This review may contain spoilers
I was originally going to write a review by episode but instead, I am going to do a review on a grand scale and by certain issues either addressed by the show itself or issues people had with the show. I, first of all, have to say that it was possibly the worst ending I have seen if any show I have watched (including Game of Thrones and GOT is the worst ending for me up until this), I am never watching anything that the writer is in charge of ever in my life, I mean I will personally be checking who the writer is because of her. Like I was wondering what nonsense of an ending that was. Like I hate the fact people try to cover it up by saying it is real life or realistic (and I would be addressing it in my review).
The show started a fun, I mean Xiang and his dumb ass friends being the cool and popular kids, then the nerd that the coolest kid in school falls for but then the story is very not cliché.
Starting this out, I know everyone first had an issue with Sun Bo and his behavior (stalking and assault) but I would like to remind people that he is kind of meant to be a dumb, naïve and impulsive teenager who is kind of falling in love for the first time and doesn't know what to with himself. I am not saying what he did was all right by any standard but understand that this was the first point being driven.
Also, still on Sun Bo, the next thing people highlighted a lot was the age difference and being in high school. Now I am quite happy that everyone is taking Pedophilia more seriously but at the same time, we should realize that countries differ and laws in those countries are not the same as what it is in our countries. Now, I was rubbed the wrong way but when I checked and I saw that the age of consent and majority in Taiwan is 16, I couldn't do anything more about it but move on, this is their country and these are their norms.
Now moving on, things I loved about the show in generality
1. The true representation of LGBT acceptance: Hao Ting Parents, The Gang, and Finally Lu Zhi's family. The showed different reactions to LGBT youth around the world as it happens. Some people just naturally accept LGBT youth especially because of their humanity and personhood and that was represented in the gang, others don't accept it but rather tolerate it for one reason or the other and that was Hao Ting's parents and the last class per se are those that are straight-up homophobic and cut LGBT people out of their lives that was Lu Zhi's granddad. I loved the fact that they represented all these in the show, which is more than a lot of them BLs give us.
2. That age gap should not be a determinant in a relationship (when the people involved are off legal age). Our societies tend to treat age gap as something that should be almost non-existent and that one party is taking advantage of the other but I love that MODC showed that sometimes, real love doesn't care about age as far as you are meant to be together, you would work out.
3. I loved the fact that they didn't revolve the story around Hao Ting struggling to accept that he was in love with a guy (although I didn't particularly like the I am not gay just in love with him trope we often see but whatever). Like it was very straight forward, he suspected he had feelings for Xi Gu and rather than fighting it as we often see, he accepted them and moved forward on and most importantly, he didn't cheat on his girlfriend per se, he broke up with her before properly chasing Xi Gu.
4. I love that consent wasn't forgotten per se in the terms of Xi Gu and Hao Ting. I was scared at several points that with the type of temper Hao had, he would overstep boundaries with Xi but he was honestly patient and surprised me a lot.
5. Sex scenes, now I get a lot of people did not particularly like this, but I like the realism to the sex scenes because most BLs tend to was to Fetishize gay people but they didn't do that here, plus I mean they are high school students, sex tends to be on their minds a lot.
6. The acting and production value were all phenomenal, I hated Hao when he made Xi miss the exam, I cried with Xi when he lost the scholarship, I felt all of the naivety of Sun and his jealousy, like the actors delivered and the quality was insane, to say the least bit. I felt everything, rejoiced with them, laughed with them…. That is what acting is meant to do emote properly, I even felt the ending particularly because of Wayne
7. The portrayed the mistake we have all made as high school students properly, from cruelty, meanness, etc.
8. Character development was great and natural compared to other shows
9. I loved Hao Ting and Sun Bo's friendship, it was beautiful to the end
Things I hated
1. The ending and the writer
2. The fact that they did not properly develop some stories, which I guess was to keep the focus on the main story but still at least resolve them. Like the twin that appeared he had feelings for Xi Gu, we did not get the foundation of the feelings of what connection there was or how did it end up? Another was the guy that made the fake picture of Xi Gu to spite Hao Ting, like what happened to him or even the ex-girlfriend? Then the way they just threw away the Fujoshi?
