Trillion Game is a hidden gem
"Trillion Game," a delightful Japanese drama, promises to deliver the perfect dose of laughter. Stumbling upon this hidden gem was an unexpected delight and undoubtedly one of the highlights of my September. If you're anything like me, someone who often finds themselves numb to typical dramas and only has limited free time, then this drama is a must-watch. It's a captivating series that can be enjoyed from start to finish.While "Trillion Game" isn't without a few minor hiccups in its storyline and editing, I can wholeheartedly assure you that investing 10 hours of your life in this series is a decision you won't regret. Meguro Ren effortlessly captures the charisma and poise of Haru, while Sano Hayato perfectly embodies the timid yet brilliantly Gaku.
The show's female characters each possess their unique brand of beauty and charm, with Torinrin and Kirika-hime standing out as my favorites. "Trillion Game" not only offers a refreshing escape from the mundane but also introduces a cast of characters that will stay with you long after the final credits roll.
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some things are best left buried in time
the only good thing about this show was chalarm and his comedic moments.the plot was below average at best, definitely not part of the BL shift going on. the casting left a lot to be desired, and those cast in the leading roles barely had chemistry.
with all the good BLs airing right now, you can genuinely do fine never watching this series.
I do think there’s quite a few in the supporting cast that are genuinely good actors, or at least show real potential, but as for the main pairing… I just hope they can get a better support system or guidance. maybe they needed to workshop more, they looked uncomfortable at times and I had to talk myself into continuing the show in hopes it got better. needless to say, it didn’t.
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The story line is very unique, both in subject matter and tone. We follow a group of normal people following the dream of orchestral performance together, under the direction of a conductor who is as rude and arrogant as he is famous and talented. The experience and accompanying tribulations change their lives, as you might expect, but the difference can be genuinely felt. There may be unbelievable circumstances that bring these people together, but the way they progress and transform is realistic and subtle. Some may complain the final episodes are bittersweet and somewhat open-ended, but I feel they composed the perfect ending for a story such as this. Any other result would have felt too saccharine, especially with the heavy emotions this drama evoked. We pursued a dream with these characters, but it's really not the result that matters...it's the path we took and what we choose to do after.
This is also the first drama where I've felt I would actually miss the characters after completion--in particular, abrasive conductor Kang Mae as played by Kim Myung Min. His acting really is as outstanding as everyone says it is. It's a rare gift to see a character spring to life as vibrantly as this; he felt like a real person separate from the actor, no doubt thanks to his extensive preparation. I mean, Myung Min was actually even able to conduct an actual orchestra at a press conference for this drama...something he'd learned how to do in five months. Another favorable mention must go to Jang Geun Suk, who was still in the early stages of rising fame (and looked nothing like he does now). I'm not sure he's played a part like this since, but I'm hoping he will soon. His Gun Woo was an earnest, hardworking, genuinely good kid...but with very human failings and no sob story to excuse them. Geun Suk was a joy to watch too, and stood competently alongside the great Myung Min as his foil.
As to music, as one might expect, there's a ton of classical used in Beethoven Virus. The performance sequences utilize elegant and meaningful pieces, looking as good as they sound. Other works serve to fit scenes as background tracks, and add a delicious feeling of high drama without also becoming cheesy. Fans of instrumental music and classic in general will love it, while others might find a spark of interest growing in them after watching! Vocal tracks are also great, with Insooni's inspirational number "A Goose's Dream" basically summing up everything Beethoven Virus stands for.
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This review may contain spoilers
Need to love and feel loved - A bitter reality
Honestly, I was not sure if I should watch this drama or not, as the provided summary doesn't appropriately describe the true plot of this series.CHARACTERS
In the drama we are following the story of 5 woman that seem to be related in a way. Yuki (portrayed by Yoshikawa Ai) is a 19 year old university student who is working as a Rental Girlfriend in order to make ends meet. When she is working and meeting with clients, she seems like a sweet, cheerful, and kind girlfriend; however, we get to know that in reality she has been through a lot and she carries a secret from her childhood that holds her back. Rina (played by Yokota Mayuu), who is Yuki's university friend, is a colourful, smiley, and cheerful girl that everyone likes and wants to be with her. In addition to her cheerful outside looks, Rina is a rather lonely girl that seeks attention and confirmation from people around her.
