A delight to watch!
I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this drama half as much as I did.I had no particular expectation for this drama, however, the more I watched, the more I grew to love the characters and simple yet intriguing plot. Each character is greatly fleshed-out, all having their own stories and secrets. With the ongoing question "what's going to happen next?" running through my mind, waiting a week for the following episode was surprisingly difficult.
The plot may seem cliché at first but it gets better as you continue watching. It's extremely well made with the beautiful cinematography and camera work, wonderful OST, great acting and interesting plot, everything is on point and just too good not to watch! Nothing feels rushed or jam packed, the story is unfolded well.
This is one of the many dramas in which I didn't skip a scene or part of an episode because they all seemed important or have a relevance to the story - I commonly find myself skipping unnecessary boring scenes a lot in other dramas so this was refreshing.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed watching Live On and totally recommend giving it a try!
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This review may contain spoilers
Fasten your seatbelts. Turbulence ahead.
The pairing of the leads got me interested in this drama and the setting within the Chinese aviation industry hooked me.The meet-cute is fairly tropey. Ice king boss meets sassy female pilot. Totally works for me. :)
What is more challenging is the work environment. It is next level misogynistic. Initially, I thought it must be overstated for dramatic reasons then I found out that there are less than 1000 female pilots in China! There is definitely a glass ceiling.
To add to her woes, the main antagonist wants to drive her out of the company. She did well with the support of her mentor (ML aka GnT) and overcomes obstacle after obstacle. Her steady career progress is mirrored on the romantic front as well. The ML was initially cool and distanced, but he soon grew fond of the FL. The FL is definitely in the driver seat in this relationship. She made some bold moves in pursuing GnT. The Show is heading in the right direction and it looks to be a worthy contender for the top shows of 2023. Then episode 24 happened.
For reasons unknown, the writer decided to forego all the gains thus far and make the second half full on melodrama. So much angst . . so much. The ML ended up behaving irrationally when he is the most rational character in the show. He was a Noble Idiot and managed to hurt everyone close to him for zero gain.
If that trope is not enough, the Show added a poorly constructed mid-air medical drama to push the plot along.
When you consider international aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the world with many cross checks and rules, the use of this subplot is baffling. There are so many holes and discrepancies, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The show then doubles down on the perturbation by bringing FL's onerous mum into the fray. This unruly mess drags on for several episodes (too long) which adds to my growing dismay. Why Dear Writer? Is it to pad out the length or is it some kind of script crib sheet?
The Show finally starts to reverse course at the EP.35 mark. Everyone gets a redemption, Oprah Winfrey style.
Even though things are looking up, GnT still suffers from a bad case of confession-itis. The air is filled with expectations but nada on the action front. It is exhausting to watch the “will he, won’t he” line plays out once again.
We finally get the true confession in ep.37 but it was done in a weird setting. It made sense to him (and to the writer) so who are we to judge? My opinion of the Show is yo-yoing all over the place by now. It is hard to ignore the shambolic mess dropped on our laps between ep.24-36. We are given plenty of positive hints that things will get better but the spectre of the last few episodes haunts me.
Ep.38 is all about fan service. Hallelujah! However, I can’t help but feel like I'm watching a To-do list being ticked off. We have a bunch of unrelated clips tying up loose ends then a random time skip to the next event. It ticked all the boxes but a weak narrative, nevertheless. BTW, the skinship quotient went from 0 to 100 in one scene but fades quickly as well. The progress of the 2CP is on steroids and feels kooky.
The Show had a last go at an angsty subplot at the start of ep.39, but a HEA ending was never in doubt. To be honest, the ending is fluffy and innocuous but that's about it.
Two parting thoughts; I thought macular degeneration is incurable but I'm too tired to argue. The whole D191 (a thinly disguised C919) storyline is the biggest PPL I have ever seen! It was jingoistic and flag waving but you have to give them credit for trying. ;)
Acting from the leads are good. The FL is certainly given the more challenging role. The ML is handsome and a seasoned actor. He definitely has a workout on his stoic poses. The support cast are mostly one dimensional. There is “growth”, but it is fairly predictable and a means to an end.
I did enjoy most of the show. It has its moments, and the first half is certainly engaging and eye-opening. If it has stuck to the original aviation focused plot and office romance all the way through, it would be on a winner. Instead, it took us down a long and tortuous path which adds little to the proceedings. The fan service in the end might placid some viewers who just want to ship the CP’s and swoon at their belated sweet moments. To me, that’s a sneaky way to paper over the disappointing melodramas that came before.
It could and should have been better. Peace out.