Now to the controversial ending if you want to portray a real-life relationship or a realistic relationship, then break them up. I am not saying people do not die in relationships, they go off course, but in a world where people always try to tell LGBT people they can't have happy endings, this just drives the narrative because Xi Gu's death was pointless except for shock value and nothing else just break the couple up. I mean, what's more common - breaking up or being killed by a car (or a white truck of doom, for all we know)? Yes, way too many people die in accidents every year, but still... that's not what usually happens, fortunately. So, for me, the "that's life/that's a realistic portrait of life" argument falls a bit flat. My impression is that they didn't necessarily want to portray a "real life" situation, rather they wanted to shock and manipulate their audience, they wanted to present a "clever" twist, maybe because someone, someday, came up with the idea that tragedy equals depth and artistry. Then, secondly - do you know what hurts me the most? I realized it's not, contrary to my expectations, YSG's pointless death. It's how miserable XHT still is even 6 years after the tragedy. Even if he says "Yes, I'm over it", even if he has survived and tried to get on with his life (did he get a girlfriend, or am I wrong? I was in a daze for most of the episode, trying not to cry too much, so there are parts I'm not 100% sure about), even if he says he's ready to hike the Himalayas. He's still so deeply grieving that you just have to look at him to know he's living an unhappy life - he seems to be living only halfheartedly, only half-conscious... and that's heartbreaking, and that's what made me so devastated. I don't see much hope in this ending. It hurts so much because I cannot help but thinking that I would be just as lost in a similar situation. Finding love is so rare, and when you lose it like that... Thirdly, poor YSG. He drew the short end of the stick, didn't he? Was his purpose as a character just to tug at our heartstrings? Was his death just a cliched plot device contrived to squeeze out our tears (and how many of them!)? He, as a character, deserved better! Also, the doppelganger: was his purpose just to trick us in the preview of the last episode with a face that looked like a future YSG? So that people, seeing him, would think "No worries, here he is with a different hairstyle, so he's obviously still alive, maybe they just separated for a few years", just to be then shocked at the revelation? I can't help but feel that my emotions were being manipulated. And lastly - I'm kind of low-key angry with myself for letting myself being so emotionally involved in this drama. It's so silly to be this upset (feeling depressed, feeling there's no hope in this world, feeling like dark clouds are weighing heavy on my heart, crying!) because of a work of fiction.
I know I won't be able to go back to it - and what's worse than that for a drama? Even the forgettable ones are sometimes revisited. And even the soundtrack, that I loved, will be off-limits for the foreseeable future.
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This review may contain spoilers
It has the making to be one of the better, if not the best BL series.Let's be honest here, this show is not going to win any award anytime soon - the plot is not new, it's another one of those university-themed BL series that is already a little bit of a cliche in itself. An enemy-turned-to-lover slightly diluted Romeo & Juliet story so common in a lot of Thai dramas. However, they have proven that even the simplest story can be great with proper execution. It's like they took note of all the bad comments from all the other series and aspired to make it better - even promised not to fall in the trap of those tiring BL tropes.
There is no "I'm straight but I only like you"; they made fun and tackled the wife and hubby misconceptions; they made the parents (and friends) cool about their preferences; the main couple even fooled the parents (or so they thought) into thinking they did what they wanted them to do but instead they're really just following their hearts. What made me appreciate it, even more, is their positive depiction of a same-sex relationship, and how it is so relatable in real life.
What about the cast? Ohm and Nanon's chemistry is off the charts they set the bar so high it will be difficult to watch any other series without comparing it to their performance. These are actors who genuinely look like they're enjoying doing the show and not just doing it for fan service. GMMTV should be lining up projects for Ohm and Nanon, sooner rather than later, and as partners. This couple deserves to be in the pantheon at the same level as the original BL trinity.
The show isn't perfect - we hated how Pran and Pat were outed by a supposed friend, which thankfully was resolved in one episode and we still ended up forgiving Wai. I also felt like the tension between the parents doesn't justify the family feud. Do I need the mention the product placements? Thankfully the shows' strengths canceled out all the negatives.
I also need to mention that satisfying ending, where they tied everything perfectly, albeit leaving a little chance for a second season.
A special nod should also be given to Backaof Noppharnach's direction and his partnership with his screenwriting team. Although I'm not a big fan of My Dear Loser, he saved the Together series with the much better Still Together, then gave us A Tale of a Thousand Stars, and now this! I am now a bonafide fan, and I'm looking forward to his future works.
Also, I have to mention how great the OST is.
Rewatch value is 10, and yes I've watched each episode a few times. Overall, it's a 9.5.
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The plot was very interesting throughout. A guy wants to stay single while his family (mostly his mom) threatens to get him married. So he decides to make Jang Mi his fake girlfriend as he knows his family would never approve of her as their daughter-in-law. The funniest ride starts right there at their first meeting. I loved how they started every episode with some fast-forwarded scene that made you go, "did I miss an episode or something?". lol.
The characters were all amazing. I haven't loved a female lead in a long time the way I loved Jang Mi. She was hilarious and had a kind heart. I mean, sure, she got a little clingy at times but that was funny too. Ki Tae was great. Out of all their friends, Hoon Dong was the best! I didn't care much for second leads, which was pretty much a bonus because I hate having second lead syndrome. Both the families were great. I think Ki Tae's mom's character was the most interesting. Sometimes I loved her and there were times I really hated her (can't believe Jang Mi never disliked her). But there were also times I pitied her. By the end of the drama I realized she was the character I became most emotionally invested in. I loved her and loved how she grew as a person. In fact I loved the growth of every character in this drama. I think when it comes to creating beautiful characters, TVN is the best. Whether it's the characters from Reply 1997/1994 or shut up flower boy band, they all impressed us and it had nothing to do with fancy celebrities but rather with the script.
