An adaptation no one needed
I'm actually writing this review much later than I actually finished the series, because I was certain my angry screams weren't quite review material. And when I say angry, I was seething.This is one of the worst things I've watched, and the moral, feel good factor aside, this was literally a mess. After all that, they didn't even get the moral, feel good story right, did they?
I'm trying to be as eloquent as I possibly can, otherwise this would just be a lot of angry rambling, about how the story was beyond horrible, that having the lead spout some generic pap about forgiveness and togetherness after making her go through 12+ episodes of torture and bullying doesn't really cut it. It's so messy and difficult to watch. The storylines are either incredibly boring or downright offensive.
The characters are also the literal worst, I had such a hard time rooting for any of them. You just go from episode to episode wondering how people can be this horrible, insensitive and just plain annoying at times. Sometimes, you just want to go feral and jump through the screen to knock some sense into them, because mostly, they all suck.
The acting.. it wasn't horrible. Well, it wasn't horrible from everyone except the leads. You would think the leads would be the two characters you would most want to see, that they're the ones you would root for, but never have I ever come across two characters whom I have wanted off my screen. Kind of worked though, because Win's character Guy, he's barely in it. Great's character Saint probably had more screentime, as probably did Jane's character Faye. Which would have been fine since the two of them actually acted, but like I said, you don't really want to see any character on screen. Except for Ann. Ann is good, Ann is the best.
Now because Guy isn't featured a lot, he doesn't share a lot of scenes with Baifern's character Liu, and Saint has more scenes with her. So there were a lot of people who had a hard time believing in Guy and Liu as the main couple, and while there may be some truth to this, I don't think it was the main problem. Win and Baifern just don't have chemistry. Yup. They have absolutely no chemistry together which is surprising because I've seen a bunch of their works and they're good actors. They could have pulled off these roles with a much better nuance than they actually did so I don't know what happened. I will admit that the screentime Guy got does have something to do with them not being able to quite convince us that Guy and Liu work well together, but when it comes down to it, the leads have no chemistry. They're both always yelling at each other, or yelling that they're hurting each other or crying about hurting each other that by the time they cross all their misunderstandings and get together, you're praying for them to break up.
Which brings us to the pacing. 10+ episodes on needless bullying, manipulation, trauma, which doesn't really stop until the last ten minutes of the finale. It just shifts from one person to another until you're clutching your head, begging them to end it. And if you came for the romance, let me tell you it took literally forever for them to actually have some semblance of a good relationship and even then, you really can't care enough.
This review is already longer than I intended it to be, so I'll try to keep the rest of my thoughts to a minimum. It was difficult to watch, I appreciate that they tried to portray the reality (to some extent) on the emphasis of physical appearances that is forced onto everyone these days, but nope, it didn't work. It absolutely did not. After everything is said and done, let's be honest, this was an adaptation that never should have happened.
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A gripping action-thriller that deserves more recognition!
If you’re one of those people that wants to find logic in every fictional drama or you’re a nitpicker, then I suggest you to skip this. However, if you’re someone who just enjoys the ride, likes to watch gripping and entertaining dramas with an amazing cast and well-written story, without searching for every little flaw in every episode, you should definitely check this one out!Thankfully I’m in the latter category, that’s probably the reason why I could enjoy it to the fullest and became one of my favourite shows of all time. This drama has everything: action, suspense, crime, investigation, mystery, humour, teamwork, romance and is very informative, you can learn a thing or two. Everything is nicely balanced. What else could a viewer possibly wish for?
Acting:
The acting here is one of the best I’ve seen this year alongside with Reborn Rich. The definition of perfect casting, all characters have great chemistry with each other and everyone embodies their character smoothly, it just feels so natural. But I have to give an extra applause to Kim Rae Won as he plays this crazy mutt detective role so well, making him stand out from the rest of the cast. Not to mention he has this indescribable charm to him.
Story:
The story is fast-paced and intriguing. They’re showcasing different emergency codes with different cases in every episode, while there’s 1 main case slowly unfolding in the background, so the viewer doesn’t even have time to feel bored. Some cases might be very sad, but the comedic elements are present to balance out the mood. I was hooked from the beginning, every episode was an exciting watch and all the cases were interesting and unique. One of the reasons I absolutely adore this show, is the teamwork, how the fire crew and detectives work together to save people and solve cases. The first episode started off strong and remained like that for the rest of the season, the last episode ended with a cliffhanger, but we get a second season and I’m so excited for that!
