This review may contain spoilers
Tan Song Yun steals the show!
For a change let the Cindrella save the CEO in distress. Yes, you have read it right. This is the best 'Hard-working female lead' and 'Female Lead centered plot' drama I have ever seen. This show is something that should be watched for Character development, Motivation, and learning life lessons.'Master of My Own' is a 2022 Chinese drama adapted from the novel "Please Call Me The Director" (请叫我总监) by Hong Jiu.
Story: Ning Meng (Tan Song Yun) who majored in Finance always dreamt of becoming an Investment Manager but accidentally became the personal secretary of the rude/mean and jerk male lead Lu Ji Ming ( Lin Geng Xin). She waited, actually suffered for 3 years, and could finally come out of the grasp of Lu Ji Ming to pursue her dream career.
Tan Song Yun gave an amazing performance (as usual). The way she showed the transformation in her character from Personal Secretary- Rookie Analyst in the investment sector-Investment Manager- Investment Director was really splendid. The change shown is not only in the costumes but her micro expressions and gestures. A secretary who was very submissive in nature metamorphosed to a Mature and Great Investor. Tan Song Yun's acting is very natural and she gave the feeling that only she could justify the role. Also, the character is very very well written. She is not someone who only sees numbers but the dream behind a person's invention/ product. When she believed that a product/person is genuine she did a lot of homework to make their dream come true. Not only investing in products but she is interested in investing in the concepts.
She is strong, and that strength is not shallow. Even in tough situations she never tried to rely on anyone and especially on the male lead. The way she responded to the jerk Lu Ji Ming's words was beautiful. This is the first time I felt very motivated by a hard-working female lead role. Her perseverance is amazing, despite many people who were against her to achieve her dream, she was able to do it.
I usually have a soft corner for male leads. But this man initially is a total jerk, who has no heart. He strongly believed that Personal Secretary is the only fit job for Ning Meng. I felt like punching him on the screen many times. Irrespective of the nature of male leads. I strongly root for the main leads to become a couple usually. But till 2/3rd of the episodes, I wanted Tan Song Yun to remain single rather than choose anyone between the 2 male leads. Putting the character of the male lead aside, Lin Geng Xin did a wonderful job, the role of a jerk really suited him well. His chemistry with Tan Song Yun is perfect and it actually drives the viewers to watch the drama, despite being annoyed.
What I liked about this drama other than Ning Meng's character:
*The changes in Lu Ji Ming's behavior -in the 3 tough situations- love life, fall in career and a great come back. Lin Geng Xin was a great fit for this role, he was able to express those emotions very well.
*Like father like son. The way they showed a resemblance between Lu Ji Ming's father and Lu Ji Ming's characters. Both are equally stubborn and rude. They do care about others, but never express it, only to regret it later.
*Ning Meng's family- A very sweet family who is very understanding and caring.
*Ning Meng's wardrobe. Her outfits were just awesome.
*Dialogues- they are well written and do not sound much dramatic.
The characters worth mentioning here:
1. Su Xin as Zhang Yue Han, is the best male character in this drama, though he is playful, he knows how to behave well, and he knows the heart of a woman. I really felt happy that they put his character and loved the way how he points out the mistakes of Lu Ji Ming. He is not afraid of the male lead and he isn't just a sidekick unlike in many other dramas.
2. Gong Bei Bi as Shi Ying: A woman can surely become successful in her career if she works under a boss like her. Though the success of Ning Meng is attributed to her hard work, it is because of Shi Ying that she could actually do it. The way she guided Ning Meng in both her career and love life is beautiful.
The viewers experience different emotions in different parts of the drama. In the first 1/3rd - every viewer hates the male lead for his nature.
In the Second 1/3rd- viewers are just stuck to the screen to see amazing chemistry between the leads and the success of Ning Meng. In the last 1/3rd- a roller coaster ride of emotions.
I don't mean to belittle neither the drama Love is Sweet nor the character of Bai Lu, but I couldn't help comparing both the female leads' characters in these 2 dramas. Both did a splendid job in their roles. But the journey of Ning Meng in her career seems more realistic and beautiful.
I noticed in the comment section that many viewers were unsatisfied with Ning Meng's choice in the relationship. Clever as she is in the investment field, Ning Meng is slow-witted and naive when it comes to relationships. But she was actually forced into the relationship by the second male lead despite asking for some time and space. But the way she ended the toxic relationship was graceful. She did not hold any grudge against him and did not quarrel with him. She said what should be said.
