Fear and Paranoia, Moral Ambiguity, Identity and Ideology, Survival and Sacrifice - Nostalgia!
"Deep Lurk" serves as an intriguing exploration of a critical chapter in Chinese history, intertwining themes of loyalty, moral ambiguity, and the pervasive atmosphere of distrust that characterized the Chinese Civil War. A more nuanced critique of the drama reveals several layers of complexity that merit consideration:
Balancing Act of Historical Representation
The drama's strength lies in its ability to weave personal stories with grand historical narratives. By focusing on character arcs amidst significant events, "Deep Lurk" illustrates how the political turmoil affected individual lives. However, there is a fine line between dramatization and distortion; the portrayal of historical figures and events should stimulate audiences' understanding while retaining a fidelity to historical facts. When historical accounts are manipulated for dramatic tension, it risks oversimplifying intricate situations and potentially misinforming viewers.
Character Depth and Development
The characters in "Deep Lurk," all well chosen (FL too wooden) embody the struggles and ideologies that were prominent during the Civil War. The depth and complexity of their motivations in part reflected the harsh realities of the time. Not sure if I connected with all the characters as one should. A well-rounded portrayal allows viewers to connect with the characters' dilemmas, fostering empathy and a deeper appreciation for the consequences of their actions. If characters resort to clichés or lack credible development, this undermines the show's capacity to reflect the historical environment authentically.
Representation of Ideological Divides
“Deep Lurk”hints at the stark ideological divide between Nationalists and Communists. Not knowing the historical facts, viewers today should have a critically, portrayal of these factions presented in a balanced perspective rather than falling into black-and-white portrayals. It is crucial for viewers to grasp the motivations and struggles of both sides, as this adds a layer of realism and complexity to the narrative. Such representation can encourage discussions about the nuances of loyalty and betrayal, transcending mere entertainment to evoke thoughtful engagement with history. Having said that, I was gripped and was on Wikipedia checking the history…
Cultural and Social Context
"Deep Lurk" must also be scrutinized for its reflection of societal norms and daily life during the Civil War. How the drama encapsulates the interplay between public sentiment and personal choices can serve as a microcosm of historical realities. Showcasing the diversity of experiences, from the bravado of espionage to the quiet desperation of civilians - enhances the portrayal of wartime China. In this aspect I believe the drama fails to capture this spectrum adequately, which gave audiences a skewed understanding of historical events.
While primarily a work of fiction, "Deep Lurk" potentially reflected contemporary issues within Chinese society, such as national identity, the legacy of past conflicts, and the ongoing exploration of loyalty in an era marked by rapid change. These reflections has the ability to provoke conversations that challenge audiences to think critically about the lessons of history and how they inform the present.
My Final Thoughts
Overall, "Deep Lurk" is a multifaceted examination of a pivotal historical period in China. To garner both critical acclaim and audience engagement, the drama must carefully balance compelling storytelling with a responsible portrayal of history. By doing so, it can serve not only as an entertaining piece of art but also as an educational resource that invites audiences to ponder the complexities and consequences of the past. As viewers immerse themselves in the world of "Deep Lurk," they should walk away with not just a newfound appreciation for the drama itself, but also a deeper understanding of the historical realities it seeks to represent.
Ultimately, I believe that this drama "Deep Lurk" is a success, filmed in 2019 pre Pandemic, low budget (based on my research) editing, continuity poor in places - still evoked the emotional resonance. The sheer brutality of war, coupled with personal loss, sacrifice, and moral dilemmas, spoke to the audience on a personal level. These emotional elements to me were portrayed authentically, they elevated the narrative, ensuring that the historical context was not merely a backdrop but a living, breathing element of the story.
Loved the costumes, houses, furniture, street scenes and especially the old telephones ( which I remember) this all gives away my age!
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Exceptionally disappointing
May 2025Oh dear. Amazed I didn't drop it, but I like Kim Jung-hyun, and the rest of the cast; plus I wanted to see the outcome.
Pretty awful, sadly, with dreadful dialogue, lots of shouting, plus one of the MOST irritating, unlikeable, STUPID, FL characters ever!
The actress (whom I liked in 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty'), was pretty bad too; very unnatural and poor acting in this part.
I did like the character of Kokdu (which KJH brought to life wonderfully), and his 2 assistants (plus the actors; Cha Chung-hwa as Gak Shin looked great!)
