This review may contain spoilers
ambivalence
"Oasis". Hm. I've thought whether I should continue watching or drop the series... I've also considered more than once whether I want to write something about it... My feelings about this KDrama are ambivalent. However, the ´why is this?´ , is why I actually consider it worth mentioning.Sure, there were bumpy details, like the boys' artificial skin tanning when they were young, but I don't want to dwell on those.
>> The decisive factor for me, not rooting so much for this show, was and is that I really do NOT care so much for ANYBODY in this story. I understand, yes. There is empathy, yes. But sympathy? I couldn't care less. I've never had that before. I actually didn’t care. Neither the love story, nor the incorrigible rival, nor the girl wanting to bring back her father's cinema – this all and more only had limited impact on me. That's why I was tempted to turn my back on the story. Yet, I don't want to deny the actors' ability. I would do them injustice. They did their job fairly well. There are a number of strong moments. But still, maybe they were not the perfect cast? In any case, I would argue that in “OASIS” the character portraits were simply NOT drawn that well. ...In my view, that's obviously NOT the strength of the script...
Then there is the historical context of the series – the rollercoaster ride of the 80's and 90's. In South Korea, they are the neuralgic interface between dictatorship and democracy. But I don't want to dwell on this either.
>> What was decisive for me was that the STORY of the KDrama really mattered to me – whatever triggered the dynamics, the twists and turns. Intertwined with it were indeed countless moments that touched me deeply. Starting with the seed that underlies the whole drama: the fatal loyalty of the former slave not only to his deceased master, who had fought for independence, but also to his son, whom he now still serves as a free man. And then also the fruits that came out of this seed. Plus a lot more. The circumstances, the constraints, the social context that shines through in how it shapes (or had shaped) people, all of this really had me .
The way these forces of time and history run along in the background as a matter of course and keep stirring up the lives of the protagonists at crucial points, I think the script did THAT quite well. (However, I don't know whether it would have worked that way if I hadn't already known something about the political and social context back then.)
Maybe I could summarize: The portrait of how the historical dynamics are intertwined with personal destinies is well done in "Oasis". The character portrait of the comparatively stale protagonists, on the other hand, is less so. This discrepancy, resulting in my rather indifferent experience of the main characters on the one hand, and the emotional force with which the story keeps lashing out on the other hand, is a phenomenon that I have never experienced in a KDrama before. (But I don't necessarily assume that this has to be the same for others as it is for me.)
Eventually, despite the ambivalence, I watched to the end and was always curious to see what would be next. I can't say I regret watching either. But then I wasn´t all that happy in the end - even though I was partially impressed by the showdown, (yet, again, only partially.)
----------------------- Tiny side note: -------------------------------------
Re: 80's and 90's:
In connection with e.g. the KDramas "Sandglass" and "Giant" I have already given some of the political coulors of the 1980s and 1990s. Much of this applies to the historical context of "Oasis" as well. (you might want to check there.) Here, though, the dubious role of the secret service comes more into focus.
Re. Movie theatre:
The dictatorship was characterized by censorship. In addition, there was no freedom to travel. Accordingly, the cinema was like a window to the rest of the world, and generally offered a canvas to dream away from one's own misery, at least for a while. That may be more or less true wherever you look on this planet. But in South Korea at that time certainly more than i.e. in Europe. The role of the ´cinema´ in "Oasis" not only coincidentally represents liberation (struggle - especially of the female protagonist).
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Ps.:
Because of this KDrama I stumbled over another one - same title, 20 years older: "Oasis (2003) " or "Desert Spring".
I am grateful for this discovery thanks to the name-connection. Actually I liked that older one (despite the specific doing of that time) even more...
Nevertheless I consider "Oasis" (2023) having its moments, too...
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama is somewhat relateable aside from the love lines.First off, its a typical youth C-drama, female lead loves the popular, smart and handsome male lead.
The character development in this drama is great especially with the female lead, Xia Miao Miao. She was initially a timid and shy girl but grew into a brave, confident, and independent girl because of her friends and because of her beloved Liang You Nian.
Liang You Nian is the male lead of the drama. He's your typical c-drama male lead. He's sweet and nice to everyone except those who ticks him off or trying to get with his girl. You can totally see his glare when someone gets too close to Miao Miao. IT WAS ADORABLE! Back to the story at hand, You Nian is someone who sticks to what he wants to do and this trait of his helped Miao Miao switch her major to something that SHE herself really wanted to do from the beginning. That sparked the change in Miao Miao and how hard working she is in achieving her dreams.
The relationship between the two leads started later because Miao Miao had a crush on You Nian since high school and (spoiler alert) Liang You Nian did as well, however he didn't exactly confirm this until later in university. It was cute when they got together, they held hands, hugged, not much kissing but other than that its adorable seeing them together and working together, etc.
