I have waiting this drama since they announced the lead for the first time.
I have waiting this drama more than a year to release. I started it with super high rating. Since I watch it until the end. I think that this is the best drama for me.+ the story
The story is not focus only romance, but also focuses on sports, the competition, the problems of the main lead, the way they solve the problem for each other, the way that they care about each other. There are some scenes that make me feel some boring too but it's not the big problem cause I still enjoy it. I'm just think that this drama is long that sould cut out some scenes that I want more sweet time between them.
+ chemistry
The chemistry between the main lead is great and wonderful. I really love xing fei and hu yitian couple and hope to see them in another drama in the future. I feel shy even they just look at each other. This couple is so cute . They are comfortable with each other even on screen and off screen. I still can't get enough about their chemistry. I want more of this couple.
+ acting
Their acting is great. I have watched a lot of xing fei drama. I still think that all her drama are great and I also love it. Hu yitian also good . I'm a fan of him since a love so beautiful. His acting has improved a lot and I also love his acting.
Others might think this drama is boring , yes we have different mind and different ideas. For me , I still think that this drama is great and I also enjoy it. I never feel regret for waiting and watching this drama. Hope to see xing fei and hu yitian together in another drama soon.
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This review may contain spoilers
I can’t believe it...
In general, I don’t write reviews. But after finishing this show I’m so angry. I need to spit it out.Positive Parts.
1. The casting is pretty good. I liked all actors and their chemistry. Her parents were the funniest part of the show. Great job!
2. I find the idea with the past life’s intriguing and it offered room for much development. I enjoyed watching all eras. After understanding the whole situation it was even better. Best part of the show for me!
3. The CEO was a great character and offered so much.
ULTRA SPOILER AHEAD
Negative Things.
1. I’m really frustrated about the character writing of the show. It’s my first time experiencing dislikeable leads. As I mentioned was the CEO (male lead) a great person. He’s the only one I liked the whole time. The female lead was terribly written. Sometimes she appeared strong and confident, but when it mattered she was the most passive persons I’ve ever seen in a show. All talk. After reaching the second half of the drama I even hoped for the ml that he won’t end up with her. I really felt sorry for him that he liked such a selfish person. The second male lead is handsome without a doubt. In general, we get the perfect SL that ends up alone because he’s so nice. This one fulfilled most of this till the second half. After 8 eps he developed into a clingy and selfish character himself. No empathy for others, secretive and only interested in the fl without using his brain. I skip the second female lead. She was insecure, but okay. But her mother was the most pathetic character I’ve seen in a while. Introduced as strong career woman did she end in a ridiculous revenge story for her broken heart 30 years ago. I know it’s a fantasy show, but that was too ridiculous. If I were her daughter I would’ve send her to a mental hospital for a check up.
2. After knowing the whole picture I can’t help myself but feeling frustrated with the relationship of the leads. In fact, the show is a story about a man that is willing to give everything for his love and to repay his guilt. (Unnecessary in my opinion and I really don’t get why he’s always the guilty one. After knowing the reasons for everything, he should be embraced with open arms.) And the female lead! Honestly? I had several moments where I wanted to punch her into the face. While he’s doing everything for her, she’s doing literally nothing for him. Not one tiny thing! First, she lets him compete with the SL because she’s too stupid to say the men that she s not interested. Then she’s head over heels for him and can’t even hear him out after their first fight. But the most annoying thing is that she didn’t even react after knowing the truth. Her conversation was pretty lame and it was not relatable for me that she was still suffering from her trauma even after getting to know the truth. No! It got even worse! In the end she wants him to give up his only dream to stay by her side while she can live her own. Let me summarize! He’s doing everything for he. She does nothing for him. And the Happy End is that he gives up his dream for her. Honestly, he deserves a lot more than her.
3. The moral of the story. During the last minutes of the show I was so annoyed that I want it to end right now. Little did I know that another annoying part was waiting. They end the show with the moral that you don’t need a marriage certificate to become happy with your loved one. Yes! That’s true and I agree. But the perfect closure would’ve been when she would have married him and both would’ve made sacrifices and start new. It’s so sad that such an important moral was undermined from annoying written characters. If they intended to do that from the start, they should’ve written the fl nicer or at least a balanced relationship to make it believable.
4. SUMMARY I watched 16 eps about a relationship which was unhealthy to begin with. He does everything and she’s just talk. In my opinion, a happy relationship is about that WE and not just YOU. But the way they showed it makes it okay for someone to do nothing. Unsatisfying On a high level!
5. Another point to rant: the kisses. The make Lead gave everything to show passion. A great praise from me! The female lead was frozen that it was even embarrassing to watch. She didn’t deliver the classical fish kisses, but did nothing while he kissed her. Especially in close camera shots it’s embarrassing to watch. In those moments I even felt sorry for the actor!
ULTRA SPOILER END
Don’t get me wrong! I really like the cast and also the actress, but the way the characters worked wasn’t relatable for me. I ended up feeling annoyed or ranting while watching the episodes every week. The good thing is that I didn’t get bored out of anger.
