1A Mellow Production of 2 Lonely Hearts Navigating the World with Disabilities
First. What this drama is NOT:It is not a poignant love story that will evoke your emotions. It is not a gush-inducing romance that will make you clap or kick your feet or grin like a giddy school child. In fact, how I am I about to describe what the drama is, will come off much more poetic than the actual execution.
What this drama is:
A mellow production equally composed of disability commentary and of a lesbian romance between two hearts faced with a different way of moving through life than the masses. They fit very well together in theory. And the actors nailed the romantic gazes and awkwardness of a new relationship. One of the female leads is the insecure type with years of walls. She knows that her condition prevents her from gaining and maintaining genuine connections. The other female lead just wants to be taken seriously as an independent woman despite her disability - by the workforce, her family, and her romantic partners. They're already carrying emotional damage before we even meet them on screen - adding a layer to awkwardness, although often quite charming, into the vast majority of their interactions.
Many of the wheelchair points have been done before - whether that be the questions, the clout-related requests, the inaccessibility of major buildings and services, micromanaging and hovering family and friends, or the excuses during the job search. So, while I can't relate personally, it does seem they tackled this topic with knowledge and empathy. It's not new, but it's incredibly relevant. And quite new in the realm of queer media specifically.
What I could relate to though, was Luna's condition. Her Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder was nailed, at least in the first 3 episodes anyway. The microaggressions were flawless. As someone who experiences the same delay (just not to the point of being a disorder), I am no stranger to ALL of the snide and off-handed comments, the assumptions, the difficulties. That if you are up all night, you're a slacker. You're lazy. You're not committing yourself. You're wasting your time. You're off partying. All of the "helpful" suggestions to help you get to sleep earlier. The unfortunateness of normal business hours, especially for work. The difficulty keeping up with a social life (unless they reside in a different time zone). Not being able to get opinions/feedback at the opportune time. Or to gush about something happy or exciting when it happens. It puts everything on a delay. Everything is done retroactively - as Luna herself states.
I loved seeing the way this drama unfolded in it's night time setting. Not the energy-filled chaos of the nightlife associated with clubs and parties and bars. But rather the mellow quietness of a world where everyone else is asleep. And seeing how all these individuals, up at night for different reasons, find a rhythm with each other - settling into relationships of romance, friendship, and family.
Now if you will excuse me, the sun will be rising in a couple of hours - I should probably start winding down for bed. đ
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The road to the Top of the mountain is a very lonely journey
First of all, âStand by Meâ is not a typical, cute and fluffy high school romance drama. It gives off a vibe similar to that of âThe Bondâ. The drama talks of life as a high schooler back in the 90s and how they endure hardships and challenges. All the main characters come from broken families and most have lower socio-economic status. There are definitely some fun and lighter moments, but for the most part, this is not a very happy drama. But itâs a great drama nonetheless, if you know what you are getting yourself into.There are many references to classic Chinese wuxia novels, Hong Kong dramas, movies, music and stars. If you are unfamiliar, you donât miss much of the important plot. But if you are familiar (which I am), it feels very nostalgic in a good way. Itâs similar to watching the very popular K-drama Reply 1988.
âStand By Meâ focuses on the journey of female lead Luo Qi Qi. We follow her from when she was an adorable and super smart young girl, living with her grandfather in the village. As she moved to the city to live with her parents, she was forced to grow up and itâs heartbreaking to see the outgoing and innocent young girl disappear. The drama spends the rest of the time telling the story of Qi Qiâs learning and discovering herself, identifying her goals and her dedication to achieving her dreams. Along the way, she met friends who supported her and encouraged her. But the road to the top of the mountain is a very lonely journey. Is she able to achieve her dreams with her friends?
A few quick bullet points on what I like:
1. Zhang Xi Wei who played the young Luo Qi Qi is fantastic.
2. I love the scenes of young Qi Qi and her grandfather. I wish I could see more flashbacks of them together.
3. Top notch acting by Zhao Jin Mai. She carries the show on her shoulder and runs with it.
4. The rest of the cast is just as good. I initially thought Wu Jia Kai (who played Zhang Jun) might be the weaker of the cast. But he grew on me and I think his acting improved throughout the drama.
5. I donât question Bai Yu Fanâs acting, but I do question him playing a high schooler. He looks a little too old to be an 18 year old.
6. Love that the actors use their own voice. Big plus with live recording. This really adds to my viewing pleasure as there are many emotional scenes.
7. Itâs nice to see a drama where the main characters are not geniuses or Mary Sues. They are all flawed and interesting.
