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1A Fever Dream
Affinity (2026) is the batshit crazy gateway drug to short dramas i didn't know i needed!Watching this drama felt like trying to explain a fever dream to a therapist who eventually just gives up and starts asking for spoilers; or to put it another way - it’s like describing a fever dream to someone who just nods, grabs popcorn, and joins in. One sip of its liquid chaos, and you're hooked asking for the full bottle .
If you have told me a week ago that I’d be binging a Chinese short drama, I would have laughed in your face. I thought they were too much and not my cup of tea. I thought i was too sophisticated for 19-minute bursts of adrenaline and questionable CGI.
But I was wrong. Affinity isn't just a cup of tea; it’s a double shot of espresso mixed with pure, unadulterated chaos .
➤ THE "SO BAD IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD" VIBE ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
Let’s be real: the dialogues are cheesy enough to clog your arteries. The script sounds like it was written by a sentient AI that was fed nothing but romance novels and Resident Evil lore. The plot moves at a speed that ignores the laws of physics and logic but the leads have a "genetic compatibility" so high it should come with a radiation warning. One second you’re watching a genetic mystery, the next there’s a standoff that feels like a fever dream, and suddenly we’re hitting the "Esper-guide trope" (manhwa readers know this trope very well) where the leads literally can’t breathe without each other.
It is ridiculously crazy. It’s the kind of show where you find yourself yelling at the screen, "What the hell? What's with the plot? Don't do that? STAWP that's embarrassing!" while immediately clicking 'Next Episode' because the chemistry is somehow against all odds, absolutely electric .
I have reached a point of no return. I’m sitting here, watching a man stare intensely at a woman because their "genetic compatibility" is off the charts, and I’m nodding like, "Yes, this makes perfect sense, he should definitely kidnap her for her own safety." My brain cells are actively packing their bags and leaving, but my heart is doing backflips every time the Male Lead looks like he’s about to either commit a felony or give a hug .
Its actually embarrassing but you will devour it . You will feel like a raccoon in a dumpster; You know this is trash, yet you would feel it’s the most delicious, five-star Michelin trash you’ve tasted in a while.
➤ OVERALL ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─
If you’ve never tried a short drama because you thought they were "too much" like me, let Affinity prove you right and then let it ruin your sleep schedule anyway. It’s ridiculous, it’s over-the-top, and It’s the kind of high-quality madness that makes you question your own standards while you’re busy hitting "Next Episode" with a manic grin on your face .
- DO NOT ask me if the plot makes sense - It doesn’t. I’ve stopped looking for logic and started living for the chaos.
- DO NOT ask me to stop - I can’t. I've become a total short-drama binge watcher overnight lol .
There are plenty of "forced kisses" and high-tension skinship, so if that’s a deal-breaker for you, consider this your warning to stay away. But for those who stay? My god. The chemistry is absolutely feral and kiss scenes are so WILD that I’m genuinely questioning how Chinese censorship let this pass without cutting it to shreds?? I don't know who was in charge of the censorship board the day they reviewed this, but I want to buy that person a drink for looking the other way🍸👀.
Spoiler Alert (EPISODE 7): What's with that train kiss scene?! When she’s slowly crawling away and he’s just hovering over her, following her move for move... and the background music?? You will absolutely scream and be like WHAT IN THE WORLD??? It is so crazy and visually insane that you will definitely rewatch that specific scene more than once—I just know it hahahha! And the way he picks her up with just one hand all the time as if she weighs nothing? It’s dark-romance-coded perfection that makes you question your own standards .
and in (EPISODE - 10 ) again he literally threw her on bed with just one hand . That was kinda umm😭 it felt as if he slammed her onto the bed to wrestle with her or he had some grudges😭. But ok i'll stop here, i won't spoil more scenes just yet .
Last but not the least, Is it cheesy? Yes. Is it unbelievable? Yes. Am I watching it again? HELL YESSSS . Bcuz at the end of the day, I’m here for the entertainment, and Affinity is delivering exactly the kind of wild, addictive fun I didn't know I was missing.
So, would I recommend it? ABSOLUTELY. Just a fair warning: you’ll need to throw away the logic and switch off your brain to fully appreciate the chaos of this wild ride .
All in all it’s an 8.5/10 ( unbiased - 8 ; +0.5 bcuz its my first short drama and i enjoyed it ) that feels like a 10/10 when the leads are on screen together.
Thanks for reading! ♥︎♥︎♥︎
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1A Riveting Werewolf Game
My Journey to You is a 24-episode original script drama written and directed by Guo Jingming. It narrates the story of Yun Weishan, who infiltrates the Gong family for a mission. Amidst the mission, she encounter love, friendship and gradually discovers herself, what her heart wants. Each episode is around 1 hour long, although it might seems a little bit too long for a drama, but the drama manages to masterfully blends elements of espionage, intrigue, martial arts with romance as the sub-plot.Set against the backdrop of the jianghu (martial arts world) with Gong Family and Wu Feng as the prominent player, My Journey to You mainly revolves around conspiracies, hidden agendas, and a game of wits that will keep you guessing until the very end. However, these suspenseful moments are perfectly balanced with comedic heart-warming interactions and thought-provoking dialogues, making it a series that is as emotionally engaging as it is intellectually stimulating.
🔗 Introduction to My Journey To You character summary: https://twitter.com/afterrnoont/status/1698267612042641644?s=20
What My Journey to You apart is it’s intricate and fast well-paced storytelling (initially). In the beginning, each episode unfolds like a carefully orchestrated symphony, revealing layers of deception. Each episode also packs a punch, leaving viewers on the edge of the seat from the beginning till the end!! Every character in the drama is also very intriguing. Each character feels like a fully fleshed-out individual with their own unique personality, motivations, and backstory. The drama have skilfully crafted a tapestry of lives that intersect and collide in compelling ways!! Yun Weishan and Shangguan Qian are morally grey, smart and calculating. their dynamic is so interesting to watch because on one hand they have this protective camaraderie between them, but it also feels tense, just like you’re waiting for the impending betrayal. Meanwhile each Gong siblings are also very unique, each of them has their own motive, but overall it's still for Gong's family interest and good!
Another aspect that sets My Journey to You apart is its high-quality production. This is a big budget and high-quality production that features exemplary cinematography, elaborately authentic sets, exquisite costumes, well-executed action choreography, as well as beautifully shot natural landscapes. In addition, the editing, scene transitions and sequencing of the narrative progression appear cohesive and relatively seamless. The colour palette of this drama is also beautiful and eye pleasing!! The colour palette is sparse and dark toned with a dash of white, gold, and red sometimes.
At the heart of this drama is an ensemble cast that delivers remarkable performances. My Journey to You has a stellar cast, that delivers a profoundly compelling performance from the main role to the supporting role. Each actor nuanced portrayal of their characters adds depth and authenticity to the story. Yu Shuxin and Lu Yuxiao performance in the drama are really commendable! Yu Shuxin manages to show a different side of her, she provides us with further glimpses of her versatility and range with a vastly different and never-seen-before side – she can not only play a cheerful innocent character, like Xiao Lanhua, but she can also pull off a serious character with many layers. Lu Yuxiao also delivers a strong performance; her micro expressions and eye glances makes her character more fleshed out and rich! Another commendable actor is Tian Jiarui, although this is his first drama, but he has managed to show how good of an actor he is!! We can definitely look forward to his future works!!