To all those who dropped this drama after watching 11 episodes, especially after the dinner scene: I am a girl and I also hate it when a female lead is bullied, but hang in there. You are going to see the magical performance of Seven Tan. The beauty of all this drama lies in the character of Ning Meng. She has the purest and strongest heart.
My verdict: This is a must-watch drama if you want to see a lot of character development, experience angst, and then enjoy the success of a character in a drama. Do not watch this if you are expecting to see lot of skinship and kisses.
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This review may contain spoilers
Please let me live in a BL world
This series / movie / special can be defined with one word: hilarious. This series is clearly made for fans of the BL world, there is no more, to enjoy it and appreciate it in every way you have to be a fan of red bone.All fans of rom-com genre manga (BL or not) will know that most of them are a bit .. absurd, in the world of manga everything is strangely convenient, but it is fine because the format lends itself so that these conventions work and be fun for readers, but if it comes to taking this to the big screen with real characters, well it is obvious that many creative licenses are taken, to turn the absurd and convenient situations of the manga to more or less realistic situations of the in real life, this is not always the case of course, but if it is about taking the manga as it is to another format it does not come out exactly well and many times the only thing that comes out of that is a great cringe complication and not necessarily a good one (you I'm watching you Love Stage!!), a very good way to bring unrealistic situations to the screen and also deliver a good product is parody.
This series uses the power of parody and it comes out perfect, it is very funny, the best thing is everything that happens in the background of the stage, it genuinely feels like being in a world dominated by the BL, another feature in its favor is the duration, the fact that it is so short allows you to better enter the game and participate in the absurdity.
As I said, this series is very niche and although I do not deny that it can be enjoyed by all audiences, I think that if you are not a fan of BL, understanding some jokes or colloquial situations could be not so funny, sometimes this is what you need a production that don't take yourself too seriously, but still strive to deliver a quality product.
Another thing, do not try to run away, sooner or later the BL will catch you in its clutches, ufff... I will know.
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Story: for me the story was really different and unique. A blind person's testimony versus a normal person's testimony. Which do you trust? I felt the story was really well written. It was intense, exciting, heartwarming and thrilling. I loved and hated the baddie at the same time because he was beautifully performed but what he did was creepy, chilling and ever so hateful!
Acting: The dog alone should get an Oscar, she was just brilliant and beautiful! Once again Seung Ho shows us his brilliant acting skills, although he has played a troubled teen before the acting and character he played this time was different and I thoroughly enjoyed watching his character grow. Also the chemistry with Ha Neul worked well. Standing ovation for Ha Neul tho! She did an excellent job, you felt her pain and sadness plus her fear. She did a really good job - in You're My Pet she didnt realy stand out and her character was a bit flat so in this movie I was really impressed!! The acting was really touching I cried many times throughout the whole film. The acting really pulls you in and I thought the actors did an excellent job in expressing the emotions and it sucked me into that world. Before I knew it I was rooting for the leads, becoming really protective of the characters (I wanted to kill the stalker myself!!) so if a film has such effect it's bound to be good.
Casting: there was no problem with the casting I thought everyone was perfect for the role. And as i mentioned earlier Ha Neul didnt seem fit at first but she pulled the role off really well.
Music: the music accompanied each scene perfectly. It effectively made the scenes tense and thrilling, sad and heartbreaking. The music made me on the edge of my seat and at the same time curl up in my duvet because it was frightening plus the acting I felt like I was part of it.
Overall: I would definitely watch this again. It provokes a variety of emotions pulling you into the movie. The acting was superb and the story was well written and developed. The only downside would be the ending, I loved the ending but I would have liked to see more!
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It is about the area of tension between longing, choices in life, accountability and responsibility.
"A Man and a Woman" is emotionally profound, yet subtly leading into intimate depths where it hurts, too. There are no pink ribbons. And the intimate encounter of two souls does not miraculously sort out the problems of the world in a groundbreaking way. Life is difficult. There are also unexpected beautiful moments. But life remains difficult. Is that why it's bad? Only bad? "A Man and a Woman" paints a portrait of two people who have careers of their choice and families - but life is still no lollipop. It is about having an affair. It is about wanting another life. It is about the area of tension between longing, choices in life, accountability and responsibility.Highly valuable.