8. Itâs nice to see teachers who are decent and act like teachers.
9. Itâs also nice to see parents who are real and not overly-bearing (just a little) or overly protective. They are not perfect, but the female leadâs mother actually communicates and wants to have honest conversations, after fiery emotions died down.
10. This drama is so real.
A few quick bullet points on what I have mixed feelings of:
1. This drama is so real. At times it was very difficult to watch, especially to binge. I do not recommend binge-watching this straight.
2. 30 episodes focusing primarily in high school is a little much. I lost focus and felt the pace slow down in the middle.
3. If Luo Qi Qi and Zhang Jun actually communicate honestly and openly, they would not have that many arguments. They make up and break up quite a bit (as friends).
4. I do hate Qi Qi a little bit sometimes for her stubborn and prideful personality. Itâs OK to back down once in a while and be considerate of othersâ feelings. Sheâs an interesting character. I love her and I hate her.
5. The drama can seem a little preachy.
6. Romance is light, even for a high school drama. So, don't go in looking for romance.
Overall, this is a great drama. I can see why it has a high Douban rating (currently at 8.3,) as the local Chinese audience can definitely relate to what the characters are going through. But I am not sure the international audience will feel the same way, esp. if they are looking for typical teen high school C-dramas. I recommend this drama to all for its excellent acting and realistic portrayal of life in the 90s as a Chinese high schooler. I definitely do not recommend binge-watching this in 3 days. I tried and was watching this along with âMy Dearestâ (K-drama), and the cruelty of reality and life's challenges really got to me and I was very stressed out.
Completed: 11/20/2023 - Review #378
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An Absolute Mess
The more I think about it the more I'm convinced that the show that aired is not the show they intended to make. There are too many things that don't add up or that are disjointed to assume it was intentional.I don't think the actors failed, necessarily. They didn't elevate poor material but I don't fault them for that. I know some of these actors are much better than what is seen in this series. The problem, as I can discern, falls entirely on the writing and editing (and possibly direction).
Trigger Warning: I will be discussing the suicide of one of the characters.
The first almost half of the series really builds up what happened to Blue. Him somehow holds some culpability in his fate, though only Te and Him seem to ascribe any blame to him. Chao and Dream, in fact, don't seem to know what happened to him at all. Early in the series there are comments made by various members of this group of friends that imply a) Blue is alive, b) something bad happened to him, c) not everyone knows what happened to him, d) but everyone DOES know Blue is still somewhere he can be reached.
I suspected early on that Blue attempted suicide at some point and that Him was somehow at fault for that. However I also assumed he failed in that attempt. A big reason for that was the way the characters who knew him spoke about him. The way Te spoke about whatever terrible thing Him did almost implied he was in contact with Blue at some point after the event, or even currently. Te had so much disdain for Him this entire series. Him had such deep guilt and shame this entire series. Until the last few episodes where Him was alleviated of wrong doing by the revelation that he didn't really do anything wrong (though he was kind of a dick to his very codependent boyfriend when his mom wound up in the hospital). And then Te just magically gets over his grudge. What?
My theory is that Blue was originally intended to survive his suicide attempt and come back later in the series. I also think Him was originally supposed to be more of a factor in why Blue made the attempt. However I think the plan changed at some point after the show began airing. Perhaps the original story for Him was too dark and someone felt he couldn't be redeemed properly for a happy ending. Perhaps they felt Blue returning made things too complicated to wrap up in the number of episodes they had. I don't know, I can only hypothesize unless someone involves in the production speaks about it and either confirms my theory or confirms this is what they intended to make.
We go from regularly getting 40ish minute episodes to getting 25-30 minute episodes. We get huge holes like the fight at the end of episode seven leading to an entirely different fight in the opening of episode eight and then everything being magically better later in that episode without explanation. The second half of the series requires you to assume a lot of things happen off screen and make up what exactly happens in those conversations. We also have the atrocity that was episode nine (I think it was nine), where the editing was clearly not completed and the audio is a disaster. Entire lines are missing from the dialogue track and you only know what was said because it was included in the English subtitles. I don't know what Thai speakers did to make sense of that episode. The plot very quickly runs out of plot around episode eight when things are magically reconciled and the entire show shifts to focusing more on Chao and Phai at that point. To me, all of this suggests they had to scramble to cut material that was already included in the final episodes and then had to shoot new material for the last few episodes. The finale was basically a throwaway episode for NC scenes.
Other than how very messy the plot was, my other problem with the series were the characters who made no sense and the terrible "relationship" between Chao and Phai.