However, there are also some aspects that made the drama fall short. Personally, I find that the drama becomes a little bit dull midway. The drama still progresses, it seems like it's moving but to nowhere. The drama make you keep on guessing and guessing but little answer is revealed. Another aspect that mainly turns me off the the male lead weak characterization (not to the actor), which is a speciality of Guo Jingming's drama whereas he tend to make the second leads of his drama stand out more than the main leads. Also another huge disappointment of the drama is that it has a dissatisfactory ending with unanswered questions. Although there are some answers, but the main answer remains to be a question. It feels disappointing and frustrating - you spend almost 24 hours watching the drama only to be left with more questions.
Drawbacks aside, All in all, My Journey to You is a is a remarkable drama with an engrossing plot, impressive cinematography, and art direction. If you love mystery suspense with a blend of wuxia drama, this is a good watch!
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The Return of the King.
After closing Season 1 on a high note, the much anticipated Season 2 of Lost You Forever opens with an air of looming inevitability. The focus shifts from Xiaoyao to Cangxuan as the main plot is built around the return of the king who is meant to unite Dahuang. This also portends the end of the long stalemate between Xiyan and the Chenrong remnants. This kind of endgame puts all of the main characters at crossroads with difficult, heart wrenching choices to make.Season 2 has not been as well received as Season 1 and the bulk of the disappointment is around how unlike Season 1, Season 2 deviates from the novel on a few fronts. I didn't read the novel so I can only evaluate the drama on its own merits. From my perspective, the season's biggest weakness is that the plot arcs leave a rushed, condensed impression. This shouldn't be a surprise as topics involving conquering harmless neighbouring states and glorifying rebels don't fare well with Chinese censors. I also had to scoff at the idea of a war with no civilian casualties; if this were a plot driven story I would be quite disappointed.
But Lost You Forever is predominantly a character story and on that front, the character arcs deliver in spades. Even though many characters make choices that are not relatable, they are not meant to be. Novelist Tong Hua designed the characters for both the prequel novel Once Promised and Lost You Forever based of mythical creatures from Shānhǎijīng/山海经, The Classic of Mountains and Seas. This is an ancient Chinese geographic compilation of mythical monsters and magical creatures; kind of like Hogwart's Monster Book of Monsters. This story is set at the beginning of time, after Pangu and Nuwa created the world. Xiangliu is a mythical beast, a venomous nine-headed snake monster loyal to water deity Gonggong. Cangxuan and Xiaoyao's grandfather the Xiyan King is none other than Huangdi/黃帝, the legendary Yellow Emperor. They are early immortals, directly descended from primordial gods whose footprints can still be found in the shape of the mountains and seas. They live for an unfathomably long time; until their obsessions eventually get the better of them. This explains Cangxuan's darkening and Xiaoyao's overpowering fear of loneliness and abandonment.
Even though this story broke my heart, all of the important characters are true to themselves and fulfil their destiny. I did not always agree with or like their decisions but the storytelling is elevated by phenomenal acting that compelled me to understand their choices and accept that their decisions made sense for them. My only disappointment with the season is that plot-wise it sagged and is not strong enough for me to raise my rating for the drama overall to a 9.5/10.0. It is nonetheless an immersive, heart-rending and dark enchanted fairytale about flawed but unforgettable characters who are trapped by destiny. I rate both the second season and the adaptation in its entirety 9.0/10.0. Watch it but guard your heart and do not grieve too hard for them because their fates are to a large extent predestined.
SPOILER WARNING
The rest of this review does not avoid spoilers and is best read after you have finished watching this drama in its entirety.
I may be in the minority but even though I almost drowned myself in wine, I think the ending is perfect and fitting. Xiaoyao is a flawed and broken character that regresses as the narrative advances. Her strongest, happiest, moments were in Qingshui Town, when she lived among mortals as Wen Xiaoliu. The only thing she lacked was a companion. When Ye Shiqi, another lost immortal came along, her life was complete. Even though Tushan Jing is a weak character that let Xiaoyao down repeatedly, he is kind and when it mattered, he was willing to be Ye Shiqi again so that she could be Wen Xiaoliu again. He was the safe choice and the only choice Xiaoyao was capable of making. Even though I will never like it, I understand it and I can live with it. The best, most magical arc was always the Qingshui Town arc so the drama closes there, in a full circle.
Cangxuan is also a damaged and abandoned character whose his mother chose to die with his father over living for him. Thus Xiaoyao and Cangxuan share a deep and complex bond that goes beyond their childhood oath. From the get go, the way they deal with their shared trauma put them on forever opposite paths; he chose to be invincible while she chose to be invisible. Xiaoyao only reclaims her identity and returns to the perilous world that cost her everything because of her promise to Cangxuan. She faces her demons, relives the worst days of her life and puts herself in harm's way to be his pawn; the princess bride that paves his way to the throne. She never looks happy or carefree again after she becomes Xiaoyao.
The great irony in their story is that Cangxuan seeks power to protect Xiaoyao but once he attains power, he becomes the greatest threat to her. He is Xiaoyao's hero that lived long enough to see himself become a villain. Had Cangxuan given in to his worst instincts, it would have been unforgivable and it would have destroyed them both. I am relieved the drama only showed us what would have happened and then walked him back from the brink. Cangxuan did many regrettable things along the way, which he describes as 遗憾/yíhàn and not 后悔/hòuhuǐ. This means he did what he had to do; that he did not really have free will. The turning point in his character is when he admits there was one pivotal moment he regrets (后悔/hòuhuǐ); when he should have chosen Xiaoyao but he chose the throne instead. But even after he owns his choices, I feel a frisson of fear at his disarming smile that is belied by the dark longing expression in his eyes. Xiaoyao will never be truly safe from him so Xiling Jiuyao disappears among those who die collecting and documenting rare herbs throughout Dahuang.
A'Nian is the best character in this story. She is the spoiled but brave and true Haoling princess who grew up with the security of a loving family and her beloved Cangxuan gege. She is who Xiaoyao should have been and she is living Xiaoyao's best life. She dares to put herself out there, to take risk in love without needing to be loved in return. I hope one day Cangxuan understands that Xiaoyao did choose him; that her name is A'Nian.
As for Xiangliu, he understood Xiaoyao best and loved her most selflessly. But by the time they met, he had long ago pledged all nine lives to his lost cause. After leading so many men to fight to the death, it is not clear Xiangliu could have just walked away even if Xiaoyao asked him to. It would have been a risky, reckless and consequential path for both of them; the story of Chi Chen and Xiling Heng could repeat itself. Xiangliu and Xiaoyao waited for each other to cross the line for a very long time; far longer than Xiaoyao waited for Tushan Jing. But the inescapable truth is after everything she went through, Xiaoyao is too broken. As the consequence of two people who loved recklessly; she could only choose to be loved. Xiangliu is himself not free either so he accepts this. For him their brief entanglement had to be enough. If Xiaoyao had been A'Nian, she would have dared to choose him except his path would have never crossed with that A'Nian, only Xiaoyao. They were just never meant to be. And so Xiangliu frees her from missing him forever and leaves her with someone to rely on and go home to. Even though she will never be burdened by knowing the full extent of everything he did for her, Xiaoyao grieved deeply for Xiangliu. To me, her silent, helpless adult tears were far worse than the way she child ugly cried for her parents. I do wish he had left her the real Chubby but I guess it was not possible since Chubby would have gobbled up Tushan Jiing and spat out his entrails.
