It's really great to see a drama that touches upon the subject of age. Often times, especially in places like Japan, a woman's value is determined by trivial things such as her age (saying women past 30 are undesirable, their lives are defined by whether or not they eventually end up with someone during their 20's, etc etc.), but that is not the case in Sumika Sumire.
Sumi-chan is encouraged to enjoy her newfound youth. Never once is she portrayed as weird/gross for trying to live her new life, even though she is, technically, a 65-year old woman. She is met with plenty of love and encouragement from almost all of the other characters. And In the end, she changes not only her own life, but the ones of those around her as well.
Overall, it is a very sweet, light-hearted, and positive story. I like to think that Sumire, in its own way, is trying to tell people that if you're unhappy with your life, it's not always too late to try and change it. I mean, obviously, you're not going to magically end up with a younger body or go back in time or something. But, to me, the message is still pretty clear: you're never too old or too far gone to find happiness. Everyone deserves a second chance at life, and even if you feel hopeless, it's never too late to try.
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I've seen lots of dramas but this has to be my all time fav. Its defently worth watching and rewatching. Nothing like a warm heartfelt drama. You would almost think its real. Something all us girls dream bout. Im so so envious of her -sigh-
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If you are looking for a dramas to watch that’s has a cute and sweet female lead and a hot, smart but slightly wicked male lead, then this is the series for you.
Firstly, what I enjoyed about this series was the fact that the male lead didn’t get swayed by the other females that were chasing him, he showed his commitment to the female lead on multiple occasions and not once did he choose another females side over the female lease.
The second thing I liked about this series was the female lead. Once she was determined to like the male lead, she stayed with him, even though her sister and parents didn’t like the male lead. She was a sweet female lead who was kind to everyone and showed growth as the series went on. She wasn’t as naive and gullible like she was in the begging . She became more smarter, but still sweet.
The first thing I didn’t like about this series was the first villain who appeared in the begging. I felt like her presence was just unnecessary and the fact that she just disappeared without addressing the main plot of this series was just a fail for me.
I would have given this series a 10/10 if it was not for the last 4 episodes. I felt that they were unnecessary and they just caused unnecessary tension between the ML and FL. The last 4 episodes were unpleasant to watch and they didn’t add anything to the series as a whole.
I would have watched the ML and FL relationship grow after all the oppositions around them were solved.
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Intense build-up, decent wrap-up
The first half of this movie was absolutely flawless — I was terrified (in a good way) by all the jumpscares, the mystery was extremely intriguing and I was trying desperately to figure it out myself, and the soundtrack and interactions between the characters all added to the dark vibe of the movie.I still think the second half, after everything was revealed, was a decent watch, but I did think that it took away a lot of the things that I loved in the first half. Of course, a mystery can't go on forever, but I definitely felt like the story didn't feel as dark as it did before and there was no more anxiety-inducing tension, more just running around and fights. Those were still fun and exciting and I really enjoyed how the story was revealed, intertwining different characters, but the first half still felt more captivating to me.
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1This review may contain spoilers
A feast for the senses with an underwhelming ending.
Chang'an is a city of splendor, temptations, and secrets — a truth no one understands better than Wu Zhen. By day, she endures mockery and admiration as the rebellious and unwed daughter of a duke and the only sister of the queen. By night, she is the revered Cat Lord, the fierce protector of the Demon City that lies beneath Chang'an, a position that keeps the mortal and demon realms in a delicate balance. She has long been content with this arrangement, using society's scorn of her unconventional lifestyle as a means to keep her secrets safe. However, her carefully constructed double life is jeopardized by the arrival of Mei Zhuyu, the reserved and calculating newcomer at the Bureau of Mystic Investigations, whose agenda is as hidden as her own. With the looming return of an ancient and devastating enemy, and the worlds they swore to protect under threat, these two opposing heroes are forced to become unlikely and unassuming allies. As their destinies intertwine, their relationship blooms into one that is as complex as the secrets they keep.From the very beginning, Moonlit Reunion lures us in with its breathtaking aesthetic, a world brought to life by the stunning visuals and enchanting osts. The vivid contrast between the mortal world and demon underworld is one of my favorite features in this drama. For instance, when the camera cleverly glides through the Ruyi Pavilion in episode one, it reveals the extravagant fashion of the elite, roaring laughter of the patrons, rich melodies of the musicians, and mesmerizing dances of the performers. I remember thinking that nothing could rival this visual excellence, and then something did. We are introduced to the Demon Market — an unparalleled explosion of vibrancy, chaos, and richness in a world usually enveloped by night — and my jaw hit the floor. This duality extends to the very atmosphere, as the drama excels at using green and blue lighting to signal the mystical encroachment upon the mortal realm. The seamless combination of dazzling cgi, skillful cinematography, and beautiful soundtracks is an absolute feast for the senses.