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The Cutest Meow!!
This is probably one of the best cat/ animal and human dramas!! I ran here after finished watching the drama. Most dramas with this type of genre tend to screw it up with its nonsensical script and cringe-y acting, however, I feel like this drama has got it right in almost all aspects!! Watching this drama definitely makes me smile from ear to ear.The drama script is very well written and detailed, the drama focuses on small things such as how a cat acts and behaves, such as forehead stroke, nose and hair rubs, how a cat bosses its owner and so on. These types of details are often forgotten in other similar genre dramas. This drama is also REALLY ADORABLE AND FUNNY AS WELL!!
When it comes to acting, both leads are really good and natural in their role. Both of them have very natural and comfortable chemistry. Almost all of the casts in this drama acted really well, the female lead portrayal of a cat is just so realistic, I can literally imagine her as a cat. The female lead is also naive and innocent but not the point where she is annoying. The male lead acts so so so naturally. And of course, we have the mom who acts so well that makes all of us wanna slap her hahaha. Even though the relationship progress is kind of a slow burn, but it is still so cute and fluffy!!
The cinematography aspect is average, just like any other sweet idol romance drama with average shots and a bright colour palette. However, the OSTs of this drama is really cute!! it's really fitting with the overall ambience.
Overall, definitely give this one a try!! You might enjoy it more than you thought~
P.s. This drama has a clear ending so no worries ^^
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This review may contain spoilers
Dramas with moms going back to school have been trending recently (not that I'm complaining). And with that thought you might consider Twenty Again to be unoriginal. But it's not. In fact, it's amazing. On the surface, it's a middle-aged woman, her failing marriage and her petty attempt to save it. But it is so much so much more. Just what you expect from a TvN drama. The plot is predictable yes but it never works against the favor. You might consider you'll get bored while watching this show. That's what I thought. But before I knew it, I had breezed past all episodes and had joined the chorus of the post-drama depression. The approach of the show and the mood in which it is presented is very easy going. A husband cheating on his wife is the plot for every 50 episodes family melodrama in Korea. But Twenty Again presents it with a more creative, more youthful edge. You see everyone's side, feel everyone's side and realize everything happened for a reason. There are no bitter feelings for revenge. I never once felt mad at the husband or felt sad for the wife. Both gained so much from whatever they went through. It was worth it.
Coming to characters. Choi Ji Woo was the reason I started this show. I have seen her previous dramas (most of them classic) and I was very curious as to how she'll pull off this character. She did a solid job. No Ra's journey of self-discovery was absolutely beautiful, even if the overall tones for it were very light. I cannot imagine anyone else for this part, she was flawless.
The male lead, I loved him in My Daughter Seoyoung. He is so handsome. But he played a role I have never seen him in. He did not over-utilize that dimple (a first for me to see) and he played an agitated character. It was nice to see him play a role like this. The husband's role was wonderfully done. That balance between not liking him but still not disliking him was so marvelously done. The supporting cast was equally good. The son, the friends (such wonderful friends), son's girlfriend (she annoyed me but I get the need for her role). I felt Na Soon Nam and Park Seung Hyun needed more screen time and more depth though. They were great.
The ost was decent.
Overall, it was really good. I love the kind of vibe TvN dramas give me. They always experiment with new ideas, sometimes even setting trends. It makes me feel like they make dramas because they love making them, they understand them. Instead of making dramas based on what we want, they make us understand what we want. That's just amazing. And Twenty Again lived up to that.
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Let’s Talk About ‘ Love And Leashes’, Baby…
“Controversial”, “risky” and “unconventional” are some of the immediate buzz-words which come to mind when talking about Netflix’s South-Korean movie ‘ Love and Leashes’.
Directed by Park Hyun Jin( ‘ The Color Of A Woman’) and based upon the webtoon ( 모럴센스), ‘ Love and Leashes’ focuses upon office worker Jung Ji Hoo ( Lee Jun Young). Clean-cut, professional and adored by his female coworkers, Ji Hoo has always been able to maintain his prudish persona . However in reality “prim and proper” Ji Hoo hides a deep secret from his peers; he’s a BDSM enthusiast.