Totally underwhelming, I've forgotten a lot already (reviewing late). Too few characters that I liked, mostly stupid humour and I don't even remember the ending, but think it was poor.
I do not recommend this, sadly. Not even the wonderful Kim Jung-hyun could save it!
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Don't waste your time
this has GOT to be a joke. it started off as well as any other drama, honestly I was very into it until episode 10. it COMPLETELY lost me. it was already boring leading up to episode 10, with more screen time with the neighbor and her freaking GRANDPARENTS than any other thing but it was fine because the chemistry between the FL and ML was honestly pretty good, but it became such a dumpster fire. I was unfortunate enough to waste several hours on this show, so please take my warning and don't even bother. it starts off good, but the downfall is so dramatic and awful that you forget what's even happening. It gets to the point where you just have to laugh because what is even going on?!Spoilers but this is what I hated-
ML shouldn't have almost cheated on FL with Jessica, he went too far in the car scene
ML got SAed way too many times, and it gets so uncomfortable because it's honestly disgusting how he is treated
FL is way too trusting, it was refreshing at first and I enjoyed her trusting the ML, but it got to the point where she was just stupid. after finding the condom in his car, she BARELY gave any backlash to him
ML has no personality, and honestly the second ML would have been such a better choice, Mr. Aodd was a perfect guy that the FL should have gotten with. the ML was NOTHING compared to Mr. Aodd, only an attractive guy.
the grandpa. point blank and period, he is the most annoying character
the grandpa literally tries to shoot the ML at the end, ends up shooting the freaking mom, and then just goes back to FL and tells her he finally approves of her BF when it's like... bro, you just shot my mom over this??? get away from me!! this was honestly the most laughable part!!!
Truly a disaster. I hated it so much, and I'm so mad that I've wasted my life on it. it could have been so much more then what it was, but it was garbage. if I could give it a zero, I would. immediately. please please please don't even bother watching.
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The story is about how Mel Be, a science geek gets dumped by her boy friend who is also a science geek. His reason for his break up was that they were too much alike.
Hippy witnesses the break up and comes to talk to Mel Be and asks for her Beatles T-shirt as he's a fan of the band. After that Mel Be decides that she wants to prove whether her ex-boy friend was right about dating similar people by asking Hippy, a singer who is quite the opposite of her, to date her for five days in exchange of the shirt.
This is a great story about falling in love with the 'seemingly wrong guy' in college.
The five days are full of trips and stories that is full of fun and drama that just touches your heart.
And the way they meet and fall in love is believable and touching.
The songs were actually really written and produced by Kun the main actor in real life which makes them even more meaningful.
Loved it!
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This review may contain spoilers
I've a love-hate relationship with this one
Loves:1. The character, Shi Lei, is such a darling. He's one of those "straight guys" who fall in love with men that are common in BL, but I like how honest and cool he is about it. No silly gay panic moments
2. The cat in the cafe
3. The allusions to The Little Prince
Hates: The sheer wasted potential:
1. First of all, the side couple is really cute together. There are hints regarding Zhao Gang's past (which cause him to be hesitant to commit to a relationship for fear of being hurt), but that's where it stops. The side story could have been more moving and the side couple taken more seriously, but the potential went down the drain.
2, The story of the main couple is also not developed properly. The story actually starts off pretty well. But it fails by the time the fake crisis comes in. It is more than just hinted that Yu Zhen has been through a sad relationship, which serves as the main obstacle between him and Shi Lei. But it just doesn't add up. So he got into a serious accident while trying to get to his boyfriend who was leaving the country, and that was the end of their relationship for some reason. The accident, which is made to seem important, doesn't seem so important in the end. And it is not convincing that this guy would just end up imposing some ridiculous singlehood rule at the workplace.
4. The fake crisis: Yu Zhen's ex-boyfriend suddenly turns up, seemingly to win him back. By the end of Episode 11, however, it is obvious that there isn't time to develop the plot in this direction, so there's only one predictable direction for the plot to take: the ex-boyfriend is really here to help Yu Zhen and Shi Lei get together. I was hoping to be proven wrong, but I wasn't.
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Story
Oscar-winning story! It is about the tale of 1 Former-Exo Tao and 101 girls competing. You can watch Tao "amazing" hosting skills, which include half-assed praises, confusing monologues, and untimely comments.
