1Lee Dong Wook and Lee Da Hae really impressed me with their acting skills. I often find the childishness of the leading women in Kdramas annoying, as I feel it makes them look downright stupid, not cute. Yet Lee Da Hae's portrayal of Yoo Rin was unexpectedly endearing and funny. Lee Dong Wok was amazing in this role and he didn't play the character as too cold and arrogant, but just right.
I don't know what it was exactly about this drama that really grabbed me, but when it did, I was hooked. I usually hate extreme silliness or angst, and but for a few moments, this drama did these elements perfectly. In addition, even the secondary characters' storylines were interesting and captivating. I often find myself skipping through these plot lines, but, here, even the second male lead seemed more than just an instrument of conflict.
Overall, for me, this drama will stay as one my favourites for a long time for its simplicity, clever humour and well developed romance. Some scenes will stay in my mind forever like the orchard scene, the moving elevators or the romantic farts of Mrs In-Sun. I really recommend this drama!
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This review may contain spoilers
Flying across the world was worth it
Ok so first I don’t speak Japanese and the movie didn’t have subtitles. I haven’t read the novels or listened to the audio cd’s.I came across Utsukare last year and was beyond impressed by the acting and story. So getting news of a second season and movie with a theatrical release felt very special and I decided to go to Japan for the experience.
When I made that decision, I intentionally didn’t want to read the novel or synopsis until after seeing s2 and the movie because I came into the world of Utsukare based on the show/visual medium and I wanted to continue my journey unspoiled without overly knowing the written material.
So opening night, I get some merch, get a ginger ale, and sit and let the movie show me a story.
Absolutely true a lot of the nuance and context of what was happening was beyond me.
Here is my tumblr recap - https://www.tumblr.com/anotherblblog/713949084636119040/ok-so-i-came-to-japan-to-watch-utsukushii-kare
Some are taking criticism at my recap because I don’t speak Japanese.
I went to Japan to watch this on the big screen because I wanted to see Utsukare big and bright and I got that experience.
With 2 seasons of HiraKiyo, I felt the movie picked up and continued their relationship well. Hira is more direct and involved and even with his insecurities still is there for Kiyoi and not yearning in place beneath him.
The mentors are really solid in their lives. The music is mostly new but with some familiar elements.
What I wanted for this experience was for it to feel like a movie. Big cinematic set pieces but I didn’t wanna lose the feeling of Utsukare.
I think the movie delivered on both.
The movie took set pieces and vignettes from the television series - HiraKiyo sleeping together and elevated it for the big screen. More tulle. Longer runtime. More heat. There are 2 high heat scenes and a handful of domestic fondness. They’re a couple. They feel like a couple. When they look at each other. When they touch. And it’s continuing a lot of the emotional tension in season 2 with Kiyoi wanting more. And Hira gives it to him. And Hira even gives it to him in a bathtub.
Where in season 1 Hira ran alone through the school a lot, in the movie he runs leading Kiyoi through a slo-mo cinematic fantasy run through the school but also through their past that they didn’t quite have in season 1. But seeing them again in their full school uniform and their casual wear felt real for me because it felt real for them.
The 10 episodes of seasons 1 and 2 led to this experience and I was very happy to have seen it, now three times.
I will love going back with subtitles and seeing how it’s translated for the international audience. But I’m content and impressed by what I’ve seen.
10/10.
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And so it goes with Beyond the Clouds, whose central theme is just this. Don’t mistake the drama for a common revenge yarn; though payback might be a driving force for many characters, it’s hard to call it “The Point.” Viewers should instead expect a classy, fatalistic romance, complete with slow-burning melodrama. Will these two deeply traumatized people fall in love despite their cruel circumstances? If they do, will a romantic connection hurt even more—or heal both, becoming their silver lining? That’s more “The Point,” and also the element that works most beautifully.
As to the revenge aspect, it’s fine if sometimes messy. I never fully believed or enjoyed the con-man angle. The “big bad” felt one-dimensional, as did his motivations, while other early villains were the same or even slightly unnecessary. That said, the dangerous atmosphere and situations created by their influence was excellent. It’s an odd combination, but it works.
