LOVE BREAKS BOUNDARIES OF GENDER, AGE AND TIME. THIS MOVIE BREAKS ALL OF THE THREE.
"Before the sky turn bright
Before feeling the warmth of sunlight
Before the flowers bloom
Before having a sweet dream
I've never had anyone in my heart
Till your love came
A nd made me see the brightness
I've never had anyone beside me
`Til your crazy mercy came
And motivated me
To live...
In this mad world."
The story starts August of 1996 when Dew and Phop met for the first time. From then on, the innocent acquaintance will turn into something unexpecting beautiful. But what they have is something unconventional during those times. Having different family backgrounds didn't help either.
From the walkman, to the pagers, what's the trend when it comes to fashion. For those who grew up, or spent their teenage years in the 90's will definitely feel the nostalgia.
Instead of focusing on the stigma in the 90's, let's be glad, celebrate that people learned from it and are more accepting nowadays. Even the stigma is what caused the rift between the two main, I prefer to focus on the love they both shared.
STORY
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"Dew the movie", a viewer should tell early on that the story is about Dew. His struggles to fit in and find comfort. But that time, it wasn't kind to Dew.
The alternate title, "Dew Let's Go Together", is from the point of view of Phop. His sacrifices is the focus of his story that will continue on the second half of the movie. Remember the sentence "Let's go Together" because it where it all started and where it will end.
The parallelism of the young Phop and the adult one is very obvious, that is when you will start to feel a pinch in your heart, again.
When you can get pass the age gap, that is when you feel and experience tha magic. For love breaks the boundaries of time and gender.
Furthermore, there is belief that water is life and for others, you are reborn in water.
Lastly, don't takes things literally or you'd miss out the magic in this movie. Magic does not equate to logic. Ultimately, it will be your choice if you want to question the appropriateness of things that happend in the film or get lost in the magic this movie has to offer. I prefer the latter.
ACTING
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OHM as DEW - Make It Right 1&2, He's Coming To Me, Blacklist are the things I've watched where Ohm appeared. You can see a big "maturity" in his acting from Make It Right 1 to Make It Righ 2 to He's Coming to Me. 2019 was Ohm's year as he appeared in two Thai series, both he played a contrasting character and yet he delivered the portrayal quite well. In this movie, I feel like is an extension of his acting from He's Coming To Me. For he showed a myriad of emotions. He will make you feel what his character is feeling as if you are in his place in what you are watching.
NONT as young PHOP - To be honest, I thought Ohm will own him, acting-wise. His acting is not at par with Ohm, HOWEVER, props to him given that this is his first acting in a main role. Don't mistaken Nont's lack of connection to his character. It show that the character himself is detached, uncertain, having an inner conflict. It just there are few scenes that aren't that convincing as Ohm's. Can't wait though for Bad Genius and see how he will do there!
PAHN and LEW - it is not really her acting but how she transition from her old self to the enlightened one. I can't blame her for that but it lacks development for her transition. Her actions and demeanor is as rough as Ohm's and subtle and vulnerable too.
WEIR as adult PHOP - given his repertoire of acting, it is given that he delivered. No brainer in his acting.
SONG
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For what Dew told in front of the class that "won" the contest, refer in the initial part of this review.
- It is not technically a song that you listen, but more of a translated lyrics of a song to English.
The opening song, what Dew's listening to: ดีเกินไป by Smile Buffalo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MANY2BDBaI sets up the fast paced progression of what Dew and Phop is about to go through.
Songs match perfectly the scenes were it played. And the few sound effects highlighted some emotions.
REWATCH VALUE
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When a myster is solve, it is really hard to rewatch it with the same excitement and anticipation. Some things are better watched once, to keep it special. And this is no exception.
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Great ingredients gone astray
More often than not, a rating of 8.7 or higher on MDL equals something that delivers. This however, did not. I can see that the screenwriter, actors, and director have talent. Unfortunately, the individual elements just didn't work. What a disappointing ride.First, the positives:
Every line was delivered naturally by charismatic actors. Lee Sung Kyung as Bok Joo played her part naturally (as much as she could), and I enjoyed her expressive way of acting in this character. Nam Joo Hyuk as Joon Hyung was super earnest in his portrayal of the young, fun swimmer. I also applaud a show focused on a female lead who is supposed to break the norm of appearance and gender stereotypes, especially in a society that focuses so much on gender roles. Finally, the script included straightforward lines that were endearing in their honesty, even if they were overdone sometimes.
Now, the negatives:
The entire plot was based on immature and silly misunderstandings and dramatic twists that didn't fit. It was as if the writer didn't know how to create challenges naturally so they resorted to making up far-fetched dramatic build-up for the characters to get tangled in. Instead of simply presenting unrequited love, they had Bok Joo make excuses and steal away to the clinic and have friends cover up and then get in trouble from coaches and parents for it all. Instead of letting Joon Hyung's childhood trauma play out naturally, the writer added lies that the adopted family kept up for years, tried to tie this to his relationship with his adoptive brother, and had the parent return to cause more drama. The list of ways in which natural drama could have built up and how each character could have grown as they dealt with it was completely wasted. And the heap of random characters and side plots were brief and distracting.
What could have made this show great:
- Focus on Bok Joo and have the drama in her life revolve around: sick father, working on accepting her unconventional appearance and value as a weightlifter, slowly falling for Joon Hyung, and of course, her actual training and competition hardships (which were handled so minimally and poorly in the show)
- Focus on Joon Hyung and have his story revolve around: abandonment, inability to start races, maybe throw in a rival swimmer to push him forward in swimming, and slowly falling for Bok Joo
- Get rid of all the rest of the meaningless characters and random tiny dramas and let the athletes actually show us what it's like to be an athlete: train hard, win and lose, get injured, pick themselves up again, have conversations about all of this, and sprinkle in a bit of drama and romance
All the ingredients above are things we've seen in dramas before. Even if they were handled in conventional ways, it would have yielded great results: deep conversations, personal growth, and inspiration. Unfortunately, we are left with the opposite.
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Have you ever loved or be loved unconditionally? Have you ever experienced giving your time, strength and love without getting or even expecting anything in return? This movie shows it all.
A story in between reality and idealism that had been delivered well. In our society today, understanding and patience are the foundational values to selfless and unconditional love. This film outstandingly delivered that message.
This movie will tell you that no matter what your belief is, it doesn't necessarily be the right thing. Most often, understanding the situation, understanding the people around you, would be the best and the right thing to do.
The critical role of being patient is well portrayed here as well. More often than not, if the people around us tell us to stop, we will stop. But, sometimes, it is worth fighting for to be patient and persevere no matter how hard and complicated the situation may be.
Kudos to all the cast and the directors and writers for this excellent story telling of how being understanding and patient with humility and respect play a major role in our daily lives. A very timely movie which will leave us the questions, "If ever, this same thing happen to me (or even worse), can I be that selfless as well? Will I be patient enough and persevere? Until when? How far my understanding could reach? Is it worth it?
