Reviews

The black hole of brain cells the Alphas had - the true entertainment.

Where to even start? The manipulations, red flags, black flags, assaults, temporary and plot convenient “face blindness”, amazing brainpower versus negative brainpower - the mix of everything one can imagine. And my brain struggles with comprehending all of that. But maybe that was the point?

The best and the worst aspect for me? Shen Wen Lang. I loved him and I hated him so much. How can one character be this dumb? It’s magical. And so entertaining. Frustrating too, but in an entertaining manner. I think the key to enjoying the show is to… not feel bad for any character and keep reminding yourself it’s just a makjang werewolf coded Omegaverse trash tv. It’s a bit like a horror movie - you are not supposed to feel bad for the victims… That’s sounds bad, but it is what it is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So first we have the biggest victim - Sheng Shao You. That’s your smart-dumb male lead who knows enough to be impressive to others, but also lacks any street smarts and insight to see through Hua Yong’s schemes. To be manipulated this bad for this long is a skill itself. Still, one thing I did appreciate a lot was how his pairing with Hua Yong went against typical conventions. The “top” was the scheming feminine force, and the bottom was the manly man. It was surprisingly well written and delivered.

Then we have the blackest of black flags - Hua Yong. What a casting to be honest. Huang Xing was able to deliver the feminine vulnerability and the badass bitch energy seemingly without any problems and both cases were perfectly believable and made sense for the character he was playing. The fake smiles, smirks delivery when no one was watching, fake tears, anger issues, complete obsession and devotion. All so wrong, all so entertaining.

Gao Tu was the most heartbreaking character of them all. Of his own making, that’s also true, but no matter how you look at it he was a victim of his social and economical situation. Truth to be told, his character was the only one that made me feel uncomfortable while watching There was one scene, a close up moment to his face that lasted maybe 3 seconds, but it was so raw and felt so wrong, even thought I was laughing like a maniac few seconds earlier because of the ridiculous plot, this one moment slapped me in the face with how wrong what I was watching actually was. And dear lord, that was such a bad choice from the production team. The way to enjoy these shows is to NEVER make them hyperrealistic, they are not supposed to be taken seriously.

As for the plot itself - what a mess. The only well written and delivered things were Hua Yong’s schemes. All the rest? Oh so bad. Starting from anything related to business - why? 80% of business related scenes were useless and had no impact on the overall story.

Then we have a joke that Gao Tu and Wen Lang story was . I do not care that they had even less presence and development in the novel. The good adaptation knows how to fix the shortcomings of the source material - you either remove bits you know you cannot elaborate more on, or you expand on the bits that were underdeveloped to create a more cohesive story with a strong and fitting conclusion. Here we have just wasted the potential that their dynamic was. And I don’t even want to talk about the clownery the conclusion they received - I cried, screamed and laughed, because I could not believe that was it.

Acting was hit and miss. Huang Xing and Li Pei En easily delivered a solid and convincing performance. Qiu Ding Jie was a hit or miss depending on the scene - overall passable. Jiang Heng gave me nothing. That’s the “I got dragged here by a friend and got involved, but I don’t really know what I am doing” vibe. Kind of hope acting is not his dream job (oops).

The production… Where to start? I did like how they managed to film and deliver the intimate scenes. There are obviously limits to how much they can show since it’s a Chinese BL, but without showing much, they were still able to deliver the sensual and at times a bit spicy image. Maybe I’m just tired of the soft porn we are getting from Thailand? Anyway, this was a pleasant surprise. They did go a bit too artsy with some filters, but since they used them to "censor" certain things - I will give them a pass. They clearly tried to do their best with the limits they had.

But then there are the ridiculous issues with editing - especially sound design and dubbing. There was one scene that lasted a good 10+ seconds where the characters were obviously talking, but there was no dialogue sound, just the background music. Stuff like that, things related to post production and smart planning more than the budget are hard to excuse.

Overall, what a bullshit drama it was, but how entertained they made it amazes me. There were a lot of things that should have been fixed, but I’d be lying if I said I did not have fun watching. But it’s for sure not the “it’s so good I love it”, but rather “it’s so bad, I love it” type of a deal. I ranted after every episode, my blood kept boiling, but I could not drop it, and I watched all episodes as soon as they dropped.

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A Different Take On Love

I'm not really into BL dramas, but, this one got me curious and gave it a shot. First, I really like the realistic approach. As far as I've seen, Korean entertainment is starting to loosen up their conservative side in terms of doing this type of genre, which is a good move I may say.

