1Don't read All 10s reviews
Most of these "all-10s" reviews are clearly written by fans of the main couple. Do me a favor and go to their profiles. Their accounts are only created to hype up the drama. Unless you're one of them, you're likely to end up disappointed by this much-anticipated series. I'm just a regular BL watcher, always on the lookout for a good story, regardless of who's starring in it, so my review is unbiased.I do appreciate the production value, the sets, and the effort to make everything look visually grand. However, sometimes it feels overly controlled and artificial. For example, the club scene, the protest scene, and the market scene all came off as staged rather than organic or lively.
The actors are almost always dressed impeccably, but it often feels like they're just reciting lines rather than truly acting. I'm not saying they’re bad actors, but the script is poorly written and gives them little room to showcase their talents. There was one scene where NuNew had to cry after his adopted father died, and that was genuinely moving. On the other hand, Zee’s character supposedly has childhood trauma related to rain, but that emotion never really came through in his performance.
The rest of the time, it felt like the actors were just wearing expensive outfits, delivering stiff lines, and doing forced NC scenes, simply because that's what the majority of fans want to see.
Overall, this was a poorly written drama with a massive budget for set design and wardrobe, but very little depth. The actors delivered their lines with maybe 25% of the emotional weight they could have, and the result is a series that looks good on the surface but lacks real substance.
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Great characterization but unable to engage
The story had some great characters. I really like how each character was represented, their conversations, the themes the show represented, visuals and overall feel of the story. I enjoyed overall positive relationships. I liked all the couples and also enjoyed the main character's journey to find himself and how he becomes agent from an athlete.At the same time, there wasn't a point where I got deeply involved in the story. I never waited for the next episode and never really had any urge to complete the story. There were good elements but it didn't get to me. I also wish they had spent more time on the athlete/track side of the story and his growth. That would have been more interesting. It gets very slow sometimes and conversations between characters seem all over the place. There were many times I didn't understand what the characters really wanted to say. Also, the show doesn't really show the difference between selfishness and self-love. The terms are used interchangeably.
Overall very interesting characters & themes, coherant relationships, but not a great story telling.
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This review may contain spoilers
A whole bunch of episodes that lead to NOTHING
Dude. What kind of ending was THAT?! I'm so mad. The story was so slow and prolonged and I would have been okay with it, because my hopes were that they would end up happily ever after. Where the mom would finally recognize her flaws and let them be together. Or at least they would recognize that they wouldn't be able to be together with the way her mother feels and therefore, change the way they would make their relationship work. But instead, they broke up and got back together after some time apart and realizing that they still loved each other and they were back to square one!!! Nothing changed - not her mother (they didn't really try to convince her mother, they just said they love each other and pouted), not their relationship/behavior toward each other and we weren't lead to believe that things would be different. They would just "be."And can I please just say - this mother was absolutely unrealistic and it's not possible to like her. She didn't care if she was ruining her daughter's happiness, it was her way or the highway and she ended up losing her daughter in the end. Realistically, a parent should be objective and when they realize that they're being unrealistic and that their children are pulling away from them, they change in an attempt to keep them. So yes, I HATED this mother very much - wanting to punch her in the mouth a lot. A lot of people hated the mother in Uncontrollably Fond (and I didn't), but I for real hated this mom (just to give you something to go off of).
OMG. If that was gonna be the case, why did I waste 16 hours (give or take, because some of the episodes were longer than 1 hour) if they were just gonna be together after all the heartbreak with no developments?! I literally screamed at the TV for an hour after finishing this drama and it is probably my most HATED drama, right after, That Winter, The Wind Blows.
So many stupid things happened between them and NOTHING changed. Which means the stupid issues they had were absolutely POINTLESS.
I can respect your opinion if you like this drama, but it dragged too much and since the events that transpired essentially led to nothing, I can't every recommend it to anyone (I'd actually try my best to dissuade you from the waste of time).
One (and only) nice thing? Jung Hae In is VERY attractive. Feast your eyes because that's ALL worth seeing or paying attention to in this drama.
