2 episodes in, and Elyes have:
1) Double booked a booty call. Homeboy has a schedule where he appoints his booty calls!! Nah ah, it could never be me! Come try that in my backyard, child, see what happens ho! I dare you.
2) Made Patt filled in for a date so he could get with another booty call instead. The angry girl threw water on Pat for his troubles, while Elyes was having a good time against some wall.
3) Made Pat buy a birthday gift for his booty call, just to hurt him. He was like, 'you know what he likes, get to it.'
4) Humiliated Pat by letting him serve him and yet another booty call as their waiter.
5) Forbad him from quitting, or being friendly with people he dislikes.
And after all that, all THAT, Pat still loves him with a capital stupid, and let him kiss and bed him. Child of Adam, why? Why yous so stupid?? Pat deserves no right. Do you enjoy getting hurt?? QUIT, child, QUIT! Listen, I love drama, and stupid arse characters with no self respect makes me love myself more, but this was just sad. And the worse part was, Pat knew he didn't deserves how he was being treated, yet he still stayed. And to that I say once again, ON THE FLOOR. At this point, I don't even blame Elyes for how pathetic Pat was, cuz homeboy should have known better, he was literally the one in charge of Elyes' eff-buddy list. Falling in love with a guy who actively hurts you to teach you a lesson cuz he sorts of cares---miss me with that BS!
I still can't get my head around why Pat didn't just quit and save himself the tears. Pat helped Elyes build an empire in five years only to remain an assistant, a booty call, and the designated driver while Elyes is out effing everyone and their mamas. Elyes even made him a stand in for his dates. And he has to wait in the car while he's out ho-ing. Plus, after all that Pat have genuine feelings for Elyes. Like, why? Literally, why you gonna fell for someone who treats you with less respect than dirt? Sure, there was a scene where Pat said he didn't mind the ho-ing and felt nothing about it, but dude, you have a random else photo of your boss and you, with you in the corner in a frame, on your bed-stand, probably taken off the internet. Come on son, have some shame! Self respect Susan, do you have any? Cuz bish, after 5 years together, working so close with him, many late night dinners, if he doesn't know you're allergic to seafood, you should riot.
And the sad truth is, it's not that Elyes didn't see that what he was doing hurt Pat, he did, and even knew when he was mad at him for it. Plus he seemed to like him back, and didn't want him to quit. Then of course he got all jealous and possessive when that random ex-girlfriend showed up. (Sidenote: Literally, are there girls like her who can't take a hint and just disappear?) So yeah, Elyes still liked Pat while hurting him, which was the worse.
Listen, I felt so embarrassed for the villains in this show. No, really, they were pathetic and flat-out cartoonish. Like, that one guy who went to steal whatever from Elyes's computer. Mfker was like grinning, doing whatever with his eyebrows and trying to look very sly, but came off looking constipated. Like dude, give it a rest. And the two big bad villains. HAHAHAH, like, one of them was like:
Villain #2: We need to kill Run cuz his lover is a mafia. Big bad mafia.
Only for the big bad mafia to show up to a kidnap/blackmail with one hand in his pocket and get totally beat up. Then in the end, he was standing there doing some real hard staring and breathing, while Villain #2 fell down like he did something, and my arse was like, my brother, my brother, go find somewhere to sit, you've embarrassed me and your ancestors enough for today. While they were fighting, I was laughing my arse off, all that guns and both weren't smart enough to keep one on them? And in the end one of them pulled out a knife and got shot in the head.
PLOT:
This had an interesting premise, falling for a bad guy who is also your boss. I went in knowing there would be nonsense drama, and that's what I got, so they nailed that part. The execution of the plot however was all over the place. The bad guys were mid, the secondary characters were uninteresting, and the mains kept going in circle with their relationship. Yes, after a while they made Elyes changed his way, and with some backstory, we came to understand why he's the way he was, so it added to his character. Unfortunately, there wasn't so much meat anywhere else to make this go from interesting premise to a very good show.
I'm still wondering what the reason for that random arse time jump after all the close up shots was about. I went from: how many close up of his effing shoes did we need to see, how is the camera work weird and all over the place to, 'a time jump literally after 1 scene is rubbish'. The director and editors might have thought they ate with that, but my arse was staring like... pack it up and bring it back Sharon, you've done nothing impressive enough to time jump.