In general, I always say that people should watch a show to gain own experience. Everyone has its own taste. Therefore, it’s wrong to stop people from watching. That’s why I say in this case: It would be a pity not to see the great acting and scenes of the male lead. But the rest could get annoying. My recommendation for you is to watch the first episode. Find out if you enjoy the wedding or not. If yes, continue. If not, drop the show immediately.
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Fated Love - Neither Time Nor Distance Can Prevent It
First Love: Hatsukoi has beautifully captured the twists and turns of destined love. With Fate pushing two people together but also pulling them apart when tragedy occurred, it was an addictive emotional roller coaster ride filled with the rapture of first love, the regret of lost love, and the joy of second chances.A wonderful story about a love that transcended the sands of time, this drama fell into comfortable and familiar tropes. However, in this show, I found the cliches charming. With such strong chemistry between the leads (younger and older versions), I was happy just to be along with the ride and watch the heartfelt romance unfold.
Using distinct color palettes and compelling imagery, the director, Kanchiku Yuri, and the cinematographers breathed new life into tired story elements. Fluid camera movements transitioned the viewer seamlessly from the flashbacks of the leads' past into the reality of their present circumstances.
I liked how the director used elements like the snow, the sea, and the sounds of planes; many scenes were like expressive photographs with period details. In this show, color was not only an emotion, a state of mind but also part of the story itself. The way the show filtered and focused on the colors allowed me to experience the story through a unique lens that drew me further into it.
Of course, the music was one of this drama's most notable aspects. After all, Hikaru Utada's songs- First Love and Hatsukoi, inspired the story. In addition to these two, the drama music, including instrumental pieces by Taisei Iwasaki and other songs, captured the emotional moments flawlessly - joyful, nostalgic, or heart-wrenching. The music evoked empathy for the characters and was crucial to the narrative.
Despite a few rough spots that needed smoothing out, the story was well-written and flowed nicely. I appreciate that the plot was not only about romantic love but also about coming of age and the consequences of choices. There were also risque scenes which was an interesting change from the more conservative Chinese and Korean dramas.
The excellent acting also made this drama enjoyable for me. The characters were likable and relatable. The female lead's mother had moments where I wanted to smack her, but her heart was in the right place.
I liked and respected Mitsushima Hikari's Noguchi Yae, a character that I would describe as resilient. Society forced the idea of some being better than others and imposed unfair judgment on people like Yae's mother, but regardless, Yae knew that she and her mother deserved just as much as anyone else. Hikari was so lovely to watch, and her beguiling performance, along with Satoh Takeru as Namiki Harumichi, added the depth that completed the show. Takeru, with his melt-your-heart gaze, portrayed Harumichi perfectly. He is a really subtle actor whose eyes and micro-expressions speak volumes.
I also enjoyed the portrayal of the younger versions of the leads by Yagi Rikako and Kido Taisei. They were able to convey the feelings of an all-consuming idealistic young love, and Taisei's earnestness won me over as young Harumichi.
In summary, I do recommend this drama! I love a good love story, and this was definitely that. It is a story in which you cannot spend too much time thinking about the details. You just have to accept that the universe has plans for everyone, and everything will play out splendidly. As long as you enjoy the show in its little contained, cliched world, there is plenty to relish. Don't forget to watch the ending credits scene to the very end.
For posterity, I have included the Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWTSDEMZlKWZw?si=282686721a124f1d
Other songs:
- Escapade by Emro: https://open.spotify.com/track/71Pu8L7LWuig8tY3zuKH8C?si=44416f6cad1c4963
- Sleep With You by Egil Olsen
https://open.spotify.com/track/6dJabU4OhnOfyByP8NQeOF?si=caf81692d1dc4e4d
- Hard Work and Fate
https://open.spotify.com/track/29mpuWWmRUdH9P2zXz9a4k?si=858ee21bbd2040e4
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This review may contain spoilers
Suffering! It's not a happy story but It doesn't mean it's not a good and important one
So I just watched the movie here in Brazil on 2020 São Paulo International Film Festival and Jeez I don't know what to say, I should paid attention in the plot cuz I spent almost the whole movie thinking that Birdy was straight (it's not a spoiler since it's in the synopsis). I have liked it but this movie is just sadness and pain, I know it's based on a true story and what a drama story. The acting, photography, scenes, screenplay, everything so beautiful and well made. I can tell that I yelled and suffered a lot. Damn it! I was hoping for a kinda happy love story after all but it's okay tho. It's not a BL, It's a LGBTQ+ movie. I think it should win a lot of awards, I gave it 10 stars cuz made me suffer and I like that feeling when I'm watching movies but at the same time I don't hahaha I'm weird. I really like Taiwan, I wish I could go there someday.Was this review helpful to you?
Vampire Prosecutor is like CSI/Law & Order. Each episode deals with a different and interesting case that is brought to resolution by the end of each episode. Some of the cases/suspects are hilarious. Despite each episode being a different murder case, there is an overarching storyline (of the paranormal kind) that continues throughout the season, which you get snippets of in each episode.