For the story, I got hooked on the first 6 eps. of the story. It was a roller coaster of emotions. I honestly liked Go Young's character. Not only he is cute, literally, but has a pure heart as well. The friendship he made with Mi Ae was truly priceless. I really loved the strong bond between these two. Though, at the back of my mind, I was hoping they would notch up there friendship beyond sisters. Still, the bond remained inspite of pursuing their different track in their lives. And yes, Mi Ae's wedding was so heartwarming to see. The song between these sisters show how bonded they really are.

Go Young's squad was another epic characters in this drama. Having friends through thick and thin are truly priceless. I'm just not sure if he was able to open up with them about his sickness. As far as I remember, he was too cautious for them to learn about it after seeing their reactions of one person they know who was infected.

The sad fate of Go Young's mom was another heartwarming moment in this drama. Though, I know there are times that he needed to vent out by going out to the club with his friends while his mom was being taken care of by a caregiver. It just felt a bit off. Like, thinking his mom was suffering and there he was clubbing. But, yeah, as youthful as he is, probably that's really his way to ease out his burdens. It's just sad that he never admitted to his mom his preference but yeah, his mom learned about it through the photo and yes, when she gave her full savings to Young, it's a sign of her acceptance. Am sure it was a really tough decision for the mom knowing she's active in Church based on the background given.

And yes, for Go Young's series of relationships, the first cheater boyfriend who eventually gave him the virus on the latter part of the drama. And the very serious, Nam Gyu, the photographer who also ended up in a sad fate. In which, Young was really not into him. Then, there was Young So, the hideous activist. Really not the right partner for him, though he was very passionate with Go Young. The real deal Gyu Ho. I really liked how they met at the bar. and I think, GH was the one who truly cared for him. Accepted as who he was. Yet, they have different paths to take. I guess, their love for each other wasn't truly enough.
I was a bit confused with Habibi's character. He suddenly popped at the last 2 eps of the drama that felt drag for me. I probably missed how he met Habibi as I tried to forward some parts. Am not sure how he was related to Gyu Ho. And it seems he met him in a dating app I think or social media page, this I'm unsure of. But, his character seems just a filler towards the end. Nothing significant since he has a family and his work confused me as well. He is Japanese but speaks good English. He travels a lot I presume since they met in Korea and also in Thailand.

Anyways, the ending is just okay for me. But, not what I'm hoping for. The relationship of GY with his dad is another complicated story. Overall, it was a good drama. Actors absolutely nailed their roles specially, Nam Yoon Su. The steaminess in this drama were very well portrayed. It made me believe that it is their gender preference in real life. But like I said, the final 2 eps. simply drag for me. Lots of flashbacks of GY and GH that I find irrelevant since their not even getting back together.

This is really recommendable who's really in to BL dramas. Not really my cup of tea. But, the actors are truly commendable, honestly.

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Reminds me of Brewing love, but better

I have been waiting for this one for a while now. It's finally here and I couldn't wait to start.

At first it seemed too much like Brewing love, which I only finished because of Chanhwi. There's no fantasy element, there's potatoes instead of beer but other than that it's very similar. The first episode wasn't very good but I gave it a chance because it's the introduction we have tonget tonknow our carachters before the fun begins.

Episode two took of and I could not stop laughing, This show is absolutely ridiculous, full of clichés and absurdity. The male lead is so unlikeable the female lead is so loud and over the top but it just works. It's not to be taken seriously just sit down and have a laugh. It's dumb fun and I will continue to enjoy it as such.

A little update after watching 6 episodes it's becoming sillier and sillier, episode 5 made me laugh so hard my belly ached.

I understand why people aren't liking it it's just a dumb shutdown your brain and watch kind of drama and the humor is very stupid which is not for everyone and it's OK.

I finished the whole thing today and it was Ok overall, it just kept getting dumber and dumber as the story progressed with the last scene being so stupid it was cringy.

There wer some minor hiccups here and there, Like Park Kise should've been ground up and used as potato fertilizer but it's fine it's not that kind of drama. (I'll just imagine it happened).

While The younger brother and the best friend might have been the funniest duo I didn't quite like them together, I don't know why. He's so freaking adorable and she's crazy and so funny but as a couple I didn't like them much but it's probably just a me problem.

I will be generous and keep the 8.0 rating, this series is inoffensive, give it a chance if you like silly and you'll have a good time.