Ayano (played by Ugaki Misato) is working with Yuki at the same agency as a Rental Girlfriend and is mainly focusing on the outside looks of the people around her. This obsession with looks came from her bitter past when the people around her made fun of her due to her outside looks. The fourth protagonist is Moe Maya (played by Yanai Yumena) who is classmate with Rina, with low self-esteem and self-confidence. People around her call her ugly and she can't seem to belong anywhere, even though she is trying. Lastly, Yua (played by Saito Nagisa) is a cute girl that is a regular in a host club and is only visiting a specific host. Later on, Yua takes Moe to the host club that she is regularly going.
PLOT
The main plot of this series is to show how every person needs to feel loved and appreciated, in any way, from their peers. However, for me, the plot focuses not only the need to feel loved by others and love other people, but how important it is to love themselves. It is a rather bitter series which shows how shallow our society is, what are the expectations for women, and how easily women can be manipulated into doing things they don't want in order to fulfil the needs of their partners.
For example, in order Yua to help her favourite host (Haruki) in the host club, she is working in the adult world and she is meeting with clients that she can't refuse. She does that in order to help her favourite to rise through the rank and keep his sales high. Moe follows a similar story. Moe was a full time university student who after she started talking with a host she decided to drop out from her university, and in order to request for the host (Kaede) during her visits, she decides to also enter the adult world and do things that she doesn't want to.
MY OPINION
Honestly, this is a drama that is worth watching. Just a heads up: this is not a typical Romance series. Don't expect to find cute and colourful moments among the couples. This is a close to reality type of series. Unfortunately, there are many people who belittle other people's feelings and take advantage of them, and there are other people that are trying to survive in this world with noone beside them. I don't understand why the rating is relatively low. The rating here is not representative of how good the drama is (in my opinion!).
As an individual, I related mostly with Moe, as she and I share some common things. Since the moment that she answered Kaede's phone call, I knew that this is not going to have a happy ending. I was really routing for Kaede's feelings to be true towards her, but as we show in the end Moe was just a client to him. Even though, seeing her being depressed over him was sad, I was clad that in the end she was able to overcome her obsession and she took her life back to her hands.
Anyway, this is a good drama to watch, SO WATCH IT! BYE!
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Story:
The story is about 5 teenagers and their family problems and addiction. Each character is very complex and had difficult backgrounds. It amazes me how detailed each storyline was. I don't think there were any plot holes. This series is one of those series that shows the reality of life and examples of a dysfunctional and unhappy family. It also really shows the effects of unhealthy addictions and drugs.
The series is straightforward but so complex at the same time. I'm not too sure how to explain it. In my eyes how the series played out from start to end was written so realistically. I don't want to say the ending is a happy ending, but I really liked how it ended off.
Cast:
The casting was absolute perfection. If you have never seen any of the main characters before, you have been living under a rock. Like always, their acting just blows you away. If you have seen any of the cast's past works, you'll understand what I mean. Plus I feel like most people came here for Fluke, but I came because of Ploy. I just love her acting.
Overall:
This drama is different from all the ones right now. This drama got me coming back for more because it was so good. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I have some type of connection to the characters of this series. Maybe because I relate or know people that have been through similar situations. If you think you can handle it, I REALLY recommend this series, but I will give you a trigger warning. I give it a 10/10.
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Season 1 was fun and engaging, this one is just a snoozefest - i cant remember how many times i dozed off while watching the entire season. This whole season is a continuation of season 1 which could have been done in 1 or 2 episodes. Scenes in each episodes are stretched far too long, just boys trying to be cute, with zero sense to what they were saying and doing.
