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‘The Queen’s Classroom’ is my only second Japanese drama, first drama was ‘Bloody Monday’. I enjoyed this show more than any other show. The story is very meaningful. It changed my views for importance of study, life and past-present-future. It is pessimistic and also optimistic; realistic and also idealistic. Every character in the drama and all 24 students have their own dream and problem to solve. They learned some important lessons as the time passed. Speech in last episode is very thoughtful, and it’ll create huge impact on you.
The actors were also amazing. The actress who plays Maya is both lovely and really talented. I can’t help myself fall in love with Shida Mirai. All kids are wonder kids; every kid played their role perfectly with emotions as if they are really in that situation and everything is happening to them.
All the episodes are extremely touching and made me cry, tears weren't falling because of only sadness but tears were falling because of happiness also. I highly recommend this drama to everyone. It’s one of the most meaningful stories I've ever seen and really makes you think about teaching, learning, and life. There are many great moments but ending scene of Maya in last episode is epic.
As I mentioned already that I enjoyed this show more than any other show. I hope they’ll air this show someday in India.
If you haven’t started this show yet then start it now……and don't forget to watch specials..."Tee Hee"!!!
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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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Its a must watch for any psychological enthusiasts. Its littered with subliminal messages and symbolises throughout.
Story: First of, the story is absolutely flawless. Watching the main character slowly descend into the depths of madness as his deranged compulsions are motivated by the main villian. The writing here is insanely well done.
The show isnt over indulgent nor is it pretentious. All the set pieces are handled perfectly.
The ending aswell, without any spoilers, leaves much upto viewer interpretation. Many conclusions are feasible with this open ended plot.
Soundtrack: The soundtrack, nothing short of perfect. Its immersive, with theme sending shivers down my spine days after finishing the show. It fits perfectly with the eerie paranomical style of the movie.
Acting: The actors absolutely killed it. Lee Dong Wook nailed his role as the psychopathic serial killer, and i would expect nothing else from the highly acclaimed actor. But the one who shines the most here is the mc, Im Shi Wan. His potrayal of a man at the brink of insanity, while being reserved and submissive is oscar worthy.
The whole cast overall did an extremely good job here. All played their roles really well, and I dont think anyone else but them could've executed it better.
Directing/Visuals: Another aspect where Strangers From Hell shows excellence. All the scenes, be it the outdoors or inside the residence where shot with alot of care no doubt. Especially with the frequent use of tracking shots and well placed cuts, the momentum is never lost.
Overall, Stranger From Hell is masterclass in storytelling. With a solid soundtrack and a wonderful cast, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.
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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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Thoughtful tale of self discovery
37 seconds centers around the life of Yuma, who has cerebral palsy. The story is very well written and touches many aspects of what it means to have a disability. Even though some happenings might seem over the top, the story still feels real and for the whole duration you're feeling with the main character. All the characters over different reactions to her disabilities and the director manages to showcase a positive movie that doesn't highlight the negativity of the disability and instead shows Yuma's journey to self discovery and independence.The movie has its funny moments and touching ones as well. While the theme of erotic mangas might seem funny and weird, it's usage as a starting point for Yuma is well done.
The acting is very well and considering it is the first work of the lead actress, thanks to the script and production process, her character feels natural. The story was adjusted to the actress who has cerebral palsy in real life and contributed to the narrative of the movie by providing insides to her own experience.
I truly enjoyed the movie and can totally understand, why it won prices and the applause of the audience when it was first shown in a film festival.
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This Guy Is the Biggest Mistake in My Life
23 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
The story is refreshing somehow. It starts with Sato Yui depressed over the death of her dog chocolate. At the end president amagi helps her get over chocolate's death. This alone makes the series a good wrap.It has its own witty moments and displays a different kind of setting, entertaining nonetheless.
Although there is borderline stalking in the series, it somehow works out with the comedy, which is capable of damaging the whole lighthearted part.
Music isn't that great or memorable at all except for the tacky opening song I'm slave for you by reiji. Background music however effectively blends with the scene and brings out the acting of actors on another level.
Overall there is no drag in the story. I find other characters in the story equally lovable if not more. Especially Natori san, he displays cool antics and really deserves the title of president's secretry.
I'm probably overrating it because I laughed a lot wathcing it. It's a hit or miss really depending on what kind of mood are you in, but in general if you can ignore the borderline criminal activities, it's worth a try.
