Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas
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First, I will say that if you like Kdramas, this one is absolutely unique in the entire genre. I've seen over 100 and nothing even seems to have been made on the same planet as this. So it definitely has the uniqueness factor - check.
Secondly, because it was a special rather than a full drama, it has a nice short run time of only 8 episodes, so it is great for those with ADHD or who like Kdramas but not the fact that they tend to be so long. Actually, my only real complaint about this drama is that there isn't more of it!
Of course, the first two positive things I've said about this drama are just shallow fluff and not really the reasons I called it a masterpiece. But they are good reasons that I think this is the ultimate drama for introducing noobs to Kdramas (particularly American noobs as those are the kind I know best).
But now on to the real meat of the matter -- why is this a masterpiece, and not just a Korean masterpiece, but possibly a masterpiece of television, period?
1. VISUALS! Did I say visuals? Oh, and visuals. This is one of the most singularly beautiful (and eerie) things I've ever watched. The PD is Kim Yong Soo and going foward I will watch anything he directs (he directed Equator Man, which while it has its plot flaws, no one can deny its cinematography is stunning). Every camera shot is perfectly framed for maximum visual and emotional impact. At times it felt more like watching a series of paintings or artistic photographs pass by rather than film. The visual harmony between the stark modern architecture, the snow, the shadows and even the physical characteristics of the actors themselves and how they are framed in each and every shot demonstrates tremendous forethought and superior aesthetic awareness. I could have watched this drama with the sound and subs off and still enjoyed it; that's how beautiful it is.
2. Acting. Considering the youth of this cast, the acting was quite good, and this drama could not have been pulled off without their sublime efforts because the claustrophobic, character-driven nature of this drama requires great acting. I read on Dramabeans that when the kids were cast that the writer cared more about physical type (because the visuals and theme were that important to her) than acting ability and that most of the actors were considered relatively inexperienced at the time; although, we know most of them very well now (Woo Bin and Sung Joon, for example). I found this revelation startling in light of the brilliance of their acting in White Christmas.
3. Music. Much like the visuals, the music was also all perfectly thought out at every moment to achieve maximum emotional effect. And for we English speakers, there is deft use of some popular tunes like AC/DC's Back in Black, Arcade Fire's Wake Up and Massive Attack's Teardrop (aka the theme song from House), just to name a few. This actually is my favorite soundtrack of any Kdrama I've seen because much of the music was recognizable and that just added to the overall impact of how well it was used to increase the emotional impact of the scenes and theme, rather than just as background music like so many soundtracks. The soundtrack in this drama practically takes on a life of its own and White Christmas would not be the same without it.
4. Theme & Writing. No bones about it, this is a DARK drama and not for the faint of heart. But once again, what makes it great is that it is not dark in the usual twisted crazy parent, birth secret, killing for money, insane makjang way of most dark Kdramas. This is dark because of the theme and the theme is a very simple and universal one relatable to anyone anywhere (that I am not going to go into here because I don't want to give anything away). Much like with the visuals and the music, the writing was also very focused in this drama, without any of the meandering, unfocused, repetitiveness that plagues the live shoot portion of so many Kdramas. Sure it was only 8 episodes, but every scene, every word, of those 8 episodes was perfectly thought out to elucidate the main theme with nothing extraneous and nothing left out either. EXCEPT....
There was one flaw in this otherwise perfect drama and it's a pretty major plot hole that occurs in the last episode that sent my bulls*** radar pinging. And despite my great love of this drama I refuse to let the writer off. If you've seen it, you probably know what I mean. However, I understand why the writer had to do what she did for the overall structure and theme of the drama, and, therefore, I forgive her. Because, in the wake of this glorious tour de force, I am willing to let a little final-hour-what-the-f**ckery slide.
In summation, watch this drama! You will NOT be disappointed. And if by same crazy miracle you are, there is a scene in episode 6 where all the guys take their shirts off, so hold on until there at least!
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I am not going to say that it's the best medical drama. But it's definitely one of them!
I solely started this drama because of Ji Sung. I can't say I dislike medical dramas but they aren't exactly my go-to genre. But like always, Ji Sung didn't let me down. I am so glad that I decided to watch this drama!It's no breaking news that Ji Sung has acting chops. Well, that seems a bit of an understatement. Every character that he plays on screen, you can't help but fall in love with. With that much charisma he is surely one of the most lovable ahjussi on TV right now.
Lee Se Young has grown so much as an actress. Maybe her character didn't sit well with everyone, but she did grew a lot throughout the series. Though that girl's hair is a mess, that I cannot deny.
The chemistry between the leads! Woah!! I loved them!
This has a slow burn romance, but it's so worth it! The drama doesn't shy away from their age gap, but it's never creepy or uncomfortable. Their relationship begins simply as a mentor mentee, but gradually develops into more, and it's so beautifully portrayed!
This series has seriously one the best second lead, hands down. That is, of course, if he does actually qualify as a second lead. I really enjoyed watching Dr. Lee on-screen! Of course, one of the things I loved about him was the fact that any chance he got to leave the two leads alone, he did it. He is such a far cry from.other clueless second leads. Also his minor love line with Mi Rae was cute.
Aside from focusing on one big idea on which the series was based upon- euthanasia, it also focused on day to day dealings of the doctors. How they suffered with their patients, how they learned from their mistakes, how they worked together as a team. There might be a few medical moral dilemmas involved, yet again, euthanasia aside. But try to remember that its a work of fiction. You can't expect them to provide accuracy on everything.
Euthanasia is quite a sensitive topic. It's hard to pick right or wrong with it. That debate has been going on for quite some time, an I believe it will go on for longer. Everyone has their opinion on the subject, and it's hard to say which one is right. If it is even possible to say so. For the most part, I think they did a wonderful job with it. In the start, you get to hear both their sides. You get to see why one is against that and why one is for that.