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Actually I began to be a bit bored around the last 5 episodes but anyway I decided to watch it and I'm so happy I did that because in the 150 dramas I've seen in my life this one has the Best.Ending.Ever. Seriously, I can't get over it.
I'll stop here and one last thing. Watch this show.
( Sorry for the mistakes there could be, English is not my maternal language.. )
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A respectable attempt at a remake, but misses the mark in some crucial ways.
The original Korean version of this story was already sort of short on actual substance. As a story it has very simple moving parts, and the engine that drives everything else is the magnetic fiery attraction between the ML and FL. It is the centerpiece of the drama. The Japanese version tamps down that fire, and lacks the same level of chemistry, which is a huge mistake, because it sucks what precious little substance there is right out of the story and leaves you feeling like you watched some empty avant garde show about nothing.Sure there's some chemistry in the Japanese version, and the ML and FL look like they could share a nice wicked kiss in an elevator or something. But in the Korean version, the ML and FL look like they are always 3 seconds away from leaping over the table and attacking eachother right there on the floor. This is a CRUCIAL difference in the shows. The whole POINT of it is that the ML is a player, and the FL makes him completely unable to be impartial or emotionally divorced from their insane attraction. She knocks him off his game, and he tries to hide that from her. Whereas in the Japanese version, the ML feels enigmatic and calculating, smooth and controlled. His eyes don't have that wild dark animal look for her. What he looks like is a womanizer who finds that the FL tugs at his heartstrings. That's a totally different dynamic, and one that doesn't work for this story.
So we have two totally different ML's. And we also have two totally different FL's -- In the Korean version, the FL is capable of seeing her world through the glasses of realism and caution, but at the end of the day she is a free spirit, and she is unconventional and independent. When she gives in to her attraction to the ML, it feels like she's liberating herself; shedding a restrictive part of herself that gives her pure relief and joy to take off... like she's flying. That's not the essence of the Japanese character's FL. When the Japanese FL gets together with the ML, it feels like she's driven by wild impulse that frightens her when she confronts it. She doesn't feel the sensation of flying, she feels the sensation of vertigo. She worries, she becomes insecure, she doubts herself and doubts him.
I can see how they tried to create a good artistic take on the original, but you can't make a story that's supposed to be about a wild powerful intense attraction, and then dial down the actual attraction between the ML and FL and expect to faithfully recreate the story. The Japanese version is "sexy" but that's not enough for this story. It needs pure fire to drive it, or else it loses its original meaning.
And what stylist dressed these actors, it's completely god-awful.
Korean version = better version
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A lesson learned
Don't judge a book by its cover is a saying you hear time and again. For me it was an perfect example of that.I wasn't going to watch this drama. It looked too dark and the age gap between the leads was too much to accept. But on a whim I decided to start it anyway and I have no regrets.
The story is not a noona romance, nor is it about two individuals supporting eachother through hardship. It is much deeper than that. Eventhough it was sad and gloomy and heartbreaking, I looked forward to new episodes each week. It was at times predictable and I didn't always agree with the direction of the story but it kept me fully engaged and ended on a satisfactory note.
When it comes to acting, everyone did an good job, particularly Kim Nam Joo. She expressed the grief and desperation of losing a child beautifully. That said, it was Cha Eun Woo's performance that made the drama truly memorable. I could feel Seon Yul's pain and desperation as if it were my own. This was easily the best performance of his career. I'm glad he's finally taking on darker, more mature roles, it really suits him. On a side note, while Cha Eun Woo has always been attractive, in this drama he is next level handsome.
The music and cinematography were on point. It was haunting and bittersweet. These two elements really suited the sombre mood of the drama.
Looking back, I'm glad I watched the drama while airing. This is not the kind of drama you can binge. You have to experience it a little bit at a time to not let it overwhelm you. No matter how great a drama it is, I don't think I'll ever rewatch it. I already know the twists and turns. The surprise element is gone.
To summarize, I consider Wonderful World to be among the best dramas so far this year. Don't be like me and judge it based on superficial things. Just give the drama a chance, and you will be hooked in no time.