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This review may contain spoilers
Short Review: The synopsis showed lots of potential that unfortunately the series didn't live up to it. I enjoyed watching parts of this series but I found that a good amount of it was confusing and frustrating skipping over parts became necessary if I didn't want to drop it.Longer Review: It became frustrating to watch after awhile mainly due to the character Sanrak. At first she seems naive and innocent but that naivety fast becomes what feels like stupidity which I personally did not enjoy watching. In the beginning she seems like a protective older sister but that doesn't last long. Now this is only my second Thai drama so I'm not familiar with the culture which probably didn't help but understanding who's related to who and how when it comes to Sanrak & Sandee's family was confusing. They mention an older sister named Sansuay but she never makes an appearance and her relationship with Na is never really explained so that too added to my confusion.
Sandee & Thada were probably the reason I didn't drop this drama after the first few episodes. Although it became cliche at times and somewhat frustrating, it was the enjoyable kind of frustration. Also their group of friends also made it fun to watch. There are a few twists that happen within the friend group that help the show along and they all seem to genuinely care about each other and their friendship. The issues acknowledged within the group were handled pretty well so that helped a lot.
One thing that bothered me after I finished the series was that they didn't address a few of the conflicts that had happened. I'm not sure I can really go into more detail without spoilers or sounding so vague it's confusing but I'll try. Some minor characters conspired and did some things to the main characters that caused harm either mentally or physically and they were never really resolved. There was one incident that was somewhat concluded but it was done so quickly it felt like an after thought and I was left annoyed because I wanted to see this person be punished for what they had done, not just get called out with an implied possible punishment.
Also the product placement was intense in this drama. At the end of an episode they would have a segment called "Beside the Scene" which for the most part wasn't important or necessary.
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She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat
23 people found this review helpful
Perfectly Complementary Character Growth in a Cozy Backdrop
Japan just has a way with these food dramas that few other productions can match. It just feels so down-to-earth, real, and cozy. It puts the small details into focus like nothing else can, and somehow manages to soften any societal critique messages and story stressors.I wouldn't say this is a GL drama, but rather a lesbian adult coming-of-age drama. There isn't that same focus on the *need* to enter into a romantic relationship. Instead, we get to navigate the slowly shifting dynamic between these two women who find their perfectly complementary half. We get to see how the small comments and practices (what has often been coined as "micro-aggressions"), seemingly insignificant to the masses, can have a longstanding impact to others. They can become a source of insecurity, dissonance, and wariness. Things that make you feel "other." But this drama does it in such a way that it feels almost conversational, in such a way that we actually see every day and with responding messages that, while feeling unnatural at times, weren't drawn out and hung up for continuous reference).
I loved seeing the progression of these characters through the work. From shy, uncertain, and insecure, to understanding, to irreplaceable. From a dynamic where one ate and the other happily watched, to a dynamic where they both ate meals together, to a dynamic where their relationship was no longer limited to meals. I really hope that we get a season 2, and I don't say that about many dramas.
And the food looked delicious. I am so glad that the producers included recipes on the drama's website for the key dishes - because I'm definitely going to be trying some of these.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is my first review, and its probably going to be long because i literally just finished this show and i am PISSED.I've been on a revenge, slap/kiss binge for a while now, i believe i've become knowledgeable of the genre and i say that this is literally THE WORST. I have tolerated a lot of things from revenge plots, but the actions taken in this drama weren't convincing enough to make me suspend my disbelief.
First, the romance:
The writers and directors really tried to convince me that for the first 3 episodes, the male lead was more than some super creepy opportunist. He popped up everywhere, coated his voice, got all up in her space, and just stared and creeped her out. She was so creeped out by it, she literally avoided him. It creeped ME out, i literally had to power through it and make myself watch the episodes.
And when the supposed romance happened, it literally happened so randomly. Lets not talk about the fact that they have no chemistry. Lets not talk about the fact that he literally rapes her and attempts to rape her every chance he gets when he's angry. Lets not even mention the fact that he literally insults her in the worst ways, abuses her to the point where she had to go to the hospital and get stitches—oh no, those were just so insignificant incidents we're supposed to forget about because even if he did those things, he loved her all along.
They didnt even dedicate screentime to developing the romance. It was family members saying "oh he loves you" while he pushed her around and raped her. They didnt even show when the hate turned into love so how on earth am i supposed to buy it?? Its like they forgot it throw the romance in. How??? The episodes were nearky 2hrs long???
The only authentic romance was between the side characters. All the main couple had were trash interactions-they barely knew each other outside of their negative qualities.
