It will make you wan't more.
The scene photography, the visuals and the directing is splendid.
The warm of family and love is the key that this movie was a pure perfection.
The cast ease their own role that they played and im telling you
you won't be dissapointed.
.
The heart breaks and the bright smiles is breathtaking.
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The casting was perfect šÆ Literally, everyone from the King and Queen down to the palace maids had a significant responsibility in the flow of the story. Hands down to Kim Junghyun and Shin Hyesun šš»āāļø They gave so much life to Cheoljong and Soyong/Sobong. We can't just ignore how powerful their chemistry are. Their scenes were so satisfying to watch!
Story-wise, it definitely had loopholes and questionable scenarios but it was a wonderful story to tell. I hope they were given more episodes because there's just so much potention over the stories that popped out between the King & Queen. What I didn't like was the build-up on some events and characters that they couldn't address anymore.
Over-all it was a wonderful kdrama. It had fierce confrontations, rated š remarks, comedy, love story, family, and Korean history all in one drama. I had fun during the weekends and it is something that I always looked forward because it intrigued me every after episode. I don't think I can move on from this drama hahaha it makes me sad and happy at the same time. š
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This review may contain spoilers
STORY: This was definitely the biggest problem with this drama. The beginning I think was great. It was cute and interesting. The main couple had good chemistry together. And then halfway through, they decide to separate the main couple for 11 episodes. Not even separating as in they're fighting and are upset with each other, but LITERALLY DO NOT INTERACT FOR 11 EPISODES (minus one scene where he saves her, but neither of them even know it's the other person.) I honestly was going to drop during this point because the chemistry between the leads was what I thought made the drama.Ending - I figured the whole thing was a ruse by Chen Yu and the emperor - even before they actually showed that it was all an act. So it was better than in Story of Ming Lan, where you don't find out it was all an act until the very very end. However, I think the biggest issue was all the deaths by the end of the drama. Yes I know C-dramas love to kill people off, which isn't the problem. But at least make it meaningful and worthwhile to die.
1) Male lead did NOT have to die. He wasn't severely injured and if Dong Fang Shi could pull both BuQi and Chen Yu out of the hole, there's no reason why Chen Yu couldn't have tried a little harder instead of just giving up. Again. He wasn't SEVERELY injured.
2) Mo Ruo Fei - Glad s/he died by the end of it, but I really don't like how they changed the story for this character by the end. Throughout the drama MRF was very loyal and cared about HBQ. Yes, s/he sided with his mother after she poisoned HBQ, but throughout it all, MRF did still care about HBQ and wanted to right his mother's wrongs. Now that the king killed his mom, he could care less about everyone around him? No way. MRF betrayed her multiple times and at the very end willingly tried to get HBQ killed to -potentially- get revenge on the king. Meh.
3) So many people died in the last episode, that it really took away any sentimental value for it. Really only Xiao Xia (HBQ's guard) got a meaningful death (kind of, I'm still annoyed that she didn't even actually die for HBQ but for a fake HBQ).
ACTING:
Personally always love Ariel Lin and think she does a great job with her roles. You can tell she actually cares and she's not afraid to ugly cry - which always feels more realistic.
Zhang Bin Bin - normally I'm a little hit or miss with him, but overall think he did a good job. I don't think he was dubbed in this drama, so I think it was a little weird that towards middle/end of the drama, he started sounding super breathy while he talked (compared to the beginning when he was the proper/powerful Prince and had a super strong voice).
Everyone else - No one else really stood out to me. The actor who plays DFS I can't unbiasedly judge cause I disliked the character lol.
OVERALL:
Overall, I did like the drama. But it definitely wasn't a favorite just because of the story choices the writers made. Literally 11 episodes where the ML and FL are separated (and they were definitely the heart of the story for me). I skipped through most of those episodes and really could care less about them. It was way too long and the story got really boring (almost dropped the drama at this point).
I also really didn't care for Dong Fang Shi. Yes, he loved her and was trying to "protect her" but even up till the end, seeing how sad and unhappy she was, he still forced her to stay by his side (literally tied her up so she wouldn't run). He -barely- redeemed himself the first time his grandfather tried to take HBQ and he was willing to sacrifice himself for her. But again, he played the typical "I'm doing this for you (even though it wasn't even really what was best for her).
