This review may contain spoilers
This is my first time writing a review for a Chinese drama and Scarlet Heart has an honor for it.I don't even know from where to begin with. You know when drama leaves you spechless, with many emotions that even after finishing it you can't gather yourself and keep replaying that song that reminds you of every single moment of a drama. Yes, that's how I am right now. Here I am sitting on a chair with tears in my eyes and writing a review for this wonderful drama.
I liked everything about this drama. Literally. The story-time travel, historical, romantic one, princes and Ruoxi who had so many beautiful relationships with them. One phenomenal story that will move you to bones. Beautiful China, deep, passionate love, season changing, scenery, every single detail is done in the most professional way that you totally forgot about the time and enjoy in this magnificent piece. Cecilia is a beautiful woman, so beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes of her. They way she acts, cries, loves is the wonderful enjoyment for my eyes. Everyone did a fantastic job in their own roles just like as it is written for them.
The part that made me bound for a drama is Ruoxi's relationships that she had with all princes. With one she was a drinking buddy, the one who understands her the most, with the other she was goofy and happy, with third she felt protected and with last she was in love with. Their interactions with each other, words, gestrures, glance they shared with each other simply crawls into your skin and you become a part of it.
Another thing that fascinated me is that every character in this drama has it's faults, nobody is perfect. As the story progress you see them change eather good or bad, precisely they changed in a way which their ambition led. Nobody's perfect, we all know that, we all make mistakes and regret later, we all have that moment of glory that makes us forget how we really were before, that moment when we all want to go to the past and correct things is something we all have and this was exactly the case in this drama. Their decions, mistakes, pain, sadness, happiness are made in such a stong way that you can feel it, understand why they done that and simply connect with every character in there.
***** SPOILER ALERT!*** ( About her relationship she had with princes, so if you want to know nothing, don't read it).
13th prince was the one for me. Right from the start. Their relationship was real, they understood each other completely, for him she didn't need to say anything, he'll understood her with one single gesture she makes. She liked him as her drinking buddy, but I, I felt that that is the real relationship between man and woman. He was there in her the most hardest times, happiest times, he was always there as a loyal friend. Soulmate friend. The scene when he deeply hugged her, directing her this words: "When the grass is green next year, old friends will no longer look the same. The sea holds our closest friends and the ends of the earth are our neighbours" moved me to bones and that's why it'll be carved in my heart forever.
14th prince has a special place in my heart. Principle man, weighed down by deep sense of honor and loyalty, kind, strong, He liked Ruoxi as a friend, even married her just so he can help her and that was what I appreciated the most.
Ah, here are her two loves 8th and 4th prince. 8th prince is her first love, the man whom she experienced the meaning of a love. He is romantic, protective, she felt safe when she was with him. They both know that it is a forbidden love, love that hurts, but what do you really can go against the feelings? Rouxi and 8th loved each other, but not enough to give up on everything. Later, their love was replaced by respect towards each other.
As for 4th Prince, well he was her true love, love 'till her death. Their chemistry was breathtaking, passionate, intense. It was so stong and powerful that when they were apart, their longing makes your heart break and you can't help but cry. He is calculative, with secrets, but towards Rouxi, he's different. He can be honest with her, tells her openly that he wants the throne, he was like himself with her. And that was love. Love that can last 'till eternity even when they're not together. But, when 4th Prince became Empreror their minds and opinions changed. Like they are strangers they didn't understand each other. The more they didn't understand each other, the more their love hurt. They were so close, yet so far, under one Heaven, but like miles away. They hurt each other, wanted to hate but they couldn't, longed for each other. He didn't care for anyone, only for her. Ruoxi was her everything, his soul, heart, mind, love. I vividly remember when he told 13th prince: "She cares for other, I care only for her."That was the proof how much he loved her. I wasn't that fond of him, cause he became selfish and tyranic, but their love was truly the strong one and it will always stay with me.
*** SPOILER END***
Oh and to say that Rouxi is the one of the strongest female characters in dramaland. She is intellegent, brave, unselfish, when she loves she loves till her core. The burden she carry is big, but wasn't able to share her story. She was a true survivor after all. She smiled, cried and loved to the fullest and that makes a woman strong, that even know it hurts, you're trying to get the best out of it. And that job was done by Cecilia whom I just have a words of praise and admiration.