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Cute moments but cliché, plot all over the place and an annoying FL
I really wanted to give this series a higher rating because it has such cute moments and the premise was interesting at first but especially in the way the writing went it's just not possible.I'll start with the positives of this show that I liked and that make all the points it has for me. First of all I do think the best acting here was Chae Jong Hyeop and his character although cliché in many aspects was also a softie and I enjoyed his more quirky aspects. The premise of the story was interesting at first and it had enough material to keep going and make a good plot out of it, sadly this was not utilised, so I liked the premise in itself only. I also liked it was a story between a Japanese and Korean and the nuance it added, although in my opinion it could have been used more. I also liked the different environments and also the inclusion of a mention to the ainu, not something you see very often.
In things I didn't like the main ones are for sure the way the plot developed as well as the FL. The acting of FL was very stiff and amiss at times, it was a bit hard to watch but especially the way they decided to make the FL's character was.... UGH, where to even start. It's not only the fact she's immature in her reactions and way of doing things, it's the fact she's supposed to be in a position of responsibility as well. She spent the whole drama letting others do everything for her. Tae Oh is the one that has to push her to tell him she likes him, Hanaoka and Mahiro have to push her to do things during the series as well at different points. In the whole series she has basically done nothing, because even at the end when she finally decides to do something she took so long that someone else has already done it for her. She was a total flowerpot, sorry. Their "more intimate" moments were awkward, at some points I thought might as well Tae Oh be kissing a wall or something. She only put a bit of effort in the last kiss. Sure, I know many shows in Japan don't really kiss more than touching lip area so to speak, but I've seen it done with a lot more grace than hers.
I get it, the girl was rejected once in her teens because of her power, and she has a complex. Universe forbid she had worked it out herself in the more than 10 years since then. Her teen self and 30 year old self are the same I guess. It was just too unrealistic for my taste, but this was not even the worst of it. The worst was Tae Oh still interested in her even though she keeps the on-off game continuously. At some point towards the second half of the show I just wanted to slap her very hard, she was very irritating. This was aggravated by the fact their chemistry was just about and that they didn't match at all. I wished at points the FL had been the girl in the office that spoke some korean, she matched better with Tae Oh's vibe in my opinion.
Obviously at no point FL makes an effort to find out anything about her power or anything, I mean, I can't say much better of the author of the book. Everyone then meddles into the relationship because of a kids book a woman wrote without doing any research whatsoever, she didn't even know what her boyfriend died of? WHAT? haha Absolutely RIDICULOUS! Even when she's telling Hanaoka I kept thinking, ok, but what did the boyfriend die of? Where is the story that links it to her power? It obviously never came since it was all a joke. I had hopes there for a second when they introduced the myth in the ainu's folklore that it would actually have some decent plot for the part of her power, but not at all and it was very disappointing the way everything is solved. The cherry on top is showing Mahiro and the others doing the research so quickly so they can be together and then they don't do it in the end because all of a sudden it didn't matter anymore. Congratulations to the writer for getting paid for writing such a nonsense, it's an achievement.
Hanaoka was the most interesting of the secondary characters but he's underdeveloped as is everyone else. Onoda was interesting as a character but it's also kept very superficial. I didn't like much the acting or character of Mahiro, and it was so stupid when she's told of FL's power and she's scared. Anyone would have thought she had just been told that FL's was a mass murderer or something. Hanaoka learnt of it as an afterthought in the show and didn't think about it two seconds.
Iiyama acting and character is very bad in this show, probably the worst of them all. It's extremely exaggerated and I get it wants to be a bit comical but it's just plain bad and cringy. The main problem I have with him though, it's that early on he's already being introduced as the one that knows something, a bit mysterious under the good and comical façade, but turns out that it was only because he knew of the accident but the actual information about the power of hers is only discovered when FL does and just by reading the same damn children's book. Says a lot about his research skills? Who in their right mind, and even more a researcher, would read a children's book and meddle in someone's relationship because of it? Ridiculous...
The pace in this show was ok the first half but it drags the second half and it's time that could have been used to develop the plot so it wouldn't have been the mess it is.
If you want some cute moments and watch Chae Jong Hyeop being cute and the extremely dedicated boyfriend type then I would say go ahead, it's a good dose of sugar and sometimes you need those. Otherwise if you're interested in the plot I would say this is a miss and to avoid, and that's without even taking into consideration the amount of plotholes and questions it leaves you with. If you don't like annoying main character I would suggest to avoid this too, she was very frustrating to watch most of the time.
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Soft, but heavy
A beautiful and moving series. Perhaps it generates a little too much frustration. The story is beautiful, the acting even more so. It has a soft atmosphere, but at the same time it is heavy and at times painful. It shows various aspects of life, in particular how we can change, succeed, fail, feel lonely and inadequate in a world that demands so much, when in the end the problem is that WE don't accept ourselves.It shows the importance of presence, both in family life and in friendships and relationships. I was disappointed that the relationship with the protagonist's family was not explored in more depth at the end, given that it played a fundamental role in the first half of the series.
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I really liked this drama and of course I am a biggest fan of ji sung.After watching his so many dramas I was waiting for this one and gone through all episodes without fail.According to me this drama is about love between two doctors and sadly one of them suffering from a incurable disease
I don't want to reveal those information about it. And I learned something from this drama while watching
# love is"understanding someone" not trusting
#don 't hide your true feelings at any point because it will only hurt other one
# there is no need for a proposal in relationship
# heart can understand anything
#love is support,care and like
About this dramas leads are mature, lovable and strong too.All are good at acting. Their cast really really appreciate
And the osts too really nice.
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THE STALKER DOWNSTAIRS
But for real though, Cir needs therapy not a boyfriend, cuz this man has a master's degree in stalking and graduated with honours in lying. Still, did y’all see that CAKE?? Lord, have mercy. Anyway, cake aside, what in all things confusing was 85% of this drama? Is that fine delulu stalker from a parallel universe or not?Now, before we get into the review, let’s put the confusing plot, characters and the drama itself aside for a moment and talk about that CAKE… I meant, Cir, and kissing. The chemistry in this drama between the leads was insane, though, I’m still laughing at that scene in ep6 when Phu pulled down those pants and went into shock. LMAO, what did that poor boy see with his eyeballs? Anyway, the CAKE, I mean Cir, makes kissing look like an art form. That stalker needs to give classes on kissing to some people. I don’t know who, but some… oh, who am I kidding, I already have a list of who:
PEOPLE WHO NEEDS TO ATTEND CIR’S KISSING CLASSES.
1. Who: PEEM. Drama: We Are. REASON: Y’all saw him kiss Phum at the beach right? Poor Phum would have had a better time making out with that canoe beside them instead.