There were so many things to hate:
1) almost all students in this boys school are gay with very few straight characters who dont even matter;
2) gay teacher who engages in online chat with student;
3) forced coupling (lukmo and yok);
4) oversexed high school student (book and frame);
5) i thought the jean issue would never end;
6) inconsistent characters (Nine, Rodtang, Fing)
7) absent parents who allow high school kids to live on their own with almost no supervision, parents who let other people care for their kid in the hospital, and those parents who are present but were mostly annoyance;
8) did i say the whole season was stretched far too long, the pacing was so slow, there were so many filler moments and just boys staring and sweettalking to each other that doest add to the whole story. By the end of this series, im also almost annoyed with the 2 main leads.
Just run away, skip this series. Just read the plot summary and be done with it, no need to torture yourself by watching this.
Im only giving this an overall 5.5 just because Ohm and Boom are so cute.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Summary of Seasons 1 and 2, as well as the 2 movies!
For those who are incredibly confused about the difference between Season 1 and 2, as well as the 2 movies in-between, let me lay it out.In Season 1, a student named Liang Weiwei accidentally transmigrates into a historical drama starring an idol named Jing Qing. In that drama, her character is doomed to die within the first three episodes as a result of assassination. Throughout the season, she finds ways to avoid death, and eventually overturns the Emperor Jing Qing’s mistrust of her. They then end up in a happy marriage, which was cut short because she’s suddenly brought back to her own time where she meets a version of Jing Qing who seems to remember her from within the drama because they immediately embrace once they set eyes on each other. I don't know if this is the idol Jing Qing, but I suppose it has to be.
In Season 2, we realise that following the end of Season 1, she started dating Jing Qing back in her time. We are also led to believe that Jing Qing actually remembered her from when they were both in some alternate universe within the drama from Season 1. However, one fine day, Jing Qing just vanishes into thin air, and so Liang Weiwei finds her way back into the drama to meet him again, and ends up in another story where the characters are all largely the same, but the plot is different. This time, Liang Weiwei is the daughter of the previous Emperor and is now a villainous Empress destined to be usurped by her General Jing Qing. This General Jing Qing isn't the same as the Emperor from Season 1, but eventually, he does regain his memories of her in Season 1, and also falls in love with her anew in this new storyline. In the end, the General Jing Qing takes on the role of the villain in the story so Liang Weiwei can be spared countless deaths. When he dies, she vanishes and is transported back to her own universe. Compared to Season 1, I felt that this story was less exciting, although thanks to the ML and FL's good acting, I did shed tears when it came time for them to part again. The ending was left open, with the timeline fast-forwarding to 1 year on, when Liang Weiwei finds herself transmigrated into the same drama again, this time, slightly earlier in the storyline, as a princess while her father the Emperor is still alive. Presumably, this will then lead to a Season 3, which will hopefully be more exciting than Season 2.
The 2 movies in-between are actually just 1 movie split into 2 parts. It somewhat continues on from Season 1, but with a slightly different premise, so the entire continuity arc can be confusing. Just know that technically, it occurs in an alternate universe from Seasons 1 and 2. For the movie, a novelist named Liang Weiwei is dating an up-and-coming actor named Jing Qing. However, because she's always neglecting him in favour of writing, he eventually breaks up with her. While she's busy being devastated by the break-up, she gets forcefully pulled into a historical drama with a premise similar to Season 1, except this time, she isn't the Empress, just someone who looks exactly like the Empress Liang Weiluo, who is a woman scorned and has set her eyes on the throne. The Emperor here is the Jing Qing from Season 1, who has been searching all this time for his Empress Liang Weiwei. However, it's important to note that the Liang Weiwei from Season 1 is different from the one in the movie, so while she has some affection towards the Emperor because he looks like her ex-boyfriend Jing Qing, she doesn't love him. Because the main attraction of the entire series is the romance, I felt that the movie wasn't as much of a draw as Season 1 because it's almost like a one-sided love between Season 1's Emperor Jing Qing and the movie's Liang Weiwei. When the movie's Liang Weiwei returns to her own universe, she finds that the novel has written itself, and the Emperor Jing Qing never fell in love with anyone else for all 56 years of the rest of his life, as he promised her. To prevent that from happening, she rewrites the story and reunites Emperor Jing Qing with Empress Liang Weiwei starting from the day of their wedding. As for the novelist Liang Weiwei, she goes to find her actor ex-boyfriend Jing Qing, who welcomes her back with open arms.