I'll for sure rewatch this drama cause it's totally worth it. Even though it is sad, I took a positive side of it and placed some hope at the end. It is truly a beautiful story about love, friendship and passion. I laughed, cried, felt happy. I simply lived with this drama.
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A mature, no-nonsense love story, where the leads are real adults.
I had avoided this show for a while, because from the posters and synopsis I felt it would be a cheesy rom-com involving three guys and a woman wanting a baby. I was not interested to see a love square with 3 guys and a girl, even if it boasted the casting of Jang Nara, no thank you.Yet, I was curious nevertheless and decided to just give two episodes a try (you'all know how this usually ends)
You will love Oh My Baby, if you can relate to any of the following elements in a show:-
1. Adults (leads, second leads) actually having proper conversations. They talk things out, having meaningful conversations.
2. If you love FL with a no-nonsense approach but not crass and rude, bravely taking a lead in love but pulling back too, feeling hurt but recovering, a FL that does not resort to whining, screaming or shouting, not being pitiful even in a worst scenario.
3. If you had bad trauma from the mother in Something in the Rain, then Oh My Baby will restore faith in good mothers. She is similar to, but much better than the cool mom in Witch's Romance. This mom gets angry yes, but tells her daughter immediately that she should not lose her sense of self or feel guilty just because her mom is being angry with her. She stands by her daughter through all decisions, even those involving public ridicule. She doesn't care two hoots about societal response and family comments. This is a mom that does mountaineering and dancing, while also constantly looking for a match for her daughter. This is a mom that made friends with ML even even before she knew of her daughters interest in him and vice versa. Not just acquaintances in friendly terms, I mean real buddies.
I usually skip mom scenes in kdramas, and if you are like me, don't skip this mom's dialogues. She is sassy and open minded, and her scenes are worth listening to. This is a mom to end all kdrama moms.
4. There are no jealous female second leads, (but jealous male lead yes ) not everyone around the male lead is pining for his love, and they are all actually shipping them together, yes even the gals. No one bitchy and manipulative. Second male lead gets angsty a bit but that doesn't last more than a couple of episodes. He never stood a chance, it was clear from the beginning.
5. A romance that is gentle, but cracking with chemistry all the same.
6. Its not fluffy, silly rom-com but at the same time retains elements of fun throughout. The topics they deal with are emotional but handled with directness and spirit.
7. This is even better than Search WWW in terms of female portrayal because this is more realistic and honest. The women are not out-of-the-world sassy and bold, but rather as much real as anyone in that society would be. The only unreal element is that the FL is too pretty to be actually someone who never had proper romance for her age, but they also show why this is so,. its convincing.
If you liked Because this is my First Life, then you will definitely love this. I guarantee. Come back and trash me here if I am wrong.
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Sweet, Fun, Rom-Com
This is a low budget web drama that hardly has any promotion and goes under many viewers' radar. It is a non-serious romantic comedy, and initially, I thought I wouldn't like it. Somehow, though an easy-to-follow story, there are some twists and turns, mysteries and crimes, and a big overall conspiracy that really got me hooked on.The acting is more like a high school drama - playful and silly. The names of the characters are hilarious to say the least. The Chinese characters used in Zhao Cuo's name have the homophone with the meaning "wrong anyway", whereas his father's name Zhao Juan Dui literally means, "All correct". The play of words in the dialogues with the names is simply hilarious.
Despite being a very light-hearted cute drama, there are some really wonderful moments, especially between the main leads and the dynamics between Zhao Cuo and his parents. With all the bickering and playfulness, Tian San Qi and Zhao Cuo have good chemistry together. I also love the side couple Bai Yi Fei and He Ruo Yao. Though very good looking, Bai Yi Fei is like a piece of wood and is very cute and funny, and He Ruo Yao has a wonderful female personality that I love.
I love the songs sung during the moments when one thinks or longs for the other. The melodies are contemporary love ballads which are very beautiful. Of all the songs, I fall in love with a nursery rhyme that is repeatedly sung by Tian San Qi and Zhao Cuo for each other; it is one of the most adorable nursery rhymes I've ever loved.
My verdict: If you don't have any other dramas to watch, or waiting in between dramas, "I've Fallen For You" is a pleasant one to watch given its light-heartedness and a short series.