CHARACTERS:
Though both leads had my head spinning, I enjoyed the drama they brought to the table. Stupid, braincell losing drama, but still drama. As for the acting, it could have used more work to weed out the awkwardness, and whatever Elyes kept doing with his eyebrows. Most of my attention was on the leads, but Run's character also seemed very interesting, though he was as dumb as Pat, falling in love with an abusive cheater. I wished we'd have gotten more depths from the other characters, but even with Pat, he was a nice guy, stupid and a pushover, and that's basically most of what he was. Once in a while he'd get some bold genes but they deflated pretty quickly. I almost reached into the screen to shake him when he couldn't just be straight with the ex-girlfriend. Though in his defence, homegirl just couldn't take a hint.
As mentioned, the story with the business part was uninteresting, and all that bidding stuff went straight over my head, so it didn't make the secondary characters any interesting than they were made to be. Even in the finally whatever problem arose, all we saw were different montages and Pat putting his pen to his chin. I'm sure they solved it, cuz they had wine, so... yaay for them, I guess.
FINALE.
That finale pissed me the eff off. Literally, after all the work they did with Elyes, only to have him cheat one last time. He could easily have told Kim they should just be friends instead of making out with him. And Pat, after... you know what, why bother, homeboy is officially too stupid to insult, so whatever. I stayed in this show for the drama, but damn, did the writers even know what they were doing with the plot? And was I supposed to cheer that Pat and Elyes ended up together? cuz all I did was roll my eyes and laughed at that corny arse candle love scene. Literally, why?
All in all, a typical bl, nothing special, but watchable like most bls, but you gonna need patience for this one. So if you're looking for some dramatic arse show that's probably gonna make you want to reach into the screen and slap yourself a lead, then this show is for you. Grab some popcorn cuz we've got a red flag and a lead who is colorblind by choice, it doesn't get any dramatic than this. I am looking forward to more series with James and Kad in a different drama. Hopefully, something that will keep our interest from start to finish, and with their acting improved.
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It wasn't perfect, it wasn't without it's faults, but it was a drama that I really enjoyed watching!
-The story centers around Cha Joo Hyuk, who is miserable with his married life. The drama focuses on how his one choice changes the world that he has always known. Not just for him. But for everyone he has known and loved.- Frankly, I'll agree with everyone who says that Joo Hyuk was an immature selfish jerk. I'll say the same thing. He was everything that people described him as. But REALISTICALLY so.
We, as viewers, are used to seeing a male lead who is righteous and is ready to sacrifice himself, for the female lead, at the very least. But Cha Joo Huk wasn't like that. Not at the start anyway. The choice he made was solely for his own happiness. But dare I say I understood Joo Hyuk? Don't get me wrong, I didn't like him either (not for a long time anyway), but I get his character. If faced with a similar situation in similar circumstances, maybe not everyone but still more than a few people would make the same choice.
- Again, this will probably go against general opinion (from those I read on different places), but I liked the character development of Joo Hyuk. And yes, I do think he had one. He started out a completely self centered jerk, who only wanted his own happiness. He blamed his wife for his unhappiness. But slowly, as he got to know his own faults, as he realized his own mistakes, we started seeing his character grow. He wanted to make her happy. Even if it wasn't with him.
- Enough about the male lead, let's move on to the female lead. Woo Jin... At first she is portrayed like a "monster" who has a really short temper and is extremely violent. But later on we get to see what made her that way.
- One thing I really liked about this drama was the fact that how BOTH the leads were far from perfect. Although Joo Hyuk might be more so. Nevertheless we get to see them try and become better person. Both individually, and together.
- I really enjoyed the chemistry between Han Ji Min and Ji Sung. As a married couple, and as a non-couple too, they were believable.
- The second female lead- Hye Won. She is portrayed as a materialistic and vain person. I actually think she wasn't as bad as they were trying to show her. She behaved like she was entitled to everything, but she wasn't evil or villainous like a lot other SFL.
- The second male lead Jong Hoo, was a really good character. He was charming, but he never overshadowed the male lead enough to give you SLS. I really liked the bond between him and Joo Hyuk. It wasn't exactly bromance but they had a really nice friendship.
- All the other secondary characters were fun to watch. The mysterious ahjussi, Joo Eun, Woo Jin's mom... Everyone. My favorite was Sang Shik. His emotional scenes always got me smiling.
- Also Jo Jung Suk's cameo! Loved it! The whole thing was so cute! Joo Hyuk 's reactions XD
- As for the one thing that bothered me was about the children. How could they give us one, just one scene. I think everyone is aware of the fact that a parent child bond is truly a special one! So how could you not, writer-nim? This is just one thing I cannot get over.
