Reviews

The beginning was a little bland because they had to set up the drama and introduce the huge cast. But keep watching with an open mind - it gets interesting after a couple of episodes.

It isn't the typical medical drama with dramatic surgery miracles. It's somewhat realistic with ups and downs. The drama is a collection of stories of the daily lives of doctors and patients. This type of show is always a hit or miss for me, but I loved Hospital Playlist's storytelling. I was always either laughing or crying. Each character is unique so I quickly got invested in the entire cast. Time flew while I watched each episode because everything felt so natural, like I was in the hospital with them.

There's a bit of a retro vibe for fans of the Reply series, but it isn't a major part of the show. As with every Shin Won Ho drama, every scene is crucial and hints to what will happen later in the show.

Looking forward to watching Season 2 next year!

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I had this in my queue for 2 years but wasn't motivated to watch it until a) I saw Ji Chang Wook in Healer and b) realized Yoo Seung Ho was in it as well. So I watched it and I'm very very glad I did.
This is easily the best sageuk I've seen so far. I loved the story, the cast, the acting, the fight scenes, the character development, the music (which I cannot get out of my head), and of course our 2 leading men. I truly loved Choi Min Soo as Chun (the old Sky Lord) - and Jun Kwang Ryul did his usual impeccable job as Gwang Taek.
I just cannot get enough of Ji Chang Wook, however! He is fabulous in this, as is Yoo Seung Ho. The bromance between Dong Soo and Woon is the main thrust of the entire series and is done so well.
The direction (especially the fight scenes) and the cinematography compares favorably to films, the spectacular vistas shown are breathtaking.
Some other reviewers talked about the lead actress (Shin Hyun Bin playing Ji Sun) being too cool & emotionless - very true but it seemed to fit the character very well. It certainly didn't showcase any great acting skills, but since it fitted so well with how both our leads saw her, it did not distract me in any way. I much preferred the other 2 girls, much more animated and interesting. Still, no surprises that the aloof, silently suffering damsel in distress attracted both our warriors LOL
The story keeps one guessing, even if you know the actual history - which is always a plus in my book. Very interesting take on the whole Prince Sado episode.
All in all I highly recommend this drama!

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Great everything overall. Interesting story, amazing actors/actresses, great production.
My only sore point is probably how the Mom is instantly forgiven, after all the pain she put everyone through. She didn't want Korn and Win together, that's understandable. But pushing Korn and Lin together with Win RIGHT THERE? Doesn't she know how much that's gonna hurt everyone involved? Time and distance works best to heal broken hearts, but not when Korn would have to move to the farm and they would be seeing each other every day. That's just cruel.
I thought when Win disappeared he might have gone and hurt himself.

At the very least, Win should feel angry and betrayed that his mom might hate him for who he is.

About Win being super angry and unreasonable, yeah, not a good look on him. But I imagine that must have been the worst one year (or was it 2 years?) of his life. His dad passed and he got this MASSIVE responsibilities with no one to help him. The mom and sis doesn't seem to share his burden either. I've a little experience with that, and the stress really does get to you, even when you have support.
On top of that, he -felt- betrayed and used by his best friend, the person he cared the most beside his family, someone who he probably was already in love with.

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First I'll say that this is a very good drama but not awesome.
Means you probably will love it but won't be in the top list of course if your taste is like mine.

Pros:
1-Light comedy drama will make you not bred and quite excited
2-Perfect length means it's not long neither short and the time is perfectly enough for the events.

Cons:
1-Can't feel the romance at all.
2-the story is not fully completed means where is the start....couldn't make the connection between the past and the present maybe because it wasn't mentioned for enough.

I'd like to say that the pros are a lot but I say what I see unique and doesn't exist in most of Kdramas.
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I hope this will help you decide.
Thanks for reading :-) .