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I really like both Jasper Liu and Eugenie Liu and the premise of this series sounded like fun - gangster's daughter meets and falls in love with the actor she's always fangirled over! The action scenes in the show are purely comedic, cheesy and just for fun. Sometimes it's over the top, but I can accept that. Eugenie does a great job portraying Angie, a fierce, bubbly young woman who tries to forge an independent path for herself. On the other hand, Jasper's character Yi Hang felt underdeveloped. He's a cute, charming, popular actor who loves elephants. That's all I got really. Their relationship developed UNBELIEVABLY quickly. Emphasis on unbelievable as in "I absolutely did not believe it." In comparison, I found myself liking Eddie Kim much more and thought the actor who plays him, Tsao Yu Ning, was excellent.
A lot of interesting side stories are introduced - Ding Ding, Ling Yun, Sophia, etc - but none of them are developed nearly enough. If Netflix releases more episodes (I mean, they'd BETTER!), then I will definitely continue watching. There's so much potential.
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1Fresh twists on old cliches.
At first glance, Autumn Ballad looks like just another light historical romance featuring a strong, independent heroine with 21st-century attitudes and aspirations. Yet with a chock full of fresh twists on old cliches, this manages to surprise and delight with an all too familiar tale of a lowly illegitimate daughter who finds love most unexpectedly on her quest for self-determination. This well-told story with an authentic voice is carried by Xu Zhengxi and Qiao Xin's heartfelt performances which make me invested in their characters before I even like them.What I like most about Qiu Yan is that she is really not that nice or always that smart. Phew, what a welcome relief from the all too common suffocatingly flawless heroines. This is where notably Yu Zheng's recent, much higher budget projects fall way short by comparison despite big-name actresses. Trapped and exploited by her low birth status, Qiu Yan is the anti-Cinderella - her stepmother is her fairy godmother; she gives as good as she gets to her step-sisters and her mysterious prince leaves her a fan at the stroke of midnight. She tries for the best hand from the cards she is dealt and if she has to use a few people or step on toes along the way, so be it. She can be as harsh, selfish, and unforgiving as she is brave, capable, and loyal. She schemes, miscalculates, and makes mistakes with real consequences for herself and for others. I don't always like or agree with her but can understand her desperation and humanity.
Liang Yi is a pretty gray character which makes him my kind of male lead. Beneath his icy, civilized veneer he is a calculating, manipulative, ends-justify-the-means kind of guy with an agenda and he plays a long game. His path crosses with Qiu Yan repeatedly over the course of his investigations as head of the powerful Firewood Bureau. From the get-go, Liang Yi sees through Qiu Yan's machinations with contempt and tries to frustrate her designs on Qin Xuan. But he stops short of throwing her under the bus, perhaps in silent acknowledgment of his own utilitarian nature. When their interest align they agree to collaborate and are unflinchingly honest with each other about what's in it for them. In doing so, they also reveal the better sides of their nature and as they grow on each other, I fall for them. Qiu Yan is no damsel in distress in need of rescuing and Liang Yi can be as much cad as a knight in shining armor. They are kindred spirits and when they join forces, the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. It is inevitable that conflict and antagonism spark mutual awareness and passion. Their repartee is witty and the dialogue humorously highlights universal truths about human nature and the role of women in society. Is it too contemporary to be realistic? Probably but who cares?
This drama ought to be the gold standard for how realistic, believable relationships should be developed and portrayed. Xu Zhengxi really captures the essence of how Liang Yi's feelings for Qiu Yan evolve from dislike and distrust to grudging respect and consternation when it dawns upon him that he added to her burdens. His ironic, disbelieving expression as he comes to terms with his feelings for her kills me every time. This is by far the best-acted, anchor performance in the drama, elevated by the OTP's undeniable screen chemistry. While Qiao Xin stages a convincing, empathetic complimentary act, she falls short in her crying scenes.
The supporting characters are also mostly well-written and I particularly appreciate the balanced point of view with respect to the sibling rivalry between Qiu Min and Qiu Yan. Both Qiu Min and Qin Xuan are less thoughtfully written but despite their character flaws, they both get a pretty raw deal. The writers seem to know how to design layered and interesting characters but don't know how to finish their stories. Too many characters get outcomes (good and bad) that are underserved. There are so many gratuitous deaths I wonder whether they were running out of money.