So that's about it! I love how tiny and adorable the FL is, and the ML's acting isn't shabby either even though he isn't quite as eye-catching as the FL. Would definitely recommend a watch especially because the episodes are all so short. Hopefully a version with English and other subs will appear on YouTube's MGTV channel soon. Enjoy!
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A Fun Action-Noir Film
Watched it in expectations of a really dark and gory film…While I got a comedy film instead ? not complaining tho bcs I really love it!!
I always prefer a simple and fun action movies rather than the dark and serious ones. The Childre brands the film “action noir”, but in fact it is not really that much “noir” for me, more like “action noir-comedy”. If you love a fun movie without any stressful thoughts this one will be best for you. But if you prefer darker movies and difficult plot, you might be bored with this movie in their first half hours.
Kim Seonho really delivered the character of Childe/Nobleman well! His action scenes are so cool and scary but at the same time her micro expression while saying and doing random funny things also worth to wait. I would love to see more of Nobleman, he is so fun to watch (eventho he’s evil lol)
Really recommended!
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The curse was gone, but messily and realistically. Though the journey was far from perfect!
The storytelling is in a very classic Hwang Daseul style—delicate and nuanced.The drama dives deep into the complexity of trauma, self-discovery, guilt and love through the journey of DoHoe and Ju Yeong.
DoHoe's journey is filled with pain and inner conflicts, much of it rooted in the toxic environment created by his abusive father who runs a Taekwondo gym. Several moments conveyed the inner struggles of characters with small but very significant details.
Because of his toxic upbringing,he is someone who struggles to confront his past and doesn't allow or think worthy of himself to heal. His inability to face his wounds is both heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time. As a result, his relationship with Ju Yeong is complicated by unexpressed emotions, the trauma that was never addressed and the weight of the past that neither of them can escape even after 12 years.
Ju Yeong was the emotional anchor that kept Dohoe from drowning by constantly reaching out and putting in more effort despite the hurt and confusion Dohoe threw at him. There were few brief moments of comfort amidst that frustrating yet realistic push-and-pull dynamics between them. JuYeong often compromised trying really hard to bridge the emotional gap that DoHoe can't seem to cross. The imbalance does seem unfair but at the same time, their love story is portrayed as both beautiful and painful showcasing how even when people are deeply flawed and overwhelming, sometimes the connection between them can be profound and will last.
The chemistry between the actors was undeniable and their emotional journey felt raw and authentic. It mirrors the complexity of moving past trauma and being in a relationship when both of them are carrying their own and shared emotional baggage.
While the narrative is filled with emotional highs and lows, the pacing felt rushed throughout. The rapid shifts in the character arc without addressing their actual issues in detail left me craving for more. I wanted to understand them better. It felt like there was so much more beneath the surface, a whole world which just didn’t have enough time to really explore.
While the supporting cast like Hyean Ho added a new layer to the story, I am still a bit unclear on the mysterious circumstances surrounding his and Dohoe's past. They introduced him for bigger purposes, but his character felt very undeveloped.
And my biggest gripe was the editing. It seemed choppy and confusing. There were many scenes that missed the mark and their meaning relevant to the story because of this.
Overall, while the drama isn't without flaws, it keeps you hooked with its nuanced portrayal of love and healing. It's a powerful attempt at exploration of how our pasts shape us and impact our future decisions.
Sometimes addressing those past ghosts is the first step towards healing. Definitely recommend.