The diverse cast of characters are a delight to watch. Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu are compelling leads and true equals in their cleverness, competence, and power. It is the kind of relationship I can appreciate for the main couple of any story, as it makes for a well-balanced partnership. However, Moonlit Reunion is significantly elevated by its ensemble of supporting characters (such as Liu Tai Zhen, Mei Si, Hu Zhu, Shuang Jiang, Xuan Hui, Huang Yi, and Mei Wen Hua), who make this world feel complete. I am particularly fond of Liu Tai Zhen and Mei Si because of their nostalgic charms that are reminiscent of classic Hong Kong cinema; and their evolving relationship is captivating, making me tune in daily to watch their romance unfold. The exploration of the varied dynamics in this drama, even between characters with seemingly little reason to interact, also adds layers of unexpected depth to the narrative. For example, Mei Si and Xuan Hui make the most surprising and endearing duo of friends — they are my absolute favorite.
Among all the dramas airing at the same time, Moonlit Reunion was the one I had the highest hopes for — that is, until the story got close to the end. With less than half the episodes left, the story takes a sharp turn for the worse following the fallout between Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu. It is a transition made all the more infuriating by Mei Zhuyu's sudden change in personality. The shift might be brief, as he does revert back to his old self, but the damage done leaves a lingering foul taste in my mouth. As the narrative progresses, the high-stakes plot that has been so meticulously crafted falters. Instead of the epic showdown that was initially promised, the villains are disappointingly taken down in a series of anticlimactic defeats. The death of an important character makes me question my emotional investment in the story. It lacks the intended impact the writers aimed for and is overshadowed by the far more heartbreaking demise of an earlier supporting character. The rushed finale feels lackluster, leaving the story with some unanswered questions that I cannot delve into without entering major spoilers territory.
Although its underwhelming ending marred by wasted potential sets the story back, Moonlit Reunion is still a worthwhile watch. The drama's gorgeous cinematography, captivating world, and compelling characters make it a memorable, even if flawed, experience for fans of rich visual storytelling. It has been a few days since I completed this drama, and despite not being fully satisfied with the execution of the events leading up to the conclusion, I still can't help but miss the story and its characters. Perhaps in the end, the real reward lies in the journey itself, no matter how imperfect the destination.
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1Wasted Potential
This series had almost every ingredient that it needed to become a hit: a unique, intriguing premise, handsome actors, sweet romance, great OSTs, and beautiful cinematography. I am still in disbelief that the production team messed up the recipe so badly that what should have been one of the best BLs of 2022 turned into a dull, plotless product placement fest. It is beyond my comprehension how other reviewers are so generous. I started this series with no expectations, aware of all the criticism that it was getting, and it still managed to disappoint me. Let me tell you why.1. Plot, or rather the lack of such.
As you will know from the summary, the story revolves around newbie colorist Talay and famous actor Puen, who are transported to a parallel universe and into the bodies of Tess, the heir of an entertainment corporation, and Tun, or Pakorn, a wannabe scriptwriter, who meanwhile are sent to Talay and Puen's universe. Overcoming their differences in personality, the two boys team up to help each other navigate their new lives and find their way back to their world.
Sounds great. Except that this is what the story should have been about, not what it is actually about. After episode two, it strays far away from the plotline and does not come near it until episode ten. For eight episodes, the viewers are treated to a mundane, cliché college story about a group of guys trying to make it as scriptwriters in the movie industry. I felt like I was watching a badly written remake of Theory of Love – which is probably precisely what it is – and in each next episode, I skipped more scenes than in the previous one because I was bored by the predictability of it all.
