Reviews

what we needed.

i think this is such a solid start. following yinwar from their beginning and the ups and downs since the FIRST love mechanics, they deserved this. it’s a serious plot with some funny moments, and the script is IMMACULATE compared to other thai bls rn.
this drama deserves to get recognition like other darker theme bls rn, i’m so excited for the rest of the series to air.
the difference between this show and love mechanics is exactly what yinwar needed to show their talents. everyone knows they have the chemistry, but their acting has gone unnoticed when i believe they are one of the best acting pairs in the thai lakorn world rn.

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This drama is everything there's romance, suspense, comedy, supernatural elements and so much more. The chemistry between the actors is everything, especially when the leads aren't very experienced but the acting is top notch. I can't stress enough how proud I am of Jinyoung - to me he is considered to be one of the best idol actors. Also the OST is so good - love how fellow got7 members support Jinyoung so much on his first lead role as well. At first I thought this was going to be another boring drama where the suspense only lasts a couple of episodes, BUT NO, it carries until the very end and has all kinds of dark twists and turns that are not expected at all. All the actors were so good at portraying their role, even though there were so many ups and downs, I will def miss this drama and this cast acting together. PLS MAKE ANOTHER SEASON !! I hope to see more JYP actors in dramas!! 10/10

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I would rate Oh My Ghost 5.5/10. The actors were fantastic in it. Park Bo Young really convinced me that Kim Seul Gi had possessed her body. She had her mannerisms down perfectly. I can see why she's the highest paid actress in cable history. Her coworkers were just as strong. I've never seen Kim Seul Gi before and she really impressed me as Shin Soon Ae. It would have been nicer to see the actresses play off each other more in the drama. Bong Sun was under possession for way too long and I think that lowered the quality of the drama. All the changes she went through were hard to understand because she was possessed the majority of the time. We didn't see these changes happen organically. It seemed like in the first half of the show that Soon Ae was the lead. We saw Chef all in love w/ Soon Ae personality. He even admitted himself that he fell for a ghost. His sudden change over to loving Bong Sun wasn't really believable. We saw that he was in love Soo Hyung for years. I don't believe he was carrying a torch for Bong Sun all those years. The romance in the drama could have been handled a lot better than it was. If you wanted to make me believe Bong Sun and Sun Woo were the story I should have seen them falling in love. I didn't. Oh My Ghost isn't a terrible show by any means. I just think it's a lazily written one.

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Aged to perfection.

Since Love and Destiny was produced by the same team and resides in the same world, comparisons to TMOPB are inevitable. Pleasingly, the only connection is that it takes place earlier in the same 3L3W universe. This is efficient as less time is wasted on world building and explaining the tribes, hierarchies, time and other conventions. The story-line sticks to the 3L3W formula of an unforgettable love story that spans three lives and three realms. While TMOPB was an intensely passionate love story, this has more of a romantic comedy flavor. This is the story of a pure heart-ed young fairy who falls in love with the powerful and much older God of War. This relationship dynamic sets up for a different love story that again succeeds in delighting and captivating in a way that is now becoming a 3L3W brand.

The plot is common for this genre (save the world or save the girl) and is this drama's biggest weakness. Those familiar with the director may observe the backstory of some leading characters (Jiu Chen, Ling Xi and Jing Xiu) were inspired by Journey of Flower - (Bai Zhihua, Hua Qiangu and Dongfang). That said, L&D is neither another TMOPB, nor JOF but a delightful story that stands on its own, albeit with a few cliche tropes. The three main arcs could have been better balanced - the first two took too long and did not leave much time for the final, most satisfying arc. There were too many (well executed) comedic fillers in this drama. This made it feel like "nothing's happening" or the relationship progressed too slowly.