Relationships:
The relationship between the main leads develop naturally and for the best throughout the series, the different cases and life threatening situations make them form a strong bond by the last episode. There’s also a little love triangle, but I wouldn’t even call it like that, because it is very obvious what’s one-sided and what’s mutual. The romance part isn’t forced, it’s depicted genuinely and developed slowly. No need to worry if you’re not into romance because, although there is a romantic undertone, it doesn’t overshadows the main plot.
The music is catchy and very nice, matching well with the scenes, paints a picture of the drama every time you listen to it, it’s not overused nor placed in scenes where it’s not needed.
Overall, it is an above average, great watch I would recommend to my fellow action-thriller lovers. I do wish to see more bromance moments between Hogae and Dojin after they sort things out, and my ship sailing in the next part.
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Typical romcom
I started watching this looking at the positive reviews & hype. But its not that good as I expected. Male lead's acting was good. FL umm idk. Sound production was pretty good but not best. 2-3 scenes are rewatchable. Chemistry 5/10. Overall I think Male lead carried the show. The visuals of leads are good. Direction aint that bad. But the drama isnt as good as its hyped. I think there are better dramas out there. Sometimes typical dramas also become great because of lead's chemistry & good sound productions. But somehow i felt this drama lacked it.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Road To Revenge Is Full Of Plotholes
THIS HALF-RANT IS FULL OF SPOILERS and is written by one in need of vengeance against these scriptwriters who don't communicate with each other about what the drama they're writing is about.***
Come here, sit down and have a cup of the lovely Undying Flower Soup while I rant a wee bit.
Kill Me Love Me is touted as a revenge drama. The novel had a Blackest Flag male lead and an abused female lead who loved him in spite of being treated like dirt by him, and anyone who read this story knew there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell C-Dramaland was going to have the real version show up in their adaptation. Nonetheless, the first five episodes of Kill Me Love Me delivered an exciting promise of a different kind of male lead--one who was a bit depressed (about his loss of self and reputation), plenty angry (about his condition, the betrayal of his brother) and quite, quite ruthless in his ten -year plan to exact revenge.
Liu Xue Ye delivered Murong JingHe as he should have been THROUGHOUT the book in these five episodes and got many, many viewers hooked. He handpicked and trained an assassin in a secret assassin school, spending years making sure she was one tough nut, to be a tool in his plan. This assassin was a victim of a city siege fire that MRJH had been framed for setting, killing 100000 citizens in its wake, so this woman, who willingly underwent very brutal training would attempt to assassinate HIM, MRJH. This woman was Mei Lin, who had lost her parents, who hated MRJH, the General of the WeiBei army, so much for the death of her parents and friends, that she swore to kill him. The fascinating angle to this whole buildup to the revenge was Mei Lin having no idea that her Master Trainer/Lord was MRJH himself, who always appeared as a shadowy figure.
The set up was Gothic, full of darkness and ravens, of people screaming at an indolent and uncaring MRJH in his wheelchair, of the watchful hate in Mei Lin's eyes as she got nearer to her target. It was akin to the Madhatter's Party in Alice in Wonderland, where every character was questionably insane, yet all the colors were pretty and there were pretty cakes and silly rhymes and we the viewers were getting highly entertained by the push and pull of the sexual tension between our leads as they confronted each other in the flesh.
Then POOF, Alice in Wonderland took a pill and became tiny. The Gothic story disappeared and our ride became bumpy with the first set of plotholes before we were suddenly plunged into a ROMCOM world of happy village people living the idyllic life of happy unaffected people, and our two leads were suddenly in couple clothes and doing very romantic things. Which was all fine and dandy, except, without any transition from the danger of almost dying a few days agp from hunger and cold, of almost being killed by the evil brother, we were left scratching our heads with these three or four episodes of Happy Couple, tralalala-ing in the fields.
Then POOF. Alice in Wonderland took a pill and we were back in the Palace of Intrigue. The stakes were high and our leads' revenge was nigh. We were so ready for it because this was what it was all about--the truth would come out and the Evil Brother would die a good bloody death, etc. etc. Oh wait, Plothole ahead. Bump Bump. And I'm at a loss at how to explain what happened next.