Even though both Zhang Wanyi and Yang Zi deliver outstanding and compelling performances, Tan Jianci's portrayal of Xiang Liu is simply iconic. I can't remember when I was last so mesmerized by a character. Even though it shattered me, Xiangliu fulfils his destiny in an epic, climatic ending that is what legends are made of. According to Shānhǎijīng, Xiangliu left behind a patch of earth so toxic that nothing grew or lived there again. I know book readers are not satisfied with the ending but for me it is an incredibly sad but beautiful and fitting way to end a story about love that is not a love story. My only regret is I didn't get to see Xiaoyao shoot Xinyue in the heart. I mean to make time to read both the prequel and the novel so I won't spoil myself the book ending. But if it is at least this good, then I love it already.
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It was a story bogged down by a messy predictable script and two lead actors with about as much chemistry as a goldfish and a tree. Throughout the first eleven episodes, we see little no character development in either of the lead actors, and then are left with so much sudden character development in the next five that it's completely ridiculous.
Though, had the story a fast enough pace and a more well rounded script the show wouldn't have been such a bore. Had they cut out all the needless parts and really gotten to it sooner, the later character development and the development of emotions would've made a whole life more sense, as we'd have had more time to see these changes. Instead, the ending was rushed and messy, and also somehow boring and skippable. This series was eleven episodes of utter waste, and five episodes of trying to make it all make sense.
The one and only redeeming quality of this series, was the second lead couple. Ji Yi was smart, down to earth, and willing to work hard, and Chang Soo was fun and cute. Together they were honestly the best part of the show, I often skipped to their parts. Their chemistry was off the walls and their romance oddly believable. I would've much rather watched an entire series about them doing cute couple things and arguing than having to watch the cringe worthy romance between the main leads.
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Without beating around the bush, The Tale of Gumiho ( or the Nine Tailed Fox) ‘s beginning did offer the criteria of being a brilliant fantasy show ; a stellar cast, fairly strong scriptwriting from episode one and of course the intriguing plot scenario of a lovelorn nine-tailed fox ( Lee Dong Wook) desperately yearning to be human again and overcoming the emotional scars of his past.
The Tale of Gumiho does certainly have one gift for drama watchers by offering us a stellar cast line-up. Finally seeing Lee Dong Wook reprise a fantasy role again had to be an undeniable selling- point for most drama watchers.
In place of wearing a prim and proper black hat as a certain Grim Reaper, however, Dong Wook steps into his new character, Lee Yeon, by sporting freshly dyed auburn red hair and brightly coloured suits as part of his foxy persona. There is no denying the fact that Dong Wook is undeniably Dong Wook in his performance - with a mixture of a sarcasm , comical wit and angst-driven ambiance surrounding his performance as Lee Yeon, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing this mysterious trickster instead. In a similar manner to Dong Wook, Jo Bo- ah was stunningly brilliant as the female lead, Nam Ji- ah through her heart-driven wit and capability to portray a female lead with rationality and intelligence in the show .
Yet sadly, however, as far as the scriptwriting is concerned both characters undeniably fall short of expectations through how they are dealt with after the opening of the drama. Without revealing too much it’s fair to say that although both characters did respectfully have emotional attachment to viewers through their experiences, some of the cliches that the scriptwriters had included just didn’t live up to expectations for these characters to be more than plot devices. ( Ji- ah’s rationality and intelligence as a lead is seemingly flung out the window by the halfway point of the drama, our main antagonist, Imoogi played mostly by Lee Tae- Ri has little intrigue for
watchers over his motives whereas characters such as the Snail Bride, Taluipa and Hyun Eui-ong who should’ve have had some of the most intriguing involvement in the storyline, were simply played for comical effect instead). By the ending of this drama there was little development or actual intrigue around most of these characters.
On the other hand, perhaps the one thing ( alongside the fairly good OST ) which most certainly can be praised in regards to one element of the scriptwriting, is how they dealt with Kim Bum’s brilliantly sardonic and emotionally complex portrayal as the antagonist- antihero role , Lee Rang.Of course, there is no denying that Rang did step often beyond the points of morality in the drama even from episode one, yet revelations of Lee Rang’s complicated past and his partially morally-guided actions throughout the drama such as saving his faithful sidekick Yu-ri ( Kim Yong Ji) from animal abuse in a zoo, a puppy from being tortured by a group of teenage thugs and Kim Soo oh ( Jung Si yul) from child abuse, adds more intricacy to him simply being labelled as an “ evil” or “ twisted” character.
Surprisingly, Kim Yong Ji’s performance as Yu- ri , also had better characterisation than the majority our main leads as well. As a character, Yu- ri appears at first as somewhat detestable by her animalistic desires to eat humans and to deceive a married couple behind the truth that their daughter is dead. Yet as Rang reveals more about Yu-ri’s past, it soon becomes apparent through her growing relationship with the veterinarian Shin Joo ( Hwang Hee) that Yu-ri is again not entirely an evil character, but simply doing what she must in order to survive. It is only a shame that whilst Yu- ri undeniably had a good character progression by the ending of the show, the circumstances of Lee Rang, Lee Yeon and Ji-ah felt lacklustre in comparison. It wasn’t that the ending of the drama wasn’t good, however, the means in which the scriptwriters had got us to this ending felt rushed and lacking in both emotional investment and intrigue for watchers.
Overall Tale of Gumiho was a fairly enjoyable show, however, it was severely flawed by character progression of our main leads as well as their relationship, and the overall ending deliverance of the drama. Perhaps the two saving graces of the drama were the casting choices and evidently Kim Bum’s performance as Lee Rang due to being a complicated and intriguing antagonist up until the ending , where sadly his final character twist and progression felt too rushed. Whilst Tale of Gumiho is worth a watch, don’t watch it if you’re looking for a masterpiece, as there are certainly better fantasy dramas out there.
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Two words that really describes this drama is: Dark humor. It seems to be a series you will either love or hate and clearly it is not a drama for everyone. A lot of people seem to really dislike the idea that they are somehow "romanticizing" the saesang behavior in the show, but I wouldn't say that that's the case. Instead they have taken a really weird and problematic situation and turned it to a very extreme and twisted story. There are a lot of things that are morally and behaviorally wrong in this drama but you just need to take everything with a pinch (maybe a scoop) of salt and just enjoy each episode.
Every actor did a good job portraying odd and eccentric roles and I really enjoyed how the drama went from a bad kidnapping story to an action/thriller filled with light slapstick comedy. It is a perfect "in-between" drama to watch for a break from heavier shows to just lighten up your mood. The only downside was the slow first episodes and the rushed ending (Ironic?) but it doesn't leave you irritated, just sad that there wasn't one more episode. You just need to plow through the first two episodes and after that you are up for a wild ride.
In conclusion, you will not regret watching this drama, especially if you have a really bad sense of humor.
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I think we're still waiting for the documentary that shows such things as how a BL series comes together, how its impact and popularity are tracked and leveraged, and the whole concept of shipping, including how the shipping of BL actors in real life can impact those real lives.
I'm also curious how the actors who are part of a BL pairing are paired in the first place, how they're instructed to behave off camera, and whether the production companies go so far as to put stipulations in their contracts about it. For me this would show whether the people in charge wish to exploit the blurred perception of on-screen couples with the belief that they're actually dating.
This becomes an even bigger concern with underage actors. What do their parents have to say about how and why they got their boys involved in BL, and once production starts how are the interests of these young actors protected?
