Am I exaggerating? Sure. However, this drama surely exceeded my expectations! What a refreshing drama! Action, Comedy, Crime, Investigation, Amazing female lead... It's a great package! This drama became something I looked forward to every week.
The acting.. Seol Ok and Wan Seung's chemistry was over the top! It'snot even romantic! I love how they argue, their personalities and roles collide, the (flirty) banter! They're my parents and I love them so much no one can stop me. Supporting characters are amazing! They definitely make the drama colorful and flavorful. I love Seol Ok's smart, witty and brave yet clumsy at the same time.
There are cases that were dragged a little too long... Especially in the first episodes, I honestly didn't mind since I was enjoying everything so much. However, there are certain I wished they went more in depth.
I am seriously expecting a season two. I'm not hoping, I am expecting. Divorce must be done(Ok, I'm hoping this)....Overall, a fun drama! It's stress relieving. If you like comedy and crime or a fun drama in general, give this drama a try!
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The characters were absolutely like I imagined them to be in the original verse. Yes, some of the scenes only made sense in CQL-verse and not novel as well but they were done so good! The effects were kinda bad at the end, but honestly, I was sobbing so much I didn't notice hhhh
In conclusion: watch this if you want to cry about how the Nie Brothers are truly deserving of the title "Best Siblings in MDZS"
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A Realistic Love Story
Now this isn't really an average love story. It's more of a realistic slice of life + love story film. In life, things sometimes just doesn't go the way you want no matter how hard you try.That's the crux of this film. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try your best. This movie is about the 5 years journey of a couple who is deeply in love.
Can their love withstand all the pressures from their own insecurities ? Will they stay together even if their love has started to fade ?
Kasumi and Suda are two of the best actors in Japan at the moment. Therefore, their chemistry are off the charts. I actually watched this movie because of Kasumi and I can say that she's still one of the best actresses around.
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My Favourite Chinese Dramas of 2020
This drama has just ended timely for the year for me to pick as my favorite C Drama of 2020. Everything I love in a drama is here; touching human situations, unforgettable music score (a sucker for that), interesting story developments, great looking casts and stunningly beautiful prop and cinematography. The story and filming location is based in Dali, Yunnan which is my favorite province in China (I'm a Chinese Malaysian). You may notice the high quality setting and gorgeous interior design which I treasure a lot in the drama.The first few episodes may be a bit slow for some people especially with the dreamy location of Dali's lake district and laid back, vacation vibe of Erhai lakeside town. I was soon drawn into the series when I noticed the dual perspectives, that go on until episode 14., have been cleverly done . The whole drama wins me over with its non-predictable plots and three dimensional characters; there is no totally evil main villain here.
The two male leads are very handsome and act brilliantly while the female lead is beautiful in a mature and graceful way. All the supporting casts also give excellent performance. Zhan Yu's character is empathetic and you will be happy to rewatch his scenes in the finale. This is one drama you will not think 40 episodes are too long because many characters are given enough screen time to make an impression including the adorable interaction of Zhao Ting Hui's (2nd Male Lead) subordinate cop in the last few episodes.
I hope other Chinese directors take note of this drama by not showing spoilers in the intro song and use original voice which make the watching experience so much better. In one of the climatic scenes involving a bomb, you could hear the music score changes from poignant to heart throbbing to heroic. The brilliant music scores move me many times to tears throughout the series and the few songs featured are also very melodic.
The last 15 minutes of the finale could have been rearranged to please more people but since this drama has been quite different from others, I guess the director wants it this way.
Thank you director for the fantastic series! I will remember the leads fondly and look out for Li Qing's (Zhan Yu in the character) future work. I was pleasantly surprised to see extra scenes of him!
PS: This has been a strange year for C Drama where my favorites are all modern dramas; this drama, Ordinary Glory, Hikaru No Go and 安家 as I gave up many period dramas with childish leads and ridiculous cross dressing FL.