The vampire aspects of this show aren't THAT extensive, really. They're there, but don't overpower the show. He does have the benefit of certain vampy powers, but the team still needs good ol' normal crime solving power.
Like someone else said, there is a LITTLE bit of romance. It is in no way the main storyline. It's like a bonus crumb, and very understated, which I usually hate, but I found really satisfying in this show.
The cast was amazing. I loved the main cast. The actors/actresses who played the criminals did an amazing job, too. I was efficiently creeped out, angered, sympathetic, etc.
I'll be honest and say I don't remember much music. I remember one song with words, and I liked it. I heard it twice, I think. The other song was instrumental and I heard it once at a poignant moment.
I'd definitely watch this show again. I can't wait for Season 2.
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an escape into nostalgia.
It’s a mighty feat adapting any kind of work. There’s always something lost in the translation from one medium into another—the trappings of form too integral to the creation of any piece of media’s spirit. Muchuu sa, Kimi ni is, then, a rare case of an adaptation that not only captures the essence of its source material but almost elevates it.In its original form, Muchuu sa, Kimi ni is a loosely tied together collection of vignettes: one, the tales of Hayashi, a “quirky” high schooler who revels in using his free time to its fullest, attracting companionship along the way; and the tale of Nikaido and Medaka, a “ghostly” outsider with a secret he intends to take to his grave and his classmate who wants to break him out of his shell.
In the drama, these two separate lines are expertly pieced together by director Tsukuhara Ayuko (who knows how to play with the material to shine a light on its best qualities) to craft a pseudo-fantastical narrative that celebrates the wonders of youth and camaraderie in deep vibrancy. Its charm is in its characters (plus their actors—a curated selection of some of the best up-and-comers in the industry) and the quaint little world they exist in. It may be quiet, but it's no less exciting. If you let yourself level with these kids, you'll find their joys and anxieties over the tiny things feel exactly as they should: earth shattering, life changing... but what else would you know when you still have so many years ahead of you?
If there's any gripe to be had, it's that the series ends. Not because things are left unfinished, but rather, because it’s hard to say goodbye. Muchuu sa, Kimi ni offers an escape into nostalgia: for days of youth gone by and freedoms once had, for friendships now lost and ones that could have been if we had let them. Still, it leaves you with a reminder that none of those are ever really out of reach. It's in your hands—you need only make a pitch for it.
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The writing here is exceptional. Since we are going a painful time, the writing makes it not only bearable, but also addicting to watch, by balancing slice-of-life and comedy, yes COMEDY, with war and tragedy throughout most of the story. Romance is there, but in a very subtle manner, just like the way I like it. Though understated, the moment it surface, it brings out all those tingling feelings and excitement. The overall way the characters are written, they feel real, relatable, and more than just good or evil. A lot of times it felt like a character study, and the characters were always more than what they appear. The development was slow but apparent, and very realistic. I got to the point that I felt like part of the people there, part of the family, and was in it with them. Without knowing how it ends, I felt I wasn't gonna mind any ending chosen, and the more I watched , the stronger this feeling became. It goes beyond trusting the writer giving a satisfying ending, and more of me having to accept fate.
I can't help but talk about the characters and their relationship. Jun Shan, the brother-in-law, is the star here. He is one piece of work. My first impression of him was *WHAT THE HELL?!* He's bossy, he's pushy,he's uneducated, he's overbearing. But then I notice, he's loyal, he loves his family. I won't say more and let you discover more of him. Believe me that is just the tip of the iceberg of his character. His relationship with Xiang Jun was a highlight in the drama. Beyond love, there was a certain harmony in the relationship. Then there are the twins. I don't know where to start. They are childish, foolish, reckless, and they certainly need to grow. But they are fun to be around, lively, and sure know when to come through when it counts. Being of different genders, they're growth and maturity come at different pace, but the people we leave at the end of the drama may not recognize those we met in the beginning. A part of me wished they stayed how were, but we can't help but grow up. Specially during war, reality hits and you find yourself growing years at each passing day. Qing Ming is another interesting one. He is an educated soldier, always wanting to fight for his country. He can be pretty stubborn, to the point of acting childish. His view of life, of elders, and of women, is that they are all incomprehensible. Only when he starts to understand them he becomes the man he wanted to be. I specially appreciated Qing Ming's relationship with Jun Shan. One hell of a bromance they make. They couldn't be any more different but somehow understand each other well. Another highlight was the grandma. She is a strong, stubborn old lady, but when she's around, you always know that everything is going to be just fine. Xiu Xiu might have appeared as a sweetheart, and submissive, but I always knew she hid fearlessness to appear when needed. The list can go on and on, but I just wouldn't know where to stop. Lets the say, even the smallest roles have been given thought as to make them real, and their development authentic.
What to say about the acting. Brilliant! It turned the character into real human beings, and not just something written on paper. Everyone gave their all to their character, and I have zero complaint.
Honestly the music didn't stand out for me, but didn't ruin anything either.