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If you’re after an original and riveting crime plot, then Midnight Runners might not be your thing. In terms of the storyline, it’s pretty generic and you basically know exactly what’s going to happen from start to beginning. The strongpoint of this film was the chemistry between Park Seo Joon and Kang Ha Neul and how well this chemistry allowed for the perfect balance between great comedy and seriousness.
Whilst a light-hearted movie, it also delves slightly in the moral dilemmas that people who work in law enforcement face, there were definitely moments that made you feel helpless and sympathetic to the characters. However these conflicts were addressed well and once again, the humour within the movie does clean up and negative emotions you might feel whilst watching it.
This is definitely a pick-me-up movie, I can guarantee that after watching this most of you will walk away feeling happy inside.
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T-This was just brilliant. I can't really explain it in any other way. D: The story was super touching, the music was super cute, the cast was adorable, the surprises kept on coming and I-I just loved it!
I can't really underline my favorite parts without spoiling, but the whole movie is just pure genius. It's really well thought through, and entertaining as well as it is just beautiful. It really touched me.
Recommended for EVERYONE at ALL AGES.
You have to be a robot not to love this movie.
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Nothing is dragged or exaggerated, it flows like poetry.
I'm so full of emotions right now.
The story is simple, yet realistic and the chemistry between the two leads is really there.
It started slow, like a joke you tell your friends, and then it became serious.
They really convey this sense of blurred lines between friendship and love and they didn't rush the trasformation of feelings.
When Rae Wan told Eun Seong "I can't get rid of your smell from my body", i started crying. I don't really know why, but i'm sure: Kim Sun Ho did a terrific job.
Lee Yoo Young is new to me, but I instantly fell for her eyes and she's really good. I have no words to describe Kim Sun Ho, as I said earlier. He's just so so so so so professional.
10 out 10. Recommended to every single human on earth.
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Flex X Cop - A Perfect mixture of COMDEY-ACTION-MYSTERY-THRILLER !! ENJOYABLE
Waited for this drama since the day when they announced the cast and production crew.. Because this is another collaborative drama between Ahn Bo-Hyun and Writer Kim Ba-da after " My Name " is one the best Action thriller. Did they got another hit ? Let's See..Premise feels simple " _ " However, the plot setup and story narration make it exciting to watch and move forwards to explore the comedy thriller.
COMEDY - ACTION - THRILLER - MYSTERY
It's unique to find comedy-action-mystery-thriller aspects in one drama; typically thrillers erase the humor plot and increase the seriousness of the story, but Flex X Cop effectively combined its four parts and delivered an enjoyable drama. Not only is it a comedy thriller, but it also has a continuous secondary plot about a family troop and their conflicts, including a father who seems to care while ignoring his own son, and a kid who craves his father's love but is constantly turned down by his stepmother.
It's an amazing blend that guarantees each episode is interesting, every case solving is thrilling and you're kept on edge. Especially the Psychiatrist Case-ep is really wonderful given that the case is the critical point of Jin Isoo's hunting dream break down. Let's appreciate the very good cinematography.
GOOD CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
A unique mixture of adrenaline-pumping action and funny entertaining moments. "Flex X Cop" hits the perfect balance between solving serious criminal cases, entertaining and deliveries comradeship between the leads and their fellow detectives. Good character development. Female lead develops from unsettling detective who overlooks the ML because of his social status to an understandable person, like a buddy who helps him find his path in every difficult moment. And Rich pampered Conglomerate Son to be a good officer; he wants to prove himself since Jin Isoo is a cop who has a responsibility to defend and enforce the law.
Overall a enjoyable drama with engaging story.. Good acting from every actor..
They announced season 2 :)..
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This review may contain spoilers
Like one of the other reviews, I personally think this drama was good too. Like the other review said, no annoying characters, and not cliche at all.
The number of times he loses memory is perfect, not too much rather not too few and the good part is that it came as a shock, which was really good.
I like the FL's personality, she's super chill and not annoying or naive at all. She wants a simple wedding and wedding ring, it feels like she's very down to earth.
I also like the relation between the FL and the second ML, really close but only as friends.
The second FL, the actress, was also super cool and chill, she gave up really quickly as she realized that the ML only loves the FL.
There's a lot of comedy happening in the office and all the coworkers are really funny.
The ending was nice, I looks a lot like every character ends up finding someone, which is a very happy ending.
I recommend it.
And regarding the sound, then is most likely because you are watching it on youtube. Youtube is not the best place to watch dramas, i recommend IFVOD. tv, but it's only for Chinese speaking people, sry.