Type was a caricature villain. What was his problem with Him? Was it really just an inferiority complex over his family having less money? Why was he so intent to fuck Him over and even hurt someone he didn't know at all to do it? Then we get the out-of-left-field plot of him trying to get back with Phai so he could sell a sex tape of him and him pulling a gun on Chao because he "thwarted" his plans by discovering them and telling Phai. What? This was cartoonish and poorly written, to say the least. Once again, I think there may have been a real reason Type hated his cousin that ultimately got cut from the series but I don't know.
Te. Just...what? I already covered how his hate of Him doesn't really make sense. Sure, he had a crush on his friend who he never confessed to and who ultimately dated his other friend. Blue was clingy and codependent and got overly emotional whenever he didn't have all of Him's attention. Because Blue got so upset Te got angry that Him was in a position to treat Blue poorly (in their eyes) in the first place while he, of course, would have taken better care of Blue. But this does not explain why he would doggedly pursue Nail. Sure, he's Blue's doppleganger and he resents Him because Blue chose Him and later took his own life for reasons that (from what we're shown) don't even really have anything to do with Him. Either there's way more substance to that grudge or he's way more unhinged and obsessed with Blue than we are ever shown.
Then we get a sudden alternate love interest for Te who just materializes out of thin air. This man has had no interest in anyone other than Blue or a Blue replacement for 10 episodes but here comes Piece and he's all for it. What? Piece didn't even appear in the credits until then, which reinforces my idea that he wasn't originally part of the series but someone added in later after airing had begun. We get an apology to Him that I don't think almost any of us would have accepted and then he goes off to flirt with Piece. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the dynamic between those two. They have good chemistry. But Te is a completely different person with Piece than he is at any other time in this series. It comes off as slapped on at the end to make Te palatable, to cover up rewriting the end of the series or to just fill time because they realized they didn't have enough material for twelve episodes.
Chao and Phai...dear gods, save me from obnoxious, intrusive puppies and people who can't reinforce their words. On the one hand, we have Phai constantly telling this kid he doesn't want to date anyone and they are just fucking, then on the other hand he also constantly allows Chao to run amuck all over that boundary. He tells him to sleep on the couch or leave but never makes him. In the last few episodes we see these secret little smiles implying Phai has finally succumbed to a form of Stockholm Syndrome and now finds Chao endearing.
Chao, however, knows how to do nothing other than doggedly pursue Phai, violate every boundary Phai attempts to place and just shove his way into a relationship. Phai says no so Chao whines and badgers until Phai gives in some small amount. Phai says he doesn't want a relationship so Chao repeatedly declares he wants to be in one with him. Phai doesn't want him showing up at various times or has plans with others so Chao shows up. If anyone is somehow unclear: THIS IS A RED FLAG PEOPLE! This guy is exactly the person you should never ever date and if they keep coming around you should report them to the police for harassment.
Did I eventually feel a little bad for Chao? Sure, I did. Phai very easily could have explained a number of things to Chao but chose not to. He even was willing to explain things (such as how he was definitely not getting back together with Type) to people who WEREN'T Chao. He brushes off Chao's emotions and requests for communication. He decides Chao doesn't need to be told anything even though they are in a sexual relationship with some elements of friendship. (This is also a red flag, people, it's just not one that requires police intervention.) He made things so much harder unnecessarily just because he didn't want to ever explain anything to Chao, as if letting him in at all would violate the boundaries of the relationship he was telling himself they had.
Don't get me started on Chao telling Phai in the finale that if he wanted to have sex they needed to be in a relationship and Phai suddenly just agrees after months of insisting it wasn't what he wanted.
Did we really need Pae and Somsom shoehorned in as a couple at the end? Did that couple even make sense?
This novel is long enough as it is and I think it says most of what needs to be said about this series. I would like to see the actors in other series with much, MUCH better writing. I think a lot of them could do really well with good material. I think there was some failing in direction here, but there was a much bigger failing in writing and editing.
It's a mess.
Do yourself a favor.
Skip it.
There is no rewatch value. It's a dumpster fire of confusion, loose threads and dots that don't connect the way they tell you they should.
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A perfect encounter with the imperfect Qiao children
Maybe the line above is the most suitable line to sum up what Iâve been through after 36 episodes of The Bond. This drama is not perfect. The characters are not perfect either. They are bloody annoying and manage to make my blood boil in every single episode.
But, I still finished this drama. Iâm still able to find my strength to see how the ending is for the Qiao family, especially those unfortunate children. In those 36 episodes, I canât help but think, how can people get through all of those events but still survive and always have each other back.