The drama also focused on other couples Lin Kai Tuo, You Nian's younger step brother (its funny because the actor playing Kai Tuo is way older than Kuan Lin(actor playing Liang You Nian). XD Kai Tuo was coupled with He Xin (Liang You Nian's cousin.) I call them the temper couple cause they both have anger issues/temper. hhahaha Another character is Wang Yi Chao and same-grade female character I forgot the name of albeit sh initially liked You Nian.
Furthermore, the drama focused on family issues such as Liang You Nian's family. His father married Kai Tuo's mother. For a while this caused a disruption in the friend between Kai Tuo and You Nian. One misses their birth mother, and the other misses their birth father. As said before, this drama mentioned individual choices -such as majors in universities- if your family wants you to take this major, but your hearts wants something else then follow it cause thats what Miao Miao ended up doing.
Lets just say, You Nian influenced a lot of Miao Miao's choices which eventually lead to an argument I thought was pointless. Anyways, You Nian also said Miao Miao inspired him as well in ways that she never knew she could because she thought he's "too high" for her. It just tells us that You Nian doesn't care if you're not the best looking person, its all about the personality and your actions and what you do with it.
The acting in this drama is not amazing. I just want to say Kuan Lin is not an actor even though he technically acted. He just didn't seem natural whatsoever. His expressions are stone cold aside from his smile - which is adorable but other than that his expressions in acting is terrible. Even the crying part was awkward - it had no feeling to me. The female lead who played XIa Miao Miao did an okay, passable job.
Overall, if you like youth dramas dealing with fashion design, architect, drawing, college life, family drama, friendship then this is for you. :)
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This review may contain spoilers
A very decent drama about a dark, angsty, misunderstanding-fueled red-flag romance.
(I don't want to spoiler anyone, so click "read more" to view, if you want the quick and dirty summary of this show :P )>
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Mannn, it starts off with ML doing some really messed up shit to the FL. But it's all good, because she goes to great lengths to get even. And then mannnn does she do some messed up shit to him! Then they both feel very regretful, and kind of decide to do like a "do-over".
The kisses are decent, the show is kind of tame, but with a spicy kick. The ML and FL have mad chemistry, they look so freakin good together, and they both are great actors. They make such a good pair.
The other parts of this show are really on point. Acting by supporting cast, costumes and styling, music, direction, everything fits together very seamlessly and is so well done, that it's almost hypnotic how you get immersed and just want to keep watching another episode and another and another.... There were parts of the storyline that could have been made more clear, so it's kind of blocky and disjointed. But not too much, it's mainly fine. None of the dialogue really stands out as genius, but it flows nicely and there's no cringe.
This starts out as a toxic as hell romance, but it doesn't end as one. I guess you could say they get it all out of their system and become cured of their sadistic urges toward one another. There is an HE, but it's one of those last-minue HE's that isn't really super satisfying. But the bulk of the show itself is very satisfying, so..... you could see it as a trade-off.
I think it's mayyyybe rewatchable. If I decided one day to rewatch it, it would be for the ML and FL performances, and for the pretty ratcheted-up levels of angst combined with a pleasing dose of spice. The kiss scenes could have been better, but they also could have been a lot worse. This is a cut above the average short-length drama. Definitely worth a one-time watch at least.
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This review may contain spoilers
The premise is not so unique in itself, but choosing to show it as history is what sets it apart. The characters and the politics carry the drama, so if you like that in a series, you have come to the right place.The story progression was paced well, not too slow or too fast. The characters were a major element of the whole story, so their development within the politics was refreshing to see. Each person had their own motivation and was chained to it. The grey area some major characters walk on is worth acknowledgment. No intention seemed incorrect if you looked at in the person' shoes, but the way some chose to carry it out helped differentiate right and wrong. There were those who took some questionable actions for what they perceived as a greater good, and that will make you question what exactly is being a hero; it is established that to remove dirt, you have to get your hands dirtied too, and I think that is a very realistic outlook to it. Moreover, the idea of effect of power on the purest of people is experimented here.
Despite that, I think the writers could have added more to the story - for example using the little group The Chief Secretary was a part of in the final few episodes in more ways. Another reason to withhold my score is the inconsistency of Ha Seon's motivations around episode 11 and 12. The writers added a few throwaway lines that strayed from his character.
The acting was well done. In the words of the real king, the FL was a true Frozen Queen - composed and unwavering in her principles, which probably turned her so cold, and Lee Se Young portrayed felt every bit of it. When it comes to Yeo Jin Goo, he was marvelous as the King, enough so that you believed that Ha Seon and the King to be different people, like the drama wanted us to. Kim Sang Kyung, to me, delivered a great performance as a man consistently struggling with himself I liked the character on paper, and he made him come to life. Jang Young Nam was memorable as the antagonist.