The weak plot was compensated for by superb acting by the main leads. Veteran actors Chang Chen (Jiu Chen) and Ni Ni (Ling Xi) were perfectly matched. They are both gorgeous actors whose emotions and facial expressions transform and make them compelling in their appeal. The role of Jiu Chen was made for a Chang Chen that is aged to perfection - his sculpted bone structure and fierce expression exudes the aura of a stoic, mature and powerful God of War. Any suggestion that some young idol actor could have pulled this off is ridiculous. Jiu Chen is a formidable character that wears the lonely responsibility of keeping the realms safe. He moves mountains to force a win-win in his terrible conflict between duty and love. His instinct is to protect Ling Xi, to the fault of hiding the truth from her. He is alternately stern and helplessly indulgent with her. His impassive expression softens, he even smiles and becomes open and vulnerable only with Ling Xi. He is touchingly candid and unguarded when he confesses his feelings to her. With insight beyond her youth, Ling Xi recognizes the loneliness and burden inherent in Jiu Chen's role. She captivates him with her spell-blinding smile and mischievous antics; he is touched by her devotion and inept attempts to aid him. As their feelings grow, you can feel the invisible bond of their awareness and affection for each other. Ling Xi's best, most courageous moments are when she makes unbelievable sacrifices in order not to add to Jiu Chen's burdens. Each loves the other more than they love themselves.

In the first arc (20+ episodes), the Ling Xi wakes up Jiu Chen, who had been frozen for 50,000 years after sealing the Demon King. He is suspicious that such a weak fairy could have awakened him and takes her in, ostensibly to care for his health. The guileless and infatuated Ling Xi is delighted and disrupts his household with her comical attempts to entice him. She loses her senses over him and fires up his stone cold heart with her devotion. However, as God of War it is his duty to execute the young fairy with the ability to release the Demon King. Initially I found Ling Xi too subservient; a bird immortal with a bit of a bird brain. Yet Ni Ni's portrayal of Ling Xi was never annoying, indeed I was charmed despite my preference for stronger characters. She won me over when she bravely steps up to protect Jiu Chen and takes responsibility for her own life.

In the second arc (up to episode 50), Ling Xi is reincarnated as a mortal Lin Mo who has to go through three trials. She overcomes many challenges and becomes independent along the way. This is where Jing Xiu emerges as a manipulative, petty and sinister love rival to Jiu Chen. Episodes 30-40 can be skipped - this part was draggy and I struggled to empathize with Jing Xiu. This actor overacted the villain when he is actually supposed to be a grey character - he was so selfish, manipulative and creepy I was irritated at Ling Xi for not being wary of him. There were many unnecessary side characters in this arc that lingers too long on Ling Xi's coming of age. The best moments are between episodes 40-50 where Jiu Chen and Lin Mo fall touchingly in love (again). The final arc was the shortest and the sweetest. Ling Xi becomes a powerful high goddess who forces Jiu Chen to let her share his burdens and they face their enemy together.

The supporting cast was strong and there is a lovely secondary love story between Yun Fung and Qing Yao that is nicely intertwined with the primary. The villains did a decent job being evil and hateful but their motivators were typical: revenge, envy and obsessive unrequited love. The OST is very good but the CGI is quite dreadful. Overall a quality and enjoyable drama with a big budget. The bottom line remains as a love story, it boils down to the main leads. In this, they delivered - virtually all of their scenes brought a silly, lovesick and goofy smile to my face. You will enjoy this immensely if you appreciate leading actors and a love story that is truly aged to perfection.

PS - got a number of PMs re: comparison to TMOPB. I avoided directly comparing them but I also reviewed TMOPB and if you read that, what I think the differences are is obvious and reflected in the rating.

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Slow delicious burning love drama

"Only for Love" is a captivating Chinese drama that held my attention effortlessly. The actors were outstanding. There were some tropes/ cliches such as three couples with the typical relationships viz. one sprightly independent innocent woman, another very young pretty young girl just on the cusp of womanhood and another player / seasoned woman and their respective others who match them perfectly. Yet, originality is not necessary when a tale oft told is told with flow, grace and beauty.

The main leads have this wonderful chemistry that is palpable, adding a layer of believability to the unfolding love story. They manage to hold the tension all through till the end. The push and pull between them, the situational humour and witty dialogues, (though I suspect I only caught some of the nuance in the translations) made for delightful viewing. More importantly I loved the gender dynamics between the leads. At no point was either subservient to the other, there was respect and love and friendship among them as they progressed in their relationship over time. And each would always support the other when needed. Goals!

The other two couples have less screen time but still manage to hold my attention. There was beautiful progression in the relationships. The character development in the drama is commendable, as each protagonist is carefully crafted with depth and complexity. The actors deliver stellar performances, capturing the essence of their roles with authenticity.

Even the backdrop of hi tech industry, the lead's focus on technology than production in his long term strategy and forward thinking were subtle ways to explain his superiority over fellow beings. The narrative unfolds with a delicate balance of romance, humour and cultural nuances, creating a compelling viewing experience.