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OKKAAYYY

So, I want to start off by saying that seeing Yin and War in another drama together made me really happy. This mini-series gives us a realistic version of having a crush in High School. This series is something that everyone can relate to. It also shows the hardships a teenager could face when discovering their true self. War was able to play an 18-year-old High school student even though he is darn near 30(I'm kinda exaggerating but you get the point) This series had such amazing, directing, acting(Fern especially), and cinematography. The colors kinda reminded me of I Told Sunset About You with all the orange. And I'm not gonna lie in the first scene I thought they had taken it back to the '80s but they... didn't. It relied more on writing and I know I’m not familiar when it comes to the Thai language, I should say that Rookie Thailand really didn't sub all of the writings which I was extremely disappointed about because it was a major point to the plot. With all that said I really enjoyed this. Yin and War as we aaallllllll know have amazing chemistry and to be a 3 episode mini-series I’m okay with how it ends...you have to watch it to find out.

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Fun, but shallow and requires heavier suspension of disbelief than one might think

Why I watched:
I am a big fan of Chen Fangtong, and probably have more than a bit of bias. I think she is adorable and have been consistently impressed with her acting. When I saw this show was available, I had to jump right in.

What I liked:
- As expected, Chen Fangtong was a treat. I think she sells comedy well and there were a number of good laugh out loud moments in the show. Her expressions are on point and I love her sass.
- The premise is a little different and somewhat novel because of it. Instead of transmigrating and staying in the new world, the FL transmigrates when she falls asleep and is back in the real world when she wakes up. This created an interesting duality and it was interesting to see the scenes set in the real world, with other characters who are aware of what she was going through.
- It definitely doesn't take itself too seriously and there were some great light-hearted comedy moment.
- It is an easy watch/binge. Events move at a good pace that makes sense in the context of the story. It does wrap up instead of being a cliffhanger.

What fell flat:
- The chemistry was massively disappointing. Chen Fangtong has shown in other shows that she can create amazing chemistry with her co-stars but there was so very little of it here. The kisses, though there were many, were the stoic pecks that I would not have expected from Chen Fangtong.
- I have seen the male lead in one other show and I have not been very impressed. I thought he was very wooden in this show for one of his roles and was not especially stand-out for his other one.
- The story started strong but quickly started feeling nonsensical. The villains' motives made almost no sense and the main characters' decision-making seemed lacking at best. The entire conflict feels like it could have been avoided with one call to the authorities and at no point did it feel like there was a good explanation as to why it had to unfold the way it did.
- The backstories felt forced and shallow.
- The CGI for some scenes were pretty bad. The rooftop heart-to-hearts with blossoms falling in the background looked like it was done by some amateur VFX artists.
- The costumes/hair/make-up were questionable. I give it a bit of slack because within the context of the story, it could make sense. But at the same time, it sometimes just looked bad.

In summary:
I thought this show was underrated (currently a 7.4) when I first started because I found the beginning to be very charming and hilarious. It was an easy watch, but it quickly became an exercise in suspending my disbelief because none of the characters' motivations were that deep or even made much sense. I wanted to like this more because of the lead actress, but I have to admit that overall this short form falls on the side of mediocre and around a 7.5 is where I would rate it as well.

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beautiful & impactful

To be completely honest, I started watching this when it aired because I was bored, but ultimately, I am so happy I watched this drama.

For starters, Nubdao is a character that I just can’t help but love. She had so much going on with her family and work, yet remained strong at heart, and she never got too carried away in the mess she experienced. She worked so tirelessly to provide for everyone around her in any way she could, never expecting anything in return. I'm truly in awe of her presence in this show, and she has to be one of my all-time favorite female leads.

Kimhan, also, is very lovable most of the time, and his care for Nubdao is really what kept me coming back to see what he would do next. Tan is your usual third party in the love triangle, but I do feel like he was necessary for the storyline, and he provided a lot of development for Nubdao.

