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I’m still thinking about Glass Heart. I am genuinely obsessed with it and there is really no other way to describe the feeling. Just about everything in this drama worked for me. The sharp clothing, the acting that actually felt like real life, the music, and that heavy, unmistakable feeling of being in Tokyo all just clicked. It reminds me exactly of how I felt watching Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born. It is that rare moment where everything just fits and you aren't just sitting there watching a story. You are getting pulled into a world that feels completely realized.Every aesthetic choice felt like it mattered. From the texture of the jackets to the specific way the neon lights hit the city streets, everything had a purpose. Most shows try way too hard to force a vibe, but this one just lives in it.
The way he builds the band was a huge highlight. I loved how he explains exactly why each member is required. It makes it clear that this isn't just a group of people playing instruments. It is a specific chemistry needed to make the sound work. Sure, there were pitfalls along the way, and his medical condition was a little trite. It is a trope I have seen a thousand times, but honestly, I am willing to overlook it because the show is just that good. It didn't kill the momentum because the focus stayed on the craft and the struggle to create something real.
The fashion and the look of the show deserve their own conversation. It isn't just about the characters looking good. The clothes fit the mood of Tokyo and the weight of the scenes perfectly. There is a grit to the style that feels grounded in the actual music scene. It avoids that sanitized, fake look that usually ruins these kinds of productions. And the music? It is a miracle.
Usually, dramas about musicians have these cringey, fake tracks that pull you right out of the moment, but here the music actually hits. You can feel the vibration of the strings and the intentionality behind every single note. It doesn't just play in the background. It is a character in its own right. The sound design pulls you into the creative process so deeply that you can practically feel the air in the room during the recording sessions. It is symphonic.
I know some people think the romance wasn't necessary, but I didn't mind it at all. I actually think it served a purpose that most viewers are probably missing. To me, it was the specific spark that allowed him to finally transform his music into Ten Blank. Without that connection, he would have just stayed looped in his own internal sound, repeating his own familiar patterns until he faded away. The romance was not just a plot point for the sake of having a love interest. It was a creative necessity for him to grow as an artist. It gave his music a new dimension, and watching that transformation was incredibly powerful. It turned his art from something solitary into something expansive.
The show also builds incredibly well toward the end. The final episode almost feels like fan service, but in the best way possible. It does not feel forced or over the top or like something that shouldn't be there. It felt earned. The detail in this show is just on another level and the characters actually respect the audience. It is the kind of show that stays with you long after the credits roll. The acting is so grounded that you forget you are watching a scripted show. It isn't just another drama to check off a list. It is a mood and an experience that I keep going back to in my head. I finished it and immediately felt that specific void you only get when a show actually means something. I walked away feeling like I had actually been somewhere, and that is a feeling that is almost impossible to find anywhere else.
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The chemistry is very strong, the value of the drama brought upon is very strong and the acting is very realistic and believe. It will make you mesmerized in the character and the story. Even tough the plot is very heartbreaking but it carried itself with light hearted and have funny moments too.
One beautiful piece. Among my top favorite.
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E.T. on Pheromones
This series is a must see for lovers of fantasy and office romance . Some scenes are so hilarious I’ve rewatched them already, but the story seems to be written with lots of liquor aside.Plot
One evening an alien and her secretary get stuck on planet Earth, they transform into the earthy shape of a girl and a turtle. They rescue a man after a car crash, but their device that beams them up to their planet gets lost in the proces. So the search for this device begins, leading them to a lot of encounters with other humans.
If you think this story is pretty standard, take that: whenever this alien girl smells male hormones she looses control, wanting to sniff and fondle men all over the place, which brings her to a party with pretty samples in a night club. There she befriends the performing artist who turns out to be the younger brother of the unknown man she rescued. This car crash victim seems totally recovered, a rich and famous CEO from a perfume company who's involved in a power struggle. He’s a handsome cold man who turns warm whenever the alien girl touches his chest. Could it be his heart or something else? Moreover this CEO has amnesia caused by some trauma in his past that lets him forget all his girlfriends as soon as it rains outside. Last but not least he has an intended who is as cold blooded as he is, but somehow obsessed with marrying him. What follows is a chain of events leading to office drama and a love square, between the alien girl, the CEO, his brother and the fiancée. Will they all get what they wanted in the end?