Second, the characters:
The ONLY characters i liked were the side characters. Frankly, the female lead had no personality and the male lead was a coward. How is it that the side characters have more development in their pinky toes than the main characters do in their personalities??? Not only that but the female lead LITERALLY LET HIM RAPE HER, didnt report it, continued to get upset and be all "why are you being so mean to me?" Instead of CALLING THE POLICE? They were so set on making her out ti be the responsible sister, the level headed on who was innocent and rational in the beginning but after the first 3 episodes, all she does is cry and take the abuse silently like she deserves it.
The male lead, his DELUSIONAL ABUSIVE ASS, had me upset for the entire series. Everytime she so much as looked at a guy, his mind ran rampant. It was basically "you're a whore, no one man will ever be enough for you, you stupid bitch" for about 12/15 episodes, EVERY TEN MINUTES.
Third, the ending:
What the hell? They really want me to believe that 14 episodes of torture is resolved with some childish fake engagement? I wanted her to LEAVE. I wanted her to be gone, and he can search for her and ACTUALLY CONVINCE HER and beg for her forgiveness and come back. But no- she forgives him immediately. It had me wondering why on earth i stuck around.
ALL IN ALL, this was a hot mess, a trainwreck, a totally insane show that i be watching again. And above all else, on top of its sheer stupidity, unconvincing acting, and trash characters, it still manages to be BORING. How??? HOW???
The writing is TRASH. The only saving grace was the side characters.
In the end, this is more of a rant than a review, but if you're down for some mindnumbing bullshit, this is for you. If not, head elsewhere. If you really like the premise of the plot, try Kleun Cheewit—it does it way better, without the rape and outright abuse. They do a much better job of developing the characters and showing that the hate actually gradually turned into love.
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Good drama, but unpolished. Watch if 1) You feel like taking a long ride, 2) You want to watch a family show (as in, a story that follows a family, not just two individuals), 3) You're looking for many cute couple scenes and a few more mature ones, 4) You want a good-looking cast, 5) You're patient. Dont watch if 1) You can't stand screaming (there's lots, and lots, especially at the beginning), 2) You can't stand dragged plots, 4) You're not up for romantic comedy, but comic romance (there's a difference in focus, you see).
THE STORY
Very simple and cliche premise, dragged on for 80 episodes or so. The leads are sloooooowwww; it takes age before any development in their relationship. There's also a few characters (three to be exact) who's stories left me quite indifferent. That being said, there's too much fun in this show to give it up, and when I mean fun, I mean real fun, not over-the-top humor that we sometimes find in dramas. To the fun, add some good characters and an amusing secondary love story (even if the romance is a bit surreal). You get a pretty nice show. So what if you sometimes end up skipping some parts? By the end, you're still very satisfied with the story. Believe me.
THE ACTING
I'm no expert, but acting in this drama was good. I don't know about Chris Wang, the main guy, but I became quite a fan of the main actress (Annie Chen) after the show. Don't care if she's not the best actress, that girl has charisma and a killer smile (so envious). The little boy was pretty good, I was quite surprised.
THE MUSIC
Fine soundtrack, fitted for the show. There was comical instrumental for the comic scenes and emotional songs for the more serious ones. Not to mention that I liked almost all of these songs and particularly the one from Della Ding, Can't be alone (Yi ge ren, bu ke neng). I still listen to it today.
REWATCH VALUE
Rewatched. Three times.
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Atypical, yet worthwhile thriller, driven by a unique variety & sensitive quality of women´s power
"The Day I Died: Unclosed Case" is a thriller. However, the KMovie takes its time. It is atmospherically embedded in the slowed down everyday life on an island. The focus is on emotionally approaching the protagonists. In this case, the key characters are all women, who are surrounded by other women. Men are only indirectly involved in the background of the story - among other things as those who stand for the painful wounds in the women's lifes.So you might think: a movie about women's power? As a matter of fact, that's true. However the actual power of women is not men´s power in women's clothes. In this movie, women´s power symbolizes in an idiosyncratic way how the usually devalued "weak" in the 'female' becomes "powerful" and effectively plays out its transforming and liberating quality, yet in a rather calm, descreet variety: silent, subtle, empathetic, unobtrusive.
The story is quite exciting, profound and complex. In the course of the investigation, the detective - strong, competent and at the same time hurt and vulnerable - is increasingly confronted with open questions in her own life. She slowly builds an emotional connection with the missing victim. Although the case seems clear and simple to everyone else, she cannot let it go. She is driven to shed light on injustice of some sort. Is she fighting for the missing victim? Is she fighting for herself? Either way, she finds the answers she's looking for.