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Just stupid

So I’m relatively new to k-dramas and this was one of the first k-dramas I watched on Netflix and up until season 1 episode 6 I loved it,it all goes down hill from there, jojo and sun-oh’s relationship seems genuine and they both care for eachother a lot, atleast that’s the way it looks?! But then they flip it on its head by making jojo heartless, cold and indecisive in the process messing with everyone else’s feelings just because she can’t get her shit together, they way she breaks up with sun-oh pisses me off because why?! It doesn’t make any sense the fact she drops him just like that after 6 episodes of them building the relationship up what was all that for!? Then there’s Hye-yeong who’s a good guy but it just doesn’t feel real between them two, anyway season two is just more indecisiveness and throwing sun-oh and jojos connection out the fucking window,until she finally decided that hye-yeong is who she wants, shows like this make me tired, jojo becomes heartless towards sun-oh when he never did anything wrong?! By then end of it I started leaning more towards jojos cousin more than her and that’s saying something! Watch it if you want but for me it was a waste of time

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Just as described and much more

Starting with the description “Hard boiled extreme survival game movie” “Project Wolf hunting “ a movie never seen before.. Well this movie is like that, you have never seen anything like it, even if you think you have, I assured you, there is nothing like it, and if you think you are prepared, you are not.
Director Kim made used of tons of fake blood, so it is a very bloody and brutal movie. Director Kim also shows evil human nature, what happens when heinous criminals are trying to take over, what happens to a body or part of a body gets smashed, cut, etc.. The movie has lots of twists and turns, unexpected situations, and a beyond evil character, who has not a single drop of humanity, but it is only filled with rage and cruelty, a beast like killing machine. There are no heroes, you never know who will survive and how, the movie keeps you in your seat, time flies, there are funny parts, there are really extreme intense parts, and some parts where you will be screaming “No”, also you will be closing your eyes a lot due to the nature of the movie, but it is all part of the experience..
The acting is top notch, so many scene stealers, Seo In Guk transformation is absolutely fantastic, the way he plays a criminal is superb. Park Ho San, Sung Dong Il, Jung So Min, just to mention a few, they played characters never seen before.
All in all, this movie is a must see, but just be aware, it is gory/brutal to the extreme.

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COMMENDABLE JOB

Are you curious why I wrote "commendable job" in the title? It's because the writer and director of this MoD actually need some applause for making this unique Thai BL.

I am so so so happy that finally Thai BL makers are coming out of their comfort zone and trying out genres which are way beyond of their league. Crime thriller is absolutely not what their area of interest.

To be very honest, I found many flaws but I think it's worth looking them away for they've come out of their box probably for the first time. In fact, they've done a pretty good job in direction, screenwriting and screenplay, which I thought they might not work out.

It was a pretty good story with plots, twists and turns placed at their rightful places. Few things felt absurd but can be totally ignored. They didn't research about the forensic stuffs properly which they could have done by consulting experts of the respective fields. And the thing about the police station organisation didn't feel right either.

But anyways, I was intrigued by the ending and tbe way the main culprit was revealed.

It was overally a good watch. I hope they keep making such Thai BLs.

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An Unexpected Spring Treat

True love is not possession but fulfilment


Plot
The plot is simple. This drama is a light romantic comedy with a heavy focus on the romance and comedy so adjust expectations accordingly.

What doesn’t work:
Some viewers might not like the simplicity of the plot. Some may not like the slow down to focus on romance and plot after the rush of comedy in the first third of the show.

What works:
Expecting heavy plot and intrigue will lead to disappointment, however, even though the plot is simple, it gets the story from A to B in a coherent and logical manner.
This does not mean the story is without charm though. It’s cleverness lies in its delivery, clear sense of character growth, and setup.
To be honest it’s delivery is a bit of a surprise in that the story unfolds like a mystery rather than a romance. It leaves the viewer with questions and those questions rope the viewer in because they want answers. It’s a brilliant and daring move because some viewers may disregard the story thinking it’s full of plot-holes but the story surprises viewers again as those same plot holes in the front of the story are explained slowly throughout the drama in a way that ties up everything neatly by the story’s end.
To achieve this, the drama is full of foreshadowing, details, and setup. In fact, despite being a light romantic comedy, it has some of the best foreshadowing and setup that I have seen in years. It has foreshadowing that gets paid off dozens of episodes later. Chechov’s guns are a constant and tiny things that do not seem to matter become massive a-ha moments later on, which makes the story fun and raises its rewatch value as viewers find themselves wanting to go back and follow the clues. The setup doesn’t lose to the foreshadowing either. It effect often delivers what would be illogical and unbelievable cliche moments believable and innovative ways. A great example is the kitchen fire scene. In an ordinary drama, Ji man might just trip on thin air trying to escape and fall on Ning Yuxuan but instead, the momentum of her trying to use a beam to break the door just as it opens sets the moment up in a more logical and believable way. This works with the characters as well. The setup of some characters early in the drama leads to a great twist in the last stretch of the drama. The details are also fun. Some like calla lilies being poisonous or horse dung containing antibacterial fungi are weird bits of trivia that are used in a hilarious way. The callbacks are also great with one leading up to an amazing gut punch later on in the story. Plus, the end will make you bald to make up for all the setup.