2. Who: STYLE. Drama: The Heart Killers. REASON: I’m sure his twins Daonuea and Zo would agree with me, that you need to open your mouth to call it kissing, otherwise what’s the point?
3. Who: KONGTHAP. Drama: My Love Mix-Up! REASON: Boy was giving Atom nothing, and Atom was trying very hard.
4. Who: SAINT & SHIN: Drama: High School Frenemy: REASON: They gave us nothing, literally, nothing. Their faces and lips didn’t even touch, not once. Boooo, out there using the excuse of bromance. Talking 'bout we're just friends. Booooo.
That being said, imma also need either Joke, Bison, Joe or Third to teach Cir how to cry beautifully cuz… damn fam, he’s crying during that scene when he returned from the parallel world, and it’s all sad and I feel for him, sure the CAKE was like right there too, but for once it’s not the focus cuz my thoughts went: ‘damn, is that the crying we going with?’ Brotha, why?
Also, is every lead character allergic to the rain? Why these people out there acting like they’d die or melt if they get wet? Let us be serious in this life peoples! It’s just water, you will not die. Cir rushed in there, CAKE and all, wet himself, like Phu was seconds away from dying and if he didn’t bring him that umbrella he’d turn into the wicked witch and melt! Dude—W-A-T-E-R! Or am I just bitter no one brings me an umbrella? Whatever, it’s still h2o.
Anyway, not gonna lie, it took me days to watch the first episode of this drama, cuz it was so dull and boring it put me to sleep each time I tried. I read the novel, I knew what was happening, still, five minutes in and I was counting CAKE, sheep. It took about 3-4 episodes before I got into the rhythm.
First off, to me, this is genuinely the most interesting Me Mindy drama I’d ever watched, and that’s saying something cuz we got what we got here, lots of stuff, confusion and no glue to hold it all together. Even so, the premise was interesting, super confusing and lacked substances, yes, but interesting nonetheless. And apart from that we got a decent acting from Boss who’ve improved sooooo much. Applauds, dude, you did a good job with this CAKE, mhm, sorry, this character.
Listen, I read the novel before this aired, and like many of you was super disappointed when the conclusion was that Cir was a stalker this whole time. Immediately, I wanted to throw my tablet away cuz dafug? I’ve been rooting for a delulu stalker this whole time, and I’m supposed to be happy he got his happy ending? Nah fam, get that boy some help, don’t make him come add his trauma on top of Phu’s own. But—but, I was still happy they at least found each other, healing together and whatnot.
PLOT:
Interesting premise, but as mentioned, confusing, and they could have done so much more with the execution and the characters. All the back and forth of whether Cir was from parallel universe or not, only for episode 8 to say yes, and then episode 9 to completely undo it like: 'nope, he’s just a CAKE...mhm, sorry, a stalker. Like, pick a lane drama, what are you trying to sell me?
Side note: why the hell did Cir keep that book with pictures and evidence of his stalking? Child, at least be professional and hide it under the bed or something like a proper creep. It was like he wanted to get caught. And as for Phu, all those years and you telling me he didn't notice him once?? Literally, he was everywhere, close, stalking you. Come on child!
For anyone who is still confused, let me try and confuse you some more by explaining the plot how I understood it:
—The parallel universe thing is as real as that CAKE. When Cir got hurt in ep1 trying to stop those thieves from stealing Phukan’s car, his soul was exchanged with one of the Cirs', or at least he went to that white room where he saw the lives of the other CAKES, hmm, Cirs with their Phukans. He saw a similar universe to his own, where instead of not answering that cup telephone in his universe, in that universe he did. So, when he woke up, thinking it was only a dream, cuz he wished he’d answered that cup call, his lying arse was like, ‘damn son, I almost died, and I still don’t have this boy I’ve been stalking since high school, so let me rush over there and tell him I’m from another universe'. Either that or he was still high on the dream , or that CAKE he’s carrying around made him tired and he actually thought everything he saw in the parallel universe was his real life that's why he rushed over to Phu, but by the time he came to his senses it was too late, Phu already believed him, and he was closer to his heart desire now and didn’t want to loose him. So then, the lying games begun.
So yeah, parallel universes exists, the CAKE is real too, and Cir just thinks they are his dream cuz it’s the lie he told Phu and he thinks it's why he’s dreaming about it. Cuz the P’Payu looking Cir did not have a scar and stalker Cir had a scar, so there must be a parallel universe, right? or at least some soul/body changing stuff going on. Plus I think in the finale they eluded to Cir himself knowing/believing the parallel universes exists.
Anyway, that’s what I understood from both the drama and the novel, and it make sense in my head, so yaay for me. Also, I was happy the writers decided to give us more indepth-ish explanation of the parallel universe than we got in the book, cuz it helped explained a thing or two. Another difference between the novel and the drama is, the novel was sadly devoid of any CAKE. For shame.
CHARACTERS
I liked Cir and Phu together when all is said and done, cuz they needed each. After the truth came out, they realised they were the light in each other's lives. Yes, Cir was a lying stalker with trauma the size of the iceberg that sunk the titanic, but underneath it all he was a caring boyfriend. I’m not excusing his behavior, just stating facts, cuz when he did get Phu he treated him right, like he was the most precious thing in the world, which he was, to him.
Still, Cir was a stalker. Yes, he was handsome and had CAKE, but what we won’t do is excuse his actions. He did stalk Phu for years, asked about where he'd attend uni, and even moved into the same building as him. Like?? and how the eff did he know about Phu's private stuffs and the passcode and whatnot? This dude manipulated Phu into thinking they were together by knowing so many private things about him, and some of y’all don’t find that alarming? Sure Cir was scared of what his crazy mother would do if he went after Phu, still, he didn’t need to turn into a professional stalker. Plus even when he pretended to be from a parallel universe so they could be together, the mother still tried to have people ran Phu over with a car, so…?
Phukan on the other hand was very demure to the point of naivety and needed to be slapped with a rubber chicken a few times, cuz who would even believe that parallel universe nonsense? But then again, if that CAKE, I mean, Cir, had shown up on my doorsteps soaking wet and saying we were dating, heck I’d have done the same. I’d have been like: ‘Yep, I super remember. You're my boyfriend. You went out to get me bread and didn’t come back. I thought yous was dead, glad you aint though, welcome back baby boo.’
When all is said and done, they both needed each other. Phu is alone, his mommy gone cuz she couldn’t handle the father’s death. Cir is whatever he is now cuz his mother is a psycho and his father is whatever. Together I’m sure after all the trust have been rebuilt, they’d healed each other and be amazing together. Acting wise Boss improved from what I saw in LITA. Noeul... well, there’s always the next drama. But when it comes to chemistry, hands down these two are one of the best in the bl world. WOW.