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This review may contain spoilers
A non traditional “happy” open ended (self) love story
There’s so much that I have already said in the comments section below about this drama that I feel like a review is in order…If you are someone who needs a drama with a satisfying ending/closure… I would still recommend watching the main leads Miao Miao and ZiQi’s highlight reels online but as for the actual drama itself skip it and go watch their previous drama Moonlight or if you must…watch LGIEF before watching/rewatching Moonlight for satisfaction
The cast was AMAZING, CGI and soundtrack was a 10/10!
Now for hard truths😅
Miao Miao’s pre warning of the ending being a total scam to viewers before being sucked into game is very much true for the ending of the drama..
Yes it’s an unsatisfying “happy” open ending for the leads and yes I can understand China’s censorship of dramas is a contributing factor and I could make up excuses such as a lack of self worth and the story being written by a teenage ZiQi’s point of view as a reason for zero kiss scenes between the leads other than a forehead kiss ( does the rolling credits kiss count)
This story was masked as a traditional “Love Story” but it was definitely a story of “Self Love” which I don’t have any issues with but wished they had titled it so e.g “Self Love in Eastern Fantasy” 😂
In terms of the ending.. you have to remember a few things to find any forms of satisfaction from it..
1. Chinas censorship limitations for the ending
2. The book was written by a teenage ZiQi
3. The ending is not supposed to be thought as an “ending” but a beginning
4. Miao Miao had already pre warned viewers/readers through her online review of the book that we were scammed for the ending..
5. The main leads ending is a constant full circle ⭕️ promise🤞 between them. ZiQi promises to always find Miao Miao and never leave her behind and Miao Miao will forever choose and support ZiQi
Her waking up and thinking everything was a dream and trying to remember who she loved ( full circle ⭕️ ) and her going to the book signing to support him (full circle ⭕️) and ZiQi calling her name despite but not being seen (full circle ⭕️)
I love this couple and will definitely be rewatching their previous drama for closure and more romantic interactions… hoping for a 3rd collaboration between this pair in the future!!
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1Suspension of disbelief needed, and not because of the fantasy elements.
I’m usually one to say that we cannot excuse lackluster execution simply based on the short length of a show. Here though, I feel like that was truly the biggest issue, and no matter how they would try to approach the story, it would not improve much without additional minutes of runtime.The story itself, the premise and idea behind it - great. It was truly a refreshing concept for a BL. Dealing with past trauma was the major theme in the show, but I feel like we get to that idea only by the end of the show. That’s when it hit me and the ending made a perfect scene in the context of the whole drama.
How about romance? It was decent. Lee Hyun Jun and Moon Ji Yong had a rather good and natural chemistry, but the way Shin Jae Woo was written made it hard for me to truly appreciate their scenes together. His antics and rather child-like demeanor makes more sense by the end of the show, but it still makes it hard for me to see them as more than just friends.
The thing about Shin Jae Woo’s character - he acted like his younger self. At times, I felt like his behavior as a child in the past, and now the grown up did not differ that much. Did it make his interaction with Ji Hoon cute and entertaining? Yes. Did it interfere with the romance for me? Also yes.
Then there was also the problem of realistic progression of the feelings. I kept asking myself “when, why and how did Ji Hoon fall for Jae Woo?”. They barely meet, Jae Woo was acting borderline creepy and weird around Ji Hoon. Does the guy just have a peculiar taste in men? Not to mention the strength of the feelings. My man, you barely met this guy. This is not a Shakespearean story to have people deeply in love on the first meeting.
That was one of the issues we usually have to deal with when watching short BLs. I kind of started to accept that, but it’s still worth pointing out with hopes of improvements in the future.
I have some thoughts about the ending, you can find them in a comment under spoiler below. Overall… I’m just not completely sure I understand the mechanics of it… It was also the part that made me question how far I am supposed to ignore logic and reality.
Acting wise, better than many K-BLs. Were these groundbreaking performances? No. They were believable though, and that’s all I need. Moon Ji Yong for sure did the best, especially in the last episode - one scene truly impressed me.
The OST - perfection. All songs worthy of being added to a playlist to listen outside of the show. “Time” was my favorite. The melody and the vocals were just amazing.