What I wasn't satisfied with though, was the fact that later on in the show, the writer decided to include personal reasons behind their stances on euthanasia. While it did not completely negate the whole debate about the topic, it still lessened the effect, at least for me.
Maybe I am unjustified in feeling so, but I feel like Lee Kyu Thing's talent were a bit...Well, wasted to be honest. He deserves a better character. I feel like his character wasn't really that fleshed out. It makes me sad, because even though he did a really good job here, his character was just so underwhelming.
One more things that I was unsatisfied with was that the "ending" felt a bit, anticlimactic, shall I say? After building the tension up gradually with each episode, it wasn't really satisfying to watch how it eventually unfolded. It's like the writer realised the moral dilemma with the situation, and decided to bring in a third party to put all the blame upon.
Every drama has something's it does great, and something it does not. Doctor John is no exception to that. But what it does manage to create, is something that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It manages to create a charming, captivating and engaging storyline, series and characters, which I loved following straight from episode one, right to the finale.
So give this a go, chances are, this series would pull you right in!
Happy Watching!!
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Not All Stories Need a Happy Every After
me cry as I listened and from there I searched up the story of Shim Deok and Woo Jin and fell in love with their story. It's the timeless tale of love and heartbreak... but I think it's common for us to look for these drama's and stories more than the happy ones, with the "tied neatly up with a bow" ending with a wedding and happy laughter because sometimes it's so hard to believe that can truly be achieved because we know that after marriage it won't always be beauty and butterflies, that there will still be hard times and concessions. The dramas we watch and the stories we read do not have to have happy endings to leave us satisfied. I feel more at peace with an ending like this, that stays with me and keeps me thinking about it for a long time after.The story was wonderful. Even if some parts aren't true to history or are embellished and skip over things, it didn't matter. I was enraptured the whole time, barely breaking away from my screen to even eat. I smiled and laughed, but the somber tone never quite left me as you get the ending in the beginning. To me, it seemed more than just the story of adultery and betrayal; if this is keeping you from watching the drama, please reconsider. Woo Jin spells it out plainly to the woman he is married to in almost every scene they are in: to him, he will never love her and will never be hers. They married without seeing each other and while she accepted it as her fate, he couldn't. Shim Deok is the same. She left when she found out and when they came back together, it was because they didn't want to fight anymore. In the scene where he explodes at his father, that isn't a man who is alive-- he's only alive with those who encourage his passions. His father chose to turn away from his son and his wife went along with it.
Lee Jong Suk was wonderful, his performance was moving and even when he was not speaking, his eyes told us everything you need to know about Woo Jin. You could tell the exact moment he fell in love with Shim Deok and likewise with Shin Hye Sun. Their chemistry was amazing and they gave off the intimate feeling without it ever being explicitly stated. You can buy into the innocent love, that it can be pure and untouched even when so many things are happening that try to disrupt it. They were completely their characters which only added to the story. The secondary characters left an impression as well, especially her sister, Seong Deok. Their last scene together really throws a knife in your heart as you can see the inner turmoil in Shim Deok's heart, but she won't turn back to a life full of nothing. The fiancé played by Sang Yeob made you swoon. He was caring and dashing and he was so sweet even when she left. The cast fit everything perfectly and I loved how I could recognized them from other projects. It was sweet and short and lovely.
The music was phenomenal. I pay much better attention to the music now and I loved how they decided to use the instrumental of Hymn of Death instead of the vocal version. It made the 'movie' more bitter-sweet and I can't wait to download the OST.
I'll probably rewatch it, honestly. I love Lee Jong Suk and Lee Sang Yeob, not to mention the first jilted man, Lee Ji Hoon. The show made my heart race, especially at the end where I wished for it to keep going. It's hard when something ends, yet the watcher isn't ready to say goodbye just yet but there's also nowhere else to go so you create fan-vids and stories and endless Tumblr posts... which it probably where I'll end up.
I hope this helps and that you all can feel the love for the drama, the actors, and the history.
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This review may contain spoilers
(There are heavy spoilers ahead for those who haven't watched it, since this is a review mainly about the details of the plot.)Burning is the type of film that has multiple themes but still manages to bring them out clearly through layers of symbolism. Recurring themes are sprinkled throughout the run time, and seemingly unimportant details become essential to the appreciation of this work. The slow-paced, character-driven plotline may be a turn-off for certain viewers, but rewards those who are patient and attentive to details. In this review, I will try to unfold all the themes that I have observed throughout the story.
Theme #1: Fact vs Imagination
A recurring theme in the story is what is real and what not. This is first mentioned through Haemi's depiction of an imaginary tangerine, peeled and consumed between her fingers. "Rather than imagining its existence, you forget about its non-existence... and naturally your mouth waters", she says. Another instance is Haemi's cat Boil, which Haemi tells Lee Jong Soo to feed while she is gone. The cat is never seen in the apartment despite Jong Soo's frequent visits. This could be a reference to the "Schrödinger's Cat", a quantum thought experiment in which a cat is simultaneously dead and alive, until it has been observed. Another reference of this is when Ben says he is "here and there, at home and out travelling, in Korea and in Africa". Haemi also talks about falling into a well at the age of 7, feeling disappointed that Jong Soo doesn't remember him saving her at the time. After further enquiries, Haemi's family claims that there was never a well at their place, while Jong Soo's mother remembers the well having existed. Was there ever a well? Or was it all made up by Haemi? The dual nature of existence expands further to the actions of the main characters -- whether there was truly a greenhouse that Ben burnt down, why Haemi suddenly vanished, and whether Ben was the culprit behind Haemi's disappearance. Did Haemi run away to escape from her debt, commit suicide because of her existential depression, or was she really killed? Near the end, Jong Soo calls Ben's new cat "Boil", and the cat runs into his arms. We never know if this is a mere coincidence, or if Ben killed Haemi and adopted her cat. These events highlight the ambiguity and uncertainty of life, that we can never be sure about what we seem to know, and everything is up for interpretation and our own belief.
