Really cool Gender swap Romantic thriller!
I heard Kim Jieun (FL) saying that this show is a Romantic thriller in a radio interview and that's what it is exactly! A really interesting one at that! It has short 24 episodes of almost 22-25 mins each. Easy to watch, mostly light-hearted and quite well acted. Picks up pace after Ep 4.HIGHLIGHTS :
1) ACTING: Actually I have become a fan of both FL and ML (Lomon) and went back and watched most of their old shows because of how good they are here! When they gender swap the change is so smooth it's like they actually swapped! They both have done a really great coordinated job here! šš
2) CHEMISTRY : It's simply Fire! Both the leads look so hot together! š¤© And I am sure many of you are here because of those kiss scenes YT shorts! š But mind you, the actual romance part is really subtle, don't expect fireworks romance and sweeping declarations, you just have to imagine those things yourself! š LOL (EDIT: Now that I have completed it, I can say that romance gets more visible towards the end and for that I am infinitely happy :D)
3) STYLISH SHOW: When you watch it you will realise they have added all elements to both aesthetics and the plot to make it modern and stylish. All the Marketing ideas they come up with in each episode is so new and cool and overall very interesting and I really enjoyed those scenes in each episode!
4) I personally like a no nonsense strong headed FL and here she is perfect as one! she's no saint and don't go expecting her to be one either you will be disappointed! She's superbly grey! (EDIT: For people looking for character growth, let's just say they all become better versions of themselves in the end.)
Mild spoiler :
5) It's a thriller so be ready for huge plot twists! Things may not be as they seem in the first 3/4th half of the show! š But they are totally worth it! Accept things as they come, it gets better and better! (EDIT : It's certainly all worth it in the end! *HEA* <3 )
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The good story with weird ending
It was a very refreshing drama, kind of sweet, I love the way of execution of the story and the character development. Even though there is 8 years difference between the main lead but their screen chemistry was very good. but it was very good until the 14 episodes they messed up the ending...I mean they really messed up, It was the weirdest and worst ending ever. It didn't explain anything. So it was 8.5 for me until 14 ep but it's all messed up now ...like all people got a happy ending except the main lead (or they got writer knows it's like an open ending) I am very confused.I will surely recommend this drama but the last 2 episodes are a huge disappointment!
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Story: Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. Some parts are just horrible, I would have cried (if I were to ever cry while watching a movie). The story was very good.
Acting/Cast: Fantastic. I'm glad they had at least one actor from the original Boys Love. All of the actors portrayed their characters well.
Music: I only can't really remember it... >_> But, they had the quotes like they did in Boys Love, which was awesome and kinda served the same purpose as music would have.
Rewatch Value: I've already seen it twice in less than a week. Point made.
I would highly recommend this movie.
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The main focus is not primarily on the action but the intervals. Intimate play. Highly committed.
The story is told quite sensitively, calmly, just a few dialogues. It is almost studio theatre that relies on the two main protagonists and thus on the haunting performance of Bae Yong-joon and Son Ye-jin.Ā“He' is typical male, who feels like he owns the world - and now being confronted with his pride being hurt , whereas 'she' represents everything that makes a "good" wife: devoted, caring and - in case of doubt - convinced that she herself is to blame. However, for both of them as their former worlds fall apart their encounter sets processes in motion. They start questioning their lives. Quietly the chance for new orientation, for a new self-image and changed standards when it comes to relationships open up.
The title "April Snow" refers to the fact that the two protagonists love different seasons: he loves winter and she loves spring. Snow in April thus symbolizes a bridge that leads the two together. In the original, however, the title reads something like "Excursion" and refers to 'his' wife and 'her' husband who, as part of their affair, go on a secret trip on which their serious car accident brings everything to light...
(At first the story somehow reminded me a bit of the US movie "Random Hearts" from 1999. The KMovie "April Snow" from 2005, however, is not a remake, just a similar story.)
Yes, it is not a funny movie. Yes, it is intimate play on high studio theatre level. No effects. Just intense play. The main focus is not primarily on the action but the intervals in between. ItĀ“s different. Highly committed. Intense.
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The Sweetest Couple!