Story:
This show was adapted from a novel titled, Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir. However, in order to pass censorship and entice viewers, the show made some deep changes. For book fans, it’s better to think of this show as very loose adaptation or as a different work entirely because a lot events and characters have been dropped or changed.

What doesn’t work:
The complexity of the house-fighting and politics is gone. The villains are flatter(this is a censorship issue though). The tension of Ji Man losing her life if she makes a mistake is also greatly reduced. If you like Ning Yuxuan as a scumbag, his scumbag very is pretty much annihilated (also a censorship issue).

What works:
The drama keeps the essence of the story and characters. There’s still an essence of growing up and growing together as a couple for Ji Man and Ning Yuxuan. Ji Man keeps her tenacious spirit (She’s almost feral in the first part to hilarious effect). Ning Yuxuan still transforms into a love sick husband but retains his sense of conflict between honour and love with 95% less scumbag. The house fighting is replaced with a sisterhood storyline and the ableism issues regarding one of the main villains are also gone. This makes the story more palatable to viewers.


Acting/Cast
The show’s cast is drastically cut down from the book. Neither of the leads, Ding Yuxi or Peng Xiao Ran, are traffic stars and most of the rest of the cast are either non traffic, newcomers, or old drama bones.

What doesn’t work:
Sometimes the acting does not work. The expressions are too extreme or the acting is too hard but I believe this an issue with the Chief Director having seen the director’s other works. Xie Ze is prone to directing his actor to exaggerate for some strange reason, maybe to maximise the comedic/soap opera effect or offset the smoothing factor of filters. Some viewers might not like the agile style acting of Peng Xiao Ran, which is made strange sometimes by Xie Ze’s lens.

What works:
Xie Ze pretty much always chooses a cast that can act and these actors carry the show. The leads, Peng Xiao Ran and Ding Yuxi, are great. Peng Xiao Ran is beautiful despite plain styling. Ding Yuxi is handsome and boyish. They are not afraid of making big or weird expressions. Best of all is that they can both act- there are no scenes where one partner drops the acting ball and ruins the scene; and their characters, Ji Man and Ning Yuxuan respectively , both have a clear sense of growth by the end. Their chemistry is also amazing. Strong, sweet, and most importantly believable-Jinyumantang is really on top and the pair have moments that can be rewatched several times over without the sweetness ever turning sour.
Another highlight is that all of the main characters undergo growth or transformation giving them a sense of three dimensionality. Ji Man and Ning Yuxuan go from enemies to lovers, but in a way that really feels like a young couple fumbling their way into a serious and mature relationship where they support and love each other. Gui Bai overcomes his hesitations to fall in love. Miss Shui leaves the past behind and Qian Xue develops the confidence to become businesswoman. Even Muxu and Sang Shen, transform a bit - going from squabbling pettiness against each other to occasionally working together for the benefit of Jiman.


Costumes

What doesn’t work:
The women’s costumes are plain. Their makeup also looks very plain, which sometimes reveals facial flaws. This could be due to filters as it looks fine in the tidbits or it could also be due to Xie Ze’s way of shooting which is not friendly to actresses. The lack of eye makeup is the most detrimental as it makes it harder to see the actresses’s eye skills, especially if they have a thick filter.
After seeing the makeup video, it’s strange that the stylist didn’t go with Peng Xiao Ran’s original look.


What does work:
The lack of women’s makeup strangely makes the actresses stand out more because their individual characteristics haven’t been standardised or covered up with makeup. It also makes the viewer focus more on their acting because the viewer isn’t being distracted by fancy costumes or a great red lip.
The men’s costumes are okay. They may not be innovative but all the main young male stars all look handsome and attractive, which is the basic requirement for an idol drama.
The biggest complaints come from Peng Xiao Ran’s styling but she has a pretty enough face to support the look and when she is shot well, her clothing takes on a fairy and flowing effect that gives her a fairy like or xianxia appearance. In fact, the effect is so good, that the choice of mostly gauzy outfits seems wonderful in those moments.


Direction:

What doesn’t work:
Xie Ze. It’s better than Jun Jiu Ling and Fuyao so he’s learning but sometimes watching the show and comparing tidbits, I’m not sure why he still has a job. His vision ruins some key scenes that under other directors would have positively gone out of the circle.