The music is great. "Love Lane" and "Stop The Love Now" have been a part of my daily jam for a while now. It's a cute, cheerful OST overall. Moreover I loved the funny background music (people who have watched this would know what I'm talking about). I think I haven't loved any bgm this much since the "meh" for Sam Chun Po in Reply 1994. Hahaha.
Overall I would recommend this drama for the slightly-different but cute love story and the hilarious family situations. Definitely worth a watch and a rewatch!
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The most beautiful period Thai Queer series of the decade
It is only September as I'm writing this review but I believe it's safe to say I Feel You Linger In The Air (IFYLITA) is the BEST Thai series of 2023 for me. Everything from story, plot, pacing, acting/cast, music, rewatch value. 10/10. IFYLITA deserves all the hype in the world and it was absolute worth the wait of over a year since the cast announcement back in March 2022, the actual production period spanning over 8 months from November 2022 to July 2023.STORY
Being transported back in time isn't an unfamiliar fantasy trope but this is the first time I've seen Dee Hup House pulled out all the stops for their production. Based on the popular novel "The Fragrance of Love" (หอมกลิ่นความรัก) by Violet Rain, IFYLITA tells the story of Jom finding the true destined love of his life in the most unexpected circumstance and after being heartbroken by a cheating ex. Even though I've been a fan of the novel, I think the series is outdoing the original work because it's been able to adapt the novel to fit with the pacing of a series without losing the spirit of the novel. The supporting characters who pretty much disappear by the time Khun Yai and Jom get together in the novel are all now given their own background stories and subplots. The team has done so much world building to create an immersive experience but still shows respect for the original work (especially the iconic dialogues between Khun Yai and Jom have been adapted exactly as is). So far, everything has been perfect. The drama in each episode just gets better and better as the plot starts to unfold for every single characters.
ACTING/CAST
Nonkul and Bright are absolutely phenomenal in their respective roles of Jom and Khun Yai. Nonkul has been playing mostly "alpha" brooding male roles in his more recent works so it was refreshing to see him in a completely new light as a shy, heartbroken, gay little architecture who just wants to find love. Bright is bringing Jane Austen Male Lead A-GAME for his FIRST ML ROLE EVER. You can tell Bright practiced a lot to portrayed Khun Yai as close to the novel as possible (the way Khun Yai walks with hands behind his back, his posture, him speaking in the different local dialect but at times speak in the dialect that Jom can understand...). From their acting alone,one could tell how much love Nonkul and Bright have for the original novel and the amount "homework", care and dedication they have to crafting their characters to be as close as possible. It is not easy to act with so little dialogues but their lingering gazes, the subtle touches, the micro-facial expressions... absolutely immaculate acting to make their characters come alive so vividly. I won't go into details about the supporting characters but I do want to point out how incredibly detailed the production team is in the casting to have everyone speaking in that old local dialect to accurately portray Chiangmai in 2023.
MUSIC
IFYLITA has some of the most beautiful OST songs. I love how every time Khun Yai and Jom has their cute, lovey dovey moment, the OST 'Jom Kwan' by Asia7 starts playing! The lyrics are so lovely because it's written from the perspective of the lovesick Khun Yai who's so endeared by Jom that I just melt into a puddle every time. As the Plumeria/Frangipani flower is a huge symbol of the show, I love that the most important moments are accompanied by the OST 'Plumeria' by Cocktail. In addition to the OST, the scoring and sound editing is excellent as well. IFYLITA has very dramatic score and I can honestly say some thrilling scenes are hard-carried by the horror-movie type score and sound effects.
REWATCH VALUE
I think I will come back to watch this series every year. It's the perfect series for autumn weather and it's one where you can fully immerse yourself to be transported back to Thailand in the 1920s. There's just so much cultural, historical lessons one can get from this series. IFYLITA feels really authentic and invested. Honestly speaking, IFYLITA is like the famous time-traveling Thai lakorn Love Destiny but make it BL, get rid of the CH3 lakorn editing and infinitely better cinematography. Like they are COUSINS to me.
PRODUCTION
Gorgeous, beautiful cinematography, color grading, brilliant writing. There are so many things to praise about the production of this series but if I had to choose one thing, it would be the excellent details of this production. Making this queer period series is an ambitious project for Dee Hup House. Nonkul mentioned in an interview that one of his biggest worries for this series was the visual effects because in order for this book to come alive, it would have to be much invested for everything to look nice and Dee Hup House DID IT! Every shot is dazzling, cinematic like watching a Netflix-level budgeted period series. Small details like props, outfits, cultural events are also paid great attention with a view to craft Thailand in 1927 as close as possible.