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An okay drama that could've been better
My first impression of "Love in the Big City" wasn't entirely favorable (the drama was too depressing for me to handle); however, I was impressed by the cast's performances. One standout was Nam Yoon Su. He took a courageous stand against the homophobic attitudes that plague society by playing a non-straight role and partaking in same-sex intimacy without any reservation. Each kiss, each moment of physical closeness, was an act of trust, a man's willingness to open himself up to another man. The directors' attention to detail and depth was evident in every frame, and it was impossible not to be moved by the beauty of itYoon Su deserves the utmost praise for bringing warmth and sincerity to his scenes. He held nothing back, conveying raw passion and vulnerability in equal measure. His performance left a lasting impression on me, one that was haunting and memorable
Having paid due attention to the positives, I'll analyze the elements that require improvement, as "Love in the Big City," even with its noble efforts to redefine "queer" storytelling, remains short of fulfilling its promise. Among its flaws, none are as detestable as the violation of a gay male space (a gay club) by a "straight" identifying woman (31:07 of episode 1). The sanctity of a gay male space is not to be disturbed, it's a space for men of like mind and heart to be unabashed in their same-sex desires, away from the harsh gaze of the heteronormative society. Entering a single-sex space with the intention of pursuing someone of the opposite sex to carry back to one’s bed reveals a lack of understanding of, and respect for, the space's true purpose
What was that sudden, unceremonious reference to HIV? HIV isn't a gay disease and a character's (homo)sexuality doesn't warrant the inclusion of HIV in a storyline. The doctor's assumption that the main character's HIV was sexually transmitted is inconsistent with his assertion that the chances of transmitting HIV through sex are low (39:50 of episode 5). The main character's life was unaffected by the disease, and there was no reason why he should be among the rare cases of sexual transmission. HIV is being used for dramatic effect
The narrative device of "straight" identifying female characters befriending gay male characters and becoming the medium through which gay stories are told is tiresome and troubling. Why a "straight" identifying woman, and not a gay woman, a fellow member of the community who shares the same struggles and experiences of discrimination? Can't a gay woman and a gay man get along and be depicted as friends for once?
The conclusion of the story was an anticlimactic question mark, tinged with the bitterness of an uncertain future. Sad or open endings are a trademark of most "queer" stories, and their writers seem to have a vendetta against gay happiness. Time and again, the main character experienced the crushing revelation that the men he believed to be his perfect match were either prejudiced against his (homo)sexuality or not a good fit. It pained me to see him isolated and dejected. I find greater comfort in happy BLs/gay stories that celebrate the joy of the romantic fulfillment and validation denied to gay couples. They surpass their sad or open-ended "queer" counterparts
The depiction of a gay person's life prevents me from rating "Love in the Big City" too low. I've decided on a score of 8 that acknowledges the value and the flaws of the story
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Story: The script is done perfectly that will definitely make you fall in love with the leads and no room for Second Lead Syndrome. The story typical in the sense of having an innocent main female lead. However, the male lead unlike other shows with rich spoilt characters is a kind and understanding man. Furthermore, there is no angsty plot or evil second leads which made the drama a whole lot more enjoyable.
Acting/Cast: The cast was amazing and Sean and Esther have great chemistry during the show. They managed to show their love without much words and will make you fall hard for this love line. Similarly for the second leads, the actors were amazing. All the casts managed to make you fall hard for them or hate them like crazy which is great!
Music: One flaw of this lakorn is that they used the same music for almost every scene which by the end of the drama, your head will be repeated that particular segment of the song.
Rewatch Value: I think there is definitely rewatch value in this! After watching Korean, Chinese and Taiwan dramas, Leh Ratree made me fall hard for Thai lakorns and after I finished i can't stop replaying the scenes. And I'm sure to rewatch it again soon ;)
Overall: Leh Ratree is a really really sweet and cute drama. Do watch this if you are looking for a fun and light lakorn! I'm sure it will not disappoint :)
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Liked It For Vibes, Chemistry, And Chaos
Let’s just start with this: what a wild ride from start to finish. The drama starts off with FL attending her fiancé’s funeral, it’s raining, she's in black, holding a red umbrella, and then, She kisses a man who looks just like her dead fiancé… on the coffin. I was instantly hooked. That opening was Insane and I loved every second of it.The leads chemistry was fire! the tension, the kisses, the banter, the hugs, the looks… they were so in love even when they weren’t supposed to be in love. I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing this pairing again—they were that good.
FL (Mi Chuxia / Huo Ruoyi) was adorable, quirky in the best way, and so full of life, even in her grief. Her moments of talking to herself are Iconic. And I loved her pouty face.
ML (Lu Nian Bai / Tang Jing Xing) was the perfect combo of playful and broody. The teasing? The “uncle” card? Sir. Please.
Let’s talk about cinematography,The colors, the funeral scene, the dance, the proposal, the flashbacks—everything had that dramatic mini-series gloss, but they used it well.