Where this drama lacked, however, was in some of its execution. Around episode 14 or so, there are so many things happening at one time, and it gets overwhelming. There also is not very much consistency to these subplots, and it feels like you’re jumping from conflict to conflict with no overall conclusions or resolutions. I got confused about most of episodes 14-17, and part of me wishes they would’ve made this show 15 episodes instead of 18. I feel like some loose ends remain, but this doesn’t really take away from the positive aspects of the drama because the characters and the main plot were so lovable that I couldn’t stop myself from watching every episode as it aired. I thought a lot about it between weeks, and I think the reflection helped me understand any errors that might’ve occurred. It may be better for those who watch with the binging perspective, as you will find the answers much quicker.

My overall opinion is that this was a truly spectacular ride, and I am so pleased with the overall outcome of this show. I really really recommend it to those looking for a romance that feels genuine and not cheesy. The cinematography is gorgeous, the side characters are so cute (looking at you, Pao), and there is just a vibe of happiness I feel when I watch this.

Please do give it a go!

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Did he die?

The ending of Part 3 Fallen Flowers left me a bit lost.

WARNING!!! SORTA SPOILER!

If you know the answer, please tell me. Did Haruto kill Ruka? Because I sure got that impression. Which kinda stinks, especially after the HELL Aoyama put Haruto through. Why he would still love that creeper is beyond me. That's really all I have to say, except this trilogy left me with nightmares. So don't watch if you aren't into twisted obscessions disguised as love and a heavy dose of SM. About the only good thing I can say is, the acting was pretty good. Hope the cast all get better parts to play, soon. The music wasn't bad, just emotionally misplaced. Except for the ending on the first part-which felt hollow-the rest of them the characters were gaslighting each other and the audience.

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The BEST XianXia Drama of 2020!!!

I started Love and Redemption just because I like the XianXia Themes, so I've any big expectations . Although I noticed Crystal Yuan in Listening Snow Tower and Cheng Yi in Legend of Chusen, they are not my favorite ones.

But after watching the first few episodes of Love and Redemption, I have a bit interesting in their chemistry. Because both of them so cute of acting as teenagers. This drama show the character development for each characters and all of them portray this very well.

Also the storyline is really interesting. Although I really hate the spoilers, I keep searching about Love and Redemption in every sites. All the actors, fight scenes, the CGI effects, the costumes and the OST songs fit perfectly.

Beside the hidden story plots, Si Feng's eternal love for Xuan Ji is really heart warming. Moreover, the bromance between the handsome squad (Si Feng, Wu Jiqi, Liu Yi Huan, Min Yan, Ruo Yu) & (Teng She, Qing Long) is really entertaining. And beside the main characters, Teng She is my favorite ones. His appearance can light up my mood.

As for me, the best thing about this drama is the Fight Scenes. The CGI effects are perfect and their movements really cool.

After all, Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan becomes my favorite actors. I really wish I could give over 10 stars for Love and Redemption.

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Screams of agony could be heard down the street

Content warning: you'll want to claw your eyes out after watching...

What I Liked-
it had an interesting premise, a god of love tries to help a human
- the actors were cute
- the first few episodes were okay
- I liked that the female character wasn't some crazy ex-girlfriend or a stalker fangirl

Why I Got So Angry
- the terrible 2 kisses - Nite is the god of love so he has to know how to give/receive a kiss right?? right??? (me screaming into a void)
- the entire episode where Tae just moped around and there were flashbacks, so boring
- almost all of the cast vanishes in the last few episodes
- an unknown time later Tae is at a beach and meets a doppelganger of Nite (let's call him Nite 2). There is no explanation but we all assume that Nite 2 is Nite in a different body based on the ridiculous number of similarities (I was thinking an Ariel type thing). This drags out until....
- What on god's green earth was that ending???? Nite 2 specifically says that he is NOT Nite, whaaaaaaaaa?????!!!!!!!!! What on earth happened to Nite? Where did this Nite 2 come from? Who wrote this????!!!!!!!! I almost threw my computer across the room and I screamed in agony at that ending. 