The Good
Thanks to the alien theme this story seems more playful and fresh than the usual Chinese romcoms. Agreed, this show has all the k-c drama clichés, the arrogant CEO with a psychic disorder, his antagonistic family, a rich girl who wants to marry him, and a bubbly girl who turns his world upside down…but the difference is this alien girl acts way more sexy and bold towards the men she feels attracted to. It's funny to let pheromones play a crucial part in the encounter with an extra-territorial being, especially the pheromones of a CEO from a perfume company. I also love the conflicted feelings of this cold CEO who tries to keep up appearances but longs to be touched as well.
Actors Wan Peng and Hsu Thassapak are made for this romcom, they are funny and sexy, although their kisses were a bit lackluster with their lips stuck together in pause mode.
The other actors are also good, especially Alina Zhang, known from her role as the Fire Princess in Ice Fantasy.
The Bad
The problem with this show, and Chinese series in general, is the lack of a sound plot. My guess is this is due to the strict maintaining of marketing formulas, and drama censure. Chinese writers prefer to copy-paste certain censure-proof elements, that were successful before with other audiences. This causes a whirlwind of funny scenes, pasted together, but it fails to deliver a sound closure, leaving several loopholes and questions unanswered. Moreover it's a pity that our feisty heroine changes midway into the traditional role model for females. She suddenly acts shy when a man reacts physically to her own attraction techniques. But...
Verdict
..if you leave your brain on the shelf, don’t mind an unclear story or statement about men/women roles in society, you will love this series. The actors are adorable, there are plenty of funny scenes and Hsu Thassapak is a good singer.
*UPDATE
Did you know that the voice of Fang Leng is dubbed by the same voice actor as Lan Wangji in The Untamed? Now I know :-)
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What I didn't like was how complicated the simple revenge plot kept getting. She just needed to seek revenge I don't know why people had to go back and forth about what they knew about each other. Near the end It should have built more on what they wanted than to add in the "running away" not running away filler.
What I disliked the most was that everyone seemed Repulsed by Sa Geum Ran, I wish, especially with Han Tae Hee that he would not have been repulsed by her in her "original" form.
Over all though I actually thought it was a pretty good drama overall. Fun, cute and even a little intriguing. The acting was very good, loved and hated almost all the characters. The story had weak points that needed some filler, but it wrapped up well.
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I was inspired to watch Our Happy Time because of Kang Dong Won, recently I became interested in his movies.
What can I say, the story, cast and music are all great. I'm listening it right now, maybe it's not good because it makes me wanna cry more and more...
When I saw the title I though it will be just a silly love story. And after watching this movie I felt so betrayed. I wasn't ready for this kind of emotions that this movie put me through. How to love and forgive how to cherish life and enjoy someones company, how to smile and cry - this movie is all about that and much more. I highly recommend re-watching this movie over and over again.
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This Drama Is a Fever Dream and I’m Weirdly Into It
This drama eases you in just enough to make you think you know what you’re getting into—and then promptly proves you wrong.The plot and setting actually had me invested, so I was not prepared for the absolute clownery that followed. The comedy is loud, goofy, borderline cringe, and wildly unserious, yet somehow it still works. Everyone is acting like shame was never invented, and honestly? I laughed more than I expected. You will cringe. You will laugh. You may do both at the same time.
Visually, it’s thriving. The cast is ridiculously good-looking, the aesthetics are clean, and there is no shortage of eye candy. This drama knows its strengths and flexes them regularly.
That said, nine episodes in, the story is juggling a lot. Multiple plotlines, constant tonal shifts, comedy fighting for dominance with actual story progression—it sometimes feels like the show is doing parkour without a helmet. I’m choosing to believe this chaos is intentional and that everything will eventually click into place. Also… why is this full-length? That realization hit me like a jump scare.