If you're looking for more dramas I recommend:
- Love Designer
- My Love, Enlighten Me
- Girlfriend
- Well Intented Love
- My Dear Lady
- Sweet Dreams
- Because of Meeting You
- Moonshine and Valentine
- Luckys First Love
- A Little Reunion
- Put Your Head on My Shoulder
- My True Friend
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This review may contain spoilers
Unexpected treat
I had my doubts about this show mainly cause of its premise/genre. It is very easy to butcher the plot and lose the audience. But I'm glad i watched it. The characters, plot and production is great. I was hooked from the first scene, having so many questions, nothing is simple. The characters have logic and smart in their own ways. Overall the execution has been great so far. It has been interesting and intriging with how everything is comes to play.The acting is so good, the way they embodied their characters is unbelievable. The mains doing wonders, their chemistry is off the charts as well. It is pretty funny, which i didn't expect given the genre. Bai Jingting wonderful to watch on screen and I'm shocked by Zhao Jin Mai's acting. I knew she was good but damn every action and emotion regarding her character has been spot on. The supporting cast is great, everything done with precision. The story has some heart felt moments as well. The characters are realistic to an extent, with the way they view and react to the world. I like how almost every character story has been explored.
With every loop/reset something different happens that thickens the plot. Contantly left with so many questions after each episodes. Being more suspenseful than the previous episode. This utterly has me hooked and on the edge of my seat. The ending was nicely done but there were a few unanswered questions. Such as why they ended up in a loop. Other than that it was a really good watch. I like how they gave us a glimpse of their lives after this whole thing.
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1This review may contain spoilers
It is all about balance and whole a lot of pain...
In not so many fancy words, I think this movie is phenomenal! Why?• Two hours flew by in a second
• Intimate scenes are so raw and believable, and just the way I want them. If someone can do a nasty yet sensual NC scene that makes your stomach turn is Japanese. This time, the scenes are going so well along the story. Lets be honest, many Japanese movies do have explicit content that can overpower the story, or, especially dramas can lack any kind of sexual or intimate content. This does not make them bad, I am just talking about how well Egoist is balanced compared to Japanese movies, and in general.
• I enjoyed the balance between letting it go and being polite and restrained. Overall movie has that. And all of that is very nicely packed and topped with a hint of luxury and poverty.
• The whole story about financial and emotional compensation left me deeply wounded, so at the end of my short review, I would say this is not a love movie, nor a romance. This is movie filled with love by the people who were severely damaged by life and their families and they did love and they did care, the way they knew how.
• I feel I cannot pick the pieces of my heart after watching this movie and that is not that bad. It made me feel something, it made me feel a lot actually.
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There's some changes in my review
Let me be honest, the reason I've been looking forward for this drama is because of Kubota Masataka and Ishihara Satomi. They're both my favorite J actors. But as I finished this drama, I've fallen in love with all the actors from UDI. The acting is on point and all the characters are awesome, well except from the villains of course lol.Whenever I watched an investigation drama, I will mostly judge the drama based on the cases. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the case in episode 1 is quite boring BUT other than that, all the cases in this drama is very interesting and intriguing. There are few cases that touched my heart and make me shed tears because it's so touching and sad.
This is my first Asian drama about pathology and Unnatural certainly set the bar high for my next pathology drama. Watching the procedure and the conclusion is very fascinating. I learnt a lot from this drama.
I hope there will be season 2 will all the same cast because this drama is perfection and I totally recommend this!
------------------------------------------------------ UPDATE ------------------------------------------------------
Hello, this is me in the year 2021 and I want to share something.
Recently, I re-watched this drama and I noticed that I stated "the case in episode 1 is quite boring". I want to slap myself lol. With this pandemic that's happening all over the world for already 1 year, it made me appreciate the case in episode 1 when I re-watch this drama. It hit too close too comfort with the pandemic that we're all currently experiencing. I understand the panic and chaos that happened in the drama.
With my changed statement, I hereby announce that all the case in this drama is very interesting and intriguing lol.
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This review may contain spoilers
A bit weird and edgy, yet refreshingly and unashamedly honest about what love life also is like
"LTNS" (Long Time No Sex) starts off where other series usually end. TVING doesn't care about age ratings. “LTNS” is unusually explicit for a KDrama. At the same time, “LTNS” presents itself as a pitch-black comedy with venomously satirical overtones. Be prepared for an edgy series that is refreshingly and unashamedly honest about what love life also is like...If desire in a relationship has been turned off over time by habit and everyday worries while instead alienation and disinterest are creeping in... what should you do? The protagonists unexpectedly find an almost absurd option to bring some excitement and “we”-time back into their relationship. With detective zeal, they set out to blackmail those in whom the fire of (actually forbidden) desire still burns happily... and in doing so, they thus try to create a (almost criminal) virtue out of their own need, so to speak.