Secondary Characters:
I liked Jin and Wim, so straight to the point, refreshing. Though that mind reading powers did Jin so dirty when he needed it. I’d watch a whole drama with them if they give us one. They could have done more with Jin though, he just smiled and stared at people and that was it. What a waste of an interesting power. I'm glad they had their happy ending, though in the finale when Wim was confessing with all that mmms and his back to Jin, I was like, 'Well, congratulations Jin, I guess you're now dating the back of his head.' LMAO, I get he was shy, but it made me laugh. Also, Wim was a good friend to Cir.
The two girls were very protective of Cir, but like, a bit chilling please. Then again Cir was so naive, like you’re in uni, you’ve been letting Cir and his CAKE do stuff to you, start acting your age so your friends don't treat you like a child who needs protecting all the time.
Achi, dude was self obsessed and so dumb, then again a beautiful girl was involved, which brings me to the wannabe fiancée. I am sorry, but if I looked like a tall beautiful goddess like she did, I would definitely, 100% not be chasing after any person. Sure the CAKE was a plus when it came to Cir, but like, to look like that and have people labeling you crazy cuz of some dude who don’t even want you is next level sad and pathetic. And Cir's mother... that woman needs jail or rewiring. Cir's parents were the worse. Not his brother though, he's the best. Saw Ozone and went... 'Omg X, what you doing here? Is Namping still dead?' nooo Nampinggggggg :(((.
One thing this drama did very well was their soundtrack. Already the title truck was so dope, I didn't skip it once, loved the way Boss started it, and how Noeul came in. Loved it. That 'Shiver' song in ep5 while Cir did that thing with his mouth and the CAKE was like right in our faces... well, it's been on repeat, the song I mean. Thanks for the song rec drama, though having to remember Cirs work and Phu's reaction each time it plays is...? And what did Cir do in that bathroom after that scene? You know what, am too innocent, don't tell me.
FINALE:
I went into the finale with a list of questions waiting for answers, so I jumped when Jin was like:
Jin: Oh, I can read minds, so I know Cir wasn't lying to Phu.
ME: OMG, really? then explain it to us, slowly, in baby language!
JIN: So 20 something years ago, I was born... *insert him telling us his life story.*
ME: Oh no, so sad. Real sad for you. *Me on the inside* DUDE JUST TELL ME WHY ALREADY THIS AINT ABOUT YOU.
JIN: *Proceed to talk about his feelings and tries to get himself a boyfriend*
ME: OMG, FIND LOVE ON YOUR ON TIME SHARON. Peoples, we only have an hour and we've wasted half on Phu's brooding!
Of course, the biggest question of the finale was if Phu would forgive Cir. So during the video, when Cir said he knew Phu might think he's a disgusting psycho, which well... and he was explaining stuff, I felt bad for Cir. Yes, he's hurt, but it's by his own actions so, do the crime, do the time. Still, I was all emotional and feeling sad for him and going 'Come on Phu, forgive the stalker, he loves you so much, get that CAKE,' then this dude, start's singing/crying. And normally I'd cringe, laugh and skip like I did that first time he sang to Phu, but he was just so sad and pathetic, it would have been cruel to laugh, so I just sat through the whole thing with confused emotions. The whole scene was just so awkwardly...sad, both in an emotionally and 'I'm judging you-ing-ly' way.
But of course, as it is with these dramas, after the video, boom, Phu forgives him, and even end up saying he's sorry. Oh love, love, love, love, how I wish I could throw rocks in your eyeballs. This boy, later was even asking about all the ways Cir stalked him, and smiling like...child??? Love is indeed blind, or dumb as eff depending on how you look at it. I'm not saying anything, but I'm sure the CAKE made Phu's decision to forgive him a little bit easier.
And that Mother calling her children properties. Some people don't deserve a family. And although I saw it coming, watching Cir leave his brother in his place to their psychotic mother was wild. Homeboy left with Phu, and while Phu was getting his back blown against the wall, I was like... so you're just gonna throw your brother to the defected wolf like that, huh? No effs were given by them, whatsoever.
Anyway, everything ended happily for our two pairs. Well, Ozone's stuck with that mother. Someone better check on him, he might be out there stalking someone too to stay sane. Oh, and we also got to see a glimpse of the next world with the P'Payu looking Cir, so I'm guessing there might be more coming our way.
Overall, this was a decent show, some confusing things we’d never get answers to, some cringy acting we’ve learned to accept, very good chemistry between the leads and an interesting premise, but that was about it. It felt rushed towards the end, and many things could have been done differently or explained better, but overall, it was an enjoyable show. Stay with it, even if like me, in the beginning, you find it boring, it is, but it gets better. I’ll recommend it to bl lovers, cuz it’s worth at least a watch.
I’m looking forward to BossNoeul’s next drama, I'm sure it would be as interesting as this CAKE, I meant, premise... oh who am I kidding, y'all saw that CAKE too right? Like, it was right there, in every scene and... you know what, nevermind, let's leave it as it is. CAKE.
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This review may contain spoilers
So I just completed the series and went to put my "grade" on it when I saw that that rating was so low compared to the last season and, to be honest, I'm a bit disappointed in fans for rating it at 1 without even completing the series (if you haven't completed it better just not rate it at all). So I can see that the main issue for the fans with these series is that it's not lovey-dovey like mostly all the other BL series are. But, in my opinion, it actually makes it even better cause it shows real-life problems so that we, as fans, don't live in a fantasy of love being only about lovey-dovey stuff but also that it needs some problems to make it real. Obviously, it ain't nice to see your favourite couple fight and cheat but in the end, it shows that if love is real, then it can overcome those problems and make the bond even stronger. STORY: The story itself, as I already said, shows a lot of real-life problems that people might go through, i.e. cheating, parents who can't accept, confusing in feelings, sleeping around, being pressured by your boss, etc. Those are all things that series usually try to avoid to keep their audience and play it safe. This is what I really love about the particular series that they are willing to take the risk and portray these problems as well.
KornKnock part: Their part was pretty interesting and heart-touching especially the part with parents. These series showed that not always parents will be willing to accept their kids for what they are and not just because they hate or can't stand their orientation but also just because they feel like they have been lied to and that all of a sudden they have a different kid. Of course, it wasn't nice to see Korn suffer just because his father couldn't come to the terms of the news but it happens so many times and this is a good example that even those people can change for better, even if it takes such measures as almost losing your kid just to understand it. Also the part about Korn not being able to come out to his father. It maybe seemed that he just cared about the fact that he doesn't want him to know cause he was scared but if you look closer, then there's also the feeling of not wanting to hurt him. As he said, If I ain't wrong, he doesn't want to choose between love for Knock and his family so he does everything to make both work. For Knock, I can understand his point of view. He doesn't understand Korn cause he himself risked so much to just love Korn cause, in case someone has forgotten, he is straight and Korn is his exception, so it wasn't so easy for him either. He even came out to his parents to show Korn that it isn't so hard and everything will be good but he refused to understand Korn's point-of-view. His own parents were so nice and accepting so he couldn't imagine why Korn can't do the same. This also is a good example for real-life situations. Then there are problems with Pete. Trying to play off as a nice guy to get in Korn's pants which wasn't pleasant to watch but this happens all the time. He manipulated so many people just to get what he wanted and in the end, he dug his own grave. He is a good example of a jerk who only cares about his well being and is willing to sabotage everyone that steps into his way and tries to break his plans. Of course, it all ended good and they deserved that ending. The fact that Knock gave Korn a second chance and couldn't even take revenge, even though he wanted to, showed that he really does love Korn. You always should give a second chance cause mistakes do happen. If the mistake keeps happening more that one time, then it's a clear sign that it's just not meant to be. Obviously, what Korn did was pretty bad especially if we look in what situation he and Knock already were in. Then again, this all made then rethink a lot of things and come to the right conclusions.