Though far from a masterpiece of suspense and intrigue, the overarching conspiracy that loosely connects the cases moves at a fast pace and is quite well conceived and not just contrived to allow the couple to discover each other. It is a story that has enough momentum and characters with agency that the ending should write itself. Instead, with about 6 episodes to go, the writing inexplicably deviates into flashbacks, forced angst, melodrama, and excessive plot twists that culminate in a just barely satisfactory ending. If not for the sag towards the end, I would rate this production that shines in spite of its modest budget better than a very enjoyable 8/10.
This is not a fairytale but that is what makes it so much fun. It is well worth watching for the fascinating and hilarious relationship dynamics alone.
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Cute, happy fluff
Highly recommended if you're looking for some light romance that will make you feel happy and fluffy after watching. What I love about this drama is we start seeing the happy fluff from pretty much the very beginning, and there's no draggy plotline or crazy second male/female lead who's here to ruin it for everyone.Not to say there aren't misunderstandings or bad bad villains somewhere, but those problems tend to get resolved quickly and in a satisfactory way, and only serve to improve the characters' relationships.
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This review may contain spoilers
Heart and Liming stole the whole series for me.
This series is a rough gem. The plotline is interesting, the cast is a top notch and the way everything has been portrayed from the storylines to the individual characters themselves absolutely worth watching. It's a realistic mess with a whole lot of feelings invested. None of the characters here are flawless. They have their own flaws and their own problems to deal with. At a first glance, it might look all dreamy and heart eyes but it's more than that. It's complicated and at the same time swoon worthy.Starting with Heart and Liming because for me they are the best part of this series. They have my heart. They are so heart warming and so healing. I am in love with their love and I love both of them so much. Their small small moments, their subtle touches, their sign language interactions and even their eye locks damnnn I live to see their scenes. In fact if comfort was a person then it would be them. They stole the whole series for me.
Moving on to Jim and Wen, hands down to the acting of Earth and Mix. Their chemistry is no joke mahn. Their story is a total opposite of Heart and Liming's story. It's filled with tension, raw desires and not to forget angst. Both of them are individuals that are in a way broken and have so much to show and say but they can't fully express it and I honestly feel them. (P.S: Earth doesn't look like a 40 year old in any way but okay I am gonna look over that.)
And about Alan. Damnn First nailed it. The complexity of the relationship between Alan and Wen. My god it's too much to handle. I can't even figure out anymore who's at fault and more so I can't see Alan cry. It breaks my heart when he is sad but then when he is being sarcastic, I can't help but roll my eyes. Gaipa too he is a cinnamon roll . He is such a sweetie. Also Leng and Praew, this two are so cute together. Not to forget Gaipa's mum, she is so supportive and so likable. And I didn't really like what they did with her in the end. Also this series did feel like highlights.. like you know it's just parts of something and there's more to see. I don't know I just felt like it could have been better, ended better. But overall I would still give it a 10. Credits to Heart and Liming.
Also, a shoutout to the ost "Tommorrow". It had me weeping when I heard it in episode 4. Ford sang it with so much innocence and emotions plus hats off to the editing team. The song blended so well with all those scenes and that doubled the impact the song had on me. The actual mv in Gmmtv records is good too.
Highly highly recommended!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Loved this ...and hated this
I had no expectations going into this drama except "Oh great another 8 episode K-BL.". Usually these 8 episode stories feel rushed and incomplete. I did not get that feeling about this one. Would more episodes have been better? Maybe but just to get a fuller picture or it may have felt drawn out needlessly. There was enough in this series to give you the information you needed to fully understand the story without feeling rushed or confused.The story was so bittersweet but I loved every minute of it even when I was balling my eyes out (which is also why I "hated" it). The chemistry of the two leads is charming and sweet. It couldn't end any other way than it does. If it did I think it would almost have been dissappointing.
I gave it an 8 for rewatch value only because it is one I'll have to set aside for a good while or be in the mood for tears to watch again.
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Cute fluff with a twist
Destined to meet you is adapted from the web novel "Ba Hun, Xu Mo Yi Jiu" (霸婚,蓄谋已久) (literal translation – Domineering marriage, long-planned), written by Yu Ge (鱼歌).The story starts quite like the usual way of "contract marriage" dramas. She had to marry someone urgently and he is one of the good candidates out there, so she marries him. But the twist is that it may look like she forced him into this marriage but he actually came on his own.