The leads are solid. The ML continues his streak of choosing unconventional projects that somehow work, and I have faith. The FL gives strong My Uncanny Destiny vibes, which I loved, so no complaints there.
Overall, I’m having a genuinely good time—laughing, vibing, and enjoying the lightness while it lasts. Because let’s be honest… the angst is warming up in the wings.
Will update once I'm done with the rest of the episodes ✨
✨Update / Final Thoughts✨
Okay… wow. What a ride.
Overall, this turned out to be a genuinely unusual drama. The humor definitely won’t land for everyone, but if you look past the silliness, there’s a surprising amount of depth here. It tackles heavy questions, quiet contemplations, and some truly tragic backstories that hit heavier than expected. The Princess Consorts’ storyline, in particular, might be the most devastating of them all—easily one of the most tragic arcs in the entire drama.
And yes, I absolutely bawled my eyes out over the leads’ story. Especially the ML. A painfully pure soul. Emotionally unsafe levels of purity, honestly.
The cinematography is beautiful, the characters are deeply lovable, and the ending—while technically a happy one—leans bittersweet. It took several tear-detox sessions for me to fully accept that happiness was, in fact, achieved. Even though the background music occasionally goes a little too hard for no reason, it doesn’t take away from how memorable and distinct this drama ends up being.
Also—special shoutout because this deserves to be mentioned—the drama actually references My Uncanny Destiny in a clever, self-aware way that ties in perfectly. Did not expect that lol.
Do I still think it didn’t need such lengthy episodes? Absolutely. But despite that, this is a hidden gem—quirky, emotional, and unexpectedly moving. Definitely recommended.
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I did not get hooked on it initially as the first episode drag on a bit with the introductions. But it slowly grew onto me and just love the landscape, the paintings, the calligraphy and the tai chi moves. It brought back my passion to buy some paint brushes to practice my calligraphy.I actually like Piao Piao acting a lot more that others, her tai chi skills were brillant. She came across as a strong female lead and although she pairs nicely with Wei Chu, I do not see a lot of passion coming across. BTW it is very G rated drama. So do not expect many kiss scenes here.
I am move fascinated with the art works and tai chi moves, and the story behind these than the usual romance drama. This drama has some quality to it and the scenes and locations they build and used are all very nice.
The story tells about how an outcast girl of the tai chi community made a come back helped by her master/boyfriend. They faced many challenges from the tai chi community, school, friendship and battles.
Very basic story line but worth the watch.
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But first, to anyone who hasn't seen this drama yet, I have to say that if you're fond of out-of-the box story arcs, impressive plot twists and memorable confessions, this drama is devoid of any of these things because CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT is the main focus. Thus, the plot is pretty basic, simple and predictable (from the get-go you will see who she'll end up with). There are no bitchy ex-girlfriends/fiancee's. No scary mothers. No amnesia. No birth secrets. No angst. Every single character is loveable and positive. The main girl is a 20-something office lady who goes by the name of Amemiya Hotaru. She's an efficient and responsible employee who works for an interior design company. She's very good at what she does and enjoys a great relationship with her co-workers. On the outside, Hotaru exemplifies a well-mannered, classy intelligent young woman. However, she harbors a "dirty" little secret: at home, she's a TOTAL SLOB who loves to laze around in tattered jerseys and a stained t-shirt with a can of beer in hand. She loves reading manga, doesn't cook, sleeps on her porch with stacks of newspapers for a blanket and talks to stray cats in her backyard. She hates socializing and is so not interested in dating. She's perfectly fine with her lifestyle until her manager, a 40-something soon-to-be divorcee neat freak, moves in with her.
THE GOOD:
CHARACTERS
Every character endeared itself to me. I don't think I've ever hated anybody. No one had managed to raise my blood pressure. I don't even think there was a villain in the story.
Amemiya Hotaru is the type of female lead that every ordinary girl can relate to. It's not because she is dirt poor and average-looking. In fact, she's pretty, smart, optimistic, and more than capable of whatever task she's given. But the childish side to her character as well as her quirks made her loveable. Although her disorganized and klutzy personality was exaggerated (to elicit laughs and provide comic relief, I'm sure), I found myself thinking "that is SO me" most of the time, whether it was about her being too lazy to clean her room, or being insecure in her interactions with the guy she really liked.