When bemused coworker Jung Ji Woo ( Seo Hyun) unknowingly stumbles upon his salacious desires through an open package, Ji Hoo soon finds his sexual fantasies awakened when he enters a consensual-contractual “slave and master” relationship with his coworker. However as their risqué relationship begins to play out, Ji Woo and Ji Hoo soon finds themselves questioning their sincere feelings for one another along the way…
Perhaps one of the most notable things which should be said about ‘ Love and Leashes’ is that it is a daring concept . Topics of sexual and amorous relationships have certainly been explore beforehand in South-Korean productions such as ‘ You’re My Pet’ ( adapted from its Japanese predecessor ‘ Kimi Wa Petto’), or more sardonically throughout ‘ The Handmaiden’ , ‘ Thirst’ and ‘ Happy End’ . However due to a respectfully conservative atitude towards sexual content in South-Korean culture and media , it is still slightly unusual to see this topic addressed in mainstream popular culture .
Despite its eyebrow-raising premise, ‘ Love and Leashes’ surprisingly starts off as a somewhat lighthearted rom-com and office drama. Jung Ji Hoo is established as a smooth-talker and highly liked by his superiors who tries to avoid conflict, whereas Jung Ji Woo is an “ everyday” office worker with a slightly stubborn streak. ( Helping viewers to understand the dynamic between the characters as well as foreshadow their later roles within their racy relationship.)
However despite the somewhat niche early setup, ‘ Love and Leashes’ wasn’t afraid to delve slightly deeper into some issues in the workplace- sexism , prejudice as well as several references towards homophobia and sexual harassment , bustling their way into the film’s early workplace vernacular .
Nevertheless whilst praise must be given towards director Park Hyun Jin’s open address of these current issues early on in the film’s narrative , it is hard to ignore that these references were rarely touched upon after their initial use. ( In theory this dynamic could’ve easily been explained more within the nature of the narrative.)
Yet ‘ Love and Leashes’’ seemingly mundane workplace setup soon begins to into an amalgamation of lighthearted and riskier comedy after main female lead Ji Woo stumbles upon the package.
For those expecting ‘ Love and Leashes’ to be a series revolving entirely around erotica and debauchery, it is noteworthy that ‘ Love and Leashes’ is predominantly a romantic comedy. Risqué and sexually suggestive jokes and setups were mainly used as the necessary pretext behind a surprisingly warm-hearted romantic love story for the main leads.
Naturally this isn’t to say that Park Hyun Jin wasn’t afraid to delve deeper into depicting the misconceptions and taboos surrounding fetishises, hedonism and casual relationships. The narrative would often diverge away from the typical tropes surrounding setups of sexual fantasies being “ nauseating”, “ unhealthy” or “ encouraging sexual abuse”, by instead shedding light into a fairly positive, consensual and healthy relationship between the main leads .
Yet when the film’s narrative wasn’t driving home messages about sensuality or comic relief, ‘ Love and Leashes’ did surprisingly touch upon some sentimental moments surrounding its main characters. In particular this became apparent through . Ji Woo’s uncertainty and gradually growing mixed feelings for her coworker , as well as Ji Hoo’s own struggles with his dating life. However whilst these elements of the storyline were present in ‘ Love and Leashes’, the backstories and problems surrounding the characters were often limited and subdued by the plot. As a consequence it could often feel as though our main leads were roughly sketched out as individuals; necessary plot devices for keeping the storyline afloat, but rarely being given definitive sentience also.
Of course it is hard to ignore the somewhat controversial casting choices also. Former U-KISS member Lee Jun Young ( ‘ Class of Lies’, ‘ D.P’, ‘ Imitation’ and ‘ Let Me Be Your Knight’ ; plays the unusual role of main male lead Jung Ji Hoo, whilst costar and Girl’s Generation’s Seo Hyun( ‘ Private Lives’) takes on the role as main female lead Jung Ji Woo. However despite the somewhat surprising and controversial cast decisions, Seo Hyun and Lee Jun Young were delightful as our main leads. ( Both actors also openly spoke in interviews about their initial surprise upon reading the context of the script, alongside their enjoyment at being able to take on different roles.)
Admittedly the onscreen chemistry between both stars felt somewhat stunted in early parts of the film. Initial “ role play” scenes came across as awkwardly delivered for audiences ( in particular one scene surrounding Jun Young attempting to literally embody a “ dog”). However as the narrative progresses and allowed opportunities for their characters to grow, their chemistry did become more apparent.