The storyline, while centered around love, delves into societal and familial dynamics, offering viewers a glimpse into the complexities of modern relationships in a Chinese context. The pacing of the drama is well-executed, keeping the audience engaged throughout the episodes.

Visually, "Only for Love" is a feast for the eyes. The cinematography beautifully captures the vibrant cityscapes, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the show. The costume and set design are meticulous, transporting viewers into the world of the characters. The fashion and style of all the characters are art ! Every costume is beautiful and fits the personality.

There is heat in their kisses, their glances, body language and the love making scenes are tasteful and sweet. There is tenderness and a sweet mellowness in the build up of each relationship - and none of the scenes are ever offensive. The couples are well matched.

Some viewers may find certain plot twists predictable, and at times, the pacing may seem a bit slow. However, for me, these were not flaws - as I do not expect original storylines for every book or drama or movie.

It is good story telling that I am interested in and that was delivered in spades. And for me the pacing was just right. At 36.5 episodes (don't miss the bonus episode with their wedding), with the medium pace, and well drawn out characters, a slow burn love affair, the drama was a well designed feast for the senses. The music was good and has actually grown on me over time... that probably happens if you watch a drama a thousand times on repeat.. lol.

I noticed a few themes in people who disliked this drama ... they did not enjoy the business talk and they found the FL unbelievable. I found the strategy being the business aspect of this drama fascinating and interesting. Shi Yan came across as strong, courageous, visionary and selfless. And the FL Shu Yi made perfect sense to me. She is someone who is incredibly bright at work but has zero interpersonal skills or ability to understand men. I have seen a few people like that so to me she was believable and rather endearing. I can see why some people would be annoyed though - this kind of character is rare in real life so many might have not come across such people.

Overall, it is a must-watch for those who appreciate a thoughtful and visually appealing portrayal of love in a contemporary Chinese setting. Most importantly if you do decide to watch, I recommend you do not multi task. The pace is just right and each scene brings something important to your overall enjoyment so sit back and relax and enjoy every moment of this perfect romance.

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Kill It is a dark intense Korean crime drama that discusses nature vs nurture, illegal organ harvesting, research ethics and medical ethics. The drama is about a professional killer (Kim Soo Hyun) who kills for money and is trying to find out about his past, and an ex-ballerina turned detective (Do Hyun Jin) who is trying to solve the mystery of the serial killings. Soo Hyun was adopted by an experienced professional killer for hire who taught him the profession, and has almost no memories from before he was adopted. I loved the story and finished the drama within two sittings. This drama had a lot of grey areas. Although he is a murderer, Soo Hyun is no where close to being evil, and at times I really felt bad for him. The cast was great. Jung Hae Kyun as Do Jae Hwan was great as the main villain, and I really hated his character. The music was good and fit the drama very well. If you are searching for a happy-go-lucky drama then this drama is definitely not for you. If you are searching for a drama with an amazing story that touched upon touchy subjects, and isn't afraid of watching dark and intense dramas then this drama is for you. Overall I would recommend this drama, and the ending made my eyes water.

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A Love NOT So Beautiful

First of all is it even a remake of A Love So Beautiful drama because it doesn't seem like it at all. Well little changes are definitely fine but they literally changed the whole story. The original drama and also the Korean remake starts with the female lead confessing her love to the male lead and when she gets rejected instead of being heartbroken she decides to win him over. This scene shows that the female lead wants the male lead to know that she loves him right? In this drama I never once felt that Som-O loves Chadjen. Som-O didn't want Chadjen to know that she likes him. Like she was screaming at him for no reason, getting mad, behaving as if she's his best friend. And blah blah blah

They messed up the original characters so much like bruh you won't even believe it. Jiang Chen is a cold male lead and in my opinion one of the best cold male lead in dramaland but is Jiang Chen a emotionally unavailable when you need him. The answer is no. Yes he doesn't express his feelings that much. But he still cares about Xiao Xi, his friends and sibling a lot. He is a kind hearted person, he is smart, he is mature. On the other hand they first showed that Chadjen as a clumsy person in his early childhood, then a famous student in his teenage years and an emotionally unavailable person in his adulthood. Yes the male lead is a smart guy, he is a topper but in the original he was a normal student NOT A CELEBRITY. Chadjen was like a celebrity, like a real one. Many girls were approaching to him and he didn't know how to say no, Jiang Chen knew how to say no. Also Chadjen was a really good swimmer in the first two to three episodes but after that the swimmer Chadjen just disappeared. Why did they even had to add this swimming Chadjen thing. Was the male lead a swimmer in the original drama? No, he wasn't, only the second male lead was a swimmer. I bet they didn't do any kind of research before making this drama. There were so many things wrong with the character of male lead.