Because the plot on MyDramaList was a little confusing at first, I constantly ignored this drama and put it aside. The female lead Mi Jiu Er is known as Superflash, and is a poor heroine who protects and takes care of refugees in the city. She ends up swapping places with her doppelgƤnger, who is the manager of the male lead's clothing workshop. Honestly, this drama is an underrated gem, and generally is very solid with one of the happiest and most well-written endings that I've seen recently in Chinese dramas. If you go into this for sparkly and passionate romance, a really cute main couple, and don't except an intense story too much, I definitely encourage you to watch this!I'd highly recommend having a watch if you like these tropes:
ā” Enemies to Lovers: Luo Yin Ran and Mi Jiu Er are constantly bickering in the beginning. While Yin Ran is a cold, reserved male lead who hates uncleanliness and is devoted to his work, he never hurts the female lead. Over time, he grows to protect her, and even puts down his own feelings and his wellbeing for Mi Jiu Er's happiness. The relationship between these two is incredibly healthy, and Luo Yin Ran never crosses boundaries that could hurt the female lead. This trope is also repeated with the second couple in this drama, who are also very loveable and also have a very sweet relationship as well.
ā” So Many Kisses: The amount of passion and sweetness in all the kisses made my heart flutter! Both the main actor Kris Sun and actress Jin Wen Xin are adorable, and their kisses are so well shot. There are sweet and lovely kisses, but also romantic ones, and even some that show tinges of bittersweetness. The actors did a great job in showing the emotion of their characters through all of the kiss scenes, and many of the kisses were lengthy and passionate (instead of being frozen or stiff).
ā” Gorgeous Production Value: All of the clothes (especially as this is a drama which focuses on the clothing industry) are beautiful. The scenes are so wonderfully shot, and the buildings and sets are gorgeous. I believe that this is a Republican era drama (it isn't exactly clear in the series because the show doesn't really focus on the political context) and so you will see an interesting mix of Western clothing on Pei Zhuo and Chinese clothing on Luo Yin Ran.
ā” Generally Drama and Angst Lite: There are moments where the drama ventures into more sad scenes. Our main couple does experience some periods of sadness, but they also communicate and try to work out their problems. This is therefore great to pick up if you just want something to relax to and something where you don't have to think too much.
ā” Solid Storyline and Very Watchable: There are enemies and problems in this drama, but because it's only 24 episodes, there is little to no filler, and you have a great beginning, an interesting setup, and one of my all time favourite endings. If you want a whole story that's completed, instead of finding out that there's a cliffhanger or a "Season 2" after finishing, I highly recommend that you watch this. You will be completely satisfied by the progression of the story.
ā” My Boy Fan Xiao Dong: If you've watched the Chinese drama the Rules of Love, Fan Xiao Dong is the actor who plays the second male lead. If your heart was crushed by second lead syndrome in that drama, it'll (unfortunately) also be crushed here too as Fan Xiao Dong plays the lonely second love interest Pei Zhuo. I think that out of all the actors, Fan Xiao Dong did the best job, because he was simultaneously a character that you could be deeply sympathetic with at one second, and then hateful towards during the next. In any case, I think his character had one of the biggest changes to his personality and mindset, and that this drama is an opportunity to see another side of his acting.
However, there are also some things you might not like about the drama:
ā„ Chemistry: It took some time for me to get used to Kris Sun and Jin Wen Xin. They do have a large age gap, and I felt very lukewarm about their chemistry during the first couple episodes. In addition, I feel that some of the earlier episodes create more sparks between Mi Jiu Er and the second male lead Pei Zhuo, and have more scenes with them clearly showing some affection towards each other. However, once you keep watching, especially when Luo Yin Ran begins to fall for Mi Jiu Er, you start to warm up to them and the kisses definitely are exploding with chemistry.
ā„ Somewhat Rocky Acting: There are some scenes where I as not really convinced of the main actors and actress. Jin Wen Xin's interpretation of Mi Jiu Er definitely can come off as very childish (especially as she is so petite). This also gets me on to the dubbing, where Jin Wen Xin's absolutely lovely husky voice in real life is changed into a very childish-sounding, high pitched one, which some viewers may not like. However, over time her brash and straightforward personality becomes very endearing. Sometimes I also felt Kris Sun struggled with the more emotionally demanding scenes, especially ones that involved crying or anger. However, I think both still did a solid job, but whether it was their acting or the story itself, I do think that there are some scenes in which the acting is a little stiff and/or unnatural.
ā„ Some Parts Can be Boring, Especially the First Stretch: I did skip some times during the drama, and do find that the beginning is probably the hardest to get through, because the setup is done in a way where you don't feel like it's high stakes or are drawn in to the story. I did drop it several times initially, before I started getting through the more expository episodes, and started really seeing the romance develop.