If I have any complaint at all, is some side characters that appear later on in the drama that weren't given enough time or focus early on, so it was hard to make the connection. Overall though my satisfaction with this drama goes beyond any complaint. I would say that overall, it deserves a 9 or 9.5/10, but the delight it brought me deserves a 10/10!!
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And in the end when you reach its final piece, you start to really appreciate every single item. Although each of them has their own shape and characteristics, you notice that special bond that connects every part, smoothly like a cogwheel. And when you put it back together afterwards, it matches perfectly again.
That's how I experienced Chicago Typewriter. I was sold from the first minute. The start was slow and the show takes its time to tell its story. But I never even once complained about the pace. I enjoyed every second of it. Why? Because I simply savored every interaction with the characters. It felt like they took me along on their journey.
The people in this drama - and yes, I call them people because they felt real to me, no matter how estranged they appeared sometimes - will grow on you, especially the female lead. She's one wonderful fangirl many of us can relate to. Being obsessed with her crush in a totally unharmful and charming way, you can't help yourself but root for her. And who wouldn't take the chance and meet his/her crush when an opportunity arises out of the blue? Even if that means to maybe get disappointed by that one person you dedicated your life to. Even if that means you maybe should decide about ending that long-lasting one-sided relationship. So, hands down for the first honorable mention in this cast: Im Soo Jung. An endearing actress who not only impersonates our everyday fangirl but also a devoted freedom fighter per se.
And who is the counterpart to every fan? Of course, the star. That ray of light we see whenever we feel down. Those people who have all the rumors floating around them. Charming on the outside and... either exactly the way we imagine them to be or shockingly different. Being a nationwide renowned bestseller author in the present (and a seemingly resigned writer in his past life), Han Se Ju is certainly one interesting figure. Reserved towards strangers, with a proud and confident demeanor, he might appear paranoid, rude and self-centered. But he learns to change his ways and views, and certainly grows with time. Yoo Ah In is one brilliant actor whose magnificent performance impressed me deeply.
Finally, the third to be in league and a must to be mentioned here. Go Gyeong Pyo. He plays the handsome and classy Yoo Jin Oh who stirs up the daily lives of our other two leads. His appearance triggers a chain of unforeseen events that will certainly change everyone's path. Without telling too much, Go Gyeong Pyo clearly nailed this role.
These three are telling a story about fateful friendship and love in desperate times, that will eventually engrave its signature into your heart. Their tale has "passion" written all over its face. Passionate love, passionate friendship and the passionate desire for your people's freedom. It's captivating in every point, once you let your guard down and allow yourself to be swallowed by its mysteries. Emotions are raw and daring, and an important pillar for its partakers. It's like fire, burning hot and dangerous. And the leads are doing a phenomenal job on conveying that driving emotion.
The mystery surrounding this drama may not be completely new, but still be a rare kind in its execution through neat hints that will be revealed step by step. Starting with visually beautiful scenes, the drama takes a constant pace with a fluent transition between the past and present story. This helps building up the layer-by-layer suspense which ultimately vents into a poignant finale. On a side note, you have of course your usual suspects as well, your lovely sidekicks who add some fun and comedy to the story. And you have that villain that you will hate with utter disgust.
And before I will conclude my review, let me tell you that once you got to listen to Chicago Typewriter's haunting soundtrack, you won't be able to turn back. It's like the icing on the cake and you'll be lost for good.
Don't hesitate to watch this mesmerizing gem. Let yourself be swayed, and take on this incredible journey with an exceptional love for details in every aspect. Even though you might not end up with a 10 like me, because you perhaps find some things only normal or average along the road, it's worth the watch nonetheless. In the end, I might sound a little biased but this one just hit all the right spots for me. It never let me or down or disappointed me.
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Nirvana in Fire Season 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin
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This review may contain spoilers
I binge watched this drama in 2 days after finally deciding I was going to give it a shot. Updated edit after a rewatch: I'm hesitant to compare this against NiF 1 anymore (even though I still do think it was better produced, I'm more emotionally attached to the characters in NiF2) because I think they're such great companion stories for each other. While 2 is a sequel (it takes place about 50 years later after the first), it's an entirely different story with a different premise. Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster - this show will earn your tears and your emotional investment. Story
The story focuses on the family of the general of the Changlin Army (the army that was created in Mei Changsu's memory). Ting Sheng, the head of the family and of the army, was one of the slave boys that Mei Changsu had saved in the original, and was later adopted by Prince Xiao Jingyan. Ting Sheng's oldest son, Xiao Pingzhang, is his right hand man and the named heir, while his younger son has lived a spoiled and sheltered life (in the sense that his family lets him have a lot of freedom and not have to worry about the responsibilites of being in a military family) and spends most of his time on Langya Mountain. Both sons are supremely talented - Ping Zhang is an incredible military strategist and represents his family in court with the Emperor to navigate the political waters. Ping Jing, while young and a bit brash, has had his sharp instincts honed by his father and brother and has street smarts in spades. While very different, the two brothers are very close, and much of the first half focuses on their family's bond.