So, in short, given the documentary's provocative title I was hoping for a deeper dive that took some risks and spoke truth to power. What we got instead is a wade through the shallow end of the pool that will be more rewarding for beginner fans of BL.
If you'd already heard of this documentary then you probably know that Bright and Win are featured in one of the segments. For me they seem like an odd choice of actors to interview regarding how they approached their roles, since their '2gether' franchise is the subject of some debate over whether it's truly BL or actually a bromance. As actors they haven't (yet) been asked to kiss romantically on screen or even be shown cuddling shirtless in bed -- something that the documentary director's own films haven't shied away from. Why not talk to actors who actually *have* had to do such things on camera, and ask what their experiences were like? (And tell us what went on behind the scenes at '2gether' that resulted in all the guard rails being put up ....)
It makes me wonder if Bright and Win were the only actors available or were selected due to '2gether's' current popularity. (One thing for sure: their presence is being used to promote the film.) So many other BL couples would have been a better pick due to their longtime experience in the business: OffGun, KristSingto, TayNew, PeakBoom, or even the cast of '2 Moons 2', a series that the documentary director himself directed.
(I'm sure that Ohm Pawat and Toey Sittiwat would also have had some interesting things to say.)
So, this film is good enough for what it does but isn't quite the documentary the title promises it to be. I hope the director will consider making a 'Part 2'.
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"The principle of justice are choosen behind the veil of ignorance."
"When you try hard to find answers from your past, the past will come crawling to you and eat you up." The Veil that you wear to protect yourself from external forces, can either cause you immense pain or fee you from all the sufferings. Yet, your efforts to put things at their rightful places shouldn't go waste; make sure of that."The Veil" is indeed one of a kind action as well mystery thriller Korean drama, justifying it's own title and doing a good job in relaying it's performance in overall. It's definitely one of the most underrated dramas of the year 2021 bcs of known reasons.
The story revolves around Han Ji Hyuk (Namgoong Min), an ace among the National Intelligence Service (NIS) top agents and an 'one man army', known to be stubborn & unbeatable. While carrying out an operation to destroy an underworld drug cartel in China with his 2 partners, he comes across abrupt truth behind the entire thing and suddenly vanishes off from the earth surface, while his partners are found murdered. He resurfaces after a year in the Peninsula but this time with lost memories of one year, just to discover the rat or traitor among the NIS who helped their enemy on the back to have the upper hand. Due to his unstable state, he is partnered with Yoo Je Yi (Kim Ji Eun) to carry out minor tasks. Je Yi, who has joined the organization to find out about his father, an ex-agent gone missing a decade ago, joins hand with Ji Hyuk. Together, they work secretly and find out the bigger forces behind it, who turn out to be their own and strive to reveal everything.
The plot development is actually very amazing for a 12 episode drama which reflects a steady progression with several temporary brakes, whenever the antagonists face some downfall. Can't really call it a 'staircase' development but the duo keep solving one case after another with clues from previous case, so yeah, it's somewhat similar to it. 1st ep is the basic intro with lots of confusion which is an obvious happening. 2nd ep also lays the foundation further clarifying the previously created subtle indications. The progress after it, is what will amaze you continuously and keep you hooked. The antagonists continue to dig deeper and unveil more answers and the twists at the end of each episode leaves you awestruck. In fact, the revelations are quite astonishing and very unpredictable; it's like you know who is involved and who ain't but in what way and how much, that's the matter of curiosity. In this regard, the writer has painted an intertwined yet intriguing sketch that's quite difficult to figure out for the viewers.
What bothered me is the ending of 9th episode and the entire 10th episode plus it's ending too. The reason is, one of the most major question of the drama was answered at the end of 9th and first half of the 10th episode bore it's detailed explanation. So I really was worried as to what else is left to explain and answer now when we got 2 episodes yet to come? The latter half 10th episode showed further progress in open investigation within the organization with joined efforts of more people who joined the lead duo. The 11th ep was a lil slow but at least not rushed which is better. Anyways, the ep laid foundation for the final big operation to catch the main culprit behind everything and then the finale went very well according to that. I was again afraid something would go wrong for the drama but I am greatly satisfied.
Just like any other crime dramas, The Veil is mysterious & confusing in many ways, ngl. So, some of us might binge it bcs we're anxious to wait but some others also find it interesting to go slow as it's more interesting that way too. I am telling this because I binged the 10 eps in 2 goes and and had a difficult time for a day trying to put everything in place. Since there are only 12 episodes, binging it would feel like time flying by so fast. So take it slow, try to enjoy and relish each episode as it proceeds and make sure you are attentive to the details because lots of facts are interconnected and there are in fact so many small and merely significant characters, each contributing significantly to the story; so if you don't remember them, you might end up getting confused. They introduce new characters each episode as the lead dup keep digging deeper but they don't stick around or simply, as soon as their essence is over, they are thrown out of the script.
Namgoong Min is the central character as said earlier. Not only he's strong and skillful, he's smart enough to predict and draw an entire scenario, before he start executing his plans. He surfers from trauma related to his chikdhood and is also full of untold emotions. Kim Ji Eun (Yoo Je Yi) does her job well by helping the ring leader at many points. She was definitely more quick-witted and what makes her character strong is her instincts of righteousness by the virtue of which she chooses to believe in Ji Hyuk constantly and taking his side till the end, despite all the odds she had to face.
In supporting role, Ha Dong Gyun (Kim Do Hyun), is a mysterious one who turns out to be different from the usual assumption of character. Dir. Kang Pil Ho (Kim Jong Tae) is a concerned superior to his juniors who also has secrets that he commited in order to protect the organization. Dep. Comm. Do Jin Suk (Jang Young Nam) is a ambitious woman who can pull any strings to get her work done. Dep. Comm. Lee In Hwan (Lee Kyung Young) is a greedy and inimical man and source of all the bad deeds in the org. Seo Soo Yun (Park Ha Sun) is the bearer of many secrets behind the conspiracy but her character is the only one that was poorly written and got wasted unreasonably. There are plenty of other characters played by very very good actors but I suppose I should stop here not to give out any spoiler.
Action!? What are you asking about? How should I explain this? Superb, amazing, etc. fancy words would become understatements. Nam Goong Min carried the entire show with his acting plus action skills. I am not a fan of ripped bodies but well, this is NGM *blushes*. His physique is what we call an ideal fit for stunts. The character Han Ji Hyuk, had his ground rules set. Being so skillful & determined as a person, he was unbeatable. His fleetness and swift hand movements, oof, those are reverential moments to witness. What makes the action scenes and NGM's stunts perfect is, the way those elements serve the story as well as his characters. Those were jaw-dropping and heart-poundinh. Most of the scenes also involve several types of firearms, which were also used skillfully and in an enticing way. In overall, the action and stunt scenes are enthralling and greatly pleasurable to eyes. The action director obviously deserve extra bonus for drawing the detailed arcs and keeping the most appropriate pace. "The Veil" definitely is the 2nd best action kdrama of the year after Taxi Driver, this year; at least for me ;-;
Direction is top notch I would say. For any thriller, particularly action thrillers, the chief PD is the most responsible for the execution and here Kim Sung Yong PDnim has done a stupendous job in directing the drama as well as managing and editing the screenplay. Given that he's not that experienced in directing as thw main PD, it's difficult to say so from this drama. The pacing is accurate for the entire drama, there seemed no exaggeration for the story or any specific event.