ā„ Not a Huge Focus on Succeeding in the Clothing Industry: The background plot does involve the vying for power in the clothing industry amongst different businesses that are in the industry. I do think that this was a great idea to tie in the overall story and to give some urgency to the plot. However, note that this is not a story of how Mi Jiu Er overcomes obstacles and becomes a wonderful and capable manager, or that she grows to become skilled in the industry. While part of the story does involve how Luo Yin Ran acquires greater fame in the industry, the main focus is really on our main couple. So you will not really be seeing the characters improve per se, but instead a greater emphasis on the romance that develops between them (and then some scheming that occurs from other companies.)
I'd recommend you watch this if you liked dramas that have lots of fluffy romance, are beautifully filmed, and also love a lot of romantic tropes. I do think you need to have your expectations set - this is no groundbreaking Chinese drama where you may feel the need to binge watch - but is a very solid and well done show overall. If you're looking for something that's sweet and light, then this is for you!
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Lamest revenge in the history of makjang revenge plans
Expectation: Makjang drama about rich people and their arranged marriage woesReality: A scorned woman's half baked attempt at revenge set in the backdrop of a dating agency for rich people
Honestly, I would barely even consider the FL's revenge as revenge, because it just involved a. telling anyone who would listen how much of a bitch Yoo Hui is. b. Trying to stop Yoo Hui from getting a man. Both of which would have failed SPECTACULARLY if not for the 2 rich MLs. Revenge was never her goal in the first place; running into Yoo Hui at the dating agency somehow reminded her that she ought to embark on the most ambitious plan of ruining someone's life with virtually no plan in place at all! Compared to the other makjang revenge drama next door (Eve), the "revenge plans" in this drama were like child's play. Thankfully, this drama is only 8 eps long so FL's idiocy and helplessness wasn't dragged on. HOWEVER, this show tried to be overly ambitious by throwing in a multitude of kdrama tropes that were sufficient to last several dramas: 1. Illegitimate child trope, 2. white truck of doom, 3.childhood sweethearts trope, 4.corrupt politicians, 5.chaebols, 6.disapproving parents 7.Getting backstabbed by your BFF and more. In particular, the politician trope was so unnecessarily convoluted and illogical and the show could have done without it. The antagonist (Yoo Hui) was portrayed fairly realistically and wasn't omnipotent like in other makjangs but her motivations were so poorly explained it was like the writers forgot halfway why they made her bad in the first place. The only bright spot in the plot was the CEO of the dating agency (Choi Yoo Sun) who was extremely charismatic and manipulative. Her backstory was never fully fleshed out but it still intrigued me more than whatever the hell Hye Sung wanted to do to get "revenge". As a whole, the whole "dating agency for rich people" premise had a lot of potential and for it to just devolve into a cliched kdrama revenge story is just sad.
Acting wise, I had higher expectations from Kim Hee Sun considering how experienced she is. She looked like she was phoning it in the whole time and her "romance" with the 2 ML could barely be considered as romance, just like her half-baked revenge plans. No intimacy AT ALL (not that you need intimacy to show romantic feelings... but still?) and barely any chemistry. Her scenes with the 2 ML just looked like she was hanging out with friends and when she got married to one of them it was like oh? okay then. She had a perpetual damsel in distress look which isn't a good thing in a revenge kdrama at all. Yoo Hui (Jung Eugene) was great and I actually found her despicable. The 2 ML's acted well, bonus points for their good looks lol.
Cinematography and music were good, and I find that in this regard Netflix always maintains a high standard. Still, the rewatch value is 0 due to the lame ass revenge plot and the low entertainment value.
Conclusion: watch only if you are a die hard fan of one of the actors. Else, don't waste your time. For a makjang that is more over the top and entertaining, watch Eve or Penthouse instead.
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The good:
1) its so easy to watch - its just 6 episodes;
2) Off-Gun, do i need to say more? ;
3) the cats and the dogs, i wish they added more;
4) light hearted and fun.
The bad:
1) cliched story;
2) the never ending thai concept of a straight guy falling for another guy;
Its a good watch when you have about 5 hours to spare. See it while eating your dinner and dont think too much about the plots and loopholes, just enjoy. Will i rewatch the series - maybe, but id probably just skip to the BL parts. Is it awards worthy - hell no! Overall its an 8 for me.
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A feel good drama!
Finally completed this, such a feel good drama.Don't look at the cast or the synopsis. If you enjoy looking at food program of how tasty food are prepared, you may enjoy this drama. Lot's of cooking,. the camera angles are professionally done. Don't bother if the hands does not belongs to the main actress. Just enjoy the flow of the show. Make sure your stomach is full before watching. It's not a typical chef show where you only get cooking demonstration in a few scenes. You will have lots of them. The story line will only become more prominent after ML & FL got married in the middle of the drama. Be patient.