SFL (Lu Nian Qi) was stunning. You knew from the start she’d be the villain but she was so elegant and compelling, I couldn’t even bring myself to hate her.
SML though? NO. Certified creep. Obsessive, manipulative, unhinged. The kind of character that makes you side-eye the actor just a little (no hate though, He did a great job). And the attempted assault? Absolutely not. Not romantic. Not okay. I’m so over dramas pretending non-consensual stuff is passion. Hard pass.
Still, despite that moment (and a few too many “are we really doing this?” kisses), the show delivered on romance.
There were plot holes, yes. But you know what? I was too entertained to care.
Also—plot twist—I’d seen Season 1 before and didn’t even realize it until halfway through! Different actors, same characters.
Final thoughts:
Entertaining, emotional, and sometimes unhinged. It had everything a good mini drama needs, strong chemistry, drama, a wild plot, and some swoon-worthy moments.
Would recommend. Just… be ready for chaos.
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RomCom done right
Simply, it's romantic comedy done right. There are many shows categorised as "RomCom" over the years and very few deserving of this label. "Please Don't Date Him" is one of the few exception as it brings out genuine laughter in every episode while building on the romantic relationship of the characters.The literary device used for the plot was properly used and was not just a literary device later forgotten after setting up the story. When this was revealed, I was expecting this show to turn serious and deviate from being a romcom and turn into a serious drama, but the writer(s) stayed true and kept it in the sidelines yet still an important part of the show.
Song Ha Yoon, who played "Seo Ji Sung" did very well in portraying an A.I. programmer yet still "just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her" (to borrow from "Notting Hill"). I also love how they chose a woman as a programmer in this show debunking the stereotypes [1] programming is for men; and [2] girl programmers does not have a love life.
I recommend this show if you are looking for a series which will make you laugh, fall in love all over again, and appreciate the people around you, even strangers like our brave firefighters. Don't forget to check my review of episode 9: https://mydramalist.com/62539-please-don-t-meet-the-man/episode/9 -- a must-watch episode.
It's sad that they only planned a total of ten (10) episodes, they could have extended it to thirteen or a full series (sixteen episodes).
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selfless, pure love
I am a sucker for tragic stories and this drama is delivering just that.I first went into this show knowing nothing but something along the lines of a romance between a teacher and a student. This was off-putting, but my sister urged me to give it a chance and I’m glad I did. It has been too long since I have watched a show that has really resonated with me.
The relationship between Ms. Ji and Seongyoo is beautiful. I’m not talking romantically, just in general, what Ms.Ji does for Seongyoo is just so heartwarming. They both see the world the same way and she can see that, she as a teacher wants to help him be more open to the world and what is has to offer. She is the first person Seongyoo truly opens up to, and in this she becomes his first love and honestly, it’s touching to watch. Ms. Ji does not coerce Seongyoo into falling in love with her. Their relationship in the beginning of the drama as a student and a mentor is truly so heartwarming. Ms.Ji helped Seongyoo out of the his darkest place, she helped him rediscover that and in the second half of the drama we begin to see Seongyoo do the same for her, now as a 20 year old man. I am rooting for Seongyoo and Ms.Ji.
The love that Seongyoo has for Ms. Ji is the purest and most beautiful form of love. He is not selfish, he is not in it for himself, he wants the best for her and to protect her. It is completely understandable why he fell in love with her.
Now that I have finished the show I can say that it doesn’t disappoint. The acting done by every character was phenomenal. Everything was done perfectly, all lose ends tie up in the end. The show ends very satisfyingly. This show was just so beautiful, it’s hard to come across a show this good, one that makes you feel something so deeply. It’s just truly beautiful.
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An emotional roller coaster ride!
It's a heartwarming story that revolves around real life struggles, emotions, relations, family and friendship. It's one the most realistic dramas I have ever seen, there wasn't anything exaggerated. You can feel every emotion and every sentiment. It's just not only entertain but also teaches a lot. It does not have heavy romance but there are many cute and heart fluttering moments. No one is perfect, everyone has flaws and everyone can make mistakes and make wrong decisions sometimes but even if we cannot change them but we can improve ourselves to not make same choice again.I liked the fact that there were no silly misunderstandings, unnecessary breakups and some typical cliches in it. The story was well written and well executed. There were many heartwarming scenes that you'll feel flooded by emotions, I cried a lot not just in one or two scenes but many times I felt their pain, emotions. I love the relationship between father and daughter, the bromance, their trio, there friends. Even if you won't like some character in the beginning but eventually you won't hate them even there decisions were wrong but they had there reasons. I felt the ending was rush but it's only fact I don't like it overall it was a great experience. It is a cute drama that definitely bring a smile on your face.