Yoon Kye Sang stars as Jung Se Ro, a gentle man whose experiences have left him unpredictable and angry. This actor shines in Beyond the Clouds, handsome and magnetic. He grabbed my attention as if grabbing my head with both hands, so striking was his performance. Together with leading lady Han Ji Hye, he shared sparkling chemistry. Ji Hye enchants as Han Young Won, playing emotional and romantic scenes well. However, I often noticed her eyes open too wide too often, or glued firmly to the floor. The character can be meek on occasion, but these mannerisms were not strong choices at all.
Though I wasn't crazy about the whole con-man thing, Jo Jin Woong presents well as complicated Park Kang Jae. He’s the most believable and human of the seedy bunch, even the best connected to the main story. Tearful scenes seem to be his forte; he’s fantastic at them. A special mention is reserved for Kim Young Ok, probably the best “grandmother” actress ever. She made me cry so many times it isn’t funny.
Both cinematography and music embrace an elegant, almost classic feel. Early scenes in Thailand are a feast for the eyes, though the rest of the drama delights as well. Songs were well-chosen and interspersed to optimize emotional effect. Unlike in other melodramas, I never grew bored of any of it. Some great vocals include “Whale” (Zitten), “Sin,” (V.O.S), and “The Full Sun,” (Yang Pa).
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The male main character Ning Wei Jin is a talented young surgeon, and although unexperienced with love, he is reliable, caring, and mature. I personally didn't swoon over him but he was excellent boyfriend material. I liked his relationship with his younger sister Ning Wei Xuan and his best friend Gao Ren.
The female main character Ding Ding pursues her dream of designing pet toys and I was rooting for her as she navigated the challenges of running her online shop and creating original designs. (If you love cats, you might like this drama because there's cat pillows, cat cartoons, a cat cafe, and a pet cat.) I loved her loyal, humorous best friend, Xiao Feng, who gave the BEST advice. You could always count on him to call her out on her behavior. Basically, anytime the ex-boyfriend came back into the storyline, it would cause an issue between the main leads, but they (mostly Ding Ding) never seemed to learn and grow from it. It seemed pretty hypocritical on Ding Ding's part given how she felt when she saw Ning Wei Jin with his close female friend.
Ning Wei Xuan is a really energetic, lighthearted character who relentlessly pursues her brother's best friend Gao Ren. Their scenes initially are so much fun - the highlight of the drama for me - and had me laughing out loud. However, there was a point when she really crossed the line and I no longer found her antics funny. I really wanted her to reflect over her actions and grow up a little. Also, while I loved Gao Ren, the introduction of the other doctor really showed how immature he was in comparison...
In conclusion, if you decide to give this drama a try and are tempted to drop it halfway through, I recommend dropping it.
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This review may contain spoilers
What I loved: The main couple, and the other subway cops.What I liked: The case-of-the-week format.
What I was meh about: The main plot. It was draggy in the middle, but kept me engaged in early and late episodes.
What I hated: Ha Ma Ri, the metro police in general (they're terrible at their jobs).
The driving force of this drama, for me, has been the personal stories of Go Ji Suk and Yoo Ryung. Both of them are very warm-hearted people who have had to take care of their disabled loved ones all on their own, so they both have experienced a lot of suffering. The case-of-the-week format worked for me as well, with each case having Ji Suk warming to Ryung's style of doing things more and more, as he comes to understand her drive to save people.
The main plot is admittedly weak, because the police seem ridiculously incompetent at finding clues to the Subway Ghost case. The way it's written, without Ryung's help they would never have figured out who the killer was. Lieutenant Ha Ma Ri is lousy at her job, because chooses to be a hateful bitch rather than be a good detective. Ma Ri ignores Ryung's pleas to investigate her sister's disappearance, as well as her theory that the killer used the subway tunnels. She also finds every opportunity to verbally spite Ryung and put her down because Ji Suk falls for Ryung instead of coming back to HER. Ma Ri could have been a great character, but instead she's just plain hateful, an incompetent detective with an inferiority complex.
I like this drama a lot, despite its issues. Some of the lines, like Ryung saying it was her sister's fault (if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about), made no sense at all, and irritated me because it had been established that due to her sister's Autism, her mental state was about the level of a two year old. How can a two year old be to blame for what happened? I can understand why the villain blamed her – he was out of his senses with grief and anger – but I don't understand why anyone else would blame her.