Furthermore, the unimaginative scriptwriters of this series have decided to rely on annoying, overused tropes, such as love triangles and female characters' coming between the main couple, to spice things up, while the main characters are, illogically, left to live ordinary lives. This makes no sense. To lose your whole life and be forced to live someone else's is stressful, even scary, but after the initial confusion, Talay and Puen seem to have forgotten that they have family, friends, and careers back home. In episode one, Talay was shown with a tight-knit group of friends to whom he was clearly attached. Not once throughout the episodes does he mention that he misses them or his family. Puen is similarly indifferent. It is true that the reason for his being so is explained, but this revelation comes much later than it should have – as does any other substantial information abut him as a character – and this makes him difficult to sympathize with through the bulk of the series.
Worst of all, there was a timeskip of one year that was introduced out of nowhere. What did the characters do for a whole year? We do not know. The story just continues, as if five, not 365, days have passed since the characters' last interaction.
2. Flawed pacing and endless product placements.
The more useless a scene is to the story, the more it drags. Too many scenes are included only for comedy. In the initial episodes, I, surprisingly, laughed many times – I usually do not buy the humor in BL series – but then the fun fizzled out, and the humor became forced.
Product placements – do not even get me started on them. At first, they were not as glaring as I feared they would be, but by episode seven they had become intolerable and were spoiling the mood of almost every scene that had the potential of being meaningful. Shame on the production team for prioritizing commercials over everything else.
3. Romance, or rather bromance.
On one hand, I am impressed by how healthy the dynamic between the two leads is. I forgot the specific instances, but I was surprised by their dialogue several times because instead of the cliché replies that I was expecting came kind, mature replies. Talay and Puen are both willing to express their thoughts and feelings and work on finding the best solution, which is essential in a healthy relationship. They also have moments of tenderness that made my heart flutter.
On the other hand, most of the time, they act more like friends who care for each other than as young men who are in love with each other. Their interactions are sweet and intimate until they have to kiss or initiate any other physical contact that is not a hug. Then they become forced and awkward. They did not manage to convince me that they are actually crushing on each other.
They also do not act like they have already known each other for a whole year. Their friendship, while genuine, seems like it has not moved past its initial stages – which is understandable, considering Puen's illogical decision to not reveal his indentity to Talay. I understand why he might have not wanted Talay to know in the beginning. However, by episode five, it had already become clear that they had grown really close and were not afraid of opening up to each other. Puen was ready to tell Talay who he is a long time ago. The production team wanted to have an illogical twist in episode ten, though, and this twist could happen only if Puen did not tell Talay, so they did not let the character do what would be natural for him to do.
4. Acting.
Jimmy is not as bad as some viewers complain that he is. Compared to Bad Buddy, in which he did not deliver a good performance, he has improved. There is even something charismatic about him, and his gentle, slightly hoarse voice is pleasant to listen to. However, neither he nor Sea handle negative emotions and intense scenes well. Their acting becomes lackluster. They should both work on their facial expressions.
Edit: Episodes eleven and twelve were a notable exception. Although they had inconsistencies and unnecessary drama, they were breath-takingly romantic. The emotional scenes had depth because Jimmy and Sea's acting suddenly improved a lot. I do not know what caused this improvement, but kudos to them. If they had been on that level throughout the other episodes, this series might have been a success. They, and the ending, which awakened the hopeless romantic in me, made me raise my rating.
Overall, the production team of this series bit off more than they could chew. Vice Versa would have been much better received by the viewers if it was just a sweet college romance with a body-swap trope, without the alternate-universe plot. It would have also been great if all the time that was wasted on unfunny comedy, unnecessary conversations, and product placements was used to show how Tess and Tun are doing in Talay and Puen's bodies.