The revenge? A whimper. The Evil Brother's death? Kinda peaceful, in the arms of the woman he freaking lied to and seduced, no less. And the ten-year plan? Long gone, actually--it disappeared in the first five episodes because Mei Lin already found out MRJH wasn't the one who ordered the fire. We were led to this point where we'd expected the PAY OFF--these two would face Evil Brother TOGETHER and get their vengeance. That's what a revenge drama is all about!
And Poof! Poor Alice. Small again. Our ML went and did the "noble savior" act and denied the assassin HE trained any of the revenge action! My head about exploded here. Mei Lin was sent off as Princess in marriage. WTF? What the loving frack?! The plothole here cannot even be filled in. Yes, yes, the noble savior trope was the cement bridging the next segment of this sad story, but can we get back to the Mad Hatter Murong Jinghe? This man, our slightly crazy hero of those first episodes, who wore vengeance with a casual sexy ruthlessness, had turned into the emo-child of some grunge festival, crying about angsty self-hatred. And Mei Lin, the amazing assassin we've grown to love was no better. She was suddenly some regal lady of the court, with the mannerisms of nobility, speaking of "different paths" and changing her focus to saving another man, her sudden betrothed.
What? WHAT? I get it. She was mad about the Big Sekrit of who had trained her. I get the angst. But shouldn't she be angrier about NOT BEING INCLUDED in their revenge? What was this about her agreeing to be saved? She was Mei Lin! She didn't need saving! She was the one saving everyone, remember? This essential change in her character gave me the second whiplash. Because...Plothole. Where were the other assassins who had trained with her? Why would she just meekly go off when she had never done so before? And if she was so clever in the beginning at figuring out that MRJH wasn't all bad, why was she not clever in figuring out that her betrothed, the Xiyan Green Tea Prince, wasn't all good?
(I know you're wondering what gave me the first whiplash. I wish I have time to include other character plotholes. But the first whiplash belonged to a secondary character, who was almost (ALMOST, if only the darn writers could decide together) the 2FL. One moment she was hankering after our ML for 13 years and then she took a whiff of sexy incense, and she was in love with Evil Bro. Y'all just have to hatewatch the drama to see what I mean)
And you know what? Alice never got big again throughout the drama. Mei Lin remained weak. MRJH said (and rightly so) that he was to be blamed for killing her. But dude, you had the cure. Why let that Other Guy take the credit?
The rest of the plot after the revenge was added on for lovers' angst, which was fine. I admit, I enjoyed MRJH's anguish because Liu Xue Yi was hella sexy when he suddenly turned Heathcliff and ran off digging up the "dead" Mei Lin. Now, THAT was a memorable scene. Where did we ever see a ML carrying a "corpse" around, drinking wine and trying to feed her medicine? THAT was the MRJH from the first few episodes--a man unafraid of the darkness within him--but this Gothic Self was merely bookends to the drama. In the middle was some other persona.
The romance was sexy at first, then turned rom-com sweet, then went all angsty. The loss of sexual tension really hurt the push and pull of these characters. They just jumped from one segment of episodes to another segment like they were in different dramas. I love the actors' chemistry, and boy, did they hard-carry this show, but many, many balls were dropped while we traversed this road full of plotholes.
Did I enjoy the drama? Yes, mostly. It had many entertaining scenes. But these stitched up scenes lacked coherence. So many things had to be explained away, until we all got a bit silly and started asking silly questions, like Where did the pet dog go? Or, how did the village people change our couple's clothes while they were unconscious and when Mei Lin wouldn't let go of Jing He's hand for days? Or, shouldn't rigor mortis have set in--why was her "corpse" so malleable?
So, yes, I was entertained, even at the "ending of repeated deaths." They should have titled the drama Kill Me Kill Me Again And Again. Just ignore the Plotholes. And the writers' attempt at making ironic symbolism like the Undying flower for the couple.
It's more 7.2 than 7.5. I'm kinda torn. I want to avenge MRJH and Mei Lin for what the writers did to them.
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Falling High School Girl and Irresponsible Teacher
42 people found this review helpful
two people being each others light
ill start by saying this drama handled the subject of su*c*de very well for being such a short drama. shows that just a simple encounter can change your mindset and your outlook on life. our ML was there for our FL every time it mattered most.. Haiba was just the light in Mokotos life that she needed and must i say that she was what he needed as well. they were adorable and the chemistry was on point. their little moments were everything.even if you're not a fan of student x teacher relationships i would till give it a try. it doesn't have those creepy vibes that some dramas have with those tags. this was so well done. just wish it was longer, that's why im hoping for S2! :')
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Wow, is all I can say.