After the final episode, I give myself some time to think about it, and the answer is laid on the English title of this drama, The Bond.
The Bond that they have created since the day their mother died. The Bond which was glued by their eldest brother who carried them for decades. The Bond that makes them stronger to pursue their happy ending, tho life always throws them in the miserable place again and again.
Synopsis
The story began in 1977. In that year, the fifth and the last child of the Qiao family was born. But unfortunately, the mom passed away right after giving birth to Qiao Qiqi. She left her five children with their irresponsible and not capable dad, Qiao Zuwang. This dad loved to gamble and didnât even care about his home or his children at all.
This left no choice for the eldest brother in this family, Qiao Yicheng who was only 12 years old at that time to step up and be the caretaker of the family. He suddenly became the mother and the father of them.
This kept going on until they were teenagers and adults. This eldest brother is always the one who cares and protects them. Even when they started to have their own romantic life, their bond was still as strong as ever.
Review
To be honest, I donât know how to give this drama an objective review, because Iâm so damn attached with it. I have followed this drama since it was airing on August 17th until September 8th. The Bond was airing 2 episodes everyday in Tencent Video, thatâs why it ended pretty fast. And Iâm very content with this kind of schedule, though it made me couldnât watch the other dramas because my mind was full of these children.
This drama actually has shortcomings, especially towards the ending. It seems so rushed. If it really followed the original material (the novel), this drama should have more than 36 episodes. Some parts of the novel were changed to fit the TV drama schedule. So, it left me a little bit unsatisfied. I really want one or two extra episodes just to see them being happy, especially the eldest brother, Qiao Yicheng.
It doesnât have to be exactly like the novel, but I do wish the part when the eldest brother was sick wasnât changed that much or at least a little bit longer. If you watched this drama and saw with your own eyes what Qiao Yicheng has done to his family, you would also want this man to be pampered for a little bit longer. Especially when you have Bai Yu (Guardian, Suddenly This Summer, The Long Night) who pulled off the sick character so well.
I saw so many complains about the drama, which they think too miserable, too annoying, too *çèĄ (gÇuxiÄ), etc. But when I read those comments, I realized they never really criticized the plot. What they actually criticized was the choice of the characters.
âWhy the hell was he married to that woman?â âWhy is he so stupid?â âThis man is good for nothing.â âThis woman is too blinded by love.â and so many other things.
I said those things too, but it didnât make me leave the drama. Instead, this drama turned me into a noisy aunty who lived as their neighbor. I talked about them with the other aunties and was always curious what would happen with their life after they made a certain decision.
This drama would never work so well for me if it wasnât because of the ensemble cast. We have Bai Yu as Qiao Yi Cheng, Zhang Wan Yi as Qiao Er Qiang, Mao Xiao Tong as Qiao San Li, Song Zu Er as Qiao Si Mei and Zhou Yi Ran as Qiao Qi Qi.
I will emphasize my compliment to Bai Yu. I donât want to sound biased (since heâs indeed my favorite Chinese actor), but heâs indeed really that good. He can show the development of Qiao Yicheng in the span of 20 years in the drama. He can transform himself from the temperamental, awkward, naggy and full of energy young Qiao Yicheng to still naggy but relatively calm, insecure and tired older Qiao Yicheng. He can show the complicated emotions of Qiao Yicheng perfectly. When you watch this drama, you will see how wide the emotional range of Qiao Yicheng is. He is a completely different person depending on his opponent. His line delivery is so natural as if he isnât acting. It makes the drama feel even more real.
What I like about this drama (it may be a minor reason and not necessarily important but I love it) is this drama never dubbed the inner thought with voice over nor did monologues. We can easily understand what they were thinking only by looking at their expressions. For me, itâs such praise worthy of the actors. It means, they succeed in giving us a narrative without too much dialogue. Thatâs what real actors should do.
Beside the main leads, we still have tons of supporting actors who also did extremely well to bring the story to life, such as Liu Jun as Qiao Zu Wang, Li Jia Hang as Qi Wei Min, and Zhao Fan as Ye Xiao Lang. All the child actors are also impressive.
So, in the acting department, Iâm quite satisfied. There are some actors who didnât meet my expectations but overall they are still watchable and didnât ruin the flow.
Original soundtracks of The Bond are one of the best. The opening song, âLife Should Always Face the Lightâ, is sung by Zhou Sen and it is sooooo beautiful. The title is full of hope and the lyrics get me teared up every time I listen to it. I almost never skip the opening just to listen to this song.