Xiao Xi is a bit childish but she's responsible enough about most of the things. In the original the female lead becomes an independent woman. And watching her character development, felt like a beautiful journey. Xiao Xi made so many efforts for Jiang Chen, like waking up early, cooking for him, trying to be a better student, trying to get his attention and so on. Som-O is not Xiao Xi at all, she cooked for him once and then nothing else. She is so stupid but then she wanted to be a doctor like seriously!!!! Then when she failed her admission examination and she wanted Chadjen to tutor her. Why he should help you? Don't you have any self respect? Som-O is the most annoying character ever. I didn't like her at all.

Neo did justice to Wu Bo Song's character as Tao but still something was missing. Neo is a good actor and that's why Tao was likable. But the writing kinda messed up lots of things. Lin Jing Xiao was tough and cool but she was cute and kind at the same time. Emma was the right choice for this role but she wasn't anything like Lin Jing Xiao, she tried to act tough and cool but failed miserably. Lu Yang our chinese Nobita was so cute and funny but New was kinda annoying.

Xiao Xi's father supported her in everything, this father daughter duo was on same team in their little family. But in this version what's wrong with the father? He's so irritating, controlling his daughter, being overprotective for nothing. Your daughter Som-O isn't even that pretty or smart. I don't know why but I didn't like Som-O's mother too.


They messed up the main plots, this 5 students are friends, they like and care for each other a lot. They had bonding and their those chaotic, sad or cute moments was everything but we got nothing. In this version they just met up became friends instantly, no development at all. The poem Jiang Chen had written for his father literally made me cry but what the hell Chadjen wrote? Jiang Chen had a reason, strong desire to be a doctor but it was never shown in Chadjen's character. After admission examination failure Xiao Xi became mature, she made herself better in terms of many things. Don't let me get started on that stage play thing.

AND why the hell they turned the School Doctor to a senior student? I wanted to see the doctor student cute interactions again T_T

Every single thing about this drama is nonsense to me. I hate this drama a looooooooooooooot.

Dew is a horrible actor. Prim is below average. Some people were saying that she is a good actress but she acts good only in thriller dramas. I mean does that even make any sense. If she was a good actor, she would have acted well in every genre.


GMMTV used to be a company who used to make good adaptions or at least watchable one's. I don't know what happened to them after F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers, they started doing a poor job adapting new remake dramas. In GMMTV 2023 they announced 6 remakes project and all of them failed miserably when it comes to storyline. I knew the same was gonna happen to this one too after watching Faceless Love, Cherry Magic, Find Yourself and Beauty Newbie, still these dramas were watchable for the first half but A Love So Beautiful was a NIGHTMARE. I am so glad my nightmare finally ended!

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"I hope that in this world, there is someone who will come just for me."

"Legend of the Female General" (锦月如歌) is one of my highly anticipated dramas for 2025. It is based on the novel "Rebirth of a Star General" by Qian Shan Cha Ke, but I haven't read the book, so my review is based solely on the drama.

(NOTE: This review has been sitting in my drafts folder for 2 months, and I'm glad to finally publish it!)

PRODUCTION 📺:

For me, one of the things I like most in this drama are the action scenes, which are so well executed. Most of the time, as they wield their swords, whips and spears, I was glued to the screen, and I felt like I had an adrenaline rush just by watching them 😂. I think the production team really put effort into the choreography. Some memorable scenes include:
• He Yan's sword dance in Yezhou👏 ~  It's a combination of gracefulness and strength.
• He Yan's Duel with Ding Yi ~ Badass He Yan at one of her finest scenes!
• He Yan's face-off with the Lie He commander ~ this scene and the events leading up to it are just brilliantly done.
• Their battle with Wu Tuo at Jiyang and  He Yan's fight with Hu Ya Te, the commander of Wu Tuo.

There are still other action scenes of He Yan and Xiao Jue that I like, but I won't mention all of them anymore.