Also kind of annoyed that Liu Qing Wu got a happy ending. She did nothing to deserve it, IMO. She originally was a bad guy who killed HBQ's uncle. Then she was a traitor and tried to take over Liu Ming Shan Zhuang. Then she continually kept trying to cause trouble for HBQ and CY. Then she betrayed CY and sold out HBQ to the king. But she gets to have a happy life and get the power of being a beloved concubine? Pass.
But I do think Ariel and Zhang Bin Bin had some great chemistry and would definitely like another collaboration between them!
Most likely wouldn't rewatch though just because of the negatives I had.
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Kim Young Kwang and Kim Seul Gi were my main draws to this show, and Key was a secondary draw. I've never seen anything with Lee Shi Young, but she was awesome! She is a strong female lead and kicks serious butt in this show. Kim Young Kwang as Jang Do Han is a character that you almost hated, but still loved him in the role because he was owning this character. Kim Seul Gi had great emotional scenes, and Key was adorkable as their resident hacker. I loved how they all came together for a common goal, but developed a bond with each other over the course of the drama. Each one knocked my socks off.
You really have to pay attention and focus while you watch this - you won't want to miss any detail. The plot, as with most action movies, is convenient for our anti-heroes. But it still keeps you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, hoping the best for them. The story had its flaws, I can't deny, but for the most part I enjoyed this show quite a bit.
The music was very edgy and well chosen.
Won't be high on the re-watch as the genre just doesn't lend itself well once you know the outcomes. However, I would recommend this one to action lovers.
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WATCH THE DIRECTOR CUT!
Normally I don't write reviews but I think this time I have to write one or not really writing one but just draw attention to it, so pls read that before (or during) watching the series.This series starts so beautifully. The main actors Leo and Tai (Tan and Oil) did such an amazing job by representing the main characters. I really was into it during all the scenes and the chemistry was on top. I really enjoyed every single scene.
BUT and this is the main point that I really don't understand. In this series there are two important scenes between Tan and Oil and they just cut them out. I don't want to spoil but just look up (EP 1 and EP12 directors cut) and watch them. Because I think when you miss these scenes you will be a bit upset after finishing the series. With the scenes I think it is well done. Nothing special but worth watching I guess. All in all the story is pretty basic and sometimes a bit frustrating but when you watch the whole series with the missing scenes you will like how it ends.
I wasn't really into the other main couples but I think everyone has a different point of view and I guess you could like the other couples too.
Also the ending was a bit .... ĆHHHHM OK?! But yeah.
For me personally, it wasn't that new and some plots and scenes are a bit unnecessary. Although this series hasn't a special story line or an important message but I think as a BL fan you can still watch and enjoy it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Arc Toward Justice
Wow! This drama is amazing.You have to watch past the first episode. The first episode is disjointed on purpose. It withholds information from the audience. Episode two presents a plot twist, and the missing shards of her begin to come together as the series unfolds.
This drama is part mystery and thriller, but more about how sexual violence impacts an individual, a family, and an entire community. It shows how people respond differently, including victims but also their loved ones.
Quite poignantly, the drama explores and condemns the cultures of silence that develop around acts of sexual violence. This silence allows predators to get away with their crimes and then commit them again. Meanwhile, victims are blamed and left without justice.
While the subject matter is serious, the drama is redemptive and moves toward justice and hope. The ending is presented with sensitivity and realism. I canāt praise it enough!
The acting is outstanding. And the OST is crazy good!
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Unbelievably funny, cute & sweet drama
"Unbelievable", this drama is what you need after watching all the serious dramas with heavy plots. You will find something lighthearted to relax a bit and also enjoy this unbelievably funny, cute, and sweet romance.Story: The plot summary in MDL makes you think twice to start the drama. You saw this story so many times. A typical cliche story. Also, this is a web drama with a low budget. So, I hesitated at first but later gave the drama a try. After watching the drama, I must say that the drama is surprisingly good. The plot is a typical CEO rom-com plot but It is a well-made funny rom-com. A very predictable plot, but who cares. You come here to spend your time enjoying something. No doubt, the drama will give you enough enjoyment with a very sweet romance.