But 90% of the time I really enjoyed watching this drama. So I will recommend it to those who are a fan of slow-burn love stories that have a lot of spark, because the chemistry between Moon Geun Young (Yoo Ryung) and Kim Sun Ho (Go Ji Suk) is amazing in this drama.
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Padam Padam
38 people found this review helpful
1This review may contain spoilers
A shining little diamond! An extraordinary masterpiece that touches the heart in more than one way!
For all those who like three-dimensional life in movies and television. For all those who, apart from the clichés, are open to more complex relationships and personal development processes. For all those who want to get involved with a downright hopeless fate at the 'lower' end of the social pyramid. In this context, one should not allow oneself to be driven away immediately by punches and kicking. "Padam Padam... the sound of his heartbeat and hers" rewards with a touching love story that, by Korean standards, takes its place in an almost sensual, sensitive way.I already got to know Jung Woo-sung in "A Moment to Remember" as an exceptional actor, enriching his encounters and relationships with an almost sensual dimension. That alone is a unique feature that contributes enormously to the quality of this KDrama.
Nevertheless, it wouldn't do justice to the story (which is wonderfully told in all instances) to reduce it to just a romance. It tells the story of an ex-con and his fellow inmate. It quickly becomes clear that Yang Kang-chil actually was innocent. And even after his release 13 years later, he is not free from that momentous act that he did not commit. Rather the real perpetrator would like to finally get rid of him for good, as he had witnessed what really happened back then. And others, too, have not forgotten or even forgiven what happened back then.
Kang-chil, on the other hand, would like to make amends for the lifetime that was unjustly stolen from him in prison. He's a simple, uneducated young man, now in his 30s, who only learned crafts in prison. His vita has taught him to engage 100 percent in the NOW. He may seem simple, yet he sees life in simple terms. However, he is quite capable of comprehending, of taking action and responsibility as well. He choses a simple, direct route. If he is happy about something today, then he gives room for this joy TODAY. Not tomorrow. And he doesn't have to weigh up whether it's ok to be happy or not. It's the same with anger. In short: he follows his heart. And there we are with the title of the KDrama: "Padam Padam". As onomatopoeia, it refers to the heartbeat (and takes up the title of a chanson by Edith Piaf of the same name).
------ SIDE NOTE --- Importance of onomatopoeia in the Korean language ---
The title "Padam Padam" also refers to the fact that the so-called onomatopoeia/onomatopoeia is of particular importance in the use of the Korean language - it is about eight times as important as in other languages. In Korean, remarkably often in narratives one can encounter the simple (yet acoustically imitated in a culture-specific way) onomatopoeic imitation of simple natural sounds. The list of everyday onomatopoeic vocabulary is correspondingly long. With this content communication is expressed more directly, more forcefully, more concretely and more immediately. "Padam Padam" therefore not only refers to the heartbeat - symbolic of the life that one wins and loses again, or for the feelings of the two lovers - but also to the special portion of 'directly conveyed, sensually experienceable feelings', which the protagonist places in all of his encounters.
A lot of heart and soul goes into the hand-picked production design, which also mostly wants to leave a consciously direct impression for all senses. (Mainly we are in the rural areas of the coastal region of South Korea.) The landscape, the sunset, the lake at night, the fireworks, etc. impress through a high degree of aestheticization. Sometimes you have the impression that you can literally smell the sweat of the well-trained young men... At other times some scenes are repulsive, ruthless, almost ugly - yet still highly sensual.
So Kang-chil is sensitive, but he's also a tough guy. He's not your usual appealing protagonist. He is peculiar, impetuous, impulsive, irritating, and also disconcerting. But he quickly grows on you in his sincere, direct and sensual way. This is actor Jung Woo-sung at his finest. His female film partner Han Ji-min can't resist the intensity that emanates from him either. It's a pleasure to watch her being drawn into his spell. (Here I can expressly praise the chemistry between the actors...) And then there is Na Moon-hee, who once again embodies the bumpy, complex and yet emotionally real (South Korean) mother-son relationship in a three-dimensional authentic way. By the way, the men here are above all punching, kicking and spitting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. That may be due to the milieu in which the story is set, but not only. Even if it seems strange to the Western eye at times, the KDrama is authentically filled with life throughout.
The story finally offers a not inconsiderable special feature as an encore for its surprising developments away from your ordinary everyday life: a guardian angel (wonderful: Kim Bum with ponytail) .