Yihwa/Cho part: can't say that their part of the story was my favourite but I already fell in love with this couple after Bad Romance <3 It was nice to see how they portrayed the problem of being in a relationship for a long time but suddenly being confused in feelings. It's only natural and it happens all the time too. Yihwa confused the feeling of a really good friend with love for Art and thus almost fucked up and, even if she didn't even do anything as bad as Korn did, she still felt really bad and took time to sort out her own feelings so that she could be sure in the future and make the right choice. The fact that Art was trying to push her all the time to make that decision just made it worse for his own good, on the other hand where Cho was waiting and was being careful with the steps he took and only when he was sure he took action. We can easily see that he loves Yihwa so much that all he wants for her is to be happy, with him or not. Also, I like how they ended the series with not a clear ending for those two, showing that it's not so easy and fast to sort out your feelings.
Farm/Bright/Rit part: these 3 were pretty complicated XD Farm' s character took such a turn from the last season and made him look more badass and had put him in a more dominant status. From what Bright had done to him, he became the same and let Bright taste his own medicine. But then again I felt really bad for Nong Rit. He didn't know what he got himself into and fell in love with Farm. He tried so hard but he eventually realised that Farm has been using his just to get some revenge on Bright. But in the end, he made a right choice of taking everything is his own hands and just breaking up with him and after that refusing to stay friends cause that would make everything harder for him cause he loved Farm very much. The fact that he teamed up with Bright to show Farm how bad he has become was pretty savage but a pretty good plot twist. Bright in the end got what he wanted and realised how bad he used to be to Farm as well but then again he realised that Farm really touched his part and, even if it may have been pretty hard to see, he was jealous of the fact that Farm was sleeping around with other guys and at the same time being with him. The ending for all of them was good. They started from the very start and even at the very end it was shown that Rit is also starting over.
ACTING/CAST: As always, all of them were really good. Especially the chemistry between Tul and Max. They are the rare ones who can make it seem so damn real. Even for CGame and Porsche or Meangmum and Tomo, it wasn't as good as them even though they were amazing in their roles. Those to just have the best chemistry I have seen <3 Even without kisses they still show so many feelings for each other. For example, the scene where they finally made up, I just loved that they didn't do the really passionate kiss but a hug instead. For that moment it was so much more appropriate rather than a kiss and the hug had so many feelings in itself.
MUSIC: I don't have much to say about the music and I really loved the fact that they used the soundtracks from the previous seasons too, especially from Bad Romance <3 It made it easier to take the feel of that moment. I can't say that I loved all the songs but they did suite the moment when it was playing.
REWATCH VALUE: I would 100% rewatch these series just for the sake of having fun or when I feel bad to make my day better and care more about their problems rather than mine.
OVERALL: I really enjoyed these series and I and really sad that so many people dropped hem in the middle just because they didn't get the classic lovey-dovey BL series they were expecting for. But then again, this is so much more interesting than just another cheesy series where everything is rainbows and sweetness. It's not like that in real life and it nice to take something with you from the series as a life lesson :) The only thing that did bother me through the whole series is that they didn't include most of the cats from season 1, thus Bad Romance, even though this part takes place after it and Together With Me is a prequel to Bad Romance so it was really unlogical why they had casts from TWM that didn't appear in BR as if they suddenly disappeared from they lives in BD but but didn't have any casts from BR in TMW:TNC even though it would be more logical that they would at least appear here and there at some moments. It just seemed that they were such good friends and all of a sudden they were not in their lives anymore. As well and continuing Farm and Bright' s story as if nothing happened between them in the time of BR. They did fuck up with the timeline here and this just bothered me a lot cause at first I was expecting to see all of the casts, and perhaps not see so much from TWM cause they didn't appear in BR but guess I that's not as important cause perhaps t the same in the books.
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This review may contain spoilers
a vampire and a lackluster story
i'm going to start this review warning that i'm being extremely critical of this work due to how anticipated this series was. even with the story appearing more dark and mysterious with the pilot, i understood and accepted that boun had a very particular vision about revamp and what it would entail given this was part of his deal coming into gmmtv.what i don't understand is why such a huge project was entrusted to p'new. he does not work too well (for me) with mystery or lore-heavy stories. in fact, the deepest storyline he has worked on was Absolute Zero and that was a giant fucking mess. i don't think he was the right choice to bring boun's series to life and it's a shame for this being bounprem's first work with gmmtv with a story that boun was so excited for.
to expand, the problem with how p'new works is that he has a hard time getting the story across completely. if the actors don't pull off the communication of the messages to the audience, he doesn't really fill in the gaps through his direction. in this case, ramil's story was stunted to the point that at the end i was confused about how they had decided to return to the painting. it seemed so out of left field, and i understand it was in an effort to keep themselves together forever, or whatever is close to it given that punn is human, but i think that should've been explained better than just "we're leaving" conversation.
the romantic scenes were so lackluster for bounprem that i felt pretty disappointed by even the NC scenes. maybe my expectations were hoping for too much, but the reverence that ramil sometimes hinted to when talking about punn felt like he would've been more lavish in how he expressed himself, if that makes sense. there was no passion i ever felt in these choreographed scenes and that was frustrating to see because i know that boun and prem are good actors.
speaking of good actors, barcode was incredible, but even he was made to come off too flat and it was frustrating. he had that ability to actually put in the frustration that ciar felt, would've been able to give the one-sided fight with punn into the level that would express to viewers just how angry he was about ramil prioritizing a human that, in his eyes, was not worth the sacrifice.
another topic i found entirely confusing was the lack of explanation of how exactly feratu was able to control jett like that and how deep his control over him might've been. the contrast between the jett we saw during the series to the jett at the last episode was jarring. there had to be more to that, and i'm confused on how exactly the mind control blocking device was decided on by the hunters given that jett was the only one that had not been controlled before and now suddenly he was the main concern for this while coincidentally feratu is able to control minds too? or was it his consciousness that escaped his body and made jett his new vessel? it made no sense to me.
overall, this was disappointing to watch during the entire airing of this. there was always the feeling of something missing, of any real emotions being put into this (not by the actors, just the style) and i fear that p'new didn't feel like the right choice here at least for the concern of the storytelling. i know there's a book, but what's the point of a series if you need to read the books to know half of what is going on? sadly, there was no real appeal left to this after watching all of it and is not ever going to be on my rewatch list. it's a shame, but i'm hopeful that bounprem get a better idea on how they want the storytelling to work for their next series. boun had a part in this, and i think he can use this as an opportunity to grow in his endeavors too.