The most important thing from these brilliant soundtracks is how well placed they are. The timing when the songs are played is never missed. It hits right in your heart at the perfect moment to add more emotion in this drama.
Last, I love the details for the setting and properties. Though Iâm not Chinese and obviously I didnât live there in that era, I feel very familiar with all the properties there. Especially when they enter the millennial year when the handphone was found. Iâm like, âI recognize the ringtone!â âAh, that was my first phone!â. Something like that.
The tone and color grading that they use from time to time is also distinctive. It looks like itâs the same, but itâs actually not. It follows the year the drama took place. Itâs such a pleasing for my eyes.
In the end, I can say again, this drama is no where near perfect. But this drama teaches me so many thing about life and how we should handle it. Thatâs why, I canât help but put this drama in a very high place in my heart.
This review is also posted at https://lalasalittleworld.wordpress.com/2021/09/10/review-the-bond-qiao-jia-de-er-nu/
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Untold theory of the last scene
Beautifully wicked drama that depicted tragic things happened to tragic people.Great acting from all casts. All in all, thereâs no good and bad people in this story. People did what they did out of spite and to redeem themselves.
For those who didnât understand last ending scene between Mayuko and Naomi, this review will be mainly wrapped around that particular scene.
The Ending Scene (Episode 4):
Naomi asked Mayuko to watch him swims to the buoy. As he walked to the shore, Naomi turned around for one last look at Mayuko whilst pointing his finger into the distance before swimming into the ocean.
He was mimicking the same scene performed by Tadzio in a 1971 film âDeath in Veniceâ directed by Luchino Visconti.
The significance of this filmâs ending scene and the director himself are important to Mayuko later on.
To summarise this film, Tadzio had a pursuer called Aschenbach who secretly followed him around Venice as his obsession with Tadzioâs beauty grew stronger. Towards the filmâs ending, Aschenbach was stuck in the same situation as Mayuko, because both were unwell due to health conditions.
In this same scene, Tadzio turned around looking at Aschenbach and pointing into the distance (the same way as Naomi did to Mayuko). Aschenbach who was dying, yearned for Tadzio and still mesmerised by the boyâs beauty before passing away while trying to reach out to Tadzio.
[Updated in 2024: abovementioned cinematic parallels - https://easterndelights.tumblr.com/post/759516469940879360/kna-div ]
Based on both scenes, Tadzio was a symbol of youth, innocence and adolescence beauty to Aschenbach; in the same way that Naomi symbolised as a perfect ideal man to Mayuko.
In episode 1, Mayukoâs father praised Mayuko for having a keen eye for something beautiful when he saw the necklace that Mayuko found from the beach. As Yuki took that necklace from her, Mayuko took something beautiful from Yuki 30 years later.
When Naomi was born, Mayuko held baby Naomi and saw the beauty in him. She told Yuki that she might take him away, but Yuki never took that matters seriously.
Over the course of 20 years, Mayuko moulded Naomiâs personality and groomed him into becoming her ideal man. Naomi would have knew everything about Mayuko at this point - like he knew her favourite french poets are Verlaine and Baudelaire, and her obsession with the novel of âChijin no Aiâ.
After Naomi was freed from both of his parents, his wish to always be together with Mayuko came true - albeit it came with a hefty price.
Back in episode 1, Mayuko brought up a film called âThe Leopardâ, into a conversation with her mother where she reminisced the beautiful castle scene. That particular film was directed by Luchino Visconti.
Naomi might have also learned about Mayukoâs love for Viscontiâs films, although the viewers never get to witness this scene.
Back to the ending scene, Naomi dressed Mayuko in all-white before heading to the beach. It was coincidentally the same as how Aschenbach wore all-white to see Tadzio for the last time.
When Naomi was pointing into the distance mimicking Tadzio's scene, Naomi wanted to show Mayuko that he was never the Naomi from âChijin no Aiâ and Mayuko was not his captor.
Instead, he is the Naomi that always yearned for Mayuko and her affection, despite all tragic things happened to Mayuko because of Yuki.
Mayuko was conflicted with her feelings at first, but did reciprocated and gave in to the decision to be with Naomi.
With Yuki completely gone from both of their lives, there will be no more malice and destruction as peace ensured.
Despite being bedridden and in a vegetative state, Mayuko regained her long forgotten youth and innocence by starting anew with Naomi.
When Naomi was tributing his Tadzio to Mayuko, it was a sign to trigger Mayukoâs memory telling her to yearn for him, as he will always be waiting for her return.
In the end, Mayuko understood what Naomi was signalling to her (hence she smiled).