As the story progresses, you start to see alliances: the foreign group, the 25 & older group, the girls that stayed on for no reasons, the popular girls who have slightly above-average capabilities...
Acting/Cast
I do not know you would call them actors, but they were entertaining! Each contestant is hand carved for their role. When you watch this show you have to keep in mind these people were chosen for their talents.
Music
The music inspired me! I now truly believe even me, who get 10% on the tone-deaf test, can become a singer. My bar for music has altered, I now praise any singer who knows when to start singing a song.
.
Conclusion
For reference, I actually heavily enjoyed the show, watching it every week and voting almost every single day (as a female college student). The show had a handful of good singers and like 3 good songs.
In addition to the show itself, I highly recommend watching the ?? ??101 showcase, which truly displays the top 22 talents! In the end, my ultimate bias became the sound crew! Pick the sound crew!
This show lets you believe you can do anything if you set your mind to, as long as your face is above-average.
- Love, someone who was heavily addicted to the show for no reason!
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1Why you MUST watch this drama!
- A beautiful pure love story between a gumiho Choi Kang Chi and Dam Yeo Wool
- intense with a lot of action!
- it makes you laugh
- and what I always LOVE about a quality drama is that it gives you all EMOTIONS
The beginning was soooo DAEBAK! A love story between Choi Kang Chi's father and mother was something that it made me keep watching it! l And then (after the first 2 episodes) my addiction started! EVERY SCENE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND FULL OF TWISTS!!!!!
The ending of this drama is EPIC! I can't get over it and keep replaying that scene over and over! :D
Music: This drama has one of the best OSTs of all time! From the thrilling to the romantic ones! I seriously loved every ost in here!
Acting:
Suzy is a good actress,I like her, but yet her crying face seems a little fake. She pulled this off pretty good ;)
OMG! Lee Seung Gi was a major reason why I started this drama. I'm a big fan of him and in this drama he was AMAZING! OMG, while he was crying I was crying along with him :'(
The other ones are pretty good too :D
Too add one more reason why I liked this drama is that there are true quotes about life, love, friendship...
I just LOVE this kind of drama and I soooo thank writers! It's very unique and epic!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE! :D
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This review may contain spoilers
A MUST WATCH! Very wholesome drama that keeps me wanting for more!
This drama is that good that makes me decide to create an account to rate and give a review for it. A very wholesome drama that's filled with teamwork, friendship, romance and comedy! 🥰If you're into esports romance, this one is for you!
This is a light, hilarious and sweet drama, if you're into that, this is for you! Love all the cps chemistry though! The music for this drama is so good, I can't help but keep it on repeat.
One thing about this drama was at first, the updates are really slow. Was really really looking forward to more episodes but we got to wait for it. This was the first-ever drama that made me anticipate future episodes. Sadly, this season has come to an end :( Hoping that there will be a second season for it!
Let's just say the teammates teasing of Lu Sicheng and Tong Yao was really funny af, it was one of the things that I look forward to more in the future episodes and let's say I'm not disappointed! Lu Sicheng keep teasing and being mean to Tong Yao those scenes are too sweet and funny at the same time, he is just one hard on the inside but a softie on the inside for Tong Yao!
Love that they did show more gameplay in the future episodes, I find the gameplay portions pretty interesting.
I would say that the story is really good, all scenarios in the drama happen for a reason which is to give characters developments. Love how there's no break-up with the main cp, most of the dramas I watched there will be break up and that's kind of clichés for me.
I like how this drama covered different life aspects like relationships, friendships and teamwork. There were some team conflicts but I liked how they tried to sort out their differences especially how Tong Yao made Cheng ge realized that they're all a team and even though he may be the leader, they can go through difficulties together as one. Love the way they showed the different friendships in the drama. This drama portrayed characters of different personalities of characters, passions of youths and also on the cruelty of the reality regarding online and fans toxic kind of behaviour which many celebrities faced in today's society.
Comedy wise, there are too many funny scenes in the drama. Too many puns, Fatty's reactions, ZGDX teammates reactions, Tong Yao and Lu Yue's immature bickering and Lu Sicheng and Tong Yao's bickering as well- I LOVE IT!