Applauses for him. Also, I still can't bring myself to believe that it's the writer's first ever script??? I don't know who are they, but dear jakka-nim, you are very talented. This is so very good to prove how nice your skills are. Please keep this up because we anticipate to witness more of your works. The development of overall plot, the character development for Nam Ji Hyuk, the arcs of each seemingly insignifican characterst, the awe-inspiring revelations at perfect points of the story, the U-turn & downfall twists, etc are very well drawn with visibly wonderful efforts. Brownie points for the dialogue writing too. The screenplay writing along with pleasing dialogues is what makes the character to serve well and makes the audience connect and feel. The formatting is nice and subtext is clear plus no dragging of scenes with only important conversations.
The composition is something that you can look forward to too. For a dark and intense action thriller where every other scene has the smell of sobriety, the OSTs and background scores are very well written and composed which gives off appropriate mood and are very suitably used in the drama. "Reason" by YOARI is undoubtedly the show-bearer, which in fact explains the title and essence of the drama. It depicts the emotions and eagerness of a man who is lost in a dreadful tunnel among plenty of enemies surrounding him. "Stay With Me" by Elaine on contrary, is a melancholic track, that portrays a man's emotions of betrayal, self-realization and has losr track of everything. "Get Ya" by Lee Jung Min is an enthralling and catchy song on the other hand. The OSTs are all in English.
I am happy to be aware that they are giving us 2 extra episodes. I mean we deserve it because there are only 12 episodes even though they're around 80mins each. From the trailer, it seems the special episodes will have the back stories of of entire main plot so it's more like a prequel of the drama and the point where it all started. It feels promising too so I'm kinda looking forward to it.
Notes:
1. There is no romance at all, which is expected and I feel that's the best decision by the writer. There is a subtle portrayal of one sided liking but it wasn't anything near to romantic feelings I suppose.
2. It's kinda gore as well. Since it's NIS and not a simple crime investigation unit, killing people easily is nothing biggie so watch it with TW if you're sensitive to bloodshed and murders.
SOOOO, THE VEIL, in overall is such a stupendous Kdrama, in terms of story, direction, acting, performance, action & stunts, etc and definitely a must watch. It also has high rewatch value for those who are avid action fans. Spy investigation dramas involving NIS and action are not something very new to us but this surely stands out for a unique basic storyline, it's immense action scenes and fabulous execution. If you're hesitant to start because the genre ain't your cup of tea, give it a try for Nam Goong Min at least, you can't help but fall for him deep into the firey pit lmao.
P. S. Didn't know I would end up writing a long review for a 12 episode drama with lil context to narrate w/o spoilers but well, now that I'm done writing, I don't wanna remove any part of it TT.
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This review may contain spoilers
You Can’t SHAME The SHAMELESS
Shen Wenlang is a blabbermouth who have the emotional awareness of a tablespoon, Sheng Shaoyou is a fluffy bunny with the temperament of an angry wolf, Gao Tu is a professional lair, and Hua Yong is…well, there’s a lot wrong with Hua Yong, but imma leave that for later, cuz right now I’m in a hurry. My aunt just called a family meeting, my grandmother is pregnant and she ran away with his boyfriend so…WTH was that ending? People where are we running to? Who is chasing us? We were this close to perfection.
Anyway, I know for sure Hua Yong managed to manipulated me through the screen too, but I just can’t prove it. Cuz, tell me why I started this drama screaming at his lying arse, and here I am today, ready to defend him with all I have. Regardless, it isn’t much, just a half eaten sandwich and some gum, but still, I’d gladly give them away to defend that lunatic, who frankly needs to be smacked in the head with a Bible or put in a straitjacket, cuz the mfker is cray cray.
And I thought Cir (Boy Next World) was a psycho for inventing a whole parallel universe just to get a boyfriend, turns out there are levels to being a Lunatic when it comes to love. Let me lay it down for ya.
THE LUNATICS HOT 100: BL AUDITION
#1 Duan Zi’ang (New entry) = Kill to Love. REASON: Dude went to war and destroyed an entire country so he could kidnap his ex-boyfriend in hope to rekindle their doom relationship. Spoiler alert: it worked-ish.
#2 Hua Yong (New Entry) = ABO Desire. REASON: He’s a Hua Yong.
#3 Huai’ En (-2) = Meet You at The Blossom. REASON: Destroyed the livelihood of his lover’s family, so his lover would only be dependant on him.
#4 Ming (-3) = My Stand-In. REASON: It all started with Ming having a back fetish… smh.
#5 Cir (-4) = Boy Next World. REASON: My man invented a whole different universe just to get the boy.
#26 A Tuo (New Entry) = Secret Lover. REASON: Dude dated every girl who was interested in his crush to keep them away from him. That’s next level dedication.
Just to list a few. The only reason Hua Yong isn’t #1 is cuz the level of causalities he left behind weren’t as much, though, I have no proof, so it’s anyone’s guess at this point.
First off, to get something off my chest real quick. It’s getting real annoying with all these ‘I’m only here for the second couple’ nonsense crap that’s been going on in the bl world lately. “I’m only watching this because of the second couple. I skip all the other scenes except for the second couple.” OKAY AND? Dafug you want, Sharon? A cookie? An award, is that what you want Bob? I need some of y’all to give it a rest, cuz it’s no longer cute.
And I'm not talking about screen time, cuz in the case of Gao Tu and Shen Wenlang, although they were barely in the main story of the novel, I still had high hopes, and want more scenes with them, cuz they didn't have enough for my liking. I want ten episodes of Wenlang begging, Gao Tu being treated like he deserves and lots of kisses, but ya, we got what we got, and that finale was...yeah.
Anyway, so yes, I get it, sometimes we all get second couple syndrome, or the story of the second leads interest us more, but some of y’all have started to make it your entire personality and won’t shut up about it, to the point you start hating on the main couples, and have to let everyone and their mama know you're only here for the second couple. In the last couple of months alone, I saw it with Revenged Love, The Next Prince, Memory of Rati, to mention a few. Like, we get it, you are not that special Susan, go sit down.
I watched this drama for all four characters and l did not skip any scenes, and let me tell you, I had the most fun without being bitter and counting screen time even in effing previews. These four characters made the show and I remember them all equally and fondly, cuz really, it’s a story about MEN BEING PREGNANT, even if Shen Wenlang and Gao Tu were in the entire series for 5 seconds only, we’d still remember them. Cuz again, mpreg. Arrg.
SHENG SHAOYOU
32, 33 exes who were soft and loved to cry. Yeah, at some point we need to dissect this behaviour, cuz damn ho! Hua Yong was right, Mr. Sheng is a playboy, cuz did y’all see the moves he put on in the beginning of the drama when he was trying to get Hua Yong’s cookie? OMG, that s-tier Alpha was on!!
Mr. Sheng’s temper was adorable, omg, who even looks that cute being angry? Worse thing, it was just a front most of the time for his softie heart which was just so forgiven, cuz forgiving Hua Yong after he pouted a little and looked real sad at the cameras for an episode was wild.
I felt so bad for Mr. Sheng when he was being manipulated. Him and Gao Tu needed hugs, cuz those two best-friends (Don’t tell them I said this) from Country P had them and me stressing with their antics. I cried with him when Hua Yong left after attacking him. Hua Yong in the name of love put this poor man through heartbreak, high levels of stress, emotional abuse, physical pain that needed trips to the hospital, childbirth, Shen Wenlang, an identity crisis, and well… Hua Yong. Poor, poor fluffy bunny.