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This review may contain spoilers
All Aboard the Hot Mess Express
Despite the beautiful production value and great performances from the side characters, In a Class of Her Own managed to take a well-praised and solidly written show, and water down the series into a remake that leaves a rather bitter aftertaste. This drama did not have the tension or the romance of the original Korean drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal, and I’d recommend going into this one with low expectations — and perhaps also picking up the original show instead.To start off with some of the positives of this show:
♡ Awesome Side Casts: Wang Ruichang and Bi Wenjun have to be praised for their performances as Lei Ao and Le Xuan respectively. Both characters were complex with deep backstories, and the issue was that at times their acting easily overshadowed that of Song Weilong who was the main lead. Both characters have their own personal struggles and conflicts that they undergo during the drama, and I think their stories were well incorporated into the broader plot of the drama. Their unique and distinct personalities gave them good rapport with the main leads, as well as the other students in Yunshang, and I think they were really the standout performances of the show.
♡ Cute Team Chemistry: The chemistry between our “Yunshang F4,” or Lei Ao, Le Xuan, Wen Xi, and Cheng Jun was my favourite part of the series. You can see how each of them grows to care for each other deeply, even if they start off in the beginning as being wary and bickering with each other. When they face difficulties in both their personal lives and in the broader politics of the series, they help each other and support each other through their challenges. It’s really a treat to see how these four friends become each other’s family at the school, and how each of them in their own way supports one another.
♡ Updated Production Value: The great thing about this remake is that it updates a lot of the milieu of the series, from the beautiful clothes and uniforms, to the beauty of Yunshang Academy. The props and backdrops were all very high quality, and I loved how every member of the side cast had their own unique dressing style which complemented their personality. Ju Jingyi has some gorgeous outfits and jewelry, especially when she dresses as a girl. The soundtrack was also very well done and memorable, and overall the general design and colour story of the drama are ethereal and tastefully incorporated into the show.
♡ Mischievous Female Lead: Truthfully, despite comments on how Ju Jingyi is very pretty and beautiful, and not believable when disguised as a boy, I think that her performance has improved and quite liked Wen Xi as a character. While I did have issues with some of the romance in the series, especially her relationship with Cheng Jun, I think the Wen Xi (especially in her pursuit of being a scholar) was quite admirable and fun to watch. I also loved how the drama did delve into the status of women and the poor, and questioned relevant social issues such as understandings of meritocracy and the inheritance of power. Overall, I liked how she lived up to the name of the drama, where she played to her strengths in order to achieve success, and changed the social and political norms at Yunshang Academy.
But there are also some major issues with the show, including:
♥ Lack of Chemistry and Romance: I will warn that this show has no kiss scenes, and that the romance is not well done in the series (in fact, the romantic lines between Wen Xi and Lei Ao, as well as Wen Xi and Le Xuan, seem more believable and well-developed). The main issue is that Feng Cheng Jun can be quite a bland character, and never really develops or experiences character growth. In addition, the drama clearly tries to show Wen Xi falling for Cheng Jun because of his upright nature and his intelligence, but this often comes as abrupt instead of organic, especially considering how the drama never really explores Cheng Jun’s own weaknesses and limitations. In other words, the main lead never really has the same kind of personal growth as the other side casts, which makes it difficult to appreciate him as a character and as part of the main couple.
♥ Banter and Comedy is Rather Flat: Supposedly, this is a drama that is meant to be interspersed with comedic moments, but I never really found the show to be all that funny. There were attempts made to create "running gags" in the drama, such as Lei Ao's "do you want to die?" catchphrase, but often didn't work as well as they did in the original series. I will also say that some of this is because the character relationships have been changed a little (i.e. in the Korean version, the characters Lei Ao and Le Xuan had BL undertones), and I think the dynamic they tried to use in the show didn't work as well as it did in the Korean drama.
♥ Pacing Issues and Cutting Out Important Plot Points: One of the main reasons Sungkyunkwan Scandal was hard to put down was because it was a show with a lot of tension and to some extent even suspense. The viewer was always led to worry about when the female lead’s identity would be exposed, why there were political manipulations in the school, and there was always the fear of the backgrounds of the main cast being revealed. Unfortunately, In a Class of Her Own sometimes verges on boring, especially as some of these problems are never properly foreshadowed, explored, or developed in the drama. Instead, time was put on arbitrary scenes to artificially create romance, or extend dialogue and conversations about broader political issues that focused less on the students and instead on the teachers and generals.