I don't get what's with the controversy with this drama and the 2.9 rating on the Chinese website Douban. Despite that, i think this is a really good drama. Even though there's much hate on the drama in china but at the end of the day it's a drama, don't take things too seriously is just for entertainment purposes. Not everyone has the same preferences in dramas, I may love this drama but some may not. But it's still a great journey for me with this drama, with the endless waiting and the anticipations for the new episodes. Hope y'all will give this drama much love, it deserved it!
Definitely strongly recommended to watch it! This is one drama that shows different things in life aspects like relationships, friendships and teamwork. This has become my top no.1 drama as for now, rewatch value is 10 for me.
Well, looks like see you next year <3 (HOPEFULLY!)
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HOW DO YOU DOOOOOOO
Well, not very well considering True Beauty ended today and I'm going to have to spend the whole of 2021 nursing my awful second lead syndrome.True Beauty was a really fun ride. It had it's plot in place, the right amount of funny moments and lovable high schoolers (and their families). The female lead was likable and I rooted for her throughout. Cha Eun Woo did great and could hold his own (has he been working out though? He grew biceps overnight. Damn).
But there is one person who totally breathed life into this show and yes the entire planet knows him by now and there are exactly zero surprises in this name-reveal. SEOJUN was amazing. His puppy scenes made me soft. His intense scenes made me hot. His confession scenes set the bar too high. His ultimate fate made me cry buckets (with him). He simply took over all our lives. He is definitely on that list of my all-time favorite characters and I just want to maintain a list of all his iconic dialogues and go back and watch them scene by scene (maybe that's borderline creepy. Well, I'm sorry dae sekkiya).
But there are so many more characters I want to talk about. The supporting cast was a great strength of this show. Im Semi did such a good job and I loved her pairing with teacher Han. I loved seeing them smash gender roles so royally. Teacher Han was the kind of teacher teacher I not only wanted all my life, but the kind I want to be in the future (yep, I'm a future teacher lol). Su Ah and Taehoon were adorable. Su Ah was such a good friend too. Sujin was great too, minus the minor (or MAJOR) blip where she strayed for a while. But I liked her journey enough to forgive her. I wish the writer hadn't given her that cliche second female lead script, but I guess they were sticking to the script.
Seojun Squad and Suho squad were both awesome. But yes, if I have to pick one, I'll have to pick seojun squad (I'm sorry dae saekkiya). Kim Chorong and Taehoon are the kind of friends I want to manifest into my life (where do I sign up for them?). Joo Young was goalssss. He was so funny (oh shit, my eyes hahaha). I loved all the extraordinary you cast cameos (but what about haruuuu). Chani did well in extended cameo.
Looking back, I was super excited for True Beauty when I found out Hwang In Yeop was playing the second lead. I absolutely adored him in 18 again. And even though I knew he wouldn't be getting the girl here (again), I was just so excited to see him in a role with more screen time for him. And in that sense True Beauty didn't fail to deliver.
It is easily one of the best high school romance kdramas out there I would recommend to everyone and I am sure I will go back and watch it again sometime and bug a few friends to watch it too.
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There are weeks where I watched this, and I get a good sense of enjoyment and then there are other weeks where I'm like why the writer wanted to include this? Started off pretty good with the whole concept of this drama, getting to know the ones who passed away and grant them their final wishes but then they added some things to this drama (like the ex-girlfriend returning arc) that I just wasn't a fan and at times ruin the flow of what this drama was about. Though the romance was somewhat lacking towards the end, the drama does wrap up loose ends and show a connection for all of the side stories. So at least I can give points to that.What I like:
* Some heartwarming stories of the ones who passed.
* Good osts playing just at the right moment
* Chemistry between the leads
* Good amount of funny scenes (a lot with the uncles).
* A bittersweet ending that makes you treasure your love ones even more
What I didn't like:
* There were 21 spirits with wishes to be granted but I felt like some spirits didn't get a full satisfying ending. Some stories ended properly while others didn't have full conclusion. I mean at least show each spirit walking to the afterlife, but they didn't even do that.
* The ex-girlfriend arc. I felt like there were too many wasted episodes on this. Nothing meaningful occurred with this arc and even the conclusion of this arc seemed very lacking, as in it didn't felt like anything was resolved.