What works:
Xie Zie. He has impeccable pacing and as much as I complain about him, his dramas are also the only ones I finish without skipping😂. The complaints about the pacing of this show fall a bit flat considering there are highly rated shows where 10+ episodes or entire arcs can be missed without touching the story. In fact, with this show, if you skip, you might miss out on a detail which could lead to confusion later.
There are also some amazing shots. The water play is gorgeous. Some of Peng Xiao Ran’s running scenes are very pretty. And, the boat raid scene with Ding Yuxi is really fast paced and cool. The only caveat is I’m not sure they were taken by Xie Ze because the lens language is different and I’ve never seen such camerawork in his previous dramas. Episode 9, 15, 16, and 30 seems to be shot by some one completely different but the styling and atmosphere are also best in those episodes. 16 is especially a highlight.


Overall:
I think outside of the acting and main couple, the best part of this drama is it’s themes. It’s hard not to fall in love with the message of self improvement and fulfilment it carries throughout the whole story. The leads may be in love but they also focus on their career and it’s extremely touching to see them using their talents to support and help other. Ji nyumantang are worthy of the emperor’s praise. The way they insist on communicating with each other, respecting boundaries, and trying to understand each other make them such a sweet pair. Best of all they don’t start out perfect at it, it’s a gradual and warm hearted development.
I also have to say that I love the way the drama handles women. Ji Man is flesh and blood. She has depth, duality, and complexity. Many viewers might write her off as just another cutesy FML but she’s an astute businesswoman, supports her friends into gainful employment, and eventually breaks out to start achieving things with her own strength. What’s not wonderful about that? Add to it her scaredy cat personality and her desire to be babied by Ning Yuxuan and there is a refreshing sense for those who are tired of the trope of strong women needing to be fortresses 24/7 without any vulnerability or softness at all. There are many ways to be a strong woman and I’m glad RoaTF showcases this with its message of sisterhood, self improvement, positive love, and having your own career and achievements-even the villainess,Wen Wan, embarks on a career. I love it and I think it’s a great message paired with Ji Man and Ning Yuxan’s journeys of becoming the best version of themselves before they get together.



Rewatch Value
It’s high. The details make you want to rewatch. The a-ha moments make you want to rewatch. Most of all the sweetness of Jinyumantang makes makes you want to come back again and again.

Not recommended for:
- Those looking for deep plot and intrigue
- Those who do not understand what a romantic comedy entails
- Those who carry preconceived notions of what an actor should act in or those carrying heavy filters from other shows

Recommended for:
- Fans of Peng Xiao Ran and Ding Yuxi who love to see them branching out
- Those who looking for something lighthearted or soapy to relax to without too much plot
- Those who love quirky, goofy girls like Sailor Moon and and Bea from Bea from Bea and Puppy-cat
- Those who love sweet romances

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Fast-Paced TRUE Enemies to Lovers

In a sea of boring visuals, and Enemies to Lovers tropes that fall flat; this show, while not perfect, is very striking and addicting.

Overview:
One of the shows positive qualities is that it takes each episode as a narrative and tailors it's run time towards the plot portion being told. If the obvious stopping point for a cliffhanger was to make the episode less than 9 minutes long, it was. Likewise, if the story needed more time to expand on the plot, the episode became longer.

What the show exceeds at is showcasing a captivation Enemies to Lovers trope in a "he's crazy but SHE'S crazier" style, providing a modern take on women's rights that, while still "shoved down your throat", manage to seem like they might "actually" happen in small conversations among families and confidants, and using over-the-top and bold cinematography to capture intense emotions.

Where the show lacks if honesty is to be blunt, is in the underlying conspiracy plot execution and character development of the main villian and the MLs family.

😅😅Weaknesses:😅😅

To address first the weaknesses:
The grandmother and SiL do a full 180 in the last few episodes. This is not explained and there is absolutely zero character hints prior to the episode the change occurs for the audience to follow along and believe the change when it occurs. Personally, when the change happened I thought the episode was going to end as a dream it was that sudden and unexpected.

The main villian was VERY one-dimensional. We have no back story to explain WHY they decide to take part in the conspiracy and they are let go and allowed to break free FAR too many times to be believable. There is "suspense your disbelief" and then there is "oh come on, REALLY, AGAIN!?!?" This is not to say that the interactions are not entertaining, but they are HIGHLY unbelievable and have the true air of a soap opera or cartoon weekly villian.

As for the conspiracy, if you blink you will miss the underlying intricacies that go in to the ML working on this case. In hindsight this makes sense as the conspiracy is tied to the plot of the death of his beloved, but most people don't watch these over-the-top soap opera type shows paying attention to EVERY word that gets said. What it comes down to, and some of this COULD be a translation issue despite the subtitles seeming to translate well enough, is that when the case is resolved with the Envoy and they had done their explanation I was personally still shaking my head in confusion about what that plot was about and what had happened to close it.

