Reviews

Closure

While NIF2 works as a superb standalone story, it is best appreciated if watched after NIF. Also be aware some of my comments may be spoilers for NIF so best not to read this if you haven't watched it.

NIF2 is the story of the changing fortunes of the Changlin family as together with the Liang empire, they navigate a changing of the guard. While the story skips a generation, the ghost of Lin Shu "haunts" the drama. After all, the powerful Changlin Army is the legacy Prince Jing created in Mei Changsu/Lin Shu's memory. Xiao Tingsheng, the now elderly Prince of Changlin instills in his family the same moral values, duty, honor and loyalty that were innate to Prince Jing and Lin Shu. His sons Xiao Pingzhang and Xiao Pingjing grow up with and share a deep bond beyond blood ties with their imperial peers, especially the Crown Prince and their cousin Xiao Yuanqi. Their proximity to the throne and unbalanced power in the court is feared and envied by many. This sets the stage for political plots and intrigue at the highest levels of the court that pose many challenges for the Changlin family. This brings the free spirited and fun loving Pingjing back from the famed Langya hall to aid his more responsible elder brother Pingzhang, the heir who already shares their father's duties.

In NIF, we can only imagine what young Lin Shu's life was like. NIF2 invites us to experience being in the bosom of a close and loving family at the epicenter of power in the empire. We laugh and we cry with them, their friends are our friends, their foes our enemies, their hopes our hopes and we feel the pain of their losses in an acute and very real way. The script-writing and plot in this drama is deep and masterful in a way that rivals that of NIF. While political plotting, revenge, justice, loyalty, morality, duty and envy are still strong themes, it dives more deeply into relationships between sovereign and subject, parent and child, husband and wife and siblings and cousins while exploring the fine line between good and evil and nature vs nurture. Unlike NIF, the story does not revolve around one core character but a number of key characters. Like NIF there are many grey characters and even the good characters are very realistically written with their own strengths and flaws. These lead characters evolve over time as the story-line spans a generation shift and explores how these characters deal with change. The second half of the drama focuses on the younger generation and this is where weakness in the acting emerged as these demanding transitions are played out by younger and less experienced actors. That said, overall the cast was very strong and well populated with many veteran actors.

Newcomer Liu Haoran's Xiao Pingjing was stellarly portrayed from start to finish. He managed to "grow up" from the immature, playful, outspoken, impetuous and slightly irresponsible younger son to be a skilled pugilist, brilliant general and military tactician, the rising star of the Changlin family. This actor immediately conveyed that Pingjing must be what a young Lin Shu (whom we never met in NIF) would have been like. He is the young actor to watch coming out of NIF2. Sadly his love interest Lin Xi was played by a limited and forgettable young actress. Lin Xi's father was killed before she was born so she is an aloof character, a talented and capable lady doctor. She had to make a terrible, controversial and life altering decision in this drama. This is an awesome part that a better actress could have killed. This one wore a perpetually tragic expression and when pressed to defend her decision she overacted, wailing in a completely out of character way. There was no chemistry between Pingjing and Lin Xi and as a couple, they were not convincing. Pingzhang and his wife Meng Qianxue on the other hand were touchingly in sync with each other. Fortunately this is not a love story although there is more romance than NIF. Both female leads were strong and well written characters but only Meng Qianxue's role was well acted.

In the second half of the drama, cousin Xiao Yuanqi also comes of age, clawing his way up despite the disgrace his father (the youngest son of Prince JIng) brought on to their branch of the family. Yuanqi is a chameleon and the most interesting, complex and empathetic character in the entire drama. To be fair it is a challenging role, one that actor Wu Haochen was not up to. While his performance was technically good, it was also pedestrian and boring. He simply lacks onscreen presence and charisma. I didn't want to watch him and would either tune out or tune into whoever he was sharing the screen with. This was too critical a role for them to have miscast so badly. The character itself was exceedingly well developed, it just didn't come to life in the right way. It is why for me this drama is not a perfect 10 even though the script, plot and story-line can hold its own against NIF.

NIF broke my heart because even though Lin Shu/Mei Changsu got his justice, it was his final act. What he lost could never be recovered. I was inconsolable for a long time. Watching NIF2 was cathartic because NIF2 shows us that his legacy and everything he stood for lives on in all the lives he touched. And despite its own tragic moments, in NIF2 we get to imagine that maybe Lin Shu came back to fulfill his final promise. That gave me the closure I badly needed.