While the original story focused on one central storyline, the sequel follows the ups and downs of the Changlin family - because of this, the plot isn't as tight as the original as it is much more complex. The political stuff was a bit too much at times (and infuriating), but the reasons behind most of the conflicts were logically sound.
One of the pluses of the drama was that there was a strong focus on relationships - be it family (THE CHANGLIN FAMILY - ugh, I'm still recovering from all of the feelings), romance, friendship, the bond between a person in power and those who serve him, or the relationship between the past and future (sooo many name drops - it was kind of fun to figure out who was related to a character in the original story). The original had elements of this of course, but due to the story being about the Changlin family (who are also a military family), the emphasis on interpersonal relationships is much greater. The romance was also much better in this one than the first, in my opinion - Ping Zhang and his wife have such a great, healthy relationship and the mutual respect (and love) that they have for one another is wonderful to see. The younger couple was cute as well - and I liked the fact that while both could lead very independent lives, it was the times that they were together that made them the happiest.
Probably one of the biggest criticisms of the show is that it is centered around a boy/man who is barely 20 when the story begins - but to me, this is one of the best selling points of the shows. Perhaps younger viewers may not appreciate this, but the freshness and youthful enthusiasm of Pingjing was an absolute delight (more so because is he is played by someone who is right at that age), and watching him grow up and mature was both bittersweet and awesome. There are times where you wish he was more self-aware, but he's not a stupid character - just a very young one, and that's part of the charm. I can honestly say Pingjing is probably my favorite drama protagonist in the last...I don't even know how many years.
There's also this bittersweet satisfaction knowing that we are, in a way, watching what the 19 year old Lin Shu would have been like, because we never got see him go through that growing up process - we went straight to adulthood. It's noted by several characters that both Lin Chen and Xiao Jingyan, who were probably Lin Shu's best friends, were both incredibly fond of Ping Jing and spoiled him accordingly - in part because they are very similar in personalities, though obviously the roads they walked were very different. It's a subtle reference that I really enjoyed - they are not the same people at all, but the spirit of Lin Shu/Mei Changsu lives on through Pingjing.
I found in particular the discussion of nature vs nurture to be pretty interesting - this is a topic that is pushed pretty hard in the drama, as the debate follows multiple characters who walk on different paths. The idea of fate is also nicely interwoven in - no matter how much effort we put in, no matter what choices we make, are we always going to end up at the same destination?
(Edited after rewatch): This isn't the same story as Nirvana in Fire and if you're expecting that, you're already going to be disappointed. NiF was a story of triumph, of redemption (more so than revenge, in my opinion), mingled with bittersweet elements. Mei Chang Su set out with a specific goal in mind so he had everything planned out and the climax was when he obtained that goal at the very end of the series.
NiF2 is very different - it's more like a chronicle of the Changlin family, with a specific focus on Pingjing and the people around him. For some people, the climax of the story probably happened around episode 36, and I agree, to a certain extent. I think the point of the story isn't about the fall and redemption of the Changlin family - it's about family and bloodlines; it's about growing up and living with yourself and the choices that you make. I understand what people mean by the anticlimatic ending and the final arc (and I do agree that the writing was a bit poor towards the end), but to me, it felt right and matched everything we had learned about all the characters up to that point.
Acting/Cast:
Huang Xiaoming and Liu Haoran as the two Changlin brothers exceeded expectations for me. This was also a heavily criticized decision when the production first started, because Huang Xiaoming is known as an idol actor, but like Hu Ge before him, he turned in a strong performance - if HXM doesn't overact, he has this natural warmth that comes from his real life personality and it worked so well for his big brother role. Seriously, never doubt these directors - they know what they're doing when they cast people (well, for the most part - see below for what I didn't like about the casting choices).
Pingjing was a really tricky role to play (and to cast for) and I feel like it has to be acknowledged - you're talking about a story that spans about three or four years and the character goes from a carefree, sheltered prince to a solemn, matured young general (this isn't a spoiler - it's in the synopsis). So basically your casting options would be: 1) Pick an older actor (early to mid 20s) - a la Hu Ge in The Disguiser - which...wasn't great. They would be able to handle the second half well, but you would cringe your way through the first half. If people already think (then) 19 year old LHR was a bit hard to watch acting as a 20 year old, I have no idea how they'd tolerate this.
2) Pick a younger actor (late teens, presumably) and hope that they don't look like a child pretending to be an adult when they reach the second half. In the Chinese market, there just simply aren't a lot of candidates that would fit all the criteria (age, looks, height, acting talent, public recognition, temperament, demeanor, and ability to pull off both arcs). As great as Daylight Entertainment's reputation is, they also have to have someone who has some degree of popularity as the main role. The word that is most associated with Liu Hao Ran on Chinese media is "youth" (even before NiF) - it's not his age, necessarily, but a spirit that he has in spades - and it served him so, so well in this role. He was able to rely on it to carry him through the first half, and then the natural contrast between his youthful demeanor and the burden on his shoulders really tugged at the heartstrings in the second half. I cried when he cried, I laughed when he laughed - he embodied the character perfectly for me. He's not a polished actor by any means - but he's got a good foundation and definitely grew as an actor throughout the drama. Again, he just turned 19 when he filmed this - 19!