The pacing is admittedly tightly-packed in the first half. Whilst this did allow opportunities in order to delve deeper into the characters’ relationship and certain issues, it did provide to be a double-edged sword. This is mainly due to the fact that the second half downplayed the pacing with a notably slower and sharper focus upon the bittersweet elements of the characters; prominent but admittedly rushed in the course of the movie. The attempted climax served in the latter-half felt somewhat anticlimactic. There was little buildup or foreshadowing and whilst the ending did serve a somewhat cheerful resolution for the events of ‘ Love and Leashes’, viewers may feel a little disorientated in parts with the storyline.
Under the directing reigns of Park Hyun Jin, ‘ Love and Leashes’ was notably a multitude of slick and professional cuts, scenes, editing and gradients. Notably Hyun Jin placed heavy focus upon the contrasting tones of minimalistic everyday life and the office, against the lustful neon, vivid and lively palettes surrounding Ji Hoo and Ji Woo’s role play sessions. ( One of the most striking scenes of the film came through Ji Hoo’s birthday “ present” . Against the pallid tones of the room’s surroundings, Ji Hoo’s present in an unopened black box, a pair of patent ruby red heels, greatly sticks out for viewers to visually engorge.)
It is notable that the OST is sparsely placed in the movie. ( Aside from the opening credits, emotional buildup moments and the ending.) Instead under the directing reigns of Park Hyun Jin, ‘ Love and Leashes’ is predominantly focused upon the characters’ dialogue exchanges and interactions. When the OST is present it is climatic; helping to reflect the emotional scope of characters and situations.
Despite its unusual setup and premise , ‘ Love and Leashes’ was foremost a love story between its main leads. It is arguably one of Netflix’s riskier moves from South-Korean production in recent years. Nevertheless despite the somewhat expected controversy surrounding the movie’s casting choices, Seo Hyun and Lee Jun Young’s onscreen chemistry and performances were solid and dynamic. The themes surrounding ‘ Love and Leashes’ are versatile if somewhat stunted in parts, but surprisingly delivered a sweet and risqué romance along the way.
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make a wish or make a failure
have after having seen all the episodes without sub clear this. My appreciations are the following:Angel krit started out as a curious, noble and enthusiastic character who wanted to experience what it was like to be human. But as soon as he got it we could see that selfish and vain side.
Doctor paphum, for someone who sees ghosts, takes it too well, the medical parts are good but they have their flaws and they were advised by a doctor.
Angel chan, what a great performance emanating all that aura that a superior angel must have, his dedication and sacrifice to angel krit was captivating.
Dr. Aries was surprising to see in his few appearances totally opaque angel krit showing all his emotions to the fullest. To the point of thinking that he should have been the protagonist.
The comedic scenes were good, a bit over the top, and the sound only made it more noticeable.
The good dramatic scenes especially that of the spirits of the girl and the lover. The death scene of Dr. Aries with his parents and memorable angel chan sacrifice.
The NC scene that I can say everything was going well until Pharm is cheating on dean with dr. Paphum? and there everything rotted. Just discarded. Because I no longer saw the angel krit but another fluke character.
In conclusion, other series the endings take a long time and with this it was the opposite, very fast, everything loses meaning. Enough with SS1 with SS2 would only make it look poorer than it already is.
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This review may contain spoilers
What I liked:The acting was good enough to keep me watching.
The second leads were the sole reason I stuck with this drama till the end. (Even the reason I started watching.)
Dong Hua and Feng Jiu saved the second part of the drama so much, like ugh I lived for the cute interactions. It reach the point that whenever they were on screen, was the only moment I would enjoy the drama.
First and third lives were really good. I started to care about the leads in the third part of the drama, (Mind you I shipped Bai Qian with Mo Yuan before).
Even thought I always stayed away from fantasy cdramas, this one made me think that the action scenes were for the most part quite exciting. It would be sometime until I watch a fantasy cdrama without cringing, but still a great start for me.
What I didn't like:
OMG the second life was terrible. Like Jesus Christ, talk to each other. Things started to go south for me, when Ye Hua decided to keep lying to her after SuSu assured him that no matter what kind of a creature he was, she'll still love him. I could've taken this more easily if there was a genuine reason for the lies. But no, this was all about him wanting to shield her for everything, even of himself.