Theme #2: Presence vs Absence
Another theme is an unsettling tension caused by the desire for something and the lack thereof. The absence of Haemi and the lust that Jong Soo has for her, the absence of a mother figure in Jong Soo's life and his loneliness as a person living a solitary life in a rural area carrying the weight of his father's prosecution on his shoulders, the absence of the cat that is believed to exist, and the phone calls that remain silent regardless of anticipation. This unsettling tension is evident even to the audience, whose questions about the plot are never answered. Jong Soo fails to find enough evidence to prove that Ben killed Haemi, and it leaves us hanging forever even after the credits roll. Our emotions become one with Jong Soo, and we become Jong Soo himself -- we want to search for truth, to be certain that we know something, to the point we start to believe what we want to believe just for the sake of filling that void in our minds. The movie ends without answering any of our questions, because the essence of this movie is not what the truth is, it's how we and the main character react to not knowing the truth. Something is off, but we don't know what exactly is wrong. It's always the absence of something that makes our skin crawl. We keep answering that anonymous phone calls hoping that someone will say something, so that we can know the "who", "what" and "why", and every time they aren't answered, we feel more impatient and curious, and "burn" with the growing desire of receiving a response -- this brings us to the next theme that we will explore.
Theme #3: Burning
The title of the movie is "Burning", so there are plenty of "burning" symbolisms sprinkled throughout. The burning bonfire of the "Great Hunger" dance depicting Haemi's desperate search for the meaning of life, the burning greenhouses suggesting Ben's unruly and destructive tendencies, the burning clothes of Jong Soo's mother representing the desire to sever ties and erase memories, the burning scene of the crime when Jong Soo kills Ben representing his hatred, and the burning lust and passion that Jong Soo has for Haemi that is never satisfied after Haemi drifts apart from him and eventually disappears from his life. Even the audience experiences a burning sensation of wanting to unravel the mysteries but is unable to -- resembling a slowly burning pot that never gets to boil.
Theme #4: Working class vs The "Gatsby"
There is an apparent gap of living between Jong Soo/Haemi and Ben/Ben's female friends. While Jong Soo is unable to earn a living as a creative writer and Haemi is struggling to make ends meet with all that endless debt, Ben lives a worry-free life cooking pasta at home and blurring the line between "fun" and "work". Jong Soo cannot do anything but frown when he realizes that he has lost his love to a man in a speeding Porche. The way Ben yawns and his friends laugh is almost humiliating sometimes, even though they try to cover up their lack of interest and degrading attitude behind their noble facades. To Ben, people's possessions (and probably people too) are only toys to him, things that can disappear without a trace without drawing any attention from the police, because they are too insignificant to be concerned about. The haunting thing about this is how true it is. When Haemi disappears, nobody seems to notice or care at all, because losing one lonely and ordinary girl does not matter at all to the world. Regardless of whether Ben murdered her, the indifference of the world towards a girl's disappearance is brutal enough, and shows how frail a person's life is if they are a nobody.
Theme #5: The clash of characters
It was brought up multiple times that Jong Soo's "occupation" is a creative writer, yet we never see him writing except in two distinctive scenes. Jong Soo spends most of his time managing his father's farm, passing the time at home, feeding Haemi's unobservable cat, and satisfying his sexual desires. The only piece of writing we see from him is the petition he writes for his father who is being convicted, implying that rather than using his writing skills for creative production, he can only use them to solve his real-life issues. One of the possible reasons could be that he is incapable of writing, because he is merely a mindless empty shell stuck in his past. He resonates with Faulkner's work, because he thinks it resembles his own life (his past), but he has no other thoughts aside from this past, nor does he have enough connection with the outer world to come up with any story for a novel. Due to having a broken family and lacking maternal love he is unable to properly interact with the world and enjoy life, but deep inside he longs for a connection, and tries to address this loneliness through touching himself. He is only surviving, but not living. Haemi, on the other hand, is drowning in debts but living her life in complete spontaneity. She is free-spirited and always has her head in the clouds, as if she is drunk. She smiles at one moment, and suddenly bursts into tears in another. She dances wildly, strips herself naked, without social schema ever crossing her mind. Haemi may seem insane, but she could be the most sane character in the story -- the only character that is truly living, that knows what is real and what is not, and contemplates about life's meaning. Despite having plastic surgery, she is more raw and authentic than those who live wearing a mask. And this is what Jong Soo likes about her, but what Ben finds boring. The three characters have different personalities and backgrounds, which ignites interesting sparks in their encounters.
Theme #6: Gender roles
The movie briefly touches on topics of toxic masculinity and female oppression in society. Quoting from Haemi's friend, "there is no country for women", women are often subject to scrutiny and harsh standards. "You're ugly", "Only prostitutes take off their clothes like that in front of men", Jong Soo is the typical traditional male who applies the scrutiny of appearance and behaviour. To Jong Soo, Haemi is the target of his sexual fantasies, the serrogate of a mother figure, and just an "ugly" girl that he doesn't remember from his past but a smoking love interest after her physical transformation. Ben takes on the role of playboys in society, those who pretend to respect and treasure women because "women like that are interesting", but actually see women as objects of possession, and to the extreme in this case, "trophies" that can be collected.
There could be more themes in this movie waiting to be discovered, but the above is my take on its more easily accessible themes. Burning is a masterpiece when it comes to having multiple themes perfectly woven together and presented through a single sit-through. It is a hidden gem among the countless fast-paced Korean films of this era, as it manages to go against the tides to adopt a more relaxed pace of story-telling, and such attempt was highly successful.