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The battle of ideologies...
“An idea is something you have; an ideology is something that has you.” : rightfully quoted so by Morris Berman, “Bloody Hearts” takes us to a chronicle that excellently proves how our choices and actions always result in real consequences. Realization of our very thoughts is what makes us real, not the thoughts that have us in its gasp, which, again, changes over time. What seem like a perfect idea today at times of prosperity, might seem futile or ridiculous tomorrow as tragedy befalls us.Produced by “GnG Production, “Bloody Heart (붉은 단심)” is a sageuk politics drama, written by Park Pil Joo and directed by Yoo Young Eun. It was originally broadcasted on KBS2 whereas Disney+ took charge of international distribution.
Both the poster for the drama and the synopsis in the major sites could be misleading, so let me put forward an alternative gist. The drama surely put 3 characters in center but the story isn’t all about themselves. The drama, in fact, shows the real shades the old times and the way politics outweighed everything else for personal gains of few at the top of the pyramidal hierarchy. The drama is a true illustration of how personal feelings, influenced thoughts and mis-planned decisions can lead to unforeseen and misfortunate events, affecting herds of lives. The drama has its sets antagonists and protagonists, accomplices, scapegoats and the trivial beings, but it attempts to exemplify how all of them are responsible for whatever choices they made.
Crown Prince Lee Tae (Lee Joon) ascends the throne following his father, the king’s demise. Constantly being watched upon and with no one to trust upon, as he plans to gather reliable subjects and make a system of his own and authorize it, his secrets seems to have been made aware to his biggest enemy, the left state councilor Park Gye Won (Jang Hyuk Park being an upholder of the ideologies of his nation, has dedicated his life to bring stability to the throne and make the truest king. In his plan, he involves Yoo Jung (Kang Ha Na) who has been the King’s lover. But as the time moves forward and more secrets come to surface, everyone including the Queen Dowager, the royal court and the royal subjects find themselves in the power struggle.
The other familiar faces throughout the drama, in various major and minor roles were: Park Ji Yeon, Heo Sung Tae, Ha Do Kwon, Cho Ri, Kang Shin Il, Cha Soon Bae, Ryu Seung Soo, Jo Hee Bong, Lee Tae Ri, Oh Seung Hoon, and Kim Sun Hwa. There are in fact many popular faces in guest roles as well.
Plot development was amazing. In purely my experience, the development was steady yet discreet as well as sporadic in occurrence. As told earlier, the synopsis isn’t actually a firm gist of the story, the plot itself is a coalescence of events that takes place in a time frame that was long enough for them to present it in a spectrum of continuity, which gain, imo, was a wise decision in the writer’s part. The beginning of the show serve with several character introductions and establishing the base of the story, enmarking “where, why, when and how it all begins”; which was successful in creating striking impressions. The skip in time is when the real story commences and the truths that was already made aware to the audience, start unfolding for the characters.
But, not long after, the story flows into a new direction, making the situations complicated and unavoidable, and that’s how the story becomes even more entrancing. Honestly, there were points, where it felt like the story could have ended only if the characters had done otherwise, but then I realized that, in that case, the drama wouldn’t have been able to provide us with more, haha. This also indicates how the dram is character-driven to an extent, putting emphasis on choices and how the consequence depend upon them. There was no single episode or instance, it felt like the drama was losing its momentum or even running out of context; it was simply engaging from the beginning to the end. The ending sequence and the final outcomes, for the characters and for the overall chronicle was highly satisfactory.
Both the Writer and the Director are practically less-experienced, for they have been parts of only few dramas and some KBS drama specials, all of which had average outcomes and moderately popular. But I hope this drama proves to be a breakthrough in their respective careers for it seem their collective experience has been able to bring fruitful results. Not only the story has been written very graciously also the characters have been built with lots of sense and the plot devices including twists, revelations, connecting points and vouchers have been well-incorporated. The development is drawn in detail and majestically presented. The pacing is perfect throughout; not a single instance striking boredom, nor making you let your guard down. The sound and screen-editing are amazing. The scenario designs and the CGI works combined by good execution are visibly ecstatic.
Cinematography is the best aspect of the drama imo, in fact, the most compelling thing of all. The initial backdrops of the bamboo tribe village is where it hit me and while trying to notice the details, I completely fell in love with it. The director of photography has experimented with several possible camera movements, from close-up to full and low- to high- angle shots, establishing shots of uniform frames as well as panning shots and Dutch angle shots. Notably, in a rare case of Kdramas, POV & OTS shots have been. Communication through manipulation of focus and movements of camera, everything accompanied by various mechanisms, provide ecstatic experience to the audience. One of the most remarkable features were the eye-shift during angsty interactions. It, again, incorporates shots from the above of premises as the characters are seated/stood symmetrically, which were eye-pleasing.
Composed by Choi In Hee, there are a total of 6 OSTs, all compatible to the ansgty and serious mood of the drama, even for the disquieting love story of the leads. The tracks are beautifully written and pleasantly composed, plus the stupefying covers.
# “Missing You” BY Han Dong Geun is my most favorite which incorporates heart-touching words and been ornamented with melting vocal.
# “Dimly” by RIO is a melancholic softbeat track as an attempt to hold back things dear to you.
# “Wish Becomes Stars” by Kim Won Woo is about hopes that keep you living.
# “It’s Red” by ID:Earth & Park Da Wool is a high beat heart–wrenching song about insecurities in the darkness.
# “A Star in the dawn” by Chung Ha is heartfelt track about the joyful days to cherish.
# “Let It Flow” by Lim Sang Hyun is again a melancholic song about longing reminisces.
What I liked…
# The intrinsic messages of a show always intrigues me and I’m happy to have witnessed it in another sageuk, where, even when they stick to tradition-based ideas that were prelevant in the contemporary times, they also try to tackle the patriarchy, customs and standards by means of the of the characters, especially the female ones.
# The dialogues were captivating and enthralling and beguiling, all at different times. May be because the story mostly takes place within the palace and involves high-ranking members and their servers (maids, eunuchs and court-ladies), the dialogue sticks to pure hanja literature for most of its parts. The statements and response incorporates awe-inspiring patterns and proverbs as well as idioms.
# The character arcs were prodigious and exceptionally built-up with prominent development. I guess the term “development” would be not apt, for the characters didn’t really change their natures or intentions, rather their growth resulting from learnings and knowledge. The King’s character is untypical and it’s the FL’s character that outshines everyone else followed by PGW’s charismatic role that he carried out stupendously.