🎉🎉POSITIVES!🎉🎉

At it's CORE, this show is a romance. This is not always the case, despite many shows having the romance tag. For as much as it is a very over-the-top and dramatic depiction of two people falling in love, it is also a VERY real and complex depiction.

Our ML begins the story in a state of devastation and need of vengeance. He is crazy enough to break into the residence of a high ranking minister demanding the life of the one who killed his beloved (literally the first scene). He takes risks and is crazy enough to demand unconventional situations of the FL to achieve his goals.

Meanwhile, our FL is a two-sided coin. She is willing to put on the face of a proper lady one moment, and then tear it away the next to achieve her means of survival. She WILL survive through compromise, lies, trickery, seduction, or violence. Her battle cry is: "Between your life and mine, I'll ALWAYS choose mine".

With the show bringing them together due to her initial lie they begin to use eachother. The cinematography of their interactions together tell a tight story of reliance and distrust. They instantly play the opposite teams as a united front, hands clasped and smiles high; only for the camera to pan to them immediately dropping their hands or the FL glaring her eyes. One of the best showcases of their relationship is the red divider. Over the course of the show they have conversations around this piece of furniture, often with them on opposite sides. But this changes. The use of the divider in the last episode is honestly now one of my favorite scenes it was intricately done and the dialog was moving.


It was mentioned earlier about the very real and complex emotions of a relationship this show portrays. Without providing spoilers, the end of episode 20 could have very much been the end of the series and I personally would have accepted it as ending this way. When a person doesn't trust themselves to know WHAT love is, being able to provide seemingly empty platitudes and promises feels like a lie. If that person has previously thought they knew what love was but are now questioning themselves, it's even harder as they feel the need to make feelings fit into a box. In general, romance shows don't delve into this topic. The leads just KNOW instantly, it they deny "the truth" but know "secretly". But then, most romances feature pure and innocent characters who have never even thought of loving another person before so when they "FEEL" it, they know. Not everyone can recognize that they "feel" love. For that reason this is an excellent take on romance and love.

Additionally, there are other "hot-takes" in this series including a woman's reliance on being virgin to be "clean and worthy" and the dangers of childbirth and right for either partner to use contraception. The hypocrisy of a woman telling another that she is no more than a prostitute if she doesn't show proof of blood is thrown back with the harsh reality that "there's more than one reason for there to be no blood" and a harsh jab back at her new husband. While later, a discussion is had about waiting because of the risk of dystocia. While obvious for modern viewers, that they are presented in a way so as to still seem scandalous and unheard of was pleasant in opposition to recent "woman's rights" shows taking the "we can force modern values to be accepted to the entire population in a costume setting" approach.


CONCLUSION:

Ultimately, as long as you go in expecting a show that WILL have flaws but that has chemistry, pacing, and dramatic flare shots of an over-the-top makjang-type / soap opera, you'll have a LOT of fun eating your popcorn and clicking NEXT.

I watched as airing from first night watching the clock for the next episodes to drop on MangoTV.

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all to their own opinions ;

............... I like Have have no words to describe this ....... Phenomenal , Amazing , Breath taking , funny , thrilling ..... thats only a few words that could describe this drama for me ...

Like just WOW ! I love the cast and there acting was so perfect . Its my 14 time re-watching this drama ...i know right , I am addicted ..... well it had comedy , and mystery really well put together , some cases were solved in every episodes and some weren't . I would recommend this to detective lovers that are ok with fantasy elements . It was a fresh take on the detective series and thats why I think I fell in love with it the first time I watched it ..And any one who is looking for some light comedy :)

PS : I know , some people just look at review and are like this person is probably crazy just giving it 10 ... and read others and never end up watching the drama ...well for this one PLEASE GIVE IT A TRY , if you don't want to watch the whole first episode, just watch the first part of it ...! Hope you enjoy :)

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An Epic Drama!

I'm hooked to this drama from the beginning. The production is fantastic. Amazing sound effects, wonderful cinematography, authentic costumes/makeup. Everything feels like one of those high budget productions like "The Great Wall", and other Hollywood movies. The warriors are big and fearsome, and the wuxia fighting choreography is beautiful and real.

This is a complicated drama. There are multi-facet developments. There is a lot of manipulation of the mind, rendering one questions oneself what is right and what is wrong, and for the sake of survival, is there such a line (right or wrong), is it (right and wrong) important anymore. These are the questions that keep haunting me long after I finish watching each episode.