The ML & FL leads are destined to be soulmate. The sister/family love is amazing. FL lead met a lot of trusted friends. The ML is very supportive and understanding. Very good chemistry. Strong FL lead who have talents and big dreams. If you prefer a light drama with a simple story line of how the FL become successful gradually, this is the drama to watch. The music somehow reminds me of Go Princess Go..
A takeaway learning from this drama, live your passion with all your heart. Success is not easy but with every steps and effort you put in...
You may hear before,.. you won someone's heart through the food you feed them. I believe the ML is so proud of his wife and he is so lucky. If you love food documentary and like to see a well bonded relationship...this is the drama. It brings smiles to myself on several scenes. Hope you feel the same if you think alike. Enjoy.
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I never watch films without reading its synopsis but this was a great exception.
2-Storyline/Plot : On the outside, it may sound like the Korean version of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" but somehow I thought it was special with its own events and its own charm.
I laughed so hard while watching this to the point that I tried blocking my mouth with my hands since was afraid that I may wake everyone in the house: yes, it was really funny! The story wasn't outstanding but the laughter moments (and sometimes romance moments) made me fall for it.
3-Acting/Cast : I like Kim Ha Neul and yeah she was cool here but I believe that Kang Ji Hwan was the leader of this film; he really cracked me up and the way he screams was so freaking funny, he really managed to pertray his role in a perfect way and most of all, he was believable.
4-The ending : I loved the final scene but the general ending was a typical rom-com ending.
5-My impression: This film literally cracked me up; I remember laughing my stomach out until I almost rolled on the floor late at night. This is a unforgettable film indeed.
6-Overall : This is the type of film that I would recommend to anyone:
There's laughter.
The funny romance.
Action (especially the hilarious action scenes with Kang Ji Hwan).
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Chasing Our Individual Dreams, Together
I canāt emphasize enough how heartwarming, realistic, and human The Best of You in My Mind is. This is a modern-day college drama that focuses on how the female lead Lin Xichi and male lead Xu Fang start from being childhood friends and eventually end up as lovers. Yet it is also about the journey of youth and the struggles we face in pursuit of our dreams as we become adults. Not only is it a very satisfying watch with a great happy ending, but our characters also navigate incredibly relatable and touching issues.I'd highly recommend having a watch if you like these tropes:
ā” A Romantic Couple With Incredible Chemistry: Iriene Song and Gala Zhang have so much chemistry together ā both actors depicted the transition from childhood friends to romantic interests very naturally. Most importantly, both Xichi and Xu Fang seek each other out during their hardest times, such as their struggles with their careers and achieving their dreams. They have such a healthy relationship where even though in the beginning they are always bickering and fighting, they are also always communicating openly with each other. Both not only share in the sweetness of their successes, but also support each other through their difficult times.
ā” A Male Lead Whose Charm is His Insecurity: Xu Fang is not a cold and domineering male lead, but instead he is incredibly insecure, doubts himself, and constantly reflects on his own limitations. One of the things I admire the most is how refreshing his character is, and how Gala Zhangās acting was excellent in depicting Xu Fangās personal growth. Xu Fang begins as unwilling to be a leader and as reluctant to take the top position in the university archery team, to achieving great competitive success. The drama did a great job showing his fears as well as his mental struggles and setbacks which often self-sabotage his own opportunities. Yet Xu Fang is also incredibly loyal, devoted, and willing to recognize how others such as Xichi are his greatest support. The fact that the male lead is not only afraid to cry and openly reflect on his weaknesses, but also loves wholeheartedly, made him very admirable and unique as a character.
ā” Likeable Main and Side Cast: I liked all of the side couples (both of Xichiās roommates have love lines.) I also loved the eventual bromance and bonding that developed amongst the archery team. Characters such as the coach, who initially began as being very hard on Xu Fang, turned out to be one of his biggest supporters. I also feel like the time given to each couple was well-paced, and I didnāt feel like our main couple was sidelined for the narratives of the side couples, which I often find occurs in other dramas.
ā” Solid Story With Little Filler: There is little filler, and I appreciated how the drama showed different phases of the lives between the main characters. The majority of the show focuses on their college years, while the later parts of the drama (after episode 20) transition to post-graduation. While I think the first half is stronger and more tightly written, I liked how we could see the growth between our main couple, and also the mental challenges they both faced as they reconciled with making their dreams a reality.