Overall, it was fun. I liked the characters and their interactions. I wish the show was longer so the pacing would feel more natural, and the relationship progression would not feel so abrupt.
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Watching this drama was like chasing a mirage, the closer I got, the more it faded into nothing!
If I had to retitle this story, it would be "ChanYoung and his love story in Class 2...featuring Heesu" because that's honestly what it felt like most of the time. The supposed main characters were treated like glorified side characters, popping in and out of the plot as if the writers themselves forgot they existed.Speaking of the writers, they seemed just as confused as Heesu about what direction the story should take!
It was as if they started with a vague idea of the story but halfway through completely forgot what they were trying to say. Every episode felt like a shot in the dark with no clear progression, no deep character development, just a lot of floating from scene to scene without any real progress.
The biggest flaw for me without a doubt, was the pacing. It was almost painful to watch at times. The story kept stumbling between focusing on the main couple ( Heesu and Seung Won) and pushing them into the background. Although I haven't read the original source material, which is a BL, it was still clear that Heesu and Seung Won were meant to be the heart of the story. Yet their relationship felt so underdeveloped and sidelined that it almost seemed like a subplot.
Every time there was a heart-fluttering moment or a genuinely sweet interaction between them, the drama in the next episode would abruptly cut away to the other couple. It often felt like the show was too hesitant to fully commit to its main romance, offering just a few crumbs of real connection before quickly retreating into safer territory.
That said, when Heesu and Seung won did finally grace the screen together, they were adorable. Their chemistry was natural, their little interactions genuinely sweet and both actors gave performances that deserved a much stronger script. You could tell they poured sincerity into their roles even when the writing gave them little to work with. It’s almost tragic how much potential was wasted.
Coming to the second couple Ju Chan Yeong and Choi Ji Yu, they were your average couple with their own meet cute moments here and there. I wish they were just friends with the main characters and not a couple because I wasn't sold on their chemistry till the very end!
While the love stories here didn't work for me, the small little details did. Like I really liked how they incorporated astronomy into the story. The references to the Big Bang, asteroids and the star gazing scenes were all elements I truly enjoyed. It added almost a poetic layer to the narrative, especially in the way they tied cosmic events to the Heesu' s emotions.
Also, I also found Heesu’s bond with his sister fun to watch, even though it wasn’t explored as much as it could have been.
The OSTs were beautiful and complimented the drama well. Props to the team for intro too. I loved the animation!
Overall this was like a beautifully wrapped gift, the one that promised so much but left me standing there with nothing but disappointment. The pacing dragged, the main relationship was sidelined and the emotional payoff I waited for never truly arrived.
Was it disappointing? Without question.
Was it occasionally endearing enough to make you hope for more? Frustratingly, yes.
In the end, it was a hot mess desperately trying to sparkle, but only managing to flicker and fade away.
I would not recommend this!
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1. The characters were very wooden and one-dimensional. The acting wasn't very good--I honestly was cringing a lot of the time. I'm a person that loves to be swept away in a drama and feel EVERYTHING that our characters are feeling, but it was impossible with this drama. Perhaps because it is borderline parody and they're trying to wink to the audience quite a bit (the sole component I liked). But these characters never really came together to the point where you believed the emotions they were feeling, which was kinda disappointing.
2. Our main male lead was....awkward. I mean obviously he's supposed to be this super-character. He's the LEADING MAN and they try to portray him in that way. But his shifts between Korean/English were off-putting and just how he interacted with Claire....he was where most of the cringing took place. His lines were just not delivered very well.
3. The writing. Some of the lines they had these characters say....just shouldn't have been said. I liked their plot-twists, but I didn't like how the scenes all came together. Sometimes things got just a bit too ridiculous and over-the-top.
Now, here comes the part of my review where I say you should watch it anyway:
1. THE META. Oh my goodness, they covered SOOO many tropes within dramas and managed to play off of them and it gave some REALLY good laughs. The touched on giving drunk girls piggy back rides, karaoke, product placements, dangerous briefcases, brand names being blurred, etc. And they were SUPER-DUPER smart about all of that.