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Best TV Show of 2021
I fell in love with the world instantly. The martial arts or the so called âmagic systemâ in this universe is really well thought out. It makes so much of the tension during the political plot-lines heighten because of how well-defined the kind of martial artist can exist in this world. Yes, a person who can wipe whole armies exist but somehow it makes sense because they are almost always philosophically defeated individuals and are not willing to party with the political players.Thatâs where the main character comes in. He chooses his moments of authenticity and cunning well, so much so that he wins the hearts of the strongest in the realm to work with him. The other characters have their stories and layers of personality. No characters are left behind in terms of development.
Iâve seen some people say the fight scenes are bad. The slow motion scenes are a stylistic choice and I like it. I do agree however that theyâre not as flashy as some of the best anime fight scenes. But itâs up to the viewer whether fight scenes have to be as good as they get. I donât care much about them, the rest of the drama is excellent.
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Calm and sweet soundtrack , not distracting and blends perfectly
Nice cinematography breathtaking yet very simple , captures the beauty of the place it was filmed in , the camera sticks to the scene for a long time but i don;t mind at all ..many beautiful shots of the sea and countryside
Actors did a great job ,the roles didn't require many complicated emotions but you could feel what they wanted to deliver through the screen
I recommend to watch if you aren't expecting action scenes and just want something sweet at the end of the day with a hot drink and cozy blanket
I would re-watch again but not too soon ..maybe in a year or two when i need something calming
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Whatever was written on the summary isn't 100% true.
I don't want to spoil it, so I don't want to says what is wrong with the summary.
For those that like the rich boy, girl plot, this drama is definitely for you.
The actors and actresses don't look as bad. (For as 1 to a 10 and a 10 is being awesome, I'll give this an 8.5)
I would definitely rewatch this!!!!
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Rather than having a concrete plot, the movie just follows a family, a weird one. A father, mother, a son, a daughter, an uncle and their grand father. You just be with them for the length of the movie, you just have a piece of their life, have a taste of their tea and you become one of them. I just wish everyone take and enjoy this fantastical journey that Katsuhito Ishii wants us to have.
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Story: 7,5
Ajin is a fast-paced movie. The main plot for this live action was the same as the manga & anime, but there were some minor and major differences too. Fortunately, those major changes actually made the movie focused more on the main plot. I think the scriptwriter did a good job, that's why even if you are a picky manga/anime fan like me, I think you'll still able to enjoy this movie.
Action scenes take a big part in this movie, which probably about 90% of this movie. The action choreography is amazing. I was really impressed the whole time. Since most of the movie is about fighting, there is no big character development, especially for the main character. Though it was expected, since movie has limited time. There are not enough scenes and dialogues for us to understand the characters' personality, except for Satou. Also, there is some plot-holes that left unanswered. This movie also ended in an open ending that probably make a chance for a sequel. But I still give 7.5, because I personally enjoyed this movie a lot, and I think the writers succeeded to keep the intense atmosphere from the beginning until near the end.
Acting/Cast: 10
One of the reason why I was excited for this movie was the cast. This movie has a star-studded cast. For me, all the actors and actresses did an incredible performance in this movie. Â But the one that really stood out from the rest was Ayano Go. His portrayal of Satou was amazing. Every gesture, expression, and speech was perfect. I think he succeeded to bring Satou into life. His acting felt so real to the point that I forgot that Satou is just a fictional character. Â Shirota Yu also did a great job as Tanaka. His sharp gaze was perfect. On the other hand, I think Sato Takeru under-performed in this. His acting was good but I think he could do better. I blame it to the script that made his character seems dull. Despite that, I'm still giving the perfect score because the other casts was amazing.
Music: 8
 I think the music was suitable for the movie. Especially on those fighting scenes, the background music actually made the scenes more intense. Also, I love the ending song.
Rewatch Value: 9.5
Yes, I would like to watch this movie again. The cinematography was great. The CGI was perfectly done, the IBM looks so good and real. The action choreography was really detailed, intense, and amazing. So I don't think I will get bored from watching this many times.
Overall: 9
As I stated above, Ajin - Demi Human was one of the best manga-to-live-action movie in my opinion. Even though some part were changed, the movie still followed the original story. The casts' acting was good. I love the action scenes. My only disappointment with this movie was the main character's lack of personality depth. I hope if a sequel is planned, they can explore his personality more. But overall  I really enjoyed this movie from the start until the end.