It's one the best dramas I've seen so far so I totally recommend it to you, you'll definitely enjoy and love it as I did.
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Disappointing
I watched this to see if it would get better. Even paid for express. Nothing got resolved. No one was made accountable. The female lead and male lead allowed themselves to be trampled and used by others throughout the whole show. They deserved each other. Their son deserved a lot better. There was no climax in this show at all. It ended on the same sour note as it started. What a shame. If there was any backbone from either of the 2 leads it may have had some potential. FL spoke in whisper like voice entire program.This is the only show I’ve ever written a bad review. Don’t waste your time starting it only thinking it will get better. It doesn’t.
What a shame. I actually paid for express to watch the last few episodes hoping it would get better. I fast forwarded the bulk of it.
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This lakorn is very well made....it looks like a kdrama very pretty but has that thai chemistry in it.
The main lead pair -just incredible. Krit and Yada are so freakin awesome together....no real kisses but u dont even need them....these guys build chemistry just being in the same screen space. I love Ken since Sawan Biang and watched many more but this show is like his rebirth...he looks sooo freakin HOTT.... I love the female lead playing Yada too, watched Ngao Hua Jai before this so could really connect with her.
This show has everything and is well paced...so much happens in 14 episodes that u feel like u gotta rewatch it again to absorb it better.
Watch it if u like gr8 chemistry, bad heros, romance and strong women.... no rape in this drama and it still rocks the slap/kiss charts plus the behind the scenes at the end of each epi is so cute:)
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8 episodes of i want more
Surprise! It’s only 8 episode but I’m giving it 10/10 rating. It’s enjoyable, it’s fast but well paced. 1 episodes only 20mins why not give this little gem a try? 2 person met by fate and went through a process healing their broken soul. They learn and finally hope to live a better life. It’s a little bit of sweet little bit of hope little bit of everything u want more in the next episode.You want to learn more about their backstory as you watch and wonder why they acted the way they act. The show had me guessing about how the FL turns out the way she is. She is betrayed and finally meet the ML and it’s like she see light at the end of the tunnel. The ML wanted to die but he stop that thinking because he encounter the FL and realize he is actually “lucky”.
It’s fun to watch and I doubt anyone will regret watching it. The music is nice and the leads did a great job. I think I have seen the ML before but couldn’t remember where and which drama. It’s the first time I have seen the FL. She is probably new but she acted well. She’s the kind where she looks prettier the more you look at her. I’m hoping to see her in more dramas in the future.
Conclusion: if you chance upon this drama please give it a try. Highly recommended.
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Miss Sassy
Miss S is headlined by the effervescent Ma Yi Li in what has been her passion project from the get go. She certainly said as much during her interview in Singapore late last year when promoting this drama, which draws many parallels to her real life persona. Being a Shanghai native, the setting of this production albeit in a much different era, she is able to draw upon her many years of experience portraying strong willed, independent and feminist roles in playing the highly vivacious titular character.Billed as the remake of the Australian series, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries which in turn is based on author Kerry Greenwood's historical mystery novels. Miss S probably feels more like an inspired loose adaptation of the screenplay to cater for Chinese audiences rather than an outright faithful retelling of the original version, although the intricacies of the plotlines and cases do feel awfully similar. The flavour, atmospherics and light-hearted humour are very much “Shanghai-nese” in comparison to the gritty outback setting of the original series.
For the uninitiated, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is about the female lead character setting up shop as a private investigator with a penchant for, you’ve guessed it, solving murder mysteries. While she solves a number of seemingly unrelated cases, there is an underlying conspiracy surrounding the death of her younger sister. In Miss S, the main character is the flamboyant, stylish and wealthy socialite, Su Wen Li (hence Miss “S”). For the most part, the murder cases are quite straighforward and nothing too “heavy” or thought provoking. This is more Murder She Wrote than How to Get Away With Murder.