OVERALL
While IFYLITA is enjoying moderate popularity in Thailand, I still think it's an underrated gem for a queer series that deserves much more international recognition. I think anyone who is looking for a well produced, invested period series with two eye candy for the leads, should give I Feel You Linger In The Air a chance. If you're looking for a fast-paced, plot-driven queer series, IFYLITA may not be the series you're looking for but it is the perfect one if you're in need of a refreshing multiple queer romances plot with decent pacing and looking to be transported back to Thailand in 1920s with our protagonist, Jom.
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Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon
71 people found this review helpful
Story
So, in contrary to the common belief that this drama glorifies adultery and adulterous couples, it rather incriminates infidelity simply by expressing a very well-round idea of what it exactly is. We get to see how it starts (as innocent as everything else, or maybe not so much), why it can start (it won't happen unless there's a reason(s) that has been ignored for a long time), how it intensifies, the guilt, the excuses, the fears, the acceptance, the happiness, the sadness, everything, and in the very end the consequenses, that hit hard, and hit everyone and everything around the adulterers. There is no happy end simply because in a sea of hurt feelings nobody can be truly happy ever again.
There is nothing cute about what happens, the story is rather difficult to watch at times, you can't root for anyone, you can't excuse but you can understand and the whole drama just made me question several times what i would have done had i been in such situations.
The drama, in its core, isn't even about adultery, it's about life choices. It exploits all the wrong reasons we decide to settle down in a marriage. Because we're afraid to be alone, because we want an easy life financially, because we just want to see a face when we come from work every day and have a clean house, because we are arrogant and we think we can buy everything with money, even people... and so, so on. People marry because they're afraid to try hard and be happy, they're afraid to search for that one person, so they settle. Being happy is scary, and it means being with that one person that completes you, the love that consumes you; but what happens if that person appears in front of you after you've settled down?
The drama offers the answers. Either suck it up and live a miserable life, or face the facts, break up/divorce and continue, finding yourself. But still, people are scared, being happy is scary, so they get greedy. Who will leave their perfect safe life to live a dream? Noone, so they'll cheat, because they want the best of both worlds. The drama shows you exactly this journey or bad choices, of selfish acts and the result which is cheating and destroying everything because of greed!
I appreciated how fast paced and to the point the whole drama was. First 5 episodes illustrate the beginnings and reasons of adultery and after episode 6 how everything crumbles down and the repercussions of it. The music wasn't original but it brought so much to the drama, it set the atmosphere in the best, most dramatic way possible. Another thing i appreciated was the slow but steady build up which did make the first episodes feel bland maybe, but it was carefully planned for the intense explosion of the later episodes. Best thing about it were the 3D characters, they felt like real flawed, greedy, selfish people, that you can't help but judge and hate, but in midst of their spiraling they made more sense than i could ever imagine!
If i had one problem to point out, it would be the... mildness of some scenes. While the acting was always tip-top the quarrels and fights felt rather calm, i missed the intensity in the conversations. The drama definitely needed some more... tension in certain scenes.
Acting
The acting was overall spectacular.
Ueto Aya was luscious, conveying her charactrer's feelings constantly, she made total sense and expressed perfectly her thoughts and acts. Couldn't help but feel sorry for her while wanting to slap her for not being rational.
Kichise Michiko was equally breathtaking, portraying a character who saw infidelity as something trivial, who had never fell in love, but when she did she fell hard and completely with her whole essense! Breathtaking performance indeed.
Saito Takumi was cute and sensitive, a close-to-perfect performance as a kind man who is unhappy but isn't even aware because his life is seemingly perfect; and not to forget Kitamura Kazuki for his charming portrayal of a rough but emotional artist.
The casting was really special, the actors really suited and looked amazing next to each other, i don't know if they took the time to find them or if they just worked out this perfectly, but it was indeed magical.
Recommend/Rewatch
This should not be watched by a huge amount of viewers. It's a melodrama but not even your average melo. It talks straight about cheating, there is no side story, no comedy at all, nothing unreal, nothing pretty about any of it. It demands a certain mature viewer who can understand the meaning without judging too hard and is willing to see some disturbing stuff. If you are ready to go out of your comfort zone, watch something serious and difficult then do give this a chance, otherwise it's just not everyone's cup of tea. I can see myself rewatching it in a few years but i'm a fan of such dramas.
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Despite flirtation with the idea of what it means to be a woman, core themes center around poverty, motherhood, and family (fractured and/or 'whole'). Many will find parallels with real life, uncanny sparks of the every day between each character interaction or plot motion. Though the story can be depressing, sometimes unrelentingly so, rays of hope peek through from unlikely places. The slow pace also works well, allowing for quiet sequences and subtle explosions to be worked in without unevenness. Unfortunately, well written as I found it, there were times an event or character seemed superfluous. A glaring example of this would be the welfare worker and his wife. Their tale felt unimportant and tacked on, the purpose served more thematic than necessary -- and even then, other characters had already fulfilled this aspect well. The Shiori character was perhaps a bit underdeveloped in the end, but her place in the plot was decidedly important.