♥ The Trainwreck of the The Last Couple Episodes: One of the things that the original Korean drama did very well was showing its characters taking accountability for the elements of the plot. For example, there are consequences for being disguised as a male, for taking vigilante justice, and for other problems that the show introduces. In a Class of Her Own however seems to wave off resolving the issues that it introduces, and instead makes a rushed attempt to address the main plot during the latter stretch — which is ironic, given how this show had more episodes to work with. The show therefore loses the sparkle that it had in the first half, when the students were solving issues in the Academy, to fill its last half with problems that result in a less than satisfying and logically inconsistent ending.
In A Class of Her Own had a lot of potential to be a great remake, especially since it already had a very well-written story to work with. While the show succeeded in some ways, such as through the refreshing performances of its side cast and the updated production of the series, it lacked immensely in terms of balancing the plot, creating a believable romance, and living up to the sparkling chemistry of the original series. While the drama is not terrible, I can’t really recommend taking the time to watch this if you are expecting In a Class of Her Own to live up to to the freshness of Sungkyunkwan Scandal, or unless you are a fan of the actors in this series.
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Love doesn’t conquer everything in this world and that's okay
April 3, 20222521 is a tear-jerker full of life-lessons K-drama. I know people have been disagreeing and disappointed with how the ending went. But I think, the 2521 ending fulfills the original story that they were trying to convey. The emotional attachment I developed to this drama is unbelievable. I love everything from how the characters develop and seeing how they flourish into their adulthood. Maybe it’s because I am now a college student and that is why I greatly relate to this drama. Yes, it is true that we took high school life too easily and for granted. Yes, it is harder to meet up with friends now that we are old. Yes, people grow apart and that's okay. Yes, it is okay even if you don't meet your friends often. As long as you have each other, you will always find time even if that means every 6 months or so.
!!! MAJOR SPOILERS WITH DETAILS!!!!
- I am happy that Baek Yijin did not die or experienced some catastrophic event.
- I am happy how the girls are still supporting each other even though they have their own lives.
I think I am happy that everyone got the ending that they deserve including Yurim and Heedo's mom. I also think it is appropriate how Minchae's dad is never revealed nor is present-pandemic adult Yijin. I know I may be the minority but I think everything from this drama is just good. I may have bawled my eyes and wished for Heedo and Yijin to be the end game. But given the circumstances of how their relationship has gone down, it is much better for them to go their separate ways. Very realistic and has a bittersweet ending. I also think that Yijin and Heedo's endings is happy to some extent. Yijin is able to revive his family back and has a stable job. Heedo is happily a mom to Minchae, though I can't really say anything about her marriage to his husband as he was not shown in the story. This makes sense because this is about first love and their early adulthood/youth days.
I think 2521 set the standards for 2022 Kdramas. I know the ratings have gone down due to the ending and I understand that people are very frustrated with the ending. But I definitely think it is not rushed, and that it perfectly fits the overall narrative of the story.
So for those who are watching 2521, I hope you learn some lessons and learn to enjoy your youth. Happy viewing (maybe) and prepare some tissues by your side. I may or may not have a breakdown watching episode 16 and while writing this review...
Cheers 🥂
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This review may contain spoilers
Use For My Talent; Sweet, But Unremarkable ...
Let’s be honest for a and disregard the " Korean vs. Chinese version" argument by openly confessing that neither version will ever be a " masterpiece". Of course, this is not to say that both versions of the show were "unwatchable". Both cast and production values in the dramas are good . However, the screenwriting? Well, that’s another issue entirely.
For those unaware, the Chinese version follows the same basic premise as its predecessor; successful male lead and owner of a cleaning company Gu Ren Qi ( Jasper Liu) suffers from Mysophobia as a result of trauma. Through a series of strange events, he ends up meeting and employing female lead Shi Shuang Jiao ( Shen Yue), however, she is his polar opposite by her unkempt and blasé nature towards dirt . Ultimately this leads to a complicated rocky road as Ren Qi discovers himself falling in love with our female lead.
Cultural changes aside, there are a couple of things which did work well in this version ; the male lead seem a bit more paved out as a character with his backstory, and he did not have the same accentuated reactions ( as his Korean counterpart) to a piece of dirt. However, ultimately Ren Qi did suffer the same fate as a" staid male lead". His backstory (rather than being used for development), is played upon the " tragic trope” card with few defining reactions or emotions outside of chasing the female lead Shi Shuang Jiao.