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Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to Be Recognized
29 people found this review helpful
Unique, Humorous, and Heartfelt
This series defies the cookie-cutter feel of much of what passes for BL in some circles and instead offers fans a genuinely touching, and often hilarious, star-crossed romance driven by its well-cast characters' personal hangups and journeys of growth. Some may quibble with what's NOT there (I won't, because I just enjoyed the whole experience so much, naysayers be damned), but I'd rather highlight what IS there: namely, surprisingly diverse, positive, and humanizing representation of different LGBTQ characters as well as a really uplifting central message.In fairness, yes, it has one notable shortcoming (I'm sure others will address it), and the camerawork and production are not perfect (you can feel the limited budget in places, as happens with most BL). But, frankly, who cares? If you want pathos, laughs, a bara-within-a-BL, a BL-within-a-BL, shippable idols, stalker-y journalists, and one of the most adorable opposites-attract main couples in recent years, then give it a chance!
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I didn't go into this movie with a lot of expectations because other than Han Hyo Joo, I'm not really interested in much of the cast. (I know I'm wretched). The premise interested me but what kept me watching was the absolutely magnetic performance of Lee Byung Hun.
He is beyond talented and he deserves all the praise he gets for being a great actor and if you don't believe me or really wonder why Korea thinks he's 'all that' watch this movie. It will clear up all the doubts you ever had of him. Just within the premise of the story he plays two physical characters (Ha Su and Gwanghae) but Ha Su himself goes through so much to change that the range that Lee Byung Hun delivers believably is great. The transitions of his character are seamless.
The story moves quickly and is enjoyable from the start, you get to literally see things that you would never expect in a historical drama but maybe like me have always wondered. There's a human aspect to this story that doesn't come across as well in other historical dramas I find because the king is a man who is from the palace. In Gwanghae, it's the opposite as the position of king is given to someone who is absolutely not from the palace.
I didn't particularly notice the music >< (my bad!) I would definitely rewatch this movie but not right away cause dear god I have way too much to actually watch (and right now I'm going to rewatch Coffee Prince ^.^)
But overall, love Gwanghae...if you're looking for a good historical WITH AMAZING acting, watch Gwanghae. It didn't just win big at award shows for nothing :)
P.S. (the other actors in this film do really well too even though I just mentioned Lee Byung Hun cause he blew me away. In particular I really liked the Eunuch :))
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama is a pretty solid drama for me. The female lead works at a VR gaming company. She is very ordinary and has a crush on her boss. However her boss doesn't like her. She ends up being the first person to try out this game created about falling in love with an emperor. Inside she is an ugly maid . She also chose the setting of most difficult level , therefore she encounters a lot of difficulties happen to her.
I like the female lead and her acting. Her character is cute , likable and quirky. She has one speciality which is cooking. She works her way up from being a maid to a palace chef. She tries to find the button to save her progress during the game, and that's were she ends up meeting the male lead.
The male lead is the emperor. He is a very smart , caring loving guy. The female and male leads encounters are funny and their romance which blossoms is cute and enjoyable. They have really good chemistry. Lol a good number of kissing scenes for you fans out there ;)
The storyline flowed really well and eventually back to the reality. It goes back full circle .
If you like drama genre "reality to game ", then this is the right drama for you.
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This review may contain spoilers
Fantastic, the (red) thread - in every respect.
I have been reading only positive critiques about “Thread of Lies” all over the place. It just took a while before I could see the KMovie for myself. Basically, all the praise has already been said. Nonetheless! The story, which is sad in itself, is told, staged and acted in just such a wonderfully clever way! Despite the seriousness of its topic, the basic attitude is positive and light. The complex and complicated underlying social and emotional mechanisms are so sensitively identified and processed, I can't help but find words of praise for "Thread of Lies" myself, too! Absolutely worth seeing! The characters, their motives and backgrounds, their conflicting feelings, the gray in the shadow, the light in the darkness, everything comes across as multidimensional authenticity.The older sister sets out to find out the actual reasons for the suicide of her younger, 14-year-old sister. We with her. There are traces – Suspicion. Culprit. Fault. Shame. As far as the eye can see... ...including the look in the mirror. Yet, it is not the index finger being raised. Rather, there is a hand, valiantly reaching out. Powerful!