Thriller/Mystery drama's are not something I watch often, but when I do, it takes a lot for me to commit and do it and when I do; I hope that it's worth it. It's been a while since I've watched a mind blowing K-Drama to be honest and I can say that I didn't know what I was getting into when I started Flower of Evil, but I saw a clip and immediately I was sucked in to something I will never regret watching in my entire life.The synopsis in itself is already a rollercoaster, even though this is similar to a lot of other mystery/thriller/crime dramas; you don't really know you'll be invested into something even more mind blowing and emotionally tolling. You have a man that's the perfect husband, father, worker. You have a woman that's the perfect wife, mother and partner in general. They are both hard working, they met randomly by fate one day and the rest is history, their love is absolutely mind blowing and just plain...impeccable. But the male lead has a past, an unknown one. And unfortunately sometimes, you can't run away forever, especially when your demons are not only haunting you mentally, but then they start doing so physically. So you're going to go through what it's like to love someone but want to protect them no matter what happens, you're going to see that some people will go to the end to protect their own even though it's putting themselves on the line, you're going to see what it's like to be abandon by those who love you most and what it's like to be looked at like a monster. There' s so many ups and downs in this show but it's one of the best journey's I've completely been on. The love they had was wonderful, the characters that helped, the officer team, everything was just a nice flow of things.
Let me tell you, this is one of the best acting I've seen in such a long time. I love the raw emotions you got to witness between every single character; but you're taking so many veteran actors and actresses and putting them into something that they made just pure genius. The emotion and control that Lee Jong Gi has is amazing, the strong, bold character that Moon Chae Won played and the CHEMISTRY the two had, is absolutely everything. There was a prefect balance of their love and the show. The daughter was a fantastic aspect. The bad characters were so good at being bad. The reporter was a nice spice; the sister being added into the twist. The way the detective team carried themselves; if this show doesn't win rewards for the story, the ACTING will for sure win something.
The music was wonderful, I loved the timing that they had. I'm obsessed with the OST that Shin Yong Jae put together for this; everything about it is beautiful, raw and emotional all in one and that's how this show will leave you feeling.
Overall, this show was amazing. It's worth watching and rewatching within seconds. I actually binged this show and woke up just to rewatch the last 2 episodes because I couldn't get enough. The ending was quite bittersweet but I felt the craziest thing while watching it and I've never watched a show where I was so satisfied with the 2nd to last episode that I couldn't stopped there. I was literally so satisfied how this show played out and where it went that I'm absolutely mind blown at this beautiful master piece. My heart ached with the emotions of the characters, I cried and was angry all in one. And that's what a good drama is. One that you cannot stop thinking of and that was this for me. This really made me realize how much I love watching Asian Dramas in general. This was so good.
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Story: it was great. It never make me stop watching or bored. When i thought story is over, It always make me shocked by its turn overs. It has everything spies,revenge and cold-blooded,handsome man:D
Cast: Lee Jun Ki ( This was the first drama that i saw him) , Nam Sang Mi, Jung Kyong Ho ultimate trio:) the atmosphere between them is so good that you can't stop watching. Especially Lee Jun ki's acting make you bewildered,it likes in one drama he has many characters.
Music: It has a range from rap to classics and none of them unnecessary for drama.
Rewatch value: definitely i will watch tihs over and over again.It is certain that i will find many other things while rewatching:)
If you like action and revenge you must watch this drama. You will never regret:)
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This review may contain spoilers
A demonstration how a series demolishes itself.
Too bad I woke up with a bad headache today and I could not watch anything. 12 hours later I'm fine enough to watch the conclusion of this pile of crap. This series is completely unbelievable. First of all the main couple was quite boring, their brake-up was extremely stupid and the series did nothing which was in the least interesting for them. And then they had a second couple - the only thing interesting in this show - and they killed it off. This was the ONLY thing keeping me on this show. I gave a rat's ass about the so called main couple - you can play it at 2x speed an you won't miss a thing. The second couple was the star of the show, the believable one, the guys who can act well. And then Mr. "President" died and they introduced a new "boss" but he had no impact at all. There was speculation it was all a fake death to reveal a conspiracy of the new boss but no - the scriptwriters had no imagination at all.And the main couple - they got on my nerves so much especially when they talk about the past. Mr. good guy was "Oh, it was a misunderstanding? I'm glad we could clear that up." - WTF man? 10 years wasted because your lover did not trust you? I would have exploded, cursed him out for at least an hour - but I would never have chased him in the first place.