On a side note, Mr. Sheng is not all that innocent. The 33 crying virgins aside, dude was hitting that Omega girl while in a situationship/living together type of thing with Hua Yong. And, he was too soft-hearted and forgiven to the people around him. His father, brothers, Hua Yong. The way I’d have milked my anger with Hua Yong. But, after everything was exposed, Mr. Sheng went ‘alright, but lie to me again and walk out that door.’ Dude, that's it? The two s-tier Alphas in this drama were such losers when it came to love. Someone stalked you for years and homeboy went, ‘oh you’re a fan of me.’ No, Bob, he’s a stalker! If only you knew the things he did with your hands while you were sleeping.
Anyway, I love how kind-hearted Sheng’s real personality was, and how soft and adorable he is while secretly loving being pampered. Not gonna lie, I love the mouth on him too. There’s an episode when he was in a hurry, and dude literally shouted at his driver. ‘Have I lived long enough? is that it why you are planning to waste some of my time for me?’ LOL. Imagine if him and Mr. Shen were actually friends, they’d be so insufferable to be around.
GAO TU
My baby, my sweety-baby boo. Oh my beautiful Omega, how I wanna slap you with a rubber chicken. Hear me out, in the beginning I felt so much for Gao Tu to the point, I was looking for tickets to travel into my computer and punch Shen Wenlang in the throat, but as time went on, I went…
Yeah, Gao Tu is literally creating his own demons, and must like being miserable cuz, Sharon why? That fake Beta kept lying, and lying, and lying. Like, we all keep saying Hua Yong deserves an Oscar for his acting, but Gao Tu deserves one as well. He’d kept this lie going with Wenlang for 10 years, that’s a lifetime achievement best actor award right there.
Anyway, I felt the most for Gao Tu, everything with his sister, that sperm donor of his, and being in love with a man who hated Omegas. Man could not catch a break, and I just wanted to bubble wrap him and hide him away. But at the same time, I wanted to shake him. Yes, Mr. Shen sucks, but please talk to him, at least give him the benefit of the doubt for the sake of your friendship. Arrrggg.
I had a protect Gao Tu voice in my head that went, ‘Count your days Mr. Shen, it’s on sight! Whenever he said something hurtful to him.’ But at the end of the day, misunderstandings and miscommunications were their biggest enemy, and Gao Tu was rather the kind who’d rather go quietly into that night than make a whole lot of noise, and so in the end he had to endure all that hurt.
Mr. Shen didn’t suffer enough for my liking, but also, it was enough cuz of the lying. I’m glad our Gao Tu got his happy ending, a lovely son and a lover who…well, he’s Shen Wenlang and he comes with Hua Yong, so… but, he got his love and if he’s happy I’m happy for him. Still, I wanna shake him for making me sad for him when his problems would have been solved with the truth.
SHEN WENLENG
Abeg, make no one’s son come disturb me like Shen Wenlang did Gao Tu, cuz brotha why? At one point I was like, this man needs to rent out his brain and put his mouth out for sale, cuz he clearly don’t know how to use them correctly.
In kinder terms, Mr. Shen is pathetic and an embarrassment. No, I will not be explaining myself. Cuz really, you all saw it. Dude was literally trying to start a fight with a poisoned pregnant s-tier alpha on his hospital bed. He visited someone he’d missed and in love with and immediately insulted his home.
Yes, Mr. Shen’s mouth is a problem, but you know what, I don’t blame him for everything that happened. He trusts Gao Tu who he’s known for 10 years, so if he says he’s a Beta, that’s what he’s gonna believe. Sure, the Omega hating part is all on him cuz of his past trauma, and as a CEO of a pheromone company not being able to smell Gao Tu is an omega is wild, plus he’s emotionally constipated, but at the end of the day, they both to blame. Though, after the finale, I too would have ran away for three years.
Yes, we can argue: how the eff was Gao Tu supposed to know he felt different than the words he spoke? Cuz Mr. Shen was out there pretending to be with Hua Yong, telling Gao Tu his scent smelled, and he wasn’t pretty enough to be office decoration. HAHAHAHAH, No but, why is he like this??
But yeah, huge fan of Mr. Shen, you know, when he isn’t speaking. I think he should become a silent monk or something, cuz whenever he opens his mouth I go: Aeiii fresh boy, mr. mouth, mr spoke inside, mr information super highway, my friend will you keep quiet?
I’m glad he grew the eff up when he found out the truth. Truthfully, Shen Wenlang was the best. Yes, dude should pay taxes whenever he opened his mouth cuz all he did was littered with his words, but he was also a gentle soul. He cared and loved so much. Whenever Hua Yong was sick he was there, sure with an attitude but he was there, and the lights at Gao Tu’s… even being concern for Sheng Shaoyou, and they were born enemies. Plus he's basically HuaSheng’s second dad, cuz he’s the best godfather ever.
Also, I don’t care what both of them says, Hua Yong and Shen Wenlang are besties with a bow, cuz come on. I’m pretty sure someone would be like, ‘Mr Shen, where’s your best-friend, and he’d go, that lunatic? Who’d be friends with that crazy enigma?” hahhaa, but they do care. Asking each other for love advice and whatnot. I have no doubt when he asked Hua Yong ‘you cooking, who are you poisoning?', if he’d said a name and asked him to come and help, he’d complain but still go be look out.’ Best friend behaviour if you ask me.
HUA YONG.
HAHAHAHA. I’m sorry, but this enigma had me dying of laughter whenever he was on screen. Especially in episode 6. FAM!! Dude acted so traumatised, didn’t want to be touched, felt dirty and whatnot, and the whole time the mfker was a virgin. Sheng-xian-sheng was losing his mind with worry and regret, and Hua Yong was probably thinking, ‘1, 2, 3, cry now. 4,5,6 look real sad and shake a little.’ HHAHAHAHA
Every time I see Hua Yong on screen, I go, ‘here comes Mr. Sheng-xian-sheng-ing, he’s about to go, ‘Sheng-xian-sheng’ and completely do something diabolical while looking like an angel. FAM, this enigma for sure needs to be put in a zoo to be studied, cuz why?
No, but, this Enigma saw some foreigner boy one time under a tree and went, ‘that one, I want that one right there,’ and made it his whole identity. He’s a black flag, sure, but when all is said and done, he’s just a loser in love, who happens to have psycho tendencies. Man even had a proposal strategy in place, and while I was going awwww at their kiss, that enigma was like ‘taming desire is like taming an animal.’ Hua Yong trained poor Sheng-xian-sheng like a dog with the cookies. Ahhhh. He wanted that man, and he did not care how he got him, and frankly, I respect that.
Also, I wanna know, did Hua Yong wake up in the mornings and while brushing his teeth went through his scenes for the day? like: Today, imma pretend to be an Omega, make pregnant soup for Sheng-xian-sheng, pack my suitcase in case I wanna be dramatic, get more pink makeup, speak slow and low, make some cookies, oh and overdose on pheromones and almost die to teach Sheng-xian-sheng a lesson. Yep, it’s gonna be a wonderful day. HAHAHAHAH.
Oh Hua Yong. Compared to him, Gao Tu’s lying was nothing. This man was so manipulative and such a professional liar, it took literal natural disaster for his lie to come to light. The gods were probably watching, and Mother Nature was like, naaah, fuck that dude, that’s enough, then boom, earthquake. Then the mfker had the audacity while Sheng-xian-sheng’s world was crumbling to go, ‘Yes, it was me that night. Yes, I am not an omega. Anyway, I love you, can I keep pursuing you?” HE HAD NO SHAME WHATSOEVER. Cuz, dude, read the fucking room.
