Shuna Lijima plays Jun who wants to be an actress and is paying her bills by working as a "hostess" in a seedy bar where her boyfriend works. All she has worked for is destroyed in one night with his betrayal leading her to return to the home she hasn't seen in five years. Home is not a safe haven, but she's hoping to get a share of an inheritance to start a new life. She hooks up with an old childhood friend after she returns to the small town. This would seem to be a natural place to infuse some sort of healing instead the hits keep on coming and spiraling ever downward sometimes inexplicably.
Lijima is the highlight of this film as she gives a powerful performance throughout. The male actors are adequate but not much more.
The cinematography and score are excellent, the fault isn't with the technical movie making. There is no breathing room in this film, no moment of light in the dark and tormented places in this woman's life. None of the characters are particularly likeable, including Jun. Her childhood friend, Yuki, makes a bad decision that seems drastically out of character. There is an awful lot of bad behavior from every character in the movie which can make it difficult to watch. The problem I have is that the focus could be interpreted as being around Jun leads to bad things. I'm more inclined to believe that she finds herself drawn to bad people because of her childhood experiences. This doesn't mean she doesn't make some horrendously bad choices, because she does, without ever looking for an answer that wouldn't lead to disastrous consequences.
Bad Poetry Tokyo may not be a bad film but I didn't find it to be a particularly good one either.
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The Better of the Kings
This series was better than the first, but not by that much. for starters, I liked how this centered around one couple instead of the three of four we had gotten last time. Also, they were given a respectable amount of screen time and episodes to actually tell a decent story. In season 2, they have changed the entire cast and story. Nothing is connected to the first series, only the fact that they're still playing the King game. Because of this, the acting is better, the story is slightly more developed, and a love triangle ensues.Let's Dive In.
Pun was a cute character. The only thing I'd have to say is that I wish he would've made smarter decisions when it came to who he was going to choose in the end. Pun should've ended up with Em, no doubt. Even though Em was a ridiculous prick, in the beginning, he still proved himself worthy by the end. Speaking of the end, what the heck were the writers thinking? The time jump was so unnecessary, and it didn't even resolve anything in the end. Do we know if Tar and Sib ended up together? Do we know what happened to Em? nope, we are left in the dust with no questions answered. It felt like writers forgot what their initial ending was, and made this one up a day before production. If there is to ever be a third season (which I highly doubt since it's already 2021 and no production mentions), I hope we're able to see the actual ending that makes sense and can sew up all loose ends.
While the acting was better than the acting in the first series, it still was far from the best. Ryu wasn't the worst actor I've seen, but when it came to a scene in which he had to cry, he fell short on them. I was supposed to be feeling bad for them, but instead, I couldn't help but laugh. I would rather see his character looking upset than him forcing an ugly cry with no tears.
Overall, I enjoyed my watch. I gave this a higher score because I appreciate the consent between Sib and Pun before they decided to have sex. We don't see a lot of that in BL, and it's something to applaud when it's done well and with the right intent. I definitely recommend a watch. It was cute, a terrible ending, but it didn't ruin the show for me.