So my verdict is, this show is a waste of time. The second couple should have the show for themselves and the main couple should have gone in the trashcan where the script for them belongs too. I have no clue what you need to smoke or take to come up with such an outrageous storyline. And as I can see in some reviews, people are digging this bullshit. I can't understand that. If your lover does not trust you and does not talk to you, he is a waste of your time and not worth your effort. The quite high rating is only because of the second couple, even when the two children did lighten the mood a bit.
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Women hold up half the sky.
Song of Youth is a historical Chinese soap opera that pays tribute to 红楼梦 Hongloumeng (Dream of the Red Chamber), widely regarded as China's greatest novel. Fans of the novel will immediately recognize that the backstory of an aristocratic family in decline and the multiple character blueprints that are based on this vernacular classic. Uniquely, this narrative plucks out the all-consuming, angsty, tragically epic love triangle that forms the core of the novel and focuses instead on broader, often less appreciated themes. The love triangle is still there but it is been muted to the extent that it is only peeks out towards the end.Lin Shaochun, a talented actress from a performing troupe marries Sun Yulou, the youngest scion of the noble Sun family. With her innate resourcefulness and the support of her husband, she becomes indispensable to his initially disapproving family by ably resolving all their internal and external conflicts and challenges. Bai Lu as always delivers a very enjoyable performance as the supportive and loving wife of Sun Yulou and the clever, thoughtful and femininely authoritative Sun family fixer. Even though I think Wang Yizhe has a lot of potential as an actor, he struggled to get into character and I didn't see much spark between him and Bai Lu. But it doesn't matter because albeit with some challenges, their arc is short and it is ultimately a rather pedestrian love match. After that the narrative explores more complicated and more poignant relationships where the couples have limited ability to make their own choices. Very much like Court Lady, Lin Shaochun is just a tour guide through the social structures, culture, relationships, vanities and daily life details of feudal 18th century China. Thankfully unlike Court Lady, Bai Lu's portrayal of the role as occasionally ruthless and not overly preachy and righteous makes Lin Shaochun very likeable if too infallible to be that interesting.
What stands out about this drama is that very much like Hongloumeng, it celebrates the contribution of women to society - Mao Zedong was far from the first to acknowledge that women hold up half the sky. True to the novel, the drama is very female centric - Lin Shaochun is the main protagonist and in a fitting role reversal the ML Sun Yulou is just a prop; an attractive, decorative vase. Even the best antagonists are formidable and devious women. In fact, most of the male characters in the drama are rather weak and not that intelligent - Sun Yulou only pulls himself together to be worthy of Lin Shaochun, his oldest brother is a foolish gold digger's wet dream, his second brother is the most capable of the lot and his third brother is a henpecked wastrel. All of them become better, more successful men thanks to their smart, determined and capable wives. I find both the eldest and (especially) the second brothers' stories to be far more interesting than that of the main CP. Unfortunately the second brother's story fizzles out in the middle and ends in a slightly disappointing way. Nonetheless, Yao Dizu is by far the most multi-faceted and refreshing character in the drama, more so than Lin Shaochun. She is also the only character that gets to be the author of her own story. If Lin Shaochun were written to be more of a bystander and less of the person who always saves the day, this would be a much better drama. She always wins by the same modus operandi so by the second or third arc, I was on to her and the "twists" become predictable.
The other problem with this drama is that it doesn't seem to be written in one voice or tone and thus gives the impression that it doesn't know what it wants to be. I think it is intended to be a satire or parody of bourgeois upper society during Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately in parts the humor is quite slapstick when it comes to Lamu Yangzi and some of Jin Chen's scenes because that matches the kind of humor they do best. Bai Lu and the rest of the cast however, are better suited towards more subtle, satirical humor and when the writing tries for something in between, it comes across as forced and half the time it misses the mark. That said, there are some really good laugh out loud moments but overall the wit and humor is hit or miss. The rhythm of the screenplay is particularly awkward at the beginning but more enjoyable from the middle episodes. After the four brothers' stories, the recycling of themes around the fallout from arranged marriages gets old and the final arcs flatline - I saw the final end twist a mile away so the end was predictable and anti-climatic.