The BGM consistently delivered. Never did it feel as if some external force was intruding upon your viewing experience. It was pleasant to listen to and built moments of suspense, sadness, and even happiness. I think this was actually the part I looked most forward to - the music that accompanied the scenes one anticipated. Music can honestly make or break stories, and here it helped cement the over all presentation. They rarely used OSTs, if at all, but the ones they did sounded melodious.
One would rewatch it to see the character dynamics, and maybe a political scuffle. The team put together a great piece - give it a try if you want a break from the repetitive,. :p
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I watched this drama because of my grandmother, I saw her watching the third episode and I became quickly invested in its events so I catched up and continued watching the drama with her.
I have to point that my grandmother has a great taste (^_^)
2) Storyline/Plot:
Generally speaking , this is a family drama wrapped up with romance and comedy which is an acceptable combination for most of viewers.
Positive points:
*This drama is one of those dramas that made me interested with only one episode, I felt good vibes ever since it started because the plot was set up in a good way.
*Main Genres:
--->Family: This drama is different from other family dramas because the plot was well written in order to make viewers deeply attracted, even the problems weren't the type that was written in order to fill the drama's time; it was well calculated to make everything about the family sound natural and important. The family element was appreciated so much within me and I am not even into family dramas.
--->Humor: It was intense at the beginning but later on it didn't remain the same, not that it completely faded away but laughter moments weren't that present, let's say it was "humble". Epidode three and four were the funniest episodes in here.
The comedy was accepted overall, It would've been more appreciated if it was much intense like it was at the beginning but anyway, it deserves a spot in the positive points column.
Negative points:
--->Romance: I had a lot of thoughts before mentioning it in the negative points column; it had its positives and its negatives yet I think that the negatives were "bigger".
The romance wasn't satisfying, it wasn't light and "badly expressed" which made it one of the few bad point in this drama since it didn't feel enough. However, it wasn't completely Off, at least, it wasn't disappointing.
Story: 8.5/10
3) Acting/Cast:
*Choi Jung Won:
I don't know this actress and even if i do, I don't believe that her previous roles were that remarkable since I dont remember any of them. Here, she portrayed her role in a good acceptable way.
The character was interesting ever since the drama started, it's not an unusual or a special character though but the character's developement was captivating although it may get a little annoying at some points. Pal Gang was really clumsy and indifferent at the beginning then she changed in a good way.
*Kim Ji Hoon:
I'm not very familiar with him as an actor, all the memories that I have about him aren't that bad nor that great. Here, he wasn't any different, I felt that Choi Jung Won lead the drama yet I can't ignore his presence wich was somehow "nice" to watch.
The character in one word "stiff", all what I can think about that it was really exagerated sometimes but that's how the storyline wanted it to be. There were mements were lawyer Won seemed "appealing" and "enjoyable" especially when he is with Pa Rang , I won't judge the character harshly because like I said earlier, it's drawned by the storyline.
*The five Children:
I have no idea about them as actors so I am not going to talk about that side, let's just mention that their acting convinced me and their roles were the best.
Their characters were awesome, each and everyone of them was enjoyable; all the pranks, the attitudes and their thoughts were simply wonderful to see.
The main reason that kept me interested until the last minute was the children's presence, if it wasn't for them, i think it would be another usual boring korean drama. The children were my favorite characters in this drama.
*I really loved the second lead male at the beginning then his character development didn't seem right.
*Appreciated character: Tae Kyun Was the funniest character in the drama, he wasn't that funny but his presence has always lightened the drama and made it enjoyable, I appreciated his presence a lot.
*The second lead female had the usual boring personality that most of Korean second lead females has; that was always boring for me.
*Other cast: No hard feelings for the remaining of the cast, I can't say that I liked them or disliked them , they weren't "that bad".
*Relationships:
--->Romance: It's really hard to talk about chemistry in this drama since the romance wasn't that "intense", even when the romance became serious, I don't think that the chemistry was that present or that deep.
--->Family: The children's relationship with their big sister was really cool, even though some troubles may occure, I don't believe that it got any worse. The family relationships were warm and good to watch.
--->The triangle: The usual triangle that you see in most of Korean dramas. Well, Tae Kyun added a good taste but beside that it was annoying.
Cast: 7.5/10
Acting: 8.5/10
4) The ending:
The ending was predictable but it was fun to watch. I liked the final scene ; It was a good closure.
The ending: 7.5/10
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I enjoyed this drama so much although I am not into this type of dramas, I don't believe I was bored because I never lost interest.
*The main reason that made me attracted to this drama from the beginning till the end was the children's presence, I don't think I would've liked it if they were absent.
*Is this drama memorable: Yes it is, most of the memories that would remain in my mind are the children's memories because beside that it was a normal usual Korean drama.
