This review may contain spoilers
A Lighthearted Sweet Drama
You should definitely watch this drama if you crave a lighthearted sweet drama without stupid misunderstandings. This drama mainly focuses on the main leads, and not so much on the second leads, but the second leads still get a reasonable amount of screen time (the right amount in my opinion). Also, the chemistry between the main leads are just... AMAZING. There's not a lot of kiss scenes (since Allen Ren is married) and this drama shows that even without many kiss scenes, the drama can still be as sweet as any other dramas. The reason why I gave it a 9.5/10 instead of 10/10 was because the ending seemed really rushed and a lot of parts were missing or cut out. So, the beginning and the middle of this drama is definitely a 10/10 for me.I usually don't really mention music since it's not TOO important, but here I have to say something about it...
There's about 100 different pieces of music used in this drama (it's an exaggeration but still) and most of them are really... weird. Not only that, but the most of the music comes in during very awkward places that doesn't seem that appropriate for that specific piece of music. Also, sometimes it's unnecessarily loud. Nevertheless, I really enjoy the music "Exchange" sang by my favorite singer Zhou Shen, and you'll hear it a lot throughout the drama lol. But as I mentioned earlier, music isn't that important in a drama so it did not affect the overall score of this drama :)
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Not having been a huge fan of Taecyeon in Dream High, I watched this drama strictly for the plot. It sounds neat: A girl who discovers she can see ghosts after a 6 year coma and a guy who helps her solve her ghostly mysteries. I'm not saying the plot line should win a Pullitzer or anything, but it does sound entertaining! Unfortunately, this drama squandered all of that fun potential on pseudo plot twists and mediocre romance.
It's never a good sign when you root more for the lead character to be with a ghost than you do the actual male love interest. Surprisingly, this isn't even Taecyeon's fault! I was really impressed with how much he had improved from Dream High, and I really did love his character. Cha Gun Woo is an all-around good guy, willing to help out our heroine even when he isn't sure if he believes her. But even though he was doing all the right things, there was just no chemistry between him and Yang Shi On.
Yang Shi On's character was, for the most part, fairly likable. It was hard not to feel for her when she was so obviously lost and confused, trying to pick up the pieces after a 6 year absence from the world.
Kim Jae Wook was easily the star of the drama, which is interesting considering that for the majority of it, he didn't have any lines. But the way he watched over Shi On and loved her so much, even after so long was just heartrending.
The villains were disappointing, never evil enough to really be interesting, nor frightening. I can't even count the number of times that Gun Woo and Shi On were able to outmaneuver huge groups of men. If two people, with one of them having just come out of a coma, can beat 20+ gangsters, you are obviously not hiring gangsters from the right place.
Other than convoluted plot lines and a sad attempt at emotional terrorism in an effort to make you connect with the characters, this show isn't wholly irredeemable. It's short episodes ensure that you don't feel too bored throughout, and for the most part the ghost's problems were fairly interesting. All in all, not a complete waste of time.
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This Drama Has Changed My Life
Once you´re at the end, you´re at the beginning.Thanks to the Novel, "Mo Dao Zu Shi" by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, this masterpiece was produced and released early enough to cure depression. Due to the 50 Episodes, it might seem like a long way to go but don´t be hasty with your judgement because your decision to not watch it, will leave an invisible scar in your creative mind. Not only are the actors superb - I am not only talking about the main cast here - and reliable in their execution of every scene, but also the plot is unique and will keep you wanting for more.
Initially, I wasn´t that excited to watch this series and spend 2.250 minutes in total watching it. If back then I only knew how wrong I was. Presently, I think I spend even more time being obsessed with it. Once you´re at the end, you´re at the beginning.
Starting off with the novel has about 130 chapters and thematizes the origin and the hardship of the "friendship" between Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian, which was implemented so well in the filming. (Once you read the novel, you get what I mean) While the original web novel depicted an explicit romance between the two main male characters, the adaptation was censored with homoerotic subtexts instead due to China's ban on LGBT portrayals in films. Nevertheless, it was portrayed well enough to not be disappointing, since the actors put a lot of effort to show their feelings without the need for physical touch.
Besides the tragic main plot of Wei Wuxian’s search for himself and the sacrifices he has to make, there are also side stories that make the Drama definitely worth watching. Especially the tragedy of Yi City. You just have to watch it.