Soon as they live and know each other, they like each other and you know a lot of fluffy moments coming up. But since this is the "Older woman/younger man" trope, she had to be the one taking steps and this is when the comedy comes into play. It gets so funny with all kinds of embarrassing and awkward, silly comedy. Her trials, his denial and etc etc…
The fact that this is so short like 20 episodes of 10 minutes which is equal to 3 hour 20 minutes, almost like a movie that can be watched in one go. Since I picked it while airing, I had to wait though.
What I loved is the female lead… a famous successful lady need not always be cold and bossy… she's rather cute yet strong. And the portrayal of the role by Lu Yan Qi is an advantage. I saw her last time in Under the Skin where she is in a supportive role but after watching this I really wonder why she isn't she a main lead actress. She deserves some good main roles.
The male lead is Yang Ze who is famous for his recent short drama "The killer is also romantic" and a bunch of supporting roles, yet another actor I think can do better. He should be moving to more main roles too. In addition we also have Ni Han Jin ( as Jin Xi Chen ) and Guo Jia Yu (as Liang Jingjing) in important roles.
What took away 1.5 stars —
— The story is good but the editing is bad… as i was confused in between because of the way next scenes come into frame…
To sum up, this is a cute drama that is short and binge-watchable, worth your time if you're looking for something fluffy with little twists, a total romance focused drama with silly comedy.
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Here it is spectacular not to be spectacular - yet touching and powerful in all simplicity
"The Spring Day of My Life" fulfills the Rom+/-Com concept in a very balanced mix. The humor is not exaggerated, but has an effective, calm charm with its sometimes true-to-life, sometimes intelligent wit. The equipment does NOT want to present the latest from the high-end in terms of fashion & beauty, and the styling is also reserved. Since the KDrama comes along more on the authentic side, the 'Melo' in 'Drama' is also moderate - it doesn't come across as intentionally pathetic, but it goes straight to the heart with all its consequences. This KDrama offers a love story that has a light-hearted side and is giving pleasure while it doesn't strain any fairytale happiness. Yet it rather chooses authentic dramaturgical paths for the development of the story. Optional use for the handkerchief included."The Spring Day of My Life" presents itself as a grounded love story about a single widower with two children and a young woman who, after a heart transplant, carries the heart of his deceased wife. The New Heart with Cell Memory theme is not new to KDrama Orbit. In my opinion, however, there is nothing wrong with picking up on it and telling it anew.
In short: the spectacular is nothing spectacular here, but rather the art of telling a touching love story in all simplicity, yet surprisingly vividly. The two leads marvelous performance makes it work, too. For many, they may not be so well known, but they effortlessly take the audience by the hand. This is Cho Soo-young's first lead role (as far as I know). Kam Woo-sung, on the other hand, has been on screen since the early 1990s - his series partner was still in diapers then... He's an unorthodox, pleasantly idiosyncratic figure on the hero/antihero front. His playing comes without perfected beauty, well-placed chocolate sides and enchanting smiles, but he primarily inspires with his presence, intensity and in places minimalistic efficiency. He always embodies his roles forcefully, authentically and to touch. He doesn't have to collect sympathy points, on the contrary - he likes to show his grumpy, nagging, nasty side.
Obviously the producers were quite generous with flashbacks, but other than that, I don't think there's much to complain. If you're not looking for overly superficial, yet not overly sophisticated entertainment - this KDrama offers comforting heart-ache-smile-and-sigh.
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The writing is superb in every aspect. I love how they handled this delicate subject. It's also very detailed as it tackles "Postpatrum Depression (PPD)" way too deep. We saw character experiencing PPD symtoms, like excessive crying, mother having difficulty bonding with her baby, Hopelessness, feeling not being a good mom, and having thoughts of harming the baby. We also see how other characters reflects to this case, their marriage life, their struggles, it gives so many different perspective on child caring. I can't think of any drama or movies that explored this theme to this extent, but not only the theme, it's the execution that makes this drama a riveting experience. They executed it really well, those flashbacks that were told in different perspective, the thought provoking quotes, the interviews and especially the breaking the fourth wall element. It won't tell you who's right or wrong, but rather it will make you form your own opinion as our world, in general, is not black and white.
It's also a social commentary on people's lack of awareness on PPD, and due to lack of awareness, as a result they inadvertently bring pain and misery to their love ones. It just reminds you that in life, more than love, empathy in really important.