Shi Shuang Jiao was also your archetypical " prosaic heroine". There was nothing inherently wrong per say with Shuang Jiao as a female lead. She was sweet and a kind-hearted person,however, if you could put an evident sticky label on Shuang Jiao, then it would certainly read; the ‘“quirky and cutesy” female lead who is" stuck in the middle" between Ren Qi and the " boy next door" Lu Xian’( Dai Yun Fan). After all, Shen Qiao only truly existed in the series as the " love interest" rather than an individual in her own right.
Of course, then there’s the pairing between Shuang Jiao and Ren Qi. Admittedly, whilst there is certainly emphasis in the Chinese version of Ren Qi and Shuang Jiao sharing "mutual ground", this is also where the series hits a bit of a rut also. This is because whilst it is implied over their shared " traumatic pasts" helping their relationships to develop, it is hard to truly define what either Ren Qi or Shuang Jiao truly saw in one another ( apart from this) in the first place.
The side characters of the series were a little forgettable . Second main lead Lu Xian did have the potential to be intriguing , however, his ineffable desire to " chase after the female lead" and not truly having a life outside of wanting to win her affections put any possible character development down the drain . The other two pairings of the show between Zhu Yan ( Su Meng Di), Shi Jun Jie ( Yanan), Li Dong Xian ( Charles Lin) and Wang Qian Qian ( Huang Si Rui) were arguably more entertaining at times than our main leads, though they were certainly nothing to write home about either with cliche setups.
So, what’s left to say about " Use For My Talent" and is it worth watching ?The Chinese adaptation wasn’t inherently "bad" per say. It did have a really good cast and an incredibly sweet pairings. For fans of cutesy romantic dramas then this is right up your street, however, just don’t expect great character development either.
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Well, without giving any spoiler, I do believe that the overall plot of this drama is well presented, and I enjoyed it so much. I just wish that it would be a bit longer because there are things that need to be explained or tackled and not just left in the dark. The plot is well-paced, and I really liked the ending, teary-eyed. The series is cute and fluffy but there are some dark themes in it during the later episodes (the reason for R18) but nonetheless, I got hooked up with the story as it is my first time watching this kind (Mono and Probe thing) of drama. Overall, the story is very good, and I liked how entertaining it was.
ACTING
The visuals of the main leads are oozing with handsomeness. I AM OBSESSED. But to get into acting, I do believe that they gave justice to their characters and played it very well. Yeon Woo (Yoo Jun) already played in other dramas before and I liked the way he acts. Same with the Heo Hyun Jun. There are like around just 5 characters in the series and I think that they did a good job.
MUSIC
I love the OST and I barely download songs from series. I always play it while I am doing my skincare haha but true, I liked the OST so much. It fits the vibe of the series.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Coming from a country that is well-known for producing top tier dramas, I think that this has good production quality compared to existing BL dramas (Thai to be exact, but no hate tho) The editing could be a bit more polished, but I understand how hard it is to add effects during Color Rush scenes, so I love it as it is.
Overall, this drama is very good, and I loved it from the start till the end, I just wish that it was longer so that it can explain some parts that I think are important for the plot. Between WYEL, Mr Heart, and Wish You, this is my favourite. Also, this has a possibility to have a SEASON 2 (I heard from some ppl)
PS. I cried a bit during the ending.
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Speechless
I am very disappointed in this Cdrama. I felt like I wasted my time watching it all the way to the end.Let me start with the positives. To me the only real standout for this series was 'Gun God' and his whole team. The were very relatable, funny, dramatic and their acting skills were up to the task. I also enjoyed how their characters where well developed, especially Gun God with his very detailed character background.
Apart from this the rest was a complete flop. The main character Squid was useless and they probably only had this character in the series to create a romance storyline, There was no depth to her character and she did not offer any value to the series. Also what annoyed me so much about her was that she is supposedly a genius that started university at 15 double majoring in AI and Cyber Security and yet she couldn't understand what the game was all about (it was literally about cyber security hacking servers and blocking intrusions).