The most interesting gift that this series gives you tho, is the ability to see through a monotone facade of "... is evil" or "... is good". I would say it is a life-changing and instructive drama than most of the dramas I saw. It will give you insights into the life of a wrongly accused soul, fighting their way to survive the hell of prejudices/being a villain. On the other hand, we have a killer, whose murder impulse got triggered by the unloving and mean environment.
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Refreshing modern female oriented drama
When casting is top notch & the story is not filled with over toxic characters, it's enjoyable to watch.The story starts off with everyone captivated by Rose's beauty. Beauty is not just standard Chinese beauty but also the energy, 气质 she exhibits. Picking Cristal Liu is perfect for the role. She has that artsy, sophisticated 气质 and she looks young enough to play college age to 30's mom age.
She comes from a healthy family with loving parents with an overprotective brother. There isn't the idea of girls are any less valuable than boys hence she grew up free pursuing what she wants rather than what her parents want for her. She's smart, sassy, confident but also with many imperfections. She's not afraid to take chances on love and in life.
Ep 1-12 1st love. She's impulsive and the relationship progressed fast without deeper understanding. Break ups, fights, yelling feeling semi toxic as they find out more about each other. Very relatable to many people's 1st relationships.
Ep 13-28 Mr. Wrong Husband. She wanted someone stable and settled with the obvious wrong choice, but the series got draggy that I almost dropped the series. The best part was the divorce where she wrote to her daughter: "Divorce in my view only represent an end in a relationship and not a life failure."
Ep 28-35 Mr. Soulmate. At this point she regained her career and she's on a happier path. They have undeniable chemistry and connect on that artistic level.
Ep 36-38 Younger crush, not enough to make an impact.
What's enjoyable:
1. Good female supporting characters small or big parts. Even in the beginning a woman blaming her breakup on Rose, acting all crazy, Rose said "You are smart and beautiful, why waste more time on an underserving guy?" There was no female bashing over love interest like in other dramas.
2. Rose's Loving parents. Positive supportive parenting & nonjudgmental. "Life is only few decades long. If Happier times > sad times, then life is worth it."
3. Modern topics: Career women/Married, unmarried, divorced/Single parenting/Multiple loves, realistic that love moves on (None of that drama love trope of 30-year-old never been kissed, waiting to be reunited from their 1st unrequited love from 10 years ago because they met at 5 or something)
What could've been better:
1. WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY less episodes on boring husband choice
2. Use those extra episodes on Soulmate
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In short: This drama will bring about a physical reaction in you and you still won’t regret watching it one bit. You can quote me on that.
I think the title of this show pretty much tells its entire story. “Mother”. The amount of importance this word holds. The responsibility, love and sacrifice that comes with it. How some women can never be worthy to embrace it while some own it and wear it as a second skin. This show highlights how much a mother’s actions can define a child’s life. How sensitive the stage of childhood is and ultimately, how family can transcend blood.
I haven’t watched the original so I can’t make comparisons but judging this drama on its own standing, I will say it was one of the most beautifully written, directed and acted pieces of production I have ever seen. No amount of praise is enough for the actors. I am not a fan of Lee Bo Young but she embodied her character perfectly here. Lee Hye Young, my favorite veteran actress once again brought forth a character I will forever remember and treasure and finally, the star of the show: 7 year old Heo Yool. I am still speechless at how a child so young could execute such a difficult character with such mastery and that also in her first role ever. I am going to follow her career throughout her life and I’m positive that she’s going to take the world by a storm and I can only hope she wasn’t scarred by playing the widely complex role of Kim Hye Na.
The drama comes with excellent dialogue and symbolism. It is also morbidly suspenseful, as in you desperately want to know what happens next but are afraid to find out at the same time. I really don’t have anything to complain about and the only reason I took one star back was because so many emotionally powerful things kept happening throughout the show that by the last two episodes, I was just spent and exhausted and my capacity to react had vanished which is why I watched the end with a sort of indifference.
However, I will say that even though the process is painful the drama ends with a sweet relief that we all earnestly wished for.
A must-watch.
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I really loved this drama , it was so realistic & it is not just a youthful romance but also a slice of life drama without the heaviness that we usually find in this kind of genre . And is not like the normal romance stories where they love each other > break up cause of a 3rd party > end up together .. the end !!