On the technical side the drama is still impressive. The acting is solid, not just Kou Shibasaki, but all the supporting cast. My favorite is the judge who is struggling choosing between her career and family, the actress really played the character brilliantly that I ended up sympathizing with her. The editing makes this drama very compelling, several scenes cleverly woven together, and those transitions are very neat. Those brilliantly edited scenes are just enhanced by its music. It conveys a sad melancholy mood which shows character's feelings and evokes certain atmosphere. Ending song in every episode give you that final kick, as that song's lyrics supports the plot.
This is what I love about Japanese Dramas, they are not afraid to tackle sensitive issues, and when they nailed it, they nailed it really hard. I tried to be nitpicky but everything they did in this drama was just perfect, story, themes, execution, acting, music, editing, even camera work, it deserves a perfect 10. This is what they called a true emotional roller coaster. It will change the way you think as this drama gives you so many perspectives. It's an early but very strong candidate for my Japanese Drama of 2019.
Check my Blog for other reviews & other JDramas stuffs. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/
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But the series I saw was different - the 'twin' part has almost nothing to do with the story, in fact you could put another sibling or any other person and it wont matter because they really didnt explore the dynamics or complexities of having a twin. Per was nothing more but a side character.
Pond's elder homophobic sister Pad, was supposed to complicate things but the show instead used her as a source of humor, and her crazy antics in all honesty, was just offensive - and then in the middle of the series she was cast far away to allow the relationship between Pond & Tee to grow - which i think is just irresponsible. The reasons behind her resentment of gay people wasn't even explained and the story created around her in the school where she teaches just adds insult to her story.
I feel like they could have removed Pad and given Per a more complex part in the story - after all it is called The Best Twins. Did the show explained how Pond and Per are the best of all the twins in the world? Or are they saying one twin is better than the other? I just couldnt tell from the story - defeating the meaning of the title.
The only time the series got interesting is when they introduced the hottie Korean Tiger. Thor and Max were both okay and I would have also loved to see more of Jaet and Kaoa and their other gay friend.
Should you watch it? Only if maybe youre stuck in traffic and nothing else to do but have your remote ready to fast forward the opening and end credits because they eat so much ot the time (a total of about 7 mins from the 35 to 40min runtime). Will I rewatch? Not even if you pay me.
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As with other Kar-wai films, it's always the cinematography that lunges at you. Typical of his style. I'd say that Happy Together is probably much more daring than his other films. Often overshadowed by In the Mood for Love and Chungking Express, Happy Together is both a happy and sad portrayal of romance. Yes, it's a love between two men. But instead of focusing on that aspect like other films do, it focuses more on their time together. It's cynical as much as it is positive. Kar-wai won Best Director at Cannes for a reason.
The film also pays tribute to classic noir style. But with a purpose. The black-and-white colors reflect their time apart. And gradually...color emerges. There's color when they rekindle their relationship or as they say "start over" again. The visuals speak as much as the story, as much as the actors. The aesthetics are also reminiscent of other Kar-wai elements -- cramped apartments, sudden close-ups, intense DOFs. But the colors are all retro. They're vibrant and intense. Add some exotic music to that. The setting and scenery are all beautiful. It's so so so appealing to the eyes.
Of course, we have Tony Leung Chiu-wai again. Yes, he won Best Actor for In the Mood for Love but I'd say Happy Together is his opus. It's a much more dramatic, challenging and intense character, he delivered in with more passion characters. He wants Po-wing (Leslie Cheung) but he can't show that but we still know he does -- that part is delivered very well. On the other hand, we have a charismatic Leslie Cheung here. He's able to deliver Po-wing's character with such rawness and explosion of emotions. Conflicted but at the same time very powerful. The chemistry between the two is undeniable.
The film is about intimacy. And it shows that. Chiu-wai and Cheung's acting all delivers that. In the cinematography, in the sounds, it shows all that. Even if Chiu-wai's character speaks in Cantonese while Chen's character speaks in Mandarin, it doesn't create a distance because it shows the understanding between the two. Happy Together is so underrated compared to its counterparts but it's also one of the most beautiful.
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I am actually surprised at myself for not picking a taiga drama before even if I am a hardcore fan of history; I watched historical films but never a taiga drama. I think I was scared away by the length considering my low patience level but after starting this drama, that factor didn’t matter anymore.