As for the location shoots and costumes, they are appropriate and meet my expectations for a costume drama set in a fictional period in Chinese history.

STORY/PLOT 📚:

Right from the start, the drama team shows us that one of the story's main themes is the romance between He Yan and Xiao Jue. For me, they have shown enough of the romantic aspect in the drama.  I also like the snippets of flashbacks in some episodes that show the dynamics between He Yan and Xiao Jue when they were still students in Xianchang Academy.

The military aspect is also dealt with, and their military exploits/espionage activities are complemented by the excellent fight scenes.  Another thing I appreciate in the drama is that He Yan's military genius, leadership and commanding presence really shine through in the scenes where they're needed.

Overall, the drama's pacing is good.  Each arc is given time and space to develop, except maybe for the last arc. As for the ending, it gives a good wrap-up for most of the characters.

There are some parts that could be better though:
• I wish they had shown more background on He Yan and her master Liu Bu Wang, like where and how they met, and how he helped mould her to become the person she is.
• Some parts could have been fleshed out further, but given the number of episodes, I think we got a good compromise.
• I was disppointed with how the scriptwriters treated General Yan He's character (played by Peter Sheng) towards the end.

CAST/ACTING 🎭:

Zhou Ye as He Yan is the one that stands out for me. She was able to show the different sides of He Yan - one who's feminine yet not dainty, sharp and strategic, an ace fighter and a leader. When she fights, she slays it! There were just some scenes with Xiao Jue in Yezhou city where I think she acted a bit too feminine, when she was supposed to be a man at that time.

Cheng Lei is one good actor who has portrayed memorable characters in other dramas, e.g., Gong Shang Jue in "My Journey to You". Here, he brings the same kind of intensity and focus as Xiao Jue. There are moments though when I feel he could bring more depth/emotions to his scenes.

He Ru Fei got my blood boiling many times; his character is so infuriating! Based on this alone, I'd say Bai Shu did a good job portraying him. He Ru Fei is a despicable character, with little redeeming qualities.

Zhang Kang Le was able to show the morally grey aspect of Chu Zhao. He could have been a great statesman, had he learned to let go of his obssession.

Li Qing as Cheng Li Su and Zhang Miao Yi as Song Tao Tao contributed to the light-hearted scenes. I like that they put these two characters in the drama.

QUOTABLE QUOTE 🔮:

"有时候做一个人的替身久了，难免会忘记自己是谁。我希望，这世上有那么一个人是为我而来。" ~ 禾晏
"Sometimes, when you've been another person's substitute for so long, you might forget who you are. I hope that in this world, there is someone who will come just for me." ~ He Yan

FINAL VERDICT ⭐️: If you like military dramas with great fight scenes and romance, and a kick-ass female lead who succeeded in a male-dominated world (despite having to dress up as a man first), then I would recommend this. Despite some parts that could have been better, this is still a good watch for me.

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“I see you clearly”, and I saw it all very clearly.

“I see you clearly”, and as I sat down and started watching this show, I saw it all very clearly.

I saw the beauty of nature, the breathtaking environment, the cultural heritage of the herders, the kind and warm-hearted Kazakh people and the ever changing times.

It’s a simple plot, but it’s beautifully told, with sympathetic depictions of the common minority folk and richly nostalgic evocations of rural life.

What a wonderful slow, character-driven story with its dreamlike quality, yet so detailed and personal that it captures and connects stunningly with so many lives.

I still have the lingering feeling of being intimately acquainted with the people living in the isolated yet beautiful landscapes of Altay.

The music score was just perfect and poignant; on more than one occasion I found myself shedding tears for the beauty of it.

I highly recommend this, and I am extremely grateful to the person who suggested it to me, as it is deserving of recognition and praise.

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weird n wonderful

The premise and promo images are misleading - if fluffy BL is all you’re after, this isn’t really it.

This show was a ride and I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it so much. It started off confusing me with it's strange combination of things. I watched the titles of the first episode wide-eyed, thinking – mother of god, this has to be a piss take. What followed was a mildly insane mixture of dated feeling melodrama (a lakhorn apparently - it educated me), BL (familiar with), mystery, 90’s kids’ show and sickly-sweet sentimentality. I have a terrible attention span so the fact it kept me engaged for 90 mins 3 times a week is quite an achievement. I kind of wanted to discuss it but a couple weeks in and the comment section was a hotbed of preachy angst so to preserve my enjoyment I stopped looking at it and kept to myself and my teddy bears. The main issue people were fighting over was Nut’s ‘tude, and treatment of Tofu and his mum. I’d advise to stop watching if it’s disturbing you. Otherwise be patient and stick with. He’s clearly being a dick but he has his reasons and - erm - it’s part of the story! The characters are all flawed but that’s the beauty and kind of the whole point of the show.