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A story about loneliness and the struggles of everyday life...

Many viewers won't like this series much, because first it's not a BL, secondly there is no real drama but many heartwarming/heartbreaking moments in this story. It's a slice of life where two people drawn together, fight their past baggage and come together in the end.

It depicts the struggles especially in Japan where social pressure and expecations are a real burden. The last episode Azuma describes that best: "I feel like I've just been running in circles. I kept telling myself I'd take a real break when things settle down. But "settling down"... if you don't force yourself to take the time, it feels like it'll never happen."

We see the disconnect of families like Kuji and his brother, who takes the house Kuji is living in, not just because he inherited but despite his hate for his father. He does not really need that house but he kicks Kuji out of it regardless. Azumas mom is struggeling with loneliness because many eldery people left alone because their spouses already left and their children are struggeling themselves not investing the time to be there for them.

This is slow pacing, some may say boring, but life itself is not an action movie. It's running in circles and to break out of that circle is the real challenge both of them faces. And in the end, they manage to do it.

These are veteran actors not needing a queer role to stay relevant. Of course Takeda Kouhei is best known to us for his role in "Oldfashion Cupcake" while for Shibuya Kento it's his first stop at such an series as a main role (he was a guest in Ossans Love). Both did an amazing job and overall the cast was strong. Production quality and cinematography was on point with slow movements and great pictures to punctuate the actors characters and performance.

If you are tired of the 100th school BL this is something completely different, a mature look of two people struggeling and a sensitive composition of how two people can find to each other without the usual drama and silly scripts. I can't do no other as highly recommand you to watch this. But this is not for escapists, this is for people who want to improve their understanding.

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1-The reason I watched this : I was in my friend's place while she was watching the 1st episode, I watched it along with her then I literally fell in love; I went home and finished the whole drama in two days.

2-Storyline/Plot : That's what captured me about this drama; the story about revenge, hate, action and even romance, the whole concept was was so deep.
Every episode i get amazed by events and several twists that made it very appealing whether it was action twists or romantic developments.

3-Acting/Cast : After this drama Yamashita Tomohisa became one of my favorite actors; he really did his role perfectly; the kind of cold, affectionate character that made me very invested in his character. There were Horikita Maki too, she was cool but not that great as a character. I actually loved the acting department though there were too many weird characters.

4-Music : Yes I remember the music, it was quite good.

5-Rewatch value : There are a lot of moments that deserve the rewatch plus it's short therefore, it's easy to do so.

6-The ending : I liked it even though i was expecting more but either ways it was nice plus there's the film so it's not actually an "end"

7-Overall : Kurosagi is a drama that can make anyone fall in love especially action-revenge lovers (as myself).
I had so much fun while watching it. My all time favorite part when Kurosagi says "Bang"!

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This is the kind of drama whose review needs to be written as soon as the viewing is over, emotions still raw and somehow sore.

Ironically, it had been sitting in my ptw list for a good year, waiting - so I thought - for me to be in the right mood for its somehow heavy subject. It came as a big surprise that this was the perfect moment and Algernon ni Hanataba wo is the show that finally reminded me why I fell in love with Asian dramas in the first place and became an addict so many years ago.
It enchanted me and pulled me into its world five minutes in. I hadn't even realized I was marathoning with bated breath until I exhaled.

The show is built on two different levels: the plot itself with its events and the story told by the characters. These two levels aren't of equal importance, that is, if you watch for the events it may disappoint you, as it suffers from the typical Japanese brevity and sudden, unexpected turns. However, this drama is meant to be valued for the thoughts it provokes and the way it does so, hence my perfect mark.

I won't lie, it made me cry. A lot.
This is a beautifully heart-wrenching story of diversity and the need to conform, be 'equal'. While most of us aim at being smart enough to earn more, have success in life and even wallow in our self-esteem, Sakuto dreams of becoming intelligent for the people around him to love him. This makes his journey all the more tragic, since it inevitably raises the question whether he was happier when only half cognizant of his surrounding or when he fully grasped the meaning of everyone's motivations and finds out that being a genius can be a sentence to loneliness. It also heavily probes on the benefits of intelligence when it's attained at the cost of humanity, empathy, compassion and even love.