Like the couple as it was stated in the summary they were separated for years , so they experienced different things & they became older , there is so much to think of & not just LOVE so that’s why I loved the story line .. the couple even if they are still in love with each other they have doubts in their relationship .
The concept of the drama is for mature audience ... you can see the lovey dovey type of romance in the past scenes but I wont consider it as the genre of drama .
Fan Kris is so cute , I am in love with his eyes they 're so beautiful , I liked his acting he portrayed the character well ..
As for the Leads as a couple they were cute but actually for me I loved the ( Zhu Xuan x Yuan Lang ) couple more they were more interesting and fun to watch .
The cinematography is so amazing ! I liked how they made the transition from the present to the past vise versa , it was so smooth that sometime got me confused .
The OST was perfect it suited the drama mood .
The ending also got me confused at first but I loved it , I find the whole production is well executed ..
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Yes the main plot is about one couple who were together for so long that their relationship started to fall apart and at one moment the girl comes in possession of magical chocolate that brings her mind when she was 17 to 28 years old herself in the present time. And going like that back and forth she begins to realize her life, her mistakes, she starts to find her old self again and learns what was it that she lost along the way till this day. Whole movie is funny and very sweet, it brings many memories of our own past and it definitely makes you connect with the main girl. She is one beautiful woman who for the man she loves gave up her dreams, her own desires and her own self, she thought that acting that way will bring her marriage and happiness. And that's when Little Liang comes to the light, she awakes in Liang that young spirit, she brings her back her love for painting and drawing, she makes her feel alive and full of life again, to be more brave and relaxed, simply she makes her to learn to love herself and do what she really loves. And that was the strongest part of this movie, the main focus is only on her and her two personalities- young 17 years old Liang and unsatisfied lost 28 years old one. The way they start to interact with each other, in the beginning their bickering, misunderstandings, to the part where they finally accept and learn all the lessons becoming one. The guys were pretty good although I couldn't feel the chemistry with her boyfriend and I find that part of the movie weak- it simply wasn't explained how they feel in love with each other and till the end I think they weren't suited for each other. My heart has won the second lead or should I say the guy with whom Little Liang fell in love with. He was a typical rebel, riding a bike with living his life to the fullest but the one who awoke in her passion and love, they were totally great together. And when you add that Darren Wang was that second guy, well then it's logical that I rooted for him. ;)
The choice of the actors was also good, Ni Ni is one gorgeous goddess and she looks more beautiful by each day. She could really pass as a high school girl. Her acting was very believable and although she is older than Darren, their chemistry was so damn real and fantastic. Wallace as the lead guy was okay but in his typical wooden serious cool style and although in some other projects of his I liked him, here he definitely wasn't my choice nor the right choice for her. Despite that, it doesn't matter in the end because the main thing wasn't in men and relationships, it was in her, her mind and her heart.
" I'm proud of us"- this sentence simply engraved in my heart, the moment she said it, the way how two of them were portrayed and what they said to each other, it was very touching and realistic. As long as we have our own selves, as long as we think with our hearts and do the things we desire, as long as we don't lose ourselves along the way of growing up, we can make it, only then we can be truly happy, making our dreams come true and our lives into the life worth living for. This is the best message one movie can teach us. Despite that we may already know all that, still it means and makes us smile. It made me smile and I fully recommend it for watching.
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There are many characters in this drama and tons of different story lines. Although there is a lot going on the story never really drags like some 16-20 episode dramas do. It's always interesting and something is always happening to hold your attention.
The acting was great from the whole cast. If I had to pick a favorite from the entire drama it would be Lee Hee Joon as Chun Jae Yong. He was amazing in this and stood out among the talented cast. He made me laugh and cry, not to mention his fantastic chemistry with Jo Yoon Hee.
The music was good and fit the drama nicely. I really liked the use of American pop when the scene took place in a restaurant or coffee house.
I loved this drama but due to the number of episodes and the monster that is my plan to watch list, I don't see myself re-watching it anytime soon.
Overall this is a great drama and definitely worth watching.
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Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup: 12 Years Reunion
31 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
This is my first review (don't know how to write it actually~) so I'll just share some of my scattered thoughts.So.. this drama started really good and the young actors did an absolutely great job. Both story and acting made me feel like I was watching Wednesday-Thursday drama. Almost perfect... but...