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1Definitely a MUST-WATCH
Let me start by saying that I’m not a fan of gender-bender/body-swap stories (I think The Shipper traumatized me for a lifetime), but having read the manga beforehand made me anticipate this particular drama.The main character is Yashiro who’s crushing on childhood friend Kenta, he gathers the courage to confess but Kenta turns him down, trying to maintain their longtime friendship. Suddenly tragedy strikes (insert Truck of Doom’s cameo) and Yashiro is visited by the god of the local shrine who grants him a wish and Yashiro, in all his heartbroken innocence wish to be reborn as a high school girl to have a second chance with Kenta. So Yashiro transforms in the round-eyed lovely Kagura and thus begins his story.
While at first the main plot seems to be Yashiro’s journey to win his friend heart while in Kagura’s body, soon the story begins to unfold and instead the drama focuses in how Yashiro’s choice start to change not only his life but that of his friends also. So much of this drama is about putting oneself in others shoes and showing how this young group of friends try to navigate between new feelings and situations, making sense of everything and trying their best to experience love and show kindness. So despite the fantasy genre, the characters, their motivations and actions are credible and so so relatable.
Beyond a doubt, my favorite thing about this drama are the deep friendships between the main characters.
Speaking of our main characters:
I love Yashiro, he’s everything I love about a protagonist: vulnerable but resilient, so open in his affections and honest to a fault. Clearly, the fact that he wished to become a girl just to be with the boy he like suggests that he doesn't have the right place every Friday ...but I loved him for that too.
Although his wish should’ve made it “easier” for him to develop a relationship with Kenta, life rarely goes as planned and relationships are complicated and messy, so soon his resolution to make Kenta fall in love with him takes a back seat while he deals with all the unintended consequences of his wish, and he does it with a kindness and aplomb rarely seem in someone his age.
Kenta, on the other hand, is charming and outgoing, but surprisingly mature and levelheaded. Even from the start it’s obvious that he values his friendship with Yashiro above all else but it takes a while to sort himself out about the extent of his feelings. So, part of the drama is about the progression on Kenta’s part to ponder and realize his feelings for Yashiro, but even when the realization that he could gave everything up except for Yashiro hits him, this doesn’t mean the end of his struggles. Because even if he’s ready to admit that Kagura IS Yashiro indeed, he isn’t the Yashiro he knew all his life and then grew to love, and he’s not going to settle down with her, easier as it might be.
Rin is this happy-go-lucky kind of girl and initially you think she gonna be the typical ex-girlfriend ready to drive a wedge between the main leads (and she kinda does but not in the way you’d imagine lol); but in the end, I just sincerely wanted her to find love and happiness again.
Late comer, Kagura, was harder to figure out. At first she seems perfectly happy with the whole body-swap situation, but soon is evident that she’s struggling with her own feelings and insecurities. Fortunately our main trio gives her a kind of safe place for her to deal with her own issues.
All in all, I've really enjoyed this little gem of a drama. It wasn't perfect but the combination of refreshing characters and poignant moments, with an honest exploration of identity and sexuality, made this drama an incredible experience
In conclusion, do watch Kamisama no Ekohiiki even if it’s not your genre, just watch the first episode and you’ll be hooked.
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This review may contain spoilers
OMG! I really like it
OBS: Many people are saying that is not as good as the manga. Ok, probably yes, but I haven't seen the manga yet so my review is based only on this dorama.First of all I want say that I'm in love with Yuuki, he's so cute (I want a Yuuki in my life).
At one point in story I was really hoping that he would find someone who didn't make him suffer, but Akira was the love of his life.
I was expecting something tragic would happen, but I really like the happy ending,
The final scenes made me think on many decisions I made in my life just to fit a society standard.
I cried when I saw Xiang Hao Ting e Yu Xi Gu from history3: MODC. OMG.
I love the story, the music, acting, visuals. Everything. If I was asked if there was something I didn't like, I would say the story was a little rushed, it could have had more episodes with a slower passage of the timeline.
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Not Going To Be For Everyone
Although I enjoyed the show overall, there were a lot of aspects where production fell short.I believe that this show originally was going to be 40 or more episodes long, but once they were done with editing and going through the censorship board it was cut down to 36 episodes. This was extremely noticeable for those who didn't even know the context of depleted episode count. There were many times it felt disjointed or unfinished. There were whole plots left dangling or completely unfinished. And though the actors worked their asses off, writing & editing stick out like a sore thumb on this one. As they failed the show don't tell rules of film making.
I think my biggest issue came a little past the halfway point with the climax of the 1st daughter and her husband's story. I was really enjoying their screentime and dynamic only for them to pull the rug out from under them completely, and never really put it to rights before moving on to the next storyline block.
4 of the 5(6 really but will touch on that later) Li sisters get to take on a leading role in their story with their husbands/future husbands for roughly 7-9 episodes each focused on a couple's love story. I wont be fully spoiling the finer details of storylines but some spoilers will occur simply because context is needed.
The show first kicks off with a short intro into 2nd daughter's dynamic with her husband of about 2 years, and setting up the Li family business and the personalities of the 6 sisters & mother. It then immediately goes into the 3rd daughters love story with her future husband, the cousin of 2nd sister's husband. The 2nd couple act as supporting characters mainly through this storyline as they are both related to the 3rd couple. I called the 2nd couple "The Double Agent Couple" because he was constantly asking/telling his wife about what goes on with the men & the husband was able to listen in on the sisters' conversations because he was already a member of the family. The 3rd couple I referred to as "The Scheming Couple" - the couple that schemes together, stays together.
The 3rd couple(Li Kang Ning & Chai An) have an Elizabeth & Mister Darcy chemistry with a healthy dose of Tom and Jerry thrown in for laughs. They can scheme against each other, but the second someone else tries to play with them the kid gloves are off. It's harmless pranks, pushing each other in business, and testing each other's limits. The chemistry between Lu Yu Xiao and Wang Xing Yue is great and continues to hold strong even when they take a backseat in the other sibling's storylines.