- Overall, I really, really enjoyed this drama! It has everything, a spectacular cast, and intriguing storyline, a good OST. So please give this drama a chance.
Happy Watching!!
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The characters, the story, and the relationships were all so well thought out! I loved all of the characters, and they all have really wonderful relationships with each other- that are REAL. They fight, bicker, annoy the hell out of each other, get seriously frustrated with each other, and they realize that they all have their own flaws. And the story stays realistic, (funnily enough to say about a drama based on mental disorders) showing the true struggles people in relationships (wife, mother, girlfriend, brother, daughter, etc.) with people with mental disorders have to face. It's really wonderful. The cast acted out everything brilliantly- the emotions were conveyed very well and wow, some of the best acting I've ever seen.
AND THE MUSIC. *BREATHES DEEPLY* I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN TO Y'ALL HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS OST. LIKE... THESE SONGS. THEY'RE GREAT. THEY FIT IN SO WELL WITH THE SCENES AND I'VE DOWNLOADED A BUNCH OF THEM AND I NEVER GOT TIRED OF THEM (like I have with very many other songs in other dramas) AND WOW. A++++++++++++++++++ TO WHOEVER PICKED THESE SONGS. A FREAKING PLUS.
Anyways, I totally recommend this drama! It's probably one of my all time favorites now and I loved this drama from start to finish!
For a country still dealing with its own discrimination towards mental disorders, I thought this drama was just plain- WOW. Wonderful. Seriously, good job!!! (I'm in awe)
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Trolley
69 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Its empathic. Powerful. Yet, beware: it is rather slow & actually not on the bright side of life
"Trolley" is a SBS production for South Korean TV first of all, even it is promptly running on Netflix, too. One could say that the KDrama is about a politician's wife, who is caught up in an emotionally draining past and overtaken by an extremely unpleasant present. One could say that it is about an ambitious politician with a promising career, who is in the middle of the national assembly election campaign and will give everything for it. One could say that it is about the classic moral trolley dilemma, which is running through the story like a key note – should one intervene in the unstoppable, catastrophic events and sacrifice one human life in the process, or let things take their course, the but then (in the case of the trolley dilemma) will claim several victims? With respect to each of these varying aspects, the story delivers suspense, depth and emotional intensity, enriched with complex details until the end.
"Trolley" is like a large patchwork quilt made up of many colorful, isolated, fateful pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that becomes a whole while increasing in suspense episode by episode. And this spectacular whole is what I particularly appreciate about this KDrama. Because the production is dedicated to a sensitive issue in South Korea society: the devaluation, harassment, oppression, contempt, discrediting, defamation, exploitation, sexualization of women and widespread physical violence against them.
The KDrama articulates a quiet howl calling for change. This howl, which has been rather mute for the longest time, wants a voice. This howl of pain wants to be heard. One voice should become many. Laws protecting women (and victims of abuse in general) would be all well and good. But even more so (and above all) there is a need for courageous role-models of women (and men) who lead the way. (Or for a start: KDramas and their e.g. female protagonists...) Role models are needed, who stand up for themselves, for their lives, for what happened to them, and for their rights as human beings. Tangible role models are needed embodying what lies at the heart of (these much-needed) laws: the non-debatable dignity inherent in every human being, regardless of gender, creed, birth, or ability. Paragraphs alone are not enough. They must be filled with life. With people who dare to actually venture out of the familiar swamp with their heads held high. And that's (for women) still easier said than done in South Korea 2023. "Trolley" embodies these circumstances in an impressive way. In fact, this is more than overdue. This TV production also places this message with some force and spreads it worldwide, too, so it cannot be overheard. Can it? May the message get through and encourage … women, young people, … and men too.
However, the spotlight is not directed at one or 'the' man as such, but at society as a whole, in which women structurally function (or supposed to function) well; in which they themselves participate in the premises - as mothers, as classmates, as part of a bullying, via public and Social media easy to manipulate crowd. The poisonous social thorn is so deeply rooted within women themselves: a systematically and consistently cultivated, inferior attitude towards their life. The the circumstances usually aren´t even seriously questioned because: that's the way it is… has been… (will be?)
