Reviews

Real, intimate, at times devistating, Yumi's Cells is an adult romance take on Pixar's Inside Out.

That isn't to say that the Pixar animated tale wasn't adult in its own right, it very much was, but the story there focused on an adolescent and was the most adult when dealing with the drivers inside of her mind. Here, Yumi is at its most adult when we are dealing with the real world or the grown-up protagonist and, unfortunately, is at its most childish, and disappointing, when dealing with cells and their functionality within her.

If I was honestly going to choose my largest complaint about the series, it is by far the animated portions. The animation itself is subpar, the characters all act like children, and how they handle, respond, and decide to go about things inside of Yumi, and at times Woong (Our Male Lead), is as if it is the first time any of these cells have had to make an adult decision in their existence. The cells are, well, a plot device to try and say this isn't just another romance but something different and basically serve as the comic relief of an otherwise very honest and real tale. I could have easily done without them and at times wish they weren't a part of the story.

That isn't to say they don't add a great way to see some of the inner turmoil of our characters, and is a refreshing narrative approach to keep from having to watch the characters constantly look off to the side while speaking to no one about their desires and feelings as most Kdrama's tend to do. ( This is probably in my top 3 overall complaints of Kdrama's as a medium.) It was nice to just see the actors ACT with their faces and bodies instead of their mouths, as the cartoons took the burden of letting us know their dilemmas.

However, when the story stays in the real world of Yumi it becomes a harrowing journey to behold. So strong, so emotional, so earnest in its take on love and life that it MORE than overshadows any faults that can be found elsewhere. Yumi is as real as a person can be and just as broken. As we watch her navigate her blossoming feelings, and simultaneously come to understand her past and all the baggage that was created getting to this point in her life, we very easily see ourselves, our friends, or our family members.

Kim Go Eun shines in her role. She is beautiful, but still common. Strong, but still unsturdy. Detached, but still warm. The subtleties she brings to our protagonist Yumi is raw, unguarded, and relatable. While you will find yourself frustrated with Yumi as a character at times, especially in the latter few episodes before we reach the end of the series, Go Eun will keep you firmly on her side, and make you understand almost every action she takes.

Ahn Bo Hyun is also winning in his role of Woong. He is equal parts sexy and adorable, kind and selfish, caring and cold. He is arguably the MOST broken of the two leads, and his flaws affect the story and their romance more than hers. That you still like him, care for him, and yes root for him, when there are times he is clearly in the wrong, shows how effective both Woong is as a character and Bo Hyun is in his delivery of him.

All the other characters are very much side dishes. Every single one of them come off just as authentic as our leads, but really only exist to keep the world Yumi and Woong alive and feeling full. The character of Sae Yi has the most impact on our tale outside of our couple. Park Ji Hyun plays her effectively as someone who isn't a villain as much as a person with their own agenda and motives. Sae Yi is almost a female Iago here, her influence on Woong directing his actions more than her outright doing dastardly deeds. She is still a real person and not a cartoon. While you may not find her the nicest individual, you will still find parts of you inside her, and see her as a real person. Something that more often than not is not the case for the enemies in Kdramas.

The series is steady in its delivery and pacing. It doesn't rush to get to plot points and doesn't lag never going anywhere. There is never a time, when watching, you wish that we could just move on. This is taking too long. Or, this is just filler and there could have been less. In fact, in one of the few times watching, I was disheartened there was only 14 episodes instead of the normal 16-20. I would have loved to spend more time here.

Season 2 is already confirmed, and shooting, and yes there are characters you meet in season 1 that seem designed to be dealt with later on in other seasons. Here we meet them, understand their beginnings, and get whiffs of what is to come, but they still remain mostly innocuous for the story of these 14 episodes. This is fine, since season 2 is happening, but would have been a detraction, and a waste of actors and time, if this story was all that ended up being made.

Yumi's Cells will stick with you. It will jolt your emotions, light your anger, spark your desires, and cause you to swoon at its stars and their romance. But it never sugar coats the world and life. People are subjected to societal standards so ingrained in them that they cannot move past the insecurities it causes. People have their own issues brought on by a lifetimes journey and all the pitfalls they have already worked against. People hurt and cause pain and this story runs through the gamut of it all. Undoubtedly one of the most honest tales I've had the pleasure of watching from South Korea. 9.0/A/4.5 Stars, shouldn't be missed by anyone who enjoys journeys of the heart.

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I've been detoxed from all other terrible BL!