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A complete entertainer
Taxidriver is that drama which kept me interested even from the first look posters. The story is really good,a bit allover the place in 10 and 11 generally justifies its tag as a revenge drama. It is not a lovey dovey ordinary drama of kworld. It plunges into the real problems of korean society.it tackles some serious issues like bullying, forced labour,phishing etc. Each episode is a rollercoaster ride and my personal favorite were the first two stories .I really like lee jaehoon (before this drama I only watched him in hot stove league, now I watched almost all his dramas). He is an amazing actor, the way he portrayed different characters which are entirely different from Do ki is highly appreciated. I was familiar with both first and second female leads.ye jin a good job in potraying Go eun and her different emotions. We didn't feel that she was casted at the last moment as she fit in so perfectly. During first half of drama it is really hard to find out who was the first female lead. I had high Hope's with esom as she is a wonderful actress but the writers doesn't even used 1%of her talent .Her character doesn't have any development until episode 9 and they should have used her potential way before then but i am satisfied at least they gave her some development They should have used such an amazing actress in so many ways more than being a moral compass and they killed mr wang to make her shine(sigh). The gangster lady sung mi is really shady,dark and she did a great job as I hated that character.I didn't like how they gave mr.jang a wig to show him 20yrs younger.its a big no and meh ,that's my only complaint about the otherwise perfect drama. The action scenes were fairly good but in a rooftop fight scene you can almost identify the stuntman.I liked the other two members as they provided some comic relief. The drama falls into revenge thriller category so it is better off without romance. I liked the pace of the story and music is really really good. The 80s music will get to all pumped.The writers did a good job with rainbow taxi members as all of them had a chance to shine even though Do ki shined brightly (obviously he is the lead).some scenes were deeply disturbing but they were essential to maintain the intensity of the drama.I didn't read the manga so I don't know how the series turned out in comparison with it.But this one is one of the good dramas aired this year.If you want a drama without unbelievable and illogicalplot twist and good acting and writing this drama won't disappoint you.Taxidriver is an absolute must watch if you are a fan of fast paced revenge dramas,if looking for fluffy romance and easy going story line this is not for you. This drama is one of the best revenge action thriller dramas so far.Taxidriver may scored a perfect ten from me if it continued it's amazing run like first half but the second half felt a little draggy and all over the place and something's didn't make sense at least for me. In conclusion this is not a flawless drama it has it's own flaws ,with a fantastic first half and above average second half ,taxidriver turned out to be a overall good entertainer of 2021.P.s rewatch value is low as its revenge thriller i will not rewatch it as its charm is lost one's you find out the plot.
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remember: turn off brain before watching, & you're in for the SWEETEST effin treat <3
look, the 'plot' was a hot fucking mess, & if i think for more than THREE SECONDS about the fact that (very vague, but nevertheless 'spoilers' ahead:)they literally tried to redeem this one character that was practically a silent accomplice in a horrible crime against a poor girl, i WILL fucking scream, but if you also DON'T think about that,
the show is adorable enough to hurt your cheeks because fo smiling too much & make your goddamn teeth rot because it's so sweet.
it really is the textbook definition of a comfort show, the chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS, & the entire cast of characters is super lovable & easy to root for.
if you're into mindless fluff-fests & / or are having a bad day, give this one a go & you won't regret it <3
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The story is very promising. IT has really great potential and great cast. But as you go on and continue with the story, 70% of it is flat. Meaning, its lacking. 10% for me goes to the first episode which slapped my interest and the remaining 20% goes to a very beautiful few last episodes.
The cast are great if you look at them now but this drama showed that they are not that great wen they were young. The acting for me is forced. It showed a lot of crying but I did not feel the emotion (except for the last few episodes). Aside from that, several scenes showed they're just acting. They don't feel their roles.
The music hit the spot on those last few episodes. IT was playing the whole time through out the drama but it doesn't have the FEELS if you know what I mean.
So all in all, I feel that if there would be a remake of this one, with ji sung and eugene, this will be a big hit.
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Lots of cute animation screen time - you either love it or hate it.
Completed - 6/15/2022 - 8.25I hesitated to watch "Yumi's Cells" when this drama first aired in 2021, as I wasn't sure if I would like all the animation. After finished watching the drama, I can say that I found them cute, but they took up a lot of screen time. I do understand that this drama is called "Yumi's Cells" and not "Yumi", but still.....
I find the animation cute and I love all the cells. I like their different personalities and they bring a lot of laughter to this drama, e.g. Naughty cell, Housekeeping cell and Hunger cell. However, it took me a while to get used to the back-and-forth transitions and the large amount of screen time. The frequent transitions to the animation disrupts the flow of the story and slows down the pacing, especially in the last few episodes. I got a little bored when the plot is not moving along and we got stuck in the same situation.
The acting is great. It's a fun character for Kim Go Eun to play and she was able to display a variety of emotions as Yumi. Ahn Bo Hyun finally gets a main role where he gets the girl. I also like his portrayal of Gu Woong. The rest of the cast is fine. Park Jin Young has a small role in season 1 and I don't think I see him enough to say that he's done a great job. He's pretty to look at but Ahn Bo Hyun has a hot body! (LOL) Ruby is a controversial character for me. I find her SUPER annoying 90% of the time but when she was teaching Yumi how to do 'aegyo', that was hilarious. I wish to see her more in season 2 but in a less annoying fashion.