Practically all of the women in this KDrama represent a self-esteem that has been deeply hurt and thus weakened as a result of private and public devaluation or even physical violence. They all somehow learned to live with it. They are battered, wounded and scarred, and they suffer from their feeling of inferiority that weakens them into old age. The worst thing about it: that they are still standing there alone, because nobody really can/wants to acknowledge their suffering and justified anger. Women have had to learn to live with the fact that there are no witnesses, no advocate, no encouragement, no attention, no consolation for them and their traumatic experience of harassment. No one is standing in their corner. The social message: You didn't deserve anything else. You´re to blame. 'Submissive, quiet, tame and silenced, everyone can do whatever they want.' Such is fate as a daughter. As an unwanted daughter. As the first daughter. As a daughter-in-law. As a wife. As a divorced woman. As an illegitimate mother. That something, which has remained deeply in these women, now shows impact, too: so that they either secretly and quietly devalue and question themselves, alternatively devalue others on their behalf, or let others devalue them on principle. This painful experience has not been redeemed to this day and should not be redeemed (from the social point of view of some). It is the ingrained yet invisible mark that South Korean society brands its women with. With "Trolley" it is out in the open. In multiple ways. Options for change are discussed, and the difficulties involved are also explored.
A strong portrait of society, cleverly prepared and seriously presented, yet in an entertaining manner. The KDrama meets a red-hot zeitgeist that calls for winds of change. The story courageously challenges the conservative, patriarchal attitude, which by nature denies women the right to be fully acknowledged human beings with the same rights. In the course of the last year, blood boiled high in South Korea after President Yoon declared 'structural sexism' being no longer existent in the Republic and wanted to abolish the Ministry for Equality and Family (or move it to other departments). In these times (see also the side note below), "Trolley" is a courageous and important production, because it tells a different story - that of devalued, sexualized, abused women in a self-satisfied man's world. Respect!
Its empathic. Powerful. Yet, beware: it is rather slow and actually not on the bright side of life.
---------------------------------------------------------------
SIDE NOTE: --- Always burning topical: violence against women in South Korea ---
If you compare the crime statistics in (i.e.) Germany and South Korea, South Korea is clearly the safer country. Seoul is arguably one of the safest cities in the world. But not for women...
Overall, violence in South Korea may be limited. But against women it is alarmingly widespread. Of the violent crimes recorded in South Korea, about 80 percent of the victims are women. In 2020, more than 58 incidents of sexual violence, including rape, were recorded among 100,000 residents in South Korea. (There were 12 in Germany for comparison). There have been newspaper reports of brutal femicides almost weekly in recent years. In a national survey conducted by the Ministry for Gender Equality and Family in the summer of 2021 (the ministry still existed then), 57.8 percent (!) of women stated that they felt threatened by misogynistic violence.
But the current political line is different. President Yoon stands for the values of the so-called "New Men's Solidarity". Behind this is a deeply patriarchal, conservative thinking that denies women to be full human beings with the same rights. Accordingly, the official line tends to go backwards: the penalties for false allegations of sexual assault are increased and the politicians rather argue with classic perpetrator-victim reversal: the women provoked the men by not doing what the men want them to do . Courts rarely judge in the interests of women. On the contrary. The outcome might be: victims of sexual violence are punished more severely than the perpetrators. Law against defamation of sex offenses is far stricter than that on sex offenses. It allows victims of sexual violence to be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison – even if it is proven that their publicly disclosed allegations are true. In the actual cases of sexual offenses, the verdicts against the perpetrators, however, are mostly merciful, with a mild sentence for crimes against women, as soon as there is one or the other weakening reason or an impeccable good reputation. Lax investigations and re-traumatizing behavior towards female victims in police and judicial authorities make matters worse.
All in all, it is very difficult for women to effectively defend themselves against the violence they might have experienced. Headwind blows from almost everywhere. Here we are again with the deeply patriarchal, conservative basic attitude of a society that denies women as a matter of course that they are full human beings with the same rights. This 'self-evidence' needs to be questioned and confronted. Resistance works best when women unite and at least start to stop this structural mutual devaluation among themselves. Speak, talk, share, cry, console... You don't need laws for that. Supporting one another, acknowledging injustice as such, comfort and compassion would be soothing ointments on the wounds of countless women that could heal a little bit better that way.
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JoongDunk Stole the Spotlight in The Heart Killers
Now that The Heart Killers has ended, I have to admit… I was really only watching for Fadel and Style. Going into this, I already loved both FirstKhao and JoongDunk. FirstKhao has always been one of my absolute favorite pairings, and I’ve enjoyed JoongDunk too, but they weren’t at the top of my list—until now.To be honest, Kant and Bison’s storyline just didn’t pull me in the way I hoped. I still love First and Khao, but their dynamic in this show didn’t hit as hard for me. Meanwhile, JoongDunk completely stole my heart. Their chemistry, their emotional depth, the way their characters just clicked—I was obsessed. They were the highlight of the entire series for me, and now I love them so much more than I did before.