* Turning a good friend to an evil one: Honestly, I hated the direction the writer decided to take for this character. It was a twist I didn't expect but also one I didn't like. I would've preferred the story where he had to choose who to save first and he chose his older brother instead of the ML's brother. Then followed with guilt and eventually a broken bro-ship once the truth was revealed.
* Just not enough romance scenes with the leads - After they officially get together, it just seemed like there wasn't many scenes of sweet moments together. Even towards the end seemed lacking.
Overall, not a bad drama. Despite some story arcs I wasn't a fan of, it does have a good overall message, treasure the ones you love. You never know when it's going to be their last.
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I'm gonna say this straight up: this is probably the best wuxia/fantasy/adventure/epic drama I've watched. Multiple factors add to this such as cast, script, BEAUTIFUL cinematography, actually good CGI and so on. Story: The story was very fleshed out and complex, and did the novel justice. Each character, even the minor ones felt like they were placed wherever they were for a purpose and not just as a tool for the plot to move on. The plot was a little draggy in some parts but as I don't really pay attention to these things I didn't take any points off for it. One thing I can say is that I never felt like I wanted to take a break from the series (as I do with a LOT of Chinese and Korean dramas) or drop it. In fact, if I ever missed something accidentally, I would go back and rewatch it in case I missed something important. I also fast forward and speed up my other dramas, but I didn't for this one which I think expresses my devotion haha. The plot is also quite original and there are certain things that set it apart from other wuxia fantasy shows. For example, the fight scenes are very realistic. The opening scene really shocked me as you can see the work the crew and actors have done to make it look and feel real (it worked). Also, the regular tropes that other dramas used are completely changed in this drama. For example, in one of the scenes, the Emperor says (I can't remember exactly what he said oops) "A child born of royalty can live and take revenge, but the child of a doorkeeper can't? What sort of rubbish idea is this?" And this actually made me think...
Acting/Cast: Chen Feiyu, being quite young, filled the shoes of the complicated NingQue very well. He was good at expressing happiness, shamelessness, and quick-fire retaliation with his words. His smug face when he won something from someone is so endearing. I would give him personally a 9.5 for acting as just a few scenes (mostly of negative emotions) felt off. Song Yiren was absolutely amazing, and I would say she is the best main character of the show, She was perfect at expressing child-like dependence and admiration for NingQue as SangSang. She also showed off SangSang's practicality and work ethic very well, as well as her underlying love for NingQue. The romance between the two is extremely subtle in the first half, but from episode 40 or so when NingQue returns with Mo ShanShan, it begins to show as the two are forced to confront each other with what they really want from each other. I loved the endearing way NingQue treated SangSang, you could tell that even though he made fun of her and treated her as a maid sometimes, he really cared for her and would do anything for her. In one scene, he says "SangSang isn't the door to my life, she is my life." Oh God. The other side characters did very well in their roles. I found YanSe and WeiGuangMing particularly astounding, and I'm glad some veteran actors had big roles in the drama (unlike some dramas which only focus on the young actors to attract more audiences). Other characters I loved were ChenPiPi (and his bromance with NingQue and his cuteness), YeHongYu (as NingQue said: "You are THE strongest woman I've ever met."), LiYu (the princess of Tang, an ambitious woman) and every person in the Upper Story.
Music: I like most of the songs in the OST and some of them are very suited to a particular character or setting. For example back in the army they would sing the song "Take your life" and so on. However there would be a song for a particular character but then used for another character which was awkward (but it was a nice song so I didn't mind).
Rewatch value: Okay so the only reason I won't rewatch this is because it's kinda long. Also there's a second season, so I'll just wait for that. BUT the second season won't have Chen Feiyu, which is a shame as I grew used to his face and acting style. The romance and other relationships won't be the same... I've heard news that the main lead in the second season is going to be Dylan Wang, who played DaoMingSi in Meteor Garden. I found his character childish in that and kind of restricted to a few emotions (I didn't even finish, stopped at episode 30) so we'll see how it goes.
10/10 recommend!!