SuSu was always in the dark, Ye Hua would even abandon her for long periods of time and guess what? Never did he explain shit.
When she landed in the Celestial tribe, he never bothered to explain to her that she needed to be careful with this guy or that one. He was like "Yeah, don't talk to anyone, don't say a word". Like, dude, Who would believe that every person in that effing tribe has ill intentions? Su Jin was so "gentle" with her, of course SuSu wouldn't think otherwise.
When he took her eyes I was done with him, I had to restrain myself to not drop this. I felt glad, when she "killed" herself.
I get that SuSu lost her memory... but Did you all needed to make her that stupid? She went from mischievous kid to Mary Sue so fast, that I couldn't swallow it.
SuSu never went to talk to Ye Hua about the thing that she was mad about, or to clarify the misunderstandings. No couple can last like that. One hiding things and the other keeping quiet about her pain. It's this the couple of the century? Sadly, Bai Qian does this again when she gets her memory back. never letting Ye Hua said his part of the story, and shuttting down everything. Wich made me more mad, because now she knew how evil Su Jin was, all the plotting she did against her. So Why would she still prefer to care only about what she heard of Su Jin' side?
What could have been better:
The CGI, for starters. LOTS of CGI, I wished they would have used more natural locations instead of this huge amount of green screens.
Sometimes there would be issues with the background. Like that time when the hand of the God of Star suddenly disappeared, when Ye Hua was walking and the castle background suddenly changed. Oh, and how to forget that one time the King of the Sea Tribe (don't remeber clearly), passed through a column.
The would use the same 3 or 4 places to film over and over. They used the cave for the Fox clan, for the Kunlun Mountain, The dungeon of the 4 beast, etc. Same with the palace. All of these things really took me out of the drama.
Apart from Male and female leads, everyone used almost the same clothes in all the drama. All day, every day.
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Wow.
I thought Meow Ears Up had a weak plot, but at least in that nothing happening made sense. In this nothing happened nor made sense. I think it was supposed to be a parody or something, but I don't really know what it's parodying. I think it might have been making fun of the audience for watching it.There is nothing positive to say about this, except Lee Long Shi who plays Dr. Pak has a hot body, but it's not worth watching the series as he shows it a lot more on his intagram. Here, I can save you 6 eps. https://www.instagram.com/_longlee7/ Pak Papungkorn does too but we already knew that.
Anyway, this is terrible. If you like Kim & Copter, you probably won't anymore after watching this.
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But as good as the story was, there was one thing which bothered me too much to be overlooked: the main character, Na Mi Roo. This woman was not what I imagined for the main lead of this drama. For me, she didn't fit the concept of it at all. She was annoying beyond belief and a few times I wanted to physically hurt her. At times, it also felt like the character wasn't well written. I didn't feel she had much character growth, if any at all. It was like she was meant to be an ordinary and forgettable supporting character and they decided to make her the main one at the very last minute.
So, in one hand we have "loser Mi Roo" and on the other we have Tanya. Now this character was awesome. She was interesting, mysterious, had depth, was funny... In other words, she was everything I had hoped the main character of this drama would be. I also felt she had much more character growth, and was better written, than Mi Roo.
Besides Tanya, all the other characters were also interesting and I actually wanted to know more about them and the reasons behind their actions. The wonderful portrayal of those characters was what kept me watching this drama.
The OST of the drama was good. I already knew some of the songs because they were in English and the opening credits track was very catchy.
And the ending was not common, but not unpredictable since I had a feeling it would end like that.
As much as I loved some of the characters (like 4-D writer Lee, awesome Tanya and cute Kwang Woo) and thought the story was very good, I cannot subject myself to watching Mi Roo for 16 episodes again, so I do not ever plan on re-watching this drama again.
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The only reason why the plot moved at all was because of a series of situations where people kept missing each other, or simply didn't connect the dots. All the information, people and props were there, but the script annoyingly made the characters miss all of that due to either bad timing or not enough questions. It's so common and so overused in kdramas that I couldn't get into the story at all. I'm sorry, but if you let someone stay in your house for the night or longer, wouldn't you try to ask as many questions as possible? The story had great potential, but I feel like it treated fate in a very non realistic way. It was almost suggesting that a tragedy is not a real tragedy unless all the characters involved are a part of the tragic past. The show could have had a deeper message, but totally failed to deliver. Seo Ri's story was tragic enough and could stand on its own without all the extra details. I can't stand how shallow it all ended up being.