Finally, a masterpiece film! Now I have the strength to plow through another dozens of BL vomit. Thai BL is not dead!

Director's portrayal of youth and passion was told like a classic music: with stimulating taste, visually captivating, and steadily paced like ocean tide on a sunny day. I just wish they kept the same director for the sequel...

Main leads' portrayal of overwhelming teenage emotions through simple gestures and micro-expressions were refreshing and impressive than any veteran Thai actors. Oh (PP) silently seducing and teasing Teh (Billkin) or when Teh unknowingly followed Oh's every movement like a man possessed was like Siren drawing a sailor with their songs.

A must watch, and will be following the actor's future prospects with enthusiasm. Billkin's musical talent is also something to look forward to. Beautiful OST.

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A Must watch feel good drama

A very sweet and feel good drama. You will not skip any episodes .The drama is much realistic in some aspects and you will get immersed in the drama that you wouldn’t notice time

And Surely you will fall in love the both ML and FL , especially ML , he is such a sweet guy with sweet character. Not like those domineering manipulative MLs. You will just fall love with him and Surely you will rewatch the drama just for his scenes.

There are three pairs and they gave good story to three of them .Also the drama and stress is less here .

This is a must watch drama

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Good!

I don't know what was holding me back from watching this mini-love story in 2022, but I've come to my senses and I've finally given this 80-ish mins series a shot. I Want to See Only You is a quaint watch, but rather a good one with some pretty detailed characters and an overall better arch than others told in less than 2 hours.

Let's Dive In.

I think I held myself back from watching this because it looks sad (from the title poster). So I automatically kind of kept it on the back burner, but if that's why you're holding yourself off from this, then don't -- it's exactly the opposite.

What makes this series so good is the very instinctively different personalities of the two main characters. Yuma is very childlike and outgoing, which is why it's kind of hard to see him potentially getting into a relationship cause it seems he's not yet mature enough for one. And then we have Sakura who's very poised and obedient, who likes being alone and plays sad piano music. That's where they grow a lot together though because Yuma is very childish, but when with Sakura he's somewhat calm and compassionate, yet, if Yuma is going crazy, then Sakura is blessed to be in his presence, and takes his energy and runs with it. It's quite an endearing dynamic, and you fall for it instantly.

First loves, especially with your childhood best friend is a complicated one, and this series exclaims that perfectly. Through eye contact, through between-the-line dialogue, and very tentative and passionate (although very chaste) kisses. And yay for kisses (thank you Japan!). This is a very accurate depiction of high school and being in love and being gay at that. *chef's kiss*

Norio was a very precious side character, and I felt very bad for him and his crush on Riko. I wished they would've ended up together too, but I'm not here for the hets, so it's okay. I didn't care much for the teachers' relationship, but I thought the matching outfits were cute.

Ratings:

Story: 8.5/10 - A little too short, but everything flows nicely for its time frame. It's a pretty simplistic story with nothing crazy or deep. Just a nice watch about high schoolers realizing they're in love.

Acting: 8.5/10 - It was nice! I think Sakura's character had a hard time trying to cry (or at least it looked like he was trying) but other than that, it was good.

Music: 7/10 - the piano was nice.

Recommendation Value: 8/10 - Highly recommended, but it's a bit short, so it's not the very first thing I'd recommend to someone unless they wanted something quick and easy.

I know I talk very highly of this series, but I think an 8 with suffice. Just because it's not something that will be very memorable from now until the end of the year. I'll most likely forget I watched it in a couple of months. But it's cute, it's lighthearted, has some really good camerawork, and some adorable characters. So please watch.

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WHAT HORROR?

Honestly, Chinese horror movie have always leave me confused than scared... and this movie is one of the worst I've ever seen.

There's no solid STORYLINE, just pure rubbish.

A whiny ass baby sister who wants to see her dead older sister that committed suicide in the hospital and a young widow who wants to see her dead husband that died on the operating table due to complications.

A strained relationship between father and son, works as Taoist exorcist priest that does ghost tour.

The acting is just so meh. The whole movie is just MEH and useless. Atleast murder all of them in gruesome way. Not some lousy jumping off the window flashback crap.

The main ghost was some evil spirit mother who lost her son and couldn't accept the death of her child, so she dose herself with gasoline and flame herself to death in the hospital morgue.

Is that scary? Barely.

Heck, makes me think that we Chinese can't handle watching pure horror movie. ?

The special effects? Cheap work.