An extraordinary masterpiece that touches the heart in more than one ways!
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This review may contain spoilers
Impressive right !! Why all Jimmysea dramas are fabulous ?? Ohh yeah I discovered another gem .
This drama is really fantastic and is different from others , Romance have played an important role here ofc cuz it's a romantic bl lolIn this drama both the leads are cute and flirty they both understood the problems and faced it together throughout the whole series. Ep 6 and ep 9 are the best episodes according to me . Another interesting thing is that the episodes of this series are named after different tarot cards depending upon what's gonna happen in the episode . This series somehow create a little suspense in some episodes about the plot who is trying to kill Dr. Thap .
I found it more interesting when In posted a photo of their hands in his insta writing “ I found my home in you ”
And then Dr thap commented on In 's post “ You're my magic prophecy ”
At the end I want every bl fan to watch this drama it's interesting , very romantic and the leads are veryyyyy cuteee
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The director worked closely with the writer of the book and the victims. According to one article I read, he was too soft in the movie and that the reality was MUCH worse. He was doing his best to keep a balance between watchable and the truth.
What was shown was enough to make me physically ill. To give you an idea of my maturity? I am 22 going on 80 depending on who you talk to. This stuff normally does not phase me. I would never let my little 18 year old brother watch this. BEWARE.
Also, there are some things changed in the movie to make the teacher look a bit better than he was, please look in the discussion thread for some corrections to the movie. The only criticism I have of the movie was making the teacher look better than he was.
This movie will make you examine exactly how human you are. Victims from this case were extras in the movie. The actors were amazing and they were so good it made it hurt all the more. This is a movie to be watched with your friends: Ben, Jerry, and another human. You will not get through it otherwise. Also, Pepto might be useful.
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A Xianxia filled with love, friendship, disaster, and most importantly, comedy.
If you, like me, did not have your eye on this drama but decided to watch it on a whim, you will be pleasantly surprised by The Starry Love. And understandably so, because the past few years of Xianxias have exposed us to the ‘overuse’ of familiar Xianxia tropes. Fortunately, director Chu Yuibun (朱锐斌) seems to have realized this and decided to add a unique comedic spice to The Starry Love that significantly differentiates this drama from the rest of the modern Xianxia genre. Overall, The Starry Drama is a story of the love between two main couples as well as their adventures with friends, and what it means for the world to love or hate you.The Starry Love (星落凝成糖) is adapted from the Xianxia novel of the same name by Yi Du Jun Hua (一度君华), and is the last installment of the Honey Trilogy, three romance dramas directed by Chu Yuibun. Therefore, you might notice the vast similarities between color selection, setting appearance, and costume design between The Starry Love and Ashes of Love. The Starry Love also has several actors that also played major roles in Skate Into Love, and its catchy OSTs are once again sung by the talented Sa Dingding and Mao Buyi, as well as Liu Yuning and Shuang Sheng. Here's another thing that may motivate you to watch The Starry Love: the leads voice their own characters, with the exception of Chao Feng. (no need to be worried about the high FL voice this round!)
Once again, the story is established with many of the usual Xianxia tropes. The world is composed of Four Realms, the Immortal, Demon, Mortal, and Beast. However, the Mortal Realm is fully aware of the other realms and works with the other leaders to maintain world peace. The Immortal Realm is again the ‘good’ realm, the Demon Realm is the ‘bad’, the Mortal is the ‘weak’, and the Beast is basically the ‘extra’. The main female leads, Ye Tan and Qing Kui are twins with a sealed fate, which they don’t learn about until later in their lives. Qing Kui is the hailed princess, the girl living everyone else’s dream. She is the destined Heavenly Consort, the future wife of Heavenly Deity Shao Dian You Qin. On the other hand, younger sister Ye Tan is not as fortunate. She was deemed a ‘bad luck star’ from birth, never having experienced the warmth and love from her father and servants. Destined to marry the future king of the Demon Realm, she vows to be a powerful evil being to defeat those who have always down on her. However, the sisters’ wedding carriages are swapped, and they end up in the wrong realms.
As you can see, we’re presented with a pretty unoriginal premise, so what makes this drama so interesting and keeps us on our toes? Well, to say this in the simplest way possible, it’s the way comedic scenes are inserted into the drama at the most surprising of times that makes The Starry Love such a fresh breath of air. One minute, you might be sad or even crying because of a certain scene, and a few seconds later, you are laughing so hard you might even be clenching your stomach. I personally really enjoy this unique addition, as I’ve certainly never seen this before in Xianxias and loved the comedic aspect.