It is not about accusation and blame or justification and defense. It is like it is. It was what it was. Recognizing THAT for what it is. Not sugarcoating it. No excuses. Recognizing each individual’s own contribution to some tragedy. It's all about this. To learn something out of it? In the best case!
In this KDrama, bullying (or mobbing) comes without bloody beatings and physical violence. Rather, it is the psychological, manipulative, nastily hidden, difficult-to-understand social-emotional mechanisms that are elaborated in an extremely sensitive, comprehensible way. A girl is forced into inner isolation at an age when the peer group actually becomes more important than family. Friendship, dependence, abuse - the boundaries are not yet so clear. When it comes to that, the young are still 'children' – perhaps with high ideals already, but still without lived friendship-experience. Friendship is a word with deep meaning, a powerful concept. It is related to high hopes and yearnings. It is needed, in order to survive in this world.
In contrast, there are parents who know better and still duck away. There are bullying victims who somehow survived. Also parents, who are absorbed in their own world. And in the middle of it all, a young girl says goodbye to this world. Decided and definite. Yet at the same time hesitant, too. Desperate after all. Helpless. A 14-year-old says goodbye to a world in which the only one, who knew about how she truly felt, was a stranger...
The complex story is processed in a non-linear manner. Compact and yet differentiated. The tragedy of the unspectacular is intensified by a rather subtly developed arc suspension. Touching, but not told in an overly emotional way. And what can I say... the story unfolds in such a true to life manner that you can't even be angry with the venomous perpetrator. At least not as much as you would like...
Fantastic, the (red) thread - in every respect.
PS:
The story is based on the novel “Elegant Lies” by Kim Ryeo-ryeong in 2009. Actually, the film production had a rather low budget and its initial difficulties to get started, as the topic is considered highly sensitive, especially in South Korea. The KMovie, however, gave the lie to the doubters. The response was enormous and consistently positive.
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I'm really enjoyed watching this drama.
AFTER I FINISH WATCHING THE DRAMAMaybe this drama wasn't exactly calm and happy, but it became my next comfort drama nonetheless. The relationship between Dae Beom and Yeo Reum was developing at a perfect pace. It was cute, a little shy at times. They always supported each other, even if it wasn't the easiest thing to do. They are my comfort couple. Also, the friendship between Yeo Reom and Bom was something really cool to see. They could learn from each other.
For this drama, it was very important that Yeo Reum learned to enjoy these little things, even though she did not know what she would like to do in her life. She just started appreciating the here and now. And I love this concept.
This drama is definitely worth watching.
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AFTER WATCHING 2 EPISODES
rating: 9.5/10
I'm enjoying this drama so far. I feel like this title will become my next comfort drama.
A lot of negative things happened to FL in the first episode. Thanks to this, we will be able to see how she completely changes her life. I'm excited to see how FL will do in her new reality and I'm really curious about the librarian's backstory.
After watching the first two episodes, I have very high expectations for this drama. I hope nothing ruins it and after 12 episodes I will be satisfied with it
and be able to increase my rating to 10.
Of course, this drama reminds me of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha as FL goes to the countryside to change her life after having a hard time in Seoul.
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This review may contain spoilers
From 0 to 100 real quick!
Just finished this and I was left confused.They legit kiss as strangers, and then the next day they are in love and dating like they've known each other for decades.
If the romance had any realistic progression whatsoever, it would be very normal for the main couple to share such an intense love for one another..but no.
Just a heads up, there is a 16-year age gap between the ML and FL. Although, that didn't bother me since they were both adults.
I guess my advice would be: If you want to watch this, don't try to make sense of what is happening.
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