The fantasy elements wear off a lot after the first couple episodes and you're left with just the odd talking blanket. The low-techness of all that stuff I found v amusing. It also needed something to break up the heaviness and I was sorry to see those silly bits fade as it got a bit depressing without. Final ep though - it comes back with a f*cked up vengeance! I had been bothered by the missing slipper the whole time it was missing (several sad weeks) and refused to believe Tofu would forget his promise to reunite her with the other one. Thought I'd rest easy after the rescue but am still trying to process the cremation escape/dog chase. Surreal and disturbing in the extreme :'D Side note: I thought Tofu having sex on a bedspread that he converses with was pretty kinky. But he’s also a teddy, so that’s kind of kinkier? - or is it totally innocent? I can’t decide.

I’m so impressed (and patronising!) by Job - the actor playing Nut – thought he was great. I loved Tofu but some people won’t. He is self-sacrificing to the extreme which might be seen as irritating and possibly as an unhealthy example to set for “goodness”. He's more used as a symbol for goodness and love than he is a person. The feel of the acting from all the cast is on the melodramatic side, but that's the type of production it is. Tathan’s character was gorgeous, Kensit’s parents were like God-given, Song was a sweetheart, and despite her despicable actions I had a soft spot for Satjaree- she made a really good baddie. Saen/Sipmuem weren't characters you could really warm to, but he was a good actor and physically intimidating.

I’ve never seen anything like this show before – it’s silly, it’s deep, it’s encouraging, it’s tragic, it has Tofu’s beautiful face in it - and Nut’s when he’s not scowling. The healing of the relationship between Nut and his mum made me think about my own family and how important it is to express love to your loved ones while you can. I liked the theme song - Tofu/In’s voice is really distinctive and whenever it came on it felt like his character was there, smiling. I was pretty devastated by the final episode but it stitched me up again before it ended. I’m left a bit scarred - like tofu’s little paw! and vaguely uneasy around teddies and soft furnishings.

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This movie is about a murder that happens, and the mystery being uncovered bit by bit through different point of views. It might not be original but it is my favourite type of mystery movies, and this movie used it effectively to make a commentary about Japanese media and the power of internet. I found 2 quotes said during the movie summarize what the movie is all about:

People have false memories. They only tell things that benefit them.
The internet exposes the truth. The internet accuses falsely.

Throughout the movie, we listen to people's point of view of the main suspect of the murder. At first I took what they said at face value, or at least as people enjoying gossip and making assumptions based on what they think. Part of it was true, while the other part was people just wanting to make someone look bad since it made them look better. The more people and the media demonize one person, the easier it becomes for others to make the worst assumptions.

Throughout most of the movie, we follow Ayano Go's character who works at a channel station to uncover the murder mystery. However he wasn't looking for the truth, he was looking for a story that'll make him successful. His interviews and editing of films he puts up are bias and just lead to pointing fingers at one suspect. His reason of doing this is simple. It's just juicier and he get the positive attention he wanted. As for the attention he got, people are just bored and that was adding excitement in their lives. I don't think his character was made to be worst than anyone else, he just is, and so are others. Basically many had their own complex they worry about, and expressed it differently. Sometimes it can lead to dire consequences.

The acting from the whole cast was great, but especially Inoue Mao. One thing I wonder though, how the hell is she considered "plain" lol. I guess she tried being as plain as possible. We also got a reunion with her co-star from her Hana Yori Dango Days. We don't even see the actrices in even one scene together, but I still felt chemistry there and felt for both their characters. Weird huh. Maybe just my bias :P

Finally I just want to say I loved that movie. It got me absorbed early on and the more I watch the more I want to find out more. I felt I was one of those netizens making assumptions of the findings until we get someone reveal more and I'd be like, no wait a minute, I got it all wrong!

My trail of thought was all over the place so I hope this review is helpful and not confusing :P

PS: I found the first 10 minutes is hard to follow because it's a time where 2 characters are having a conversation while one of them is writing tweets and getting reply. Trying to follow both at the same time is not easy so I was worried the whole movie would be like that but thankfully is wasn't.