My impression: 8.5/10
6) Overall:
*If you like romatic comedies with family theme in it then you would like this.
*If you like great children that would bring you entertainment then watch this.
*If you're looking for a "romantic" drama, I wouldn't recommend this.
Overall: 8.5/10.
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This review may contain spoilers
Lol, I think I'm more in love with Luo Yunxi because of this drama
Tissue Rate (aka how much I cried); 0.5 out of 5 (this drama really just me smile and laugh a lot)Omg I don't even know where to begin with this drama! Like the cast is absolutely AMAZING! The two main leads (Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu) chemistry is so so cute (I love how comfortable they are with each other in the behind the scene clips)! I really hope there is going to be another drama together with them in it! I also really love how each character developed nicely and there weren't many backstabs throughout rivals (compared to other dramas) and I love how the main two leads always stayed true to each other and I love how they are always there for each other even if they one were to be upset with one another or something bad happened in the relationship. I also enjoy how sweet the romance is and how funny the scenes are whenever the kiss (lol like when the younger cousin saw making out or when Jiang Jun’s mom caught them on the couch). This drama has each a good lighthearted and feel good vibe that you get when watching this drama!
Also this drama has really made me fall in love with Luo Yunxi's acting (like really in love lol)! I've seen him in Ashes of Love and I loved his acting there but his acting in this drama just hits differently.
But overall, i definitely would recommend this drama to others (Already got one of my friend's hooked to this lol)!! The office romances in this drama was super lowkey and not cringey so don't be scared to go for it when starting this drama!!
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The acting is amazing!!! Yoo Ah In is the best king ever!!! His portrayal of emotions is all consuming. I felt everything with him to the point that I smiled when he smiled and cried when he cried. BTW...his understated crying scenes are so well done. It is more moving than the over the top wailing. Kim Tae Hee as Ok Jung is just beautiful. I realized after watching this that the only other drama I have seen Tae Hee in is Iris. I think I should watch her other dramas, because her acting is fantastic. I also enjoyed the other actors, but they don't stand out. BTW...if you are watching this for Jae Hee, then don't waste your time. His scenes are limited.
Oh, and just a side note. That baby (although never looking like a newborn) was as cute as he could be.
The music is pretty.
I won't rewatch this.
If you like romance mixed with some historical political junk (the stuff I totally don't care about), then you would enjoy this drama.
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The movie covers their cute moments of how they met in university and how they fell in love like it was fate. The movie is shot in Italy and in China with one of the most beautiful cinematography ever.
There is MINIMAL DUBBING, lee joon gi was speaking Korean most of the time, or all the time, so it was sooooo good to hear.
Even though the movie is set In a melodramatic tone, it still had a lot of heartwarming fun moments.
One of the cutest chemi I've seen on screen.
Shampoo gives 8.7/10
Movie quotes:
" you wanna go to Italy to learn opera when you can't even sing the birthday song in tune"
"We must move on , we must"
"A world without you, I can't imagine it, it terrifies me, it's terrifying"
http://hdfree.se/watch-online/never-said-goodbye
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Burn the wicked rich with 95% vodka, literally
This film takes we, the audience on a journey to witness something grotesquely beautiful.It goes from one train wreck to another train wreck and a couple more incoming.
This film spares no one, not even the kids.
Kiritani was a man who abided the law and bounded by societal expectations.
A man who had a stable job, a normal marriage, a lost ambition and few other secrets kept from his spouse.
He became a man who was once fear of his vulnerability - then shines the most when he weaponised his fear and vulnerability.
Through the eyes of Kiritani who was a victim, survivor, then offender - was his act of revenge justifiable?
This is up to the audience to think.
A dead man can no longer think; well at least someone had a good time in the woods. Heh.
The story plot, cinematography, actors’ performances made this film feel both disgustingly raw and beautifully organic.
Rap scenes and film soundtracks are mesmerising and worth to rewatch.
As an audience, I felt as involved as a bystander.
A bystander who is waiting for everything to collapse, observing a person self-destruct and a madness ensures.
That is how this psychologically complex film felt.
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I WOULD OF GAVE IT A 9 BUT...I WOULD GIVE IT A 8.5
I think first this drama is really good mostly because for me the actors are amazing I love them , aswell I'm abig fan of them.
Story-Honestly the story is really good for me, mostly because the FL and ML are from different status like she talks and acts different compared to him, aswell the trauma that the FL has makes it more interesting for me, because it is like why can't she hold a weapon which adds more suspense to the story, aswell for the ML he can't touch girl but when he touches the FL he doesn't feel dizzy which also makes it more interesting by asking why does this two have traumas and things like that, which this made me wanting towatch more.
acting-I'm loving the acting I'm a big fan of Bai lu(FL) since I wacthed her in legends,her acting is aswell amazing, mostly because this FL I love her she acts so manly which is really different compared to the other girls, she is clever, funny for me she is in the list of favourite FL, aswell the ML I'm pretty sure I saw him in lots of drama but msotly is support roles like in eternal love and I like how now he is the ML , ans shows his talent ,ASWELL the girl which works with the ML(Du xiao xian) I find her soo annoying, (character personlaity), But I think the actress does really good this role same for the other characters I think every actor is doing a realy good job.