(sorry for my English)
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To be honest, the only reason I picked up this drama was when I coincidentally saw the subtitles of this drama being updated on 27th July on Dramacool and came to mydramalist to find out that the drama had finished airing. The summary did not intrigue me, and the ratings didn't really interest me either since very few have rated this drama. But I decided to give it a try still as after some research, I found out that the anime version was really popular(I've never watched it though).
When I first started watching a few days ago, I had dropped this drama thrice in the first episode because it bored me so much. I kept moving onto other dramas and decided to come back to it today because most of the good dramas always pick up in the second episode, to name a few would be My Ahjussi, Strangers From Hell and much more. And I'm so glad that I came back, this drama completely caught my attention right at the very beginning of episode 2 and it just kept getting more and more intriguing. I finished bingeing the whole drama today, and am mindblown, it was that good.
I laughed, I smiled and I cried. I never cared nor knew what rakugo was about until I watched this drama. What first caught my attention was the mystery surrounding Konatsu's parents' death. I'm no newbie to mystery dramas but the way the story was told and shown left me wanting more. I also enjoyed watching all the rakugo scenes and even went to google some of the performances.
If I think back about it, the story itself wasn't that special except for the rakugo parts. But it was the way they told the story and it's characters which made a huge impression on me. And of course, the actors were amazing too, especially Okada Masaki. I've watched a lot of his dramas before but he never really caught my eye until this drama. My eyes followed him every time he was on screen. He's an actor I'm going to look out for in future dramas.
This is a severely underrated gem which I recommend everyone to give a try if you are looking for a unique story. If you are just here for the romance, then look elsewhere. Because here, you are going to learn about rakugo, friendship, what it means to be a family and different kinds of love.
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This review may contain spoilers
Students Fight For Their Lives Inside Of A School Overrun By Zombies
From the moment the series begins, All of Us Are Dead hooks viewers with its intense atmosphere and deeply emotional narrative. Itâs more than just another zombie drama; itâs a layered story that delves into the harsh realities of adolescence, social pressures, and human resilience, all set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse.The show wastes no time immersing us in the daily struggles faced by its young protagonists. The South Korean educational system, infamous for its relentless academic demands, becomes the stage for a gripping tale of survival. The series sheds light on the emotional toll these pressures take, with bullying, mental health struggles, and societal neglect forming the core of the charactersâ pre-apocalypse lives. This grounded realism elevates the story, making the charactersâ fight for survival all the more impactful.
One of the showâs standout elements is its exploration of relationships. Each character brings unique perspectives and motives, and their interactionsâwhether strained, supportive, or heart-wrenchingâadd layers of depth to the narrative. The camaraderie, conflicts, and sacrifices they share make them feel incredibly real. You can't help but root for their survival, mourn their losses, and celebrate their small victories.
Thematically, All of Us Are Dead shines by addressing societal issues faced by youth, not just in South Korea but globally. The narrative doesn't shy away from heavy subjects like bullying, depression, and the unforgiving pressures of academic excellence. These themes are woven seamlessly into the story, creating a poignant reflection on the struggles of modern youth.
As the zombie outbreak takes hold, the series shifts into an adrenaline-fueled thriller. The chaos, desperation, and heartbreak of the studentsâ fight for survival are depicted with unrelenting intensity. The relentless pace, paired with exceptional storytelling, keeps you glued to the screen.
The parallels to the Covid-19 pandemic are impossible to miss. From quarantine measures to the fear of infection and the divide between personal concerns and societal demands, the series captures the uncertainty and tension of living through a global crisis. This connection makes the story even more resonant, as viewers are reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of community and hope.
On the technical front, the series is a visual masterpiece. The cinematography captures both the beauty and the horror of the unfolding events. The special effects and makeup are stunning, particularly in portraying the terrifying transformation of infected individuals. Every frame feels deliberate, adding to the immersive experience.
Despite its brutal moments, the show never loses sight of its emotional core. The acts of love, friendship, and selflessness scattered throughout the series create a powerful contrast to the violence. These moments of humanity serve as the heart of the story, reminding us that even in the darkest times, compassion and connection endure.
The finale of All of Us Are Dead leaves a profound impact. Without giving away spoilers, itâs a conclusion that feels both devastating and hopeful, offering closure while leaving room for reflection. Itâs a fitting end to a series that balances horror with heartfelt storytelling.
In summary, All of Us Are Dead is an unforgettable journey that combines action, emotion, and social commentary. Itâs more than just a zombie dramaâitâs a reflection on the resilience of the human spirit and the complexities of growing up in a harsh world. This series is a must-watch, not only for fans of the genre but for anyone seeking a story that stays with you long after the credits roll.