After 3rd get their happily ever after, the story shifts it's focus to the 1st daughter and her new husband(Li Shou Hua & Du Yang Xi). I call them the Scholarly Couple, because he places 3rd in the Imperial Exam & had she been a man she would have been the top scholar of a generation. All is well and good kicking off with a snub from the husband due to a misunderstanding prior to marriage. As they start to let their walls down and communicate it gets even better....and then the other shoe drops and the previous mature communication completely breaks down and the "self sacrifice" "I'll make you hate me so you can live." tropes come into play. This isn't the first case of abusive tactics used within the show, but it is the first time that draws blood from one of the siblings. In episode 17 to push her away he starts to act like a complete asshole and goes to whip their servant who the girls treat more like family. Shou Hua steps in front of the girl to protect her from the blow that Du Yang Xi is throwing down. He ends on striking his wife with a whip so hard it breaks open her layers of clothing and leaves a open bloody gash on her shoulder of about 6 to seven inches long. We NEVER get a full apology for this behavior. Shou Hua just all of a sudden "knows" that he is treating her like shit to "protect her". They divorce and eventually reconcile, but that scene is maybe 5 minutes and then no second wedding no show of what he did to win her back...nope...he just sort of knelt for a second and then all was forgiven...ick. I could never see him the same way after that. Because we didn't get to see him repent for hurting his wife both physically and emotionally I just never got over my ick.
Right at the tail end of 1st daughters story we get introduced to the future 4th brother-in-law. 4th couple(Li Hao De & Shen Hui Zhao) have the best storyline of all the siblings imo. Somewhat tied with 3rd couple. I refer to them as the "Justice/Truth Above All Else Couple" a Judge and his clerk fall in love. When given the opportunity to lie and be believed Hao De still tells the whole truth. Shen Hui Zhao goes from very strict black and white logic to letting emotions help guide him more. Hao De worms her way into everyone's heart and breaks down any emotional wall that someone puts in front of her. They can't help but love her, and her husband is no expectation. They have amazing chemistry together. It comes from trust, understanding, and faith in one another. When he goes to push her away he is honest about why he feels like he needs to protect her from his line of work. He doesn't ever strike her or fully leave her in the dark about his plans. The one time he does sort of leave her out of his plans it feels more like she's upset that he went off to play with others and left her out of the fun. Would really love to see the two actors Ke Ying and Liang Yong Qi get to play leading roles together in another drama in the future. They were natural and playful. Seriously some give him a leading role already.
The 5th daughter and her husband are a true enemies to lovers trope. Li Le Shan and Yang Xian hate each other on sight...they are the "Fire & Gasoline Couple" they only add to each other's flames, and violence is always the answer for these two. Yang Xian, played by Winwin, has the most character development of any other character in the entire show. He goes from a spoiled rich kid who wants to piss off his father by bringing a merchant woman home as a wife in episode 3 to a self-made hardworking and determined man ready to win his wife's love again in episode 35/36. He has the most complicated family dynamic that showcases the stark difference between a conniving noble household constantly seeking power and the more modest and loving merchant household the Li girls were raised in. You will love Le Shan the second she shows up on screen ready to castrate a man for daring to look at her sisters. She is the most like their mother. She will thrown hands first before trying to talk it out. She matures over time and knows when to use her words and patience over her club/rod. Even though Huangyang Tian Tian is the youngest member of the main cast she acts circles around almost everyone. Winwin, who is 10 years her senior in age,(the couple never kiss in their story as she was actually a minor during the filming so put your pitch forks down), holds his own. This is only his 3rd production, but he already has a good grasp on conveying subtle internal emotions of his character with his facial expressions. I think I thought that his character would be a secret martial arts/scholar just because Winwin himself is skilled in fight choreography due to his classical dance training. They have to repeatedly state he isn't a good fighter or a good scholar.
Major spoilers for last little bit...6th daughter is the adoptive daughter of the Li family and former betrothed of 3rd daughter's twin brother Pan'er. We were ROBBED, I tell you, of a deeper dive into Pan'er(Zhe Cong) and Qiong Nu's story. Because surprise bitches baby bro is alive and just a perfect blend of his mama & daddy. Seriously knight in shining armor should be his character description. They were my "A Very Long Engagement Couple". I don't believe their story was majorly cut down in post production editing so I wish the writers would have given us more of them in the script. They had a more interesting story than 2nd couple.
We were also robbed of the final boss 6 brother-in-law alliance team meeting. I found that whenever all the sisters or BiLs were together they had some of the better comedic/storytelling elements. As most of the guys have all worked together before their banter was seriously under utilized.
Overall I give it an 8.5-9 out of 10. If it was going just off of pure production critique I would be closer to a 5 or 6. The cast and chemistry brought up the score A LOT. I can't say with 100% certainty, but it feels like a lot of the budget went into the cast and not other elements of the show. There is more I have to say, but I've been writing for over an hour and need to start my day, so if you finish reading all of this, thank you for your time. If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below and I'll answer as best and as quickly as I can.
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Starting All Over
As dramaland resets itself with the beginning of another year, viewers get the opportunity to kickstart 2022 with an awesome C-drama right here. Reset doesn’t come with much fanfare where at the beginning of its run, the availability of (good) subs was somewhat hampered by a lack of involvement from major OTT streaming platforms for international markets. Fortunately as the weeks went by and more viewers started watching it, the fanbase for the drama gradually grew, affording it the recognition that it deserves.Reset is a “time-loop” drama in the mould of Groundhog Day, Deja Vu, Happy Death Day and Source Code. The protagonists, a college girl and a young game designer, mysteriously find themselves reliving a bus explosion each day. Why this is happening to them and, more importantly, how they free themselves of this catastrophic cycle are central to the narrative.