Unlike other dramas, most conflicts were cause by misunderstandings and a lack of communication. Yes, there were a LOT of unrequited side romances but the "love rivals" were understanding and considerate. I loved the interactions and relationships in the office as well. They all seemed like one big family who had concern for each other even with regards to matters that were more love-related than work-related. LOL, It made me think. The world would be so much better if things were like that, empty of crab mentality, envy and pettiness. Wouldn't it be wonderful? The characters suffered from lovesick problems from time to time, but they always seemed to be willing to help each other out and give advice to the ones who were problematic.
ROMANCE
There are actually two love stories in this drama:
The first was between Hotaru and Teshima. I honestly preferred Teshima throughout the drama because IMO, their romance was sweet and innocent. Kind of like that puppy love you experience for the first time in high school, you know? Butterflies in the stomach and racing heartbeats. I really liked the fact that he accepted her for who she is, weird habits and all. It was funny watching him and Hotaru being SO clueless as to how to express their feelings properly. In that aspect, they were very much alike. He was patient and sweet albeit a little dull in terms of personality (which gave a negative effect on the acting, unfortunately). However, I blame this on the writing. If only the character had been written with more depth, I would've found him to be a lot more interesting.
The second love story was between Hotaru and her boss, the main guy who, strangely enough, had the classic Second Male Lead Syndrome, Takano. Unlike her love story with Teshima which started with a kiss, theirs was a "slow burning" one. It started on the wrong foot as there was NO attraction on first sight. IMO, it was the best because both of them got to know each other's WORST traits first before they appreciated each other's positive areas. I admit though. At first though, I preferred Teshima over the boss because the latter treated her in a way that was typical of a father or an older brother. He constantly berated her for her untidiness, cooked for her, gave her love advice and basically became this all around go-to guy. They seemed more like best friends who often bickered over the tiniest things than potential lovers. Yet as the story progressed, I understood why they were so perfect for each other despite being TOTAL opposites. They helped each other grow and develop their weak areas. Takano helped her develop a little bit of finesse and taught her (begrudgingly) how to become, er, less of a slob, encouraged her whenever she was plagued with insecurities and guided her as she navigated her way to womanhood. Hotaru, on the other hand, taught him how to be more self-giving and considerate. Before they lived together, Takano was a workaholic and didn't know how to treasure personal relationships. When she came into his life, he learned to consider another person's well-being other than his own without being aware of it. They were also very comfortable around each other. Hotaru didn't need to force herself to change nor did she become too self-conscious when she was around him. It was the kind of relationship that is much needed in a long-term companionship like marriage. The steady kind of love that makes you feel secure and content, contrary to the blazing fire of passion often mistaken as "love" in a lot of romantic stories.
THE BAD:
I don't think there's anything negative to comment except the stiff acting and underdeveloped character of Teshima. He was the sole weak link. Maybe a veteran actor would've been better? Also, I thought it was weird that there was no sexual tension between Hotaru and Takano considering that they were still woman and man living under the same roof. I guess the writer of the manga preferred not to give it some focus in favor of the personal connection between the two. Dramas will always be dramas; you can never expect them to be a 100% reflection of reality, not even biographies.
FINAL VERDICT:
A "highly recommended" rom-com. The main reason why I love this drama is because I can relate to it so much! I developed this connection with the characters, especially the main girl Hotaru because in many ways I could see myself in her. Her journey back to love after years of being independent and single, her insecurities with her relationship, her heartbreak and growth from being a "dried up fish" for many years to womanhood, not to mention the wonderful humor and acting that made this little J-drama such a gem! I can't remember how many times I burst out laughing because of her and Takano's squabbles and antics. I loved the slow romantic development between the OTP. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves romantic comedies or just any person looking for a very light and funny drama that's full of heart.
I'm looking forward to watching the second season next.