This gorgeous production was clearly shot with meticulous attention to detail from the sets to the authenticity of the costumes, make up and the cultural details. The only lapse is perhaps the fact that the classic Cantonese opera Legend of the Purple Hairpin is sung in Mandarin and not in its original language (this was one of my grandma's favorite operas, she used to play the Liza Wang/Adam Cheng recording all the time). Overall a high quality production that is an enjoyable light watch even though it falls well short of Hongloumeng in terms of panoramic impression, breadth of social commentary and lasting impact. This is fun enough for me to rate this a 7.5.
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LOVED IT SO MUCH
There were many negative reviews on this one but this most comes from international viewers, since many don't tend to watch long running weekend family dramas and have high expectations. I watched this ever since the start week after week and it's honestly the best family drama I've watched not in terms of story (!!) . The story was meh as people say because it does not have many dramatic plotholes or out of the ordinary. But it's worth your time if you go and appreciate this show as its own, family, friendship, love, comedy, forgiveness, and abit of revenge plots here and there but it isn't HUGE. This drama is purely warmth and love, we watch villains in this drama and some go through huge character developments along the way and change for the better. You will cry for the antagonists. You will cry for the protagonists. Chemistry between all couples and families is amazing and the cast is really the best, they all look like actual families. I've really grown attached to this family and show. The last 2 episodes made me cry alot, was really touching. Proud to say this is one of my life dramas (인생드라마) . Loved it alot alot. I'll miss Samgwang alot.Was this review helpful to you?
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and we cheered for mystery case solving dramas
So the premise is that our leading actress li landi plays Shen Wan, who is a young prodigy that has the excellent skills of a physician and a coroner. After her father is wrongfully accused of corruption, both her father and mother are killed by assassins, and while attempting to help Shen Wan escape, their friend Qin Liang also dies at the hand of these assassins, leaving only Shen Wan alive. She takes on the identity of Qin Liang's daughter, an old patient of hers, Qin Wan, who actually already passed a year ago, but news of her death had not yet reached her family. She returns as Qin Wan, and quickly forms good connections with noble families with her physician skills. After a murder case occurs, she is eventually able to showcase her coroner skills as well, that were taught to her by her father. Hoping to make a name for herself as a coroner, her goal is to eventually travel to the capital to investigate her father's case and restore his title as an upright official. She continues using her forensic + coroner skills to solve multiple murder cases that happen in her town. I'm seeing some people say that FL is too OP at the moment and how everything's going the way she needs it to. Well, idk what to say people, sorry she's intelligent and skilled, and maybe I don't want to see her trying to prove her identity for 10+ episodes like in the Double—we're saving time for the murders and eventual romance!One of her connections include mr. ao rui peng who plays Yan Chi, nephew to the emperor, one of the youngest generals to lead Shunxi army, good at martial arts and also good at detective work, etc. you get the idea. This is my first time watching him and while I didn't find him very handsome in moonlight mystique, I think he looks great here! Someone said something about a fan perpetually facing towards him and they're not wrong - somehow faint wind is blowing on him in almost every scene, even indoors (hilarious). I quite like his acting so far, and I especially love li landi's acting. I thought she was great in our starry love but couldn't finish that because of the story + male lead. She's so pretty in this drama, I absolutely love her outfits and she looks stunning in purple + her line delivery is as natural as usual. She carries herself with a calm demeanour, but that doesn't cover up her fierceness within.
Regarding the romance (YEA IK MOST OF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROMANCE) it was kind of love at first sight for Yan Chi. In the early episodes, they have many moments where you can see him falling for her deeper, it's very endearing. I've been watching mostly slowburn and enemies to lovers dramas like the princess's gambit, so this was kind of a breath of fresh air? It's not like their romance is given that much time to develop that early though cause they're too busy kicking ass and taking names. It's looking like possibly 6 episodes ish per murder case? So nothing is going too fast, you just see these small cute moments they share! Hes probably held her wrist in almost every episode so far and that little moment of contact always makes me smile. Shes proven herself as a smart and upright individual who cares a lot about bringing justice to the dead and the wronged, you can't blame the guy (and lowkey a lot of other dudes) for falling for her that quick. He respects her, protects her, and supports her—and is one of the only people around that can stomach autopsies (guys he already wiped her sweat in episode 2 during an autopsy, are they moving too fast?). He's also one of the only people that are suspicious about her identity, and he's also hoping to investigate her father's case as it involves someone who was close to him. I don't think Shen Wan will accept him that quickly since he still doesn't know her true identity until who knows when, but until then, we're just gonna see her stuck with him regardless while they solve cases alongside each other. Now, upon finishing this drama, even though they do get together a little earlier than expected, their interactions aren't cringy or too much, nor do they take away from the serious plot lines. Their support for one another helps them grow as individuals (as if getting even more good is possible for these two) and them being together just MAKES SENSE.
