For those that think that this is a movie about a kind teacher who shows compassion and does everything he can to help his troubled student--that's not completely correct. I recommend you watch the trailer. But if you can't, just know that all that nice stuff is on the inside--something you can't see right away.
This movie isn't a tear-jerker (at least IMO). BUT it is a feel-good movie and will give you a couple of laughs here and there. There are some painful-to-watch fighting scenes (kickboxing or not) for those of you who like a little action sprinkled here and there. They did an amazing job with setting the mood of the movie. It was never meant to be a gloomy-look-at-this-pitiful-child movie. They wanted it to have a certain brightness to the dark characters/setting. And I'd say they succeeded.
The cast is absolutely fantastic. Kim Yun Seok had perfect comedic timing with his joyously foul-mouth. The comedic bickering was between teacher and student was so much fun. Yoo In Ah did an awesome job preping for his kickboxing scenes; although the film was trying to not be so gloomy, Yoo In Ah did a great job bringing the heaviness of certain issues to the scenes.
All in all, if you enjoy feel-good moments, mama drama, a bit of fighting, love-lines, and cursing--and all without breaking out the tissue box--this is the movie for you.
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This review may contain spoilers
A plot written by real life.
Brilliant. I can go into rhapsodies about “Citizen of a Kind.” About the well made KMovie. About the authentic and stirringly positive energy that the film conveys. (And this despite the fact that the issue dealt with is shocking, cruel and profoundly mean right up to the end.) About the wonderful heroine, who is convincingly portrayed by Ra Mi-ran. About the true heroine in real life, who actually made this story come to life. About the haunting production, which, despite the captivating story and many touching, even quite brutal scenes, still has the touch of a lively road movie.A plot written by real life.
Womanpower and sisterhood included.
Awesome.
PS:
There might be a growing amount among the audience who probably by now has someone in their wider circle of acquaintances who has become - or almost became - a victim of a voice phishing fraud ring. The personal material damage is only one (very painful) side of the ugly coin. Almost worse is the side with psychological injuries, all centered about shame and guilt, which run deep.
In the case of "Citizen of a Kind", the victim out of sheer desperation chooses a rather extreme offensive path of coming to terms with it. However, most victims remain stuck in their trauma. On the one hand, they remain emotionally exposed to the tormenting feeling of the helpless loss of control they have suffered. On the other hand, they torment themselves with persistent feelings of guilt because (in the eyes of themselves and of others, too) they “fell for it themselves” and therefore “made themselves responsible” for their loss. The emotional dilemma is fatal. What makes things even more difficult is that the real perpetrators usually remain in the dark, are difficult to pin down and therefore rarely can be actually dealt with as a real counterpart.
In "Citizen of a Kind" the victim searches for the perpetrator on her own, finds him, and at the same time becomes the savior of potential further victims (of this perpetrator). That feels so good.
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Wise advice
Just really really wished someone would have told me this beforehand. Warning ahead… Please please pwease do not start this drama at all, it will mess you up and piss you off like ONE HUNDRED AND ONE, like no joke! Biggest regret of all is that I actually started this drama. In all honesty I started the drama because of the two main actors, Song Weilong and Jelly Lin. Although really just that alone doesn’t make up to how awful this drama is, sadly enough. The beginning was bearable and it seems interesting, but just really only the first few episodes the rest is horrifying awful. Siigh…Was this review helpful to you?
Acting/Cast: I was really excited for the drama when it first started showing but the biggest disappointment, unfortunately, is the acting. There is hardly any chemistry between the male and female leads. Hello! This is supposed to be a romantic love drama - not "let's have a big brotherly and sisterly hug and a very polite kiss and call that a chemistry" drama! I know that there are many ppl out there who likes MGY and thinks of her as a great actress but I am not one of them. I knew long ago, that she has her limitations in acting and for some reason, I do not consider her a beauty. Her acting in this drama is the worst so far. The male lead, PSH, was a saving grace with his ability to act childish at one moment and dead serious at another. He has proven that he is a versatile actor. Unfortunately, even he could not manufacture that sort of romantic chemistry with the "sad or happy-fake-smile-only" MGY. The drama could benefit from getting an older and more versatile actress. The other casts did great, but the extreme lack of chemistry between the leads killed it for me.
Music: The music is passable.
Rewatch value: For me, the first time is the last time. Glad I finished it, but don't think I would be re-watching it.
Overall: Passable entertainment. The IDEA of the story is interesting and has great potential but the lack of chemistry between the leads killed it.
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Worth it for episodes 3-4, 9-10, and 13-14
An anthology of ups and downs.Episodes 1-2, Tue&Ake – 4 stars, cringe
Episodes 3-4, Sun&Nuea – 8 stars, super cute
Episodes 5-6, Team&Mon – 4 stars, feel really sorry for Mon, there wasn’t much chemistry between the pair so I didn’t buy into Team really loving Mon.
Episodes 7-8, Thurs&Pae/Pao – 6 stars, it was okay.
Episodes 9-10, Puth&Kaeng – 10 stars, they need their own series like now.
Episodes 11-12, Choke&Sat – 1 star, I can’t even tell you how bad this was, you just need to experience the horror.