My opinion changed as soon as they turned to the current Jang Kook and and Joon Soo... The acting was terrible. Though I watched some of Nam Goong Min's dramas and he seemed like a good actor, this drama made me change my mind...
I don't want to post any spoilers so I can't write anything about the ending.. Though you should keep in mind that as soon as you finish the last episode you'll feel lost - "is this end? where is the next episode". It feels like they just cut off the drama in the middle...
It's a pity that such a potentially good story was made into this... very disappointing....
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1A rollercoaster of emotions
This is by far, my favoutite bl series of all time.To My Shore is a series that really stuck with me like no other bl series ever did. Not because it made me feel good by watching it, but because it showed me something you don’t see very often. I saw two people who are so different, yet somehow share so much. And their common ground isn’t pretty, it’s pain, scars, and the walls they’ve built to survive.
What hit me the most is that both of them carry really heavy pasts. Each in their own way, but both have learned to live with their pain. One tries to control things so he won’t lose, the other endures so he won’t fall apart. And somewhere in the middle, they meet.
The love in this series isn’t healthy, and it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s twisted, suffocating, full of dependence and fear. It’s a romance nothing like I’ve seen before, it’s not safe, not balanced. But it’s intense and real. And that’s what makes it so powerful.
I never felt like the series was telling me “this is right.” Instead, it showed me what happens when two wounded people try to love each other without having healed themselves first. Sometimes I felt uncomfortable, sometimes angry, sometimes just sad to the bone. But I couldn’t stop watching.
To My Shore isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who can handle seeing love without filters, without sugarcoating. For those who understand that love isn’t always salvation, sometimes it’s a mirror. And this mirror, in this series, shows things that stick with you long after it’s over.
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Even though there was a lot of angst, I found myself smiling happily and even laughing out loud because some scenes were just ridiculously funny and just made me happy. Those scenes were very welcomed breathers between all this anxiousness and nervousness.
I actually liked all the characters (except the root of all evil Choi Jin Cheol) and the way they all were intertwined. Their relationships were interesting to follow and I was especially fond of the relationship between Sun Woo and Young Hoon, Sun Woo and Chul Min and of course Sun Woo and Min Young.
The interactions between each one of them and that everyone has some kind of a relationship with the others was great. Especially since we didn't know from the very beginning where they knew each other from.
To be perfectly honest I am not such a big fan of the time-travel-theme. But I found myself enjoying this drama very much. Although I found the beginning and the ending somehow confusing or just too much for my brain to grasp I didn't think that the whole time travel thing was difficult to follow. Even though that's often the case in such dramas.
But I don't think that not understanding the ending is a problem because I believe that this was intended by the writers. Everyone can interpret the ending the way he wants. There are many possibilities. And depending on which ending you choose it's either a happy or a sad ending.
For my part I still don't know if it has a bad or a good ending. But the last episode made me equally happy and anxious. But I guess the happiness or the funny parts in the last episode exceed the sad ones.
Nine_ Nine Times Time Travel is one of the best dramas that I have watched. It is awesome. The story and the characters are great and for me there is nothing more to wish for. Although at first I wasn't sure if it would be worth my time I am so happy I gave it a chance.
And I think that's also what you ought to do.
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Lighthearted fun times ahead!!
I loved it, no notes. Except perhaps that i really NEED Season 2. And I need that to have HosPlay cameos too please <33My main two reasons for watching this drama were- HosPlay sequel and Go Youn Jung and it delivered spectacularly on both accounts. Go Youn Jung is such a good actress, I love her facial expressions. But I was also really impressed by everyone else's acting, our other three first year residents had their own journeys to go through and they were fantastic.
The story was well-wrapped with just enough threads lose for a S2 renewal and I really need that to happen.
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This review may contain spoilers
Some comparisons between the novel and the drama
I don't hardly ever write reviews, but I really love this drama. So much so I went and read the novel (I can understand about 90%), and then watched the drama again (okay maybe even twice more!) Just wanted to point out a few things...Beware lots and lots of spoilers so don't read on if you don't want to be spoiled.