Just not worth watching if you're expecting a good Chinese horror movie.

Just stick to Chinese comedy horror movie, especially the ones from 80's and 90's.

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I don't know how to say it but it took me until I watched half of the drama to become really interested. However, I think it was because I followed the previews and waited until it was nearly done airing before watching it. And thus, I recommend you to not watch/see/hear about ANY spoilers. That way, I think you'll be much more interested in this drama since the plot is pretty unpredictable.

That said, there are dramas that are still like crack even when I know what happens. So there is something that is missing, a spark, an attraction in this drama for me. Set in 1989, I liked the retro vibe; the production did a good job at making sure everything was authentic-from the bb caller things to the attire. The drama also explored some delicate issues and in my opinion, it was done very well. This is my first time traveling drama and yeah, it's surprisingly kind of believably done, not extremely far-fetched.

Most of the actors are pretty new or have only been in a few dramas. Marcus Chang is cute but his acting is fresh. It makes it hard for me to become extremely invested in his character's dilemma when I feel like he is trying really hard to show his anguish. And frankly, Ivy Shao's character, Zhen Zhen got on my nerves quite a lot. She is very, very naive but at least through it all she has a lot of heart. Her character did contrast well with Chen Che so it was cutely done, just not the most innovative one out there in dramaland. There are quite a bit 'Romeo and Juliet' love line aspects so I guess that was another one of the reasons I didn't just love this show.

Negatives aside, I did like the family love shown throughout this drama more than anything. It was raw, shown especially well through the hardships the families had to face together. The drama also demonstrates that the simplest choices can result in something drastically different, which forces us- as viewers- to really think about the choices we make in our own lives and if we're making the correct choices-for both ourselves and our loved ones.

OST is nice, catchy, but not my favorite.

I don't think I would re-watch. It was a decent one-time watch but ultimately, I didn't fall in love with it. Would I recommend it though? Yeah, sure if
-you like retro vibes (the clothing, the music, the atmosphere)
-you like 'forbidden'/denial from family love lines

(7.5, 8.5)

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This drama was a crime thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout of the show. And I was so captivated by scenes and events that where showed.

Story:
For me this detective story was surprising and entertaining. It was something completely new and different. The way how past and present evens were connected only by an old walky-talky was brilliant. Story has many questions left to answer and is kept for the audience to decipher on what they want to happen is very intriguing. The ending was unexpected but expected at the same time. I am satisfied with the ending.

Acting/ Cast/Characters:
At first in my eyes Kentaro Sakaguchi was that actor whom I can’t imagine playing dark themed dramas or movies but this drama proved me wrong. The way how he deals and delivers his character emotions and thoughts was amazing.
Also Kichise Michiko, in my eyes, did a very good job showing her characters soft side while still being this strong independent woman who has sealed her heart from the outside world.
The chemistry between characters was good too. I liked how Saegusa Kento and Sakurai Misaki coming into each others lives did show trust build up towards each other and some character development. But I did see some lack in character build up but I couldn’t wrap my finger around it.

Music:
For opening and ending scene is used BTS – Don’t Let Go. Starting this drama, I thought that songs part was chosen weirdly or randomly even. But as I continued the drama, I got used to it and at one point I caught myself thinking that the part of the song might be chosen for a reason.

Notes
I hope we will be able see more of these type of dramas/ movies from Kentaro.

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I watched this drama when all the episodes came out and I’m glad I did. Otherwise, I would’ve dropped it on the first couple episodes.

At first when you watch it, the first couple episodes are really. Really. Annoying. Some characters introduced are overbearing/really unrealistic - but the most overbearing thing about this drama was the female lead. It’s 2018, and she was relatively stupid, weak and honestly unrealistic. I guess the writers wanted to make her seem cute/ relatable - but most of her actions was either cringe or infuriating. I was really disappointed since I LOVED the actress who played her chatacter. However - her character DOES get explained and there is a reason why she is written like that. But it isn’t immediately explained or shown.

The story is also written quite badly. But I guess their motif of “nothing is a coincidence” and their themes surrounding fate could be a reason for the story being written like the way it was.

Overall - the show had great potential. The actors/actresses picked for this drama was great, but the story, the writing and direction of this drama... it could’ve been better.