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?????
this film has many problems, perhaps some viewers (mainly men) did not notice. the fact that Rei during the film says that she lost her virginity only at the age of 29 and that she had a relationship with a woman, there was probably sex in him too, as if her virginity was intact just because she hadn't had sex with men, that it is a view mostly present in men. another thing that bothered me a lot was Rei having quoted and thinking that she could only "complete" Nanae sexually if she had a penis, extremely nonsense. the obsession that Rei felt for Nanae doesn’t make sense either, killing someone who didn’t keep in touch for 10 years and who NEVER showed an affective interest in her .... in fact, during the entire film Nanae only showed romantic interest in Rei last 15 minutes of film, the most beautiful scene in the film is just one of the final scenes where Rei is in the cabin with Nanae and they talk about the past. the sex scenes in the movie are very long, I had to stop the movie several times because I couldn't stand watching it without saying that Rei spends half the movie fucking men even though she always says it is LESBIC, the scene she has with the taxi driver seems that was introduced in the film just to perform sexual fetish of the men who watched it, it does not make sense and there is no plausible explanation of the reason for the sex, at first I thought it was for money, but when the man offered money to Rei, her face makes us think the opposite. Nanae clearly uses Rei's feelings for her own benefit, it gets disgusting, and it seems that Rei's only life goal was to have sex with Nanae ... Rei knew that Nanae used her and left it just to keep her close, that it is noticeable when Nanae said that she called the police for Rei to surrender and Rei did not question whether it was a joke or not, she simply knew that Nanae was capable of doing such a thing! hitting a woman who suffered domestic violence? ..... this film is problematic in so many ways .... it is two hours of film made only for men to satisfy their fetishes, a lot of boobs, a lot of nudity, although the movie " The Handmaiden "also having sex and nudity scenes is completely different from this: the handmaiden scenes are more artistic and visibly beautiful, while in" She "it looks like porn.If you want to watch a good LGBT-themed film see "The Handmaiden" this is a true masterpiece.
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I am not rating this an 8 to balance poor reviews. I really liked it.
There are a few qualities to this show that I think are special, and I'll put it in list form to respect your time.1. There are no toxic female characters. In fact the female character is very strong. She handles getting dumped like a boss.
2. The lead is openly and unselfconsciously gay from the start.
3. There are no manufactured crises thrown in for drama. The drama is all in the interaction between the characters. Although a real life crisis in the form of COVID torpedoes the ship and they needed to patch it up as best they could.
4. While there are screeching predatory trans characters, They're only in the first two episodes then disappear forever. I assume the producer sent back the script with a note to add more screeching predatory trans characters "because that's how it's done", and the writer hoped he wouldn't read the revised version past the opening eps.
5. No fem shaming. When there are screeching trans characters, the attractive boys are polite to them, and there doesn't appear to be any opprobrium attached to femininity.
6. People actually communicate when they have problems and conflicts, and they talk things through and find a way to forgive and remain friends. There's a character that likes another, then finds out the guy was in a secret relationship with someone else. The character's reaction was "If I had known, I wouldn't have burdened anyone with unwanted attention." I almost choked to death on a cookie when he said that. Nobody ever acts like an adult in these situations. Or, two guys are dating, a third boy that one of the couple knows walks by and there's a brief and awkward conversation. The other boy in the couple can tell there's something between them so he asks, and the first one tells him the full truth that he's a guy he used to have a crush on. I almost choked to death on another cookie. The usual formula would mandate a lie which is soon discovered followed by insane jealousy, sulking, and a montage of good times spent together with a sappy ballade blaring. The new bf is happy the explanation is so harmless and that's it. The exception to the authenticity of conversations is that people don't seem terribly curious about the god that lives in their house - I might have some questions about god life, and god friends & stuff.
7. Absolutely zero seme/uke dynamic - just two guys. It's so refreshing that they don't pigeonhole the characters.
8. No tropes. (a couple of them, but limited) No accidental kisses, no "I'm not gay, I only love one single guy (forever)", no agonizing over liking a man, no parents agonizing over their son liking a man, no falling so their faces end up too close together and they stare at each until they turn gay (it does happen once, but it's subversive), no evil girlfriend, no insane jealousy over their gay bf talking to a woman. Actually, there's almost no jealousy at all.
8. There are NO ENGINEERS.
9. Plenty of cuteness.
10. The main character has a certain something. Sort of an effortless manliness while still being boyish. He's a good actor - not a huge range, but he does what he does well, and he's never cringey. He also looks unusually good with his shirt off. He's a reserved character, but when he needs affection, he's adorable. And he has a moment of romantic aggression that's very wow.