Acting/Cast: The chemistry between ML and FL is surprisingly good. Both are exceptionally funny, and all their interactions are hilarious. Both actors did a tremendous job portraying their roles. You will start loving both of them in no time, from the first episode. I didn't care about the other supporting characters. But all did very well in their roles. Overall, the Acting and Cast were very good for a low-budget drama.
Music: Nothing too special, but good enough. The background music was on point and OST was also good.
Rewatch Value: A good rewatch value. A funny drama, so if you feel like watching something funny to spend some time, you can rewatch it.
Ratings: 9/10 from me (maybe a bit high). I wanted to give it more as I genuinely loved it. But, that's the max rating I should give.
I recommend this drama. I hope, the viewers give this drama a chance. This drama will be a funny and enjoyable watch for you.
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This show is the exception to that.
I started this show because I saw an article talking about how this new show is a must watch and really takes you by storm. That was a solid statement. Everything from Rainie and Yu Lin's acting to the plot itself is so complex, so amazing that you forget what's happening around you. They bring forward the essential questions and make you think, is there a right or wrong choice in life? Both versions of Rainie's character Ru Wei go through their own journey's and viewers are left with a choice of their own, which decision and life they approve of, one with her sacrificing her career for family or the opposite?
Quite honestly, this show really made me not only think of the choices I've made in life, but also taught me that things don't work out exactly as one plans and thats okay. I binged this show all day on Saturday and when the final episode ended at 4 am, I couldn't stop thinking about how moving this show truly was. It's been a long time since I've seen something that deeply effects me (not just in the typical romantic drama way).
Rewatch? Hell yeah! This show needs more recognition, it's actors and plot are truly amazing and I don't know about the other reviewer's rating but don't let that stop you from watching. You won't regret it!
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THE CHEMISTRY in a short drama!
"Forever Love," a Chinese drama, showcases a sizzling chemistry between its leads with its realistic passionate kiss scenes.The drama is short, with a revenge and death plot depicted, yet the story development is weak. Just watch it without having any expectations lol
The chemistry is everything. The leads are like magnets. Their kiss scenes are deep as if these two are made for each other.
Similar to other short dramas, the drama is not of a high quality, yet this drama is exactly the type to unwind with and pass your time, especially if you crave for romance :)
.
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History enthusiasts should not miss this
As the old adage goes, save the best for last. How appropriate, as this is the final drama that Iāve completed before 2020 draws to a close. Personally for me, I consider Qin Dynasty Epic as the best historical non-fiction C-drama production of the year. Aside from being extremely well made, there is simply no other similar non-fiction historical produced this year capable of competing with this drama. Hopefully this brief review provides potential viewers a general idea of what to expect.This is a big budget production and it really shows. The high quality cinematic colour grading, exceptional cinematography and camerawork, elaborately constructed sets, lavish costumes, well-executed action choreography and battle scenes, as well as beautiful vast landscapes, among various other aspects. Principal photography took place at Hengdian World Studio along with gorgeous locales such as Nalati, Sailimu Lake, Changji, Wuerhe, Xiangshan, Duyun, and Xianju. It had been reported in Chinese entertainment news outlets that over 11,000 sets of costumes as well as 4,000 sets of armour were produced for this show alone. Everything looks visually stunning on a very grand scale.
This drama, the fourth and final series in the Qin Dynasty franchise, chronicles the humble beginnings of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, up to the point of unification and establishment of the first imperial dynasty of China, the Qin Dynasty (around 259 BC to 221 BC). The plot follows very closely the Records of the Grand Historian, written by Sima Qian, as I understand from more knowledgeable viewers on the subject matter. How certain events truly transpired, no one will ever know. But, at the very least, the major events recorded are generally covered, with some degree of dramatization as expected of a drama. Itās worth mentioning here that unlike the first 3 series which are based on the novel, The Qin Empire by author Sun Haohui, critics noted that the script for this latest instalment is not adapted from the novel.