No effort was spared as far as the quality of the production is concerned. Filmed entirely at the magnificently constructed Dream Bund Film Park which is part of Hengdian World Studios, the art direction and costumes are the two major defining technical aspects very much worthy of high praise. The mansions, automobiles (including that outrageous red convertible), in addition to the countless props, are reflective of the opulence and grandeur of 1930s Shanghai. The translation of the Mandarin title 旗袍美探, Cheongsam Beauty Detective, is most appropriate as it features exquisite cheongsams (qipao) worn by Su Wen Li and the female characters that reflect the beauty of the iconic dress. Likewise the tailored suits and uniforms make the men appear extremely dapper indeed. Shanghai’s French Concession is always depicted as the epicentre for glamour and style back in the day, and it is no different in this drama.
The award-winning Ma Yi Li, playing the lead role of Su Wen Li, injects a lot of fun and sassiness in her somewhat OTT characterisation. She has invited a whole host of well-known and very capable supporting and guest cast to this project. Vengo Gao plays her “love interest” and investigation partner, Inspector Luo. Perhaps it’s the experience and maturity of these two actors plus the fact that they are friends off the set, because the chemistry between them really does sizzle. His character is one that exudes wit and charm in equal measure.
Michelle Dong is involved as Su Wen Li’s bff, Dr Liu. Being the complete opposite, her character is down-to-earth and much more subdued but no less intriguing. Her portrayal here is reminiscent of her role in another Republican drama, The Case Solver. Yao An Lian has a prominent role but with much less screen time as the antagonist, Ding Ru Shan. Having seen him in The Long Ballad and The Rebel recently, this actor showcases much versatility and range in his varied roles.
Every featured case involves countless notable guest stars. Look out for appearances by Zhang Jing Tong, Zhang Yu Qi, Ren Luo Min, Xu Rong Zhen, Zhang Rui Jia, Zhang Xiao Qian, Xie Xin Tong, Chen Li Na, Huang Yi Lin, Huang Xiao Ge, Liu Yu Qi, and Cai Wen Jing, among many others.
The original score composed by renowned music director, Xie Nan for this production certainly captures the vibes of the era. Meanwhile, the emotional connection between Su Wen Li and Inspector Luo is fittingly expressed through the sentimental ballad by Saji, Peep. Track listing as follows:
Peep 窥望 by Saji 萨吉
Confusion 迷惑 by Ye Xuanqing 叶炫清
You Know 高嘉朗 by Gao Jia Lang 高嘉朗
Miss S is a light and easy watch that is infused with enough wit and humour to make it a worthwhile experience. It isn’t a groundbreaking, compelling procedural or overly complicated to make sense of, nor does it take itself too seriously. I had as much fun and enjoyment watching all 15 murder cases spread over 34 episodes as the entire cast did performing for this production.
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1This is not the near perfect drama, but it doesn't disappoint me. I love this .
You all probably had known about the pattern of Thai lakorn. The hate turn love relationship, the very evil villain, the anger of our lead, the revenge plot, the slap kiss or sometimes forced kiss like -rape scene-, etc.
But don't let the latent pattern keep you away from this lakorn.
Jao Sao Yorm is a quite modest lakorn.
It's no stranger that our leads in bad terms in the beginning but soon they will have a good relationship. So did Kade and May . But in the process of reconciliation , we won't find excessive hate and anger that usually come from the heroin. I mean, there was a bad blood between May and her father, but she doesn't really detest her father excessively. So far, May is the reasonable character. She gets angry and misunderstood sometimes but she is willing to hear explanation and be calm. In other lakorn, I hate to see the heroin who seems hardly to accept the fact and unwilling to hear argument and be a drama queen. May is not a drama queen, she's pretty normal heroin.
P'Kade is the sweetest guy ever. He's affectionate, smart and reasonable person. He has a sense of responsibility. Sometimes he could be funny too. You won't get bored to watch him joking around but you probably cannot stand to see their lovey dovey. I like P'Kade chemistry with his father in law XD.
And the main point is, he never ever forces his love to Maysarin. Instead, He is willing to wait for her to love him. How sweet!
You know, in lakorn land, many hero force their love to the heroin to the extent that it becomes assault and harassment . Thankfully we won't see any inappropriate manner here.
The overall plot is predictable like any other lakorn.
I love the chemistry between the leads. Their acting is the best. They are so good to be together. If there is a shipper club for this couple, then I'm willing to join the bandwagon.
The most annoying thing of the drama is, the female villain. She is like forced to hate the lead heroin to add some spiciness of the drama. Especially, Sarut's mother. OMG, she's like come from Angry Planet plan to destroy the happiness of Earthy People. lol
note: I always give lowest score for rewatch value because I usually won't rewatch any show after completed it. Come on, there are many dramas waiting to be watched. :D
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