The romance between Yumi and Woong was really cute in the beginning. Their personalities match and they do silly and adorkable things. Woong cares about Yumi and shows his affections through actions instead of empty words. The birthday episode really did show his affections, thus, prompted Yumi to ask that question. However, pride and the lack of communication get in the way. The damage is already done when Woong priorities changed. As much as I like Woong in the beginning episodes, I am very annoyed with his repeated lack of communication. You can still communicate with someone you care about without hurting your pride.
Since season 2 is currently airing, most people already know by now who Yumi ends up or not end up with. I would be very disappointed if I didn't know season 2 is coming, because season 1 did not end with Yumi feeling empowered and strong. I wish for her to realize that she could be happy without being in a relationship. She does not need to work like a dog to fill her life, like after her previous breakup. As the manager of the bulletin board said, there is no male lead and we don't need one.
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Cliffhanger Hell
I searched long and hard to find episodes after episode 8 - and with English subtitles. I was really into the story up to that point. I liked the interaction between the characters, their friendships and their loyalty. The chemistry between the ML & FL was cute and believable.And then I got to episode 18 and got a cliffhanger! Oh no! Is there going to be a Season 2?! Can't find information anywhere, and now I'm left with this gaping void of unanswered questions and 'what happens next'?
I have to mention the great acting that Duan Xing Yu (Cha Zi (Purple)/Fei Yan) did. She was a treat to watch - her quirky side switching from personality to personality, and her tragic side in the end.
Can't wait to see Season 2. Could we be warned next time there's a cliffhanger?!
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1"What comes after?"
That Day on the Beach opens with two women connecting after thirteen years. This film is not about their friendship for the most part, it primarily focuses on Jia Li’s choices and desire for her elusive happiness. The story is decidedly not linear, more circular, as director Edward Yang examined dysfunctional families, work places, and marriages.Tan Wei Ching, a celebrated pianist, made her first trip home to Taiwan after 13 years. She received a message from an old classmate and at the last minute decided to meet her for coffee. The classmate, Jia Li, is the sister of the boy she loved long ago. When Jia Sen was forced to marry someone else, Wei Ching cut ties with Jia Li and took a scholarship to study abroad. After the loss of her friend, Jia Li began dating Cheng De Wei. She discovered her father made a marriage pact for her, too. Watching the silent, sullen dinners with Jia Sen and his new wife convinced her she did not want that fate. She packed up and left that night. She and De Wei married soon after. De Wei’s old friend was shoring up his position at the company he worked for by hiring old friends and recruited De Wei. Soon the young couple bore the strain of the long days and nights De Wei was required to work and party.
I began this film thinking it was about two friends reconnecting. Around the 20-minute mark of this 165 minute film, Tan Wei Ching was all but forgotten. She’s the friend that got roped into someone’s life story when she asked, “Are you married?” That Day on the Beach also tries to lure the viewer in with police searching a beach during the movie’s introduction, making it seem this element would be ultimately pertinent to the story. Everything was window dressing and red herrings until the story of the excruciatingly slow and painful dissolution of Jia Li’s marriage began. With all of the flashbacks and flashbacks within flashbacks, I’m not entirely sure how long the agony went on for her, somewhere around 7 years. Honestly, it seemed longer. During this time, it was a constant back and forth of two people unable to communicate or come up with a better plan who kept thinking if they both said, “You don’t understand me,” enough, it would make a difference.
Jia Li was looking for love and happiness, thinking that marriage would bring it. It was not what she expected. De Wei was working at a job that required him to drink and socialize which he hated. Jia Li was naïve and De Wei was cowardly and both were completely disillusioned with their marriage. Li’s brother was miserable. Her mother had come to terms with her own flawed husband. Tan Wei Ching still missed the boy she’d loved. Everyone was unhappy and unfulfilled except for possibly the two most cynical characters. A predatory businesswoman and De Wei’s playboy boss seemed to be doing fine using the people around them for financial gain and pleasure. “The world I grew up in taught me that it’s a world without love. Perhaps you will find a moment or two of passion, but that’s not much.” The big mystery, regardless of outcome, was the result of a man willing to chew off his own arm to escape, but not the courage to confront the problem.