- Lots of reviewers didn't like the second half of the drama because they like the ML's personality in the first half more. In fact I think his personality remains quite consistent, it's just how he actions his thoughts and feelings that had changed, and in fact the drama has stuck true to the novel. In the novel ML does become a lot more assertive and dominating in actions (in fact even more so in the novel than portrayed in the drama IMHO) Throughout the story ML is quit rigid and likes things a certain way (his autism traits), it's just that in the first half in the drama he was lacking in self confidence because of his challenged vision, preferring to withdraw and felt unable to assert himself. In the second half his business dealings (and in the drama his new ability to see) gave him the confidence to act on this thoughts and feelings. Even though his actions changed I felt he stayed true to character.
- I think Evan Lin actually did an amazing job as our ML. He conveyed the tortured emotions as well as the confused first love and then the dominating boyfriend all quite well without making it cliched. I could see the layers of emotions as the ML grew through the drama. I already feel the drama has toned down the ML"s character quite a bit to make it more palatable as a drama. In the novel he smoked and drank A LOT and was even more forceful. In fact at times the narrative called him a "Bo Guan" which is a term for "violent/forceful dictator" usually used for a king/emperor.
- The scene where ML steals a kiss from FL whilst she was asleep made quite a few viewers unhappy. In the novel he actually goes a bit further, tries to taker her top off but stops himself in time, which is why he stomps off and splashes cold water on his face whilst he admonishes himself for his bad actions in the bathroom.
-Ditto the scene where he comes out of the shower in a robe and they make jokes about it falling down. In the novel he was half naked only with a towel around his waist. Remember in the novel his is still visually impaired so he can't see his towel. They joke back and forth about the towel falling and the FL says "she has seen him in less" and embarasses his secretary.
- The resolution of FL's hallucinations of conversations with her friend was not very clear in the drama. In the novel the FL is quite heavily pregnant and is presumptively in premature labour , her waters burst and ML rushes her to hospital. (In the drama where she was getting tummy pains whilst ML's scandal broke) She becomes unconscious as she is wheeled into ? surgery. That's when she sees her friend who says good bye to her, that now FL has her husband and baby she won't be needed any more. FL asks if she will see her again and her friend answers "probably not" and FL wakes, which in the drama is where ML grabs her hand as she wakes up.
- The relationship with between the ML and his step mum is also only alluded to but not explicitly clarified in the drama. They were presumably in some sort of a relationship before she married his father. FL finds this out from her the senior braodcaster woman she works with at the station, who in the novel also likes the ML. This is one of the major factor that causes the ML and FL to break up. FL is really quite jealous of ML's step mum and is a big point that was stopping her from getting back with him, because she felt that she would always come second to her. The scene where she gets drunk and hugs the beer bottle like a baby, in the book she questions if ML likes "her" better, and the reason why she makes him say "you only love me". When the scandal broke about ML being the mysterious lyricist there were also rumours about him having an illicit affair with his step mum which is why they were swamped by journalists.
- On second watch of the drama you get to pick up little things that make you appreciate the production team even more. When he becomes the CEO, the ML always has one single white rose in a vase on his desk. This alludes to the one single white rose he gives the FL, even when she thinks he should be romantic and give her a large bouquet. The MP3 the ML listens to, with all the songs and memories of her reading to him, is an old style airpod, and in line with that it always has the wired headphones attached, whereas when he listens to her radio show on his phone he is shown to be wearing airpods. The lyrics to the songs ML writes are also perfect, especially the one he writes just after she leaves him.
Despite the differences I've pointed out the drama team did an amazing job sticking to the plot and feel of the drama. I found the secondary couple a bit boring and the FL's mum hard to watch sometimes, but this is the only drama I have ever given a 10 to on MDL. Thanks for reading!
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Throwback to Classic K-Dramas
This was fun!It was very classic K-Drama. The cliché of a rich guy butting heads with and getting humbled by the person he'll fall head-over-heels for. All with slapstick humor, cheesy lines, and easy music included.
What was particularly good about this was the time they allowed for just general bonding. Before our MLs even get together we are already convinced that they get along and have gotten to see them interact and bond enough to make their feelings believable and have depth to them.
If you're looking for a good-time drama with some occasional intriguing bits, you'll enjoy this.
Side Note: I'm so glad these guys got a chance to be in another drama together and show off their chemistry with a better story.
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