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Balancing genius, intuition & healthy grounding in an elite jungle of an addictive financial world
How far can you go? The focus of these KDramas is greed for BIG money, which has long since lost any reasonable connection to life and people. It's about stock deals by the super-rich, insider trading, short selling, mergers and acquisitions.Hiding behind the title "Midas" is the legendary story of the ancient King Midas. It is said that as a child, ants would put grains of wheat in his mouth while he was sleeping. He was later granted a wish by Dionysus, wishing that everything he touched would turn to gold. The consequences though were life-threatening, because actually everything he came into contact with turned to gold, including food and drinks... The story of the KDrama operates both with the dictum "to have a golden hand", which is inspired by this legend, and with the psychoanalytic concept "Midas complex", which has proven itself in connection with pathological greed.
The protagonists in "Midas" have an offensive urge, almost addictive, to make even more profit with daring investment strategies, sometimes risking to lose the ground under their feet and maneuver themself into existential situations. This KDrama is about the challenge of balancing genius, intuition and a healthy grounding within the elite jungle of an addictive financial world. Thrilling story, complex character studies and emotional rollercoaster are guaranteed. In this world where money, intelligence and high speed set the tone, the intuitive feeling for the right timing prevails. "Midas" broadens the horizon from the (rather usual) Jaebeol family intrigues and inheritance disputes, which also have their place here, to - without regard to losses - partly illegal machinations in the financial world.
"Midas" is sketching a world of high risk and high numbers - abstract, fast pace, fashionable, cold. Yet it is an emotionally intense in-depth study about temptation, including space and time for morals. However, a spot here and there, where the warm and tender wind blows, is given, too. Some call it love...
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I Will Love You No Matter How Many Lifetimes
This drama caught me by surprise. I thought it was going to be the ML being not only obsessive but abusive to the FL, this was not the case. This was a man that was willing to give his life over and over again to have the FL live even if he didn't.The story starts from the ending showing Shangguan Wei Yang (Vicky Liang) shooting an arrow into the back of Ye Bei Chen (Zhang He) who was about to kill her beloved Ye Ming Xuan (Wang Jun Hao). She killed Ye Bei Chen in hatred and fell from the city wall. Watching her fall and holding her lifeless body Ye Bei Chen was left heartbroken and filled with regret for failing to protect her.
Feeling such remorse, he was told that even though she was on the brink of death she could live again. Willing to do anything he takes her to see the Old Poison Freak. This begins the cycle of life and death for Shangguan Wei Yang and Ye Bei Chen.
Ye Bei Chen was the King of Kan and brother to the emperor and also the uncle to Ye Ming Xuan. Ye Bei Chen meets Shangguan Wei Yang after she saved him. He was haunted by memories of Shangguan Wei Yang, his niece-in-law, that he discovered was the woman that his nephew, Ye Ming Xuan was planning to marry.
At all cost Ye Bei Chen protected Shangguan Wei Yang in the shadows. Realizing she was given another opportunity to rectify what had happened in her past life, she was willing to do whatever it took this time to stop Ye Bei Chen. Every time she thought she had outsmarted him; he found a way to wreck her plans. So much so, until he was able to get the emperor to make her his queen nullifying the marriage of his nephew, Ye Min Xuan. This did not sit well with her. All the endless misunderstandings came to head when she found out that it was not Ye Bei Chen who was the culprit but actually the man she had given her heart to, Ye Ming Xuan who was behind all those misdeeds.
Learning of all of this, Shangguan Wei Yang, was regretful of how she had treated Ye Bei Chen. You will be so mad at her because this goes on for quite some time with her treating him so bad. He is injured time after time. Always putting himself on the line for her. By episode 14, they will finally find some common ground, and that leads to the hottest kissing session!!!
Not to be outdone, Ye Ming Xuan was so mad about Ye Bei Chen taking Shangguan Wei Yang from him he vowed to get her back. He sets Ye Bei Chen up for the killing of her father, which again, she believes he did. Something in her mind made her realize it wasn't him and stood up to the emperor to defend him. They both work together to find out what had happened. Of course, it was Ye Ming Xuan because her father found that he was trying to kill his father to become emperor.