The performance of the ensemble cast is nothing short of remarkable. Aside from Zhu Zhu, whom Iāve come across in American productions, Iāve never seen the rest of the main cast previously but their acting in this drama is testament to their immense talent indeed. The trio of Zhang Lu Yi, Duan Yi Hong, and Li Nai Wen are outstanding in their portrayal of the central characters of Ying Zheng, Lv Bu Wei and Li Si. For me, those three actors carried the entire show. In particular, Duan Yi Hongās unique version of the complex character Lv Bu Wei deserves much praise. The huge supporting cast, especially the veterans, also deliver an impressive depiction of their respective characters.
The screenplay involving the numerous convoluted political power plays and complicated stratagems used in court machinations and on the battlefields is very cleverly written and deftly executed throughout the entire show. Nothing is ever as it seems and no character is above the use of tactical maneuverings to gain any sort of advantage.
However, the drama is not without flaws, the major issue being the casting of a 40-year old man as a 13-year old boy. I donāt think I need to elaborate more here. For a big budget production, this falls short of the required standard and therefore, a deduction of points for this glaring error of judgment.
In addition to that, certain dramatization of major events, particularly the story arc concerning the infamous pseudo-eunuch and the Queen Dowager, lasts longer than is perhaps necessary. As a result, other more meaningful historical events are not fully fleshed out or shown in greater detail.
Although 78 episodes represent a massive investment of viewing hours, Qin Dynasty Epic presents an utterly compelling insight and in-depth exploration into the origins of China's first imperial dynasty and the long and arduous journey to unification of the many splintered ancient kingdoms and vassal states. For enthusiasts of history, particularly ancient Chinese history, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Being the final installment of the highly successful Qin Dynasty franchise which started back in 2009, it might be a very long while before another epic historical production based on the warring states era gets commissioned, if ever again.
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Sore wa, Totsuzen, Arashi no you ni..
25 people found this review helpful
Despite the premises though, there is something about this drama which made it into one of my favourites in its genre.
Perhaps because on further analysis it doesn't deal with falling in love with someone, but with learning to love oneself and appreciate the little, daily things one gives for granted.
Esumi Makiko is so beautiful here, one soon forgets the age gap. The story revolves around her, her internal struggle, her doubts, her self-esteem. Yamashita Tomohisa plays his part very well too, portraying a young man in that fragile phase between adolescence and adulthood in a very believable way.
Overall, a delightful, suave drama.
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I went in for the theme. The idea of having time for your own, to do things alone and enjoy that time fully. It is something that is important to me, and here they exploit it perfectly. The way prof Jin enjoyed his *drinking solo* felt like he was my kindred spirit.
I think the best thing about this drama is that screen presence was evened out among the cast. It isn't just the main love story and those that surrounds it. We have a setting, and we explore the different lives and experiences of those involved there. The setting is an institution that gives classes for people who want to pass the civil exam and be employed by the government. The drama tells us two different stories in that setting, that of the teachers there (pretty similar to typical romcoms) and that of the students and the things they do cause by the pressure.
I won't rehash what everyone is saying, but I agree the trio were hilarious. First time I watch Key in a drama, but really he was effortlessly the heart of it. My favourite was Kim Dong Yeong, I could relate to him the most. He felt the most realistic person there, naturally down to earth, and a total sweetheart. I gotta add I totally enjoyed all the scenes of the impersonator, he was pure fun. As for the other teacher, she wasn't bad, but too petty for an extended period of time. The director was hilarious as well. I actually wished for him to divorce since he seems so miserable with his current life.
For me it lost points on
-Inefficiency: Not only were the episodes long, but there were many dragged out scenes or events that are there to fill the time with no purpose of advancing the story. I think the drama would've benefitted being cut to 12 episodes
-The last 2 episodes: I do hate Noble Idiocy, but the was it was done here was the most nonsensical, to the point I didn't want the couple back together. And I actually was very forgiving of the lead, and maybe one of the few that found him cute while dating. Also the secondary couple were left out too last minutes. In the end they were cute, but it would've been better to explore the relationship better.
Despite my remarks on the pacing and the ending, I'd say it's still worth checking out for the laughs, as well as the heartfelt moments here.
p.s. I do wonder though is it normal for women to be this irresponsible when drinking outside this often?