Speaking of shame, I was dying of laughter when he invited himself to dinner with Sheng-xian-sheng’s ex that time while he was being iced by him. Hua Yong was like, ‘yes, come with us for dinner, I won’t kill you.’ And I was like: ‘Who is us? aint no one invited you to this. Honey, read the room, you are the effing elephant.’ HAHAHAHAH. So shameless. I love him. And yes, I am questioning my morals, thank you.
Like Hua Yong was so good, looking all soft and cute for Sheng-xian-sheng so he’d get what he wants. Me? I can’t even act cute to ask for something from a partner. I tried one time, even stood in front of the mirror to prepare and everything, but at the end of the day all I could come up with was, ‘hey hmm dude, send me money, my pet chicken swallowed a spoon and its in the hospital. She needs emergency chicken surgery.’ Yet, Hua Yong is out there lining up Sheng-xian-sheng’s exes for insight, drafting proposals to get his man and marry him, making soups and cookies, learning to cry, running a company that could literally buy half the planet, while still finding time to be Sheng-xian-sheng’s dream man.
Poor Hua Yong is not a lunatic, no, he has suffered, while having to keep up with his lies, it must have been so hard for him. He worked so hard, and I frankly think he deserves applauds for succeeding instead of that straitjacket. I’m glad he also got his happy ending, regardless he’s beefing with his 3-year-old child cuz he's a jealous idiot, but he’s happy so that’s all that matter.
FINALE: Yeah, liked it, but not gonna lie, I expected more, instead it was rushed and we barely got to enjoy it. I am hoping for a special episode or like deleted scenes cuz... that was just cruel.
Plot-wise, this is a bl drama about pregnant men, I don’t think I need to sale anyone on watching it. Like, you should already be watching it, have finished watching it, or like me, on your 56th rewatch. There's no in-between.
All in all, I read the novel and enjoyed it, so I was all in for this drama, I laughed, cried, cursed and laughed some more. I’m now a die-hard D4 fan, cuz those four were really good in their roles and managed to make me like them outside of the drama as well. I want yearly dramas from them. I HIGHLY recommend this, it may appear slow in the start but trust me, it gets better. Was literally counting seconds to Saturday every week.
I’m gonna miss them. The wait for more drama from them is gonna be torture.
Anywho, thanks for reading and Merry Christmas. Yes, you read that right, I’m now in my enigma era, so I do what I want and I aint gonna follow no damn calendar, so Merry Christmas!
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STORY:
Of course the premise is as good as controversial: two men who after an hour of film are attracted to a high school student, one more than the other. However, contrary to my expectations, the strongest reason to fight is not the girl but the literary talent of both men. Nevertheless, Eungyo does play an important role, because she is the straw that broke the camel's back (red ink involved, I warn you). And that's very interesting, although a little disconcerting if you expect a film with a strong erotic charge. What this story does have, and is meritorious, is a tour through very realistic and human feelings and doubts.
(Also, brace yourself for some graphic sex scenes)
ACTING:
To be honest, nothing to say "Hats off to you", but I understand why Go Eun received many awards for Best New Actress, I've seen this movie before "Cheese in the trap" (maybe a bad idea) because I wanted to know the actress, and I have to tell you that the girl's talent itself is obvious. Also, Park Hae Il is notable for his portrayal of an old man when he is not old at all.
In conclusion, in my humble opinion, the highlights of this film are the beautiful framings, the morbid-pure relationship between the old man and the student, the obvious talent and beauty of Go Eun, and that the bad things do not happen to whom you imagine (something I enjoyed).
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A Romance of the "FOUR" Little Forest
A Romance of The Little Forest (两个人的小森林), is another sweet basic romantic-comedy drama narrating around a bubbly girl with her cold eventually turned warm lover. But what makes this drama stand out is the chemistry and adorableness between the two leads and.... when the main couple is actually not the main couple.The drama narrative revolves around an internet beauty influencer chasing a botanic professor and eventually, both of them fell in love. The drama has any other cliche troupes you can find in other rom-com dramas, but the female lead's bubbly personality, adorable antics, and sweet funny and witty dialogues will make you want and unknowingly enjoy the drama!
Yu Meiren, the internet beauty influencer as well as a professor in ornithology (study of birds) is played by Yu Shuxin. This character is made especially for her, she is able to embody the character, and nobody can pull it off so accurately than her. All the adorable antics, carefree attitude, bubbly expressions and more. Though her character may come off as a 傻白甜 (those sweet, innocent, gullible female leads), but she is not. She is sweet and cute, but she has the brains and courage - she is willing to take risks for what she believes in and what she loves; she is not afraid to express herself. Especially during the end of the drama, where she finally comes to terms with her appearance and make-up.
Zhuang Yu, the botanic professor, is played by Zhang Binbin, and he did a great job, he manages to infuse himself into the character! Zhuang Yu is a cold and serious professor, but rather than making him a totally cold person, he uses subtle micro-expressions in the earlier episodes when Yu Meiren is around him or doing something funny. The subtle expressions definitely help the audience to understand and see the process of him falling for her.
What I loved about the drama is the chemistry of both leads and their character development after meeting each other. Zhuang Yu always reassures Yu Meiren - reassuring her that she is pretty the way she is, reassuring her well-being and more. And after meeting Yu Meiren, Zhuang Yu also became more lively! He can speak romantic words, that maybe cheesy but it is also romantic at the same time.
What I find lacking (irritating) from the drama and I believe most people find it too is... the second couple has more screen time (and probably a kiss scene) than the first couple. The second couple's narrative is also very classic, a village girl falling in love with a CEO and so on. The drama dragged the second couple's storyline so long and draggy causing the main couple's scenes to be cut by a lot. In addition, a lot of the main couple's kiss scene and sweet scenes in the drama is also cut short, the scene kiss scenes are even longer and more 🔥 than the one that made it into the actual cut. However, if you are craving more for their chemistry, you can watch the behind-the-scenes! Their behind-the-scenes are full of fun, sweetness and comedy!
A Romance of The Little Forest is truly an enjoyable drama, maybe not the best romantic comedy drama but it sure has its charm! Overall, if you are looking for a sweet romantic-comedy drama that will make you squeal do watch this!
P.s. this drama also has really good and enjoyable OSTs
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Run!
I USUALLY DON'T REVIEW DRAMAS I DIDN'T LIKE BUT I THINK THE RATING 7.6 IS MISLEADING.[Edit: as of 05/12/2022 the rating is 6.9 still very high for such an abysmal drama]
This drama has no redeeming qualities.
I was excited when I learned that the two leads were cast in Misty's screenwriter's next. Misty was such a good drama with a geat story and acting.
Then the stills and title were good too and I won't lie ; the rated R got me all the more excited because I thought it would be a mature and more realistic than drama like Misty, Something In The Rain, The World of the Married...
But my expectations were smashed by the reality that was this messy drama.
In Misty, the female lead was a career woman who chose her career over everything. She was a complicated woman who hurt herself and her loved ones to achieve her goal.
In Now We Are Breaking Up, we were served with a goody two shoes who somehow won everyone over with her upright attitude and Song Hye Ko's acting or lack thereof didn't help understand or empathize with the character she embodies.
THE STORY
The story was poorly written. It's supposed to be about a great love story and the hardships the main leads will encounter and try to fight against.