The Starry Love is 40 episodes long, as with many of the new dramas after the maximum 40 episode rule. (in which some dramas divided the series in two parts to bypass this new Chinese law) The drama is well-paced, without many, or perhaps even any, filler scenes, unlike a few of the long dramas. I really enjoyed how there was understandable time spent on each You Qin arc, and how each couple was given enough time per episode to bond and give us the sugar we deserve.
Onto the acting. The acting here was PHENOMENAL, especially when it comes to Chen Xingxu. This man here had to act five totally different personalities. In the usual Xianxias we may get one or two reincarnations, but Shao Dian You Qin here went on a total personality-changing spree. From the cold You Qin, he was also the cute and heartwarming La Mu, greedy but caring Mei You Qing, elegant womanizer Wen Ren, and of course, the You Qin at the end, all of his previous personalities melded into one. Chen Xingxu pulled off his roles perfectly, effectively showing the great contrasts between each personality and making them seem like totally different people. (fun fact: (Mei You Qin) 没有情 means Emotionless)
As I was watching a drama with Li Landi for the first time, I loved her acting and her role as Li Guang Ye Tan. The changes her character experienced were phenomenal, and Landi displayed this through her acting, especially in the eyes. Not only is The Starry Love about the strong love between lovers, but between friends and family as well. Ye Tan and Qing Kui’s sisterly love is a strong relationship that not many others can compete with. The contrast between the two sisters’ personalities was also a sweet treat. Although Qing Kui always received the love that Ye Tan never had in her first 18 years, Ye Tan never blamed her older sister for it. Instead, they were always worrying about the other. While Ye Tan is a girl afraid of nothing, Qing Kui’s pure kindness guided her younger sister to the path of happiness.
The chemistry between both couples was just right. You will be gushing for not one, but two extremely compatible couples. As I was rooting for the Heavenly Couple, I was also squealing for the love story that was blossoming in the Demon Realm. As they say, you’ll always find each other if you’re destined to be together. It’s amazing how each of the characters influenced others to change and become better versions of themselves.
Of course, a Xianxia drama would not be complete without both loveable and hateable characters. Ye Tan, who had never received much care and love in her life, felt so fortunate to have become friends with not only Man Man and Di Lan Jue, but with Qing Heng, Zi Wu, the three senior immortals, and even with her future brother-in-law, Chao Feng. It was so heartwarming to see everyone warm up to this princess, who had always longed for a happy life. On the other hand, we have the power-hungry Immortal and Demon Emperors who put their own power before their family’s happiness. The Heavenly Empress demonstrated her true love for her children before any noble title or riches, while the Demon Empress’s power-hungry eyes not only showed her pure-evil heart but her universal love for her only son. The side couples were all very cute and fun to watch.
Production-wise, The Starry Love did a phenomenal job. The special effects for magical spells in all realms complimented their respective backgrounds and were all natural to the look. Like previous Xianxias, the Immortal Realm is given an almost-whitewashed look, while the Demon Realm is a land of darkness. However, the fireworks and magical trees were gorgeous to look at, to name a few magical elements of the drama.
Like Ashes of Love, the OST for The Starry Love includes songs sung by Mao Buyi and Sa Dingding, as well as Liu Yuning and Shuang Sheng, and were epic as always. Sa Dingding once again awes us with her amazingly high vocals managed with immaculate precision, while Mao Buyi and Liu Yuning sing with longing emotion. Shuang Sheng once again displays her lovely voice with a sweet tone. The soundtrack is as follows:
[Theme Song] “The Starry Love” (星落凝成糖) - Sa Dingding
[Opening Song] “Speak with You” (与子成说) - Liu Yuning
[Ending Song] “Flawless World” (天地无瑕) - Mao Buyi (with another version sung by Sa Dingding)
[Additional Song] “Twin Flowers” (双花儿) - Shuang Sheng
If The Starry Love is not THE Xianxia drama 2023, it is one of the best. Although it includes many Xianxia elements used in previous Xianxia dramas, the comedic aspect of this series differentiates it from the rest of the group and will certainly brighten up your day. The emphasis on strong sisterly love is also something that is not to be missed. (there’s eye candy too!)