In a touching way the strong presence of the two veterans Kim Hye-soo and Lee Jung-eun rounds an exciting story off. Script and direction are also in women's hands here. "The Day I Died: Unclosed Case" is not a classic crime thriller, but definitely worth seeing - with a unique variety and sensitive quality of women´s power.
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2
1Forever in My Heart
Just like Zhu Yun will forever have Li Xun in her heart and Li Xun will forever have Zhu Yun in his heart, Lighter & Princess will always have a special place in my heart. This is my 4th watch and I don't know why it has taken me so long to write a review. Every time I watch L&P, I am stunned by the sizzling chemistry and the depth of love the leads have for each other. If you have not watched this drama, do not believe the criticisms against the ML and the FL's character. They could not be any further from the truth. Watch for yourself.The ML's character is one that if you come to understand him the way Zhu Yun did, you will love him. He is not the usual sensitive ML but rather rough on the edges due to his rough life experiences. The way Zhu Yun softened Li Xun made their romance even more compelling and believable. Li Xun’s dream was the basis of the company he founded called L&P. His dream was to build a system to provide medical service to the public in order to reduce the cancer death rate. But due to circumstances, Li Xun ends up losing it all. After a break up and time skip, the couple works together to regain all that was lost and it is through this collaboration that we see how the couple's romance develops in their love for each. I watched every minute of Lighter and Princess with no desire to fast forward except through Gao and his wife's marital problems. And as Li Xun's back story is revealed, I loved him even more and it was entirely convincing that Zhu Yun would love him because she understood him. She was the light in his life, the "princess" who is someone innocent yet also someone willing to take risks.
The chemistry between the leads sizzles...and sizzles...and sizzles. The match between Chen Fei Yu and Zhang Jing Yi is amazing. The person who selected this cast deserves an award. They are comfortable with each other. I am a big fan of Zhang Jing Yi since Lighter and Princess. She makes it all believable because she is a natural actress who looks comfortable in intimate roles. The way she hugs and cuddles with her ML made me believe she loved him. You can feel the connection. Chen Fei Yu's gazes as he looked straight into his Jing Yi's eyes conveyed deep emotions of love. There is this yearning that is a mix of love and regret but one that said he loved this woman with all his heart and soul. His eyes deserve a special award for L&P! It is this chemistry that left me with the feeling that I never wanted it to end and now over a year since I watched L&P, I cannot move on. I feel it calling to me all the time because I miss this couple when I am not watching L&P.
Lighter & Princess is a masterpiece. You can watch it on the surface or look deep into significant details. Lighter & Princess. Two words you might wonder how they go together. The lighter Li Xun carried with him was his father's. It was broken at one time but Zhu Yun had it mended. But perhaps he no longer needed it as she became his light drawing out of his painful past and bringing him into her innocent fairy tale existence of a "princess." I loved the way he called her "Princess." And yet he didn't treat her as if she was nothing but a princess. He allowed her to grow and learn on her own by guiding her and giving her hints on how to achieve her goals. And she understood him.
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Don't be skeptical to watch it because it's only two episodes. They are two really good episodes.
The main character Park Jung-min is so lovable. He's a bit awkward, but when it comes to music he changes into a different person. He's definitely my favorite part of this show. Kim Sung-Cheol did a great job expressing Jung-min's fears and his love for music. He's a relatable normal character who you're going to find yourself rooting for as he tries to win the girl of his dreams.
Jung Chae-Yeon plays Kwon Na Ra, a former one-time idol still with the hopes of pursuing her dream. I think she played her role well, don't let idol bias stop you. She fits the character really well. She's the former popular girl at school and the Jung-min's childhood crush.
The show is refreshing. It's somewhere between a sweet tiramisu (haha, you'll get this once you watch it) and a cool cucumber. It's not the most original of premises, but somehow it feels different than other shows. Don't worry there's no cliches nor any cringy parts. Everything flows easily and you'll be surprised that time passed so quickly. The plot is well constructed and executed.
The chemistry between the leads was also a plus. This is the two episodes work at a disadvantage because by the time you're done you're going to be wishing for more.
I loved Jung-Min's support system. From his little sister who gave him dating advice to his friends who stand by him to his gruff uncle who's interest is always best in heart.
The music is also a highlight. I think most of the songs are covers, but they're incorporated into the story very well. They 're catchy and have caused me to constantly replay the songs on youtube. If you're skeptical about watching this, I say watch for the music.
My only qualm was that the ending felt like it could have added some closure to a few things. But they're also a few very small parts that I think can easily be overlooked.
Overall, It's a light, funny, entertaining and good quality short watch.
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