Perhaps they had to do 12 episodes and had problems with the pandemic. They should have paused filming OR just added 1 scene between Nite & that other god to explain that Nite needed to get a human to give him a 'true love's kiss' in a new body without revealing he is Nite. Then Nite could remain human and be with his true love (i.e. Ariel situation). Explain to me why this scene could not have been filmed and I'll up my review.

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Important lessons from the imperfect victim

I've read a few reviews where the reviewer blames the victims of poor choices. This drama is for the mature audience with an open mind and a open heart. As the title suggests "imperfect victim" is just that. The young victim made all the wrong choices but that doesn't mean she deserved to be assaulted. Victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and/or rape often face society prosecution in addition to dealing with legal hurdles. Even in the U.S. the stats of % of women that are sexually harassed, assaulted, raped are staggering. Although this subject is rather heavy, the drama does contain a lot of good information worth knowing.

Cast:
FL lawyer - Amazing! I love her acting & her character.
FL Victim - I think she improved a lot as an actress but could be better.
ML the accused - He's one of my favorite veteran actors.
Strong supporting cast all around, my favorite being FL lawyer's side kick, the female cop & the ex security guard.

The drama introduces the FL lawyer entering a dinner party responding to a guest pressuring her to drink: "I will only have one drink. Anyone that expects more than 1 drink I will leave." She's confident, successful & powerful.

Separately the victim, who's young & beautiful. She's timid and one night got pressured into drinking till she passes out leading to a night of unfortunate events. Later on she's judged as the gold digger and a party girl because she was drinking with powerful old men. She didn't say "No" therefore she was "fine" with it even if all her body language clearly shows she detested all that was going on.

There are going to be lots of frustrating scenes but it's also realistic and maybe it can bring more awareness on social norms that need to be changed & on laws that need to be improved upon.

Well done drama with a very good cast on a topic that's often overlooked. Probably not going to be a popular drama but I think it would be beneficial especially for women to watch this.

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A great drama in 2021!

I decided to watch this drama just because of the amazing cast, Yang Yang and Dilraba. And they did not fail to deliver the best out of them. I was totally hitched to this drama. Don't even start me on their romance! Yang Yang was on fire and the chemistry between main leads were more than the best!
I'm sure that the producing crew had to put on a great effort on this drama, since the drama has technical parts on game playing and aerospace technology. Those aspects were delivered in a very realistic way. You will never get disappointed watching this, because this drama is really beautiful and is worth watching.

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Hilariously titled, Pieta in the Toilet marks RADWIMPS frontman, Yoji Noda's acting debut. And what better debut than to work alongside rising young Japanese actress, Hana Sugisaki, who at her young age has been garnering awards including a best supporting actress at the Japan Academy Awards.

Pieta in the Toilet is a mix of arthouse feature and an indie flick. Daishi Matsunaga crafts a beautifully poignant film that feels very raw and honest. He does this with simplicity. Forget dramatic sun flares or slow motions, the use of sound, dialogue and camera work makes the emotions overflow.

Noda and Sugisaki have an interesting dynamic much like their respective characters—a struggling painter and an angst-ridden teenager. In them, an unusual friendship forms. It's actually such a treat to see these two interact. Noda embodies a just-get-by character, soft spoken and at times, even delicate and Sugisaki counters that. Loud, headstrong and jarring, she delivers with such fluidity, it's lovely to watch her on screen.

Pieta in the Toilet doesn't patronize. In fact, it doesn't try too hard given its somewhat melodramatic plot. Instead, its characters are the highlight. I would have just probably wanted for the characters to be fleshed out more. And instead of speaking between the lines, it's much more better to be direct. I feel like that part leaves too much blanks to feel.

But nevertheless, the cinematography is to love. And the overall aesthetic and colors are very flat—embodying the film's very characters. Powerful ending.

To those who don't understand the title and say it has nothing to do with the film. Actually, it does. Especially in the final moments.

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