I believe each single character in this drama has a precise purpose in terms of typecasting the different approaches to what is generally considered 'normal'. Here's a word I hate when referred to human beings, but it is the core of this tale, in its literal meaning of 'conforming to the norm'. This means that all the characters revolving around Sakuto find their justification only in connection with him, they represent the wide range of 'normality' as opposed to the extremes Sakuto's going to experience.

Which is not to say that they didn't act well. Quite the opposite: what fascinated me here is the fact that each actor played its part in a different way, according to his/her role in Sakuto's life. The same can be said about the direction, which plays a precise role too with its use of symbolism, archetypes, flowers, colours, camera focalization. Even Algernon is a great character. Tiny details are everything but irrelevant, a trait I always, highly appreciate.
And at the risk of being called biased, I maintain Yamashita's acting is impressive here. I was deeply moved by the sheer movement of his hand, the subtle, slow changes in stance, walk, gaze. I loved Sakuto as a viewer, as a woman, as a mother, as a sister, as a friend, to the point I desperately wanted to hug him and never let go. I could go on, but I'm becoming verbose and perhaps a little too emotional too.

The music is the only trait of the drama that gets a mere passing grade. I wish Japanese shows in general would put on their Osts the same amount of effort they spend on photography and characterization. The only song played here is very suitable to the story, but repetitive to the point of losing all its impact.

I've already rewatched many scenes soon after completing an episode. I simply couldn't help it. There's no doubt in my mind I'm going to re-watch the whole drama soon enough, certain it will lose none of its emotional impact on further viewing.

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Quiet in its voice, thunderous in its impact – a drama of nuance, humanity & whispered revolution

Between Wind, Clouds and Change – "King Maker: The Change of Destiny".
Some dramas tell about history – others tell how history is made. "King Maker: The Change of Destiny" does both. It's also a historical KDrama that doesn't just focus on battles or hero myths, but makes the art of face reading (Gwansang) the narrative compass: Whoever wants power must understand people – and themselves. The story takes place in the late Joseon era, a time of political upheaval and dynastic power struggles. But instead of swords, the drama talks about people who deal with knowledge – and read faces. The series is based on the novel "Wind, Clouds and Tombstone" by Lee Byung-joo and creatively reinterprets historical events.

At the center stands Choi Chun-joong, a man not only talented at physiognomy, but who has a deep sense for the movement between fate and choice. His gift for reading personality, future, and intention from a face makes him a valuable advisor, but also a target for political intrigue. Park Si-hoo plays Chun-joong with subtle intensity – a man who thinks more than he speaks, but whose presence fills every scene. At his side is Princess Lee Bong-ryeon (Go Sung-hee), who struggles with her own tragic gift – seeing the fates of others. Go Sung-hee gives Bong-ryeon a quiet dignity, shifting between vulnerability and determination.

I´d say the quiet, deep relationship between Chun-joong and Princess Lee Bong-ryeon gives the series an emotional warmth that goes far beyond grand gestures and touches through small, sincere moments. Their love is marked by separation, reunion, and the burden of fate – less passion, more loyalty. Their romance is not the center, but rather the emotional backbone – giving the political drama a human depth. It's like a river that always flows, even as the banks change. Their bond is based on shared gifts – face reading and destiny reading – and becomes a kind of spiritual complicity. It shows how intimacy lives not in big gestures, but in shared understanding. The romance is quiet, but sustaining – an echo underlying everything.

The series doesn’t follow a classic hero’s journey, but tells of entanglements: between the power-hungry Prince Lee Ha-eung, who loses himself between reform and control; between officials who renegotiate their loyalties daily; and between people whose moral decisions influence the system more than titles. Especially impressive is the calm, almost tentative narrative style, using time jumps not as breaks, but as mirrors for human maturity.

The drama convinces with a finely tuned ensemble performance. The relationship between Chun-joong and the ambitious Prince Lee Ha-eung is a prime example of ambivalence and power psychology. Jun Kwang-ryul shines as the power-conscious Prince Lee Ha-eung, whose performance captures the full moral complexity of the era, balancing ambition and regret. The supporting characters are also carefully and multi-layeredly designed – from scheming officials to tragic outsiders. They’re not just decoration but part of a system that enables as much change as it prevents. Particularly interesting is the cultural background: The art of face reading – called Gwansang – gets a tangible, almost magical significance in the series. It’s not just a trick, but a mirror for responsibility, freedom of choice, and compassion.