That Day on the Beach was a creative approach at displaying the costs of complex relationships, traditions, and toxic work environments. I was grateful that Jia Sen gave Li a piece of advice that helped her finally, after 13 years and 160 minutes, have some substantial character growth. If you are a fan of Edward Yang and long family dramas that tend to be caught up in a cycle of pain and dysfunction, this is one to try.
9 April 2024
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For me, Tang Ying and Xu Qi Zhuan's relationship journey is the highlight of this series. It's mature, honest, witty and thoughtful. From the start, their chemistry was fireworks. Even when problems and discomforts arise, there was no frustrating misunderstandings because they talk things through and had honest conversations, learning more to love each other for who they are while being together.
Along with the romance, this workplace drama has a lot of office dynamics portraying what lies behind the façade of seemingly high-performing professionals, the lies people tell others and themselves to get through their struggles. I like the message that they try to deliver and that it drives our characters to grow personally and professionally, but I wish the office plot moved bit faster or had more hijinks. Often, I just want to see our the leads flirt together again.
Another highlight is the jazzy & city-pop OST. The music is so calming and get me in the chill mood, it made me feel that everything will be alright. Overall, thanks to the couple I had fun watching it, and it's now on my short list of memorable romcom dramas!^^
April 2024
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge
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Why the heck did I love this series?
I finished my review of 'One Day Pag-Ibig', the first series by director/screenwriter Ranz Gonzales, saying 'It seems there is going to be a season two, and if so, I only hope that the script will be more consistent, actors better trained, technical issues resolved, and screenwriter/director Ranz Gonzales gains more experience. As I am an unshakeable optimist, I'm looking forward to it.''Paano Kaya Kung Tayo' isn't the season 2, but the writer/director and main cast are the same. Unfortunately, my hopes have been disappointed, because this series suffers from similar flaws as the former.
But why the heck did I love it then? And why does it attract the same or even larger numbers of viewers, an estimated third of them international, than series like 'Worth the Wait' or 'Why Love Why 2' that have bigger budgets and more promotion? I guess there are two reasons: the cuteness factor of the lead actors, and the passion and dedication that the director, cast, and crew have invested in making this series happen.
The plot is not very original: A boy from a rich family (Sef, played by Allen Caguioa) falls for a poor boy (Andrei, Ivo Rosimo). First he teases him, then he tries to get closer to him, he is desperate when Andrei doesn't seem to feel the same way, but doesn't give up. His methods of getting close to Andrei are more than questionable, though, as is Andrei's response.
Andrei is a loving son, an ambitious and successful student, and a friendly guy all the time (except towards Sef). On the other hand, he accepts all kinds of expensive presents from Sef, instead of rejecting them and telling Sef frankly he does not want to be his boyfriend. This makes him appear greedy and selfish. It isn't even clear if he isn't lying to Sef when he claims he has broken up with his long distance girlfriend Trisha, because when Sef and Andrei meet again after Sef has been abroad for two years, he is obviously in a relationship with Trisha.
Sef's character shows some facettes and disruptions, too. He's a bully in the first episodes, then starts awkwardly hitting on Andrei, moves into his apartment, sleeps in the same bed, and gives him presents, although Andrei rejects him. This may come across quite infringing, and it is, especially when he even kidnaps Andrei. It is his somewhat helpless way of crying out for the attention of the boy he loves. Sef doesn't feel at home in his own family, his relation to his stepbrother Ivan (Bert Calara) is bad, and he feels misunderstood by his parents. It looks like he chooses Andrei and his father (John Rudolf) as a substitute for his own family.
There is another boy who has a secret crush on Andrei: Kian (Clark Blancaflor), who sits around with his guitar and a sad face throughout the series. He is a much nicer person than Sef, and Andrei likes him, but Kian is always too shy. When he overcomes his shyness for once, he's just a minute too late. Unrequited love is the most bitter form of love, and there are heartbreaking scenes when I wanted to hug poor Kian (especially in the ”rain scene” in ep. 8). On the other hand, he compensates his sadness by writing a beautiful song, so there's something good about it, at least for the viewers, because for him it doesn't pay out.