This drama is produced by Dongyang Noon Sunshine Film and Television Co., or more popularly and affectionately known as Daylight Entertainment which is famed for producing top quality dramas such as Nirvana in Fire, Battle of Changsha, The Story of Minglan and The Bond, among many others. It is co-directed by Sun Mo Long (Candle in the Tomb and Mining Town), Liu Hongyuan, and Lao Suan. The screenplay is adapted from the novel "Kai Duan" (开端) by Qi Dao Jun (祈祷君) who was also involved in the screenwriting process, alongside Qiu Yujie, Lao Suan, and Huang Kaiwen.
Principal photography took place from June to August 2021 in Xiamen. Reset is considered a short format production running at only 15 episodes of 42 minutes each. To date, viewership on Tencent Video platform for mainland China has exceeded 400 million views (at the time of writing), making it the most watched domestic production for the beginning of 2022.
What I Loved
The innovative concept of time loop in a contemporary C-drama setting. I don’t think this has been done before in a Chinese production, which usually focuses on time travels or alternate world fantasies as far as speculative fiction is concerned. The way this premise is established and conveyed via a rather absorbing and engaging approach to the storytelling is a major boon as well because my initial fears of confusion arising from inconsistent or illogical plot holes proved to be unfounded, for the most part. The parameters of when and how the time loop occurs are clearly defined for the viewers’ understanding as the story unfolds.
Along with the suspense and mystery of the overarching plot, the entire story has much depth to it with a balance of youth themes, slice-of-life human drama and even hints of a budding romance imbued into the development of the characterization and side stories. All of these elements are carefully laid out over the course of an eventful 15 episodes, where the second half in particular is filled with many surprising twists and turns.
The two leads may be central to the plot but the drama also carefully takes its time to explore the various side characters, namely the other passengers onboard the ill-fated bus ride and the police detectives assigned to the investigation. Most of these characters are realistically depicted as being extremely layered and fully fleshed out as the mystery gradually unravels.
The characters truly do come alive thanks in no small part to the superb performances of the cast. Bai Jing Ting delivers as the fresh-faced game designer Xiao He Yun, as he utterly embodies the conflicting emotions of someone who wants nothing to do with this calamity yet cannot extricate himself completely from caring about a total stranger. Zhao Jin Mai plays college girl Li Shi Qing in a somewhat more subdued role compared to her co-lead but no less convincing as a naive youngster inadvertently caught up in an incomprehensible and extreme situation.
To be perfectly honest, at the beginning I wasn’t really expecting romance in this drama. However, seeing both Bai Jing Ting and Zhao Jin Mai living dangerously throughout in attempting to survive this distressing time loop has sufficiently shifted my mindset to unequivocally root for them as a romantic couple. In addition to both their characters being adorably sweet and innocent, as well as the unintended comic relief and minor frustration at times from witnessing their numerous futile attempts at unravelling the mystery, the emotional connection they share that is borne of hardship and tragedy genuinely does tug at the heartstrings.
Of the supporting cast, as usual Liu Yi Jun impresses with his immense experience and mastery of his craft. Despite the limited screen presence, his character of police detective Zhang Cheng displays the necessary nuances that befits the characterisation and brings a touch of class to the drama. Likewise Liu Tao’s surprising appearance here as police inspector Du Ju, who elevates the cast list with some star power albeit while wearing a rather unsightly wig. That said, I would have loved to see more complexity from her character aside from delivering her now iconic line, “Perform drug test!”.
Special mention goes to the strong performances in the portrayal of certain other side characters who I shall not name to avoid spoiling the story. It's worth mentioning that You Jing Rou makes a rather brief but quite impactful appearance in the supporting role of Liu Yao.
This drama features music composed and arranged by South Korean composer Kim Hyun Do for 2 of the 3 tracks listed in the soundtrack. My personal favourite is the emotional theme song, the English-language love ballad My Only, performed exclusively by Zhou Shen.
My Only by Zhou Shen
Wake Up by Wang Xiaokun
Rebound by Chen Hui
Final Thoughts
Reset turned out to be a pleasant surprise indeed. It may not have the bearings of a big budget epic or colossal production headlined by an extensive cast list of star names. But it does the basics very well with a great script and storytelling approach, convincing acting with relatable characters and a hugely satisfying closure. I think this drama exceeded many viewers' expectations in the end, including mine.
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First, let's talk about the story. The plot of "Ichi Rittoru No Namida" is taken from a real story of a young girl called also Aya. Even if there was some modification to make it much more dramatic, lot of sentences in the drama are taken from the book. It gives even more impact to the story. I'm always touched by people who have illness so even more when it's this kind of uncurable illness... After watching the drama, I got interested in knowing more about the illness and did lot of research ! I promise you that you'll not be disappointed in watching this drama.
Why ? Not only because the story is well written but also because the actors act really well. First, I'm a big fan of Nishikido Ryo (so of course he do act well) and Sawajiri Erika is someone I already saw playing an ill girl in Taiyou No Uta. First thought: she plays only ill people? Well, that didn't last long because she is really good in playing that role. It's rather frightening. The family of Aya is also played by really good actors and the little girl is SOOOO CUUUUUTE U.U
As for the music, we can say the OST of this drama is... ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN OST EVER IN ASIA. Everyone who will watch this drama will fall in love with Konayuki and Sangatsu Kokonoka. Those two songs are really emblems of the drama. BUT the OST do not contain only those two songs and I'm pretty sure all the songs you will hear in the drama will make you feel moved and cry. Not kidding, just try and tell me.
So much good points lead to a rewatch value really high. I gave 9 instead of 10 because you will anticipate the story afterward and try to skip some parts to not let you cry. Haha. But don't worry. This rewatch value still remains that high even if you watch it 1000 times.
Don't ever hesitate watching this drama. Even if you will feel kind of... depressed afterwards. You will really think: "Wow, that was really a drama."