Essentially, I had a tough time getting into this drama. It got better with time, but the pacing wasn't all that great. I also didn't particularly care about the characters (excluding Seo Ri) until about the 1/3 of the drama. To me, that points to the fact that the writing wasn't great. The show had some really sweet moments, but the sweetness couldn't compensate for the lack of the actual plot development. The characters were lovable but a bit simplistic. Also, as much as I liked Jennifer, did her character really need to be that weird?
The best things about this show were the characters, the acting of the leads and the music. The music in this show is beautiful. The classical pieces were beautifully woven into the story. Overall, I liked Thirty but Seventeen because it wasn't too angsty and there weren't too many mean characters or meddling family members, but I expected it to be a bit better.
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DO NOT BE FOOLED!!!!
It is unique in its cliche way! and way way to go!
I am trying to convince you guys! just watch the first episode and you will see!Am i being biased? of course I am! why wouldn't I!
i really love this drama and "love is blind".
In my perspective this is a perfect show regardless of what other drama looks like(better or the best out there). Unfortunately, i only watched dramas thrice or lesser whether it is my favorite or not.
Seriously speaking,
I was hooked by this drama because of the "sudden twist and unrealistic events that occurred so naturally". And for a change it was the first time I watched a drama that involved a good sports car racing. what else should i brag about... ow it is also my first time to write a review!...well, just watch and you will find out!
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This review may contain spoilers
If frustration had a name, it would be "Motel California"
This was a one-woman show, all other characters are pretty irrelevant. Lee Se Young was stellar as the cinematography was, too bad her character was an understandable frustrating mess not helped by a shitty script.Pace is draggy and all over the place. Drama sucked my energy dry.
#I've_got_melo_trauma
#Not_watching_ANY_melo_for_6_months
#Gimme_Back_My_HOURS
I was wondering how they were going to wrap up this thing up given how everything remained messy up to the middle of episode 11...
Turns out, THEY DIDN'T DO SH***
They didnt' resolve anything, they just used a magic wand and all the shitty villagers and classmates did a 180 in the last ep and everything is ok and let's laugh under the (grey) sky after years of bullying? ARE. YOU.KIDDING.ME ? ? ? As somebody who has had experience with some of the issues faced by Kang Hee I can tell you this :
1. Racists gonna remain racists, it's not because they do good things on the side that it changes the fact that they're filthy racists.
2. Even if they did a turnaround, I won't forget and I won't forgive, but in this drama, all these prejudices are treated like it's nothing.
3. It takes a lot of courage to apologize to your former victims. Most bullies would rather die than admit their wrongs that leaves (most of) them with two options: 1. Make up excuses to justify their past behaviors, usually by victim blaming 2. Just ignore the victim and act like they don't exist since these bullies are cowards who can't even look their victims in the eye.
And we're not going to have a "party" together UNLESS they PAY the whole bill!
Didn't care about the Esther story line. From the moment they showed the cheating it was either she aborts or she gets with glass-guy : they also swept under the rug that he's filthy rich hence it's very likely Esther and him are being pressured to abort the baby by their respective families. They have the same background so it makes sense they're allowed to be together, but even if glass-guy's family is ok with him getting with Esther the divorcee they definitely are not for her to keep the baby. BUT this show is doing a Love Next Door thingy so screw these issues I guess. She's gonna keep the baby and get her first love and not be outed by her family because they're not living in South Korea, they're living in Lalaland where genealogy and tracing one's ancestors have no importance whatsover.
Yeon Soo's mother got a new beau... but I haven't forgotten what two women said about him loosing most of his money gambling BUT the show sure did. Another Problem Non-Problem.
Ah Reum left her house and that was it. If it was THAT EASY why didn't you do it from the start? Another Non-Problem.
We never got to learn why Seung Eon didn't even get a Middle School degree given he's been raised by Jung Pil (Chung Pil whatever) since he was 7. But Whatever again I guess. He would have made an interesting character given his backstory but since this was a one woman show, he faded unfairly in the background.