The shining star in terms of acting though, definitely goes to Sun Chun, who plays the brothers' father. What a masterful performance by a veteran actor.The character felt 100% real and he really fleshed out every aspect of Changlin Wang - as a father, as a friend, as a brother, as a general, and as a loyal servant of the Emperor. The way he delivered his lines - oh man. If China actually did legit drama awards, he deserves one.
Sun Chun, Huang Xiaoming, and Liu Haoran also had phenomenal chemistry as father and sons which made some of the later scenes all that more emotional for me. (If you want something cute, go look at their weibo comments and posts to each other throughout the drama - it's like if the family lived in the modern age and could access social media, ha. Some of the other cast members also occasionally pitch in their opinions on where the story is at).
Squeals for Zhang Bo, who was great as the head of the Imperial Guard - I will never ever forget his performance as Sun Quan in Three Kingdoms about seven years ago and he was just as awesome in this role. He just has this natural charisma and gravitas that works so well on screen (and gets better as he ages). Why is he not more popular?! Tong Liya and Zhang Huiwen turned in decent performances as the main two female leads (though of course like the first one this is a very male-dominated cast) - Tong Liya in particular had some great scenes. I liked Zhang Huiwen's Lin Xi, but wish she was used more, particularly in the second half. Guo Jingfei probably had a blast in his role and I was torn between laughing because I knew he probably enjoyed the performance and also superbly creeped out because he turned in a very good acting performance.
I am conflicted on how i feel about Wu Haochen, who plays a pretty important role. I think his acting was solid (especially in the final arc - he was phenomenal), but somehow he just never visually fit into the part and it became distracting to a certain degree. I know that there's been a lot of comments about his appearance and I've never really been all that concerned about looks when it comes to acting, but the visual presentation took me out of his scenes more often than not. I had no issues with him in Ode to Joy, so I wonder if it's because he doesn't quite fit the "gu zhuang" look. I also just never cared about him - especially in the second half - I just wanted to see more of Pingjing - and I think that's because while Wu Haochen did a good job acting, he never made me feel anything about the character. In the original NiF, Prince Yu (played by Victor Huang) was definitely not a protagonist but I really felt for him (and part of that has to do with charismatic Victor was in the role).
If there is one criticism that I have of this production team, it's their tendency to reuse actors that they've casted in previous shows - sometimes I like it as it's kind of like spotting Easter eggs, but sometimes it can also be very trying. I wasn't fond of the casting choice of Qiao Xin (she was already in the original as the oh-so-memorable-for-bad-acting Nian Nian!!). It'd be one thing if they reused an actor with great acting talent, but Qiao Xin is definitely...not that. Also, you could have done away with her character completely and it would probably been fine - I just found all of her scenes completely unneccessary.
The cast overall (especially the veterans) weren't as phenomenal as the supporting cast in the original, but the main cast really carried the show well, so it was okay.
Music
I love how the music is the same, yet just a tiny bit different. It brought back just the right amount of feels. The theme song has two different versions and has a much more stronger tone than Hu Ge's song in the original - probably due to the more military, war-bent nature of this one.
Rewatch Value
I took one star off because there were about ten episodes straight where I was just crying nonstop and I don't know if I can handle that again. But the emotional roller coaster is worth it, and I think I will definitely be rewatching very soon.
Overall
This is very different story than from the original Nirvana In Fire. As I mentioned previously, I think the first was a better production overall, but the second one has me invested way more in the characters, and if you don't mind a younger main character (and are interested in watching a growth arc), i think you may find the show a blast to watch.
Sequels are probably never going to live up to the original, but I love that they changed almost everything (the story, the cast) and still maintained that definite "Nirvana In Fire" vibe - it is definitely worthy of being considered a quality stand-alone show.
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NOT WHAT YOU'LL EXPECT!