There are loads of side characters, who are necessary as the story is set in a school. Some of them side with Sef, others with Andrei, but they do not contribute anything essential to the story. Only the love story of Ivan and Gelay (Alexa France) is a nice little subplot, although its outcome isn't clear in the end. Like in many Pinoy Bls, there are some trans characters, and I'm glad that Ranz Gonzales, unlike other writers, doesn't make them mere caricatures or even ridicules them. I also appreciate that Sef's ex-girldfriend is not simply presented as the evil ex as in other series.
The setting isn't very unique for a BL-series: it's a school. What is unique, though, is the school uniform these poor lads have to wear! The waistcoats are just as terrible as Kian's makeup in the first episodes. The teacher and his methods ('Now hug your partner for five minutes' – Gosh, I would have loved being in that school) are also very unique.
The script has many empty spaces, repetitions, disruptions, and flaws. Just a few examples: Why does Andrei leave his father and rent an apartment? He just says 'We talked about it'. Okay, good you did, but why don't you tell the interested audience? How does Andrei pay his rent? He says once that he gets money for papers he writes for other students. Why not show him getting money and handing over papers now and then? Why does Sef hate Ivan? What is their background story? How sick is Andrei, what exactly is his illness, and how does he recover so fast? The ending, however, is the worst and least plausible ending of any BL-series that I have watched.
I guess one major problem of this series is that Ranz Gonzales has to do too many jobs at the same time: writing, casting, directing, and while shooting this series, already drafting the next one which is probably coming soon ('He's mine').
Acting is another issue. I love Allen, Ivo, Clark, Bert, and some of the rest, which is the main reason why I enjoyed this series. When I gave 7 stars for acting/cast, it is 10 for cast, but only 4 for acting. All the actors need to take acting lessons if they want to become real actors, or Direk Ranz should at least hire a proper acting coach. They all have a large fan base, due to their tiktok activities, and this may tempt them to think they don't need to invest their time in learning how to act. If they don't work hard to improve their skills, the early success could put an end to their careers sooner than they want, which would be a pity, because I would like to see much more from them.
Unfortunately, directing and filming in general are not good throughout the series. There is only little progress in all these things, compared with 'One Day Pag-Ibig'. Editing and sound quality are still poor. The low budget may serve as an excuse for some time, but it won't do so forever.
Finally, I must talk about the soundtrack. It was Clark Blancaflor's 'Kung Pwede lang' that kept hanging in my ear for a long time after 'One Day Pag-Ibig' had been aired, and it even made me rewatch the series. The same is happening with Clark's title song 'Paano Kaya Kung Tayo'. So when I said at the beginning that I, like many thousands of viewers, like this series because of the main actors, and because of the passion and dedication of everyone involved in the production, I should have added that Clark's composition is the third point that has made me a fan of this series. So if I give 6.5 stars for rewatch value only, that doesn't mean I won't rewatch it. I know I will.
Because that's what I am: a fan of the series, especially of the main actors and Direk Ranz (otherwise I wouldn't have written this long review), although the final episode was a big disappointment. I must admit that my optimism with regard to improvement in the aspects mentioned above is limited, but I am still looking forward to the next series by Ranz Gonzales and his bunch of cuties.
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Jimmy Wang Yu played the top student at a kung fu school. A disgruntled former student returned after learning judo and roughed up a bunch of students and then was promptly dispatched when the master showed up. The master explained that while kung fu was used for sport and self defense, karate was used for killing. Later, the former student showed back up with a crew of Japanese karate experts led by Lo Lieh in a bad wig. The karate experts went on a killing and eye gouging rampage in the school only leaving a few wounded alive, including Jimmy's Lei Ming. The karate thugs seized the opportunity to take over the town and made it into an illicit gambling den.
The familiar plot ensued. After Lei Ming recovered, he secretly learned the Iron Fist technique and light body skills. Then it was his turn to to on a bloody rampage. The fights were okay, Jimmy wasn't a martial artist and it showed. Blood spurted a plenty and the movie sported a high body count. Lei Ming taking on a bunch of katana wielding samurais in the the tall grass was entertaining. Too many of the fights were chop and block and not terribly fast. Lo Lieh, as always, had great screen charisma even if he wasn't on screen much and was required to do some screaming that seemed out of place.