PLOT-I think the plot is amazing and I like how the writerIs developing the story, and how the ML is the first one to fall in love with her ,I like how the plot is not draggy like compared to other drama ,Honeslt this drama has alot of mystery mostly because the ML is adopted and the FL parents died, so it is like they might have a secret whcih I reallly like.
Overall-Honestly this drama is still airing but I think you should watch it , for me I'm loving this , I love the FL and everyhting.I just hope it gets a happy ending and the story doesn't go down the hill
Edit: I WOULD OF GIVE IT A 9 BUT...
after watching all this drama, I felt quite disapointed mostly because
1.the romance started way too late , it could of started more earlier so then we could of enjoyed the cute scenes between them
2.the story of the FL, well the thing of her not being able to hold weapons was really good but the writers just forgets about this,and just doesn't talk about it anymore aswell for the ML, the writer forgot about him not being able to get close to girl(this two dieas just happens in ep 1 and then after they just forget about it)
3.for me the story of the ML wwas good(about him being the prince), like forme it was at the good time of the drama(like right in the middle), but for the FL it finally came in the last few ep whcih was like seirosuly!!!,I was expecting more
4.the 2ML I felt bad for him, aswell he turns evil he force her to kiss him which was like seriosuly, at some point it looked as if he was obsessed with the FL, and for the 2FL she was just annoying I'm happy that she ended like that.
overrall-this drama was good, but not well developed aswell the lead have great chemsitry (everyone acts good, but I wanted more develop in the 2couple), the ednign was good but in the middle of the drama it went really draggy,for me it felt like the writer didn't know what to do and just puted some ideas all together, honestly I' not going to lie I really enjoed it (even wit the draggy parts), it's a good drama to watch I recommend it, and In my opinion I think it's worth to watch,mostly because the ending is really satifsieng
SPOLIER!!!!
HAPPY ENDING!!!!
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Her Name is Fury
Fight Club meets Infernal Affairs with a dash of La Femme Nikita, Anna, Atomic Blonde, Kill Bill and Villainess, among others. That’s how I would describe this drama in a sentence.My Name is an utterly visceral tale of one woman’s odyssey of vengeance through the deepest pits of Seoul’s dark underbelly and vicious criminal underworld that is seeped in brutality and cruelty. This drama is not for the faint-hearted for its many scenes of pure, unadulterated violence and bloodshed will most certainly induce much consternation indeed.
Based on an original screenplay, this production is helmed by Kim Jin Min, whose previous works include Extracurricular and Lawless Lawyer, and headlined by Han So Hee, of The World of the Married and Nevertheless fame. The Grand Bell Award-winning composer, Hwang Sang Jun, serves as music director.
The narrative is not groundbreaking, for those acquainted with the genre. However, when the re-telling of a similar concept is executed well, it can be an absolute joy to behold and may open doors to new fans of this dark thriller and suspense genre. My Name certainly accomplishes this, in my humble opinion, through a fascinating take on the classic revenge and betrayal plot with a focus on gritty storytelling infused with incredible cast performances and which does not shy away from highly graphic and explicit visual language. For the most part I’m quite pleased with the direction and tempo of the story development which manages to sustain the momentum of the intensity, tension and suspense. I have no major complaints over the design of certain plot devices and twists as well as the final outcome. The fact that there is absolutely zero comedic absurdity and contrived humour is a major boon for me as well.
Over the course of only 8 episodes at 50 minutes each, I did not lose interest or feel a smidgen of boredom. The action is breathlessly high-octane featuring countless fight scenes ranging from mass brawls to hand-to-hand combats involving the use of a variety of weapons. Despite composing a major proportion of the entire drama, some of the quieter and more poignant moments are interspersed throughout, including an extremely brief romantic interlude in the very last episode.
Likewise, as far as the production quality is concerned, there are no discernible major issues. The high production value is reflected in the art direction while technical execution is outstanding. I love the fact that the cinematography perfectly captures the action sequences because oftentimes these scenes are ruined by shoddy camerawork or poor post-production editing and visual effects, which is not the case here. Credit goes to the relentless efforts of the action choreographer and the cast themselves in performing the rather complicated and dangerous stunts. In particular the varied fight scenes involving mixed martial arts movements and knife fights in open spaces as well as cramped indoor settings.