Hear me out. This series actually blew my mind. Contrary to the negative backlash that colored it when it first premiered, Earth , Mix, & Jan did a great job in my opinion. So glad that I took a leap over many negative opinions to see the series for myself. Body swapping is not my thing but it is so nicely done and certainly addressed in the series that I ended up enjoying the story line. Earth plays himself throughout and Jan was shown periodically so that we the audience do not forget that Win (Mix) is now in Lin's (Jan) body. If the body swap happened in a manner Lin's face was used to act as Win, I would have found that problematic. Or, if Korn (Earth) continually addressed Win as Lin, it would have been bad. But we can see that Korn is constantly aware that Win is the person he is on a journey with. Win even questions who Korn loves. Him or his sister. I am glad they made it clear that bodies had been swapped. Now, lets talk about the chemistry between Korn and Win. SHEEESH!!!!!!!!!!! They came in hot with the chemistry. I was so impressed. Their chemistry on ATOTS has NOTHING on this series. I want to attribute the ease with which they connect to the fact that Earth and Mix have spent a lot of time together since ATOTS. The stares, kisses, touches, my goodness, so so good. Mix has such a great way of expressing different emotions that just draws you in. Earth's acting was certainly better than I have ever seen it. I guess that goes to show the importance of partner pairing. I think some of the racist issues were cut out because I did not see any scenes with them. This series has made me more excited for Moonlight Chicken because I think that if Earth and Mix delivered such acting under a director everyone claims is very problematic, I cannot wait to see the art P'Aof wrings out of them. I will certainly be rewatching on GMMTV once it is released on YouTube. Earth Mix is certainly a new favorite after this series. I personally do not pay attention to anything other than the acting and storyline of a series. This way, I can support the actors based on what is within their power to influence. I do not think anyone asked Earth and Mix what they felt about the color grading. So, I am not going to use that to rate the show when I know it may affect their ability to secure other works in the future.Was this review helpful to you?
The casting was exellent, as well as the acting, can't complain about it. The music played during th emovie was very moving and really enhances the feeling you get from watching a particular scene.
The story line is great, even though we all know it, however, having watched the Disney movie, I anticipated a happier ending than that, and was slightly disapointed, screaming in my head "It's NOT FAIR", but anyway, that would be the only thing I don't like about it.
Overall, the movie was fantastic and a must watch in my opinion, and I would easily re-watch this, to pay more attention on the details the second time around.
GREAT MOVIE!!
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What really got to me in this drama was the realism of it. There are people that go through these types of issues in real life, and they don't always have someone by their side to help them get back on their feet. In the drama you find out more about each person as the story progresses, it made me think a lot about the people in my own life, everyone struggles with something, some people have deep dark secrets their embarrassed to talk about or afraid to talk about.
The acting was done really well! Exceptional! I haven't seen any of the other actors act in anything else, except for Nishikido Ryo, I've seen him in 1 Litre Of Tears. Needless to say, seeing him go from his character there to this one proves how much of a good actor he is. Sosuke was dark, his character was scary in ways because of the things he did. Nagasawa Masami as Michiru did a really good job, you saw her character getting stronger as the drama progressed. Ueno Juri as Ruka did an excellent job, her character had a lot of internal suffering going on as you find out more as each episode ends. I loved Eita's character, Takeru, even with all the things he's gone through he's an upbeat guy, admirable. The rest of the cast was really good, as well.
The music was good, the theme song, "Prisoner Of Love" by Utada Hikaru was perfect for the drama. The lyrics really matched with what the characters felt. The instrumental to it was really nice as well. The rest of the instrumentals fit the drama as well.
Will I rewatch this again? Someday. Serious dramas like this I love and enjoy for their realism, but I'm not sure when I'll rewatch this, if I do it won't be for a while.
Overall: It's a really good drama, I'd recommend it to everyone. It deals with a lot of issues. I found myself needing to watch each episode, like I mentioned above - I wasn't bored with any of this drama. There was always something going on to keep me intrigued and wanting to see what happens next.
The impact of their friendship, how each of them were willing to do anything to protect each other, that's the most important part of this drama I feel.
I wished they'd of gone a little more into detail about a few things, but overall it was done really well, I can't say it enough!
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This review may contain spoilers
"Give us the power and courage to swim safely throughout this life"
It's the way everyone knew since the very first ep that Myunghee would be gone and Heetae would be left alone exactly like it was portrayed, YET we still kept watching till the end... Masochism. I don't know what broke me the most but I know I had been crying since the second half of ep 9.When older Heetae took off his watch and his scars showed, when he tried to drown himself... Wow. I don't think there are many dramas that portray failed suicide attempts in such a subtle, respectful and realistic way without romanticizing it.
I projected a lot on this show since my country has been in protests similar to Gwangju Uprisings, although ti a lower extent. But still, police and military abuse is shown. So seeing Sooryeon being so eager to help even though she knew that her individual actions wouldn't change much... It's so inspiring. When she said "even though we can't change what's happening, there are things that we can do." Those small actions save lives. Even if they don't change the future or the current situation, there still will be at least one life saved. And that will make it worth it.
When Soochan said he felt ashamed that he was released because of connections, that he felt comfortable in his cozy and warm bed while he didn't even know if the people arrested with him were alive or not and that made him take the decision on his hands and serve and help the wounded... I'm so glad both of them survived.
Towards the end when Heetae sees the posters attributing the protests to North spies... I can't imagine how much things like that hurt the people that suffered through the protests, those who lost loved ones in the hands of their own army.
Also, when Myungsoo's immediate reaction to seeing soldiers hurting their own people was, "the North has invaded us" and wondering, "why would our own army hurt our people?" Such a realistic way of showing how the government turns against all logic and harms their own people they sore to protect.
This was such an incredibly beautiful story, and it had the perfect length to finish it in an amazing way without including unnecessary or filler scenes.
They approached so many sides of the Uprising, so many victims in their own jobs/labors/activities, so many people helping each other to believe in a better future.