Before I review this drama, let me first explain what taiga dramas mean. They’re Japanese yearlong historical dramas produced by NHK and each taiga takes a specific historical character to tell his life with 98% of accuracy. Unlike most of Korean Sageuk that tend to take a little part of history and built a completely inexistent story on it, taiga dramas tend to tell the history in the most believable accurate way ever. Of course there are some dramatic effects but they never sabotage history or add imaginary characters on their own. And don’t worry, they tend to explain everything whether at the beginning or in their “Travelogue” at the end so you won’t feel lost at all even if you’re not familiar with history.
Tenchijin is set during the late 16th century: The warring era which marks the most chaotic period in Japanese history where all the daimyo (clans’ lords) were fighting for the rule and power. That era happens to be my favorite fraction of the Japanese history because many of my favorite generals belong to that period. And while I previously know every single thing about the era and the destiny of its characters including my favorite names, it still felt so fresh and amazing to watch the characters I read about being alive.
During the chaotic era of schemes, betrayals and greedy intentions, NHK decided to pick the Uesgi and center their 48th taiga drama on them. For anyone who knows history, the Uesgi aren’t actually the type who ruled Japan or searched for personal gain. They have a mystical aura around them ever since the lord Kenshin’s days. It’s all about the justice for the Uesgi and Kagekatsu (Kenshin’s adopted son) followed his lord’s path of justice by the great help of this drama’s main character Kanegatsu. This storytelling is about the calm, patient, non-greedy, loyal and righteous vassal who lived his life serving the Uesgi, caring for the commoners and creating a distinguished name for himself. Kanegatsu may not have been famous like many generals of the warring era who gained popularity even in current days but he was respected and acknowledged by most of them for his thoughtful thinking and great techniques. He may not have been a great warlord but he was one of the best strategists of the era and one of the fewest who genuinely cared for farmers and the poor.
While telling the story of Kanegatsu, this drama had to center the light on many other characters and events of the era like the ever popular generals: Kenshin, Oda Nobunaga, Saru Hideyoshi, Ishida Mitsunari, Tokugawa Leyasu, Sanada Yukimora, Date Masamune, Maeda Toshie, etc. Those plot changes were quite alluring because they introduced the important figures of the era, their interactions with Kanetsugu and their thoughts about the country’s future. The main character’s meeting with those famous generals added a different taste to this drama. While some of them were his allies, others were his enemies. Considering Kanetsugu’s sense of justice and great talkative manner, you will be looking forward to how he will reply to their compliments or repay their harsh comments.
There are a lot of political clashes in this drama between daimyo lords, the rulers, the vassals and even the wives. However, this drama isn’t all about politics. It contains amazing friendship moments, some romance, heartwarming relationships and great bromance. It will always manage to keep you interested.
It’s a given that you cannot produce a great taiga drama or any historical telling without great actors who know how to make characters feel alive and this drama’s casting nailed it in that part. Tsumabuki Satoshi being the male lead for this drama was one of the main reasons why I chose it as my first taiga and no, it’s not because of fangirling reasons. That man is one of the best Japanese actors nowadays and what’s better than a taiga main role to make him even a better actor? He delivered so well, whether in the foolish, serious or heartwarming moments because that’s what his intensity is all about. What also made the acting department even more overwhelming is the presence of other astounding actors such as Abe Hiroshi, Oguri Shun, Matsuda Ryohei, Kitamura Kazuki, the veteran Utsui Ken and many others that made great scenes and awesome portrayals of the generals. There were some astonishing duets with Satoshi in many scenes.
In a line, I will mention that some battles weren’t portrayed in a good way but the cinematography and the soundtracks were quite fitting for the theme.
Watch this if:
-You love history and want to know more about the Japanese warring era.
-If you like accuracy because taiga dramas have the most informative plots ever.
-If you want to discover taiga dramas but beware that they’re nothing like sageuk.
-If you like the set of cast especially Satoshi because he was amazing in this.
Do not watch if:
-You dislike anything historical.
-You’re not a fan of the Japanese warring era.
-You dislike any of the cast.
Tenchijin is a wonderful ride through the warring period which marks the most interesting part of the Japanese history. The drama takes the life of Kanetsugu as a reference to the Uesgi clan to tell his struggles and deeds through the chaotic era to reach the peace era.
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