Where have they been hiding Mitsushima Hikari? If the rest of her work is as vibrant as her portrayal of Koharu, it wouldn't be far-fetched to name her among the best actresses in Japan. Mitsushima-san delivers lines as if they were second nature; her gestures and body language are subtle and real. She positively carries this drama, though her work brought up the performances of others as well. The young ones depicting the Aoyagi children are also an absolute joy to watch. More than just precocious cuties paid to be tiny versions of adults, each of them felt like actual children. They babbled and asked questions endlessly, they cried without reason, they understood more and less than adults might want. This was especially true of Suzuki Rio, as the older Nozomi.
Fans of Oguri Shun should be happy with his solid performance, but will not want to watch Woman primarily for his sake. Shun-san is primarily seen through flashbacks, and though his character is important enough to warrant a spot as a main character, it is in the same way as a literary character might be labelled as such. The absence of his Shin is what pushes the basic conflict. There is a particular scene including him which had me bawling, though.
Musically, the drama stands strong. Orchestrations felt well-placed, especially in those scenes meant to be pivotal. These are also marked by unusual but interesting cinematographic sequences, such as an intense slow motion bit, set to an older song called "Believe." These instances were a little disconnected from the rest of the drama, but strangely effective. Though the sound of the theme song ("Voice" by androp) does not initially appear suitable, the lyrics tell another tale.
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so peaceful
Peace really is what I felt while watching Koisenu Futari. It's like watching your best and happiest dream unfold on repeat, just full of warm and contented feelings. One of the special people in my life is an aroace. She's a remarkable woman, gifted and strong, but also lonely and often feels misunderstood. I feel like I understand her a little bit better now after watching this drama. And while Issei Takahashi was the originating reason why I found Koisenu Futari, the theme is what made me determined to watch it.Don't we all want to live our best and happiest life? And what does that look like for each of us individually?
That's the question that both Takahashi-san and Sakuko have to answer for themselves. Takahashi always gave of himself to fulfill the expectations of his grandmother and of society. He lived in the same, in the now, and he never let himself think his life could be any different. He blessed Sakuko so much, freeing her to be her true self, teaching her that it's okay for her to be different no matter what anyone else said. And she returns that favor to him tenfold by helping him discover just who he wants to be and what he wants to do and equipping him to follow that dream.
Everyone goes into dramas with preconceived ideas of what it will be like. This drama was none of my preconceived ideas. I'd even settled on disliking Kazu-kun because he just seemed like someone who would annoy me. When in fact he also became such an integral part of Takahashi and Sakuko's development, and he grew and changed so much through the course of the drama. I didn't like Sakuko's sister, until I suddenly did. I thought some elements would end up being tropes and they weren't. And of course, the ultimate fear that the story would devolve into a love story, which it never did.
Koisenu Futari is perfect. Its value is so far-reaching and I hope it gains more traction and viewers. Thanks to Kaizen Subs for their hard work. Many thanks to the brilliant performances of Issei Takahashi and Yukino Kishii. The more I learn of Takahashi-san's filmography, the more I love him. He doesn't settle for the norm, but stretches boundaries. If you want another equally magnificent drama starring him, try Bokura wa Kiseki de Dekite Iru. Another hands' down favorite, only this time he plays a man who I believe is on the autism spectrum.
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Even though I felt that it was lacking in something on the surface, that I couldn't quite pinpoint, it still had a lot of depth and talent in pulling the viewers heartstrings. The three main actors all did an amazing job which made the story more believable and worth remembering. Over all, it has that dark atmosphere running through almost the entire movie and even though it's more slow paced than the trailer made it out to be, it is definitely worth your time and it will most likely leave you wanting to re-watch it later on (or at least with a craving to recommend it to everyone you know).
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1There and Back Again... A Lawyer's Hopeful Journey of Life, Family, Friendship and Love.
What would you do if you were given a chance to erase your regrets and cherish the ones whom you missed out on? Does life really give you second chances?Well, 28-year-old Qian Wei successfully managed to get this golden opportunity and from here starts our journey.
First and foremost, this is no regular rom-com if you are seeking pure fluff. It is a moving and heartfelt tale of life, family, justice, perseverance, love and about finding yourself.
It has elements of slice-of-life and sometimes deals with heavy emotional themes such as grief and loss. And I request you to forget about the hedgehog hair for a while, if you happened to stumble across it. In short, it is one of those rare gems that gets overlooked for various reasons.
As someone who stayed away from CDramas this year, thanks to the disappointing storylines and pacing, Legally Romance was the unexpected 'it' drama for me. This is a CDrama, so my hopes were low, but for a regular drama, this has exceeded itself in several departments and is definitely much better than the deluge of fluffy rom-coms that are released every day or so.