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Too high expectations leads to disappointment
The story is about a Prince who is trying to make reform to government and is meeting constant objections from the ministers who are not happy with him changing the status quo. His only option is to align himself with the Shen family and get their massive military power as his backing. Good thing for this is the previous Emperor has left an edict bestowing marriage between the 4th Prince and the daughter of the Shen family.The FL (Li Ge) is an orphan raised by a wondering Shifu. She, her sisters, and brothers were raised and trained as assassins that go after Lords and ministers who ignore the blight of the common people and enrich themselves. To this object, their biggest target, and the worst of the of them all, the one born into privilege and power but is weak and corrupt, who only knows how to protect these ministers, is a Prince. To be more precise it is the 4th Prince Peng Cheng.
Hence the drama starts with our assassins, acting as a dance group, get themselves invited to said Princeās place for the Consort Dowagerās birthday. Here is where my problem starts, the lead assassin Li Ge(Li Qin) is on the roof behind where the Royal family is sitting, the rest of the female assassins are on stage performing. Youād expect, for someone who has been preparing to kill this target for well over a year, would take this opportunity when they were distracted watching the dance and everyone is relaxed to jump down from the roof and shoot him straight. No- what happened was while she is up on the roof, the female dancers threw away their costumes and shot arrows toward the stage the Royal Family was sitting at. What happens when something like this happens? Obviously, everyone comes to attention, guards rushed in and surrounded the Royals, and this is when the FL decided to jump off the roof and shoot her arrow. It is so illogical, I caught myself screaming āwhy didnāt you shoot from the roof?!ā at my unsuspecting screen. I was upset to have met such an outrageous thing in the first episode. But I will say this, if you leave common sense out the door, the entire assassination performance was eye catching. As you may have guessed, the year-long planned assassination went south real fast. We see a lot of fighting scenes here; I am a sucker for those, and they were pretty good.
Anyway, after the failed assassination a lot more story went on and I met my second problem. FL was trying to ambush and kill a minister that has killed one of her sisters in front of her in that faithful night, and while she is at it she runs into, you guessed it, 4th Prince in disguise. I should point out that said disguise is a mustache. Not a full-blown beard but a thin mustache. And FL did not recognize him. They made such a big show in the first episode about how they planned this assassination for a year and our lead assassin did not recognize her target because he had a mustache. [Sigh] May I ask how they had planned this assassination? Did they not do any recon? Were they told to shoot at the one sitting in the middle? How the bloody hell do you not know what the person you are supposed to kill looks like?
You will consistently run into illogical plots/scenes like the ones I point out above throughout the drama. Once or twice may be annoying but itās forgivable if there are other exceptional stories to make up for it. But this drama neither had the sense to limit its flaws nor did it have the solid interesting plot to fall back on.
You might say Iām nitpicking, but I assure you Iām not. This drama, which is studded with talent, suffered from truly poor script. Honestly, it devolved fast with its regurgitated plot, the never-ending cycle of set-up, getting caught, getting free, getting set up again, crying, getting free, getting set up again. The plot became unoriginal, the dialogue unimaginative, the scenes draggy and the whole drama became riddled with clichĆ©s. I at one point even watched a few of the episodes without subtitles, since I was confident, I would not miss anything important. To add to this, one of the major antagonist was a ālove rivalā. Imagine writing in a harem drama in this setting. There are a million dramas with this same plot already, why would you bring such cliched story to a drama that should have focused more on the politics and the reforms and basically anything else especially since the FL was supposed to be a badass.
The top acting could not save this drama. I mean what can these actors do with such truly abysmal writing. They are actors not miracle workers - to be fair I count it as a miracle I watched it this far and itās all credit to their performance.
Another issue is the palace design. This created a great disconnect with me. Donāt get me wrong, it was beautifully designed. It had pools in the rooms, huge sculptures, and I would have been impressed with it if it was a wuxia drama. However, for something that is supposed to be a historical, this did not have the beauty and authenticity of ancient Chinese architecture. I like the feeling of ancient palace designs, the aura, and the mood it sets - this one did not do that for me.
As for music, they had one. There was one song that played on a loop through the entire drama. Nice song, but it was just that one. They may have thrown in another one in there, but I did not notice.
As if I didnāt have my share of issues with this drama, they went a step further and added split screens (side-by-side shots) like a music video. If they had done a fade-out shot, I would have thought I transmigrated back to the early 2000s.
I had such a huge expectation for this drama and what a letdown it was.
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