"In the face of the storm, the only thing we could do was hold each other's hands so that we won't lose each other."
I really cried my eyes out to this.
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This is the first time I'm writing a review, I'm not good at wording my thoughts out but I wanted to give this a try because I just really want to praise this drama, if I could give it a 100/10 score I certainly would. It raises the bar too high for all k-dramas and TV shows in general for me. GO WATCH IT NOW! You surely won't regret it.
Plot: it's a remake of the U.K. TV show going by the same name, I haven't watched it myself so I had no prior idea of how the plot would go. I have to say it's outstanding. I personally love crime and suspense dramas so this was definitely my cup of tea and it exceeded my expectations by a lot. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of humour in the drama, despite the heavy cases they had to work on the writers managed to incorporate light-hearted moments and it made the experience even more amazing, nothing seemed out of place. I have noticed that in a lot of k-dramas the plot starts dragging out gradually and they tend to get a little boring in the middle especially but this one had impressive build-ups, there was not one dull moment and each episode keeps you on your toes. The surprises keep coming all the time and you can't seem to predict what will happen next. The cases were well-thought out and there weren't any plot holes. The ending was so emotional and a little open for interpretation, it was bittersweet, but I loved it for the way it was.
Cast/Characters: I was blown away by Jung Kyung Ho's acting, he gave life to his character and this impressive screenplay. The female lead I have to say is one of the most impressive and well-done female characters I've ever seen, this is female empowerment done right, she can kick ass, is not depicted stereotypically, is thoughtful, smart af and level-headed. The chemistry between the five main characters was out of this world, they gave off this warm feeling even if some of them didn't particularly start off on good terms, the fact that the friendship that flourished between them was gradual and not rushed off made it seem more believable. I really couldn't have picked better actors for this show.
OST: I loved the old songs they incorporated in the drama, it made me feel the 80s even more, the songs were chosen really well and put exactly where they're needed without them being too much in your face.
Cinematography: It was AMAZING, it's obvious that a lot of effort and probably budget went into the shooting of the drama and it's well worth it, the scenes and perspectives were really well thought out. This is the kind of cinematography a drama with such good plot and cast deserves.
Overall: it's a masterpiece, 100/10, it was a whole journey I'm glad I took and I can even watch it again which means a lot because I usually don't re-watch things I've already seen. If you wonder what to watch next give this drama a chance.
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1This review may contain spoilers
A Historic Milestone in BL Drama - China’s Mastery of Historical BL
After waiting so long for our first uncensored historical BL drama, I can confidently say it did not disappoint. Across a vast land torn by war, you’re the only freedom for me! perfectly captures the heart of this story.The plot is gripping, following a prince and an assassin who fall in love as their kingdom collapses. To secure Xiao Shu He’s rise, Duan Ziang kills the crown prince, shattering their bond, only to return years later as emperor.
The scenery and cinematography are breathtaking,, and the snow scene paired with its moving score was simply unforgettable. The costumes, along with the stunning and handsome cast, were all top notch. The acting shines in every moment, and the music and OST heighten every emotion. The fight choreography and martial arts are executed beautifully, keeping me hooked from start to finish.
And can we talk about that flying scene? The two leads soaring through the air, clinging to each other with such intensity, it completely took my breath away. After watching over 350 BLs, this is the very first time I’ve seen two male leads in such a classic wuxia-style moment, protecting and hiding each other with eyes full of unspoken emotion. We’ve seen it countless times in straight dramas, but to finally witness it in a BL felt groundbreaking. I was literally screaming, because flying scenes like this only ever happen in historical dramas.
Duan ZiAng’s love for ShuHe is so consuming, so absolute, that he would rather drink poison than cause a single wound to the man he loves. For five long years he carried this weight, sacrificing everything, even killing his own father, all so he could fight for a future with ShuHe.
He created an entire identity, the Six Prince residence, not for ambition, not for glory, but as a gift, a sanctuary built with his own blood and sweat, solely for his lover. Two kingdoms waged endless war, millions of soldiers were sacrificed, and yet at the heart of it all was not conquest, but love, one man’s unshakable devotion to another.
If this is not love, then what is? A love that defies reason, a love that bends morality, a love so fierce it chooses the beloved over the world itself.
My heart tells me Duan ZiAng will die from the poison. And that thought crushes me, because what could be more tragic than a love between two emperors, eternal in devotion but doomed by destiny.
Their story is not just romance. It is sacrifice. It is pain. It is love written in blood, carved into history, and drowned in tears.
I truly hope China 🇨🇳 lifts its BL ban one day, because when it comes to potential, Thailand 🇹🇭, South Korea 🇰🇷, Japan 🇯🇵 and Taiwan 🇹🇼 cannot compare. China dominates in so many areas: cinematography, acting, storytelling, chemistry. And when we talk about historical costume dramas, horseback riding sequences, and martial arts fight scenes, China operates on another level entirely. The scale, elegance, precision, and sheer intensity are unmatched. Kill To You proves once again that no one does it like China.
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