# I don’t really complain about the amount romance in a drama but this one surely had an apt portion which makes me mention it. There isn’t too much or too less and that much is also perfectly incorporated throughout, wherever necessary. The relationship between them didn’t entirely rely on love, rather it had idealistic viewpoints for the FL was a rationale and kind lady, the opposite of the ML who thinks everything is justifiable when you desire to achieve something.
# The intriguing sceneries as a part of both the real camera landscapes and created with CGI to suit the timelines and points, were well-utilized by the makers. Since most of the affairs occur within the walls of the palace the medieval vistas of “hankos” (traditional Korean houses) and the royal palace as well as different parts of it, shot in Yeolhwajung Pavillion and Gyeongbokgung Palace were alluring and enticing.
# The inclusion of back stories of minor characters as a part of justifying their acts (from their pov ofc) is done in a way you end up sympathizing with them. No wonder I as well as the audience watching it were forced to change sides and rationalize and change sides again as a cycle, before we could finally build neutral stances about the characters and about whatever was going on. Now go back to my title and you’ll realize why I wrote so.
What I didn’t like…
Honestly, I couldn’t pick any in particularly; nothing in the character arcs or the plot development of the used elements or even with the enactments. It definitely wasn’t a perfect but its good and could have invisible/unnoticeable flaws to be filtered. So, I don’t have much to complain except for how I didn’t like particular actions of the characters on personal levels.
One of the many symmetrical elements in this drama that I loved was ‘manipulating through the baduk (go) board’. The King establishing consonance with reality through the stones that corresponded colour with people of 2 different categories, was a pleasant and alluring scene. The movement of stones implying the varied actions implemented by Park Gye Won was what made me stagger.
Vertical groove patterns on the attires of the royal subjects, including the king is what I noticed during the first half of the show and it felt very different. There was a point I felt that I had seen the same in another drama but I could not exactly recall. So, either the drama has tried to add the detail with particular intentions (which is unlikely bcs they would been complained for misappropriation of history by now) or there actually exists such hanboks with some meaning to it, which I am unaware of. Please enlighten me if you know.
There will be not just one or two, rather several instances where you might question the said antagonist’s true intentions. That being said, the writer has done a very good job in showcasing how ideologies and actions make us human beings. The perspectives of Park Gye Won were clear even though we couldn’t see it. Albeit his manner of accomplishing anything were ill or wrongful, they, at all the times, weren’t particularly indicative of two-way results. This is what makes the drama different.
Not strategy, rather grandeur bureaucracy is one of the major devices that the writer has chosen to foreground as a part of the state politics in the drama. Conspiracy-based politics are the typical elements in historical Korean drama but the makers here went south to prove how idealistic systems can still be the core of politics, which might not be very realistic if you consider the actual history. Not like the story is devoid of ill conspiracies but even that sticks to the protocols of the systems.
Before I sign off, I must bring to notice of the readers that the drama does an exemplary job in establishing few roots into the recent developments in female-centric sageuk stories that attempts to break the trends of usuality. In simple words, the drama is, firstly, neither the King’s nor the Queen‘s or of the antagonist(s), it is about the choices and actions of the characters that lead the consequences accordingly. Even so, the prominence put into manufacturing the female lead combined with the performance by Kang Ha Na, makes the story even more powerful.
Final Remarks… All matters summed up, the drama is a fabulous piece of sageuk, in fact, the 2nd best of the year, keeping “TRSC” at the first. From an excellent script to noteworthy direction, from spellbinding cinematography to transfixing editing and from amazing performance to thrilling presentation and finally the astounding outcomes, it maintained the quality throughout and proved to be a must watch piece. Most importantly, the drama is what you call “thought-provoking”; it made us ponder, resonate, rationalize and infer the characters’ perspectives and action, in our own lenses ofc. My overall experience and my sense of considering the previous productions of similar type, has led me to conclude that this is a well-made show with untypical execution, even so it is not very unique or a masterpiece. PLEASE WATCH, for its worth the time and deserves much more appreciation.
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I binged!
It was a great watch and i did watch it in one seating, usually happens when you are watching something good. It has its dramatic moments but overall it was quite an uplifting show. As much as it was a romance story between Minho and Soobin's character it was also very much a story of the four friends. I love the from start to finish the friendship between these four never wavered. Even if they all were dealing with their own problems they never fail to show up when the others needed them. I also love how even the side characters in this show great, i find myself rooting for them as well. Over all a great watch. Give it a chance people!Was this review helpful to you?
A Serenade of Love and Delicious Foods
In a landscape where dramas are often dominated by convoluted plots and intense conflicts, Love Me, Love My Voice（很想很想你） stands out as a breath of fresh air.Love Me, Love My Voice narrates the story of Mo Qingcheng and Gu Sheng, who encounter each other online accidentally and gradually get to know and fell in love with each other. The beauty of the drama lies in its simplicity. The drama refrains from bombarding the audience with exaggerated conflicts or confusing plotlines, opting instead for a narrative that revolves around the genuine connection between two individuals and delicious foods!!
What sets this drama apart is its realism - the drama narrative focuses on the gradual deepening of the relationship and connection between the main leads: love, career and family. There is no antagonist in the drama, instead the characters has a normal life, celebrate each other's successes, and navigate the complexities of their lives with a sense of unity and togetherness that is both heartening and rare in the drama realm.
The side characters in the drama are also all very lovely! The interactions between the main character and side characters are also woven together beautifully, each individual character arcs into the broader tapestry of the story, allowing each side character to contribute uniquely to the overall narrative. Not to forget, the drama also showcases a lot of delicious food and cooking. The inclusion of delicious food and cooking scenes adds a sensory delight to the storytelling, viewers are treated to a visual feast of mouthwatering dishes! (you definitely cannot watch in an empty stomach!)
Tan Jianci and Zhou Ye is the perfect choice for Mo Qingcheng and Gu Sheng. They have a great rapport and they look gorgeous and fitting together and deliver many squeal-worthy moments. They manages to portray a couple deeply in love through their micro expressions. Although some might complain that the romance is a slow-burn, but it is justified, as it is just the beginning of their relationship, they are still getting to know each other.
The cinematography of Love Me, Love My Voice also deserves special mention. The visual aesthetics are both vibrant and soothing, mirroring the overall tone of the drama. The scenic shots of the bustling city juxtaposed with the serene moments between the main leads create a visually pleasing experience that complements the narrative beautifully. In addition, Love Me, Love My Voice also has a very exquisite and beautiful outfit. Gu Sheng’s outfit are 新中式穿搭, a modern-chinese traditional style. The outfits are not only beautiful, but it also accentuates Gu Sheng’s love towards the Chinese culture.