So yeah, The Heart Killers had its moments, but for me? It was the joondunk show all the way.
Looking back, I think one of the reasons JoongDunk didn’t impress me as much in their previous BLs was because the stories didn’t really suit them. It’s not that they were bad, but I feel like those roles didn’t bring out the best in them. But with The Heart Killers, Fadel and Style felt made for them. Their dynamic, the way they balanced each other out—it just worked so well.
As for Dunk’s acting, I actually think he’s good and has improved a lot. Of course, there’s always room for growth, but I honestly don’t get the hate he gets. He has a naturally relaxed face, which can make some expressions harder to convey, but you can tell he’s putting in the effort. And I respect that. Seeing him in this role made me appreciate him even more.
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This review may contain spoilers
Find a spouse with same value
So here a bit review on each character, please be noted the drama version is bit different from novel. The drama ver is for fans of Ding Yuxi the actor to gain more fans. Haha.1. Ning Yuxuan NYX:
Outside: a cold, heartless man
Inside: a puppy heart
A good govt officer, has 2 wives but touch no one. Haha.
2. Nie Sangyu NSY:
Outside and inside: heartless woman
Spoiled since a little, loved to torture maids. Even until last breath still not instrospect her wrongdoings. She created her own bad karma. What a stupid evil lady.
3. Ji Man JM:
Outside: business maker, money lover
Inside: pursue everlasting love
NSY separated since baby, twin sister. She treated everyone either as potential customers, shareholders, or professional employees. Kind, funny.
4. Gui Bai GB:
Inside outside is just like his master NYX. Even copy his master when pursuing a girl and take an oath to love her one and only forever. Lol.
5. Wen Wan WW:
Outside: kind and soft
Inside: evil
Fooled NYX as if she was abducted and raped, so when NYX found her he got no choice but to take her as concubine. WW is evil but too stupid so we can relax.
Later she worked together with enemy against NYX but was betrayed and executed, so she kinda too late to realize her mistakes.
6. Ling Xingjian LXJ:
Outside: coward and evil
Inside: just want to surpass his childhood buddy NYX
Well at least he realized his mistakes and corrects them, so his head is safe from execution.
7. Yuan Lang YL:
Outside: kind hearted bandit
Inside: also a puppy heart
Together with JM and NYX bring down enemy and decided to let go hatred of their parents, as long as they could work together for people.
8. Emperor:
Inside and outside: a god of matchmaker, treated NYX dearly.
You know, just like King Wendy in drama Love Like The Galaxy, he supported 100% NYX and become a matchmaker for our female and male lead.
Conclusions:
1. Sweet moments NYX and JM, ladies, just imagine yourself is JM. Happy watching.
2. Remember to find a spouse with same value, same morality kindness, so you will be willingly share each other burdens.
That's all,
I will be more than happy to watch the drama repeatedly.
Loveeee~
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It is a veeeery good drama, as for the acting, as for the truth of the characters and for the really smooth plot accompanied with some really nice cliffhangers.
It is definitely worth to watch, and I would even say to re-watch (which is not something I usually do). The songs are great and some sequences full of emotions are really strong and great.
You will laugh at some situations, tears at some others and even though some imagination is needed sometimes, it all makes sense.
It's a drama I had much pleasure to begin, much pleasure to continue, and much pleasure to finish. It's well done and makes you go through a bunch of states!
I didn't know any of the actors but they are really doing great and you get attached to them really fast.
A MUST SEE
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The characters play well off each other as their chemistry is greate and the actors are all well suited for their parts. And honestly, the guys are very cute :P
One notable thing about this drama is it gives you room to imagine in details yourself. For example, they don't necessarily give the full backstory of the characters. Instead they hint at many parts and let you create your own story for them in your mind.
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I Feel You Linger in the Air: Uncut Version
57 people found this review helpful
This series is perfect ?
I Love this series too much, I will definitely watch this again. Episode 6 gave me butterflies in my stomach. I was just smiling all through. The chemistry between the main leads is out of the world. I hope it gets more high ratings,o hope people get to watch this and it will be very popular not just in Thailand but also international. It’s been a while I got hooked with a Thai bl series. ooohh my favorite couples. Bright is very handsome and Jom smile is perfect. I can’t wait for episode 7 next week. Perfect Series for me.Was this review helpful to you?