Han U also faded in the background... But he also had an interesting story. It's not everyday you meet someone who gives up everything to restart from scratch in my home country, I can't even imagine what it is in South Korea... But I guess dragging Kang Hee's storyline was more important.
Kang Hee and her father's relationship problem has been solved by the power of his incoming death by the cancer of doom. I guess. Still she doesn't call her father "Father" by the end of the show and she says that "He raised her well"... When the show spent a whole lot of time to show she had to raise HERSELF since her father was always busy taking care of the villagers in particular Yeon Soo's mum but WHATEVER I guess.
And Yeon Soo... Well. Basically a doormat from start to finish. He did get some b*** by the end of the show but not that much. I get it, in recent months the faithful male lead with puppy love - Seon Jae in Lovely Runner, Sa Eon in When the Phone Rings, Ji Hyuk in Marry my Husband, Ji Hwan in My Sweet Mobster, Ji Uk in No Gain no Love and so on... - enamored with the ONE AND ONLY girl has made lots of women - me included - swoon. So it seems we're in for a lot of this type of male leads coming onto our screens...
HOWEVER, you do need to make your ML 3 dimensional if a guy is only defined by "I love Kang Hee", well that's not a person let alone a character. Your "character" is just and empty shell.
We never even got to know if Yeon Soo the doormat ends up going to Seoul to live with Kang Hee. BUT I guess he doesn't need to because from what we've seen, Seoul isn't that far from this village and "everything is forgotten and forgiven" by the power of K drama so Kang Hee doesn't mind coming to this shitty village by the end of the show.
Overall a happy ending that only works if you decide to play the amnesia card.
Well I'm sorry I CAN'T.
Suggested Rating based on the different criteria: 5
Personal rating: 3 Too must frustration, no satisfying conclusion... I loathe this drama even more than "Love Next Door" and that's saying something.
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The best xianxia of 2024!!!!!!!!
This is the fifth drama I'm watching that has been adapted from a novel written by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (after The Blue Whisper, love between fairy and Devil, Back from the Brink, Love You Seven Times). Since I've mostly liked all of them, especially back from the brink, I decided to give this a try. And as expected, it didn't disappoint.For future viewers, I am just writing what I liked and what you might enjoy the most if you decide to give this a shot:
1. Followed 90% of the novel, so novel fans won't be disappointed. The leads had a lot of screentime together.
2. An independent and formidable female lead- Takes no nonsense from others, the perfect example of a tough exterior but soft interior, is extremely skilled at fighting and loves to protect her people, doesn't need a knight in shining armor to save her every time.
3. An all-powerful ancient god male lead- has an indifferent exterior most of the time(but is lonely and longs for companionship), loves to joke and prank others, is extremely caring towards our female lead, lets her fight her own battles most of the time even though he is more powerful than her (because he knows she prefers that even though at times he wants her to rely on him) .
4. Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin are old buddies who have starred in Princess Agents before. Being good friends they had a good level of cooperation and were able to deliver every scene perfectly. Kudos to their phenomenal acting. Also since I saw a lot of comments on how LGX looks too bulky or old for this role, let me tell you my opinion. He is playing the role of an ancient god who has lived for eons and is the highest of all beings in terms of power and position. So obviously, he is supposed to look manly and seasoned for that. I cannot picture someone who looks boyish and is skinny as an ancient deity who is all powerful and has lived for that long.
5.Perfect blend of romance, comedy, action, adventure. For me: Comedy : 10/10, Romance: 9/10, Action: 100/10, Angst: 3/10.
6. This is more of a light-hearted xianxia where the angst is followed by a comedy scene as a medicine to the pain.
7. The CGI is top-notch and one of the best you can get in costume dramas. So grateful for the fact that it was an S+ drama meaning the highest level in terms of budget. The CGI will make all those epic fighting scenes look 100% better. I really appreciate all the time, effort and money that they spent on making those scenes so beautiful. Plus the BGM's and OST's were perfect. The BGM accompanied with the CGI made the scenes so majestic.
8. No unnecessary misunderstanding between the male leads. No important sml or sfl.
9. No plot holes. People might have questions in the beginning but hold on, everything will be answered in the end.
10. A very happy ending. Not rushed and we get a full 1 episode of their happily ever after, quite rare in xianxia these days.
So undoubtedly a 10 out of 10 for me.
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