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I was attracted by the synopsis so I decided to give it a try.
2) Storyline/Plot:
The general story isn't complicated nor original; I saw this type of story in "Sweet 18" before yet this film's storyline was really appealing.
Positive points:
*The story was romantic but not too romantic since it focused on family too.
*It had a great combination since it was funny, cute while being a little serious
*The story's developement was amazing to follow.
*The whole adult-child love story was somehow innocent even when they lived toghether: I liked that concept.
Negative points:
There isn't, I just wished that they made this into a drama instead; it would have been perfect that way.
Story: 8.5/10
3)Acting/Cast:
It couldn't been any better even though I am not too familiar with the leads.
*The chemistry between them was somehow captivating even though it wasn't that present.
*Moon Geun Young did a great job in portraying the innocent 15 years old girl with all its sides; whether it was with her husband, her family, her school and everything else.
*I loved how Park Sang Min reacted with his little bride by trying to be the responsible adult but that didn't cut out the funny side of his character.
Cast: 7.75/10
Acting: 8/10
4)The ending:
The type of ending that anyone would like to see even though it was typical but that doesn't deny that it was fluffy.
The ending: 8/10
5) My Impression (How did it affect me):
*I was intrested in the whole concept ever since the film began, I had fun while watching it and it wasn't boring, not even the slightest bit.
*This is is a great memorable film.
My Impression: 9/10
6) Overall :
*If you like rom-coms then you must watch this.
*If you like old-young relationships then this is for you.
*If you like innocent love stories then you may like this.
Overall: 8.5/10.
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May I Help You?
At first, one would think it is just another comedy, 'feel good', “very fictional”, TV series. It was easy to drop it just because. But, a fair warning, doing so would be to your detriment. This series is about life, the value of relationships, and yes, what death means for you and me.The story transcends faith and religion. This was beautifully depicted with the Catholic priest and the Catholic confessional box; as well as, by the Buddhism beliefs of the other characters. Life, relationships, and death, are universal, and commonly have the same depth of meaning regardless of one's faith and religion.
It isn't about ghosts. In fact, there is nothing paranormal in the story, rather, it is more supernatural. A higher being supernaturally allowed the female lead character to have a spiritual “Stella's touch”. One last opportunity to for the dead to make their wishes known; and for the living to have peace.
The ending is a must-watch, but only if one watched the series from the beginning without skipping anything. It is rare to see an ending that blows the audience, and leaves a long-lasting impression. An ending deserving of the beautifully woven story of the male and female lead characters, and their relationships with their loved ones, their regrets, and their hopes.
This TV drama is a story about you and me. It is a story about the living and our dearly departed. It is a story of healing and moving on. A story of regrets and hopes. It is painful, sad, and you will definitely cry no matter how strong you may be. But in the end, it reminds us how good it is to live, and that all the pain and hardship of life we may have gone through and will go through, are nothing compared to having been loved.
May I Help You?
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Originally posted on my blog: Snoworld | YourOnly.One (https://im.youronly.one/snoworld/may-i-help-you-일당백집사-2022-review-2022357/)
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JoongDunk Stole the Spotlight in The Heart Killers
Now that The Heart Killers has ended, I have to admit… I was really only watching for Fadel and Style. Going into this, I already loved both FirstKhao and JoongDunk. FirstKhao has always been one of my absolute favorite pairings, and I’ve enjoyed JoongDunk too, but they weren’t at the top of my list—until now.To be honest, Kant and Bison’s storyline just didn’t pull me in the way I hoped. I still love First and Khao, but their dynamic in this show didn’t hit as hard for me. Meanwhile, JoongDunk completely stole my heart. Their chemistry, their emotional depth, the way their characters just clicked—I was obsessed. They were the highlight of the entire series for me, and now I love them so much more than I did before.
So yeah, The Heart Killers had its moments, but for me? It was the joondunk show all the way.
Looking back, I think one of the reasons JoongDunk didn’t impress me as much in their previous BLs was because the stories didn’t really suit them. It’s not that they were bad, but I feel like those roles didn’t bring out the best in them. But with The Heart Killers, Fadel and Style felt made for them. Their dynamic, the way they balanced each other out—it just worked so well.