About the cases, they're actually pretty interesting. I don't find the murders/autopsies gory or gross or anything, but maybe that's just me. Everything's kinda fake enough for me to not care. I like the way they find clues along the way and actually manage to piece everything together. They are truly doing detective work—there are calculations, logic, they take the right steps to figure out the motives and intent of everyone involved. You're kind of aware and also kind of not on who to suspect, (first case was obvious, the next one.. not so much), so it's like you're solving cases with them. It lowkey reminded me of Scooby doo and the mystery gang (and I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids!!). But also this is my first time watching a case solving drama so I can't compare it to anything. Editing of the scenes is a little weird at times, they seem to like tilting shots at certain serious scenes, but I don't pay that much attention to it. Overall, I really like the costumes, settings, and plot so far. edit: YUPPP THE ROMANCE IS ROMANCING. Also, be prepared for the last mystery case as that was genuinely the biggest mystery of all! Trust me, you'll want to go into it blind.
finale edit: absolutely loved the way they tied up this drama. now THIS is how a drama should end. no loose ends, no plot holes, no unnecessary deaths, (albeit quite a few necessary ones), and yes, if it wasn't obvious enough, its a beautifully well done HAPPY ENDING!!!
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Someone made this at gunpoint.
Putting production aside, which you have to if you're determined to watch this, I have to begin with the cast. All but the two leads are unmemorable and oft squealing. Folk as Bar is adequate and a committed actor. I think under better circumstances, his Bar could have been quite charming.I didn't expect when I looked up Win (Gun) that he might be any older than eighteen. This, possibly because of his struggle to fill Gun's bold shoes. There's nothing wrong with a romantic lead whose soft or less-than-stunning as long as they're written that way. There's no equivocating, Gun was written for someone charming, muscular, and worthy of fawning. Win's Gun (I'm sorry Win) is none of these things and we're meant to believe it because the other characters say so.
The plot of this show is negligible. Undoubtedly the short run of this show is in part to blame for the jumbled mess of the plot. There were seeds of events, such as competing love interests and a half-assed faculty competition, that suggested to me a once-complete story. The micro inclusion of these elements was more confusing and unmoving than it might have been had they cut them entirely or chosen to focus on decidedly less and written them to their full potential.
In all honesty, I sped through the last episode as I had had enough by the start of the third. I was never able to latch onto any characters and the conclusion of their relationship was unconvincing.
If all you ask for in a show is a happy ending, go for it I guess.
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It's a revenge story and while watching I really felt the angst of the characters and it was quite clear why they were holding on to their feelings and what motivation there was for their actions. This also showed how in life there is never a simple love or hate and how the human character is so complex you can never predict how a person is goinig to act on what he is presented with.
The acting was point on without anyone overacting. Everyone was so natural in portraying their characters. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and getting involved in their lives.
The music was very good and was fit for the different scenarios.
I am not sure whether I will be able to re-watch this at once because it was quite a tear jerker. However I know that in the future it is one I would not hesitate to watch again.
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Unlike most j-doramas, this drama concentrate with in depth with one character only, and most other characters are seen from his point of view. The story starts with our protagonist's first day at the university. He thinks he's destined for greatness, and everyone else is beneath his capabilities. Little did he know of the hardship and competition he'd need to face to reach anything close to greatness. As much as comedy is at the forefront of everything that is dealt with, it is undeniably a coming of age piece through and through. University time is a tricky time. It's a time where they need to leave their childhood behind and actually take hold of their future to accomplish their goals and fulfill their dreams, but the road is not only bumpy, but also not clear at all. It gets more obscure when you haven't set a specific goal and only dream of the reward. I think most of us go through this phase at one point in our life, but this dorama gives us an exposition of it in an extreme sense through the eyes of Moyuru Honoo.