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This drama.. Where do I begin? Phenomenal acting aside (which, I mean, look at that cast, they did fantastic), the story was amazing. I saw so many people saying that they knew nothing about baseball but were still enjoying the show. Why is that? Because the show isn't actually about the sport, it's about the people. What made this drama so great was that it was heavily character driven. You don't have to understand the mechanics behind baseball management because you understand the basics: if the characters get what they want, you're happy for them, and if something bad happens, you hurt for them. Each one of these characters were so special, and the writers--round of applause to the writers, folks--were able to take characters that you didn't care about or that you actually disliked and made you root for them. That is skill right there. The bond between the staff and the bond between the baseball team were addicting. And the twists and turns, and watching them build up this team from nothing was so thrilling! And to top it all off, there were some really great messages woven throughout the drama.
I'm going to miss these characters so much. I know it's a hopeless dream (pun intended lol), but I would love for them to make a season two.
10/10 would recommend.
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Vic and Barbies preformances were flawless and spectacular. Other than the 1 Litre of Tears drama, I've never seen such amazing acting.
The director had a habit of not playing music at times which just added to the creepy atmosphere. I thought it worked well with the scenes. When there was music, such as the theme song, they were all well chosen.
This is one drama you won't regret watching.
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Surprisingly good and cute! worth a try!!
The ML improved SO FREAKING MUCH since PYHOMS. His visuals, acting, chemistry with the FL has improved A LOT so give it a try, you won't regret. I fell in love with the entire cast. The story progresses really well and I'm glad I didn't skip this. I didn't fast forward any scenes but instead I rewatched (which I almost never do). the story doens't get draggy or boring anywhere.The FL isn't the typical damsel in distress but quite a strong one for a big change from her previous works. The leads have a sizzling chemistry and not to mention the second leads too! They have an interesting story. The actors portray their roles perfectly. I don't know how I'll be able to move on from this! Their smiles are so damn freaking contagious OML I can't stop smiling. The second couple have a really good story pace and not simply rushed just because they had to be together for the sake of being together. I wish they had an entire drama for themselves!
In short, you'll get hooked up when you smell the chemistry between all the actors and not to mention the kisses :,-) honestly this drama set the bar high for cutesy rom-coms xo.
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Establishing love is like the likelihood of a series satisfying the whole community. Impossible.
The first episode gives the wrong impression and doesn´t represent the quality of the entire show. It put a lot of people off and I understand that too, as that's where the production/plot was implemented most problematically in terms of keeping viewers' attention and where the beautiful aesthetic of the series hasn't yet shown its true colours, portraying the summerly love of three young couples, as various as the LGBTQI+ community themselves.Viewer description is advised if you are sensitive to gray area issues. One of the couples is critically disputed. But these differences of opinion are nothing new for us either, so from that point of view, just give it a try.
PRODUCTION
Positive:
First, the editing is done mostly very precisely and nicely, carrying some vibes of western youth series productions. The warm colours of the summer are the basic aesthetic that sets the series. They consist of a lot of yellow and orange tones which generate a smooth transition. Everything looks pleasingly fresh and warm, and the upbeat music accentuates the summer vibes. As a viewer, you yourself start to feel very alive and can easily understand the atmosphere of the series. The warm, lively mood is only broken by the cool nights and the inner conflicts of the characters.
Negative:
There was just this scene skipping issue from episode 8 to 9, which resulted in a few more mistakes concerning Torn.
Unsteady pacing and the viewer's confusion about the time spans (mostly in episode 9)
PLOT
It's about the life of Sport Science students facing their true feelings. Friends who have known each other since childhood, the pair seems rather one-sided and the pair that, according to other viewers, should never blossom.
The inner conflicts are overall nothing too overdramatic. However, the approach to reality and the taste of uncertainty runs through the whole story. While love is fresh and vibrant, it brings challenges that the aforementioned controversial couple, in particular, struggles to cope with. Vee and Dome. There is no right answer to love, but there is a lot of criticism.
Nevertheless, the series has a good arc of suspense and the main characters themselves are well presented in their own diverse complexity. I would have just hoped that Tupfah and Torn had more tension in their relationship, feel like they were lacking a bit of chemistry.
ACTORS
All actors had a solid performance, and I really adored the unique harmony of the two pairings.
I had a few little issues with Tae and Suar´s acting, but it could result in the two characters Tupfah and Torn being very calm and shy. However, the fact that it was Porsche´s first role (Vee) and that Kris – who btw turned 18 in February 2022 - is also a new actor, amazed me. He's talented and you could relate and sympathize with his role, which by the way wasn't an easy task. Visually I thought all the pairings were well casted...
OVERALL
Well-made show with satisfying shots, solid acting and overall breathtaking editing. The latter could have been better because the entire series had such a beautiful aesthetic, but skipping an important part of the plot is dragging down some points.
Good story about Sport Science students getting a taste of love and attraction. Relatively realistic. Personally, I would have aired it in early summer to undermine the warm summer vibes. Nonetheless. A show I would recommend to anyone, no matter their taste in LGBTQ+ films/series.
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Hidden Gem of Romcom
The reason I start this drama because I like Nana acting from The Swindlers, I think she's one promising idol turned actress. And for Park Sung Hoon I know him from Psychopath Diary, Falsify and Gonjiam Haunted Asylum. Both of them haven't act as main role before and the theme of this drama is politics which normally not my cup of tea, so I start this drama with Zero expectations.Honestly the first 2 episode is kinda boring, but I keep going for the sake of Nana acting (she's really all out as Se Ra) Thank God I didn't stop as the story gets better and continue captivating with fast paced, no dragging problem. I'm really glad I find this hidden gem drama, it's so long since I find drama which I am looking forward to watch each week.
Chemistry both ML are overflowing, they act like lovey dovey couple, and they kissed like real life couple (which i find rare nowadays, most of actress just stand still and stiff when being kissed).
And I like how they show affection not only in Drama but through interaction in personal Instagram! Where else we get to see skinship from actors in their personal instagram without being shy or afraid of negative comments lol.