As for Dunk’s acting, I actually think he’s good and has improved a lot. Of course, there’s always room for growth, but I honestly don’t get the hate he gets. He has a naturally relaxed face, which can make some expressions harder to convey, but you can tell he’s putting in the effort. And I respect that. Seeing him in this role made me appreciate him even more.
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Story. Well, the storyline of this drama may not be the most original one - the concept of two old friends falling for each other is used frequently so it's kind of hard to squeeze something new from this idea. This drama couldn't avoid some of cliches - jealousy, the return of cheating ex-boyfriend, crying in the rain, ignoring your own feelings etc., but even if those things did appear, they didn't spoil the fun of watching. Everything was happening at the right moment - nothing seemed rushed or too slow, every episode had its own charm and I didn't feel like fast forwarding even once, I enjoyed every minute of the drama. It was a bit painful watching the sufferings of poor Li Da Ren but this had its purpose and made the story more realistic.
Acting. Well, here I have to admit that I completely changed my mind about Taiwanese actors. In those few dramas I've seen up to now the acting was a bit bad - it seemed fake, exaggerated and naive but in ITWY it was the exact opposite. Every single actor played his/her part natural, like they were real characters and not just the actors. Now I can't imagine Chen Berlin playing the guy who is, let's say, cheating ex-boyfriend - he was so natural playing a sensitive, supporting best friend that I really believed he has to be like that in his pirvate life too. The same can be said about Lin Ariel - she was really convincing in her role of a strong and independent woman who knows what she wants and aims for that.
Music. I have to say that music was the first thing I noticed about this drama - it's really fitting. And the song that Da Ren wrote for You Qing? Yeah, it was perfect!
Rewatch value. That is a hard one - I loved the drama, it was really good and all, but like somebody said before, I don't know if I would bear seeing the sufferings of Li Da Ren once again. But, on the other side, the last episode was so awesomely epic that it redeemed it all; finally, we saw some of the hapily ever after and not just the happy ending!
Overall, I gave it an 8 because this was the best written, acted and executed Taiwanese drama I've ever seen and finally I saw a a female lead who was worth my liking - not some whiny, wimpy girl, but a true woman.
And a cherry on top: nearly all the clothes (and especially shoes!) of You Qing were to die for!
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A Breathtaking and Emotional Journey
Shadow Love is a cinematic masterpiece that fully immerses you in a compelling and beautifully crafted world. From the first episode, the story captivates with its emotional depth and intricate character relationships. The plot is so unique—one man, three identities—and it kept me guessing and completely hooked. I found myself completely invested in the journey of each character as they navigated crazy politics, wars, and a romance that feels truly epic.The performances by the cast are nothing short of phenomenal. I especially adored Li Shuang's character; her portrayal of a soft, gentle, and utterly cute personality was a highlight. Even as a brave general, she maintains this wonderful, human warmth that makes her so easy to love. And Cheng Lei's ability to play three distinct versions of the male lead is a true testament to his talent. The chemistry between the leads is incredible, conveying a powerful range of emotions that felt authentic and deeply moving. Every actor, down to the supporting roles, brings a high level of dedication and nuance to their part, making the entire ensemble feel incredibly real.
The show's production is stunning. The cinematography is gorgeous, and the costumes and music perfectly fit the mood of every scene. The fight choreography is also top-notch—it's the kind of action that makes you genuinely grip your seat. And the OST? It's beautiful and really adds to the charm of the drama.
This is a series that demands to be rewatched. The complex storytelling and subtle details mean you'll discover something new with every viewing. I highly recommend Shadow Love to anyone who appreciates a well-told story with remarkable acting. It's an unforgettable show that lingers in your mind long after the finale.
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1This review may contain spoilers
I can't believe, They're soo inlove. My pookies I'm going to miss them. No worries We are getting S2
{ Detailed Review }This bl is insane , I love each and every part .
They had intense chemistry , but the relationship just started and clashed Idk how long we needa wait and chu san too .
But I'm sure liu yi will come back .
the first episode was quite classic , and my expectations were not so high for itt , but I didn't bailed just after the first ep , cuz uk I didn't wanted to regret later .
And I'm glad I continued watching it otherwise I would have missed another actual art work .
It started getting more and more interesting . I slowly understood it's an enimes-to-lovers trope and it engaged mee so much , the more I watched , the more I got fascinated.