I have to say, I cannot imagine what this show would've turned out with the hands of a lesser actor than Yugira Yuuya. He acted it out, with every inch of his body and soul. With all the things his character goes through, with all its craziness and patheticness, he still manages to be cute and makes an adorable grumpy face. I can't think of him as anything short of a genius. It isn't surprising that he's Canne's youngest prize winner back in 2004. That guy is to watch out for! Another role that stood out mostly thanks to its portrayal by the actor is Yasuda Ken's Hideaki Anno. He was flawless as the genius workaholic geek with no sense of awareness of what is going on around him. Anno is everything Honoo fails to become, for better or for worse. Another honorary mention is Muro Tsuyushi as Hiroyuki Yamaga, with his - my meal ticket- face he does. All the other characters were pretty normal people, and we don't really go in depth with their personality, but the cast still does a good job in portraying them.
The music perfectly sets the tone of the era, and adds more hilarity to the situation. The direction here had an image and knew exactly what to aim for.
This drama is a must watch for anyone who loves japanese comedies, specially over the top ones, also for anime fan. People not familiar with that type of don't like the over the top slap stick comedy may have trouble accepting it, but if you give it a chance, I'm pretty sure you'll find a gem here.
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A Kiddie Wuxia
To start and continue watching this drama, viewers need to remain patient. Many of the actions of the main characters are childish but by the middle of the drama, they become more responsible and mature. Nonetheless, the overall writing still comes across as immature and at times, nonsensical. By the end of the drama, I breathed a sigh of relief as I congratulate myself for enduring and completing it eventually.This drama started shooting with the pandemic hitting shortly after. It stopped shooting until the authority lifted the lockdown. I was really surprised that it managed to finish shooting and cutting, and released within the same year before the end of 2020, all done in a matter of a short few months.
Fierce fighting erupts among viewers on almost every discussion board. Wang Yi Bo’s fans are angry at Zhao Li Ying for playing the female lead as she is a lot older than him, and fans claim they don’t feel any chemistry between the pair. They also attack any viewers who criticize their idol. Zhao Li Ying’s fans come to her defense and attack Wang Yi Bo’s fans. Impartial viewers are also viciously attacked for their honest opinions which can be merciless towards the two main leads and the overall production, and are labeled as haters.
Accordingly, the drama is adapted from a very popular novel, You Fei, which literally means Bandits. However, for the drama, the word “Fei” (bandits) is changed to the word “Fei” (jade) as in the name of the female lead character Zhou “Fei” which means jade. From here, we can see the original story emphasizes on the “bandits” as the 48 Camps imply, but the adaptation has shifted the focus to Zhou Fei (Zhao Li Ying). Many readers claim the original work has been butchered. This is also confirmed by Zhao Li Ying herself when shooting started. According to readers, large sections of the original story were deleted and replaced with badly conceived plots and writings, rendering the whole story fragmented and ruined.
Zhao Li Ying is convincing with her styling as a very young girl who is strong and rebellious. Her makeup may look a bit cakey closeup, but she looks fine from afar. She looks tired and listless though. Wang Yi Bo is perhaps a bit out of his comfort zone but his character as a cocky and flamboyant Xie Yun is adorable and Wang Yi Bo’s acting is passable.
What I Like:
• I like the wuxia elements here – justice and righteousness.
• I like the storyline – the kids mature, each learning their respective skills and take on more responsibilities and become the leaders for their sect. There’s a lurking conspiracy, a treasure hunt, and the fighting for time to save a life.
• I like the OSTs especially the tune played by Xie Yun on the recorder.
• I like the characters of the two main leads, Zhou Fei and Xie Yun, both strong and composed, though the Xie Yun character is also playful and cocky.
What I Don’t Like:
• Horrendous screen writing.
• Camerawork is everywhere and haphazard.
• Special effects are embarrassing.
• Immature script writing. YouTubers can write and shoot better.
• The dialogues can be funny but out of place most of the times.
• Dubbing is off at times, especially with the Xie Yun character as if he’s inhaled nitrogen gas.
• The characters are inconsistent. At times, they show leadership, at times they’re simply dumb. The kids lack the sense of priority and urgency. Everything sounds like fun to them even when they’re under hot pursuit by their enemies.
• The martial arts fighting scenes are inconsistent. Sometimes, they are passable. Sometimes, my cats fight better.
My Verdict
Do not hold high expectations for this drama just because it stars Zhao Li Ying and Wang Yi Bo. Overall, I don't hate this drama, but I don't particularly love it either. And yes, there are kissing scenes – one just for a fleeting moment, the other from afar, and quickly blurred. The chemistry for the main couple is not 100% but also not totally zero. This drama is basically like a rom-com in kiddie wuxia style. Watch it if there’s nothing better to watch.
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