"LTNS" has fun with scenes that convey uninhibited sexuality one moment, but are completely unerotically thwarted the next. It is somehow down to earth in a most peculiar way. Bedroom stories are being told here that we haven´t been waiting for. All of a sudden such a certain mood for certain hours is eventually collapsing like a house of cards due to a mishap or unexpected incident... A "Bravo!" in this context to the actors, too!
“LTNS” promises a special kind of bizarre, weird series delight with plenty of potshots at the mendacity concerning certain facades of a solid and sincere love life and family life that are usually and preferably presented to the outside world.
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What bothers me the most is that this has the ingredients to be a very good story. It's an arranged marriage in which both parts are taking something out of the situation, in which both parties come from very different backgrounds and have different priorities: Chiwa is a hardworking young girl who has to work two jobs to make ends meet while paying for her (terrible) father's gambling debts; Hokuto is a hardworking man with a very overwhelming family, who wants to succeed in business to uncover a family secret related to his past and take revenge. The premise is good.
Now, if we add to that every cliche from Josei manga you can possibly think of, that's when things go south. Hokuto is that kind of male lead who is downright a jerk and whose backstory is supposed to make you feel for him enough to forgive him for being a possessive toxic jerk. It doesn't work for me. Chiwa is a very interesting character in premise but the moment she starts getting ~feelings~ for Hokuto, we lose her. We have, however, a couple snippets of the Chiwa who should be, I can count at least 3 times in which she read Hokuto and his family for filth, and that is the direction I wish this would have taken. Furthermore, she has, like I said, a father who is constantly getting in debts and disregards her well-being, but instead of it being taken seriously, the comic relief they (think) they're turning him into transforms Chiwa's struggle into something less important.
To that dynamic, add every other thing you can fit in 12 episodes: love triangles (plural), betrayals, paparazzi drama, multiple near death experiences for various people, grudges with daddy, slut shaming, women hating other women on principle, weird family connections pulled in the last minute and making no sense, you name it, it's all there.
I can't help but compare this with Please Love The Useless Me because a) they're both based on Josei manga b) they both came out this year c) they both have the "cold male lead/cute female lead" premise d) they both have Dean Fujioka. And, in the comparison, Please Love The Useless Me wins by a landslide. The premise of that drama was much less interesting than this one, but the character development was good and it didn't retort to the same cliches to fill the story (no girls hating girls, no slut shaming, no evil ex-girlfriend with machiavellian plans).
If you don't like the same old josei premise as per usual, you don't like the male lead treating the female lead in a questionable manner, you don't like a plot that has everything but the kitchen sink and you constantly question yourself why the girl is doing this to herself, this is not the drama for you.
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Unnatural features a skilled cast depicting intriguing characters with complex backstories and motives portrayed by Ishihara Satomi, Iura Arata and Kubota Masataka. This drama marks a reunion of Ishihara Satomi and Iura Arata. They were last in a drama together in 2012’s Rich Man, Poor Woman. It is remarkable the transformation Iura has made from the two roles. I only realized it was him after reading through the cast. Iura is such a skilled actor with amazing range. I will have to seek out more of his works.
I binged this drama in a couple days before the last episode aired and this drama is quite a ride. This drama is extremely well balanced and keeps its audience engaged from episode to episode. This drama does a very good job in introducing its characters backstories and delving into what makes them tick. While each episode typically offers a new case, it’s the overarching focus on its characters that kept me so engaged throughout. I’m typically pretty cautious when it comes to procedural dramas, but this drama is the perfect mix. If you are like me and hesitate about starting this drama, Don’t Be! Take the plunge! Trust me, you won’t regret it! Here’s to hoping there is a second season!!!
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Unfortunately, I found the world surrounding the lovers to be less fleshed out and compelling. While I understand that the awfulness of most of the other major characters is meant to highlight just how terrible Hye Won’s life is despite its surface luxuries, I would have loved for there to have been more layers to the antagonists. Their universal loathsomeness did draw sympathy to the protagonists, but it also undermined the realism of the show and simplified its conflicts. It’s not hard to cheat on a husband with no redeeming characteristics, but that felt like an easy out for the screenwriter (and the audience) rather than an honest exploration of the challenges of marriage.
The directing of the show is carefully composed and the pacing slow. This allows for some lovely, unhurried emotional beats, but it can also feel a bit stifling. There were times I would have liked less precision and more abandon. The technique mirrors Hye Won’s fierce control, but when the fissures open in her life I wish the show had cracked open more deliriously as well. The main couple and the music are amazing. Everything else feels well worth losing for their stolen moments of joy.
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