The sets were all very nice and most were nicely destroyed with fists, kicks, and bodies thrown through them. Fake snow and real snow abounded. It's one of the few final fight scenes I've seen where there was snow and ice on the ground which seemed hazardous for the actors and crew. You could tell where they cleared a few areas off down to the dirt to provide a better place to spar.
It was fun to see these actors when they were very young, aside from Wang Yu and Lo Lieh, Chen Sing, Yuen Woo Ping, and Chen Kuan Tai, among many well known martial artist bit players were in the background.
There was an unnecessary rape scene that took away from the movie for me. Also several birds were killed which left a bad taste as well.
Jimmy's acting wasn't as stiff in this movie as in others I've seen him in and his directing was quite good. As a first entry into the "modern" kung fu era it was a respectable entry and worth watching for the historical implications at the very least.
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GEM of a movie - Mesmerizing Cinematography - Brilliant Casts
"you’ll find the bright side even from the darkest hole"Homestay is a Thai adaptation of Japanese fantasy novel Colourful by Eto Mori. From de trailer, it looks like the typical cross of romance, but its actually more dan wat is shown. De film starts as something SUPERNATURAL & it quickly hooks in its audiences by offering a little mystery-solving thrill. Then the tone suddenly becomes light on the succeeding acts, turning its small moments into fun-filled and cheesy segments. The film is basically a mixed genre of supernatural experience and family drama which leads to profound existential realizations in life.
This a film with a big heart that puts a big emphasis on the importance of life. It’s a treat for teens who are in need of a fresh perspective in their seemingly overbearing lives. It’s a Thai film for everyone who wants to be touched by quality films.
P.S Teeradon Supapunpinyo left me SPEECHLESS. I am 1 of his fan now !!!
https://dramacool.pe/homestay-episode-1.html
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One of the BEST modern C-drama and also the best acting by YY
I always like Yang Yang because of his looks and voice, not because of his acting. I was simply happy watching him act because he is so handsome. However, I was wrong after watched this drama. What I mean is Yang Yang isn't just good looking any more. He is a great actor after all.Yang Yang always played "Yang Yang". What I mean is he is so charismatic that he is not playing his drama role, but rather playing an actor named "Yang Yang". I wonder how many of you can understand what I mean. His acting during the "Love O2O" was okay. He did play well but I never fell in love with his character. Drama itself was very successful and many of us loved it. I just loved watching "Love O2O" because he is so visually good looking. That maybe the only reason I was probably satisfied with "Love O2O".
Well, Yang Yang played "Yu Tu" so well in "You are my glory", I was so impressed how much his acting skills improved after "Love O2O". His acting gave me so much pleasure knowing how great Yang Yang played "Yu Tu" . I could feel how "Yu Tu" felt and thought about the relationship with Jing Jing. I could feel his dilemma for making mistake to reject her second time. 'Yu Tu" was so desperate to find out if Jing Jing would take him back. "Yu Tu" felt so uneasy when he didn't get any calls or text msg from her. Yang Yang played well to show us how anxious "Yu Tu" was to get her love back.
On top of Yang Yang's improved acting skills, the chemistry of two leading actors, YY and DD, is other factor that I want to give a perfect 10 score. While watching their love scenes, they should be acting, but their acting made me feel like they were really in love . They acted so realistically, I mistaken them as real couple. YY kissing scenes were so well done, and it always made me wonder how he practices such kissing scene??? With his real GF or with DD? LOL
This drama is a very straight forward love story. There is no plot, no jealousy , no misunderstanding , no mean person to bully them, and there is no secondary couple to interrupt main couple. Story is mainly focused on Yu Tu and Jing Jing's love life and their career life. Two of them mature together thought their relationship and they reached to their happiness for love life and career life. They are indeed soul mate and fated to be together. They respect each other and that is what this title means. I will look into my own married life and I want to be like them.
That's why I think "You are my glory" is one of the best modern drama I watched. ( I am watching them for the third time :) )
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