The acting by all actors is most impressive; it is almost flawless, to say the least. Each plays his/her role convincingly. I love the seemingly naive but warm-hearted Yu Ran who wants best-friend-forever relationship with her two best friends despite she falls in love with one of them. She would go anywhere to search for them and to ensure their safety. I love the focused Ji Ye who wants to become successful and make a name for himself. He would go out all his way to achieve his dream, except, he would not betray his best friends. I love Lu Gui Chen for his love of humanity, and would not condone anyone who threatens it. His love for his two best friends has never wavered.

The settings of this drama are equally impressive, with the use of large scale human power, costumes, background props, landscape. Everything seems so realistic that you may feel you're actually standing right in front of the dry desert, or the steppes, or the palaces. Even the CGI is very well done and leaves few flaws.

The music is dark and mysterious. The drum and horn of war is menacing. The scale of the battle field is breath taking – I’ve never seen such a grand scale. Only Chinese movies/dramas can produce such grandness. The battle horses and the knights supersede any Hollywood/western productions of similar grandiose. All actors, in particular, the supporting ones, are amazingly convincing – the cunning ones are very cunning, the devious ones are very evil, the righteous ones are unbending, the upstanding ones are selfless.

Having said all these, towards the end, I find myself not crazily in love with any of the characters, including the 3 main ones. Not that they are not lovable, but I find them to be not as well developed; they have not captured my heart. In fact, I find myself loving Ying Wu Yi (aka Li Gong) more than anyone else. He is brave, upstanding, ruthless and yet fair. He does not stab anyone on the back like the others do. He is hated and feared by everyone but faithfully loved by his own men. Even Lu Gui Chen and Ji Ye respect him deeply.

The whole drama centers around warfare and politics, and at times, I feel suffocating. There is so much bloodshed, and men playing politics with others' lives on the line. The use of dark forces, zombie soldiers and scarab beetles can be frightening and yet brilliantly produced with similar vibe as in the Hollywood movie, "The Mummy". It is both dark and mind-provoking. Romance is pretty limited. I don't feel any heart wrenching love, passion and longing. Nonetheless, this is still an epic production.

My final verdict:

Despite what I have written earlier, at the end of the drama when all episodes are aired, I was asking myself, "That's it?" Who wins the final battle? What happens to all these other people? Who is now in charge of the Wings clan (Yu Ran's clan)? Is Jie Ye the leader and protector of the Tian Ju group after Asule entrusts him with the power? Does Princess Xiao Zhou really marry the mentally handicapped prince? Where is Ying Wu Yi? What happens to his daughter who is in love with Jie Ye? So many unanswered questions. There is no closure. After episode 56, I was still checking to find out if I was wrong about the number of episodes. No wonder I saw some comments online asking, "Where is episode 60?" I didn't realize it meant this until now.

Overall:

If you like warfare, politics, dark forces versus the light , this is a must watch!

With such an open ending, I'm not surprised that the production company is planning for a sequel or some sort. For me, I don't think I'm waiting for it as anxiously as I am for others. It is such a pity for this high budget production drama with all the epic scenes, quality sound effects, costumes and everything else, to end up like this, unloved.

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An Underrated Realistic Love Story.

I first came across this movie in the MDL article, Underrated Movies with Low number of Watchers. Honestly, it deserves to be on that list. I decided to give this a try because I'm watching an airing drama of the FL and wanted to see her other works. Her acting in the drama is very convincing, but in this movie, she was wonderful! And not just her, the ML too was just as wonderful! Their acting, cinematography, and direction are all really good.
The storyline might be something very usual but what makes the movie unusual is its realistic approach to the love story. While I'm not really fond of works that don't end on a happy note, this is an exception. What really caught my eye was the title. I've always heard others say, Love brings people together but here, it's the opposite.
Life isn't a bed of roses and despite the harsh work circumstances, Lu Qin Yang stays true to his values and Ling Yi Yao waits patiently for him. They love each other to the point that she is ready to leave her house for him after her mom is not quite happy about their relationship and he goes to great lengths to earn enough money just so he can give her a comfortable life. Eventually, it's the same love that drives them apart.
Although it made me bawl my eyes out, I'm not really pleased with the ending. From the comments, it seems like an open ending and that relieved me a teeny tiny bit.
But I recommend watching this if you don't mind such endings because the movie, in general, was satisfying.

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When I first saw the trailers and who was in it, I didn't really give it a second thought. I didn't recognize anyone in the cast and I remember thinking that the guy looked weird in the mask. So I skipped it and just had it in the back of my mind. I finally watched it and all I have to say is, why in the world are you still reading this review! Go watch it! Now!
It has a great cast and Joo Won and Park Ki Woong are amazing in it. The story is interesting but different, since it is set in the 1930's, so you get a different part of Korea's history and there is a modern-saeguk feel to it. The music is exciting and upbeat, plus you get to hear some 1930's music in there, if you like that type of music.
I am totally going to rewatch this! Truth be told, I have already moved on to another drama, but I still occasionally go online just to rewatch my favorite scenes or to listen to the OST. It is a really great drama.