The biggest praise is reserved for the cast themselves, and none more so than the lead actress, Han So Hee. My Name is a character-driven story where the failure or success is fully dependent on the depiction of the main character in question. Thankfully it is the latter because Han So Hee has unreservedly dispelled the doubts surrounding her ability to tackle this lead role which she does so magnificently with aplomb. Sometimes a role does not suit the performer, which seems to be the massive feedback from her previous performance in Nevertheless, but the characterization of Yoon Ji Woo, the FL here, is such a perfect fit for she truly embodies the persona in totality. The believability in her portrayal of sheer agony and torment, single-minded determination and strong will as well as the physical exertions inflicted from the challenges and ordeals that she faces in her pursuit of retribution. It is certainly not an exaggeration to declare unequivocally that Han So Hee thoroughly slayed this role.
Park Hee Soon deserves praise for his portrayal of Choi Moo Jin. This man oozes class, charisma and screen presence as the mafia leader of Dongcheon gang. Together with the hugely experienced and recognisable Kim Sang Ho as police detective Cha Gi Ho, both these men provide excellent support to Han So Hee’s main character that elevates this production to greater heights.
An aspect worth mentioning is the music. I love the retro beats of synthwave which complements the more contemporary rock element in a captivating combo that makes up the score by Hwang Sang Jun, who additionally composed two tracks out of the 3 OSTs in the drama.
My Name featuring Swervy and JEMINN
Mediocre Life featuring Pre-Holiday
A Thought is Haunting Me by Raphael Lake & Royal Baggs
All things considered, it’s been quite a while since I was last invested in a compellingly raw and savage journey of vengeance by a ferocious female character in an Asian drama. I’ve been dying for a bona fide strong FL in every sense of the word. Not a poser or a pretender but an actual badass who literally kicks ass. This has been an incredibly worthwhile viewing experience. Bravo!
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The bad rating really isn’t about the endgame
PROBABLY SPOILER ALERT!I dont even know where to start. At first I felt sad we were getting only 6 ep, but I couldnt wait for it to end.
It was the most tiring, slow-paced, boring season ever. I have watched season 1 probably over 5 times. It was my first kdrama and that’s why I was so invested. For someone to wait for almost two years and checking every month to see if there was an update, this was a let down. The bad rating is not because of the endgame, trust me.
Let me just start by saying that the characters were all completely different (in a negative way). We knew none of them really. There was no character development. Sunoh was pretty much non-existent (like how can you give the most important character so little screentime while he was the one that made almost everyone watch and like this show). Jojo was the most toxic, indecisive FL I have ever seen. How can you still be like that at that age? She was only hurting everyone around her for no apparent reason. She had no characteristics and no evolvement. No goals, no dreams- nothing. She was never studying, never caring for her friend (seriously what was the purpose of putting her in the show?) or anyone around her. Yet she always felt like everyone around her was hurting her. Instead of wanting a boyfriend (I think her having 3 bfs in a kdrama is a record), she should’ve just let the brothers alone to avoid their friendship to break. She just toyed with them. They did Sunoh so dirty, both Jojo and Heyyoung.
Heyyoung grew up with him and let a girl come inbetween them. Yes, maybe he liked her first but that never means he should’ve had her from the beginning. He worked with her for years and she never, ever knew him, never cared for him. That says enough about him. He was a very passive person. When Sunoh wanted to communicate about where they went wrong as friends (because Sunoh really did care), he just had the audacity to completely disregard him and just walk away without saying anything. That was wayy worse than what Sunoh did to him (even though in s1 Sunoh was like “Jojo is not an object, let her choose”). They both broke the bro-code. Heyyoung was the most boring character ever. When characters are silent and shy, they usually have an inner quirky-ness. Heyyoung had nothing. I still dont know what Heyyoung was doing at his internship or what he wanted to become in life. Just like Jojo; no dreams, no goals- nothing. His only obsession in life was someone he loved for over four years without knowing a single thing about that person and having never really talked with her (seriously, what did he like about her again?!).
Sunoh on the other hand was the only normal character (plus Gul-mi, never thought I would say this). He was trying to communicate to understand what was going on and what happened. He wanted to give Jojo all his love when he never even had love from his closed ones. He was never a rich brat. I never understood why people thought he was a bad person. There was not one bad thing about him. He was always there for others without judging them. He never cared about his money or fame and even did good causes. He was not a toxic character nor was he the unhealthy factor in his relationship with Jojo. Even with Yukju he was straighforward and she knew everything about what he did and didn’t feel. Throughout the series I kept thinking of how Jojo did not deserve him and how Yukju was a sweet girl. I wish instead of making him go through so much pain, they should’ve just focused on his relationship with Yukju. I am sure more people would’ve liked the show then. The scenes with his parents were really confusing and the whole production felt rushed. In s1 everything looked more real and thought-out, now we didn’t even see one single worker of his mother next to her.