11. It's not completely predictable. There is no possible way you could predict how it ends unless you read spoilers or have superpowers. Even the beginning parts - you think it's going to go a certain way, then you realize it's not, but it makes sense how it went.
12. When he's feeling heartbroken, Tae does something that a normal person might do, and has a normal-person reaction afterwards.
13. There's some funny use of classical music, especially Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King.
The bad qualities:
1. The production is average. Better than most low-budget series, but not to the standards of the mainline shows.
2. The acting is uneven. One of the main characters is good, a few of the other characters are good, but overall pretty meh. Cupid is such a naive doofus that he's charming and cute, but not a lot going on in the acting. He's not the same actor that was in the initial promos, so something went wrong somewhere.
3. The directing is not too good. It's fine for scenery, and it's clear the Chiang Mai chamber of commerce is a sponsor of the show, and maybe the tourism board, because there is a LOT of time spent walking around and going into random stores. But they also visit temples, which are interesting. You learn how to ff through things that bore you.
4. The subtitles are OK, but maybe take more effort to read than they should. It's not a dealbreaker, and it's 10 times better than So Much In Love, where I never did come to understand why the principal wanted to destroy a volleyball team.
5. Editing is not great. There are scenes that are too long.
6. The first episode is bad. They're lucky that many people stayed with the series. Confessing my shallowness, there's a good fifteen minutes of the main character showering and walking around in a towel, or I might have dropped it.
Not exactly a bad quality, but if you watch it, it's better to be prepared, You can skip this section if you want to just be surprised:
This was filmed some time ago, and was interrupted by COVID in a major way. It was originally supposed to be 10 eps, not 12, and sure enough, the main crisis happens in Ep 8, and then "poof!" They resumed production months later, and apparently a lot of actors were unavailable, so they had to make some big adjustments. They way they resolved the problem will not be to everyone's taste. As it was airing, some people were upset, but other people thought it was much better than before.
The acting and the production are better in the last four eps. The main character's hair is a lot different, but I liked it. He also wears more flattering clothes and it's a bit of a shirtless goldmine. A new character joins the cast who is super-cute and a good actor, with a lot of charm - he won most people over. The ending is not what you were expecting when you started watching, but it does actually fit perfectly into the story. This series is about the main character finding his soulmate, and there are suspects that aren't really viable and what the production chose to do gave it a lovely human quality.
Recommendation
So do I recommend it? Definitely, with some caveats. If you don't like it by the third or fourth ep, you probably won't enjoy it, but if that's the case, you can abandon it and move on to Ep 9, because the last 4 eps will make sense as a stand-alone romance that is sweet and special. But Ep 1 is pretty bad, so you have to look past that if you want to give it a chance. The people who liked this REALLY liked it - I've bonded with some fans over it. To me, Tae is gorgeous - not just his body, his face, those beauty marks, lips, personality, everything. In the last 4 eps you'll probably see it, due to the changes in his appearance. And I'll be 100% honest - I know that 1,000 Stars is roughly 100 times better than this show, but I looked forward to this more, because it just has a unique pleasant quality and 1,000 Stars stresses me out.
There are really wonderful and unique elements in this show, and if the next production by this company can fit them together in a more expert way, they could have a top-tier series.
Explanation of Ratings
Story: The plot doesn't deserve a 7, but the avoidance of tropes and the skillful post-COVID shift were impressive.
Acting: It's heavily focused on Tae, who is good & there's a good actor in the last 4 eps. Otherwise I would have rated it lower.
Music: Generally standard, a couple of good moments here and there that stood out.
Rewatch Value: I've rewatched a lot of scenes, so I gave it a high score.
Overall: The ratings suggest a 7.5, but I gave it an 8 because I liked it so much - that it drew me in and made me happy is a good thing.
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All of the acting was good. I will just point out a few things. Love him or hate him (I happen to love him), Lee Seung Gi can kiss. I had no idea that Go Ah Ra that plays Na Jung in Reply 1994 was the same person as Eu Soo Sun. She just shot up the ranks of actress that I like. I love Cha Seung Won's dorky characters. He is just too cute. Is Jeong Dong Hwan going to play freakishly scary characters in every drama from now on? He seriously gives me the creeps when he does that smile. BBBRRR!!!
The music is appropriate and sometimes funny.
I will rewatch this at some point. I'm tempted to rewatch it right now. Seriously.
I highly recommend this drama.
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