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Poor Editing, Poor Script Writing, Sub-standard Acting
As of the writing of this review, this drama scores a dismal 3.9 on Douban, a platform that reflects the sentiment of the viewers from China, which may not be 100% reliable as we well know how this score can be manipulated by fans and haters. I must admit I have not read the novel which this drama has adapted from, so cannot compare how it has deviated from the original story. According to many readers, the characters have almost gone through a total metamorphosis and thus has rendered a totally different experience for the readers.This story is rather similar to the biblical Moses story whereby the Lord of the Sea (Li Yifeng) tries to bring his people (the fish people) back to the sea from the land where they are being persecuted. Another character, a crown prince (Zheng Yecheng), who vows to take back his kingdom so that his people can live openly in the warmth of the sun again. Between them, comes a woman with whom they both fall in love. So, in a gist, this is a love triangle and the actual plot from the original story where the characters try to save their people and bring them home, has become a background story. Both men are desirable and the female lead is torn (initially at least): to follow her heart or to fulfill her duty.
Many reviewers have provided in-depth description of the story, so Iâm not going to repeat what they have written. Here, Iâm pointing out what I like and dislike about this drama, so that viewers have better understanding and if theyâd want to pursue this drama or not.
Most of the online criticisms Iâve read are about the poor editing. Rightly so. I find the joining of scenes poorly done with noticeably long pauses, making the overall pace excruciatingly slow. The long pauses between conversations also make it feel like the characters are hesitant or even calculative; there's too much waiting around with no one doing anything, just prolong staring at each other. As much as I want to like this story, I dozed off multiple times within one episode, like some old folks do.
The screen writing is terribly poor as it feels like haphazard and not being well thought out as it has changed so much of the personalities of the characters from their original version. This has also reflected badly on the acting which I donât totally blame the actors; how can the actors perform if they are not provided proper direction how the characters are supposed to be? Had Su Mo been a cold and ruthless person as described in the novel, then maybe Li Yifengâs acting fits the bill (not perfectly, but not as bad too). But here in the drama, Su Mo seems to be a compassionate and upstanding person who would go all the way out to help anyone in need, with or without the power himself. In this respect, Li Yifengâs acting seems to be lacking as he is stiff and doesnât carry any emotions on his face, and his shifting eyes make him even less believable. I do love the Su Mo character and Li Yifeng's physical portrayal of the character. With clear directing, Li Yifeng should have done better.
Chen Yuqiâs acting as Bai Ying is passable, but again, she has very limited facial expressions here. For both Chen Yuqi and Li Yifeng, they have not brought out the emotions that their characters are suffering from, especially in times of loss and regrets. Both actors have totally failed in this respect. Viewers also complain that the selection of the main couple pairing is poor as the two main leadsâ chemistry is at rock bottom. They seem to be stiff and awkward; thereâs no longing, no affection, no emotion that doesnât seem forced. Despite these criticisms, I do at times sense some chemistry between the lovers, which unfortunately not frequent and consistent enough.
The sequence of some scenes seem to be repeatedly used, and this has made the whole thing rather dull at times. One such scene which is being repeated multiple times that I can predict what is to follow when that event happens: when Bai Ying is injured and unconscious, Su Mo would try to heal her, and in turn, he goes into a coma. This sequence is overdone and gets really boring to say the least.
Zheng Yechengâs acting here is acceptable. Like in all his other dramas, he doesnât get his girl in the end. For me, the most annoying character is probably Na Sheng (Yang Zhiwen) with her bubbly demeanor which doesnât stop despite whatever predicament everyone is in. Her clinginess is even more irritating and hard to watch.
My Verdict
This is supposed to be a story about hatred between the conquered and the conqueror, and between the various races. Love is blind and love blossoms between the enemies; we have multiple cross racial romantic couples here, and the story is supposed to show their torn emotions and pains â choose love or loyalty/duty for oneâs country/race. This emotion is totally lacking here. In its place, tropey romances reign. It would have been acceptable had the script writing not been this bad, making the whole story laden with plot holes, bad logic, and poor character development. The ending is probably inspired by the resurrection of Jesus Christ with Su Mo floating/walking on water shrouded in an halo, three years later (versus three days later for Jesus). It is so bizarre.
I am totally untouched by the supposedly heart wrenching story of forbidden love - love for an enemy or a different race in this case. This is rather unfortunate as the original novel is said to be very interesting and touching. It is also said that the animation that has come before this drama is more faithful to the original story and Iâm off for it next.
Donât be deceived by the big names. Unless you donât have anything better to watch, you may be better off reading the original novel or watching the anime.
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