We also have Ye Bei Chen knowing that his time is limited with the poison in his body and one of them must die in order for the other to survive. Not telling Shangguan Wei Yang this, he makes sure that she has beautiful memories of being with him. She has finally (you will all be happy) fallen for him. This man really shows he loves her. I mean he will beat anyone if they do anything to her.
There is another prince who is in love with Shangguan Wei Yang, Feng Xuanyi, who is used by Ye Ming Xuan to set up Ye Bei Chen. He also causes issues between them when he tells him that he wants to marry her. But at this point, we knew that would never happen.
You will love in episode 18 when Ye Bei Chen snatches up Ye Ming Xuan and tells him, "So what if you're the Crown Prince. If you dare to disrespect my fiancé again, I'll make you understand what despair truly means." You have to love this man who really sticks up for his woman. The number of times he is injured, is just unprecedented. You can see the happiness but then here comes Huan Yan, she is the apprentice to the Old Poison Freak and in love with Ye Bei Chen. In spite, she tells Shangguan Wei Yang that only one of them can survive. In reality, it's the Life and Death Gu that was planted in Ye Bei Chen's body. When the time comes, if she doesn't die, he will. She doesn't believe her. She further explains that only those who have the King Gu with them can control Gu worms. The only way to bring someone back is to use one's body as a vessel, enduring the pain of a thousand ants drilling into the heart, and the agony of a thousand worms eating the bones. The Death Gu is used to activate Ling Gu, reversing the course of the sun, moon and stars.
Knowing all of this information Shangguan Wei Yang sets up Ye Bei Chen. She gets him drunk and when he wakes up, he finds Huan Yan in his bed. This was her plot to separate and save him. Of course, our men is too smart and knows something is up. He gets all the information from Huan Yan and bans her from his mansion. At this time, she runs into Ye Ming Xuan who now takes her in. But here comes Ye Bei Chen spear in hand coming to get her. This was the perfect opportunity for Ye Ming Xuan to see if she was truly loyal to him. She kills Ye Bei Chen with an arrow. But she always knew he carried a spearhead that she used in killing him in his first life, which we find out stops him from dying. He then becomes the white-haired Sorcerer King.
Meanwhile, Shangguan Wei Yang was trying to win over Ye Ming Xuan because she wants to kill him in the worse way. She tries everything but each time she just manages to not get caught. She finally figures out the Sorcerer King is Ye Bei Chen. Again, these two and their kisses. Happy reunion. Not to be outdone, Ye Ming Xuan figures out it is Ye Bei Chen too because his man reports back, they discovered the body of the real sorcerer.
Playing along Ye Ming Xuan moves the wedding up, and here comes Ye Bei Chen to get his woman, which he does.
Just when they thought everything was going their way, they had gotten rid of Ye Ming Xuan and all of his men, he escapes. Putting them on edge again but enjoying all of their time. These episodes you will like. His brother makes him the emperor. Not that he wanted the position, but he felt with his love of the people the country that this would be best.
Due to all of the ministers complaining and finding out that someone must die, she decides to leave the palace with Feng Xuanyi. One of Feng Xuanyi men decide on their own accord to blow up the palace killing everyone in it. You know Ye Bei Chen figured it out and replaced the bombs with fireworks. Coming to get her once again, we see Feng Xuanyi standing in front of Shangguan Wei Yang taking an arrow and dying.
One last play, and Ye Bei Chen finds out where Ye Min Xuan is and goes to the forest where they have an epic battle. He finally kills Ye Min Xuan along with Huan Yan who dies as well protecting him. You also see that before she died Huan Yan killed the Old Poison Freak so she would be the only one who knew about the Life and Death Gu. She does tell Ye Bei Chen, "Ye Ming Chen you must live on. Remember, life is death and death is life."
The fight was too much for Ye Bei Chen who dies in the arms of Shangguan Wei Yang but not before he saw that she stabbed herself and died beside him.