Despite having had her future planned ahead since college, 28-year-old Qian Wei never got to fulfill her wishes. Stuck as a paralegal assistant to her former classmate and valedictorian Lu Xun for the past ten years, she bears a grudge against her draconian boss for having stolen her 1st position during their youth. (And now stealing her leisure time by overworking her.) When her boyfriend is revealed to be working for the opposite party and she accidentally misplaced evidence, her life reaches a bleak point. However, an unexpected tumble down a manhole while has her waking up as her 18-year-old self. Taking a leaf out of Lu Xun's book (or a whole new book out of his dreams) Qian Wei decides to change her fate through the years of experience she had acquired for the better... or is it for the worse?
The drama isn't an original work and is based on a web novel with a tacky title "Don't Want To Fall in Love With The Boss". I've not read the novel, but from hearsay, the changes made to the script so far have been more advantageous to the story. After browsing through several chapters, I have to say, the scriptwriters managed to inject a lively and fresh ambience to the drama.
I was admittedly a bit sceptical while beginning this as the trope of redoing life has been repeated multiple times and has almost nothing new to be explored. The flowery poster did not help (the Youtube thumbnail is much more enticing), neither did any earlier information about the drama, which gave me the impression of a regular idol romance with a fantasy twist. Keeping aside the latter half, I'll get to what makes me feel that this drama is worth a chance.
☆ Legally Romance is not a complete romantic comedy. Yes, romance plays a major role. But, it focuses more on Qian Wei's growth. Or rather how much life has tested Qian Wei and explores her regrets and mistakes. When she is given an opportunity to experience her youth, even if it isn't real, she discovers herself once again through this. She rebuilds her vision from scratch (almost) an attempts to vanquish the possibility of any terrible event that she knew she would experience. Including major oned such as saving her father from death...
Qian Wei is no idiot -- she ranked 2nd for a reason. Trenchant about her dream to be a lawyer, we see how dedicated she is to her job further along her journey. I loved her resilience and passion.
What's more? She is definitely a flawed character. She helped her twin Qian Chuan steal Lu Xun's supposed girlfriend after she realized that they had trouble going on their side. She makes a plan to outsmart Lu Xun with her prior knowledge and foresight about what was going to happen. Frankly, I did not understand why she loathed Lu Xun in college when all he seemed to have done was study well. Yes, he was her study rival, but her past self was very deluded with the idea that his sole purpose was to defeat her that she failed to see that he was a good friend and boss, something that her own friend Shi Yun tells her in the second episode.
I loved seeing the events through Qian Wei's eyes. But, this also piqued my curiosity about how things turned out the way it did for her. What we see is her manipulated version of the past. So, what exactly happened during the times that Lu Xun did not intervene in the past?
☆ Another aspect? ALL the characters are well written. I can't find a single annoying character. This includes the second male lead, Li Chong Wen, whose backstory is well fleshed out. I couldn't blame him for his actions; it was completely realistic.
Nobody is good or bad. No one is 100% the ace of the club. The little imperfections in this drama is what makes it perfect. And the life lessons that we are given on the journey along with Qian Wei were heartfelt. I could feel that the writers really sat down and spent their energy into making sure that no character is pushed aside in their pursuit of goals.
☆ Now, the romance... the highlight of the drama. The very wacky title that screamed at the audience to run the other way doesn't do justice. This is literally a story of how the invisible second lead finally managed to get the girl.
Lu Xun is definitely not hailed as the all perfect star hero student of the college. He is known for his talent. The ideal male lead would've been someone like Li Chong Wen —- everyone has their eyes on him at campus. I loved how they didn't overdo or glorify Lu Xun as unbeatable. The 18-year-old never held a grudge towards anyone, even Qian Wei for stealing his 1st position.
What's admirable about his character was how he gave Qian Wei space when she needed it. He was a villainous shadow in Qian Wei's past.
Seeing the tables get turned unintentionally by Qian Wei after she attempts to change her past and instead gets further entwined with Lu Xun was funny, yet heartwarming to watch.
Also, yes, he has a roastworthy hair that he himself is aware of. (I laughed both during EP3 and EP5 when he is described.) Do Not let that detter you from observing the story. Lu Xun is really innocent and worth your time!
Both Song Zuer and Z. Tao had a natural chemistry. The relationship between Lu Xun and Qian Wei was innocent and romantic without ever being cringey. Yes, there were cringey moments, but it was humorous at the same time. This was one romance that is worth your time and there is none who knows this better than Qian Wei.
☆ The show is effortlessly comic without even trying hard. All the characters have a sense of humour, including Qian Wei and even Li Chong Wen (her ex-boyfriend).
Qian Wei and Lu Xun's colleagues at work were particularly funny. I loved that despite the heavy issues that the drama deals with, the touch of humour is never lost even once.
☆ The side characters have distinct personalities. Mo Zi Xin, the quiet-almost-rival to Qian Wei was a highlight. Their best friend Liu Shi Yun; her bickering with Qian Chuan, their talks and care for each other were well portrayed. Everyone has unique or different dreams and passions they pursue. Including Qian Wei and Lu Xun.