What makes "King Maker: The Change of Destiny" so special is its quiet, poetic narration: Political intrigues, conflicts of loyalty, and personal sacrifice are not made sensational, but are shown with respect for the characters and their development. The love story between Chun-joong and Bong-ryeon is tender and believable – it grows out of mutual understanding and shared worries, not dramatic coincidences. Their relationship stands for mutual respect and quiet strength.

The production scores with atmospheric camerawork, detailed costumes, and a fitting soundtrack. Every scene feels lovingly staged and invites the viewer to let the slow unfolding of fate and change wash over them.

"King Maker: The Change of Destiny" is not a loud drama, but a quiet, intelligent masterpiece, convincing with its humanity, well-placed accents, and deep appreciation for tradition and change. Anyone willing to embark on a journey of delicate nuances, fascinating history, and gentle romance could as well love this KDrama.

This KDrama is a moving homage to the quiet forces of change, to the power of perception and humanity. A series for heart and mind – and a recommendation for anyone wanting to feel how history, magic, and love can meet on soft feet.





--------------------------- SIDE NOTE: GWANSANG in "King Maker: The Change of Destiny" --------------------------------------

Gwansang continues to shape the cultural self-understanding of many people to this day. What appears as “face reading” in historical dramas like "King Maker: The Change of Destiny" is more than just interpreting external features. It is an echo of ancient shamanic practices, an intuitive grasp of truth—deeply rooted in Korea’s spiritual history. Even today, many people seek counsel from face readers or shamans when it comes to fate, love, or decisions. Between tradition and trend, this art lives on—as a mirror of a culture that never completely loses sight of the invisible.

In Korean culture, the art of Gwansang has a centuries-old tradition. It is the art of drawing conclusions about character, fate, potential, and even future events from facial features. The forehead as a sign of wisdom, the eyes as mirrors of the soul, the jaw as a measure of determination—these are all classic elements of this ancient teaching. But Gwansang is more than physiognomy in the Western sense: it also touches spiritual dimensions, for behind the visible form, an invisible echo often resonates—an aura, an energy, a truth between the lines.

As a cultural practice, Gwansang becomes an ethical touchstone in “King Maker: The Change of Destiny.” Here, especially through the character of the “Taoist” or "Fortuneteller" Choi Chun-joong, Gwansang is not portrayed as magic but as an intuitive science that influences political decisions. The art of face reading is not romanticized but reflected upon. How far can one really see? Where does perception end and wishful thinking begin? The face becomes a map—not for destiny, but for decision. Princess Bong-ryeon, in contrast, represents another, intuitive level: she senses destinies in advance, has visions, and follows not the logic of what is visible but the inspiration within. Their connection brings together two paths of knowledge: calculation and intuition, reason and empathy. In this way, the series shows that true understanding happens not only through the eyes—but also through the heart. And so, King Maker ultimately becomes a meditation on responsibility: those who read faces must also be able to look within themselves.

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An Absolutely Wild Ride!

I went in with ZERO expectations after YouTube randomly recommended me the first episode, and let me tell you, the leads are both absolutely unhinged!

While I love the ML, the FL stole the show for me! This lady is no damsel in distress. If anything, she’s the one causing others’ distress half the time lol and is capable of saving herself and the ML too. They are logical to an extent and think like normal human beings, which I really appreciate.

FOR ONCE, we have an ML with a functioning brain, who does not welcome the supposed dead lover back with open arms and actually asks the FL for cooperation to check if this randomly resurrected chick is sus or not. Them acting like a couple in love absolutely cracked me up. From the looks of it, the ML probably enjoyed it a little too much and has no qualms choosing the FL over the random gege-ily-back-from-the-dead chick.

The ML and FL team up quite often to break open conspiracies, and it’s so nice to see the FL being the one with the loose screws. And the ML absolutely knows that, which makes their banter absolute GOLD! (especially when they’re offing people who offend them)

The chemistry is through the roof sans the usual violence in the name of affection. There's consent asked and given once they move past the murder-y phase. Not to mention, it’s an enemy-to-lovers done right where the ML was ready to off the FL in the beginning for supposedly causing his GF to die. But once he figures out something is fishy, he not only helps the FL find the truth about her cheating BF but also helps her punish her stepmom. All the while he’s still doubting her lmao

And they both don’t give two shits about the yappers around them. The nosey sister, the domineering grandmom, the slimy brother, the spoiled child princess, everyone is background noise for them to use at their convenience and dispose of as required.