Another notable mention the OSTs. The drama has an array of OSTs that complements the narrative perfectly. Each OSTs are carefully created with heartfelt lyrics and also thoughtfully placed, to enhance the mood of every scene! The OSTs resonate with the themes of love, passion, and more, creating an immersive experience that transcends the screen and lingers in the hearts of the viewers. Not to mention, Tan Jianci’s voice are so soothing and fitting to every song he sings.
Overall, Love Me Love My Voice delivers a heartwarming and soothing narrative, offering audiences a respite from the typical dramatic rollercoaster genre. A must watch if you love a simple but heartwarming drama!!
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Story (7/10):
In more ways than not, the premise is unconventional - not only by Chinese dramas standards, but in the realm of romance. If one is even slightly familiar with early Chinese history, then the idea of a forced relationship with a man whose ruthless tyranny is more infamous than his merits in unifying what is now China, has all the ingredients for an interesting romance. A romance tying into real historical characters and their famed personalities, leaves one curious to see how this equally unstable yet devoted ruler thaws his way into the heart of the object of his infatuation, after taking her away from the life she wanted and those she loves.
Throw in a second lead (Jing Ke) whose name is synonymous in history with balls rivaling the Great Wall for his assassination attempts on the emperor, and imaginations be running wild from all sorts of directions this story can go, and the immense potential it has. Sounds very ambitious, doesn't it?
And yet it fell flat. Over-saturated with unoriginal, predictable tropes that take away substantial momentum from the bigger picture, and in the end achieved nothing for plot and characterization. Despite active ingredients for what could have been good storytelling and real conflicts, poor characterization is probably what ruined the drama. Characters that garner neither sympathy nor respect, whose actions make no sense of the insensible, and mostly controlled by situations rather than in control of. Drama begins with a plot only to end with none (minus the part where they stuck to history). Seriously, will someone please think of the plot?!
And then there's flashbacks. The only thing more overused is good ol' flashbacks with the cheesy music, to cement itself as extremely lazy, poor writing at its finest. One flashback in particular has me thankful for helping me realize self restraint levels I never knew existed.
Because everytime it comes up the urge to shave myself bald before pulling my hair out from seeing it for the 100000th time is real. To paraphrase another user, the excessive flashbacks is "an insult to audiences as if the lot suffers from amnesia" couldn't be more accurate.
And ultimately, all is left are frustrating characters, unfulfilled potential and whole lot of disappointment.
Acting (6.5/10):
Not much to be said here. The cast does little to connect the audience, poor characterization aside on writers' part. Dilraba is wholly unimpressive as the leading lady , and proved herself as lacking depth to carry heavier roles like her character here. As for Zhang Bin Bin, he delivers as a mean guy with tender moments, but lacks the magnanimous charisma of a unstable frightening ruler that is Qing Shi Huang. Seriously just read up the guy on Wiki for those unfamiliar with Chinese history. Chemistry between the two however, might be the only saving grace for the drama, if ever is one.
Supporting characters played by actors for Han Shen and Li Zhong are more convincing than mains.
Music (7/10): The OST is good. And by OST I mean two songs for the entire 48 episodes. One in particular is the jack of all trades, used for happier moments to tragic ones, rain or shine, Li Er with Jing Ke, Ying Zheng, etc you name it. One can even guess when it cues and where. The producers of this drama tend to have a single favorite for everything, from music to flashbacks. Besides that, the OST reflects well the tragic theme of the drama, and is memorable. Though may be a function of being hounded into one's memory.
Rewatch: (5/10) only reason I can imagine anyone wanting to bother with this is for the leading pair during more romantic moments. One is better off finding those YouTube MVs for all those "swoonworthy" moments instead.
Am I being too harsh? Perhaps. However, as a frequent watcher of Chinese historicals, I can't help but feel unimpressed. Maybe a better writer, production team and leading cast would have brought out a better outcome. Went into this excited but came out with shattered expectations. Unfortunate because the cinematography, filming (minus choppy editing)and costumes are gorgeous, and despite the complaints, I wanted to like this so badly for parts I did enjoy. However redeeming aspects are largely overshadowed by what is not
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That "death" was almost predestined by Doctor Stranger's plot. At first, the show was thrilling; it's focus on Park Hoon and the things a doctor has to do gripped me. Yet, a show that has one weak character from the beginning will often find that weak character to be the cause of its entire downfall. That's what happened here. A weak character was then joined by mediocre characters, and the whole show had to rely on one really strong character (Park Hoon) to bolster the story. That weak character, though, thread through Park Hoon's performance, made a wrong stitch, and unraveled it altogether. (Don't even get me started on the ending.)
Acting-wise, it was either a beating heart or a flat line. Lee Jong Suk, Kang Sora, and Park Hae Jin gave a lot to their roles. In Jong Suk's case, his acting showed more depth than his previous roles and made me feel for Park Hoon in a real way. Unfortunately, the flat-lined actress Jin Se Yeon, brought as much character as character development for her character, that is to say, none. She tripped and stumbled over every scene that required any emotion other than a blank face that clearly said, "I don't know what the hell I'm doing."
Music-wise, I have no complaints.
Instead of asking, "Will you re-watch this?," I would say the question should be, "Do I have to re-watch this?"
Overall, I can't waste any more words than the characters did over dying patients on this drama.
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felt like torture towards the end
honestly, if mame had to write anything without SA, she'd pop a blood vessel.I genuinely enjoyed the first half of this show. Noeul and Boss have great chemistry and it showed on screen. their stroy was alright. I don't mind a simple plot of people falling in love, but that being said, it didn't wow me either. their 18+ scenes were crazy though, never expected the things to happen the way they did. but these scenes sadly carried the show. if you were to take them out, I don't think the show would be as highly rated as it is right now (over 8).
except for cringy scenes and ambiguous consent, I don't really have too much of a quarrel with the first half. if it was just that, i would've given a solid 6 stars.
the show completely fell flat in the second half though. it felt as if they pumped 90% of the budget in the rain X phayu story and were left with 10$ and a dream for sky X prapai. the already bad sound design suddenly became worse as well as the acting.
the actors seem sweet irl, and I'm sure they gave it their all.. but even with bonus points for it being their first big role, it was simply painful to watch. emotional scenes were carried by fort, since he was able to get a tear or two out.
what bugged me the most was the sudden infantilisation of sky. Sky was sarcastic and snarky, but all of a sudden he acts like a baby in every scene. pouting, hands in front of his chest, super submissive and needy...
even if prapai "cracked" his "stone heart" that doesn't mean he has to change personalities.
that brings me to the second but also most important criticism. the ending perpetuates that love can suddenly heal your trauma. what a person with sexual trauma of this caliber needs isn't a rich, good looking hunk who borderline harasses them. it's therapy and a good social support system. there are 100 better ways to approach the topic of r*pe. idk why they keep letting mame write stories that use it as a plot device to have two good looking men make out on screen.
and with this, I'm out. I wish I had stopped after rain X phayus story wrapped up. I wouldn't be so upset now.
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