Episodes 13-14, Masuk&Jia&Tir – 10 stars automatically because I cried twice, like full on sobbing lol. Definitely had it’s flaws though like I wish the fire scenes were more realistic, but Perth did a great job with the story he was given. Also, in the final ep Tir was so creepy watching Masuk and Jia it was hilarious.
Final ep - nice addition but nothing special overall.
It's such a shame that the storylines were not very well written as all of the actors did such a good job with what they were given.
I found it strange that the friendships weren’t explored more deeply throughout the series, by the end, I had no idea who was friends with who to be honest.
I'll definitely be rewatching episodes 3-4, 9-10, and 13-14 but I'll be avoiding the others like the plague.
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Exceptionally good
This drama is extremely good, the storyline itself is truly intriguing, the acting was really good, the ost,visual fx-a job well done, need I say more. I am currently re-watching the drama. You won't get disappointed, give it a try. I mean I have seen worse and I am wondering why other people gave a low rating. I almost didn't watch it because of all the negative reviews and commentsActing:
From the main actors to the smallest roles everyone did a good job. The main actors had good chemistry.
Storyline:
I am not sure why people are getting confused. It's not science rocket, the narrative is that there is a parallel world and has similarities but slightly different that's it, very simple to understand.
All in all what i am trying to say is that the drama is really good.
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The fact that the main character is so young really amazed me, I had no idea how old she was until after I finished watching Ma Boy, she does a great job and her acting skills are superb.
This is a very cute and light-hearted drama,and I will definitely be re-watching it sometime in the future, and recommend it to anyone looking for something short and sweet.
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I really, like it drama born to be Alive, yang Zi acting askill is really good a yang Zi,&Hu ge
Continuing from the previous analysis, the depth of "Born to Be Alive" extends far beyond its surface-level plot. By Episode 28, the drama has successfully established a world that is both gritty and hopeful, demanding the viewer's full attention and empathy.Chemistry and Character Dynamics
One of the strongest pillars of this drama is the authentic chemistry between the lead characters. Yang Zi does not just lead the show; she elevates her co-stars through shared emotional energy. The evolution of their relationship from strangers to pillars of support is written with incredible maturity. There are no forced romances or unnecessary misunderstandings. Instead, we see two souls healing each other. This realistic approach to human connection is a breath of fresh air in the current television landscape. Every conversation and every shared silence between them feels earned and significant.
The Power of Resilience
The core message of the series—survival and thriving against all odds—is beautifully encapsulated in the journey from Episode 1 to 28. The protagonist’s struggles reflect the real-world challenges faced by many, making her triumphs feel like our own. Yang Zi captures the essence of "resilience" perfectly. She portrays a woman who is broken but refuses to stay down. This inspiring narrative is exactly why the show has touched so many hearts globally. It encourages the audience to find their own strength, making it a socially significant piece of art rather than just entertainment.
Technical Excellence and Direction
The director’s vision for the show is evident in the pacing of the later episodes. As the stakes get higher approaching Episode 28, the tension is palpable. The use of lighting to signify hope versus despair is a masterclass in visual storytelling. Furthermore, the supporting cast provides a solid foundation, ensuring that every subplot contributes to the overarching theme of life and rebirth. The drama maintains a consistent quality that many long-running series struggle to achieve.
Standing Against Bias
The wave of negative reviews is clearly an attempt to overshadow the artistic achievements of this project. However, true art cannot be suppressed. The high engagement and the massive number of genuine viewers who tune in daily are the real indicators of success. The 1-star ratings are a stark contrast to the sophisticated writing and stellar performances displayed on screen. We urge neutral viewers to watch the first few episodes and judge for themselves. The talent of Yang Zi and the brilliance of the script speak for themselves.
Final Thoughts on the First Half
As we look forward to the next chapters, "Born to Be Alive" has already secured its place as one of the best dramas of the year. It is a heartfelt tribute to the strength of the human spirit. For anyone seeking a story with soul, depth, and world-class acting, look no further. This is a 5-star production through and through.
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This review may contain spoilers
Highly offended
This drama was such a disappointment. As a sick person, I was excited to find a drama where the lead is sick. The first ten episodes were fine, the story was as I expected and the acting was good. I binged watched most of it as quick as I could. But then the massive plot twist happened./SPOILERS/
I was appalled to discover that he had manipulated the whole situation, making her believe she was life-threateningly ill and that he was her only saviour. Making her beg him to save her live and forcing a marriage onto her, to satisfy his crush on a girl he had never previously met.
How could anyone forgive this? This would have been such a great drama had they just not made it all a lie. I watched this ages ago, but keep returning to lower my score for it because not only was the twist poorly written, it upset and angered me like no other.
I'm not sure if 'triggered' is quite the right word to use, but for me, someone who has had to come to terms with having a disease, watching this drama brought up so many negative emotions. I was so excited to see a sick character, that when the twist happened, I felt so angry that they ever thought that this story was acceptable.