But there's character development and I actually ended up feeling sorry for the 2FL. The whole diary thing was kinda random tho but okay. The SIL became FL's follower and the grandmom sorta just accepted the situation and gave up. Yay for that honestly!

I do have an issue with them letting people go rather than dealing with them, but they all do get what they deserve, and most of it happens in things seemingly unrelated to the leads, but totally within their purview, which makes for an interesting watch. Because they know how to borrow others’ blades to deal with others, and not directly get involved and tarnish their own reputation.

The ending 3-4 episodes were kinda weird tho. It was almost like the writers forgot they had a bunch of episodes left and ran out of ideas once the 2FL's identity was exposed. The push and pull didn't feel authentic since the ML was very much making heart-eyes at the FL but suddenly had an identity crises after the diary was discovered. Again, kinda weird, since it would've made sense for the ML to be confused about his feelings during the early episodes since he was supposed to love his kinda-dead GF but suddenly felt drawn to this girl who spoke and acted in a familiar manner. But once the FL had the epiphany that she liked this guy, she was very much committed to making them a thing. Gotta respect the hustle.

The swapped person plot was very reminiscent of the coroners diary and kinda felt being thrown in for shits and giggles to pass time. Maybe they were a 20 episode drama and had to extend last min. Never-the-less, the ending was decent so I'll let it pass.

Was quite worried the FL would probably sacrifice herself with all the assertions of loving herself the most (coupled with the ML's love of letting the antagonistic brother just go) but I'm very glad they proved me wrong. She really does have foresight and is well prepared for all the shit that might go down so props to her.

I’ve previously seen the FL and my god, she’s improved by leaps and bounds. Haven’t seen much of the ML’s work, but he’s definitely on my radar now.

All in all, it’s an amazing watch, especially for a mini-drama, and if you’re looking for something with minimal dog-blood plots with sensible leads who have more than one brain-cell between them and actually TALK to each other instead of making wild assumptions from thin air, you should definitely check this one out! Kinda surprised it hasn’t blown up much, but I guess limited availability could be a reason too. Hopefully, we get better subs in the future :/

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It's been a long time since I struggled to rate a movie and even now I'm not sure how I feel about it. For one, emotions came first in this. There was very little room for me to ponder on things because of the way this movie delivered. However, in the end, I found myself a touch disappointed because while the movie approached this topic very intellectually, it still felt a touch hesitant, a touch too cautious and a little muddled.

The biggest reason being that this movie at times felt a touch too muddled in what it was trying to convey. It deeply explores an issue very well but yet not deeply enough. Deep issues are at times downplayed due to very stereotypical assumptions, and the end for me felt like a cop out. I admit, that viewpoint can be countered but I felt in the grand scheme of things, it allowed the audience to still retain their view of "normalcy". However, this isn't what made me dock points largely.

This movie deals with a topic that I rarely see and as a review mentioned, where a man trying to become a woman isn't the butt of a joke. Here, there is no laughter, little room for it. This movie cleverly approaches the topic as it takes this Herculean and manly guy who isn't happy with himself. He wants to become a woman. It creates an interesting and refreshing dichotomy as here is a guy who can easily fight any man and easily conquer a horde of attacking gangs yet he wants to be a woman.

The strong point is definitely Cha Seung Won's character (Ji Wook) and he carries this movie for me. The rest of the plot for me is kind of fodder as are a bunch of the characters. There were certain characters in here that for me had no legitimate reason to be here or to be included in the story as they were. Mainly because they muddle vs aid the story. There are other characters though I recognize their importance because they add to Cha Seung Won's character. For example, the antagonist here the sub-leader of a gang and while I find his character to add very little in terms of plot, he brings out Ji Wook's character. What I mean is that most of the action sequences come from the interaction between the two which allows for the story to cement the manly image that Ji Wook has. However, while a good portion of the action scenes are relevant, I have to pick a bone with a good number of them. I feel this way about a lot of movies and dramas that bring to the table an unsettling topic or a very intelligent topic. There are always dramatic actions sequences involved. Yes, it's a way for the director to sell the plot but it would be nice to just directly approach the topic. In this case, the topic is interesting enough to be the sole focus. I just feel that the action sequences at times distract from the main topic.