There was literally no plot, no plot development. Romance consisted of them just walking each other home and texting if they have eaten. They were so boring. Jojo was just a pathetic character and I don’t get how no one left her in her life without dying. Jojo and Heyyoung both lacked the skill of communication and communication is key. That was a major red flag. Also how she did the same FAULT again when using the spear for Heyyoung. Like you used the shield and regretted it and now you use the spear? No wonder he had left. I was glad he did to prove a point.
I never thought I would’ve said this but the only one I really liked in this show was Gul-Mi. Such a funny, insane but still sane girl she was. I was glad that Duk Gu hadn’t died and she got her karma.
Duk Gu was annoying to me about how Jojo would’ve rang Heyyoungs love alarm regardless. Because there was no reason for her to like Heyyoung. There was nothing that he had that Sunoh didn’t have. It was all about timing. She breaks up with Sunoh because of her past issues but four years later she still has those issues and no character development, yet suddenly gives Heyyoung a chance. Why? Why not Sunoh? Because suddenly Heyyoung came to the damsel in distress. She would’ve liked anyone at that point.
ALSO, where was the whole Anti-Love alarm group? Why put that in the drama in s1 only to never go back to it in s2? That would’ve made it more realistic and interesting. We all were waiting for that.
The saddest scene were I broke down was when Sunoh and Jojo met up for closure. It felt so forced and if it was just for SK and KSY they probably would’ve chosen JojoxSunoh. I felt like it was all about timing. It looked like a missed chance. Her saying that she would install the shield again if she went back was disrespecting Sunoh. She should’ve felt ashamed for causing him so much pain. I felt like Jojo would’ve liked anyone who came in front of her. If Sunoh would’ve stayed by her side regardless, I wonder what would’ve happened.
But to be honest, I am glad she ended up with Heyyoung. Both passive and no chemistry but Sunoh deserved better so I am glad. He is way too precious to end up with a toxic person like Jojo. There was also zero reason for him to like Jojo. She was not worth it. I am sure the actors all think the same way and I am happy Jung Ga Ram is serving in the military cause he won’t get all the backlash now.
Nobody should feel sorry. Netflix knew what they were doing. We all warned them for not putting out a half-assed season. The fact that they also took away our Sunoh moments and made them Heyyoungs (liking list etc) was so painful. The scenes were lacking and a lot of things were left out or rushed (where the hell is the love alarm 2.0 event scene?!). I won’t watch anything of this director and screenwriter again. I cannot believe how they passed this. Even my cat could write it better. There was not even one “wow” moment. I just feel pain for my wasted two years.
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Legend of the Female General
127 people found this review helpful
by PeachBlossomGoddess 
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1 2 1 1 1 1 1 A Sword-Grabbing Saga That Will Tickle Your Bones
The Legend of the Female General is a hilarious drama that I enjoyed immensely. Its entire premise is a crater-sized plot hole, so if you can't suspend disbelief big time, best give this one a skip. The title makes its mythic, Hua Mulan-esque aspirations obvious (Mulan, of course, being a legend herself). The indisputably romantic and lyrical Chinese title, 锦月如歌 (Song of the Brocade Moon), makes it clear this is more Art of Love than Art of War. And in that, it delivers in spades as a sword-grabbing saga that will tickle your bones.For me, the unwitting humor here far surpasses that of A Dream Within A Dream (which I dropped), which tried so hard to be a parody it was more stressful than amusing. This drama comically embraces a bunch of the best, most incredulously well-loved tropes with abandon and just runs with them, not caring if they are well-stitched together. While I found it a nonsensical riot, I totally understand why it's been panned.
To preserve their military status, the (dumb-dumb) He family swaps out their sickly, all-important male child, He Rufei, for their robust and completely expendable daughter, He Yan. They couldn't find a big and tall girl, so they made do with a short, scrawny, and chesty one. She grows up wearing a mask and achieves glory as the redoubtable General Feihong, whose military successes are so awesome they make the real He Rufei wish he'd been born short and scrawny sans boobs. He stages an epic recovery at the height of her fame and swoops in to steal her glory. Of course, no one notices the one-head height difference because this kingdom is a classic Darwin 101 example of a state doomed to extinction. After reclaiming his name, he arranges for her to fall off a cliff, evidently unaware that no one dies falling off a cliff in a Chinese drama.
Disguised as a man, He Yan later joins the Yezhou army led by the no less renowned General Feihong—her old classmate, Xiao Jue. Suspecting "he" is a spy, Xiao Jue gives "him" the hot side-eye many times until the thrust of his mighty sword is parried by a pair of boobies. Yes, shame on me! I loved all the dirty jokes and naughty-but-nice innuendo that had me gawking at my big-screen TV with a stupid, lovestruck grin. I wasn't bothered at all that the cross-dressing "pretty boy" He Yan went full-on girly on Xiao Jue with her shameless flirting and half-innocent innuendo.