2. The episodes are only 12-ish minutes. And there's only 10 episodes, so just give it a whirl to see what you think. Like I said, while I think it really deserves the rating I gave it as a whole, those meta moments were just spectacular. Spectacular and funny enough that I'd say it's worth the watch. <3
Watch this in one sitting when you have the time, it'll be more enjoyable that way. Also, just don't take it too seriously and try not to think too hard about how horribly the lines are being delivered. xD
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Full of crap
I mean did director and writer make this drama when they were drunk and they don't know what they were doing i mean seriously this drama sucks waste of time and emotion don't even worth to watch full of crap actor rating just for sun-ho(song kang)❤️sadly cant give less then 1 rating otherwise it deserves 0 i mean why they stole sun-ho smile like she left him for crap reason why im says crap it should be for no reason and then choose his friend i mean are u a girl or player no story just crap writtenWas this review helpful to you?
Also fa hai(the monk) is nice in here he wasn’t just an evil guy trying to exterminate everyone.
The acting from all characters surprised me since it’s my first time watching any of them act, and they did a pretty good job. There wasn’t any overly dramatic acting or plot.
The cgi is pretty good and xiao bai in the snake form is just too cuteeeeee!
The music is decent mostly the opening I liked it a lot.
What I didn’t like was just how the black dragon kept trying to harm xiao bai the whole time and I’m just like seriously she’s saved you... like he’s suppose to be smart since he got the dragon king’s son to listen to him but no he mistakes everyone else for his savior.
So if you like a naive but strong female lead, smart but caring male lead, and cute supporting characters that are loyal to the people they care then yeah you should watch this show. Overall 10/10
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Dylan Wang shines as Xu Qi An
"Guardians of the Dafeng" is an absolute gem of a drama that has completely captivated me from the very first episode! The blend of humor, action, and a touch of mystery creates an engaging storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat.Dylan Wang shines as Xu Qi An, bringing charisma and depth to his character. His performance is both relatable and entertaining, making it easy to root for him throughout the series. The chemistry between the characters is electric, adding a delightful layer to the narrative.
The production quality is top-notch, with stunning visuals and well-choreographed action scenes that enhance the viewing experience. The comedic elements are perfectly timed, providing a light-hearted contrast to the more serious moments, making it a well-rounded show.
What I love most is how the series balances fun and excitement with meaningful themes of friendship, loyalty, and justice. Each episode leaves you wanting more, and the cliffhangers are expertly crafted to keep you hooked.
Overall, "Guardians of the Dafeng" is a must-watch! It’s a delightful escape into a world of adventure and camaraderie, and I can’t recommend it enough. Whether you’re a fan of crime dramas or just looking for something entertaining, this show deserves a solid 10/10! 🎉✨
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Another unnecessary mystery
Out of all the dramas recently that randomly inserted a mystery/thriller subplot (Cheer Up, Crash Course in Romance), I think this one disappointed me the most. I loved the premise of reunited rivals, and the theme of mental health is one that always tugs at the heartstrings without fail.Instead, I feel like this drama used the mystery as a plot device instead of learning how to develop its characters by themselves, and the mystery itself turned out to be underwhelming anyways. Instead of both our main characters having to deal with life just going wrong sometimes, there was a villain to blame. Everything became a very cliche drama plot, particularly that one already-very-memed trope that I can’t believe they did in 2024.
In terms of the slice-of-life and humor aspect…it worked until it didn’t. I’m actually not a huge fan of this type of “goofy” humor anyways, but at the start it actually worked in the drama’s favor by not treating depression like a life-ending, horrible thing. Over time however, it started feeling like the drama gave up on serious moments in order to have humor.
As the drama progressed, however, it became pretty clear that they didn’t know how to move the plot forwards in organic ways. It became super repetitive with the characters drinking every episode (and yes social media has already called out the fact that they’re not supposed to be drinking while on medication!), and side characters constantly leaking information by accident. Both just feel like really lazy ways to get the characters to talk.