I loved the way they stared at each other instead of ignoring eye contacts , He chu san and xiu li got very close , I could tell from the beginning that san was the one who will fall first and I knew ittt with that much care liu yi will fall hadder .
Focusing on episodes :
I can literally tell from their reactions that they do have feelings for each other but trying to hide them
ohh I remember that part were chu san was literally staring at his butt heheee , how can forget that part .
In the further episodes I gotta see liu's possessive side , I love to see him getting overprotective of chu san , like not letting others touch things given by san and say anything bad about him .
Well , He chu san is getting more crazy bout liu that he literally dreamt about them uhmmmm . Look at how shy he was the next morning while washing the bedsheet 🫣 , when he saw xiu he actually avoided eye contact that part was extremely adorable .
Look at He chu san teasing liu yi about his fake girlfriend Mei , he knew about liu's feelings sooo , he teased him , ik san actually likes his jealousy side .
I literally wanted to cry when sam expressed his worry for lui yi , I can see how much chu san actually matters in liu yi's disturbing and horrible life .
San came at the correct time in yi's world , when he lost his family ( sister and big bro ) . It's not his fault for being a gangster it's just the situation pressures him to be one , I could totally understand liu yi's emotional condition , he needed someone to support him at that crucial moment , it's some kind of fate that brought them together .
They're like the two poles north one and south one , which could help them understand each other and help the other one . Honestly , I loved the way liu yi pampered sam when his dad suddenly fainted , and ik he cares for sam so much too .
Don't you think this guy is so adorable when he is jealous , he's like a pookie baby , who keeps on babbling around , so Ik now why he's a BOTTOM, what a pookie gangster .
What a mafia , he can't even do anything when chu san actually kissed him instead of ignoring like a adorable baby . Ik he kinda liked it but he's just trying to avoid the fact , he is already in love with a young college boyy ( even though he's not )
Idk how are they going to balance all of it together in just one episode
The second couple still are stuck as enemies and chu san just confessed to yi , I am very interested to know what's happening next , honestly i don't want second couple to just stay as hookups .
It's the exact type of drama that I love the most . It's actually worth watching , a lot of people are actually loving this and me tooo .
**THE OUTCOME WAS SO BEYOND EXPECTATIONS**
I got to see liu yi's after reaction , he was so happy literally laughing and dancing around just like a man who got his first love , I loved his reactions even though chu san missed it , honestly i wanted them to share a meal together when san returns and spend a special night , and wanted yi to quit his position and start a very normal life with sam by his side . I wanted him to brag all about san and I want to see sam's dad's reaction so much .
Howw it's so small .
So , it's quite sad that it's completed , chu san and liu yi finally realised their feelings , I could see how worried yi was when san got kidnapped and harrassed and I knew it from the way they kissed , how much scared they were and that joy .
But , I didn't expect the part when he actually got arrested leaving sanin tears , me too I literally cried , they just got together , but didn't even got time to spend with eachother . The most miserable part ever , I cried when liu yi said “wait for me ” .
They never deserved that ending , I thought they'll probably get out of that place
and live a normal life together .
Now we don't know how long it's gonna take for liu yi to return , when will they meet again , what will change between the officers , how he's gonna take revenge . They left us hanging with 100 s of unsolved questions .
In some way it's good that it ended this way cuz it's quite hard to balance all of the things in a single episode .
But the bad thing is that we don't know if there'll be a S2 or not , what will happen to the relationship that they built .
Hints for Season 2 ::
The questions that leads us to the second season.
• The officer , needed to talk about what .
• what happened to the fat gangster.
• how chu san got away from the fat ganster .
• what was he doing with those people throwing money or stuff .
•how will the officer take revenge for his brother .
• who is the actual killer .
• The relationship between the officers .
• the police officer and that gang leader Both were eliminated through the exact same signature killing style .
Biggest hint : liu yi told chu san to wait for him .
So , I'm not losing any hope yet , These key points strongly indicate that we are headed for a second season ( there's a lot of unsolved questions and mysteries ) .
I'm so happy that literally nodded and confirmed that there'll be a season 2 in their latest live stream on insta or tt .
Xixi zhaooo plssss don't play with us , we already have c bls season 2 trauma ...
Overall I recommend you guys to watch it , it's exactly perfect if we remove the ending .
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