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I admit that at first I watched this just because Wu Chun was in it, but despite the fact that he was supporting character, the movie was rather good. It is the typical chinese kung fu movie, but because it has a historical background the layout of the film is slightly different to fit that time. Since it was in the Ming Dynasty, the invention of metal contraptions were present, so it is not the traditional Chinese kung fu movies like crouching tiger and house of flying daggers kind of thing. The plot line goes rather fast, so paying attention in the beginning is very crucial because it lays a foundation for the rest of the movie. Overall, it was a good action movie with very interesting sound effects. If you like chinese action movies then you might also enjoy this film as well. Also the complex plot is very intriguing.

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A very heartwarming and relatable watch

This drama is PHENOMENAL! Went into this expecting nothing since I don't know the actors or anything about the drama. It just popped up in my YT recommendation while I was watching another cdrama. I definitely did not expect this to become one of my all time favorite Chinese dramas (and I've watched quite a lot already). The poster was quite uninviting and the general description of the drama did not really help. But I still gave it a try cos why not, I'll just drop it after watching 1 or 2 episodes if I don't like it, like manyyyyyy other c-dramas lmao.

BUT after just the first episode I was sold. The story is so interesting. I have not seen any other drama like this. It realistically portrayed how people come and go in our life, especially the different people in each stage of our life. Sometimes in order to move forward with our lives, we don't get to spend much time with our close friends and we get to have new friends in that new stage of our life. But still, we don't forget that relationship and connection we have with our friends from the past and the present. I just love how this was portrayed in the different stages of Shi Guang's journey.

The acting of Lu Siyu (young Shi Guang) was what really prompted me to continue watching this drama. And the cast after they grew up, Hu Xuan Xu and Hao Fu Shen, made me even more crazy for the drama. Each of the actors played their parts well, and none of them disappointed me. Each character also has their own side story which is very realistic in a way that each of us experiences different things and reacts differently to situations. I never knew Zhang Chao before this drama, I only knew that his face is familiar as I've seen him in other dramas but that's it. But after this drama, I will definitely look forward to his future projects since I love his acting in this drama. Same goes for the other actors who really amazed me (aherm Hu Xuan Xu).

The cast, the script, the production, everything is really done super well. JUST WATCH IT! You will not regret it.

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A Sad Story But Remarkably Real

This is a great case study of unrequited love on both sides with neither one having the courage to say what they really mean. It is profoundly sad and so much time was wasted on misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and LACK of communication. But oh the tenacity to right the wrong is beautifully portrayed and full of sentimentally. The acting is well done, more so in Phupha episode with the Nanfah seemingly a bit belabored. Yet, it has such profoundly moving scenes in it that I was profoundly moved. These two are very sort but accomplish a lot of emotions in a very short period of time. Just a remarkable human story. Sometimes told with subtly; and sometimes with symbolism. But all so meaningful.

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Swoony mini-drama with perfect amount of comedy, angst, and great OTP chemistry

For a mini drama, this was a gem! One of my favourites so far and up there with A Familiar Stranger and The Killer is Also Romantic (same FL) among the best short-length dramas.

I'm very picky when it comes to comedy, but a lot more forgiving with these short ones, and for the most part, the humour worked for me in Si Shi Hao despite some of the anachronisms. The pacing and story telling were also well done and the production quality was solid. The main couple had great chemistry and the ML's love for the FL was a great blend of swoony mild angst. Importantly, the ending was satisfying and complete, and did not feel rushed (especially for a short-length drama).

Highly recommend this one if you are looking for a drama fix, but don't have time for a big 40-episode binge session!

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I decided watching this movie because of Lee Min Ki and Shin Min Ah...they were the only ones I knew from the cast list.I wasn't expecting much.

The STORY isn't something new...some unbeliveble survival contest with 8 people who love money or need it desperately.I really didn't think much of it...just a movie so I an make time move faster.
This is were The CAST enters.The acting was great in my opinion.Park Hee Soon was amazing....he made me tremble for 55 minutes.The actors did a great thing in entering their characters feelings and emotions and I was really caught in Lee Min Ki and Jung Yu Mi relethionship.It was so twisted and heartbreaking...once again you discover how important your own life is.
The MUSIC was nothing special...I barely remember it...but this kind of film doesn't need movie because the scenes are strange and complicated enough.So I really didn't need any kind of music to enjoy it.
I would totally REWATCH this movie!It was so interesting and emotional that I'm sure I won't get bored from it.

This movie tells a story that uncoveres the fact that anyone, I mean ANYONE, can turn crazy because of things that happened in his life.
I can't say that this is one of my favorite movies but I can assure you that is worth watching...if you want something phisological and action packed.

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