I would have expected her to actually contribute in some way to the teams success since she was supposed to be an expert in the field (all she did was create a stupid game with pepa pig).
Don't even get me started on her insane stalker vibes (you can actually get a criminal record for doing the stuff she did). The whole series she was stalking the living daylight out of our male lead and when he finally proposes she said no? that made no sense at all. There was a part somewhere in the last few episodes where someone tells her that she has no personality and that was the most accurate description.
Now for the fillers - It gave me flashbacks of trying to watch Naruto where there was just so many senseless episodes and an insane amount of flashbacks. If they had to cut all the BS from this series we would have probably ended up with about 31 episodes of a series that was better paced and edited.
Overall I wouldn't watch this series again (only watch it if you have nothing else to watch)and in terms of comparing it to other Cdramas i've recently watched in E-Sports genre it is lacking it every aspect.
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This review may contain spoilers
I don't quite know where to begin with my review. Should I list all the good things or should I list all the bad things first? This is also the reason why my rating is probably not yet final. It might change one or two times, though it will definitely not go up any further. So, to summon it up, this drama is flashy, cheesy, overly dramatic and sometimes seriously ridiculous. The synopsis for this show is quite scarce, so I'll try to describe some additional facts first.
The king rules over his country. That's how it should be. But in fact, he is only a puppet who is led by Pyunsoo Group, a large hidden organization that has its own trick to control the royal family quite well. The Crown Prince meanwhile has to wear a mask in order to hide his face because of an illness he got when he was born - at least that's what the people and the ministers believe. And because of Pyunsoo Group he is also forced to live outside the palace someday. There he meets Ga Eun who he will fall in love with.
The basic plot is actually quite interesting. That's why it's so sad that it doesn't live up to its potential in the end. It had a steady atmosphere what I liked about this drama, but every now and then it managed to drop one or two ridiculous bombs that were either created by some nonsensical decisions or resulted in some foolish actions.
There were alot of characters who had the potential to something big, but they never rose from their grounds. Same applies for the acting. Though I can't blame half of them because they got some crappy scripts for their roles, the other half of the cast was only average or worse.
As interesting as the beginning was, I never saw an actual improvement of the Crown Prince. He might have become a little smarter, that's all. Same goes for the female lead. At a certain point in the drama, she started to annoy me because so many bad things happened only because of her. It irritated me so much, that almost every decision centered around her. She was either bait or needed protection or whatever. I don't know where it went wrong but her role felt more like a burden than a blessing/support. I admit that I enjoyed some of her scenes with the Crown Prince though. But that's as far as it goes.
At some point I started to favor the second female lead more than the actual one. There was definitely growth in her character while she was one of the most conflicted persons in the story. And although I was skeptical regarding the actress at first, I'm glad that she pulled off her character so well that I even felt sad about her efforts being in vain - though on the other hand she did accomplish some of her wishes in the end.
There are only a few performances I truly enjoyed. The Queen Dowager, the second female lead's father, the female lead's father, Woo Bo (Lee Sun's teacher) and Dae Mok, the head of Pyunsoo Group. Their acting was shining compared to the rest. Yoo Seung Ho had his moments, too, and I enjoyed most of his scenes, but damn, he's one teary guy. His hair is beautiful though...
There is indeed an unhealthy amount of crying. Alot of it. And everyone seems to be a real crybaby, it spreads like a disease. Shedding tears during almost every serious moment.
Did I like something? The clothes, the cinematography, the MUSIC (that score was good~), impressive entrances (esp from Yoo Seung Ho, his royal demeanor was intriguing) and some really good fighting scenes.
Recommendation is debatable and this is definitely not a sageuk for everyone. It's quite predictable, with alot of stereotype characters and some questionable turn of events. Despite that I still felt entertained to a certain degree. There were many moments that kept my interest throughout the whole drama and I wanted to see the finale, even though I already knew how it would probably end~
And Yoo Seung Ho's hair was so beautiful... Did I already mentioned that? Damn, that dude is gorgeous.
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This review may contain spoilers
" Moment at eighteen" had a really strong start. The drama was perfect, with the issues such as bullying and gap between the social classes were nicely presented.However, as soon as the romance started progressing, the drama lost its character and became a weak teenage rom com. The main character's problems, like the death on his one and only friend, were put aside and left for good. Let alone all those side characters whose story was never concluded. The drama got boring and the ending was open and unsatisfying.