Time goes backwards and she sees the life that these two have had together. Taking Shangguan Wei Yang back to the tower wall with arrow in hand, she lets the arrow fly, while Ye Bei Chen with his spear, kills Ye Ming Xuan along with the arrow from Shangguan Wei Yang. Looking up with tears in his eyes, at his love, Shangguan Wei Yang, she thinks, "All the past events are like a grand dream. Ye Bei Chen, our story has only just begun."
I believe you really will enjoy this drama. The ML and FL are two hot together. The kisses they have going on are fire. Definitely one to add to your list.
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In Guk and Si Yang slayed their roles!
I enjoyed this drama so much. It was so fun to watch, In Guk and Si Yang played their roles extremely well, I was not only crying from laughter but of course sad scenes as well, because let's be honest, it's not a kdrama without a few tears. The story line was interesting and kept me invested the entire time I was watching. The whole tory kept me on my toes because of the suspense it also had with the whole plot and everything that went with it. I highly recommend watching this, you won't regret it I promise, bit just remember to go into it with an open mind, don't take everything too serious otherwise you'll ruin this great drama portrayed by wonderful and amazing actors and actresses.Was this review helpful to you?
Beyond Funny
This is unexpectedly hilarious. Suspend your disbelief and prepare to watch a BL in which no one and nothing can be taken seriously and it is universally gay, especially the mansion, furnishings and vegetables.(ha!) I don’t know how the actors could carry out their roles without cracking up. I’ll bet the outtakes are even better than the series. The inept dubbing is part of its charm and allows for some creative voice work. In my imagination the soundtrack was accidentally deleted and they had to go back in after the fact to create one. When they saw how silly it all was they decided to go full tilt: kooky music, animal noises, sound effects, it’s all here!Was this review helpful to you?
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The truth disappears with love
This headline, "the truth disappears with love", is the series' catchphrase and after watching all 10 episodes, it encapsulates the whole theme of the drama.TLDR: Saiai is an original suspense love story work made by producer Arai Junko and helmed by director Tsukahara Ayuko. Well-acted, with a tight pacing, enagaging story, and gorgeous music, this proved to be another masterpiece from the Arai/Tsukahara combi.
✦ STORY ✦
The story is original but draws the familiar themes of suspense/mystery and forbidden love. What would happen if after 15 years, you reunite with your first love, not as simple colleagues or friends but as a detective and a person under suspicion of murder? The premise is tempting and would catch the eye of lovers of drama. Add in the mystery/suspense part - of the unsolved case 15 years back and more unresolved murders in the present - and you have a neat, interesting package. The pacing of the story is tight, with revelations and clues unfolding in each episode, but the strongest episodes are those of the first half and the last. The 6th and 7th episodes are more subdued and might seem draggy since they deal more with character relationships. Despite this, the plot continued to develop and move forward. There were also some characters that I wished we have seen more on the screen, but I'm glad that at least they were used quite well in the story.
✦ ACTING/CAST ✦
The cast delivered in their roles, playing each character wonderfully, I'm so satisfied with each actor's performance. There were two in the supporting team who were quite shaky at first, but gave more nuanced performances as the episodes went on. What I also like about the characters is that they're all so capable in their jobs, from our main three to the supporting cast. It's so inspiring and so amazing to see.
Our main three actors were impressive. Yoshitaka Yuriko gave so much life to Sanada Rio, I often find myself taking too many screenshots of her expressions in each episode because she's just so captivating to watch as the character. She mentioned in an interview before the final episode that she felt that Rio's living somewhere out there, and I fully agree. Like what I have mentioned in the comments below, Sanada Rio's character may be someone that can draw annoyance due to how people always protect her, but the writing and Yuriko's charm and performance made her someone you would want to protect, someone lovable.
Matsushita Kouhei's Miyazaki Daiki is so freaking cool. I noticed that Kouhei always gives off a different vibe for each of his roles and it's no different to what he did for Daiki. What I like is that his performance and the writing made Daiki not just that "cool and capable detective", he's also very much human, he's someone who truly cares for his beloved people. He is very capable in his job, but he also has his flaws, and he is - at the core - just someone who lives to help other people, especially Rio and Yuu.