On a personal note, there were quite a few things in this movie I wish I could alter. I also wish I could make this movie go hard in terms of really exploring this theme. I feel like this movie should have shocked the viewer more than it did. It makes it feel a little regrettable in that regard. Nonetheless, definitely one to watch.

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Down With Love is a Taiwan drama and I must confess that it's among one of the best Taiwan dramas I have watched plus one of the best that has been produced so far. It features 2 wonderful leads Ella Chen and Jerry Yan, and some couple of really good actors.



The storyline is really nothing new - a boss falling in love with a nanny he hired. The amazing thing with the plot is the twist. I will try to summarize without giving spoilers lol. A boss who already has a girlfriend (the gf is a big time actress) falls in love with a nanny he hired. This same boss has a best friend, while the nanny has a sister.



Things got complicated because they were all trying to save their friendships instead of their relationships. Jealousy, how it feels to be lonely, how it feels to miss an opportunity and strive to have another chance were all expressed in this drama.



The acting was superb. Ella Chen can sure make 1000 different face expressions. Jerry Yan also proved to be one hell of a boyfriend. There was chemistry between Ella and Jerry, there was also chemistry between Ella and the guy with the supporting male role (Michael Zhang). The character Hui Fan was well-shown, she really looked pathetic.



The OST was really good also. It also included songs from S.H.E



I tapped some stuffs from DWL. First is been truthful to yourself (you are in love with someone, just get down to it and don't beat around the bush), there some cases you have to let go and be happy for the other person (as in - Let a bird go, if it comes back to you, then it's yours), you can't find out the answer to something without giving it a try. Lastly, no matter the case, you've got to continue with life and be happy.



I sincerely hope you guys would enjoy Down With Love.

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Mommy and Daddy issues at its most disturbing....

This is not a romance but a drama in its true meaning, set in a beautiful setting, filled with dialog, gazes, and a whole lot of yelling.

This drama is extremely messed up, and beautifully made, telling a story I am not sure I wanted to know about in a way that had me feeling conflicted feelings about how extremely messed up everything in this drama was. As every single one of the people in here was crying for help in one way or another, making me hope all three would go their separate ways, get help and move on with their lives... And while I truly appreciated the production of this the dialog itself seemed to never really end in one way it was sooo not my cup of coffee, it felt more or less unbearable, while at the same time I appreciated how uncomfortable it made me feel...

There are a lot of intense gazes and dare I say flirting between the male leads, however the creators make sure the audience does not forget for one moment how messed up those gases really are, Though both male leads are adults capable of making their own choices etc...

" Is there something wrong with falling for the man my father once loved" - Well I may be a bit conservative here but kind of yes... Sorry kiddo there are a lot of things that you can inherit from your dad, but the man he loved is just not one of them...

However that was not nearly as disturbing as the way the mother in this drama talked about both her dead ex husband and son...

Giving us honest and raw emotion, loss, regret, screaming silence and I guess a story rarely seen on screen...

So there was a lot of disturbing dialog, even more disturbing silence... Honestly I think the silence in this drama spoke the loudest and was actually the most brutal part of it all...

I do not really know where I am going with this since I do not want to spoil the plot but if you are looking for any type of romance then run for the hills and watch more or less anything else, But if you want to feel really uncomfortable, watch some dialog driven drama, emotional stuff and secrets being dragged out by force... in a mess of mommy and daddy issues at their worst. This is definitely a must watch!

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A brilliant drama. I enjoyed every moment and second of it. Watched it without any breaks, in a flash, I just couldn't move my eyes away. It got deep into my heart, and is not going anywhere soon.

I laughed and cried with the characters all along. I watched the drama in 2 days, but came to dearly love the characters.

Though it did not end as I was expecting it to end... not gonna spoil that for you...again...enjoyed every moment of it.

The parallels between the 2 families with the same problem was brilliant...I fell in love with Haru's family, and came to deeply understand the despair Miwako's mother was in, though there moments I just wanted to punch her in her face...but who knows, how I would be in that situation...

This is a very deep human drama I think. The IS term is being used to explain people that they have learn to accept themselves as they are, and only then try to change themselves, or show themselves to others... If you don't know who you are, who does? Your parents? Your friends? Who knows? You are the one who decides.