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Indiana Jones has a love child with Laura Croft in the 5th dimension

By rights this show should be a hit because the leads are superb actors and who doesn’t like an adventure romp.

They have oodles of charisma, and their chemistry will keep a house warm in the dead of winter. There is a catch though. The world building in the first half of the show is problematic.

It leads us into a fantastic parallel world, but it also left us with more questions than answers. On the surface, the parallel world is unique and interesting, but it is like the shifting sand our leads travel through. It is an unstable base to build a civilisation if you don’t create some solid foundations. There are plot holes and inconsistencies galore. It was okay in small doses but as the plot deepens, it begs more questions. The show ploughs on regardless. It is not until ep.20 when we finally get a long winded exposition on how the world came about but even then, it was more a history lesson than any practical information.

Here lies the fundamental problem with this show. To sustain the fantastic setting the writer used every trick in the book. It is closer to a xianxia drama with cars than a contemporary adventure a la Tomb Raiders. This means all kinds of magical macguffins and invented lore are used to sustain the narrative.

This is a double-edged sword. It allows access to all kinds of wondrous situations, but you can tie yourself in knots if you don't have a deft hand. The protagonist needs a flying horse to get out of a tight spot? There is one grazing right there! The antagonist needs an evil doppelganger? There's one in the bag. Sometimes it can feels like cheating.

It is no surprise that the plot gets more and more convoluted as the show progressed. Is it class struggle, power play, love triangle or historical feud? It is raining revelations, expositions and flashbacks in the second half. Some are true, others are red herrings and false memories. We don't have a clear picture until the last few episodes.

End do cometh to us all. As ending goes, it is serviceable, but it feels flat. The resolution doesn’t make a lot of concrete sense. Yes, one side won but how this can leads to eternal peace is more than a bit vague. It is too facile. We are then told the whole show is just a richly embellished fable even though the characters are driving modern cars and using cellphones. Also hinting that the HEA ending is just our wishful thinking. Nice. Did the writer just gave up?

Nevertheless, kudos to the production team and ensemble actors for their dedication as shooting on location must have been a real challenge. The desert landscape is harsh but starkly beautiful. Who needs CGI when nature provide something that eclipse our imaginations.

In the end, it is a rollicking escapist romp. It is action packed, cheesy, tense and swoon worthy but it also has a lot of world building issues and plot holes. I would have stayed for the leads alone but it does test my patience at times. You really need to switch off your frontal lobe to truly enjoy this show. Beers and pizzas help too. Peace out.

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Watch at your own risk

The adjectives that I could use to describe this series are not very pretty. And I feel bad for those who were excited and curious to see the continuation of this couple cause for me personally, it was a letdown. And I choose to binge watch, cause sometimes that helps in watching a series. However, sadly that wasn't the case. If anyone who is reading this still wants to watch this series...well then- watch at your own risk!

Story- 3/10
Here's the thing- if it was only Golf and Bank and maybe the storyline with one of his friends and the guy with fewer episodes, then maybe this series could have been salvaged. But then we are introduced to secondary characters who are not linked to the main couple except for the fact that they are attending the school that Golf and Bank previously did (except for Hungray who was a student of one of thier friends).

Also, while I have come accustomed to typical BL storylines and would tolerate like one or two in a series, this one had a field day (with at least two of them sleeping with druken boys that I clearly did ot see as consent) as well as older man teying to force themselves on the younger men cause they have some form of power over the success of the younger men.

And what's up with that ending? Giving us a wrap up story that no one clearly asked for. I mean, Arm broke up with Bank so that he could be happy but they really wrap t up and say 'he dies a month later in a car accident? ' What the frick on the frack?! Nah! This just wasn't it for me!

Acting-5/10
I'm giving this score cause while the storyline was shit (I don't care what anyone says- it was), I can say these actors honestly tried. So I will give them half for thier effort.

Music-2/10
Unfortunately, nothing stood out for me. Like...really, nothing.

Rewatch Valu-1/10
Why? Cause I can't give it a zero.

Overall-3/10
This is now officially the second worst series that I have watched after I Am Your King 2. And yes I watched WTD and WTD2:FC. But still...this was worse than them. And it's unfortunate, cause at the ending of the series it was said that the movie before this series started LGBT shows in Thailand. And, five years later, we are given this hot piece of mess. I will most definitely not recommend this series to anyone.

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