Iura Arata's Kase Kenichiro is a big cinnamon roll, he's probably my favorite character in the series. Kase Kenichiro is a strong, reasurring presence in the Sanada family's lives, and he's there for Rio every step of the way. Iura Arata's acting solidifed Kase's warmth and sharpened the edges that the character also possesses. Kase on paper is Sanada Wellness' watchdog with all the teeth and warmth,Kase on the screen is all that, magnified even more with the presence that Iura Arata gave him.
✦ MUSIC ✦
The music is so beautiful!! It actually really helped in the whole experience, especially in the first episode. Speaking of the first episode, the first two minutes of the pilot ep is a very good hook, and the accompanying music elevated it. The soundtrack was able to give off the feel of "15 years ago in Shirakawa-go", and "today, in Tokyo", and served as good backgrounds to key moments so kudos to Yokoyama Masaru! Aside from their use, the absence of music in some key scenes (!!) is also very tasteful. In these particular scenes, it leads viewers in on the suspense, waiting with baited breath along with the characters on the screen.
(Here's the whole OST on Spotify btw! : https://open.spotify.com/album/7qv1By236WWMlwMWEg9772?si=jOOeq8EvSB60gea8BYKFLg)
✦ REWATCH VALUE ✦
After watching the last episode, you'd want to watch the first episode all over again to catch all the clues and hints that you missed. The character relationships and plot progression would be better appreciated if you binged it, so yes a rewatch is in order haha. The series is very binge-worthy, the pacing of the episodes and the bite-sized clues and hints in each one makes each episode interesting.
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All in all, Saiai - literally "beloved" or "dearest" - was a satisfying drama from start to finish. I was a bit apprehensive of their pacing in the last two episodes in terms of the big reveal, but I'm very glad that they wrapped everything up nicely. There were just two plot threads that I think were not fully explained, but overall, it was a very good last episode. The theme of the drama was also drawn out very well, I can't think of a better title than Saiai, and indeed, the catchphrase "the truth disappears with love" holds true.
What a ride. Saiai is now under my 2021 favorites and my all-time favorites list, and it's all thanks to each part of the series from the production, to the story, acting, music, and rewatch value. Despite my love for this series, I won't erase the truth - and that is that it is a satisfying, well-produced drama that deserves to be watched. So if you haven't yet, this is your sign to watch it now.
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This review may contain spoilers
About a love that has somehow lost its suitability for everyday life over the years
“Between Him and Her” is an alternative to the tried and tested Cinderella love story, which usually ends with a supposedly “they lived together happily ever after”. Therefore, this story is about 7 years later...The KDrama is rather down-to-earth. It is set within the world of young creatives of Seoul´s fashion scene and tells about a love that has somehow lost its suitability for everyday life over the years. A love that became a habit.
Eventually, a critical moment causes the barrel of internal, unnamed, silent, consuming dissatisfaction to overflow and thus gives necessary strength to actually question everything. However, questioning everything also means having to ask yourself the unpleasant questions. Unfortunately, the answers are not clearly “yes” or “no”. They´re lurking subtly, are not always logical, nor pragmatic or even negotiable. Sometimes it's a "Yes. But." Sometimes it's a "No. But." The problem is: whether it's "yes" or "no", both are true. Love is not always automatically suitable for a partnership... and even if so, this cannot be considered a given either. Nevertheless, that doesn't make such a love any less true or valuable.
For outsiders, on the other hand, the matter may seem more evident. As a audience, we might want to shake one or the other. But in the end the answer unfolds exclusively from within the very personal, complicated emotional world of him and her. Nobody else can have a say. And the KDrama conveys that quite vividly, rather authentic and painfully realistic, too.
Accordingly, the pacing as the two protagonists are taking stock of their emotional relationship, is rather cautious and introspective. Therefore, subplots are providing some invigorating comedy and a bit of drama on the outside, thus pleasantly topping off this little study on certain facets about love.
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