Qian Chuan and Shi Yun, the second leads, grew on me episode by episode. I usually do not care about side characters, but this one is an exception. Even Li Chong Wen is a character completely worth your time.
The parental relationships are well portrayed. I adord every scene between Qian Wei and her dad. By the episodes after 20, it really hit the nail right on the head.
☆ I'm now convinced that being a lawyer is more dangerous and risky than people realize.
I'm not a fan of prosecution dramas. (The very reason I've not watched Miss Hammurabi. ) Legally Romance has "Law" as its very backbone, if you are curious. Despite all that, I'm happy as it gave me an insight of how lawyers and cases work though I do not know how close to the truth the drama is. (Watching thrillers helped me get accustomed to it too.)
There are plenty of legal jargons and rules thrown around casually as all the characters are Law School students who are actively involved in the field. It did pique my curiosity, though. The show begins to focus on certain legal cases and have them discussed in depth.
☆ The cast and the production team might be the reason why this drama stood out for me. Song Zu Er and Z.Tao nailed their roles to tee. ( I began this as I was already familiar with Tao's Brightest Star in the Sky.) Song Zuer is a seasoned and lauded actress from what I've heard. I can see why after watching a few clips of her other works. I can distinguish her mature 28-year-old self from her younger version during pivotal moments in the drama. (Particularly EP11 for me.)
Huang Zitao, despite being a certified idol, seems to choose characters whom he thinks he might be able to act comfortably as without forcing himself. A wise choice since I can feel that he put in effort to portray both the resilient workaholic and naughty side of Lu Xun.
I can not detect anything off about their performances, even the supporting cast. [I hope that the entire cast stays safe and alert during these times.]
☆ The pacing is for once, completely suitable for the drama and the themes portrayed. We do not spend a huge amount of time dwelling in Qian Wei's dream, neither do we spend time on useless romance. Both Qian Wei and Lu Xun were intelligent enough to know the value of time.
☆ The soundtrack is beautiful. I have had Destiny by HAPPY and You Are The Rest of My Life by Z. Tao on repeat since the first time I heard them. No particular BGMs have struck me as memorable yet, as many of them are meant to have a comic effect. But, there were various instrumental renditions of all the songs that were so memorable. Honestly, each track that played were so appropriate for the scene and invoked emotions.
☆ This also happens to be my first contemporary Chinese drama that I've followed while on air. Completely unnecessary, but it made me happy to see that there were no VIP schedules and that we international fans could enjoy it at the same time as Mainland fans. And that too for free! (Atleast on Youtube.)
☆ The ENDING ... was perfect in every sense and no loose ends were left untied. It was as if the writers racked their brains about how to give everyone what they deserved and simultaneously give us viewers who stayed with the characters a truly satisfying conclusion. (There is a post credits scene that completes the wheel of time.)
My only complaint was that I did not get to see a certain character onscreen.
I'll wrap this up with a 9 on 10. Yes, the basic storyline is overused and might be cliché, but it held on long enough with a solid storyline that is not injected with unnecessary emotional drama and has a talented cast with a unique charm. (I am also aware that it's getting roasted on Douban for the same reasons I praised it for, unfortunately.)
Ultimately, Legally Romance is more of a didactic comfort show that not only gives us the butterflies, but instills a spark of hope. There are many of us out there who can relate to Qian Wei's regrets, but seeing her really start to live her life even if it was ten years late was heartwarming and hopeful. Following this journey along with Qian Wei was absolutely fantastic and an experience that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. And I wish her, Lu Xun and their loved ones the very best for the future.
Dated - March 22, 2022. (Updated - 5th, April.)
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We Best Love: No. 1 For You - Special Episode 6.5
43 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
I'm so confused by the hate of this. I think a lot of it was to mislead us. We are getting a tiny glimpse of their separation.. more can be at play. The baby is HIGHLY unlikely to be Shi De... he wasn't in America long enough to knock someone up. I think the most logical theory is that the girl is his step sister (he did go to America for his mother's wedding) and the baby can be either her's (with another man) or even Shi De's half brother. Shi De probably decided to stay in America to help his family... those medical bills could be for his step father (basing it off the name on it.. makes most sense to me).I think this special episode was just to MAKE us speculate and going crazy with theories until March 5th. I think the major anger is going to be that Shi De stayed in America for 2 years instead of the promised 2 months... Shu Yi was pretty upset at the thought of a long distance relationship in the last episode so maybe him jumping to conclusions and then finding out Shi De wasn't coming back created more of a problem.
The screenwriter wrote the majority of the HIStory series, so I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt.. that series is amazing.