The truth is, I don't dislike trashy idol romance dramas when they are made like this. Most of the time, I drop them because I've seen the leads go through the same tired motions with so many other pairings that the chemistry feels contrived. There is nothing more nauseating than the dreadful dead-duck stare that so many third-rate traffic actors try to sell as infatuation. This drama works because I was hooked by Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei's chemistry. I saw an explosion of sparks every time he side-eyed her and she ogled him right back like she was ready to misbehave. True story: after the hot moment of enlightenment in Episode 4, my old big-screen TV literally died on me, and I had to rush-order a new one.
I won't bother shredding the plot and logic holes—there are lots of them, and far more articulate voices have already gone to town on it. Undeniably, the compelling chemistry and strong portrayals by both Cheng Lei and Zhou Ye carry this drama, bolstered by solid performances all around. I was charmed by how naturally Li Qing brought to life the face-swapped role of Cheng Lisu, and his romance with Song Tao Tao was cute and funny. Chu Zhao is the best-written, most multifaceted character in the story. The conflict between his ambition and his morality is well-played by Zhang Kangle. I had to laugh at how Bai Shu totally hammed up his cartoon villain with wildly exaggerated facial expressions; he seemed to be having the time of his life.
By far the strongest aspect of this drama are the fight scenes—they are brutally intense, fast-paced, and thrilling. This director is known for problematic storytelling, but his action choreography is really something else. Some of the war tactics are creative takes on famous Three Kingdoms battles.
As for Zhou Ye, she is a total firecracker who absolutely lights up the fiery scenes as delightfully as she owns the cute, girly bits. On the surface, she may not look the part of a female general, but she certainly acted it in the fight scenes. Too many idol actors shirk hardcore action, daring to pass off a few showy twirls and wimpy sleeve-swats as fighting. As He Yan, Zhou Ye really wielded her spear and sword powerfully and vehemently; the strain of demanding moves was visible on her features. She is a professionally trained ballerina—incredibly strong and athletic despite her size. Not all generals have to be tall and physically imposing; many famous ones were more brain than brawn. Zhuge Liang of Three Kingdoms fame was skinny and runty with mediocre combat skills, wandering into battle with his fan. While the fearsome Cao Cao was a killing machine, both he and the unbeatable Yue Fei were allegedly quite short and possibly even stocky. Oh, the preconceived notions we have! What pains me most is that no one asks why cast such a tall actor as Bai Shu as He Rufei instead of why cast Zhou Ye as He Yan.
I'm not trying to deflect the well-deserved criticisms. This is indubitably not an award-winning masterpiece, but it won my heart with its cheeky adult humor, melting romance, gripping action, and overall engaging rehash of cheesy tropes. Even with my 9.5+ rated dramas, I'm not much of a re-watcher. But this is one of the few trashy gems with scenes I can see myself replaying when I'm bored. Happy to rate this 8/10 as a top-tier guilty pleasure.
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A new Xanxia approach and excellent acting
A fresh and new human perspective brought to Xanxia Genre. Story of two people that fought their way against fate and managed to be together. The series allows you to flow with it and gets better with each episode in. The Priest and Princess might be each other's nemesis, but we saw the relation starting from scratch and developing to a lifetime of love.Moral, character, scenery, music, costumes, art , excellent CGI and top class acting of the leads - this series had them all at highest level.
Shi Ying you will be missed !
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This review may contain spoilers
I had eagerly anticipated this drama ever since the casting news dropped, mainly because of two reasons: my admiration for Lee Dong Wook and my affection for the "PiChi Couple."Initially, I didn't set high expectations for the story, intending to enjoy watching the leads fall in love again. The first two episodes confirmed my expectations of a cliched plot, but episode 3 pleasantly surprised me with character growth and a more substantial plot than anticipated. As the series progressed, I found myself increasingly drawn to the story and characters, including the side characters, all of whom shared great chemistry.
One aspect I particularly appreciated was the portrayal of a healthy relationship between the main leads, devoid of traumatic pasts. Their pure and naive love was endearing, and I found myself swooning over their cuteness. Their relationship emphasized trust and comfort, which resonated with me deeply.
The CEO Yeon and Choi-Dan couple were standout side characters, providing moments of laughter amidst the romance.
Although I was disappointed by the inevitable breakup trope, I appreciated that the drama didn't prolong the angst excessively.
Regarding the music, I enjoyed all the OSTs, especially "Make it Count," "What if Love," "Goodbye," and "Photographs."
Overall, if you're in the mood for something light-hearted, I wholeheartedly recommend this drama. I certainly plan to binge-watch it again soon.
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