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She's not as cute as she thinks she is

A lot of people love this show, and a few people hate it. I think these polarized reactions have to do with some very different opinions on the Little Orchid character.

I personally did not like Little Orchid, and I did not like the show that much. Little Orchid is supposed to be young, naïve, and innocent. I admit my personal preferences are factoring in here, but still I think my issue is less with this premise and more with how she is presented.

Orchid’s presentation is very childlike. There are other ways to present such a character that are less over-the-top cutesy. To me, it came across as a cute act, which I found quite annoying. If she were actually 5 years old, I may be less annoyed, but unfortunately she doesn’t look like a child, and even with fairy-time-warped age I think her mental state should be past the toddler phase.

People also complain about her voice. To me, it’s less her voice than the way she uses it. Her tones and cadence are drawn out to match the cute act. I’ve heard Esther’s voice in other contexts and had no problems with it. Just for some reason she is talking like a young child here, I don't understand why she can't just talk like a normal human.

I’ve come to realize that this style is fairly typical of Esther, and as people say, “if you don’t like her then don’t watch her shows”. Actually, when she is not doing the cute act (eg in the body swap or Xilan goddess contexts of this show) I think she is fine. Also nothing against Esther herself, she seems like a lovely person outside the show. I just am not a fan of the cutesy acting style. Maybe it’s what they were going for with the Little Orchid character, in which case, I don’t like this character.

I found that, because I did not like Little Orchid, I couldn’t really get behind anything in this show. I couldn’t understand why two guys were so obsessed with her, and unfortunately this meant I spent a lot of the show rolling my eyes. I also couldn’t get behind her CP because I never saw what DFCQ liked about her. If you take out rooting for them and fawning over them, there isn’t that much left to keep a person interested. There were side characters with their own stories, some of them interesting enough, but they weren’t developed enough to carry the show.

Add to this a good deal of nonsense. Sloppiness in xianxia is not new, but this one is on the more extreme end of having a lot of unexplained plot devices that seem like they should be important. What’s going on with those destiny books, why do they require fixing, why are they so important, how exactly does “fate” work in this show, what even is a goddess, what is this primordial spirit thing, on and on… I’ll admit I might have just missed it, I didn’t analyze that carefully. But I’m the audience, world building shouldn’t be MY homework.

It wasn’t quite a visual feast, either. It wasn’t all bad, some pretty shots and good CGI, but also quite a few scenes relying on bad CGI. I felt sorry for actors having to pretend, e.g. like they’re struggling against a strong force. If the force didn’t look so fake, I wouldn’t be sitting here thinking about how they’re filmed.

I watched this show despite knowing it might not be my thing, because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I finished it because it wasn’t quite bad enough to drop, and it really does have a lot of hype. It was entertaining enough, but I think it’s hard to really get into a show when you can’t make yourself care about the characters. I just sort of slogged through it. In some senses it was nice because I got more sleep and took care of the rest of my life better, relative to when I’m watching a show I really like and stay up too late binging.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





It has a happy ending, but it’s not satisfying enough for many fans, because you only get to see the happy part for about 10 seconds. Typical Cdrama. For me, I thought it was so deus ex machina, like I could not see how it would ever work out for our characters and then the scriptwriters just pulled a random miracle out of nowhere- it was a bit lame.

They do attempt to tie up some of the side stories by showing what happens to a few of the more prominent side characters. This is better than nothing, but as I cared about these characters more, I still felt unsatisfied by their half-baked resolutions.

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This is a perfect show to watch when you're in the mood to get away from the long and draggy dramas.

I'd have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how good this ended up being! You honestly feel like you just finished a 16 episode drama in only 4 hours. It was fast paced, yet everything unravelled perfectly. There's romance, action, friendship, and family wrapped in a short 4 hours.

The acting was definitely on par--the main actors along with the supporting ones. I really liked the chemistry between Chul Soo and Jin Ah; one of the main reasons why I like this drama so much! Plus, Chul Soo is so yummy, why wouldn't you want to see him nude? ;)

The OST was okay, but the drama being only 4 hours, there isn't much time to really appreciate the music.

I finished this wishing it was longer. :(
I definitely recommend this to you if you are a rom-com and a crime drama person. I will miss Naked Fireman and will definitely rewatch in the future!

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