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Neither worse nor great
Its good but not enough to say great , it has a good storyline , their are few episodes totally hooked me and some of them were quite boring , Ig I liked more about the relationship between book and mud , cuz throughout the whole serie Ice was over reacting and also his actions were looking very fake and the character was shy also hesitant so I don't think I am satisfied with the acting skills , in other hand in the gl couple also sea was over reacting , overall I think the story could be more interesting , instead of making Ice a shy lead he can be more flirty also I didn't liked the way he disagrees with Saint and repeated it many times ... but I have to say that I liked the ost , if I have to choose the best episode then it must be episode 12 ....Was this review helpful to you?
This is one of the best zombie movies in the world. Yes it all has the same old same story, its lighthearted. But not all movie directors can make it so perfectly like they did here. The actors were amazing, all of them. I said 'wtf' troughout the whole movie, I could feel my heart pumping, heck, I am even sweating!
The music added so much emotion and tumult in this movie. It has the loads of action, thrilling scenes, gory parts and hair-raising parts troughout this movie.
Why am I so ridiculously excited? The good pacing of this movie, you get sucked into it the minute you watch it. The actors whom all did an excellent job, they were convincing, Ma dong Seok is like always the freaking badass. Everyone had their time and story in this movie. The CGI was greatly made and the actors of the zombies felt so real, the nasty bone breaking scenes and blood everywhere. The music added so much tension in everyscene.
I would rewatch this movie any day and I do think this will be one of first Korean movies to be seen around the globe, because here in my home town, where they never heard of Kdrama land, now knows about this movie.
A 100% must watch!
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If it's not broken why change it?
Is my first time doing a review, also English is not my first language but i hope whoever reads it understand my points.I think most people that read the webtoon would agree that while the casting and acting of all characters was close to perfection, but the changes done to the characters narrative were really bad, the comic was Hyun's fight between his inner demons and his love for his friends and the growth of all of them while being in the end of the world, while in this adaptation i didn't feel most of Hyun struggle nor his triumph against his own mind, his relationship with most characters felt like something was missing and the changes to some of the characters felt pointless, if you are gonna change them is to make them better, but aside of a couple characters, almost everyone changed for the worst.
If this was a completely original drama it would have been a lot more enjoyable, but being an adaptation it was impossible for me to not compare them both, it felt worse than the original story.
Don't get me wrong, i still enjoyed it and think it was a good drama so i still recommend people to watch it, but you should keep in mind that if you got the time maybe reading the original comic will give you a better product.
P.S: Also I'm really annoyed about the overuse of Warriors, who the hell thought it was a song appropriate for the scenes it played?, it ruined my immersion in key scenes.
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Story: Nothing new here, rich guy comes across a poor girl who's not smitten by money. He gets curious about her and falls in love. The girl follows suit. There is some parental opposition, obsessed lover-wannabe, etc. but they don't play make much difference to the storyline.
Acting/Cast: It centers around just two characters played by Sung Hoon and and Kim Jae Kyung. I liked Jae Kyung in God's Quiz 4, but this was my first time watching Sung Hoon. Though I won't say they did an exceptional job, but they kinda complemented each other on screen very well. His brother and secretary and her friends play minor roles in the story, though I didn't pay much attention to them.
Music: Nothing original but considering 15-min episodes, they suffice.
Rewatch: Yes, yes and yes! Mainly coz it's so short, but also coz of the feel-good factor.
Concluding Thoughts: Nothing new about the story, nothing new about the execution, nothing spectacularly great about the acting and yet - it's pretty much awesome considering the time invested.
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This, my friends, stuck out from the crowd. This is the type of movie I like to watch and someday hope to make. This film was absolutely amazing from start to finish! A true art film, slightly similar in tone and mood to one of the best art house films of all time, In The Mood for Love.
I did not know what to expect going in. I was half-terrified that this was going to be some gut - wrenching tragedy that will haunt me for days, but it wasn't. Not in the least. Instead it was one of the most beautiful renditions of love I've ever seen materialize on film in a very long time.
The leads do not speak a word of dialogue, but it was neither missed nor needed. Everything that's important was beautifully communicated with a meaningful glance or a tender act. The chemistry between the leads was undeniable. I never grew tired of being in their world, in fact I wanted to get lost in it.
More than anything, though, I loved the message that I interpreted from it.
A lot can be said about life and how we get through our own personal struggles. The audience might not be entirely sure what is real or imagined, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter. What matters is that as human beings we need these moments of reprieve, real or imagined, to get through life. They add meaning to our existence and give us the strength to carry on in the face of adversary. I just love it.
I also loved the ending - bittersweet, but not in a sad, haunting sort of way. In a very positive, hopeful, uplifting sort of way. It's been a couple of days since I saw the film and it still brings a smile to my face just remembering it.
I can't praise it enough. Everything about it was just perfectly rendered: the atmosphere, the setting, the acting, the score! I've been listening to the lovely, evocative music of Natasha Atlas ever since I saw this film. Kim Ki-duk, by this effort alone, has not only cemented himself as a director to watch for me, but also one that is likely to influence my own work as a filmmaker. This was a perfect 10. I'm sure I'll be re-watching for this for years to come.
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