Actually I feel the ending kinda bit rushed, but I still give it overall full marks consider I really enjoyed all Sera and Gong Myung relationship.
I definitely treasure this drama and will rewatch it in the future for all the sweet moments of Sera and Gong myung ❤️
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Liar's Poker.
The Ingenious One is part of the new wuxia genre where the main protagonist is an anti-hero by classic wuxia standards. He is so highly evolved that intelligence and cunning rather than superior martial arts is his defining characteristic. Thus the ingenious Yun Xiang is aloof and cynical, he can run but he can't fight, he is righteous in an ends justify the means sense and his main tactical advantage is his big brain. This drama unfolds like a three-dimensional chess game, which can be very interesting or very boring depending on your attention to detail and interest in complex plots. Even though Yun Xiang can't fight, he is surrounded by characters who can so there are well choreographed action scenes to look forward to.After his village was massacred, Yun Xiang was raised as the sole disciple of the master of the mysterious Yuntai sect. The cerebral and commercial Yuntai and their rival the lethal and rebellious Lingyuan are successors of the legendary Qian sect. At Yuntai, Yun Xiang immerses in qiān shù 千术 or the secret Qian art of scheming and deception. They are sophisticated grifters with a controversial reputation that pay lip service to Taoist principles. One of their core principles is detachment as everyone is a pawn. Attachments and emotions make you vulnerable. This is Yun Xiang's lonely world view as he makes his way down the mountain 15 years later as a brilliant practitioner of qiān shù 千术. Time and all that brain washing did not erase his thirst for vengeance. Against his master's instructions, he makes a beeline for Nandu to uncover the truth behind his village's massacre. Along the way, he is besotted by the formidable and mysterious Shu Yanan. Sparks fly and their objectives appear aligned so they both let their guard down enough to form a wary alliance.
In Nandu, Yun Xiang's first order of business is to finance his mission. This focus on the practical money aspects of everything from running a sect to building influence is fresh and interesting. To achieve his goals, Yun Xiang plays monopoly using qiān shù 千术 or deception to control a bank, a port, a casino and a silk business. As it turns out, this brilliant protege of Yuntai is just a talented con man, a grifter. He boldly plays liar's poker with higher stakes at each turn with the power brokers of Nandu. Everyone is a pawn until they are not and he starts to break Yuntai's core principle of not letting emotions be it love or friendship mess up the con. The drama could have better highlighted how his hidden opponent was plying the same schemes against him. With narrow margins against a hidden foe, does Yun Xiang's growing affection for his pawns become his Archilles heel?
A recurring criticisms of this drama is that Yun Xiang is not that ingenious. The narrative fails to emphasize how under resourced and outnumbered Yun Xiang is. When he shows up in Nandu, he has no allies, no money and only cold clues as to what happened 15 years ago. So it's not fair to expect him to be three steps ahead when he can barely tell friend from foe. We are told he is a complex and morally ambiguous revenge driven character but his backstory is so cursorily shown that he seems like a blank person with no family or friends or history. This impression is amplified when his revenge gets sidelined as he stumbles upon the greater conspiracy and that plot-line takes over the rest of the drama. Similarly Shu Yanan's history is murky until late in the game and her relationship with Wen Cong is never explained. Thus her decisions and priorities are difficult to understand and seem at times inconsistent. Their romance developed too quickly and hiccups at a point the plot should have been building momentum towards a climax rather than digressing into romantic angst. Even though Chen Xiao and Mao Xiaotong did their best, their character designs and relationship evolution did not give them that much to work with.
In sharp contrast, the supporting roles are better written and steal the show. The priorities and drivers of Jin Biao, Mo Bufan, Kang Qiao, the Su family and Liu Gongquan are understandable and empathetic. I was too invested in their well-being and happiness to enjoy the irony of Yun Xiang's role reversal into a puddle of a tropey female lead whose whose life's mission gets hijacked by love. The standout entertaining roles areJin Biao the assassin with a heart of gold and Mo Bufan the money loving banker lured by greed and whipped by fear. Liu Gongquan's entrance also lifts the plot at a point it was sagging. I enjoyed Wang Zirui's chemistry with Chen Xiao better than that of Mao Xiaotong's, which seemed forced. While the role is well acted, Kou Yunjie is the biggest moron in the entire drama. His actions make no sense other than to facilitate plot movements. Only lazy writers take short cuts in plot design by dumbing down characters. The so-called brilliant mastermind and his main dogsbody win more as a result of a huge information and resource advantage rather than exceptional tactics. Their motives for engaging in such a vast and long-dated conspiracy with dire consequences for failure are not compelling. Petty antagonists like Tang Xiao are more believable with their penny-ante tricks and more basic instincts.
The plot picks up into a predictable but overall satisfactory ending after the final conspiracy and mastermind is unveiled. The main antagonist is designed to not show themself or their plans too early. This comes at the cost of making their motive unconvincing and is pointless as their identity quickly becomes obvious anyway. While based on true historical events, the plot design is often used and does not stand out in any unique way. After years of scheming, the mastermind's grand plan is full of holes and overly dependent on single sources of supplies and too few and too unreliable sources of manpower. This kind of shoddy plan would have failed on its own without much help from anyone! But I was too busy enjoying the confiscation of irreplaceable family jewels, a nice end surprise twist and watching villains face gruesome consequences. The message that detachment is a flawed Yuntai mantra; that emotional attachments can swing the odds both negatively and positively is lost in the finale. I enjoyed this drama but recognise there are many holes and unanswered questions, the pacing is not exciting enough and the momentum build disrupted by unnecessary romantic angst. It is a story that had a lot of potential and a wonderful cast but did not come together in the best way. Thus it would not be fair of me to rate this more than an 8.0/10:0 as one of those far from perfect but still highly enjoyable dramas.
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