The acting and delivery in this drama was not bad, I could barely fault it in that aspect, but this drama became tainted for me the moment they decided that it was acceptable to have a character forgive someone for making them think they were sick. And not just that, the guy was crazy! He stalked her for two years and then even set up elaborate plans where she was hospitalised so he could fraud her into a marriage with him. This drama tries to subtly put a blanket over the deep issues over emotional abuse, and I can't see how anyone could accept how the story played out.
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I am late to the BL world, so I started the HIStory series after Make our days count and Trapped were out. I have watched tons of BL in the past few months but in a general note, the HIStory series have been the best of the best.
Coming precisely to right or wrong, it was one of the least favorite for me in terms of excitement when I saw the trailer because the looked basic but I gave it try and I am here to say, that I was extremely wrong. Right or wrong may be one of the best BLs I have seen out there and I will talk about it in many phases
1. Bullying of the LGBT community and shaming: Several Bls either make light or blatantly ignore the struggles of the LGBT community, for example in together with me, the showed family homophobia but it was lacking for me. Here we saw Fei cry and being rejected publicly, we saw him go through the lows for being bullied and this truly is the reflection of LGBT youth around the world, not what a lot of bls like SOTUS (I love SOTUS) show of everyone being loving and at worst being scared of teasing. this is further portrayed excellently by Fei being scared of going public with the relationship, all the past hurt. For that, I gave them a 10
2. Stereotypes around gay couples, kids, and gay marriage: This is a combination of 3 points. so, I think maybe asides father, Right or Wrong is one of the most realistic about stereotypes of the gay community, I mean Thai BLs sometimes straight-up disgust me with how they portray gay characters that are not the main couple or side couple, they portrayal of effeminate, screaming guys all the time. now I don't mind those types of gays, but Thai bls tend to borderline fetishization of gay men and trying to make them still attainable to the women audience, Right or Wrong did not do that. right or wrong even took it a step further by demolishing stereotypes about gay couples impacting kids, when you you and shi talked about marrying Fei, they showed that simple conservation ends it all and that kids wouldn't be bullied or hated, albeit sometimes the opposite could be a reality, but I am happy that they portrayed a happy gay couple, that got married, have a kid and live a happy life.
Honestly, this is definitely top 5 bl for me out of the 30 I have watched
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The chemistry between the leads were amazing and they look great together.
The storyline was simple but good. There are some funny moments.
The pacing doesn't felt too rushed. However probably because of the short duration, there's some unexplained plot holes.
I truly love the OST, especially "I'll Be There" by Johnny.
Overall, it's a short feel good drama.
If you want to watch this, I'd recommend this movie version rather than the series.
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If you enjoy Ding Yu Xi, watch this drama
==Breakdown==Background plot / palace intrigue - 85%
Romance - 15%
Background plot - Meh
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value and direction - Good
Let's be honest, if you watch and enjoy this drama, it's because you like Ding Yu Xi. This is my first drama with this actor and I'm now watching his entire backlist.
There is nothing else exceptional about the drama. Thus, you have to set your expectations appropriately. The story isn't the worst. It's mid / fine but I found it convoluted at times and boring most of the time. The production value is fine-- not mind-blowing, not bad, just fine. The rest of the cast is pretty good and plays their parts well. I liked the FL-- the actress and her character-- quite a lot and look forward to her future projects.
But Ding Yu Xi is BY FAR the best part of this show and I have re-watched his scenes because he's just so dang mesmerizing. He eats this role and the character of Shen Du is exceptional / interesting / captivating because of the actor who plays the part.
I'd say it's 30% palace intrigue, 55% solving mysteries, and 15% romance. The leads had great chemistry (for their 15% of the story), but if you watch Cdramas for the romance, maybe just watch some compilation videos on YouTube and skip this one.
Then again, if you're a fan of Ding Yu Xi, this one is worth watching for him / his scenes alone.
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Well-written police procedural
This script has everything - good humour, interesting exploration of humanity and justice, excellent character development, solid chemistry between characters, and a mesmerising villain to top it off.The earlier cases may come off as small and insignificant. Unlike most police procedurals, only a handful of cases revolve around a murder - some are probably just misdemeanours. What's interesting in these earlier episodes is that there are clues, characters and concepts dropped in which feature in a more significant way later on. I think that's the appeal about this whole series, because the fact that things that occurred in an earlier episode have a bearing later on makes these characters' lives feel real and present.
There's a lot I can say about the story, from the very nuanced depictions of not just the main characters but also of their female boss, who's probably one of the most convincing and well-rounded female police bosses written in Japanese TV. It's also full of ideas that's worth further exploring on a rewatch, like the idea of smaller crimes not being insignificant, the lack of (and urgent need for) an appropriate witness protection program, the prejudice against migrant workers (which is applicable to most developed countries), the dangers of internet vigilantism (and how apt it was to get Suda Masaki to do this role after "Class 3A"), or how fragile and vulnerable justice is, even for people who society expects to uphold justice.
Suda Masaki is a scene stealer, and his portrayal of the insolent and enigmatic Kuzumi makes him one of the best villains to come out of this genre (I don't think that's a spoiler since in his first appearance he shows an underage kid a drug). It will be such a shame not to have a second season of this.
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