However, there are also some things you might not like about the drama:
ā„ The Family Drama: Part of the story is about how Xichi deals with the breakdown of the ideal family that she had envisioned and dreamed of. This is not a family situation that ends in utter tragedy (i.e. death), but without spoiling too much it impacted Xichi greatly. I personally really didnāt like this storyline, even though it (ironically) is what begins the drama and what you see from Episode 1. I was very disappointed with how illogically her parents handled the situation, and caused a lot of grief towards Xichi and her younger brother in particular. I admit that much of the drama does focus on Xichi finding her mom and coming to terms with her family situation, and for me personally this was not a fun part of the drama to watch.
ā„ Strange & Irrelevant Use of Second Leads: Ye Shaowen is the second lead male who falls for Xichi. While I appreciated how he didnāt try to actively meddle with Xu Feng and Xichiās relationship, he goes from being an important character in the beginning to nearly dropping out completely in the middle to late stretch of the drama. Additionally, one of Xichiās roommates falls for Xu Feng, even though Xu Feng doesnāt notice her at all. I liked how she didnāt end up being a malicious female lead (even though the drama itself makes some strange edits to lead the viewer to think that she is). I think that the way that both second leads were incorporated were rather irrelevant and unnecessary, and didnāt really do much for the story itself.
ā„ Break Ups: Without spoiling too much, there is a break up in this drama that occurs in the latter half. I personally liked it because it wasnāt stretched out, and it really was used in a manner that emphasized just how strong the relationship between Xichen and Xue Fang was. I also thought that the break up itself was very realistically handled and occurred for good reason (not because of external meddling, but because of internal mentalities and struggles) but I know that some viewers may be frustrated by seeing a couple go through the break-up process.
I'd highly recommend you watch this if you liked dramas that have fluffy romance, while also being a great slice-of-life drama that touches on many relevant issues. This show not only had great production value, but also had actors that did an incredible job making the characters likeable and relatable, and showing not only the successes they achieved but also the struggles and disappointments they faced. Most notably, this drama touched on realistic mental and psychological difficulties of trying to achieve your dreams, which is something I think is often missed out on in youth dramas. If youāre looking for a drama that depicts day-to-day life on campus and childhood lovers to adults romance, this is a good one to pick up for easy watching!
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I felt that the drama was light and easy to enjoy in comparison to other secret agent dramas that I have seen! There was no great conspiracy, loads of secrecy, huge amount of fighting scenes, etc etc. I liked that the plot focused on a secret agent who becomes a bodyguard to an actor and still carries out his duties as an agent: it made the story work - of course very unrealistic but which drama isn't xD
I have to say the cast was great! All of the actors fit their characters and made the drama work. I really have to give kuddos to Park HaeJin's acting in this! His actions and facial reactions just brought the drama a kind of humour I really enjoy! And maybe because of this as well that it was nice to watch, and more light hearted than other secret agent dramas.
Of course, I did have a hard time to come in terms with Kim Min Jung's hair - seriously they cut her hair way to short!!
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Uncanny, but in a fluffy way with some important lessons.
First of all, I have to say this had some of the best castings Iāve seen. Lee Jae Bin and Kim Seong Hyuk both embodied the animals they were acting as. Especially Seong Hyuk. He was acting more like a cat than my actual cat does.That said, I think they did so well with showcasing the traits said animals have, it was actually hard for me to get into the romance side of it. Especially with Choco - he was both acting too much like a dog, and was treated too much like a dog for me to ship him with anyone. It just did not sit right with meā¦ The casting was so good, I think it was too good, however weird it might sound. Still, they were able to charm me by the end, I left my brain outside of my room as I was watching, and just enjoyed the sweet moments.
Plot wise, I enjoyed it a lot. Thatās a story on crack for sure. I had to stop myself from thinking about my animals being human, because the cringe was too strong. I appreciated this fluffy way of dealing with the topic of loss and acceptance of it. How different characters showed different ways of dealing with it - be it acceptance, denial or a hopeful outlook or just postponing it a little bit to enjoy the company for as long as possible. Not to mention the importance of chasing after things that bring you happiness.
Acting was good. Lee Jae Bin and Kim Seong Hyuk for sure did the best job. I bought everything they sold and have no complaints.
Production wise, initially I did have one complaint - the show felt empty. Few people pointed out how there was never anyone in the cafĆ© in the beginning episodes. Small things like that take away from the show, as the story does not feel real. Luckily, that āemptinessā became a part of the plot the moment characters addressed it, so the issue was solved in my eyes. Except for that, it was a really good production for a short show like this.
Overall, it was enjoyable. Probably better as a binge watch, like many shorter dramas - would be a good movie. Waiting for that last episode was truly painful.
Milk was my favorite and I wanted to see more of him. Give him a nice short spin-off pretty please!
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