Other than that, the performances were good from all the actors and actresses in this drama.
So, overall, six out of ten.
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Extremely funny and sweet BL adapted drama that you will enjoy
I started this drama because it is adapted from a BL novel, seems to have a good looking cast and is enjoying some good reviews. And I was not disappointed.Story: In order to bring peace to the country, the youngest apprentice from the righteous clan Zhao Qing Feng tries to infiltrate the evil clan by getting close to the demon lord Ji Chuan. As Zhao Qing Feng is a bit socially awkward he is learning the steps from his teacher's book "win someone's heart". However, it turns out that Zhao Qing Feng is actually the long lost brother of Ji Chuan and the two men got close.
The whole drama is just extremely cheesy, cute and funny. I almost fell from my chair from laughing after watching episode 1. There are some very sweet scenes between the two main leads - who are by the way both very good looking and have distinguished personalities that are very likable from the start. Although the drama is a comedy, characters don’t always just make fools of themselves - there is a serious plot running through this drama which makes the viewers pounder about the fate of the main leads and also for the supporting characters. Good news for all BL lovers, though there is the female lead A Fu who fell in love with Zhao Qing Feng, this does not disturb the two main leads. There are some slow moments in the middle and a bit of predictable ending, but overall I did enjoy the drama and found story convincing and sweet.
Acting: The characters are just all very loveable from the start to the end. The two main leads, despite having an idol background without professional acting school training, acted very naturally and brought the distinguished two main lead characters to life. Besides the two gorgeous leads also all other supporting roles have done great work. A Fu, played by Su Xiao Tong, is extremely strong and sweet at the same time. Then you have the cute youngster Xiao Lin who is in love with A Fu and therefore acts coquettishly all the time (there is a great scene in the drama between him and A Fu that made me cry); you also have the gorgeous Dr. Yan, played by Song Ji Yang from Untamed, but is extremely jealous of Zhao Qing Feng; you also have the beautiful Yue Qing Qing, who turns into a REAL MAN when she takes off her makeup and the masculine Wei Qi who has a Taiwanese accent. I am sure you will find one or several characters to your taste.
Production: you can see that this is a drama with a low budget: some outdoor sets can look a bit cheap, some of the props and costumes seem to be a bit off, there are not enough extras in some of the scenes; however I would say the drama did use the budget at the right areas: the most important sets (e.g. the bedroom of Ji Chuan, the kitchen, the entrance to the main hall, the main hall itself, etc.) are nicely created; the choice of colors not too bright red and green but just right, the lighting is well toned; I also very much like the fact that they are using the actual voices of the actors (though sometimes the tones are a bit difficult to hear). They add these cat and dog special sounds to the two main leads when they are fighting - this is just hilarious and brilliant.
This drama has a very funny and contagious title song and a very beautiful ending song which however only started to play by the middle of the drama - also some BGM also only started from the middle (did they suddenly have more money in the middle?).
There a few scenes which are almost good to be hung as a poster (e.g. the drunk scene at the lake, the brother scene at the entrance hall, the bamboo forest scene, the night festival scene, the fighting scenes (esp. the last one - which is very well done!). You can see the production really gave a lot of effort in making this drama and they have done this well with the budget they have - unfortunately they ended up not having enough for marketing so not many people know about this.
Summary: This is a funny, light-hearted drama full of sweet scenes and great acting that will make you smile for sure. This BL adaption has not challenged the Chinese censorship this much as Untamed as it is really only a bromance drama but has retained a lot of sugar for all the fans. I hope all future BL adaption will at least be at the level of the Birth of the Drama King.
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I liked the drama concept, but I want it more!
Let’s start with the visual, I love the vivid colors of the hanboks and the scenery. The storyline was Soso it was monotonous and kept repeating over and over again. I love the actors they chose for this drama however I think the lead female could have dove deeper into her part. It would’ve been nice to see the couples develop more and it would have also would have been nice to have seen the differences between the twins. I love that they had an overweight person in the selection, process you don’t usually see that in a K drama.Was this review helpful to you?