Now — the romance. This is what I was looking forward to the most, but it wasn’t really written in an interesting way. There’s a sort of tension that rivals-to-lovers promises, but with Haneul and Jeongwoo it all felt too easy. Aside from a few reminiscing scenes, the fact that they were rivals ended up having little impact on the plot or their romance.
Even with so much focus on the mystery, it still felt pretty underwhelming. The motivations are weak, there’s no tension in it, it ends really early, leaving you wondering what the rest of the drama is even going to be about.
In terms of the mental health theme, I also just think it ended up not being very deep. There were some well-written moments where it talked about burnout, the stigma of antidepressants, parental expectations, or toxic workplace culture, but the drama never took it one step further and gave it the seriousness it deserved. There were moments where toxic positivity was treated as a funny moment instead of describing its dangers, for example, or how the FL’s brother was a bum and it was mostly played for laughs when it really just felt frustrating since the family theme could have been fleshed out more.
Overall, I know our leads our top-notch actors, though this drama doesn’t really show it. The comfort vibes are like, three-quarters of the way there — it could’ve been helped out by much, much better writing.
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This review may contain spoilers
Did I watch the same show as everyone else?
After watching this, I've found myself so disappointed that I really have to ask myself: did I watch the same show as everyone else?This was a show I eagerly anticipated watching. I was over the moon (haha) when I heard this drama was airing soon. I was expecting something amazing. A stellar cast, with a celestial horror/mystery? Count me in!!
Looking at the other reviews and comments about this show, it looks like, generally, most people have been really liking this show. So it puzzles me that I had such major issues with this show that it seems that other people did not have. I'm honestly wondering if there's just something I'm missing here.
One of my biggest problems with this show was the characters. I had no problems with the characters during the first episode. They seemed interesting and unique, and I was curious to see where they'd go with Bae Doo Na's character. And I had no doubt that the excellent cast, which was one of the main reasons I was excited for the show, would be able to deliver quality performances.
Where the drama went sharply downhill for me was about the second episode or so. My problem was that I could not understand why the characters were acting the way they were acting. Here's what I mean. As soon as the scientists make it to the space station, it is exceedingly obvious that there's something not right here at all. The drowning victims, the lack of radiation. More importantly, there's the people dying terrifying, unnatural deaths. But during all of this, I could not understand why the scientists seemed to unbothered?? Obviously, they shouldn't start panicking or running around like headless chickens but I feel like they don't seemed fazed enough? There's not enough of a sense of urgency in their actions despite the profoundly distressing situation. It's so bizarre to me I felt like a crazy person watching the show. I just could not understand these characters. Now, I think this does improve later in the show, where the characters act more logically. But by this point I'd already lost much of my interest in the characters and their success.
However, my biggest problem with the show was probably the plot. I hate crying plagiarism for no reason and I'm NOT saying that this drama plagiarized. But the set up was so similar to this Doctor Who episode I watched in the past. I think it's called "The Waters of Mars" or something? Anyways, both of them have the set up of these astronauts in space at the mercy of a sickness spread by water. I think they both even have the infected person expelling huge quantities of water, though that might just be in this show. And, to be fair, I can't remember enough of the details regarding the backstory and the characters to say that the two are similar in this regard. I digress. But what the problem for me was that the novel premise of the threatening water in the space station fell flat for me because I'd already seen it before. I was able to predict so much what happened, which killed a lot of the mystery and suspense for me. And I'm usually someone that's terrible at predicting what's going to happen next when I'm watching dramas!
To be fair to the show, the backstory behind the water, Luna, and the newer parts of the plot were in the last two or so episodes, which I skipped through a lot. I probably should've given the show more of a chance with these elements of it, but by this point I was so disappointed and annoyed I couldn't care enough. And the elements with the drought on Earth were interesting, but they weren't explored enough for me to give the show much more credit there.
Basically, to sum up my feelings, I really did not like this show. The suggested overall rating that MDL is giving me for this review is a 5/10, and that probably would be more fair. But I'm just so bitter about this show I can't give it more than a 3/10. I really wanted to like it, and I was so sure I would. However, this show just really didn't work for me. I would still recommend it if you're interested, though, since a lot of people seem to like it a lot.
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