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This is a simple yet a nothing close to realistic drama that easily makes you forget about reality. It is an adaptation that you'd originally expect to be bad and uncomparable to the webtoon however, it's nothing like that. It gives the same vibe as the webtoon and it is equally (or sometimes more) funny to it.
This drama will have you laughing (literally) non-stop.

The main cast is very good and the cameos are just as great (and countless), wit some of them beeing: Song Joong Ki, Jung Joon Young, Kim Jong Kook, Laboum and others..

Also, the music is unexpectedly good, I personally had no idea MFBTY participated, so I was pleasantly surprised. And aside from all the comedy, there's also romance and lots of character development!

This is a very sort webdrama even though it's 20 episodes long, so you can easily finish it in a day. If you watch this You definitely won't be disappointed.

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Despite the discouraging length, It’s never wrong to watch a taiga drama. Or at least that’s how I see it through my experience.

Kurode Kanbe is an acknowledged figure of the Sengoku period –the most chaotic era of Japanese history. He came from a humble clan in Himeji Castle but he distinguished himself through his impressing battle tactics. I will stop here to not spoil those who are unfamiliar with the history of the main character.

This taiga drama illustrated the life of the historically-famous strategist. It wasn’t only a numeric retell of his life story. On the contrary, Gunshi Kanbei was more focused on the emotional side more than anything. Which implores that you will get to know the story without the clinical heavy/slow pacing.

Sengoku Jidai is known for its numerous battles, renowned generals, political clashes, lots of betrayals and utter turmoil. This drama didn’t only illustrate Kanbe’s personal battles but it also included all of the major events that occurred during his lifetime. And since he was close to several main figures of the era, Kuroda Kanbei found himself entangled in all of those continued wars. He was forced to make critical decisions and became a key character in the unification of Japan.

That aside, Kanbe’s familial life was also put in the spotlight. His relationship with his vassals, his wife and his offspring was vastly explored and beautifully dramatized. But the over-idolizing was probably a bummer. Kuroda Kanbei wasn’t exactly a selfless man like the screenwriting pictured him to be. He was known to be quite ambitious. They didn’t focus much on that side except near the end. But again this isn’t a documentary and the main historical points were left untouched.

As usual in Taiga dramas, the cast was relatively loaded. Okada Juichi was marvelous as Kanbe. He’s definitely a rare Johnny’s –an idol of high caliber. I am so glad I got to first meet him through this. Other cast members were pretty fitting. But the ones who stood out the most were Egushi Yosuke’s Oda Nobunaga (one of the best portrayals of the legendary character), the penetrating performance of Takenaka Naoto as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Nakatani as Kanbe’s wife, Tanihara Shosuke short yet amazing portrayal of Takenaka Hanbe and other remarkable talents like Tanaka, Kuroki, Uchida, Ikuta, Matsuzaka, Hamada, Tsurumi and Takahashi.

The directing was noticeably improved from previous taigas but it’s nowhere near perfect. The cinematography was catching. The sceneries and outfits were as usual historically accurate despite some insignificant flaws.

The smooth flowing of events in Gunshi Kanbei proves that this is an impeccable example of how taiga dramas are supposed to be.

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Humans are not black or white, they are shades of grey.

First I have to say I watched this because of the actor Matsumoto Leo who played the best side character in "I Cannot Reach You" in 2023. Also the two personalities on the poster intrigued me. But besides that, I went in blind.

This is a story which was needed to be told. I applaud the creators to have the gall in Japan to tell a story which is against the conforming nature of japanese people. It teaches the viewers that man do not need to be masculine and even if they have feminin traits, it does not mean they are all gay. The same goes for the girl, who is on the tomboyish side without the typical expierence doing makeup and dessing up. I won't spoil the rest of the story here, but it was not earth-shattering, but quite nice.

It's more on the light side, telling a story of discovery and exploration especially for the girl. The only downfall is the story about Hikarus parents, especially his father who does not approve of his cross-dressing. We can assume the mother was on his side always and his father came around in the finale but maybe in this case they should have shifted the story more so we could have seen the wedding with the parents... as with many BLs the kissing was again just dead fish kisses which annoys me in EVERY romance.

Overall an atypically japanese romance with atypical people which is worth the watch in my book!

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