Instead, it's about a 38-year old woman who has yet to move on from a 2-month relationship that happened 10 years ago. Said woman is traimatized from having been ghosted by a guy she met in a foreign country and dated for 2 months... I personnaly tought it was ridiculous.
The story actually begins with the heroine having a one night stand with the hero. They don't exchange names or number and spend the night together. It's supposed to be mysterious and hot but it's actually a dangerous behaviour imo
I had a hard time understanding Song Hye Ko's character. She was supposed to be a successful career woman in the fashion industry but she was too soft and forgave betrayal such as the leakage of some of her designs.
How can someone keep an untrustworthy person in their team ? That untrustworthy person was also someone who wasn't loyal and was ready to jump ship when things went south.
So how can a successful career minded person keep such a liability on their side ? How are we supposed to believe that ?
Then the drama opening with a ONS is supposed to show us how modern and independant FL is but then her friends implied it wasn't customary for her to see men.
So what is actually the state of her love life ? Did she have ONS during these 10 years? Was she so emotionally stunted that she forgot about men for those 10 years ? If so, what was so special about the ML fot her to have a ONS with him ? There was no build up to help her understand this.
And now this 38 year old independant woman lets her parents and the ML parent's interfere in their relationship? Had she been younger I could have enpathise but she being successful, independant (lived abroad alone and has her own flat), it's ridiculous and annoying that she'd let parents run such interferences because she's at an age were she's supposed to understand that even if her parents disapprove of her relationship, they most likely won't cut contact with her (especially since she always gives them money) and with soften after some years or/and if they have children.
When her mother yelled at the ML like a banshee, she didn't even try to intervene and we are supposed to think they are so in love and can't live without each other... but how can you let someone you love be disrespected in their own shop ?
The worse thing is that she left with her mother instead of staying to confort the hero.
The Male lead played by Jang Ki Yong is an empty vessel. One cannot understand what attracts him so much about the FL.
She's pretty but she's cold, unresponsive and too much hassle.
His only purpose is to give the FL props to resolve some of the issues she encounters while managing her brand. Otherwise he's uninteresting.
When he realized he took a fancy in his brother's ex, he keeps going even though the relationship is at an early stage and everything could have been stopped.
It seens unresonnable and illogical especially since we don't see what is the great connect between the two leads. Why are they throwing I Love You's around when they barely spent and spend time together.
The FL parents are something else alltogether. They are agaisnt the relationship when they both liked the ML ar first because FL dated his brother for only 2 month in a foreign country. Why is it a bad thing ? They are supposed to want their daughter's hapiness but are against the relationship for something that can be deemed as trivial because she was neither engaged nor married to his brother and no one would know they dated.
The mother was the worst imo because she threw tantrums about wanting a divorce when she was the one saying she didn't want to do anything to jeopardize her daughter's future marriage. But in SK, divorced parents are bad news and won't help... she doesn't even make sense and is seeking a divorce instead of trying to talk with her husband about the reason she wants out.
I also found her cringey for always wanting to hook up her daughter with the rich woman's son. She was really desperate for it.
But she was crass for saying what she said to the ML's face for things he can't help (his lineage and family condition) and acting as if her daughter was such a great price.
It seemd more like she was releasing her frustration on someone who would take it without doing anything.
The ML's mother is more easy to understand because she's someone who has yet to do her mourning but I didn't understand why she kept acting as if ML was like her real son when her interior showed that their relationship was anything but. They were no pics of the two/three of them together ; ML was sent away since his youth when his brother got to grow up in the family household.
I could understand her opposition to some degree but not her acting as if ML was her son and not some replacement.
The subplots with the best friends weren't any better.
The director was childish and incompetent. At 38yo it's not cute anymore but downright ridiculous.
I thought she could have been a good negative character instead of adding to the mix the ML's brother's crazy ex.
The ex-model who is dying from cancer is one of the most mature character of the drama.
My hung up is that her subplot included cheated and a terminal illness. Would'nt it have been better if her husband would have come clean sooner or if she'd died without knowing ? Because it's really bizarre how she's trying to set up her husband with her affair partner and saying that woman is a good person. A good person won't knowingly sleep with a married man with a child!
I feel there was so much to say in this section for the best friend to have closure but it all became messy and non sensical.
Finally, the brother's ML who everyone is regretting was a dishonet coward.
Why did he tell the heroine he was an only child ? Why did he date her when he was already engaged ? It was pure nonsense especially since these fact weren't exploited more in the drama.
THE ACTING
The main leads were really bad and the only thing they brought to the table was their looks. The ensemble cast did their job but they couldn't do much woth thr roles they were given.
THE MUSIC
It was the only decent thing in the drama though it wasn't groundbreaking.
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Johan North supremacy
To tell you the truth I'm an all time fan of romantic comedy and this series is exactly the same.I dropped the series from the first episode- not because it is boring but it felt a little slow- not to mention whenever there is Earth ( sry I love Earth but his part is always a little slow. only in the 1st 2 episodes. And nothing happens in their storyline either... They are already in love from start to finish) but believe me, you have to watch at double speed just 2- 3 episode and you will enter the world of romantic comedy. Guys it's totally worth it! 17 ep were not enough, I want something eternal!
From now on, Johan is my all-time favorite. His aura, secret smile, possessiveness- I was barely breathing when he put the seatbelt on North.
They have the intimacy chemistry biology and everything, even when they are just looking at each other. Like what ter said, I'm also a shipper for both of them.
I love how jo didn't even get angry at North, even when he knew north was lying to him (He is a mix of red and green flags- I love him). He is completely and madly in love with North. Johan is the standard. His character development and backstory will stay with us forever.
At first, I watched it for hill and ter, but Johan and North surpassed everyone, and they have all my heart. I had zero expectations, but it turned out to be one of my favorites. You have to watch first to understand the feeling-ITS TOTALLY WORTH IT.
Not to mention the director; he has done such a great job and he is also the director of Perfect 10 Liners. Now he's controlling the romantic comedy genre in his hands. Both are now my favourites.
The love for Johan is beyond words for so many fans, including me. We will always support you, whether you're seen as a green or red flag. But from the moon, we can tell you're a lush green forest in North's life. Thank you for loving our cutie pie.
The only downside is in the editing or screenwriting—I’m not sure—but there seems to be some miscommunication in the middle part of the series. Apart from that, it’s the best light-hearted fun series.
OMG!! Guys they announced SEASON 2.
P.s. If you only want to watch johannorth, start from the 5th/6th ep. But I'd recommend watching from the start to understand the friendship btwn the characters.
And please try to watch the UNCUT version, that few extra seconds of kissing scenes can melt you for sure!!
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The overall acting is solid! Joss Wayar finally gets a leading role in a series and he doesn’t disappoint playing Neo, the tall, dark, street-wise survivor looking for a place to land. Tay Tawan is equally as successful playing Shin, the shy, naive, gay, introvert son of a big time mafia boss. It’s great to see Tay show his acting range as he’s successfully played the strong, knows what he wants role in other series and he portrays himself as a happy go-lucky guy in the various reality type shows that he does. This was definitely a good departure from his usual. Mild Lapassalan rounds off the big three with a good performance as Miw the hapless trouble follows me girl. Honestly, not a huge stretch for her as she does the strong female character well. It was really nice to see Jennie Penhan finally get a significant role in a series, arguably she too is a lead in this series. Her performance here will hopefully lead to more significant roles for her in the future.
Overall, a worthwhile series to watch! Watch it for the acting and unique storyline.
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